No Criminal Charges for Bradenton Officer Involved in Deadly Shooting

A Bradenton Police officer will face no criminal charges after he shot and killed a suspected kidnapper over the weekend, officials said Wednesday.

Investigator John Morningstar, a six-year veteran of the department, used deadly force when responding to a kidnapping complaint Saturday afternoon at a home in the 300 block of 20th Street East, officials said.

The victim, a 37-year-old woman from Georgia, was rescued during the incident and treated and released from a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Police say Morningstar shot and killed the suspect, 40-year-old Craig Devon Rodgers, during a "violent confrontation" following a foot chase in the 1800 block of Manatee Avenue East.

"The criminal investigation has been concluded," Deputy Chief of Police Warren Merriman said in a media release. "Detectives interviewed other subjects that were at the crime scene, and no charges will be filed.”

Morningstar has "no remarkable use of force incidents, or disciplinary action in his personnel file," police officials said in the release.

He remains on paid administrative leave.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still conducting an investigation of its own.

Bradenton Police said they would have no further comments on the incident.

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