Suspect Arrested in Slaying of Brandon Security Guard in St. Petersburg

A 20-year-old man has admitted killing a 26-year-old security officer from Brandon who was working at a St. Petersburg apartment complex, according to police.

Questioned by investigators, Bradley Bolden admitted killing Mathew Finley Little and stated he was motivated by his dislike for security personnel and law enforcement in general, according to the St. Petersburg police.

Police gave this account: tips led them to Bolden at an address in the 1300 block of 66th Avenue South in St. Petersburg on May 17. Earlier in the day, detectives had received several tips implicating Bolden in the slaying. He was subsequently identified by a witness who had seen him fleeing the apartment complex immediately after the shooting carrying two handguns.

Little reportedly was found dead next to the pools at Mariners Point Apartments, 1175 Pinellas Point Drive, on May 16 at 2:09 a.m.. Originally from Sarasota, Little had been living in Brandon. He was employed as a uniformed protection officer at the apartment complex by Critical Intervention Services (CIS) of Largo.

 A $12,500 reward was offered for information in the case within hours of Little’s death. Of that amount, $10,000 was pledged by CIS and another $2,500 from Private Officer International.

According to the CIS release on the incident, Little normally worked the 15th Street corridor in the University of South Florida area of Tampa. At the time of his death, he was working in St. Pete to cover a shift for a fellow officer who had been deployed for military reserve duty, along with approximately 30 other CIS officers. CIS noted that Little had covered this shift before and was familiar with the area.

“Mathew was a two-year veteran of CIS who took pride in the de-escalation techniques he used to diffuse emotionally charged situations,” K.C. Poulin, chief executive officer and president of CIS said in the release. “He was well liked and respected by the community he served and by the CIS family. He was the type of officer who has no problem covering when needed. He will be missed."

A video report on Little’s life, including comments from his family, is posted at tbo.com.

Officers found the body after CIS reported they had not been able to contact or locate Little at the complex, according to the police report. Little reportedly had been shot at least once and was pronounced dead on the scene by rescue personnel.

According to an on the incident, it was reported that Little was in full uniform and licensed to be armed at the time; his handgun was missing from its holster. Detectives have concluded that he was not shot with his own weapon.

Little was wearing a bullet-proof vest, but it appears the bullet struck him above the protected area, according to police. Little's marked security car was found in a nearby parking area.

The police discovery of Little's body was the second time they had gone to the complex overnight. According to reports, at 1 a.m. May 16, police responded to a call about gunshots heard in the complex. They checked the scene but found nothing out of place.

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