Cortnee Brantley is supposed to begin serving a sentence Monday for her role in a 2010 shooting that killed two Tampa Police officers. But before that could happen, Brantley was arrested by Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies Saturday for getting in a fight on the way home from a 'going away' party.
Sheriff's officials said Brantley, 27, was driving home with Leandra E. Echevarria when the pair began fighting. Brantley allegedly tried to grab the steering wheel from Echevarria, who pulled into a parking lot.
Deputies said Brantley punched Echevarria in the head and pulled her necklace off of her. While Echevarria called police from a witness' phone, Brantley allegedly threw concrete blocks at Echevarria's car, breaking the driver's window, headlights and taillights. Deputies estimate Brantley caused about $3,000 worth of damage to the car.
Brantley was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and domestic violence battery, an arrest report said. She's being held at Hillsborough County jail without bond.
Brantley was supposed to begin serving a one-year prison sentence Monday for her part in the shooting deaths of two Tampa Police officers by her ex-boyfriend, Dontae Morris.
Brantley was driving Morris on June 29, 2010, when she was stopped over a missing tag on her car. Morris, who was wanted on a bad check warrant, shot and killed Officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis before fleeing the scene.
Brantley and Morris communicated after the murders, with Morris telling her where to hide her car. She was convicted in 2013 for a federal crime, misprision of a felony. Morris is on death row for the murders and the killing of another man.
Brantley's attorney told The Tampa Bay Times that the latest incident should not affect the status of her other case.
"Our office has been made aware of Ms. Brantley's arrest,'' said a statement from attorney Grady Irvin, who represents her in the federal case. ''Although, we are unaware of all the circumstances surrounding the arrest, to say we are 'disappointed' would be an understatement." Irvin said Brantley's family members were gathered at her grandmother's house for a goodbye barbecue around noon Saturday when he called to tell them of her arrest.
