9.28.26 Sheriff Gualtieri Discusses Results Of DFTF Investigation From 8.22.26 SPPD Incident

On Monday, September 28, 2026, Sheriff Gualtieri held a press conference to discuss the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force’s investigation that began on August 22, 2026. On Saturday, August 22, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m., SPPD responded to 7296 5th Street North, St. Petersburg, for a welfare check on 48-year-old Brian Pepal, who was experiencing a mental health crisis and exhibiting concerning behavior. Upon making contact with Pepal, he violently attacked St. Petersburg Officers Daniel Poveda and Tammy Craig. Both officers defended themselves and deployed their electronic control weapons in response, and restrained Pepal in handcuffs after a fight. Pepal became unresponsive and officers began life-saving measures. Pepal was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 12:04 p.m. The Medical Examiner determined the manner of death to be homicide and the cause of death to be traumatic asphyxiation, with contributing conditions of restraint, coronary atherosclerosis, obesity, and schizophrenia. Toxicology was positive for marijuana. In a letter directed to Chief Anthony Holloway of the St. Petersburg Police Department, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri stated, “Based on the Task Force investigation, including officers’ statements, physical evidence, video evidence, witness statements, and the findings of the Medical Examiner’s Office, Officers Poveda and Craig were lawfully performing their duties when they contacted Pepal regarding his reporting behavior and mental health crisis. Accordingly, I find that the death of Brian Pepal was an excusable homicide pursuant to F.S. §782.03, and that the actions of Officers Daniel Poveda and Tammy Craig were lawful and proper under the circumstances.” In a letter dated September 28, 2026, to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, State Attorney Bruce Bartlett concluded, “It should be noted that the officers, based on the extremely violent actions of Brian Pepal, would have been legally justified in the use of deadly force in this scenario. But instead, they chose to use non-deadly force by deploying their tasers and using physical restraints to stop the threat presented by Brian Pepal when he came out of his apartment and committed the forcible felony of battery on a law enforcement officer on both Officer Daniel Poveda and Officer Tammy Craig, contrary to F.S. §784.07. There was no intent in the actions of Officer Poveda and Officer Craig to cause of the death of Brian Pepal and the force used by Officer Poveda and Officer Craig was a reasonable response to the circumstances present by Brian Pepal’s own actions. Therefore, it is the conclusion of the State Attorney’s Office that the death of Brian Pepal was an excusable homicide, pursuant to F.S. §782.03 and F.S. §776.05(1).