Florida Police Officer in Hot Water After Allegedly Aiding Suspect in Casino Bomb Plot
A police officer in Florida has been arrested for allegedly sharing confidential information with a man – Bryan Eckley – who is accused of planting explosive devices at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. The officer, identified as 40-year-old Brandon Klaiber from the St. Petersburg Police Department, is said to have provided restricted data from police databases to Eckley. Florida Casino Bomb
Eckley faces serious charges related to the creation and use of explosive devices, specifically for making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, or discharging such devices with the intention to cause harm. Prosecutors state that he placed two homemade explosive devices in a restroom at the Hard Rock Casino on September 29 and 30 of last year, prompting authorities to evacuate the venue twice within a 12-hour period. Police described the devices at the time as crude, concealed objects utilizing firework components and operated by remote control.
The investigation revealed concerning details about the devices’ placement; one was found near a gas line, and had they detonated, both posed a significant risk of serious bodily injury to anyone nearby. After the incidents, surveillance footage enabled the police to identify and locate Eckley, leading to his arrest in late October. During a search of his residence, investigators discovered firearms, a stun gun, chemical grenades, and flashbang devices. Florida Casino Bomb
While police have not disclosed the motives behind Eckley’s actions, they did uncover text message exchanges between him and Klaiber, indicating that Klaiber had provided requested vehicle tag numbers and driver’s license information to Eckley. St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway stated it remains uncertain whether Klaiber was aware of Eckley’s alleged intentions at the Hard Rock Casino or if the information he shared was utilized in connection to the crimes.
Read also: Playbook Fusion Secures UK Gambling License
Klaiber’s communication with Eckley reportedly began in June 2024, three months prior to the explosive incidents. Following the events at the casino, Klaiber was placed on unpaid administrative leave as of December 3, and his police credentials and access to departmental systems were suspended. He faces two counts of offenses against intellectual property, a third-degree felony that carries a potential five-year prison sentence.
Chief Holloway noted that Klaiber and Eckley had a friendship spanning over 15 years, and sharing the information in question appears to have been a regular practice between them. In related developments, Eckley was released from Hillsborough County jail on April 8 after posting a $200,000 bail and he denies the charges against him. His attorney, Anthony Rickman, argued to The Tampa Bay Times that the state has not convincingly established that the devices were anything beyond simple fireworks, which would not fall under the legal definition of a destructive device. Florida Casino Bomb
