Grand Jury exonerates officer and deputies in shooting

 A Grand Jury heard testimony regarding the service of a search warrant on March 19, 2017.  This warrant ultimately resulted in the death of 21 year old Alteria Woods. Today, the Grand Jury exonerated the officer and deputies who fired their weapons during the incident.

During the same deliberations, the Grand Jury returned a true bill for Andrew Coffee IV. They  charged him with the murder of Alteria Woods. Coffee IV was formally charged. The charges were second degree murder with a firearm, three counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer by discharging a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and shooting or throwing a deadly missile. Coffee IV remains in the Indian River County Jail and is now being held without bond.

During the same search warrant, Andrew Coffee III was arrested. He was charged with felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a church, multiple counts of felony possession of a controlled substance (Dilaudid, Clonazepam, Hydropmorphone, Oxycodone), resisting arrest without violence, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Coffee III is currently being held at the Indian River County Jail on $63,000.00 bond.

On December 18, 2015, Andrew Coffee II punched Deputy Christopher Lester in the face before removing a handgun from his waistband and firing. This was during a traffic stop. Deputy Lester was struck once before returning fire that struck Coffee II. Coffee II  hobbled away from the scene. Coffee II was captured a short time later.   Then he was taken into custody. He remains at the Indian River County Jail without bond.  The  charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony battery on a law enforcement officer, and attempted felony murder.

Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar stated, “As we have said all along, the death of Alteria Woods is a tragedy for which we will seek justice. Today was the first step in pursuit of that cause, with Andrew Coffee IV being charged with her murder. Had Coffee IV not fired upon our deputies during their lawful attempt to serve a search warrant, Alteria would be alive today.”

July 19, 2017