Use Of Force By Zephyrhills Police Against Elderly Man Investigated

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL — The Zephyrhills Police Department is investigating a use-of-force incident in which police shot and wounded a 77-year-old man who is accused of pulling a gun on an officer Thursday.

At 3:06 p.m., William Howard Irwin was reported missing and endangered by a neighbor in the Wedgewood Manor subdivision in Zephyrhills.

As the call was being dispatched over the radio, a Zephyrhills police officer saw an elderly man acting disoriented as he walked along North Avenue and turned onto 8th Street behind the Zephyrhills Post Office branch.

The officer rolled down his window to speak to the man, who turned out to be Irwin. Irwin ignored the officer. The officer then parked his cruiser and walked toward Irwin. As he approached, the officer said Irwin pulled out a .22-caliber semi-automatic Beretta and threatened to shoot the officer.

Backup units were dispatched at 3:08 p.m. and surrounded the area behind the post office, between North Avenue and south of the entrance to the police headquarters.

Police told Irwin, who has no prior arrests in Pasco County, to drop the weapon, but Irwin, holding the gun by his waist, said he wanted to be shot and killed by police.

Police used bean bag rounds and a stun gun to subdue Irwin, who fell to the ground. Police were then able to remove Irwin's gun and take him into custody.

Irwin was treated for minor injuries at the hospital.