Ex-cop avoids felony trial after leaking data tied to casino bomb plot
A Florida police officer, Brandon Klaiber, formerly with the Tampa Police Department, has entered a diversion programme to avoid felony charges linked to sharing confidential data. Klaiber was accused of passing vehicle and licence details to a suspect later tied to a casino attack. The case centres on his alleged misuse of police databases before a 2024 casino attack at the Hard Rock Casino Tampa. In late 2024, Klaiber reportedly sent tag vehicle numbers and driver’s licence information to Robert Eckley, who later placed two homemade explosives in a casino restroom on September 29 and 30. One device was found near a gas line, raising fears of severe injury if detonated. Eckley faced charges over the incident but died under unclear circumstances before trial. Klaiber, meanwhile, was charged with two felony counts of offences against intellectual property. Since December 3, 2025, he has remained on unpaid administrative leave. This month, a court approved his entry into Florida’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) programme. Designed for nonviolent or first-time offenders, PTI offers supervision and conditions—completion could see the charges dropped. Klaiber’s case will now proceed under the PTI scheme, avoiding a trial if he meets all requirements. The programme’s outcome depends on his compliance with court-set terms. Eckley’s motives for targeting the casino remain unexplained, and his death has left key questions unanswered.
