A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy is under criminal investigation after a late-night traffic stop allegedly turned into a texting ordeal for a local woman. The deputy, identified as 39-year-old Andrew Brown, was arrested Friday on one count of stalking and has been placed on unpaid suspension while both a criminal case and an internal administrative probe move forward. The arrest, announced July 17, comes amid heightened scrutiny of law enforcement conduct in the county.
How investigators say it unfolded
According to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office press release, the case started with a traffic stop on July 7 at about 10:22 p.m. Deputies pulled over a woman, and Brown obtained her phone number during the encounter. Detectives say that after the stop, Brown began sending a continuous stream of unwanted messages. The woman reportedly blocked his number, but the messages allegedly continued, leading her to report the behavior and triggering a criminal investigation that ended with Brown’s arrest.
Sheriff's response
Sheriff Chad Chronister did not mince words about the allegations. In a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office statement, he said the deputy "betrayed that trust" and called the conduct a violation of everything the agency stands for. Chronister stressed that those who wear the badge are expected to serve with integrity and vowed that the office would hold the employee accountable if the allegations are substantiated.
Another misconduct case this year
The Brown case is not the first personnel headache for HCSO this year. In April, deputies arrested fellow deputy Justin Thornsberry after investigators said he placed a tracking device on a woman’s vehicle and charged him with stalking and related offenses, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Thornsberry was also suspended while his criminal and administrative cases moved forward.
What happens next
Brown has been with the sheriff’s office for nine months and is assigned to the Department of Patrol Services. He faces one count of stalking and remains suspended without pay while both the criminal case and an internal administrative investigation continue, as reported by the Tampa Free Press. Prosecutors will now decide whether to file formal charges in court, and HCSO has said it will cooperate with any outside investigators involved in the case.
