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Man Police Shot Was Suicidal, Police Say

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 3, 2008

A suicidal man was shot by police in the upper torso Saturday night after he tried to strike them with a vehicle, Sarasota police say.

Officers didn't provide the man's name Sunday morning.

The incident started about 11 p.m. in the 2200 block of Ixora Avenue, when officers responded to a call about a man in a vehicle with a hose running into the window from the exhaust pipe. An acquaintance of the man removed the pipe and was talking to him before police arrived, the release states.

After officers learned the man had a gun, they requested help from a Crisis Negotiation Unit and a SWAT Unit, according to the release.

The man tried leaving in his vehicle, but an officer performed a maneuver to stop the car. That's when he put the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to strike other officers, according to the release.

The name of the officer who shot the man was not released by Sarasota police. The officer will be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

The suicidal man, who was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center, doesn't have life threatening injuries, according to the release. When the man was taken into custody, officers found a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his vehicle.

The man will be placed under the Baker Act, which allows authorities to hold someone for psychiatric evaluation for up to 72 hours, and he will be charged with several counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, a police release says.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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