Pinellas sheriff: Deputy shoots man during struggle for weapon

MADEIRA BEACH -- A traffic stopped turned violent early Wednesday in John's Pass near Madeira Beach.

According to Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, a deputy shot a 26-year-old St. Petersburg man during a struggle for the deputy's weapon.

According to authorities, the shooting happened during a traffic stop in John's Pass just after 3 a.m. A vehicle with a woman driving and a man in the passenger seat was stopped at Village Boulevard and 129th Avenue East.

Deputies said as a deputy attempted to conduct a DUI check on the woman driving, the man became combative with her.

Gualtieri said the man, identified as Dylan Thompkins-Holmes, argued with deputies and at one point got out of the vehicle and tried to get in the driver's seat.

When additional deputies arrived, Thompkins-Holmes continued to be combative and was eventually handcuffed for obstruction, Gualtieri said.

Once Thompkins-Holmes was in the back of the cruiser, his pants fell down, Gualtieri said.

When deputies tried to help pull his pants up, Thompkins-Holmes reached for Deputy Tim Virden's weapon and a struggle ensued, according to Gualtieri.

Dep. Virden was able to retrieve his weapon and shot Thompkins-Holmes twice, Gualtieri said.

"He was under the influence," Gualtieri said. "We know from some hospital test results and his appearance. He's very lucky. When someone grabs (a deputy's) gun, You're going to get what you get out of it."

Thompkins-Holmes was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg with gunshot wounds to his wrist and abdomen. Gualtieri said the suspect was taken into surgery but is expected to survive.

Officials did not relase the female driver's name.

The shooting remains under investigation.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 8:09 AM with the headline "Pinellas sheriff: Deputy shoots man during struggle for weapon ."