A Florida police officer tried to arrest a suspect by using a Taser while holding on to a moving car before shooting him, a move that ultimately turned fatal.
The incident, captured on body camera footage and shared on Facebook by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, occurred in Hudson on Saturday around 5:30 p.m. Officers recognized the suspect, 40-year-old Paul Smith, at the gas station and then approached his vehicle and repeatedly asked him to exit the vehicle.Smith was wanted on suspicion of domestic assault in connection with strangulation.
The video shows Smith realizing the deputy was talking to him, quickly getting into the driver’s seat and asking, “What’s going on? What’s going on? What’s the problem?” It’s reflected. before putting the key in the car’s ignition.
“Get out of the car now!” the deputy yelled, trying to stop Smith from fleeing.
Couple vacationing in Florida found unconscious on beach, arrested, children missing
Paul Smith, 40, was wanted on suspicion of domestic assault by strangulation when he was approached by a deputy on March 16, 2024. (Pasco Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
“Smith sped up and began driving recklessly with the deputy hanging onto an open door,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post accompanying the video.
A car horn could be heard blaring on the body camera video and the car appeared to be moving. The deputy pulled out a Taser and applied it to Smith’s back and neck, but Smith did not stop.
Florida drive-in restaurant featured in Brad Pitt’s new movie goes up in flames
The deputy taped Paul Smith while repeatedly asking him to get out of the car. (Pasco Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
When the Taser failed to deploy, the deputy warned Smith that he would shoot him if he did not stop his vehicle.
“Oh my god. Please come out. Please come out. No, no, no, no,” Smith can be heard saying to the deputy.
Florida man sets rabbi’s van on fire outside Fort Lauderdale Jewish Center: police
A Pasco Sheriff’s Office deputy warned the suspect that he would be shot if he did not comply with orders. (Pasco Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
“Smith ignored additional commands and continued to drive recklessly, after which the deputy shot and killed Smith,” PSO said in a statement.
After the shooting, deputies were able to stop the vehicle and render aid to Smith, the sheriff’s office said. However, Smith died from his injuries.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Smith was previously arrested on assault and drug charges in Pasco County. Smith was convicted in 2019 of fleeing law enforcement in a vehicle, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and hit-and-run. He served three years in state prison, the newspaper said.
PSO noted Smith had a “significant violent criminal history.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement follows standard procedures for investigating officer-involved shootings.
