Former School Guardian Arrested For Pawning County-Issued Firearm

CLEARWATER, FL — A former school guardian has been arrested after Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies discovered he'd pawned his county-issued firearm at a Clearwater pawn shop.

On Sept. 18, Erick Russell, 37, was charged with five counts of false verification of ownership for pawning his firearm and other equipment issued by the sheriff's office between July 2 and Aug. 1 at Value Pawn at 29661 U.S. 19 in Clearwater.

On Sept. 5, Russell was arrested by deputies for domestic battery and false imprisonment. During the arrest, deputies learned Russell was employed as a school guardian and had been issued a Glock 17 9 mm handgun with two magazines, a body armor vest and other items by the sheriff's office.

When detectives investigated further, they discovered that Russell had pawned the Glock on July 3 for $200 and again on July 17 for $60. He also pawned two magazines on July 2 for $10 and on Aug. 1 for $15, and pawned the body armor on July 26 for $200.

After pawning the items, Russell then repurchased them.

During an interview, Russell admitted to pawning his firearm and equipment because he needed gas money.