Police Department

SPD investigation into child sex crimes leads to arrest in Florida; suspect was former teacher at religious school in Spokane; extradition to Washington State pending

Officer Daniel Strassenberg Public Information Office

Friday, October 31, 2025 at 10:32 a.m.

On October 28^th, 2025, law enforcement officials in Florida arrested 38-year-old Tyrone L. Cliff on multiple felony charges of possessing material depicting sexual abuse of children.  Cliff, a former Spokane resident and teacher at a local religious school, was taken into custody and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail where he is awaiting extradition back to Washington State.

https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/news/2025/october/tampa-middle-school-teacher-arrested-for-possession-of-child-sexual-abuse-material 

The investigation began in August when detectives assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit received a CyberTip regarding the viewing/downloading of material related to child sexual abuse.  Detectives would learn the identity of the suspect, Tyrone Cliff, a Spokane resident.  The investigation began in earnest and as detectives were preparing to serve search warrants at Cliff’s residence, they learned he had moved to the state of Florida.

ICAC Detectives contacted Florida law enforcement and based on the investigation by SPD, multiple felony warrants were issued for Cliff.  It was later discovered after Cliff’s arrest that he was working as a middle school teacher in Hillsborough County.   

The collaborative effort involving the Spokane Police Department, Tampa Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) resulted in the quick apprehension of Cliff.

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