Manatee Sheriff’s Office Pilot Arrested After Neighborhood Confrontation

A civilian pilot with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office was arrested this week following a physical altercation with neighbors in his residential community.

Brian Weathers, 50, was taken into custody on April 3 and charged with two counts of felony battery after a confrontation stemming from a dispute over driving speed escalated into violence. The incident occurred the evening prior, on April 2, when Weathers reportedly approached a vehicle near his home to confront its occupants.

According to information released by the sheriff’s office, a female resident had been standing in her driveway unloading items when Weathers removed a soda cup from the roof of her car and threw it inside the vehicle. A male occupant attempted to intervene and remove Weathers from the property, prompting Weathers to strike the man in the face after swatting his hands away.

Efforts by the female resident to de-escalate the situation resulted in her also being injured. Authorities report she was struck in both the mouth and head during the incident.

Emergency services responded to the scene, and both victims were taken to a nearby walk-in emergency clinic for treatment.

Following an internal review and investigation, Weathers was terminated from his role with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. He had been employed with the agency since September 2024 and was assigned to the Aviation Unit.