Tarpon Springs officer involved in death returns to regular duty

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000

TARPON SPRINGS -- Police Chief Mark LeCouris on Monday determined that a police officer did not violate department rules or procedures during a scuffle in which a drug suspect was knocked unconscious and later died.

LeCouris' decision returned Officer Romando Black to regular duty. Black, a 10-year veteran of the department, had been placed on administrative duty after William K. Anderson, 39, of New Port Richey died June 16 from a head injury. Police say that on June 8, Anderson approached Black, who was in plain clothes in front of the Cops & Kids Outreach Center on E Harrison Street, and said he wanted to buy crack cocaine.

Black initially played along and then produced his badge and tried to arrest Anderson. Anderson punched the officer, and, as the two struggled, Anderson fell to the ground and hit his head on the sidewalk, police say.

"Although it is unfortunate that Mr. Anderson died, it was Mr. Anderson who caused the event," police Capt. Ronnie Holt wrote in a memo to LeCouris. "Had Mr. Anderson not been attempting to purchase illegal narcotics and then resist arrest, the injury would not have happened." On Friday, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bernie McCabe cleared Black in the arrest. Black is on patrol duty this week and will return Monday to his regular post as head of the Police Department's Cops & Kids youth center.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.