Page 39 - Florida Sentinel 11-27-20

Crime
Young Man Killed In Bad Drug Deal
This 7-Eleven Store, 398 Marigold Avenue, in Poinciana, is where a man died after a drug deal went bad.
Two Men Face Several Charges Linked To Double Murder
Detectives have arrested two men in connection with a double murder that took place earlier this month. The victims have been identified as former City Commissioner Edith Henderson, 67, and her hus- band, 63-year-old David Henderson. Their bodies were discovered inside their home on November 10th.
According to police, offi- cers responded to the 10 block of Lake Morton Drive in refer- ence to a wellness check on the couple. While searching the home, they discovered the two bodies.
Mrs. Henderson served as a City Commissioner from 2006 until 2018.
Detectives launched their investigation to the double murder and information gath- ered led them to 36-year-old Marcelle Waldon. He was arrested Wednesday night and charged with 10 felonies, in- cluding first-degree murder.
Detectives also believe that he turned on all the burners of the gas stove in the kitchen in an effort to set the home on fire. They believe he took one of the couple’s cars, which was
JARVIS COLLINS
later found burned in Lake- land.
A tip led police to Wal- don. The tipster said he had observed Waldon with jew- elry and personal items taken from the home.
The second arrest took place last Friday when 37- year-old Jarvis Collins was taken into custody. He was charged with six felony counts related to being an accessory after the fact of a first-degree felony, tampering with physi- cal evidence, and dealing in stolen property.
Detectives learned that on two separate occasions the day after the double murder that
MARCELLE WALDON
Collins pawned several jew- elry items, taken from the Henderson residence, at local Pawn Shops in Lakeland.
Collins admitted to detec- tives that he pawned the jew- elry given to him by Marcelle Waldon.
Waldon was a suspect in the homicide and that the items were stolen from the Henderson’s residence. Evi- dence collected at both pawn shops also confirmed Collins’s identity as the per- son who pawned the stolen items.
Collins was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail without incident.
Carrollwood Man Accused Of Sexually Battering Two Girls
A 57-year-0ld man was ar- rested last week and charged with sex crimes against two juveniles. The offenses took place at his home at 5613 Ful- mer Drive in Carrollwood.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, the mother of one of the vic- tims contacted police. She was alerted by another parent that her daughter told a friend she had been touched inap- propriately by Thomas Ryder while at his home. Ryder often served as a babysitter for the juvenile.
While interviewing the ju- venile, detectives learned that Ryder had touched her inap- propriately and taken nude photographs of her on multi- ple occasions over the course of two years.
During the investigation, detectives learned that a friend of the juvenile, who
THOMAS RYDER
had also spent time at Ryder’s home, claimed he had touched her inappropri- ately as well, taken nude pho- tos, and sexually battered her on several occasions. The ju- venile victims are under the age of 15.
On November 19, a court- authorized search warrant was executed at Ryder’s
home. Ryder admitted to the sexual battery allegations.
He was arrested and charged with sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molesta- tion (2 counts), and lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under the age of 12.
Sheriff Chad Chronis- ter said, “It is shameful that someone entrusted with the care of children violated their trust and the trust of their parents by committing such obscene and despicable acts.
“We are thankful that the juveniles involved had the courage to say something. I encourage any juvenile who is being taken advantage of to find an adult or a friend they can confide in and speak up. If you suspect a child is being abused, you can call the Florida DCF Child Abuse Hot- line at 1-800-962-2873 and file a report anonymously.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a homicide investigation. It took place at a 7-Eleven Gas Station, 398 Marigold Avenue, Monday afternoon.
According to police, deputies responded to the lo- cation in reference to a shoot- ing. When they arrived, they discovered a male deceased in- side of a car with apparent gunshot wounds.
The victim has not been identified.
Police said the shooting was a drug deal gone bad. The suspects are two Black males who fled the scene in a dark blue Chevrolet.
Sheriff Grady Judd said, “At this early point in the in- vestigation, it appears this was a meeting for the purpose of making a transaction over marijuana. I am tired of hear- ing that marijuana is a low- level, non-violent crime. We have a man who was murdered at this scene as proof that there is nothing low-level or non-vi- olent about this.”
If anyone has any informa- tion about the crime he or she is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 1- 863-298-6200; or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-900-226- TIPS, or www.heartland- crimestoppers.com.
Firefighter Charged With Threatening To Shoot Woman
Tampa Police have arrested a Clearwater firefighter and charged him with aggravated assault. The arrest took place early Tuesday morning.
According to police, offi- cers were dispatched to the 200 block of W. Idlewild shortly after 4 a.m. When they arrived, they learned that 41- year-old Christopher Maine, a firefighter with the Clearwater Fire Department and an unidentified 41-year- old woman were drinking and became engaged in a verbal ar- gument. At some point the quarrel escalated and Maine reportedly grabbed the victim by her throat, forcing her to the ground.
When the victim was able to escape, Maine is then al- leged to have pointed a hand- gun at her and threatened to shoot her.
She attempted to call 9-1-1,
but he reportedly took the phone away from her, police said.
The first officer on the scene reportedly heard Maine yelling at her. When the officer knocked on the door, the woman told him that Maine was armed with a handgun. Maine continued to point the gun in the direction of the offi- cer and the victim as they were in the doorway.
The officer reportedly pulled the victim from the doorway and took her a safe distance away before ap- proaching Maine. The officer gave him verbal commands to surrender to which he com- plied and was arrested.
Maine was charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domes- tic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment and tam- pering with a witness.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 23-A