Just an awful story out of Brandon. Heartbreaking and infuriating. Master Corporal Brian LaVigne was one shift away from his retirement after spending over 30 years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, according to a post to the HCSO Facebook page tonight. And now the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of their own.
They say this all began this afternoon at 3:42pm when they got a 911 call from management at the Paddock Club Apartments. There were reports that a man had been throwing property out of his window and front door. When officers arrived, they talked to the guy but didn’t find any reason to arrest him. A little over an hour later, a resident said he was nude, throwing cookies at neighbors and acting erratically.
When HCSO deputies returned, they say 28 year old Travis Zachary Gabriel Garrett was confrontational and struck one of the deputies in the head. They used a taser to try to get this guy under control, but were unsuccessful. That’s when they say Garrett got in his car and took off. Witnesses say Garrett intentionally rammed into Master Corporal Brian LaVigne who was in a marked HSCO vehicle. LaVigne was rushed Tampa General Hospital, but he did not survive.
LaVigne was just 54 and leaves behind his wife and 2 adult children. One of them is also a deputy with the HCSO. LaVigne had been with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for over 30 years and they say he was just one shift away from retirement.
Garrett is in custody. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Garrett had no prior record in Hillsborough County but was once Baker Acted in Pasco County.