Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 1-1-21

Crime
Barricaded Man Surrenders After
Man Found Dead In Recreation
Police Investigate
Center Parking Lot
Tampa police are currently investigating an armed rob- bery of a convenience store. The incident took place early Tuesday morning.
According to police, three Black men parked a silver Toy- ota outside the front door and entered the Circle K, 3650 S. Dale Mabry, shortly before 3 a.m. One of the men implied that he had a weapon while the other two removed a cash drawer and several boxes of cigarettes.
The suspects then fled the scene in an unknown direction. No one was injured during the robbery.
Anyone who may have in- formation that can help with this investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc. at 800.873.TIPS or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.
Man Dies After Falling From Hotel Balcony
21 Hours In Motel
The man found in a car in the parking lot at 8701 Progress Blvd., suffered upper body trauma.
A 43-year-old man was taken into custody Saturday after barricading himself in an East Tampa motel room. The incident began Thursday afternoon.
According to the Tampa Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Rode- way Inn, 2904 Melbourne Blvd., just after 3 p.m. in ref- erence to a disturbance. Upon arriving, they learned that there had been an alter- cation that turned into a physical alteration. The situ- ation then escalated with gunshots being fired by the suspect. The victim was not hit by gunfire.
Officers were dispatched to the motel again to conduct a wellness check on the man, identified as Renardo Bucklon. When they arrived around 9 p.m., they heard a shot coming from inside the room and attempted to ap- proach the room. Bucklon allegedly fired shots at them, striking their ballistic shield.
The officers did not return fire and no one was injured. The officers then evacuated people in that section of the motel.
Negotiators arrived and spent several hours attempt- ing to resolve the situation. Just after midnight, officers deployed a chemical irritant into the room. Bucklon re- sponded by shooting from in- side the room multiple times. The officers, again, did not return fire.
The standoff continued. Around 1 a.m., officers made a tactical approach to get an interior view of the room. They discovered the man had barricaded himself inside the bathroom.
Law enforcement at- tempted to convince Buck- lon to surrender peacefully. However, Bucklon report- edly opened fire again firing
RENARDO BUCKLON
multiple times at the officers. At this point, members of the TRT Tactical Response Team returned fire, striking Buck- lon.
Officers took cover and continued to negotiate with Bucklon, encouraging him to drop his weapon and surrender.
Members of the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office responded to provide backup and relief for some of the Tampa Police Tactical Re- sponse officers who had been working this situation for over 16 hours.
After more than 21 hours, Renardo Bucklon was suc- cessfully taken into custody just before noon on Dec 25, after officers made a tactical entrance into the room where Bucklon was barricaded. Bucklon was transported to the hospital with, what appears to be, minor, non-life threatening injuries.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) will conduct the primary investigation into the officer- involved shooting aspect of the event.
Bucklon has an exten- sive criminal history, span- ning almost 30 years, with numerous convictions on weapons and drug charges leading to multiple prison terms.
The investigation is con- tinuing.
Last Tuesday, a concerned citizen contacted the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice in reference to a suspicious vehicle.
When deputies arrived at the Progress Village Recre- ation Center, 8701 Progress Blvd., they discovered the body in the car just before midnight on December 22nd. The victim suffered upper body trauma.
Detectives have not re- leased any additional infor- mation about the victim and said the investigation is con- tinuing.
They are asking anyone with any information about the incident to contact them at (813) 247-8200; or to con- tact Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 873-TIPS, or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.
Robbery Of
Convenience Store
Detectives Attempt To Identify Armed Robbery Suspects
A 33-year-old man fell to his death from the 11th floor of the Marriot Hotel on N. West- shore Blvd.
The death of a 33-year-old man is currently under inves- tigation by the Tampa Police Department. The man report- edly fell from a hotel balcony.
Tampa police responded to the Marriot Hotel, 1001 N. Westshore Blvd., after receiv- ing the 9-1-1 calls. They learned that the man, identi- fied as Julian R. Orjuela, of Tampa, was on the 11th floor of the hotel when he fell from the balcony. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives said it is still early in the investigation. However, the death appears to be accidental, with alcohol as a contributing factor.
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner will con- duct an autopsy and provide a final cause and manner of death, police said.
Detectives with the Tampa Police Department are at- tempting to identify 3 robbery suspects. The string of rob- beries took place in mid-De- cember.
According to Tampa Po- lice, during a three-day period from December 16 to Decem- ber 18, the armed robberies have taken place at local smoke shops; two in the city limits and one in Temple Ter- race. All of the robberies ap- pear to have been committed by the same armed suspect. During the robberies, the sus- pect targets cash in the regis- ter and, specifically, “Backwood” brand tobacco or cigars.
The robberies took place on December 16th, shortly be- fore 6 p.m., the Villains Smoke Shop, 4947 Broadway Avenue, shortly before 8 p.m.,
on December 17th, and at Kings of Vapor, 6406 E. Fowler Ave., in Temple Ter- race, shortly after 3 p.m., at the Smoke Signals, 5128 N. Florida Ave.
In two of the robberies, the suspect was wearing a con- struction helmet. In the De- cember 18 robbery, an older model red Mercedes was seen in the area at the time.
While it is not yet known if the vehicle was involved, detectives would like to speak with the occupants to deter- mine if they have any information that could help this case.
Anyone who may have in- formation that can help with this investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc. at 800.873.TIPS or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.
UNCLE SANDY
You are always stronger, 6, 17, 28, 39, 44, and more resourceful than you give yourself credit for. 5, 12, 31, 49, 58.
PAGE 22-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2021