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Deputy Used Stun Gun On Wife, Hillsborough Sheriff's Office Says

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2008

Updated: 07/07/2008 03:54 pm

Carlos Thomas Tanner

TAMPA - A Hillsborough County deputy was arrested this morning after he used a Taser three to four times on his wife and placed a semiautomatic gun against her left temple, deputies say.

About 6:15 p.m. Sunday, Carlos Thomas Tanner, who had been drinking, got into an altercation with his wife of 12 years, Kristine, a sheriff's office news release states. He pushed her onto a bed, then took a Taser from his Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office duty belt and used the weapon on her stomach, causing Taser burns.

Then he set aside the Taser and got his service pistol – a silver semiautomatic gun – from underneath the mattress, according to the release. He placed the gun against his wife's temple for about 10 seconds, the release states.

His wife went to a friend's home, and law enforcement was contacted. She did not need to go to a hospital, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Tanner, a 10-year veteran who works as a community resource deputy in the Plant City area, was arrested about 1:45 a.m. in Dover and charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor battery-domestic violence. He was taken in under the state's Baker Act because he threatened to harm himself if he was arrested, Carter said.

Tanner, who remained in Orient Road Jail this morning, declined to comment about the incident.

His bail had not been set.

Tanner, 38, was placed on administrative leave without pay, and an administrative review was pending.

Johnny Page, a longtime friend, said he was shocked to hear of Tanner's arrest.

"As long as I've known him, he's been one of the finest individuals I've known," he said.

Tanner has several commendations in his personnel file, from helping locate a stolen vehicle to tracking down burglary suspects. He was named District II deputy of the month in October 2005.

The Plant City High graduate received largely positive reviews in his work evaluations. However, he received a written reprimand in October 2003 for failing to respond to a subpoena.

In an October 2007 evaluation, a supervisor wrote that Tanner does good work and presents himself in a professional manner. But, the supervisor wrote, Tanner often fails to advise his supervisor of his actions.

"I have always been interested in law enforcement, waiting for the responsibility and maturity that I feel is needed in a career that I want to spend the rest of my able years doing," Tanner wrote in July 1997. "I feel this career is a highly respectable career where I could give back to the community as much as it has given me. I will always give my law enforcement career my highest regards and strive to give 100%."

No one answered the door late this morning at the home of the deputy and his wife.

Neighbor Jesse Melton said he was unaware of the Sunday incident and described Tanner as a decent family man.

"I've known him for 12 years … and never heard anything bad about him," said Melton, 75.

Tanner's property has been in the deputy's family for a half-century or longer, Melton said, adding that Carlos Tanner has plans to farm the 5 acres behind his house.

Reporter George Wilkens contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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