Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Professional Standards Bureau
- Administrative Investigation Division

Deputy Wayne Wagner
Age: 28
Hire Date: 10/20/2014
Termination Effective: November 18, 2016

What:
A patrol deputy is terminated for using excessive force during a traffic stop and falsifying a police report.

When:
The incident occurred during a traffic stop at about 9:40 p.m. on March 25, 2016.

The deputy was terminated on November 18, 2016.

Where:
The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Mobil gas station located at 10021 4^th Street North, in St. Petersburg.

Why/How:
According to the Administrative Investigation Division investigators, Deputy Wayne Wagner conducted a lawful traffic stop on a vehicle at about 9:40 p.m. on March 25, 2016,  located at 10021 4^th Street North, in St. Petersburg.  After arresting the driver of the vehicle for felony Driving on a Suspended License, Wagner directed the female occupant to exit the vehicle.

Investigators say that the female occupant exited the vehicle and took her license back from Wagner. When the woman turned to walk away, Wagner pushed the woman into the side of the vehicle and took her to the ground. Wagner arrested the woman for Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting an Officer with Violence.

Wagner alleged that the woman aggressively approached him, ripped her license from his hand and shoved Wagner in the chest area. Wagner documented these allegations in a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office offense report.

Administrative Investigation Division investigators received a complaint following the arrest of the woman and they began their investigation. Through the course of the investigation, investigators obtained dash cam video of the incident and surveillance video from the gas station.

The investigation substantiated that Wagner used excessive force to arrest the woman and he falsified a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office offense report to support his allegations.

As a result of the administrative investigation, Wagner was terminated effective on Friday November, 18, 2016.