Officer Shoots Suspect In St. Pete As He Choked Her: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 55-year-old man died after being shot by a St. Pete police officer who investigators say grabbed her neck on Friday night, a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Detectives said an officer went to the second floor landing at a building in the French Quarter Condos, located at 4050 Fourth Street North, to speak to the suspect, Jeffrey Haarsma.

The suspect walked aggressively towards Officer Alison Savarese, 32, and when she tried to detain him, he shoved her backwards, said the police report.

A fight occurred, and the officer and the suspect fell to the ground. When they stood up, the suspect grabbed the officer's throat and squeezed it, officials said.

Officer Savarese struggled to breathe police say, and she noticed the suspect tug at her belt. As she feared for her life, she shot him twice while she was being choked, said detectives.

The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating the officer-involved shooting because a recent protocol decided by the law enforcement leaders in Pinellas County does not allow the officer's agency to conduct the investigation. Since this was a St. Petersburg police officer-involved shooting, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is responsible for the investigation.

Officer Savarese will be placed on routine administrative leave.