CLEARWATER — A former City of Clearwater employee was arrested Tuesday after investigators said he intentionally disabled computer systems used by the City of Clearwater library network.
According to a complaint and arrest affidavit, Jeffery Scott Harmon, 38, of Oldsmar, was arrested March 3, 2026, on a charge of tampering with or contaminating a computer of a public utility, a felony under Florida law.
The investigation began after the City of Clearwater Information Technology Department reported suspected misconduct involving a former employee. Authorities determined that on February 5, 2026, Harmon knowingly disrupted and denied computer system services used by the city.
Investigators said Harmon accessed the city’s network using the account [email protected] and removed a program called DeepFreeze, which was installed on about 200 computers leased and operated for the Clearwater library system.
Deleting the software rendered the network unsecured and vulnerable to malware or viruses, according to the affidavit. The action resulted in more than 200 library computers being shut down and taken offline, interrupting government operations and public services.
Audit logs showed the account used in the incident had been created on January 16, 2026, and later reset on January 29, 2026. Investigators said the activity required multi-factor authentication tied to Harmon, indicating he executed the access.
On February 5, the account logged in from an IP address traced to Oldsmar, where Harmon lives, according to investigators. Authorities said Harmon was the only individual with access to the account at that time.
The incident occurred at 100 N. Osceola Avenue in Clearwater, the location of the city’s main library.
Harmon was arrested at approximately 1:30 p.m. on March 3. The arrest affidavit lists no bond at the time of booking.
The affidavit shows his current employer as the City of Largo.
The case remains under investigation.