St Petersburg police officers were justified in the death of a 48-year-old man during an “extremely violent” struggle, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri has said.
The sheriff’s office classified the death of Brian Michael Pepal as an excusable homicide after an investigation into the confrontation on 22 August. A medical examiner found that Pepal died from traumatic asphyxiation and ruled the manner of death a homicide.
Gualtieri said officers Daniel Poveda and Tammy Craig had shown restraint by using less-lethal force during the struggle, rather than resorting to firearms. Both officers were injured, with Craig requiring hospital treatment.
St Petersburg police welfare check turned violent
The officers were sent to Pepal’s home at 7296 5th Street North at about 10.52am after his stepmother requested a welfare check. She had reported that he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
According to the sheriff, Pepal had been banging on neighbours’ doors and saying he was “looking for pedophiles”. He was also alleged to have threatened to cut off a neighbour’s head with a machete.
When Poveda and Craig knocked on the door, Pepal came outside and attacked them, the sheriff’s office said. Body-worn camera footage showed the officers fighting to defend themselves before taking him to the ground.
The officers used Tasers and handcuffed Pepal. He became unresponsive shortly afterwards and was taken to hospital, where he died.
Officers began CPR and other life-saving measures after discovering that Pepal was not breathing. The initial investigation found that no intentional deadly force had been used.
Toxicology tests detected marijuana in Pepal’s system. The sheriff’s office also said he had a long history of mental illness, including previous diagnoses of hallucinations, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Gualtieri said Pepal’s mental health had deteriorated after he was struck by a vehicle in 2023. He had previously been detained under Florida’s Baker Act following threatening behaviour towards neighbours and, in April, after allegedly chasing cars and shouting at people to “come and get me”.
The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force conducted the investigation. The task force was established to provide an independent review when police use force resulting in death, rather than leaving the inquiry to the department involved.
