PALMETTO, Fla. (SNN TV) – A man died in police custody in Palmetto.
In a press release, the Palmetto Police Department said the agency was called to a Circle K on Nov. 1, 2023 in relation to a customer being aggressive with staff and other customers.
According to PPD, 36-year-old Breonte Johnson-Davis ran up to the arriving patrol car and began banging on the driver’s window with his fists. He then jumped on the hood of the patrol car and began rolling around.
Police then attempted to take him into custody under the Marchman Act, which is used for people impaired due to substance abuse.
PPD said Johnson-Davis resisted arrest and was tasered. When EMS arrived, he suffered a medical episode and died at Manatee Memorial Hospital on Nov. 3.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation. It’ll then be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for their review.
