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Batteries on rescue equipment failed

A Tampa man could not be revived with a portable defibrillator because the batteries had died.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN and JACOB H. FRIES
Published April 14, 2006

CLEARWATER - Paramedics treating a man whose heart had stopped after a fight with police were unable to use a portable defibrillator in an attempt to save him because the batteries failed, the St. Petersburg Times has learned.

Thomas C. Tipton, 34, of Tampa, was pronounced dead at a Clearwater hospital soon after the April 6 incident.

The Pinellas County Medical Director and the city are investigating the failure of the defibrillator, city spokesman Joelle Castelli said Friday. No city paramedics have been suspended.

"We're aware of a problem with the batteries," said Castelli, who declined to comment further because of the pending investigation.

Before Friday, city officials had not released details of the emergency medical response. A Clearwater fire station is about 100 yards from where the struggle took place.

Witnesses said Tipton died after a struggle with police where he was shocked at least twice with a police-issued Taser. The Pinellas County Medical Examiner, which is independent from the county medical director's office, has not released the results of an autopsy.

Tipton was fighting police in the courtyard of the Tropic Isle Motel late on the night of April 6, according to police and a witness.

At 11:30 p.m., he had knocked over several patio chairs and broke jalousie windows, police say. Guests called 911 and looked out doors and windows.

There stood Tipton, shirtless, muscular and angry, police say. When officers tried to subdue him, Tipton kicked and punched at them while shouting expletives, police and witnesses said.

"He was very belligerent," said Cesar Cuevas, a fashion photographer whose first-floor room looked out on the scene.

Cuevas said one of the officers drew his Taser and fired. That slowed Tipton, but his fight with officers continued. Another Taser was deployed, he said.

"It took the three of them, with all their training and experience, to get the handcuffs on one man and they still didn't have the upper hand," Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.

Tipton, who had no known criminal record, continued to fight, police said. He was pronounced dead at Morton Plant Hospital.

[Last modified April 14, 2006, 14:41:37]