Crime & Safety
Man Accused Of Killing Hillsborough Deputy Indicted For Murder
Travis Garrett faces first-degree murder charges for the death of Hillsborough Deputy Brian La Vigne, the State Attorney's Office said.
BRANDON, FL — A man who ran naked through an apartment complex and punched an officer before he rammed his car into a Hillsborough County Sheriff's patrol car has been indicted on a murder charge in the death of a deputy.
The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office said Travis Garrett, 28, who is accused of killing Deputy Brian La Vigne, faces first-degree murder charges.
Garrett will be prosecuted for the intentional murder of La Vigne, who was just days away from retirement. Garrett rammed his car into a police cruiser La Vigne was in on Jan. 11 as he helped other officers in a police chase to take Garrett into custody.
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Earlier in the evening, investigators said Garrett became combative with deputies at Paddock Club Apartments, 921 Paddock Club Drive, as they spoke to him about complaints neighbors had about his erratic behavior.
In addition to the first-degree premeditated murder of a law enforcement officer charge included in the indictment, the State Attorney's Office is pursuing eight other felony counts against Garrett.
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Deputies first spoke to Garrett after complaints he had been throwing clothes from the apartment where he stayed, according to officials. There was no cause for arrest then and officers left.
Officers returned to the apartment complex on a call that a naked Black man, later identified as Garrett, was running around acting erratically. When deputies tried to speak with him, Garrett hit one of the officers multiple times, according to detectives.
Deputies tried to tase Garrett a couple of times but that didn't stop him, authorities said. Garrett got in his car and deputies chased him as he crashed through one of the gated entrances at the complex.
Witnesses said Garrett intentionally rammed his car into LaVigne's marked patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed.
LaVigne is survived by his wife and two adult children, one of whom is a deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
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