ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A St. Petersburg police officer has been arrested for leaking confidential law enforcement data to a suspect accused of planting explosive devices at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
Officer Brandon Klaiber, who joined the department in 2008 and previously received a Chief’s Award of Excellence, was arrested Tuesday by Pinellas County deputies. He faces two counts of offenses against intellectual property after investigators say he improperly accessed and shared protected information from law enforcement databases.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) flagged Klaiber’s alleged misconduct in late 2024. Authorities say he passed on driver’s license and vehicle registration info to Bryan Eckley, a suspect arrested in October 2024 for placing two remote-controlled explosive devices at the Hard Rock Casino. The casino was evacuated twice, and a subsequent search of Eckley’s home revealed chemical grenades, firearms, a stun gun, and flashbangs. He has pleaded not guilty.
Text messages recovered by police showed Klaiber and Eckley—friends for more than 15 years—discussing personal data requests. Records indicate Klaiber accessed the databases in June and July 2024, while the bombing incident occurred in September.
Chief Anthony Holloway of the St. Pete Police Department said it remains unclear whether Klaiber knew about Eckley’s plans or if the information was used in the crime. However, he emphasized the seriousness of the breach:
“We take an oath. You, the citizens, trust us with confidential information, and that trust was broken.”
Klaiber was immediately placed on administrative leave when the investigation began, and his computer access and credentials were suspended. He is now on leave without pay as both a criminal and internal investigation proceed.
Chief Holloway added that the department regularly audits officer access to ensure accountability, calling this only the second such incident in his 10-year tenure. The department is also reviewing if Klaiber shared info with others or profited from the data leaks.
FOX 13 has reached out to FDLE to determine whether any of the leaked information was directly used in the Hard Rock incident. The investigation remains active.
