Page 33 - Florida Sentinel 7-26-19

Crime 17-Year-Old Dies Of Gunshot Injuries
Woman Faces
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Police are investigating a shooting that left a teenager dead. The shooting took place in the 10000 block of N. Pawnee Avenue.
Officers with the Tampa Po- lice Department were dis- patched to the location shortly before 4 p.m., Monday. When the officers arrived, they discov- ered the unidentified teenager laying in a yard. The teenager died as a result of his injuries.
When police arrived a sec- ond, unidentified male was de- tained at the scene. That individual has not been charged in connection with the shooting.
Detectives believe other per- sons may have been present at the time of the shooting and fled before police arrived. Police said the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear and the investigation is continuing.
The victim has been identi- fied by a family member as David Noah Wetherington, Jr., of Lutz.
Wetherington is the son of Ms. Charmaine Bass and David Wetherington, Sr. His cousin, Ali Abdul Muham-
vided all the necessities to be productive and to want better. David followed his love from the streets.
“When he got to high school, David got involved with the wrong people and the wrong crowds, he had no reason, but just being a follower like the rest of the younger generation today.”
Muhammad said if he could send a message to the younger generation, it would be “In part if... I could’ve stressed to him anything, it would be that the streets don’t love you. They use you cause the same people you follow behind won’t be there when you are in the hospital bed, in a jail cell, or in a grave.”
Wertherington is survived by numerous siblings, other family members and friends.
Funeral services were in- complete at press time.
Detectives would like to talk with the men who were at the scene at the time of the shooting. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Tampa Po- lice Department at (813) 231- 6130; or call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS; or online at www.crimestopper- stb.com.
Stolen Credit Card
DAVID NOAH WETHERINGTON, JR. May 24, 2002 —
July 22, 2019
mad, who is an advocate for Stopping the Gun Violence in Tampa said, “David was a quiet person. Growing up, he mostly stayed to himself or enjoyed family, especially during the hol- idays.”
He further said that the young man enjoyed looking after his younger sister and was an avid gamer.
He attended the public schools of Hillsborough County and was enrolled in the 10th grade at Bowers-Whitley Adult School.
Muhammad said the young man was raised by his aunt, Ms. Sharon Bass. “Out- side of his mother, my aunt pro-
A 36-year-old Riverview resident is facing several charges pertaining to the theft of a credit card. The incident took place on June 14th.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, on that day, Ms. Jennifer Threats-Diaz was a passenger in a vehicle. She is alleged to have taken the victim’s credit card from the cup holder while in the car.
Later that day, Ms. Threats-Diaz reportedly went to the Publix Market, 11460 U. S. 301, South, around 3:30 p.m., and purchased a gift card and a beverage totaling more than $200, using the stolen credit card.
On Wednesday, July 24th, detectives located Ms.
JENNIFER THREATS- DIAZ
Threats-Diaz and arrested her. She was charged with fraudulent use of personal in- formation, fraudulent use of a credit card over $100, and petit theft.
Detectives said Ms. Threats-Diaz was already on probation for grand theft.
Charges Linked To
Man Jailed For
Molesting, Aiding
Undercover Sting Lands 8 Men In Jail
In Child’s Death
An undercover investigation has led to the arrest of 8 men. The operation was designed to help curb human trafficking.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office launched the in- vestigation on July 22, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Detectives conducted a re- verse prostitution operations targeting “Johns” in the Town N Country area. Approximately 25 men contacted the under- cover deputies. Among them, eight men were arrested for prostitution related offenses.
One of the men, 22-year-old Shavar Manuel, had a young child in the back seat of his car while soliciting for a sexual act. Manuel, a former top recruit for Florida State foot- ball, was arrested without inci- dent.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Child Protective Investigations Division took custody of the child.
Hillsborough County Sher- iff Chad Chronister said, “To put an end to sex trafficking and identify victims of human traf- ficking, it’s very clear that some-
ALEXANDER ESCALANTE- PONCE
SHAVAR MANUEL
CARLOS MONTES
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested a 58-year-old Lakeland man. He is charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a child and two counts of delivery of a con- trolled substance to a minor.
According to law enforce- ment, on December 17, 2017, Alain Luis Forget had per- mission from the grandmother of a 15-year-old autistic boy to take the child with him. Forget allegedly transported the child to a home in Hamilton County, which belonged to his (For- get’s) deceased father.
Two days later, the child was discovered unresponsive and Forget called an ambu- lance.
The child died at a local hos- pital in January 2018. An au- topsy revealed that the boy had morphine and Xanex in his sys- tem. The medical examiner also determined the child had died from pneumonia and drug tox- icity.
Agents conducted inter- views with the family and oth- ers who were familiar with Forget. They believe Forget gave the child drugs and sexu- ally battered him prior to his
ALAIN LUIS FORGET
death.
During interviews, other
sexual abuse allegations were made against Forget, officials said.
Forget has homes in Lake- land and Sorrento (Lake County) Florida. He was ar- rested Tuesday and booked into the Lake County Jail.
The investigation is ongoing and there could be other charges filed against Forget. Officials also believe there could be other victims. Anyone with information about Forget is asked to contact the Florida De- partment of law Enforcement Live Oak Field Office at (800) 226-5630.
thing needs to be done about the buyers.
“Without buyers, there is no business. For each John we take off of our streets, we be- lieve we are potentially protect- ing a human trafficking victim.”
All of the men arrested were taken to Orient Road Jail. The others taken into custody were: Alexander Escalante- Ponce, 31; Luis Castro, 65; Carlos Montes, 63; Carlos Torres, 29; Shaun Diaz, 39; and Daniel Preston, 58. They were each charged with solicit- ing another to commit prostitu- tion.
Shavar Manuel was
charged with soliciting another to commit prostitution, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Oswaldo Serrano, 53, was charged with soliciting an- other to commit prostitution, possession of cocaine with in- tent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
UNCLE SANDY
Sometimes later be- comes never, 3, 16, 22, 33, 49. Do it now, 5, 19, 28, 44, 57.
FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A