FDLE Report Backs Cop Cleared In Fatal Shooting

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has released an outline of its investigation into a May 6 fatal shooting involving a Tarpon Springs Police officer. The report is consistent with the findings announced earlier this month by Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe that cleared Officer Scott MacIsaac in the death of Nicholas Provenza, 25.

FDLE investigators conducted sworn interviews with more than 20 civilian witnesses, in addition to reviewing forensic evidence and autopsy findings, the report said. “The witnesses were consistent in their statements that Provenza charged, rushed, or attacked Officer MacIsaac,” the report said. “All witnesses were consistent in their statements that Officer MacIsaac moved, back-peddled or retreated backwards as he was being attack by Provenza.”

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Four witnesses told investigators they saw Provenza with a “knife or weapon” in his hand. Only one witness, Carli Trewyn, made statements that contradicted others. “Trewyn said that Provenza dropped the knife, began to turn and walk away, and was shot in the side or back,” FDLE’s report said.

Trewyn made similar statements to McCabe’s investigative team. McCabe, however, discounted her statements. “This witness’s account of the shooting is inconsistent with all other witnesses, the evidence collected at the scene and the autopsy findings,” McCabe said in releasing his office’s findings in early June. Her testimony, as a result, “played no part in the findings and conclusions by my office.”

See also: Tarpon Springs Cop Cleared In Fatal Shooting

The incident that led to Provenza’s death began to unfold just after 1:30 p.m. May 6. MacIsaac was working off-duty at a car show in the downtown area when he was approached by attendees who said a suspicious white male was riding a bicycle “wearing an orange jacket with the hood pulled over his head,” the police department wrote in an email following the shooting.

Provenza was reportedly in the area of Tarpon and Safford avenues at the time. The officer made contact with him and called out over the radio the name and date of birth Provenza had given him. Police said nothing came back on the name provided, leading to the officer to advise “that he gave him a fake name.” Provenza reportedly gave the officer another name, which the officer relayed over the radio, the email said.

“Then there was silence, and then the officer came over the radio stating ‘shots fired,’ ‘shots fired,’ ‘shots fired,’” the email said. The officer then said, “he came at me with a knife,’” the agency added.

Provenza was taken to a local hospital, but was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. MacIsaac was not injured, the agency reported.

McCabe’s investigation revealed Provenza had a history of mental health issues that resulted in “multiple contacts with law enforcement and the mental health community.”

MacIsaac was returned to active duty earlier this month following the outcome of McCabe’s investigation.

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