In cuffs, man Tasered and seriously injured on Honeymoon Island

HONEYMOON ISLAND — A man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries Saturday afternoon after being shocked with a Taser while on the north end of Honeymoon Island, according to Pinellas County sheriff's officials.

James Clifton Barnes, 37, struggled as Joseph Tactuk, an officer with the state Department of Environmental Protection, was trying to arrest him, authorities said. Barnes was already in handcuffs when Pinellas County patrol and marine deputies arrived and told him to calm down.

As Barnes continued to struggle, Kenneth Kubler, a marine deputy, fired a Taser at him, officials said. Barnes was then taken to Bayfront Medical Center.

Tactuk, 21, has been a DEP officer since 2010. Kubler, 48, has been a sheriff's deputy since 1982.

The reason for the man's arrest was not immediately clear. Sheriff's officials are asking anyone who might have seen the incident to call the robbery-homicide unit at (727) 582-6200.