Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 2-14-17

Crime
Suspect Linked To Online Robbery Faces Multiple Charges
Man Who Barricaded Himself In Home Charged With Murder
JOSE RODRIGUEZ
RAUL RODRIGUEZ, JR.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has charged a man with second degree murder. He was arrested after he barricaded himself in a residence at 8902 Navajo Avenue, last week.
Raul Rodriguez, Jr.,
28, of Tampa, surrendered after a 3-hour standoff at the residence. Rodriguez was wanted in connection with the murder of Jose Alonso Rodriguez, 23, (not re- lated), that took place on De- cember 23, 2016.
Police said the two men became involved in an alter- cation around 2:30 a.m. They were at the victim’s home in Wimauma, when Raul Rodriguez, Jr., shot Jose Rodriguez. Jose Rodriguez died as a result of his injuries.
Rodriguez, Jr., fled the scene after the shooting.
Detectives investigating the murder obtained infor- mation that he was at the Navajo address and obtained a warrant for his arrest. When police arrived to arrest him, he barricaded himself in the home.
He peacefully surren- dered and was charged with second-degree murder. He was transported to the Hills- borough County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
One Arrested, Two Sought For Doggy Door Burglaries
GIOVANTAE LUCAS
... Facing at least 10 charges
A man, who police have not identified, contacted the Tampa Police Department Tuesday and re- ported that he had been robbed at gunpoint. The man told police the crime oc- curred when he met a man to purchase an item posted on “Letgo.”
The victim told police that he saw a MacBook Laptop Computer advertised on the online app. He contacted the seller and the seller asked him to meet him at 6705 N. 15th Street.
When the victim arrived, he told police a man met him, pointed a gun at him, grabbed his arm, and took him to the backyard of the vacant home. Once in the backyard, a second man, who was also armed, joined the first man.
The victim was ordered to lay on the ground, at which time the suspects took his wallet, cell phone, watch, shoes, and money. The sus- pects then placed the gun to the victim’s mouth and ear and threatened to kill his family, he told police.
When they ran away on foot, the victim called police. Detectives interviewed the victim and determined that the suspect used the screen name of “Gunther.” They also discovered that the seller had other items posted
for sale.
The investigation led de-
tectives to Giovantae Lucas, who lived close to where the robbery took place. Police obtained a search warrant for Lucas’ home, 1505 Hillside Drive.
However, police located a Rohm .22 caliber revolver in
ALFONSO AMMONS ... Charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm
his bedroom, along with a large amount of ammunition, several identification cards and credit cards in the names of other people.
They also found 4 other firearms, one of which had been reported stolen to the Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office. The 4 guns were a Taurus .357 revolver, a Cobra 9 mm, a .12 gauge sawed off shotgun with the serial num- ber filed off, and a .410 shot- gun.
Police arrested Alfonso Ammons, 47, at the scene and charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm along with other charges. At the time the search warrant was executed, Lucas, 19, was not at home.
As detectives were exe- cuting the search warrant last Friday morning, other Tampa Police officers were responding to a burglary in progress a few blocks away.
Air Service, ROC, and other patrol officers were in- volved in searching for the suspect. The officers located Lucas and took him into custody as a person of inter- est in a robbery that took place earlier in the day. That robbery took place at the cor- ner of Nebraska Avenue and E. Linebaugh.
After their investigation, police charged Lucas with armed robbery, carrying a concealed firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in pos- session of ammunition, bat- tery on a law enforcement officer, burglary of an auto, grand theft, obstruction, and violation of probation.
The investigation into the case is continuing.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one person and are seeking two others in connection with residential burglaries. The suspects entered the homes by using the doggy doors.
According to police, on January 21st, at 7 p.m., an un- known Black man entered the victim’s vacant home in the 2000 block of Little Road, in Valrico, using the doggy door. The next day, at 6:05 p.m., two white men and the Black man were captured on video coming and going from the residence using the doggy door at the back of the home.
The suspects ransacked the home and took a flat screen television along with other property.
Police identified the Black man as 19-year-old Joaun Evan Wright, of Tampa. He has been charged with bur- glary of an unoccupied dwelling, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance, possession of mar- ijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Investigators are still try- ing to identify the two white men. The first suspect is de- scribed as being between 22
JOAUN EVAN WRIGHT ... Facing several charges
and 29 years of age, about 5’4” and weighing about 140 pounds. He has a light com- plexion and a medium build. He was last seen wearing a Champion sweatshirt, a blue baseball cap, and black shorts.
The second suspect is de- scribed as being between 22 and 29 years of age, about 5’2” and weighing about 130 pounds. He has a light com- plexion and a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, and black shorts.
Anyone with information about the burglary is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.
Police Search For Driver That Left Teen Injured
SUSPECT VEHICLE
The vehicle is described as being between a 1997 and 2002 Model, white Ford work van. It should have front-end damage.
Police are asking the pub- lic for assistance to help lo- cate a vehicle involved in a hit n’ run accident.
The incident took place at approximately 9:50 p.m., Friday.
Police said 18-year-old
Michael Christopher Singh, of Brandon, was walking northbound on Providence Road in the neu- tral zone, just north of Bran- don Crossing Circle. Singh was struck from behind by the vehicle. After striking the teenager, the driver acceler- ated northbound from Bran- don Crossings Apartments, and fled the scene.
Singh was transported to
Tampa General Hospital, where he remains in critical condition with severe in- juries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice at (813) 247-8200.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person re- sponsible for the hit and run accident.
Anyone wanting to be eli- gible for the reward must contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-873-TIPS (8477), or at www.crimestopperstb.com.
UNCLE SANDY
10, 14 Treat each day as a new start. 24, 28. Time is of the essence so don’t waste it. 33, 55.
PAGE 18 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017