Trespassing incident leads to suspect arrest and restraint

JSO tased currently hospitalized suspect twice

Booking photo of Paul Testa

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the Southside on Monday morning after receiving a 911 phone call a male had broken into someone’s backyard and was trying to get into the house.

Paul Testa, 44, was found in the backyard with scratches from what appeared to be the fence or a scuffle with a dog. Testa said he wanted to see his father, who has been deceased for years now.

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Testa was arrested and taken into custody without any incident and taken to pretrial detention facility at around 4:26 a.m.

The suspect remained there until approximately 7:15 a.m. without any incident when he started acting erratically by riling up other inmates and jumping around.

Correctional officers tried to restrain Testa who began to violently fight the officers while attempting to avoid being handcuffed. Officers managed to get one handcuff on, but Testa fought their efforts and was subdued by taser.

Testa was taken to medical personnel for treatment and was released by the detention facility medical staff. At about 2:30 p.m. Testa was scheduled to make his first appearance for criminal mischief in the same building.

For the most part Testa was non-responsive, but it wasn’t until the end of the hearing when he heard the judge had ordered an ex parte order that Testa became hostile. Officers placed Testa in restraints.

Testa became combative with the officers on the elevator and when he resisted efforts to be handcuffed, he was tased. Testa initially responded but once the tasing stopped he became violent again.

Officers handcuffed Testa and placed him in a chair used for violent inmates so they don’t hurt themselves or others. Upon being in the chair Testa became unresponsive and authorities called for medical personnel and the jail doctor.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department took Testa to UF Health, where he is currently in life-threatening condition. His family has been notified and is with him in the hospital.

Testa’s arrest today is his only arrest history. Back in 2013, there was a medical call where Testa was found with a full-size machete in his pants.  At that time, Testa reported to police he was seeing demons and zombies. Family members also observed him eating dirt at that incident.