FLORIDA — A Citrus Park man was arrested on drug-related charges late Saturday night after a police officer fired a gunshot during a foot chase in Tampa’s Hyde Park area, authorities said.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the incident happened around 11:30 p.m. near the 400 block of South Albany Avenue.
Police said an officer spotted two people believed to be involved in narcotics activity in an alley on the 400 block of South Howard Avenue. When the officer attempted to make contact, one of the individuals, identified as 24-year-old Marco Fragoso, ran away and dropped a small bag of suspected narcotics.
Officers said the officer chased Fragoso but briefly lost sight of him. Fragoso was later found hiding next to a vehicle on South Albany Avenue.
Police said Fragoso made a motion toward his waistband, prompting the officer to fire one round in his direction. Fragoso was not hit and was taken into custody without injury.
No officers were injured during the incident.
Fragoso faces multiple charges, including possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence and resisting arrest without violence.
Under department policy, the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave while the incident remains under investigation.
