09/18/2026
Lieutenant John Stewart
Lake City Police Department
End of Watch: September 17, 2021
John Stewart was born in Bronx, New York, in 1972, to William and Claretha Stewart. He graduated from Willingboro High School in Willingboro, New Jersey in 1992. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1996.
Following his military service, John graduated from the South Carolina Department of Corrections Academy as a Correctional Officer on April 28, 2000. On May 16, 2003, John graduated from the SC Criminal Justice Academy after completing Basic Jail Training on May 16, 2003. He graduated from the Basic Law Enforcement Class at the SC Criminal Justice Academy on December 17, 2004. John worked for several law enforcement agencies, before joining the Lake City Police Department in 2008.
On September 17, 2021, an officer from the Lake City Police Department initiated a traffic stop on Jermaine Ryan Roberson, which resulted in a pursuit. During the pursuit, Lt. Stewart responded to deploy “stop-sticks” and was struck by Roberson’s vehicle. He died at the scene.
Pursuing officers stopped to render aid to Lt. Stewart, and Roberson sped away from the scene. He later carjacked another vehicle which was later spotted by a Florence County Deputy, who began another pursuit. The Deputy initiated a PIT Maneuver causing Roberson to wreck in a ditch where he was taken into custody. He was charged with reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, hit and run resulting in death, and failure to stop for blue lights resulting in death. He was later charged with kidnapping, carjacking, first degree assault and battery, and possession of less than an ounce of ma*****na. At the time when Lt. Stewart was killed, Robeson was out on a $15,000 bond for first degree domestic violence. In 2013, Robeson was sentenced to 10 years in prison, when he pleaded guilty to shooting at people at a local Huddle House following an argument.He was also on probation for a 2020 attempted murder charge, where he was sentenced to 304 days in jail and 3 years’ probation.
Funeral services for Lieutenant John Stewart were conducted on Friday, September 24, 2021, at the Florence Civic Center and he was buried with full military and law enforcement honors, in the Florence National Cemetery. He was survived by his two sons: Nicholas, who was serving in the United States Army, and Tyshaun; his seven brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and nieces and nephews.
Lieutenant John Stewart was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame on July 27, 2022, never to be forgotten. See less
