Page 17 - Florida Sentinel 1-7-20

Crime
Man Arrested After 23-Hour Standoff With Police
75-Year-Old Man Killed, Driver Charged With DUI
A 30-year-old man was ar- rested after a lengthy standoff with police. He is facing several charges.
According to police, the inci- dent began Wednesday night when Nickolus P. Johnson al- legedly shot at his girlfriend, around 9:30 p.m., on January 1st. She had gone to the home to pick up their two children, ages 4 and 9. She had gone to get the chil- dren after Johnson called her and was making irrational state- ments on the phone.
The woman told police that shortly after she arrived, John- son produced a firearm and began shooting at her vehicle. One of the bullets struck the front windshield and she left and called police.
When deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrived, Johnson barricaded himself and the two children in the house at 4206 Deeson Road, where he lived with his mother.
He then refused to come out of the house or let the children come out. The Polk County Sher- iff’s Office SWAT Team, the Lakeland Police Department SWAT Team, and the Crisis Ne- gotiations Teams responded to the location.
Before the specialty teams ar- rived, police said, Johnson’s
NICKOLUS P. JOHNSON
mother, Nikki Whigham, ar- rived at the home. She allegedly was told several times to stay back, but refused.
Police said she then began telling her son not to come out of the house and not to cooperate with police. After she reportedly continued to interfere with the investigation, she was given the opportunity to leave, but refused.
Ms. Whigham was arrested and charged with resisting a law enforcement officer without vio- lence.
Police also discovered that Johnson had a history of men- tal health issues, including four Baker Acts in Polk and Hillsbor- ough Counties. At the conclusion of a 23-hour standoff with police, Johnson was safely taken into custody and the children were
not harmed.
Johnson told police numer-
ous times that he had no inten- tions of hurting the children. The standoff came to an end around 8:20 p.m., Thursday.
Johnson was arrested and charged with attempted second- degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, armed kidnap- ping, child abuse, resisting arrest without violence, discharging a firearm on residential property, improper exhibition of a firearm, culpable negligence, shooting at a dwelling and criminal mischief.
He was also served with an Ex-Parte Order for an involun- tary mental illness evaluation and a Risk Protection Order.
A 75-year-old man died early Saturday after being involved in a traffic accident. The driver of the other vehicle was taken into custody and charged with DUI Manslaughter.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident took place around 3:15 a.m., at the intersection of Nebraska Av- enue and Bearss Avenue.
Roman James Matos, 30, of Plant City, was driving a 2008 Lexus IS 250. Robert Wesley Septor, 75, of Land O’Lakes, was driving a 2010 Nissan Al- tima. Both vehicles were travel- ing northbound on Nebraska Avenue, approaching Bearss Av- enue.
Troopers said Matos’ vehi- cle collided with Septor’s vehi- cle as he attempted to pass him at a high rate of speed. After striking the vehicle, Septor’s vehicle rotated and left the road. It then collided with a traffic sig- nal support post on the shoulder
ROMAN JAMES MATOS
of the road.
Septor died at the scene as a
result of the collision. Matos suffered injuries, where he was treated for his injuries. Police said Matos had a blood alcohol level of 90.206. He was charged with DUI Manslaughter and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail. His bond was set at $500,000.
Retired Bishop Charged With Sexual Battery
A retired bishop was ar- rested last Friday in reference to accusations that he may have abused dozens of children dur- ing his long tenure at a Sarasota church.
Police said several victims have come forward to claim they had been abused by Henry Lee Porter Sr. Porter served as the bishop at Westcoast Center for Human Development for 45 years. He retired in 2016.
The investigation began in October 2019.. Police launched the investigation after a video was posted on social media enti- tled “Art of Manipulation—My Survival of Molestation.”
According to police, the au- thor of the video claimed Porter had sexually abused him for six years, starting when he was 15. Three others responded to the video, claiming they had also been abused by Porter and had similar stories, authorities said.
Police further said eight peo- ple who claimed they had been abused by Porter while they were teenagers. The victims said the abuse took place at the church, at Porter’s home, or while they were on mission trips in the United States and abroad.
Police said Porter was pre- viously investigated by police in 1990 and again around 2001
HENRY LEE PORTER, SR.
when similar allegations were made.
In one case, police got a let- ter naming 40 alleged victims of Porter’s abuse.
One victim told police he was abandoned by his father and dropped off to Porter, who raised him. He said he did not tell anyone about the abuse be- cause he depended on Porter for his survival.
Police said those investiga- tions provided more than 20 ad- ditional victims who provided statements to law enforcement detailing the abuse they had suf- fered.
Porter was arrested on one count of sexual battery adult with child under 12 years of age and booked into the Sarasota County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
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