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Justin Garcia - State and Local Accountability Reporter
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. Tampa cop resigns amid investigation of political player with sex offender past
    June 5• Tampa
    The Tampa Police Department's downtown headquarter is seen in 2022. A Tampa police officer resigned last month after an internal investigation found that he knew as early as 2021 that a local political player known as Giovanni “Gio” Fucarino was a convicted sex offender named John Ring Jr., but didn’t tell anyone what he knew and was untruthful when investigators asked him about it later, records show.
  2. Two juveniles dead after Tampa crash
    May 29• Breaking News
    Tampa Police are investigating the deaths of two minors in an overnight car crash.
  3. 2-year-old shot by father in St. Petersburg, police say
    May 29• St. Petersburg
    Police are investigating the death of a 2-year-old in St. Petersburg.
  5. Tucker Carlson, Fox News hacks tied to FBI search of Tampa council member’s home
    May 26• Tampa
    Lynn Hurtak, left, and her husband, Tim Burke, right, attend the Oath of Office Ceremony at Armature Works for Mayor Jane Castor and City Council members May 1 in Tampa.
  6. East Tampa youth career program must be more than trash pickup, officials say
    May 22• News
    An obelisk celebrating East Tampa is seen in a roundabout along N. 22nd Street at E. 22nd Avenue is seen Monday, May 22, 2023, in Tampa.
  7. State drops attempted murder charge against Tampa Bay rapper T9ine
    May 10• Crime
    Antonio Nelson, who performs as T9ine, is seen in the courtroom alongside his mother, Pavielle Moore.
  8. In Tampa: FBI search, alleged ‘public corruption,’ cyber breach, evictions
    May 9• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Law enforcement officers gather outside Tampa Council member Lynn Hurtak's home Monday afternoon.
  9. Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak’s home searched by FBI
    May 8• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Agents with the FBI outside the home of Tampa Council member Lynn Hurtak on Monday afternoon.
  10. After sitting on donations for homeless, St. Petersburg plans to use them
    May 3• St. Petersburg
    A Power of Change donation station in North Straub Park in downtown St. Petersburg is seen in 2022. The station collects spare change meant to assist people experiencing homelessness.
  11. Pinellas judge denies defendant’s use of medical marijuana, suggests Xanax instead
    April 29• Pinellas
    Judge Dorothy Vaccaro, seen during a court hearing Friday in Clearwater, was appointed to the bench in 2002 by Gov. Jeb Bush after serving as a state prosecutor.