A Florida man was recently arrested for an armed altercation at a political candidate forum.
Tampa Police obtained an arrest warrant for the man after an altercation escalated when the suspect pointed a gun at the victim, putting him in fear for his life.
Tampa Police responded to a reported altercation involving an armed man at 2005 N. Lamar Ave. last month. The incident occurred just before 8:00pm, as a Tampa city council candidate forum was concluding.
Upon arrival, police officers detained and questioned the armed subject, now identified as 37-year-old Elvis Piggott. He was previously a candidate in the Tampa District 5 election, and he is a pastor.
Initially, the reported victim had left the scene prior to officers arriving. Piggott was released as detectives began gathering evidence and witness statements, according to law enforcement.
There were no injuries reported at the Central Florida scene.
After gathering evidence and additional witness statements, detectives then consulted with the State Attorney’s Office and a court-authorized warrant was issued for Piggott’s arrest on the charges of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Improper Exhibition of a Firearm.
Later in October, Piggott surrendered himself at Orient Road Jail on the outstanding warrant.
“Our community should know that while not every arrest is immediate, every investigation is thorough,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “The detectives assigned to this case have worked with focused determination to gather all the required information needed, as they do with every investigation.”
