Angela Pryor v. Sgt. Sarah Robinson, individually, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, in his official capacity as Sheriff of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

District Court, M.D. Florida·Decided July 16, 2026·No. 8:26-cv-00327·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

ANGELA PRYOR,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No. 8:26-cv-327-VMC-TGW

SGT. SARAH ROBINSON, individually, SHERIFF BOB GUALTIERI, in his official capacity as Sheriff of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office,

Defendants. ______________________________/

ORDER This matter comes before the Court pursuant to Defendants Sergeant Sarah Robinson’s and Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s Dispositive Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint With Prejudice (Doc. # 22), filed on April 13, 2026. Plaintiff Angela Pryor responded in opposition on May 15, 2026. (Doc. # 30). With the Court’s leave, Defendants filed a reply on June 10, 2026. (Doc. # 33). For the reasons that follow, the Motion is granted in part and denied in part. I. Background This case arises from events surrounding the related action, State of Florida v. Angela Pryor, No. 22-01165-CF, in the Circuit Court for Pinellas County, Florida. See (Doc. # 6). Ms. Pryor’s Complaint (Doc. # 1) provides the following factual allegations: “On February 2, 2022, Deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department went to Baby Dolls in reference to a trespass investigation.” (Id. at 4).1 “When the Deputies arrived, numerous individuals were engaging in a physical affray.” (Id. at 4). At some point, “Sgt. Robinson reported that she instructed Angela Pryor to leave the location and Ms. Pryor proceeded to strike her in the left cheek with her

right hand and then disappeared within the crowd.” (Id.). According to the Complaint, “[b]ody camera evidence disputes this information and shows [Ms. Pryor] was nowhere near [Sgt. Robinson] at the time she was struck.” (Id.). Nonetheless, Ms. Pryor “was subsequently tackled by multiple [deputies] and thrown on a table while being taken into custody.” (Id.). Ms. Pryor contends that “[a]t no time did [she] resist arrest or attempt to flee” and that she “repeatedly advised the deputies that she did not strike Sgt. Robinson.” (Id.).

1 According to Defendants, “Baby Dolls Lounge and Sports Room” is “an adult entertainment nightclub.” (Doc. # 22 at 3). Later, Ms. Pryor “was treated . . . for a head and neck injury she sustained during the arrest as a result of the use of force by the deputies.” (Id.). In addition, “[a]s a result of Sgt. Robinson’s allegations, [Ms. Pryor] was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence, and simple battery.” (Id.). “On February 23, 2022, Sgt. Robinson was interviewed at the State Attorney’s Office,” and during that interview, “she maintained [her allegation that] she was struck by [Ms.

Pryor].” (Id. at 5). “On March 1, 2022, a Felony Information was filed for battery on a law enforcement officer.” (Id.). About one month later, “the State filed a No Information on the resisting an officer without violence charge and the simple battery charge.” (Id.). Subsequently, Ms. Pryor’s counsel sent a letter to the state prosecutor “requesting a Nolle Pross of the battery on a law enforcement charge. Specifically, [counsel] provided evidence showing [Ms. Pryor] did not batter Sgt. Robinson.” (Id.). In May 2022, the state prosecutor “discussed the matter with Sgt. Robinson. Sgt. Robinson contested the evidence presented by [Ms. Pryor’s counsel] and maintained that it was

in fact Angela Pryor that struck her.” (Id.). Later, “in an email to the prosecutor, Sgt. Robinson again falsely identified Angela Pryor as the individual who battered her.” (Id.). “On October 12, 2022, Sgt. Robinson continued to double down on her false statements and provided sworn testimony to a jury, which resulted in the wrongful conviction of Angela Pryor. [Ms. Pryor] was sentenced to probation for 36 months.” (Id. at 6). “On October 13, 2022, [Ms. Pryor] went to the Sheriff’s Office and filed an internal affairs [c]omplaint against the Deputies involved in her arrest and prosecution.” (Id.). “On

November 9, 2022, Sgt. Robinson gave a statement to Internal Affairs where she still maintained [Ms. Pryor] was the female who struck her.” (Id.). “As a result of the Internal Affairs Complaint, the agency reviewed the body camera videos which clearly established that [Ms. Pryor] in fact did not strike Sgt. Robinson.” (Id.). “On November 28, 2022, the State filed a Motion to Vacate Judgment and Sentence and [] as a result the charge was Nolle Prosequi.” (Id.). At some point, “Sheriff Gualtieri admitted, ‘the Deputies messed up.’” (Id.). Ms. Pryor initiated the instant action in this Court on February 3, 2026, on the basis of federal question jurisdiction. (Id. at 1). In Count I, she asserts a claim

against Sgt. Robinson, individually, for malicious prosecution under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Id. at 7). In Count II, she asserts a claim against Sheriff Gualtieri, in his official capacity, for state law battery under Fla. Stat. § 768.28. (Id. at 8-9). Defendants filed the instant Motion on April 13, 2026. (Doc. # 22). Ms. Pryor responded on May 15, 2026. (Doc. # 30). With the Court’s leave, Defendants replied on June 10, 2026. (Doc. # 33). The Motion is ripe for review. II. Legal Standard On a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), this

Court accepts as true all the allegations in the complaint and construes them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Jackson v. Bellsouth Telecomms., 372 F.3d 1250, 1262 (11th Cir. 2004). Further, the Court favors the plaintiff with all reasonable inferences from the allegations in the complaint. Stephens v. Dep’t of Health & Human Servs., 901 F.2d 1571, 1573 (11th Cir. 1990). But, [w]hile a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the grounds of his entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal citations omitted). Courts are not “bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation.” Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986). The Court must limit its consideration to well-pleaded factual allegations, documents central to or referenced in the complaint, and matters judicially noticed. La Grasta v. First Union Sec., Inc., 358 F.3d 840, 845 (11th Cir. 2004). III. Analysis

Defendants seek dismissal of both Count I and Count II. The Court addresses each separately. A. Malicious prosecution claim under Section 1983 “Section 1983 is an ‘independent cause of action designed’ to ‘allow for private enforcement’ of federal rights ‘in courts.’ So plaintiffs may use it to sue state officials who unreasonably seize them in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” Gervin v. Florence, 139 F.4th 1236, 1246 (11th Cir. 2025) (citations omitted). The tort of “malicious prosecution” is sometimes called “a claim for unreasonable seizure pursuant to legal process” Id. at 1247. “In practice, though, a malicious-prosecution claim’s common-law elements

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Angela Pryor v. Sgt. Sarah Robinson, individually, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, in his official capacity as Sheriff of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, (M.D. Fla. 2026).

Angela Pryor v. Sgt. Sarah Robinson, individually, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, in his official capacity as Sheriff of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (Angela Pryor v. Sgt. Sarah Robinson, individually, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, in his official capacity as Sheriff of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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