Tampa Police Bodycam Video: Man Dies After Being Tased, Hit by Car While Handcuffed

Incident Overview

• 📌 On Tuesday night, Zachary Groff, 35, died in downtown Tampa after being arrested for armed burglary.
• ⚡ The incident began when officers arrested Groff, who then attempted to flee and was tased by an officer.
• 🚗 Tragically, Groff fell into the road and was struck and killed by a passing vehicle.

Investigation and Legal Scrutiny

• 🔍 Tampa Police Chief Lee Burkaw stated the arrest was for an armed burglary that occurred earlier that day.
• ⚠️ Groff reportedly made concerning statements about not wanting to return to jail and about harming himself.
• ⚖️ Legal expert Jeffrey Schwarz highlighted concerns about the use of a taser on a handcuffed subject and the circumstances leading to the escape.
• 🚨 The department is conducting an administrative review of the officers involved, and FDLE is taking over the in-custody death investigation.

Taser Policy and Use of Force

• 📜 TPD policy requires consideration of environmental factors when using a taser to avoid serious injury.
• 🚫 The policy also states tasers should not be used on handcuffed subjects unless exigent aggravated circumstances exist.
• ❓ Schwarz questioned the necessity of tasing a handcuffed individual, especially near traffic, and the department's negligence in allowing the escape.
• ✅ Chief Burkaw defended the officers' split-second decisions to ensure community safety, citing Groff's suspected armed burglary, a recovered knife, and threats to harm himself and others.