Deputies arrest sister of man accused of ramming Hillsborough County deputy during traffic stop

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that it arrested the sister of the man accused of injuring a deputy during a traffic stop earlier this month.

The sheriff’s office said detectives learned that 29-year-old Briana Jeffries aided her brother, William Lewis, Jr., after he struck Deputy Kalin Hall with his vehicle and fled on July 5, 2024.

Jeffries was charged with tampering with physical evidence and accessory after the fact.

“I stood before our community last week confident that there would be more arrests coming as we sought justice for the heinous acts committed against Deputy Hall,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our detectives continue to pursue every lead in this case and will not stop until all those who helped this despicable man after what he did are held accountable.”

Last week, the sheriff’s office announced that three others were arrested after Hall was rammed by a BMW driver during a traffic stop.

Investigators said they found the suspect’s BMW abandoned about a mile from the traffic stop. When the deputy located the suspect’s vehicle, the driver hit the gas and intentionally struck and drove over him.

The driver, identified as William Todd Lewis Jr., 24, got on the phone with his girlfriend, Keilise Garrison, 23, and drove a mile away into a neighborhood, leaving the car. The girlfriend then called his mom, who picked him up and drove him home.

Chronister said cell phone records prove that Lewis is responsible.

“Yes, when you have your cell phone, you leave a digital imprint and that digital imprint is certainly an integral part of holding this individual accountable for running over our deputy that evening,” Chronister said.

Detectives said they went to Lewis’ home to speak with him, but he would not admit to anything regarding the incident.

The sheriff’s office said Lewis was later picked up by a friend, identified as Zachary Carnegie, in a rental car with their bags packed. They were eventually taken into custody in a shopping center parking lot in Pasco County.

According to the sheriff’s office, Carnegie was out on bond and has a lengthy criminal history including charges of attempted murder.

Lewis is facing several charges including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, reckless driving with serious bodily injury, aggravated fleeing to elude with serious bodily injury, fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, and possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis. He was out on bond for open carry of a firearm and for the possession of drugs. The sheriff’s office also announced Tuesday that Lewis received an additional charge of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell.

The investigation is ongoing.

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