Tampa, Florida — October 10, 2025:
Authorities have identified Zachary Groff, age 35, as the man who died after being tased by Tampa Police and subsequently struck by a vehicle while attempting to flee from officers in downtown Tampa.
According to Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw, the incident stemmed from an earlier report of a car burglary around 1 p.m. Tuesday. The vehicle’s owner notified police after seeing a suspect sitting inside the car. When officers arrived, they later identified Groff as a possible suspect.
That evening, around 9 p.m., officers on patrol observed a man matching the suspect’s description near North Ashley Drive and East Whiting Street. Officers approached and asked the man for identification.
Police say Groff allegedly pulled out crack cocaine during the encounter and was placed in handcuffs while officers conducted their investigation. According to authorities, Groff made several statements, including “I’m not going back to jail,” before suddenly attempting to flee while still restrained.
Body camera footage released by the Tampa Police Department reportedly shows Groff breaking away while handcuffed and running into the street. Officers deployed a taser, causing him to fall into the roadway, where he was struck by a passing vehicle.
Police immediately removed the handcuffs and began life-saving efforts, but Groff was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Bercaw stated, “It’s not something we were expecting, and it’s not the outcome anybody wanted.”
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Tampa Police Professional Standards Unit are both investigating the incident. The FDLE will review the use of the taser and determine whether the use of force was justified.
Officials also confirmed that Groff was a suspect in the earlier car burglary, and a loaded gun was recovered nearby.
Officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending investigation, as required by department policy.
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Disclaimer
This article summarizes information from publicly available news reports and law enforcement statements as of the date of publication. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys does not independently verify third-party claims and makes no representations regarding the completeness or accuracy of such information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.