PCSO says St. Pete police officers did not use intentional deadly force.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a welfare check turned deadly in St. Petersburg.
It happened Saturday morning shortly before 11 a.m. An officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department was flagged down by a woman who said her stepson was experiencing a mental health crisis.
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Officers arrived at the residence at 7296 5th Street North and attempted to make contact with 48-year-old Brian Pepal.
Pepal then exited the home and immediately attacked the officers, who defended themselves and ultimately took Pepal to the ground, according to authorities.
That’s when officers said they discovered Pepal was not breathing. Life-saving measures were initiated until paramedics arrived.
Pepal was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
PCSO’s Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force is investigating the incident. The task force says “none of the force used by the officers was intentional deadly.”
It’s unknown why Pepal stopped breathing; however, PCSO says he did have pre-existing medical conditions.
One officer involved in the incident sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The medical examiner will determine Pepal’s official cause of death pending an autopsy.