HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by the St. Petersburg Police Department early Tuesday morning on multiple felony charges, including armed kidnapping. Brian Juliano, 45, a deputy with the Department of Patrol Services, was taken into custody on March 24, 2026.
The arrest follows an incident reported at 5:45 a.m. in St. Petersburg. According to detectives, a verbal and physical altercation occurred between Juliano and a woman at a residence. Investigators allege that Juliano threatened the woman with a firearm and prevented her from leaving the premises or contacting emergency services.
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Juliano is currently facing charges of Armed Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon, and Tampering with a Witness.
“This arrest is deeply concerning and does not reflect the standards we expect of our deputies,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Any actions that violate the law or the trust of our community will be met with swift and decisive accountability. We will continue to cooperate fully with the investigating agency.”
Juliano has been employed with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office since April 2020.
Officials confirmed he has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of both criminal and administrative investigations.
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