Release posted on 04/15/2025 at 1:30 PM

Today the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office took St. Petersburg Police Officer Brandon Klaiber into custody on an arrest warrant issued by the St. Petersburg Police Department for sharing confidential information. Chief Holloway will be available for questions from any interested media at 3 p.m. today. 

 Late last year the Florida Department of Law Enforcement notified the St. Petersburg Police Department of potential criminal violations involving Officer Klaiber for sharing protected information from law enforcement databases with one of their suspects.

Their suspect, Bryan Eckley, was arrested in October 2024, for planting explosive devices at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Investigators discovered text messages between Eckley and Officer Klaiber where Officer Klaiber provided information obtained from restricted databases to Eckley when requested.

An investigation was immediately launched and on December 2, 2024, Officer Klaiber was placed on administrative leave and all his credentials and computer access were suspended for the duration of the investigation. Our Detectives worked with the Pinellas Pasco State Attorney's Office and obtained a warrant for Officer Klaiber's arrest. He was taken into custody today, April 15, 2025.

He is currently charged with:

- Two counts of "Offenses Against Intellectual Property" a 3rd-degree felony.

Officer Klaiber was sworn as a St. Petersburg Officer in November 2008. 

The State of Florida limits the access to, and use of, personal information from police databases to officers only when working in an official capacity. Accessing or sharing private information with an unauthorized person carries a criminal charge for the officer. 

This is currently an ongoing criminal investigation. Officer Klaiber has been placed on administrative leave without pay. The Police Department's Office of Professional Standards will also conduct an administrative investigation into the allegations.