New Port Richey Man Dies In Deputies’ Custody

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The death of a 55-year-old New Port Richey man following his Sunday detainment by Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies remains under investigation.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were called to the 6600 block of Potter Lane around noon on Jan. 8. When they arrived, they found a man climbing out of a window, an email from the agency said. Deputies said the “man appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.”

The man, identified on Monday as Peter Karavasian, was handcuffed for safety purposes, the agency reported. Deputies say there was no struggle. Karavasian, however, went into medical distress. Deputies uncuffed him and began CPR, the email said.

Karavasian was brought to a local hospital by Pasco County Fire Rescue, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. The cause of death remains under investigation by the medical examiner’s office. The findings are pending the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, the sheriff’s office said.

No further information is available at this time.

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