TAMPA, Fla. — A trial date has been set for the man charged with killing Hillsborough County Cpl. Brian LaVigne after he allegedly crashed into his cruiser back in Jan. 2021.
Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin on March 31, 2025, according to Hillsborough County Court records.
Travis Garrett is charged with first-degree murder, DUI manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of resisting arrest, felony criminal mischief and aggravated fleeing to elude, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
Back in 2021, Chronister said deputies arrived at the Paddock Club in Brandon after receiving calls about someone throwing items off his balcony. Seeing there was no crime, they left.
After some time, another neighbor called for help, saying Garrett was naked and throwing cookies at neighbors. Once deputies arrived, Garrett was immediately combative and even knocked one deputy down, prompting another deputy to use a Tazer on him. It was ineffective.
Garrett reportedly tried to get away from deputies before plowing into the driver's side of LaVigne's patrol car on Lumsden Road, Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news conference at the time of the incident.
"Corporal LaVigne was in the area, he was actually in the turn lane where he could make a turn onto Lumsden Boulevard," Chronister said. "This individual, Mr. Garrett, is traveling at a high rate of speed. Mr. Garrett intentionally switches two lanes and goes off into the turn lane to strike Corporal LaVigne's vehicle."
LaVigne was 54 years old and had one more day of work before he was to retire after 30 years, the sheriff said. He is survived by his wife and two adult children, one of whom is a deputy with the sheriff's office.