A man has been sentenced to nearly five decades in Florida State Prison for his role in the death of an officer who was one day away from retirement.
Travis Garrett, 32, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the murder of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Brian LaVigne, a press release shared by Florida’s Office of the State Attorney said on Tuesday, March 25.
The Jan. 11, 2021, fatal incident occurred after Garrett led officers on a high-speed chase following a neighborhood disturbance.
Garrett, who was paralyzed as a result of the crash, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, fleeing to elude high speed (serious bodily injury or death), battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and criminal mischief.
According to the Office of the State Attorney, second-degree murder is “defined as the unlawful killing of another person without premeditation, but with a depraved mind and disregard for human life.”
HCSO deputies first came into contact with Garrett during the afternoon of Jan. 11, 2021, when the then-28-year-old was allegedly “throwing property out of his apartment window and front door” at the Paddock Club Apartments in Brandon.
Initially, officers spoke with Garrett through his door and determined there was no cause for arrest.
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However, approximately 90 minutes later, just after 5 p.m., authorities received another call of a disturbance alleging Garrett was naked and harassing neighbors, Sheriff Chad Connister said at a press conference hours after the incident.
When the responding deputies attempted to speak with Garrett, he allegedly engaged in a verbal altercation before turning physically violent and fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
Garrett allegedly crashed into the apartment’s gates, Tuesday’s press release said, adding that his “vehicle was equipped with a dashboard camera, which then showed him driving down Lumsden Road and accelerating at a high rate of speed into Sgt. LaVigne’s vehicle as he sat at a stop sign.”
LaVigne was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was only hours away from retirement when he was killed.
In a victim impact statement read in court, the slain deputy’s wife said Garrett ripped away the years they had left together after he gave three decades of his life to the force.
LaVigne’s daughter, also an HCSO deputy, said she lost her mentor.
A plea was reached in order to avoid trial.
“This senseless crime robbed a family of a tremendous father and husband who deserved a long and happy retirement with the family he built,” State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement. “While this sentence can never bring Sgt. LaVigne back, it ensures this defendant will spend the majority of his life behind bars while allowing the victim’s family a chance at healing without a lengthy trial. Sgt. LaVigne died a hero and selflessly served his community until his last day. His life and legacy will never be forgotten.”
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