Man accused of running over Hillsborough deputy faces attempted murder charges
A man accused of running over a Hillsborough deputy earlier this month is now facing attempted murder charges, and his mother has also been arrested in connection to the case.
Deputies arrested William Todd Lewis Jr., 24, on July 8 in Pasco County after the incident that left Deputy Kalin Hall with serious injuries to both legs. Lewis fled from Hall at a traffic stop in Tampa on July 5, then struck the deputy with his BMW and fled again, deputies said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday that prosecutors have added two new charges: attempted murder in the second degree of a law enforcement officer and attempted murder in the third degree of a law enforcement officer. The second degree murder charge carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Lewis was already facing charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of cannabis, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, reckless driving with serious bodily injury, aggravated fleeing to elude and fleeing to elude a police officer, according to court records.
“These charges reflect the severity of this suspect’s heinous actions and demonstrate the resolve to address and penalize such criminal behavior,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release.
The sheriff’s office also announced that deputies arrested Lewis’ mother, Stephanie Brown, 47, on Monday on a felony charge of being an accessory after the fact for helping her son after he struck Hall with his car.
An arrest affidavit for Brown was not immediately available Tuesday. According to search warrant affidavits filed in her son’s case, Brown received a call from Lewis’ girlfriend, Keilise Garrison, 23, who asked Brown to pick up Lewis that morning after the crash. Brown used the “find my iPhone” feature to pinpoint her son’s location, picked him up and brought him home, the affidavits state.
Deputies arrested Garrison on July 8 on charges of being an accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence. Garrison was on the phone with Lewis the night of the incident, called his mother to pick him up afterward and then deleted text messages from her phone, deputies said.
On July 15, deputies arrested Lewis’ sister, Briana Eileen Jeffries, 29, on charges of tampering with physical evidence and accessory after the fact. According to a search warrant affidavit, Jeffries also exchanged text message with Lewis that night, saying “we are on the way,” “almost there,” “half a mile” and finally “change clothes.”
Lewis is being held in the Hillsborough County jail without bond after a judge approved a motion by prosecutors to keep him in custody until his case is resolved. Jeffries was released on bond and has pleaded not guilty, records show.
Brown was being held without bond Tuesday. Garrison was released from jail after posting bond.
Hall, 33, was released from Tampa General Hospital on July 6 and is expected to make a full recovery.
