According to the sheriff’s office, the man who is suspected of running over a Hillsborough County deputy earlier this month is now being charged with attempted murder. The mother of the suspect is the fourth person in the inquiry to be arrested and charged with a crime.
William Lewis, Jr., 24, allegedly fled from a traffic stop early on July 5 in the vicinity of Nebraska Avenue and Bearss Avenue, according to the HCSO. About twenty-five minutes later, Deputy Kalin Hall discovered the BMW. At that point, deputies said Lewis hit Hall and then took off again.
After that, Lewis was taken into custody in Pasco County on a number of counts, including aggravated violence, which is currently being investigated as an attempt at murder.
Lewis’ mother, Stephanie Brown, was taken into custody by deputies on Monday, according to the HCSO, following an investigation that revealed she had assisted her son in getting away after striking Deputy Hall. An accessory charge is brought against her.
While Briana Jeffries, the fourth defendant, is accused of both accessory and tampering with physical evidence, Keilise Garrison, Lewis’ girlfriend, is also facing an accessory allegation.
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“The arrest of this fourth suspect speaks to the dedicated and detailed work of our deputies. It’s deeply troubling that a mother, whose role should be to instill values of right and wrong, chose instead to aid her son after he seriously injured one of our deputies,” Sheriff Chad Chronister stated. “As Deputy Hall continues to work hard towards a full recovery, I pray this latest arrest will close this chapter of an incredibly difficult time for him, his family, and our department.
In addition to breaking his ankle, Deputy Hall also sustained a fracture to his leg. After leaving the hospital, he intends to return to his job in a few months.
