Brantley wants car back from TPD

TAMPA - FOX 13 has learned that Cortnee Brantley, the woman driving the car carrying Dontae Morris the night police say he killed two Tampa officers, is fighting to get her car back after the police department filed for an emergency court hearing to confiscate it.

Brantley's attorney, Grady Irvin, tells FOX 13 that he has had to drive Brantley, who is out on bail on federal charges, to job interviews and school because she has no transportation.

Tampa police have impounded and processed the vehicle.

Irvin says Brantley was hired part-time and has resumed classes at Hillsborough Community College.

In a motion opposing the forfeiture of Brantley's Toyota, Irvin says that the car was not a part of the crime since Morris reportedly fired on the officers outside the vehicle and fled on foot from the scene.

Brantley was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on charges she failed to report the murders of the officers.

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent testified at her bail hearing that there were three phone calls between Brantley and Morris immediately after the slayings. The same agent also testified that no evidence had been uncovered tying Brantley to the murders.

Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy called the effort to confiscate Brantley's car 'routine,' but added that most vehicle seizures come on narcotics cases.

McElroy also told FOX 13 that she expected the car to be evidence in Morris' upcoming trial, with the forfeiture to follow.