Breonte Johnson-Davis died while in custody of Palmetto police. His mother keeps fighting for accountability and reform.
Original Air Date: October 1, 2025
Host: It’s been two years since Breonte Johnson-Davis died while in custody of City of Palmetto police. The young man’s life ended after someone called 911, prompted by Breonte’s erratic behavior at a 7-11 store in Palmetto amid a mental health crisis. The cops rushed to the location, subdued and restrained him. The next day, November 2, 2023, Breonte was dead. His mother, Tracey Washington, keeps fighting on. This Friday evening, she will host an event at The Fogartyville to remind the community of her son, and to raise funds for her non-profit and possible legal action over Breonte’s death.
Johannes Werner: The tragic event prompted Tracey Washington to advocate for Palmetto and Manatee County to create a first-responder 911 system that includes mental health and substance abuse experts. The City of St. Petersburg built such a program, and it works. So far, Washington has not received an acknowledgement or response from any of the local governments…