Update: Details Released in Arrest of Prisoner Who Suffered 'Medical Distress'

Update May 11: John Kaafi was pronounced dead on Friday. The investigation into his death continues.

Earlier:

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into an incident involving a prisoner in custody of the Sarasota Police Department.

The incident occurred Wednesday around 9 p.m. when a man who had been arrested on a number of drug-related charges began complaining of an asthma attack when officers arrived with him at the county’s jail.

Police notified EMS, an email from the sheriff’s office to media stated, and an ambulance was sent to the jail’s sally port. The prisoner was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment, never having been formally booked into the jail. He also never technically entered the facility, the sheriff’s office noted.

Deputies escorted the man to Sarasota Memorial to guard him and took statutory custody over him. The sheriff’s office said the man is not expected to recover.

The sheriff’s office said he was arrested on such charges as possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a designer drug, resisting without violence and escape.

“While the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office conducts this investigation, the Sarasota Police Department is conducting an administrative review of the incident,” the sheriff’s office email noted.

The Sarasota Police Department has identified the suspect as John Paul Kaafi, 33. His last known address was 2517 Glebe Farm Close in Sarasota.

According to the police department, Kaafi suffered “medical distress following an escape from a patrol car, while handcuffed and in police custody.”

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In an email to media, police department spokeswoman Genevieve Judge said Kaafi was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Officer Juan Jaimes for not having a working tag light. The traffic stop occurred at 8th Street North and North Orange Avenue.

“When Officer Jaimes stopped the vehicle, he observed Kaafi raise-up from his seat and begin to reach around his right side,” Judge wrote. “Concerned a weapon may be found, Officer Jaimes made a passenger side approach to the vehicle. As Officer Jaimes arrived at the passenger side window, Kaafi reached into his front right shorts cargo pocket.”

Jaimes asked Kaafi, who was a passenger in the vehicle, to remove his hands from his pockets, which he did, Judge said. The officer then instructed him to put his hands on the dashboard while backup was on the way.

“Officer Jaimes observed Kaafi chewing something, licking his lips and acting extremely nervous,” Judge wrote.

At that time, Officer Adam Arena and Officer Laura Markey arrived at the scene. Kaafi was instructed to get out of the vehicle.

“Officer Jaimes told Kaafi he was not under arrest but he was being detained for officer safety,” Judge said.

Jaimes then handcuffed Kaafi’s left hand, but when he tried to get the right, Kaafi pulled away, she added. Jaimes was able to complete the cuffing, but noticed Kaafi reaching into his waistband.

“Officer Jaimes told Kaafi to stop reaching but he refused and began backing toward Officer Jaimes while attempting to twist his body away,” the email stated. “Kaafi continued to twist his body and Officer Jaimes wrestled him to the ground. While on the ground, Officer Jaimes gave several verbal commands for Kaafi to
stop moving but Kaafi began thrashing his legs, making contact with Officer Jaimes’ legs several times in the process.”

Now on the ground, Kaafi, Judge said, began screaming that he did not want to go to jail or lose custody of his children. He also yelled that he had asthma.

“Officers immediately contacted dispatch and requested EMS respond,” Judge wrote. The call to EMS, however, was cancelled when “Kaafi appeared to be feeling better, was breathing better and was not showing any symptoms and tried to offer a deal with the officers.”

Kaafi was placed under arrest at that time for resisting without violence.

Post-arrest, Arena found a vial with crumbs that tested positive for cocaine while Jaimes developed probable cause to arrest Kaafi for possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers also found two baggies of spice inside the glove compartment, which the driver of the car stated Kaafi had placed there.

Realizing he was going to jail, Kaafi told Jaimes “not to take him to jail and offered to help police by saying ‘I can get you something good Jaimes; I can get you some people right now, just don’t take me to jail,’” Judge wrote.

Jaimes didn’t agree and attempted to put Kaafi in the back of a patrol car, Judge said. Kaafi began yelling and screaming once more, she noted.

After a brief dispute, Kaafi got into the car and Jaimes began the transport to the Sarasota County Jail.

At the intersection of Fruitville Road and U.S. 301, Kaafi asked the officer to put the rear windows down so he could get some air. Judge said Jaimes did so and turned the air conditioner up higher.

“While waiting in the eastbound turn lane of Ringling Boulevard and US 301, Officer Jaimes heard Kaafi vigorously moving and then (saw him) unexpectedly dive out of the rear passenger window,” which was about half-way down, Judge wrote. “Kaafi had managed to move his arms, which had been handcuffed behind his back, to the front of his body.”

Now loose, Kaafi began running west on Ringling Boulevard. Jaimes notified dispatch and began a foot pursuit.

Jaimes, Judge said, ordered Kaafi to stop and warned that he would use his taser. Kaafi did not stop and Jaimes did use that taser, but to “no visible effect,” Judge said.

Kaafi ultimately ended up tripping on the roadway and tried to get up. At this time, Officer Arena arrived and also deployed his taser. Kaafi was once again put into the back of a car to be transported to the jail, Judge said.

Once inside the jail’s sally port, Kaafi apologized to Jaimes and said he didn’t want to go to jail. A felony escape charge had been added to the charges officers levied against him.

Shortly after getting out of the patrol car under his own power, Judge said Kaafi told officers he was suffering an asthma attack. EMS was again contacted and arrived shortly thereafter, she said.

“While waiting for EMS to arrive, Kaafi was speaking with officers and breathing without any apparent difficulty,” Judge said. “

Kaafi has a past criminal history that includes escape, aggravated battery, fleeing and eluding, possession of narcotics, burglary and probation violation. He has been sentenced to prison four times.

Jaimes, Arena and Markey are on paid administrative leave per department policy pending the outcome of an investigation being conducted by the sheriff’s office.

Wednesday’s incident comes on the heels of the death of Freddie Gray while in custody of the Baltimore Police Department. Gray’s death sparked violent protests there and has ultimately led to all six officers involved in the case being charged in connection with the death.

Booking photo from an April 2015 arrest of Kaafi

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