Homicide suspect arrested in Charlotte County; attempted to shoot deputy

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.—The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man accused of homicide and attempting to shoot a deputy during his arrest.

Deputies arrested Brian Hewson, 51, on February 20 after reports of two suspects involved in a burglary that occurred in Sarasota County traveling through the Charlotte County jurisdiction while in a rental vehicle.

Deputies witnessed a traffic violation and conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the vehicle’s occupants.

The driver, Amy Lee, 41, and her passenger, later identified as Hewson, did not initially comply with the deputy's commands to vacate the vehicle; however, they eventually left the car after being told they would be arrested for obstruction. 

A member of the Strategic Targeted Area Response, or STAR, ran a history check on Lee and found multiple felony arrests in 2024. Running background checks on Hewson found that he had multiple warrants for his arrest.

After learning this, deputies attempted to arrest Hewson, which was met with resistance.

The STAR member drew his agency-issued taser and gave a warning before deploying it. Running parallel to the STAR member drawing his taser, Hewson drew a concealed firearm and pointed it directly at the deputy, pulling the trigger.

According to the sheriff’s office, the weapon was loaded, but there was no round in the chamber, resulting in the gun not firing.

Deputies discharged their tasers onto Hewson, causing him to lose control of his gun, which was secured by law enforcement.

Hewson was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance, resisting with violence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He is being held at the Charlotte County Jail without bond.

According to the sheriff’s office, the warrants issued on Hewson included the following: one for homicide in Pennsylvania, one for failure to appear in Pennsylvania, and charges in Lee County related to trafficking stolen property.

Provided above is the body camera footage of Hewson's arrest provided by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.