A man is dead after attacking Largo Police and security guards at Largo Medical Center Indian Rocks.
- Mundrae Francis, 27, brought to hospital for unspecified treatment
- Francis attacked staff members, hospital security guards
- Francis became unresponsive after police used taser, pepper spray
Officials said Mundrae Francis, 27, had been brought to the hospital for treatment, but they wouldn't release any specifics.
They said he was out of control and started battering staff members. Several hospital security guards tried to get him under control. When the security officers couldn't restrain Francis, police were called.
"You have to worry about the patients, you have to worry about the personnel who work at the hospital," said Largo Police Lieutenant Joe Coyle. "You know, we don't want this person getting loose and injuring somebody else."
The initial officers who responded then had to call for back-up because they said Francis started punching them, too.
"Most of the time when we have people who are resisting arrest, they'll just pull their arm away," said Coyle. "This person was actively punching the officers. The one officer who went to the hospital had lacerations on his face and he said he almost blacked out at one point."
Officers finally used a taser and pepper spray to subdue Francis, but then he became unresponsive. Hospital staff tried to revive him, but he died.
An investigation is underway, but Lt. Coyle said at this point it appears that the officers' actions were justified.
The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
A hospital spokeswoman declined to comment but police said no patients were injured during the altercation.