A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputy has been arrested after allegedly stalking a woman following a previous traffic stop.
Deputy Andrew Brown was arrested July 17 following an investigation into reports of misconduct.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Brown conducted a traffic stop involving the victim on July 7 and obtained her phone number. After the stop, he allegedly sent her repeated unwanted messages, even after she blocked his number.
Brown is charged with one count of stalking.
"When someone puts on our uniform, they take on a responsibility to serve with integrity. The badge is a symbol of trust, and this deputy betrayed that trust," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release. "That is a violation of everything HCSO stands for, and it makes me furious. We will hold him accountable, just as we would anyone else who breaks the law."
Brown has been with HCSO for nine months and has been suspended without pay pending both the criminal and administrative investigations.
The investigation remains active, and additional updates will be provided as they become available.