Shirtless suspect hit and killed by car while being chased by taser-wielding cop after assaulting screaming woman

Officers were called to a neighborhood early Friday morning after a resident informed them of an assault in progress.

Frank E. Rodriguez, who was later identified by police, was reportedly attacking a woman in her car at the 4000 block of West Hillsborough Avenue when police arrived.

Ronnie Coogle, the man who phoned the authorities, revealed that he attempted to intervene before calling the police.

“This woman was screaming ‘help me god, get off me,’” Coogle told ABC affiliate WFTS.

“I took my cane, turned it this way, and just whacked him as hard as I could in the back through the car window,” said Coogle.

According to the outlet, bodycam footage shows officers approaching Rodriguez while asking the man several questions.

In the footage, officers can be heard asking the woman what was going on to which she responds that she was looking for her keys.

At one point, a shirtless Rodriguez attempts to leave the scene but officers tell the man he is not free to go.

When the officer, later identified as Luis Garcia, attempted to restrain Rodriguez, the man became agitated and said “Don’t touch me, [expletive]. “

Garcia can then be seen deploying his taser urging Rodriguez to comply with his commands.

However, Rodriguez dashes into the street while Garcia gives chase and pulls the taser’s trigger.

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Footage shows then shows Rodriguez getting hit by an oncoming dark four-door sedan.

“Our officer tried to detain the male,” Deputy Chief Ruth Cate said in a statement to the outlet.

“Unfortunately, a car was also coming at the same time and struck the male.”

According to Cate, it was unclear if Garcia’s taser hit him.

Tampa officials have stated that they are treating Rodriguez’s death as an in-custody death because an officer was trying to arrest the man when he was hit by the car and killed.

Officials have also stated that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be leading an investigation into the case.

Garcia, who has been on the force for six months, has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure for an in-custody death investigation.

Police are also still looking for the driver of the car that killed Rodriguez.

According to the police, the woman who was allegedly attacked by Rodriguez has non-life-threatening injuries and is currently working with the department’s victim advocate.

Prior to his death, Rodriguez had pending felony domestic violence and felony criminal mischief charges from an arrest on May 20, 2024 in Hillsborough.