Page 37 - Florida Sentinel 1-29-21

Funeral
FAMILY NOTICE
Man Accused Of Killing Deputy Charged With
Crime
MR. GERALD DAVID WILLIAMS
The Lord called Mr. Gerald David Williams of Brandon, FL, home on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.
He was born February 3, 1956 in Clearwater, FL, to the late Thomas John Williams, Sr., and Louise Williams.
Although a Tampa man remains hospitalized, he has been charged with first-de- gree murder. Travis Gar- rett is accused of intentionally ramming the police cruiser of Master Cpl. Brian LaVigne on January 11th. Cpl. LaVigne died as a result of his in- juries.
Last week, Public De- fender Jennifer Spradley told a judge that her client will remain hospitalized for at least another week. Gar- rett was also injured in the crash that resulted in the death of Cpl. LaVigne.
Garrett has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, capi- tal felony; fleeing to elude (at high speed causing serious bodily injury or death); ve- hicular homicide; DUI manslaughter; 2 counts of battery on a law enforcement officer; 2 counts of resisting officer with violence; and criminal mischief with $1,000 or more in damage.
Andrew Warren,
Hillsborough County State Attorney said, “This was a deliberate attack on law en- forcement; he targeted a cop. When you commit a crime like this, when you cause pain like this, you should ex- pect consequences like this,” Hillsborough State Attor- ney Andrew Warren said. “Despite losing a friend, the detectives handling this case are completely focused. They’re doing an incredible job working with our prose- cutors to build the strongest possible case.”
The incident that resulted in the death of Cpl. LaVi- gne began around 4 p.m., on January 11th. The Hillsbor-
TRAVIS GARRETT ... Charged with first-degree murder
the scene in his vehicle.
The responding deputies attempted to block Gar- rett’s vehicle, but he got around them and crashed into one of the gates at the
complex.
Garrett continued on
Brandon Parkway, and then onto Lumsden Road. While traveling on Lumsden Road, witnesses told police that he was traveling at a high rate of speed and rammed a marked police car driven by Cpl. Brian LaVigne. Other deputies worked on Cpl. LaVigne as fire rescue at- tempted to free him from the vehicle.
Cpl. LaVigne was trans- ported to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Attorney Warren also said his office will seek a grand jury indictment for the charge of first-degree mur- der, as Florida law requires. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, grand jury proceedings are cur- rently suspended in Hills- borough County until February 8.
On Monday, the judge granted the State’s request to hold Garrett without bond until his trial.
Gerald is survived by: his wife, Brenda Williams; son, Gerald Williams, Jr.; daughter, Meghan Williams, and daughter, Erica Pearson, and husband, Joshua; grandson, Jaxon Pearson, surviv- ing siblings, (Leonard, Frazier, Mack Arthur, Roger, Gloria Jean Williams Jolly, Julius Karl and Lashaun Denise); half-siblings, nephews and nieces, other ex- tended family.
Deceased siblings are: John Thomas, Mary Alice, Valerie, Thomas John, Jr., and Diana Lav- erne.
Gerald graduated from Jeffer- son High School in 1974. Gerald spent most of his life working in construction as a Foreman. He was always kind and a gentleman. He loved our Lord and Savior Jesus and his family. Some of his fondest childhood memories are shared with his siblings, Julius and Gloria. He will be dearly missed by all.
The family will be having a pri- vate remembrance.
1st-Degree Murder
CPL. BRIAN LAVIGNE
ough County Sheriff’s Office, received 9-1-1 calls from the management of the Paddock Club Apartments, 921 Pad- dock Club Drive, in Brandon.
The callers said a Black man had been throwing property out of his apart- ment window and front door and the man had threatened harm in the past.
When deputies arrived, they spoke with the man through the door. They left because there was no cause to arrest him at the time. More than an hour later, po- lice returned to the complex in reference to a disturbance.
The deputies returned to the complex because the callers reported the man was naked and acting erratically.
When deputies arrived at the scene the second time, they attempted to talk with the man, later identified as 28-year-old Travis Zachary Garrett. At that point, Garrett allegedly be- came combative and struck two deputies who had ar- rived to investigate the com- plaint. He was reportedly tazed at the scene, but it had no affect on him, police said.
At some point, Garrett is alleged to have fled from
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