Pinellas County deputy fired for using excessive force

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - A Pinellas County patrol deputy has been fired for using excessive force during a traffic stop and falsifying a police report, the sheriff's office said.

The Pinellas County Sheriff Office said 28-year-old Wayne Wagner was hired as a deputy in September of 2014. His termination was effective November 18. 

The incident for which he was fired happened during a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Mobil gas station on 4th Street North in St. Petersburg. at about 9:40 p.m. on March 25, 2016.  

According to investigators, Deputy Wayne Wagner lawfully stopped a vehicle at about 9:40 p.m. on March 25, 2016. After arresting the driver of the vehicle for felony driving on a suspended license, Wagner told a woman in the car with the suspect to get out of the car.

Investigators say she got out and took her license back from Wagner. When the woman turned to walk away, Wagner pushed the woman into the side of the vehicle and took her to the ground. Wagner arrested her for battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence.

Wagner said the woman aggressively approached him, ripped her license from his hand and shoved him in the chest area.He documented the allegations in a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office offense report.

Investigators got a complaint about the incident and they began to look into it - reviewing dash cam and surveillance video from the gas station. They found Wagner used excessive force to arrest the woman and falsified a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office offense report to support his allegations.