FDLE investigating Palmetto Police tasing incident, death of Breonte Johnson-Davis

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into the death of Breonte Johnson-Davis Sr. following a Nov. 1 incident with the Palmetto Police Department in which he was shocked by a taser may conclude within the next week, after two months of pleading by family members and the community for answers about what happened.

Johnson-Davis died several hours after being taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital by Palmetto police. Family members said requests for police documentation and details about the circumstances have gone unanswered by officials.

Family members contend that Johnson-Davis was tased multiple times during the encounter with Palmetto police officers, which they say they believe resulted in the death of the 36-year-old father.

Palmetto Police Capt. Mike Stinson spoke briefly via telephone Monday afternoon regarding a community protest and rally Sunday about Johnson-Davis' death. To date, the family has received only a largely blank police incident report about the case.

Stinson confirmed Johnson-Davis' death following the use of a taser on him Nov. 1 to the Herald-Tribune, but no additional details about what occurred.

Stinson declined requests for police body camera footage, stating that the investigation is ongoing and active with the FDLE.

"After the incident occurred, because there was a death involved, we immediately contacted FDLE. It's an ongoing investigation, we're not releasing any body camera footage, reports, or any of that. We are hoping, and from what we've been told, the investigation should be done within the week," Stinson said.

Palmetto Police officials expect the State Attorney's Office to review the FDLE findings before it is released publicly, Stinson added. The state attorney will advise the department of any forthcoming charges, Stinson said, noting that no officers have been named, charged, or placed on administrative leave.

During a press conference and rally for Johnson-Davis on Sunday his parents called into question the accountability of the Palmetto Police Department and urged community members to pressure law enforcement for answers.

"We know that the officers involved had enough information about my son Breonte to know that he needed medical attention. Instead, they brutalized him, dropped him off at the hospital, and called it a day," said Johnson-Davis' mother, Tracey Washington.

"We've been searching for answers regarding that night and their (Palmetto Police) silence has been deafening. The Palmetto Police are alleging that the FDLE is conducting an investigation, but lets not forget that the FDLE is also a law enforcement agency... how can we truly have an independent investigation?" she added.

Washington said at the press conference that no officials from Palmetto Police have communicated with the family following her son's death.

Community members in Palmetto are beginning to speak out about the incident following the press conference and details about the incident coming to light.

Several people spoke during public comment at the Palmetto City Commission meeting on Monday evening to seek justice and express anger regarding Johnson-Davis' death. They called for the termination of the officers involved, the release of recordings of the encounter and transparency from public officials.

"He was a loving person," Breanna Davis, Johnson-Davis' sister, said.

"He was a loving father, brother son, grandson. All of it. He was all of it in one. I just want everybody to know you guys took a big part of us away from my father, from his mother, from his kids... When you guys go to sleep at night, I want you guys to remember my brother."

This article includes reporting from Jesse Mendoza.

Samantha Gholar covers social justice news for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Connect with her at sgholar@gannett.com or on Twitter: @samanthagholar. Herald-Tribune's Manatee County journalist Jesse Mendoza contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: FDLE expected to reveal findings of police, tasing investigation soon