ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Detectives are investigating the use of force by St. Petersburg police officers after a 48-year-old man died following a fight with police, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
St. Petersburg police use of force investigation <\/p>\n
What we know:<\/p>\n
Police responded to a reported mental health crisis Saturday morning, investigators said.<\/p>\n
A man was pronounced dead at a hospital after officers knocked on the door of his home in the Fossil Park neighborhood and fought with him after he went outside and attacked officers, according to PCSO.<\/p>\n
The incident happened shortly before 11 a.m. at a St. Pete home in the 7200 block of 5th Street North.<\/p>\n
Dig deeper:<\/p>\n
According to investigators, an officer was flagged down by a woman who said her adult stepson was experiencing a mental health crisis at a nearby home and she needed help.<\/p>\n
Police went to the home and knocked on the door to conduct a welfare check on the man, investigators said.<\/p>\n
The man went outside and began attacking the officers, according to PCSO.<\/p>\n
The officers defended themselves during the fight and eventually took the man to the ground, police said.<\/p>\n
Once the man was on the ground and in custody, officers discovered he was not breathing. They began life-saving measures, including CPR, until paramedics arrived.<\/p>\n
The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, PCSO said.<\/p>\n
Investigators said none of the force used by officers was intentional deadly force.<\/p>\n
One officer was also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries suffered during the fight, according to investigators.<\/p>\n
Medical examiner autopsy review <\/p>\n
What we don’t know:<\/p>\n
It is not yet known why the man stopped breathing. Investigators said he had pre-existing medical conditions.<\/p>\n
The man\u2019s cause of death is pending an autopsy, and the Medical Examiner’s Office will make the official determination.<\/p>\n
Police said the names of the officers involved will not be released until 72 hours after the incident because of Marsy’s Law, which took effect July 1.<\/p>\n
Death investigation <\/p>\n
What’s next:<\/p>\n
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man\u2019s death remains underway.<\/p>\n
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.<\/p>\n