Page 32 - Florida Sentinel 1-1-16 Edition

Crime
Police Search For Attempted Robbery Suspects
Suspects Sought In Hotel Robbery
Police Critically Wound Man Involved In Domestic Dispute
On Monday night, a Lake- land Police Officer critically wounded a man who they ac- cused of pointing a gun at offi- cers responding to a domestic incident.
Police said a woman called police from a 7-11 Store at 8:45 p. m. to request assistance and avoid a confrontation from the man while she retrieved per- sonal items form a house at 1563 Turtle Rock Drive.
Police said two officers knocked on the door and re- ported seeing the unidentified man through a side window holding a handgun.
The officers backed up to- ward the garage while com- manding the man to drop the gun, police said. When the man still had the gun when he opened the door one of the offi- cers fired several shots.
The man fell to the floor, and was transported to a local hos- pital where he is listed in criti- cal condition.
Police said they have not de- termined how many shots were fired, or how many times the man was hit. His identity has not been released.
An investigation into the in- cident is ongoing at this time.
Surveillance of Baymont Inn robbery.
On Monday night, Tampa Po- lice were on the scene of an at- tempted armed robbery at the Amscott, 716 Dale Mabry.
Police said at 8:15 p.m., two Hispanic males entered the store with their faces covered and armed with a handgun, demand- ing money.
The clerk activated an alarm and retreated back into the store. The suspects fled on foot from the scene.
Witnesses were interviewed at the scene, and police are still searching for the two men.
Tampa Police are investi- gating a commercial robbery at the Baymont Inn, 3001 Uni- versity Center Drive.
At 1:57 a. m., Monday, po- lice said two Black males en- tered the Baymont Inn. One was reportedly wearing a mask and pointed a firearm at the night clerk, demanding money.
The second suspect report- edly jumped over the counter and took all the money from the drawer. Both men fled out of the front door.
Police said the clerk told
them she did not hear a vehicle leaving the parking lot. The area was searched after the robbery, but no arrests were made.
The suspects are described as appearing to be 18-to-20 years old, both 5’6” tall and both with thin builds. One was wearing a gray mask and armed with a silver handgun. The other was wearing a dark hooded jacket.
The investigation is contin- uing.
Man Arrested On Sex Charges Against A Child
National Crime
Grand Jury Declines To Indict Cleveland Officer In Fatal Shooting Of 12-Year-Old Tamir Rice
CLEVELAND, OH - A grand jury Monday declined to indict a white rookie police of- ficer Timothy Loehmann in the killing of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy who was shot while playing with what turned out to be a pellet gun.
In explaining the decision, Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty said it was "in- disputable" that the boy was drawing the pistol from his waistband when he was gunned down. McGinty said Tamir was trying to either hand the weapon over to police or show them it wasn't real, but the officer and his partner had no way of knowing that.
"Simply put, given this per- fect storm of human error, mis- takes and miscommunications by all involved that day, the ev- idence did not indicate crimi- nal conduct by police," McGinty said. He said patrol- man Loehmann was justified in opening fire: "He had reason to fear for his life."
Tamir's family condemned the decision but echoed the prosecutor in urging those dis- appointed to express them- selves "peacefully and democratically." Barricades were set up outside a Cleveland courthouse in case of protests, and about two dozen people gathered in the cold rain at the recreation center where Tamir was shot, some holding signs with photos of the boy and oth- ers killed by police in the U.S. A grainy surveillance camera
Tamir Rice, 12, was fatally shot by police in Cleveland after brandishing what turned out to be a replica gun.
TIMOTHY LOEHMANN
video of the boy's November 2014 shooting provoked out- rage nationally, and together with other killings of black peo- ple by police in places such as Ferguson, Mo., and New York City, it helped fuel the Black Lives Matter movement.
There was no immediate comment from Loehmann or his partner, who was not charged either.
Police Ask For Help In Locating Man Who Took Elderly Man’s Wallet
Winter Haven Police are ask- ing for help in identifying a man who took a wallet that had dropped on the floor inside a grocery store.
On Saturday at 11:46 a. m., police said a 76-year-old man in motorized car was shopping at Public, 1396 6th Street, Northwest when his wallet fell on the floor beside him. He was not aware that his wallet had fallen onto the floor.
Within seconds, police said a Black male wearing a white tee shirt, white all cap and blue pants walked up beside the vic- tim, saw the wallet on the floor, and picked it up. Instead of asking the man if the wallet be- longed to him, police said the man continued walking down the isle.
The victim didn’t realize his wallet was gone until he was ready to pay for his items. He called his bank to cancel the card and his bank account had already been compromised within minutes after the wallet was taken.
The man seen picking up the wallet is described as a Black male, 30-to-45 years old, 6 feet tall, and with what appeared to be reading glasses hanging on the front of his shirt.
Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call
RODNEY BURGESS
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 34-year-old man for sex charges against a child.
Rodney Leonard Shawn Burgess was arrested Satur- day and charged with capital sexual battery against a victim under 12-years-old.
Deputies reported that the 6- year-old victim told her mother she had a secret, but Burgess told her not to tell anyone.
The victim eventually told her 17-year-old sister. The teen told their mother and she con- tacted the Sheriff’s Office.
According to the arrest re- port, the girl said Burgess pulled down her pants and per- formed a sexual act on her. She also reportedly said Burgess pulled down his pants and wanted the girl to perform a sexual act on him.
Authorities said the incident occurred Christmas Day at Burgess’ home.
Officials did not disclose the relationship between the girl and Burgess, who remains in a Land O’ Lakes Jail.
This surveillance photo shows a man walking past a man in a motorized chair and scooping up his wallet from the floor.
This is the man seen on sur- veillance footage picking up a wallet that was next to a man shopping from a motorized cart and leaving the store.
Crime stoppers at 1-800-226- 8477
UNCLE SANDY SAYS...
Be at war with your vices, 17, 21, 47, 59 at peace with your neigh- bors, 20, 21, 33, 50 and let every New Year 5, 18, 55, 60 find you a better man. 9, 19, 57, 76
FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A