Man Fatally Shot By Pasco Deputy Clinging To Moving Car

PORT RICHEY, FL — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that took place early Saturday morning at the Rodeway Inn, 11810 U.S. 19, just south of State Road 54 in Port Richey

According to Pasco County Sheriff's Office Maj. Tait Sanborn., a Pasco deputy was conducting a traffic stop around 12:45 after a suspicious car was reported at a business.

The car stopped in the parking lot of the Rodeway Inn. As the deputy approached the car, a man got out and "made an aggressive approach toward the deputy who found himself in the midst of a violent confrontation as soon as he got out of his car," said Sanborn during a news conference.

The confrontation dislodged the deputy's body-worn camera. The man ran to get back in the car as the deputy followed closely behind. The deputy was giving the man repeated commands to stop and reaching through the driver's side window when the car pulled away at a fast speed, dragging the deputy about 150 feet through the parking lot of the Rodeway Inn, according to Sanborn.

The deputy then saw the driver reach for something under the driver's seat and the deputy fired three shots at the man. Sanborn said the deputy pulled the man out of the car and, along with other deputies, began giving him life-saving aid, but he was pronounced dead by Pasco rescue personnel.

Although the man has not been identified, Sanborn said he has a history of 43 arrests with the sheriff's office, including robbery with a firearm, burglary and multiple narcotics charges. He's also a documented gang member who was released from prison in October.

According to Special Agent in Charge at FDLE Tampa Mark Burtnell, the FDLE has an agreement with the Pasco sheriff's office to conduct a third-party investigation any time there is a deputy-involved shooting.

Although there is no body-worn camera footage of the shooting since the deputy's body-worn camera was pulled off during the initial struggle, Burtnell said, "We do have some video evidence besides the body-worn camera that we're gathering right now." FDLE is also gathering evidence and taking witness statements but Burtnell said the investigation is in its infancy and predicts it's going to be "a very long-term investigation."

As mandated by the sheriff's office when deputies are involved in a shooting, the deputy, who wasn't seriously injured during the confrontation, has been placed on administrative leave. Sanborn said the sheriff's office will not be releasing his name.