Officers were called for reports of an unidentified person acting strangely in the middle of traffic just outside Carter Park. Police said Thomas Williams was putting themself and others in danger, and tried to place the individual in custody under the Baker Act. During the struggle, officers used pepper spray. Williams was transported to Broward General Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Victim's Name: Thomas Williams
Agency Responsible: Fort Lauderdale Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Race: Black
Date of Death: August 5, 2017
County: Broward
Cause of Death: Pepper Spray
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Unknown
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have an Actual Weapon
Weapon: unarmed
Threat Level: other
Fleeing: Not fleeing
Geography: Suburban