Page 30 - Florida Sentinel 10-4-19

Crime
Man Attacked
Search Continues For Armed Murder Suspect
During Argument
Dies Of His Injuries
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has obtained warrants for a man they consider armed and dangerous. He is wanted in con- nection with the murder of an elderly woman.
According to police, 30- year-old Taiwan Blandin is currently at large and was last seen driving the victim’s 2011 dark red Chevy Cruze with FL tag NAG K37 and tinted win- dows.
Blandin is a Black man who is 6’ tall and weighs 190 lbs.
Man Chased By Police Apparently Commits Suicide
Detectives with the Tampa Po- lice Department are currently in- vestigating a death that took place Wednesday. The unidentified sus- pect apparently took his own life.
According to police, a 9-1-1 operator received a report of a person attempting to break into cars on Delray Court shortly be- fore 4 a.m. When officers arrived, the suspect fled on foot, running through yards and jumping fences. Police established a perimeter of the area.
The suspect was observed by an officer getting into a rideshare vehicle on N. 52nd Street. The offi- cer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and the suspect jumped out of the vehicle and ran south- bound on N. 52nd Street, with the officer in pursuit.
There was a distance of two houses between the officer and the suspect when she heard a pop sound. She continued in the direc- tion of the sound cautiously and discovered the suspect on the ground with an apparent self-in- flicted gunshot to the head. He died at the scene, police said.
The information about the in- vestigation was limited at press time. The investigation continues.
der, Blandin is alleged to have stolen the murder victim’s vehi- cle and followed the sexual bat- tery victim back to Fort Meade. At that point, he shot at her. He did not hit the victim.
As he shot at the sexual bat- tery victim, a stray bullet struck an 81-year-old woman in the foot. She is expected to recover from her injuries, police said.
Blandin has reportedly said he will commit suicide or make police kill him.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, “We are prepared for that eventuality. If it hap- pens, we hope that he thinks better of it and peacefully sur- renders when we find him.”
The warrants for Blandin are for: first degree murder; sex- ual battery with a deadly weapon; armed kidnapping; armed burglary with a deadly weapon; grand theft of a firearm; grand theft; arson; and tampering with evidence.
Anyone who comes in con- tact with Blandin is asked to contact 9-1-1 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226- TIPS (8477).
A man who was injured in a physical altercation last week died on Tuesday. His death is now being investigated as a murder.
According to the Tampa Po- lice Department, at approxi- mately 2:30 a.m., on September 26th, an unidentified man in his mid-20s, was standing on the sidewalk in the 1700 block of E. 7th Avenue.
The man became engaged in an altercation with another man. For undetermined reasons, an- other man exited a vehicle, ap- proached the victim, and punched him. The victim fell and struck his head on the pavement.
The victim lost consciousness and was transported to Tampa General Hospital as a trauma pa-
This is the 1700 block of E. 7th Avenue, where the incident took place.
tient. He was declared dead on Tuesday as a result of his injuries. Police have now upgraded the investigation from an aggravated battery to a murder. The investi- gation is continuing and no addi- tional information has been
released.
TAIWAN LEVON BLANDIN ... Wanted for murder
According to police, Blandin became a suspect in a crime spree around 8 a.m., Tuesday, in Fort Meade. In that city, he is alleged to have sexu- ally battered and then kid- napped a woman. The victim and Blandin know each other. Blandin reportedly drove the woman to Frostproof, where he committed another crime.
Blandin is accused of killing an 80-year-old woman in her home. The sexual battery victim was able to escape in his vehicle. However, after the mur-
UNCLE SANDY
Write it 13, 18, 28, 48 on your heart 30, 41, 43, 44 that every day 1, 8, 20, 50 is the best day in the year. 39, 49, 52, 80.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A