Man Who Died During Arrest Smoked Spice Before Encounter: Police

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The death of a 35-year-old man following his arrest by St. Petersburg police Wednesday morning remains under investigation, but authorities have released some details in the case.

According to the police department, officers were called to a property in the 1400 block of 5th Avenue North around 7:10 a.m. Jan. 4. A tipster told police they would find people using drugs outside the location.

Officer Patrick McGovern, a 21-year veteran, was the first to arrive on the scene. McGovern found five people on the property and asked everyone to leave. Four of the five people followed McGovern’s commands, but police say Joshua G. Dove did not.

“Dove became confrontational with McGovern and at one point ran onto 5th Avenue North and then back toward Officer McGovern,” an email from the agency said. One of the other men who was present, tried to restrain Dove, but Dove threw a punch at McGovern, the email added.

As Dove and the bystander fell to the ground, police say Officer Bradley Lightfield, an eight-year veteran, arrived to help McGovern.

“A violent truggle ensued as the two officers attempted to arrest Dove. Officer McGovern deployed his Taser with no apparent effect and Dove continued to fight with the officers and resist arrest,” the email said.

At that point, Officers Russell Zitzelberg and Mark Carr, both 27-year veterans, arrived. They also tried to help control Dove, the agency said.

“A second Taser deployment was more effective and allowed the officers to control Dove and handcuff him,” the email said. “They lifted Dove from the ground to walk him to a patrol car, but he began kicking and again resisted.”

Officers then attempted to secure Dove’s legs, but noticed he went limp during the process.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue personnel, called to the scene because a Taser was used, arrived as Dove went into distress, the agency said. They rendered aid and took Dove to St. Anthony’s Hospital. Dove was pronounced dead at 8 a.m., police said.

The incident is under investigation by the police department, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office. All officers involved will remain on active-duty status during the investigation, the email noted.

Police say they did not find drugs on Dove, “but witnesses told detectives that Dove had smoke synthenic cannabinoids, commonly known as ‘Spice’ just prior to Officer McGovern’s arrival,” the email said.

No further information is available at this time.

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