TAMPA, Fla. – Early Friday, at approximately 2:20 am, Tampa Police officers responded to a reported domestic-related assault in the 4000 block of West Hillsborough Avenue.
Upon arrival, the suspect, matching witness descriptions, attempted to flee the scene and resisted arrest.
During the ensuing struggle, an officer deployed a taser, and the suspect was subsequently struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Hillsborough Avenue.
The vehicle did not stop. Tragically, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Frank E. Rodriguez, and next of kin has been notified. Police say Rodriguez has pending felony domestic violence and felony criminal mischief charges from an arrest in Hillsborough County on May 20, 2024.
Officer Luis Garcia, a six-month veteran of the Tampa Police Department with previous law enforcement experience, has been placed on administrative leave which is standard procedure for an in-custody death investigation.
The initial 911 call and police body-cam footage has been released:
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Due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, this has been classified as an in-custody death, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will lead the investigation, in accordance with a mutual aid agreement.
The Tampa Police Department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is actively working to identify and locate the vehicle involved in the collision.
An internal investigation will also be conducted to ensure all departmental policies and procedures were followed by the officer involved. Additionally, the department’s Victim Advocate is providing support to the female victim, whose injuries were thankfully non-life-threatening.
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