TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Police Department is looking into what happened Thursday night at a hotel where an officer was involved.
Around 11:20 p.m., TPD officers were sent to the Roadway Inn at 2207 E. Busch Boulevard because the complaint said that someone with a gun had been following them.
TPD said that when officers got to the scene, they began watching the area right away. Shortly after the police arrived, they found a man who looked like the person they were looking for.
When the police tried to talk to the man, they told him what to do, but he tried to hide behind a tree and quickly pointed to his pocket. TPD said that one of the officers fired one shot at the person because he was afraid for his life.
TPD said that neither the cops nor the man were hurt in the situation.
Authorities say that after a short foot run, police were able to catch the man with help from both K-9 and air units. Officers later found out that the man was Deshawn Marino, who is 26 years old.
In a statement, Interim Chief Lee Bercaw said, “At the end of the day, I’m glad that no one was hurt because of this.” “This is just one more example of how dangerous officers’ jobs are every day as they try to keep our neighborhood safe. As is usual, the officer in question is put on administrative leave while the probe continues.
After what happened on Thursday, Marino is now being charged with carrying a hidden gun and fighting arrest without violence. After the event, he was taken to the Orient Road Jail.
The TPD says that the 26-year-old has been charged with things like battery and big theft in the past. He also had a warrant for his arrest because he didn’t show up in court and fought against being arrested.
Near where the killing happened, outside the Roadway Inn, police found Marino’s gun.
The police department said the officer who shot at Marino had never used force before and had been working for the department since 2016. TPD said they won’t say his name because the probe is still going on.
