Fla. Surgeon Accused Of Removing Wrong Organ Was Driving A Lyft When Arrested, Video Shows

A Florida surgeon accused of sidesplitting a diligent connected nan operating array by removing his liver alternatively than his spleen was driving passengers for Lyft erstwhile he was arrested successful a melodramatic confrontation, video footage shows.

The assemblage camera video, obtained by NBC News done a nationalist records petition for footage of nan arrest, shows deputies pinch nan Walton County Sheriff’s Office descending pinch their weapons drawn connected a Mitsubishi sports inferior conveyance driven by Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky connected April 13.

Shaknovsky, 44, appeared confused arsenic deputies pulled him from nan car and handcuffed him astatine a engaged intersection successful Miramar Beach, Florida, nan video shows. Over nan wail of sirens, Shaknovsky informed nan deputies that he had passengers successful nan backmost seat.

"May I inquire what this is about?" Shaknovsky said. Once they had him successful nan backmost of a squad car, a lawman told him: It was for a manslaughter charge.

Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky during his apprehension connected April 13.Walton County Sheriff’s Office

Deputies past opened nan rear doorway of nan car and 2 stunned women sewage out. Shaking, nan women told nan deputies that they were connected vacation, and Shaknovsky had picked them up from a hotel. One said that erstwhile they saw nan deputies rushing toward nan car pinch weapons out, she feared they were getting robbed astatine gunpoint.

"That frightened nan crap retired of us," she said.

Shaknovsky had been driving for Lyft for much than a year, pinch a five-star standing for complete 3,000 rides, according to a screenshot of his Lyft floor plan that 1 of nan women shared pinch lawyer Joe Zarzaur, who is representing families of patients who opportunity they were harmed by Shaknovsky. The floor plan utilized his mediate name, Jacob.

Lyft did not instantly comment.

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The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said Shaknovsky was indicted connected a second-degree manslaughter complaint a week earlier his apprehension and said he and his lawyer were fixed ample announcement to voluntarily move himself successful earlier he was pulled over.

"Shaknovsky knew that he had a felony warrant, and he still chose to put group successful his vehicle, and he ran that risk,” said Corey Dobridnia, spokeswoman for nan Walton County Sheriff’s Office. "He has a felony warrant and a felony extremity requires guns drawn, each of that."

Shaknovsky and his lawyer did not respond to a petition for remark Friday.

Shaknovsky’s apprehension came much than a twelvemonth and a half aft William Bryan, 70, died connected Aug. 21, 2024, during what was expected to beryllium a laparoscopic room to region his spleen. Prosecutors allege that Shaknovsky alternatively removed Bryan’s liver — causing catastrophic humor nonaccomplishment and sidesplitting him. State records show Shaknovsky’s Florida aesculapian licence was suspended astir a period later.

Shaknovsky was sued by Bryan’s widow and besides faces a aesculapian negligence suit for a abstracted room connected Dorothy Dorsett, 70. Dorsett died successful August 2023, days aft Shaknovsky removed a wide from her but past allegedly grounded to return steps to forestall sepsis afterward, according to a civilian suit revenge by her son. The lawsuits are ongoing.

Shaknovsky, a expert of osteopathic medicine, had been licensed to believe successful respective states. He mislaid his licenses successful Florida, Alabama and New York pursuing Bryan’s death.

Shaknovsky is scheduled to beryllium arraigned connected May 19. He faces up to 15 years successful situation if convicted of second-degree manslaughter successful Bryan’s death.

As Shaknovsky’s passengers recovered from nan daze of equipped deputies surrounding their Lyft, 1 lawman explained that location had been a warrant retired for Shaknovsky’s arrest, according to nan assemblage camera video.

“We’re not utilizing Lyft again,” 1 of nan passengers joked. “From now on, we’re utilizing Uber.”