Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 10-15-19

Crime
Babysitter Charged With Sexual Battery On Child
Shooting Outside
Store Leaves
Victim ‘Critical’
An 18-year-old man was se- riously injured Saturday by gunfire. The shooting took place outside a convenience store.
According to the Tampa Police Department, the unidentified victim walked out of the Fat Body Grocery, 1345 E. Osborne Avenue shortly after 3 p.m. As he walked away, a teenager walked past him and into the store. The suspect then produced a handgun, walked back outside the store and sud- denly shot the other man twice.
The suspect and a young boy who was with him fled the store on foot. The victim suf- fered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Police said the shoot-
SHOOTING SUSPECT
ing does not appear to be ran- dom.
Anyone who recognizes the suspect in the surveillance pho- tograph is asked to contact the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231-6130.
Suspect Sought In Murder That Took Place In Alley
Bay Area Murder Suspect Captured In Atlanta
A 19-year-old Pinellas County woman has been ar- rested and charged with sex- ual battery on a child. She was also charged with lewd and lascivious molestation as well as other charges.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, de- tectives became aware of the incident on October 7th. The crime had occurred in Au- gust and September at a pri- vate residence.
Police said they charged
Erica Michelle Charles
with sexual battery on a 6- year-old little girl. Ms.
ERICA MICHELLE CHARLES
Charles was reportedly babysitting the child when she allegedly showed her pornographic videos on her
cell phone. She then directed the child to perform a sex act on her (Charles). Ms. Charles is alleged to have removed the child’s clothing and sexually battered her on several occasions.
When police interviewed Ms. Charles, she allegedly admitted to committing the acts.
Detectives said there may be other victims and ask any- one with information to con- tact Detective Geoghegan with the Crimes Against Children Unit at (727) 582- 6200.
ARTEZ DAVIS ... Murder Victim
Police are currently looking for a man linked to a murder. The shooting took place Satur- day afternoon.
According to the St. Peters- burg Police Department, offi- cers responded to reports of a shooting that took place in the alleyway in a local neighbor- hood. When officers arrived at the alleyway in the 4700 block of 18th Avenue, South, around 12:45 p.m., Saturday, they dis- covered a man had been shot.
The victim, later identified
MURDER SUSPECT
as 23-year-old Artez Davis,
was transported to Bayfront Health Hospital, where he later died.
During the investigation, detectives obtained video of the shooting, that contained a photograph of the alleged shooter and the Toyota he was driving at the time of the mur- der.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the St. Petersburg Po- lice Department.
A murder suspect who has been on the run for nearly two weeks has been arrested. He was taken into custody in At- lanta, Georgia after he com- mitted a carjacking at a convenience store.
The Atlanta Police Depart- ment notified the Polk County Sheriff’s Office of the arrest on Saturday. Taiwan Blandin, 30, of Frostproof, is currently being held in the Fulton County Jail. He is facing the new charges of carjacking, es- cape, aggravated assault, pos- session of a firearm by a convicted felon, fleeing to elude, and other charges.
According to police, around 2:30 a.m., Saturday, Blandin allegedly carjacked a vehicle from a convenience store. Atlanta Police observed the stolen vehicle shortly after it was stolen. Blandin fled when the officers attempted to make a traffic stop. He crashed the stolen vehicle and then at- tempted to run, but was caught.
A spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said an unidentified white woman was in the vehicle at the time and was also arrested.
When he is returned to Florida, Blandin will be
TAIWAN LEVON BLANDIN
charged with: first degree murder, first-degree arson, armed kidnapping, sex- ual battery with a deadly weapon, armed burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft of a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence. He also has warrants from Wauchula Po- lice Department.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, “We are grateful that this violent, armed, and dangerous suspect is in custody and his crime spree has come to an end. The Atlanta Police Department did an awesome job. Based on the felonies he’s racked up, he likely won’t spend another day on the street. He’s behind bars where he be- longs.”
Blandin became a suspect in a crime spree around 8 a.m., Tuesday, October 1st, in Fort Meade. In that city, he is al- leged to have sexually battered and then kidnapped a woman. The victim and Blandin know each other. Blandin report- edly drove the woman to Frostproof, where he commit- ted another crime.
Blandin is accused of killing an 80-year-old woman in her home. The sexual bat- tery victim was able to escape in his vehicle. However, after the murder, Blandin is al- leged to have stolen the mur- der victim’s vehicle and followed the sexual battery vic- tim back to Fort Meade. At that point, he shot at her. He did not hit the victim.
As he shot at the sexual battery victim, a stray bullet struck an 81-year-old woman in the foot. She is expected to recover from her injuries, po- lice said.
UNCLE SANDY
Be your own inspira- tion 9, 18, 22, 32, 50. Each day, try to write what you're thankful for 4, 14, 31, 47, 60.
PAGE 18 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019