Suspect fatally struck by car during assault investigation: TPD

TAMPA, Fla. – A man was fatally struck by a car during an assault investigation launched by police early Friday morning.

Tampa police said officers arrived at the 4000 block of West Hillsborough Avenue around 2:20 a.m. after receiving a report of a suspected domestic assault.

According to police, witnesses provided detailed descriptions of the suspect and a community member who witnessed the attack live tried to intervene before police arrived.

When the first officer arrived on the scene, he attempted to question the suspect, but the suspect refused and attempted to get back into the vehicle that the female victim was in. The suspect then attempted to leave on foot and refused to comply with the officer’s request to stop.

According to TPD, the officer deployed his taser before a car traveling eastbound on Hillsborough Avenue struck the suspect and failed to stop. He died at the scene.

Because the officer was attempting to make an arrest when the suspect was struck by a car, the case is being classified as a death in custody, according to TPD.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate the incident while TPD’s Traffic Homicide Unit works to identify the car that struck the suspect and fled.

They added that an internal investigation is being conducted to ensure the officer followed all department policies and procedures.

The TPD Victim Advocate will work with the woman who was the victim of the assault. She sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident.

During the investigation, eastbound traffic will be closed along Hillsborough Avenue between Lois Ave and North Dale Mabry Highway.