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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A St. Petersburg police officer was arrested Tuesday following an investigation for sharing confidential information.
Officer Brandon Klaiber was flagged late last year by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for sharing protected information with a suspect from the St. Pete Police Department’s databases.
Investigators discovered text messages between Officer Klaiber and the suspect, Bryan Eckley, who was arrested in October 2024 for placing two explosive devices at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in September. Within a 12-hour period, the casino had to be evacuated twice after the “crude concealed device with firework components” were discovered in the men’s bathroom.

Police said Klaiber gave information from their restricted databases that Eckley requested.
On Dec. 2, the police department launched the investigation, placing their officer on administrative leave without pay and suspending his credentials and computer access. After obtaining an arrest warrant, Klaiber was arrested on April 15.
Klaiber, who was sworn in as an officer in November 2008, is now charged with two counts of “offenses against intellectual property.”
Chief Holloway with the police department will provide additional information at a press conference at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. WFLA.com will live stream the conference, which can be viewed in the video player above.
This remains an ongoing investigation.