A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy is off the street and facing domestic-violence-related charges after detectives say they uncovered a secret tracking device on a vehicle during a recent investigation. The deputy, 37-year-old Justin Thornsberry, has been suspended without pay while both criminal and administrative probes move forward.
Detectives first got involved on April 4 during a reported domestic incident and later determined that a tracker had been placed on a vehicle without the owner's consent, according to the Tampa Free Press. The outlet reports that Thornsberry, a seven-year HCSO veteran assigned to the Department of Patrol Services, was arrested on April 7.
He now faces three alleged offenses described by authorities as unlawful use of a two-way communications device (domestic violence), installation or use of tracking devices or tracking applications (domestic violence), and stalking (domestic violence), the paper noted.
“This case involves a serious abuse of personal privacy and authority,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement quoted by the Tampa Free Press. According to the outlet, the Sheriff's Office Public Affairs Office confirmed that Thornsberry has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal review.
What The Law Says About Secret Trackers
Florida law generally prohibits putting a tracking device on someone else's property or using such a device to monitor them without their consent, with only narrow exceptions for owners, caregivers and properly authorized law enforcement work. Violations are treated as a third-degree felony under state statute, as outlined by the Florida Senate in section 934.425, which also explains how consent can affect prosecution.
Trackers Have Turned Up In Other Hillsborough Cases
Hillsborough County detectives have dealt with tracking gadgets misused in serious crimes before. In May 2025, the Sheriff's Office reported that a suspect allegedly used a small device to track down and kidnap an ex-girlfriend, according to a release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. That case led to multiple charges and was cited as an example of how cheap Bluetooth and GPS trackers can be twisted into tools for stalking.
Advocates and regional law enforcement officials have repeatedly warned about the rising misuse of Apple AirTag-style and Bluetooth trackers in stalking and domestic violence situations, and newsroom investigations have flagged similar incidents around Florida. The Tampa Bay Times has reported on both the trend and legal efforts to keep up with the technology.
Thornsberry's arrest now adds a high-profile name in uniform to those concerns, raising fresh questions about privacy, power and domestic-violence tech in Hillsborough County. Authorities say the investigation is still active and have not released further details. Anyone with information related to the case can contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office tip line.
