Suspect Arrested 41 Times On 142 Charges: Sheriff

PINELLAS COUNTY — A standoff that lasted for about 12 hours with a suspect who barricaded himself inside a hotel room Wednesday night was arrested Thursday morning, Pinellas Park police said.

Walter Brois, 49, had a gun with him inside the Comfort Inn & Suites room on Ulmerton Road, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Officers were in contact with him through text messages and phone calls for about six hours. At 2 a.m., Brois cut off all contact with police.

"There was probable cause for his arrest on battery against a law enforcement officer," Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a news conference. "We were trying to get him to come out."

Wednesday at about 8 p.m., a Pinellas Park police officer pulled Brois over for driving a truck with a stolen tag in the parking lot of Sam's Club. Brois ended up driving off with the officer in the vehicle, and pushed him out. Then a brief police chase occurred before the man barricaded himself inside the hotel room.

Throughout the night, Gualtieri said more than 50 rounds of tear gas was deployed into the room on the 4th floor, but it didn't phase him. Brois barricaded the door with furniture, coolers, another door and other items. Deputies breached the door open with a small explosive. A drone was then sent into the room that showed authorities Brois was lying on the bed wrapped in multiple sheets.

"At that point he was given commands, and he didn't comply with the commands," Gualtieri said. "The SWAT team deployed what we call 'less lethal rounds of beanbags.' Shot him with the beanbag rounds, and at that point took him into custody...He was uninjured."

Brois has been arrested 41 times on 142 separate charges, and convicted of 39 felonies and 10 misdemeanors, according to Gualtieri. He served 13 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. He was released from prison in October 2020 after serving 11 years in prison. He faces multiple charges from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office and Pinellas Park Police Department.

A woman was with him earlier, and she was arrested on unknown charges in the Sam's parking lot. Authorities said Brois also held a gun to a woman's head Monday in Pasco County.

Update: After a 12-hour SWAT standoff with a suspect who barricaded himself inside a hotel room, he has been taken into custody, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office told Patch.

Update: At 10:16 a.m., the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office told Patch that they are still working toward a peaceful resolution with the man who has barricaded himself inside a hotel room after a brief police chase.

Original Patch Story:

A SWAT team has responded to a Comfort Inn & Suites on Ulmerton Road where a man has barricaded himself inside a room, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said.

A Pinellas Park officer pulled him over Wednesday night at about 8 p.m. for driving a truck with a stolen license plate, authorities told Patch. He stopped him in the Sam's Club parking lot in Pinellas Park. Investigators said the suspect drove away with the officer inside the vehicle while pushing him out of the truck. A brief pursuit took place and then was called off, investigators said.

The man drove to the hotel and barricaded himself inside a room. He has been there since Wednesday night, according to police. Law enforcement officials are working to have him safely leave the hotel room. Hotel rooms have been evacuated. He has not taken anyone hostage, according to police.

Officers have blocked off both directions of Ulmerton Road from 49th Street North to Feather Sound Drive.

The officer thrown from the truck suffered minor injuries, PCSO public information officers said.

This is a developing situation. Patch will keep you updated.