Bodycam footage released by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shows a Florida traffic stop that led deputies to arrest a Canadian woman and seize 12 allegedly fraudulent identification cards. Investigators said the cards carried the same photograph but different names and dates of birth. The woman, Bryce Swanson, allegedly gave deputies a false name before changing her account of whether she had a driver’s license. She was later booked on charges related to driving without a valid license and providing a false name to law enforcement.
The stop occurred in Tampa on July 29 after deputies observed that the vehicle’s taillights and tag lights were not working. Authorities said Swanson is a Canadian national who overstayed her visa. She remained jailed without bond because of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer, according to jail records.
| 1) | Traffic stop begins over vehicle lighting violations |
| 2) | Deputies question conflicting identity claims |
| 3) | Search allegedly uncovers 12 identification cards |
| 4) | Charges and immigration detainer follow arrest |
| 5) | Released footage provides account of the encounter |
Traffic stop begins over vehicle lighting violations
Hillsborough County deputies stopped a vehicle in Tampa, Florida, on July 29 after observing that its taillights and tag lights were not functioning. The routine traffic enforcement action became an identity investigation when deputies asked the driver for identifying information. The bodycam footage was later released by Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, who said the stop led to the discovery of multiple identification documents in the vehicle.
The footage shows deputies speaking with Swanson while she was in a rental vehicle. Authorities have not indicated that the lighting violations were connected to the identification documents before the search. The stop provided the circumstances for deputies to verify the driver’s identity and driving status.
Deputies question conflicting identity claims
According to authorities, Swanson initially identified herself as “Brianna Valenzuela.” She also reportedly told deputies that she had a driver’s license but did not have it with her. During further questioning, she said she did not have identification and had never possessed a valid driver’s license.
Swanson told deputies she lived in New York and was visiting friends in Florida. A deputy questioned how she could live in New York without New York identification. The exchange prompted additional questions about her name and identity as deputies attempted to establish who was driving the vehicle.
“Your story’s not making a lot of sense to me, right? You say you live in New York, but you don’t have any ID in New York.”
Search allegedly uncovers 12 identification cards
Deputies searched the vehicle after the discussion about Swanson’s identity and driving credentials. Investigators said they found 12 driver’s licenses or identification cards bearing Swanson’s photograph but displaying different names and dates of birth.
Authorities described the documents as fraudulent. The bodycam video captures a deputy examining the items and saying, “All these are fake,” before Swanson was placed under arrest. The available account does not establish how the documents were obtained or whether they had been used in other transactions.
Charges and immigration detainer follow arrest
Swanson was booked into the Orient Road Jail and charged with driving without a valid driver’s license and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer. The charges stem from the traffic stop and the identity information she allegedly gave deputies.
Authorities said Swanson is a Canadian national who overstayed her visa. Jail records listed an ICE detainer, and she was being held without bond on that basis. The detainer indicates an immigration-related request for custody, but the available information does not state the outcome of any separate immigration proceeding.
Released footage provides account of the encounter
The bodycam footage released on July 29, the date of the traffic stop, provides a visual account of the questioning, the search and the arrest. Sheriff’s officials presented the video as evidence of how the initial traffic violation led deputies to investigate the driver’s identity.
The case remains based on allegations, and the discovery of documents described as fraudulent does not by itself establish a final court finding. Immigration authorities had not publicly provided additional details in the available report. The criminal charges will be addressed through the court process.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Deputies stopped the vehicle in Tampa over broken taillights and tag lights. |
| 2 | Swanson allegedly used the name Brianna Valenzuela before giving conflicting information about her identification. |
| 3 | Investigators said they found 12 identification cards with her photo and different biographical details. |
| 4 | She was charged with driving without a valid license and providing a false name to law enforcement. |
Summary
A Florida traffic stop over vehicle lighting violations developed into an identity investigation involving Bryce Swanson, a Canadian national. Deputies said she gave a false name and that a search of the vehicle revealed 12 allegedly fraudulent identification cards with her photograph. Swanson was arrested on state charges and held without bond under an ICE detainer, while the allegations remain subject to court and immigration proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the vehicle stopped?
Deputies stopped the vehicle in Tampa because its taillights and tag lights were not working.
What did investigators find?
Investigators said they found 12 driver’s licenses or identification cards carrying Swanson’s photograph but different names and dates of birth.
What charges does Swanson face?
She was charged with driving without a valid driver’s license and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer.
Why was she held without bond?
Jail records indicated that she was held without bond because of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.
