Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 4-27-18

Features
Customer Burned With Hot Grease At Restaurant
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A 43-year-old Tampa man is hospitalized after another man threw hot grease on him. The incident took place Sun- day, shortly after 11 p.m., at the Wing Stop, 2115 E. Hills- borough Avenue.
According to the Tampa Police Department, officers responded to the business. When they arrived, Robert Williams had been burned with hot grease. He was even- tually transported to Tampa General Hospital by Tampa Fire Rescue.
Police said Williams be- came upset having to wait a long time for his food order and started yelling at the em- ployees. The manager re- funded his money and told him to leave.
Williams allegedly threw a cup of soda at the manager, then leapt over the counter and hit the manager in the face. At that point, the shift manager, (identified by police as 21-year-old Imani Har- ris,) and another employee went over the counter in an effort to force Williams out of the restaurant.
As the scuffle continued, between Williams and an unidentified male employee, identified as 31-year-old Eddie Tignor, is said to have came from the back and poured oil on Williams.
The report stated that as officers began their investiga- tion, Williams became bel- ligerent with the officers and became uncooperative.
The report said the inci- dent has been referred to the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office in reference to charges of aggravated bat- tery against Tignor. The in- vestigation is continuing.
Victim’s Account
During a telephone inter- view with Williams from his hospital bed, he gave a differ- ent account of what led up to the incident.
This photograph
that more than 95% of Robert Williams’ back suffered 2nd de- gree burns.
Robert Williams is shown in his hospital bed at Tampa General Hospital.
shows
Williams said when he walked into the restaurant, he sensed something wasn’t right. He said when he en- tered the store, the manager was talking to someone.
“When I gave the cashier my order, the manager said, ‘I don’t think she heard your order. But the cashier had heard me.
“I admit that I got upset because they were taking so long and I threw a cup of soda, but it didn’t hit anyone. They came across the counter and attacked me.
“First they handed me the chicken and then she took it back and gave me my refund. I didn’t hit anyone.
“When the police got there, they were treating me like a suspect instead of the victim. I kept telling them everything was on video, just look at the video, it’s on cam- era. But they didn’t.
“If I had gone in there to rob the place, the first thing they would have done was go
to the camera.”
Williams further said
that he suffered burns over 80% of his body. He was burned on his back, buttocks, right arms, and inner thighs. “I was in so much pain, I was- n’t in my right mind,” the self- employed mechanic said.
When the Sentinel tele- phoned the business, no one answered the telephone. A telephone call to the corpo- rate office had not been re- turned at press time.
Wing Stop where incident took place.
Deadline Nears For Students To Apply For Scholarship
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Nearly two years ago, a Tampa musician was killed in a traffic accident. His family is of- fering a scholarship to one graduating senior in his name.
The family of Herbert Holley will present the $1,000 scholarship on June 30th. How- ever, students wishing to be considered are asked to submit their applications no later than Friday, May 4th.
Holley was en route to work when the accident took place on E. Hillsborough Av- enue. He was a popular singer, choir leader, musician, director, songwriter, and innovator of Gospel music in the Greater Tampa Bay area.
He was a longtime member of New Mount Zion M. B. Church since childhood. How- ever, he later united with Christ Institutional Church.
His family is hosting the “First Annual Herbert B. Holley Scholarship For The Arts” in his memory.
Students interested in ap- plying for the scholarship must
HERBERT HOLLEY 6/30/1959 —- 10/31/2156
submit a 500 word essay.
The theme for the competition is “What Does Music Mean To Me?”
Students are required to submit their names, telephone number and email address along with the essay to be con- sidered for the scholarship.
Send submissions to: Her- bertBHolleyScholarship@gmail .com.
Anyone with questions re- garding the scholarship can contact either RoseMary or Marquis Holley at (813) 238- 5056.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018