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Justin Garcia

State and Local Accountability Reporter

I thrive on exposing what’s hidden from the public. As an accountability reporter, I work to uncover issues that affect the community surrounding Tampa Bay and all of Florida. My focus is on law enforcement and the judicial system, but I’ll keep an eye on several government agencies. Before joining the Times in 2023, I freelanced for outlets like The Nation and Investigative Reporters & Editors Journal. I was also a staff writer for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Feel free to reach out to me if there’s a matter that you think I should look into.

  1. Lessons from Skyway disaster failed to help protect Baltimore bridge
    Yesterday• Pinellas
  2. Tampa police investigating officer after alleged hit and run
    March 27• Tampa
  3. Did a Pasco deputy follow best practices before a fatal shooting?
    March 22• Pasco
  5. Zieglers sue to stop release of records gathered during criminal investigation
    March 19• The Buzz on Florida Politics
  6. Is it safe to dye the Hillsborough River green? Here’s what we know.
    March 12• Tampa
  7. Tim Burke’s lawyers say feds’ search warrant request omitted key information
    March 7• Tampa
  8. Prosecutors decline to charge Christian Ziegler with video voyeurism
    March 6• The Buzz on Florida Politics
  9. Bay Pines VA CEO announces retirement, months after feds gave hospital dismal score
    March 5• Pinellas
  10. Tim Burke’s legal case could hinge on precisely how he accessed Fox News videos
    Feb. 26• News
  11. Tim Burke’s lawyer says they don’t know alleged co-conspirator’s name
    Feb. 23• Florida
  12. Tampa media figure Tim Burke indicted on conspiracy charges
    Feb. 22• Tampa
  13. Hillsborough deputy faced retaliation after reporting abuse, lawsuit says
    Feb. 22• Hillsborough
  14. A Tampa firefighter decried racism. Now, he’s been fired for forgery.
    Feb. 21• Tampa
  15. Christian Ziegler wants to use Marsy’s Law. Police say he’s not a victim.
    Feb. 8• The Buzz on Florida Politics
  16. ‘I’m losing engine.’ Pilot reported trouble before Clearwater plane crash.
    Feb. 3• Clearwater
  17. Tampa airport CEO announces he will step down in 2025
    Feb. 1• Tampa
  18. DeSantis state contractor was reported to feds a year before deputy death
    Jan. 31• The Buzz on Florida Politics
  19. Former St. Petersburg homicide detective under criminal investigation
    Jan. 30• St. Petersburg
  20. St. Petersburg police homicide detective mishandled cases before resigning
    Jan. 18• St. Petersburg
  21. Rising rents at Oldsmar Flea Market make some vendors feel forced out
    Dec. 30, 2023• Pinellas
  22. Tampa settles with Department of Justice in parental leave lawsuit
    Dec. 22, 2023• Tampa
  23. Bay Pines officer’s body camera recorded him having sex while on duty
    Dec. 8, 2023• Pinellas
  24. A migrant killed a deputy. A DeSantis agency’s probe was 2 pages.
    Nov. 20, 2023• Elections