Man Dies in Protective Custody: Pinellas Sheriff

OLDSMAR, FL — The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 58-year-old Oldsmar man who died Wednesday after being taken into protective custody by deputies.

According to the agency, Julie Degraw, 56, placed a call to deputies around 5:15 a.m. Sept. 7 after her husband, Donald began screaming and grunting in bed for no reason. Deputies and paramedics responded to the couple’s home in the 1700 block of Split Fork Drive and spoke with Donald, an email from the sheriff’s office said.

“He claimed he was having a bad dream,” the email said. “Donald admitted he was currently taking medication for post-traumatic stress syndrome and he refused medical attention.”

Donald Degraw did not meet the requirements to take him in under the Baker Act for evaluation at the time, the email noted. Deputies and paramedics left the home, the email said.

Around 3:45 p.m., however, Oldsmar Fire Rescue paramedics and Pinellas deputies were called back out to the home.

“Julie Degraw reported that Donald was acting erratically again,” the email said.

When deputies arrived, they said Donald was screaming. At that point, deputies said Donald’s behavior met Baker Act criteria and they attempted to take him into protective custody, the email said.

Donald, however, is accused of resisting attempts to be brought into custody.

“Knowing that Donald had access to a loaded firearm within his immediate reach, deputies' utilized non-lethal force (electronic control weapon) to secure Donald in handcuffs,” the email said. “During the course of placing Donald in custody, Donald became unresponsive.”

Donald Degraw was taken to Tampa Community Hospital, the email said, but was pronounced dead.

No further information is being released until autopsy results are available, the sheriff’s office said.

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