A Palmetto mother is pushing for answers following her son’s death after an incident at a gas station in Palmetto.
The Palmetto Police Department said officers were called to the Circle K store on 8th Avenue West on Nov. 1, 2023.
The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. The caller stated a customer was being aggressive with staff and customers and acting disruptive.
Tracey Washington said her 36-year-old son, Breonte Johnson-Davis, was suffering a paranoia episode. She said he suffered cardiac arrest after officers tased him.
“Breonte was going through a paranoia episode. I don’t know if he was intoxicated or if he was sober. I just know it was a paranoia episode,” said Washington.
The Palmetto Police Department said officers attempted to take him into custody under a Marchman Act.
According to police, he actively resisted the officer’s attempts to restrain him, and an officer deployed a taser to gain compliance. He was handcuffed, and EMS was called as a precaution.
When paramedics arrived and began evaluating him, he suffered a medical episode, according to the police department. He was transported to a hospital, where he died on Nov. 3.