Page 39 - Florida Sentinel 8-20-21

Crime
Fake Police Officer Accused Of Sexual Battery, More Charges
Man Arrested For Shooting In Apartment Building
SAMARIO AUSTIN
Tampa Police blocked the roadway leading to the apartment building at 501 E. Harrison Street while investi- gating the shooting. (Photo by Julia Jackson)
A 35-year-old man has been arrested and charged with impersonating a police officer. He was also charged with sexually battering the woman he arrested.
According to the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice, the incident that led to the arrest of Justin Evans began shortly before mid- night on Monday, August 9th. Evans is alleged to have begun following a vehicle with three adult women from the Bull Market Convenience Store, 13742 N 42nd Street. Shortly after, he pulled the victim’s vehicle over on 42nd Street. Evans’ 2016 Chevro- let Malibu was equipped with LED lights believed to be mounted to the dashboard according to the victim.
Just before midnight on Monday, the victim pulled into the Willow Brook Apart- ments, at 14417 Hellenic Drive. Evans, who was wearing dark clothing, ap- proached the vehicle and identified himself as a law enforcement officer conduct- ing a narcotics investigation.
All three victims were or- dered out of the vehicle and told to put their hands on the hood while Evans searched their bodies. Evans advised one of the women, a 27-year- old Black female, that she was under arrest.
He allegedly tied her hands behind her back with a zip tie then placed her in the backseat of his car. Evans allegedly drove the victim to a nearby apartment complex, where she was sex- ually battered inside his ve- hicle.
He drove her back to near the location where he ini- tially made the traffic stop and released her. She called police and reported the rape.
The following day, on Tuesday around 3:30 p.m., Evans was located driving
JUSTIN EVANS
the same car described to po- lice on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, in Pasco County. After realizing he was being followed, Evans reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area. He was caught and transported to the Pasco County Jail.
Evans has been charged with six charges that includes impersonating a public offi- cer, sexual battery on a vic- tim over 18, grand theft third degree, kidnapping, and two counts of false imprison- ment.
Hillsborough County
Sheriff Chad Chronister
said, “It’s extremely upset- ting and concerning to think that someone was taking ad- vantage of the trust our citi- zens have in law enforcement by pretending to be a law en- forcement officer.
“Sexually battering a vic- tim in the process height- ened our urgency to find and arrest this suspect as quickly as possible. We need to find anyone who may have seen this vehicle or been stopped by this suspect. Please, don’t be afraid to come forward if you’ve been victimized.”
Sheriff Chronister fur- ther said, “It is clear that Evans has no respect for the law. We will continue to in- vestigate to ensure he is held accountable for all of his crimes.”
As the investigation con- tinues, detectives discovered Evans was connected to an- other incident on August 9, 2021. This was the same day he pulled over three women in Tampa.
The second incident oc- curred at approximately 9:00 a.m. on August 9, when a female victim and her seven-year-old child were traveling in the area of Brooks Street North and Busch Boulevard East. The woman noticed a dark-col- ored Chevy Malibu with white and orange flashing lights behind her.
Video surveillance cap- tured the incident and Evans can be seen driving the car and conducting a fake traffic stop. Evans ap- proached the victim while wearing a vest and hat with the word “Police” on it. The suspect removed the victim from the vehicle and searched her. He then left the area. The victim did not re- port the incident at this time.
On August 12, 2021, the victim saw the press release relating to the investigation into Evans and recognized him as the one who stopped her. The victim reported this to the Tampa Police Depart- ment, which initiated an in- vestigation. The Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office took over the in- vestigation.
Evans is now facing ad- ditional charges for battery, impersonating public officer, and 2 counts of false impris- onment.
Evans’ vehicle is de- scribed as a blue 2016 Chevrolet Malibu with Mis- souri tag XD7X5J.
Anyone who believes they may have been stopped by Evans is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sher- iff’s Office at (813) 247- 8200.
Complex
501 E. Harrison Street.
The Tampa Police Depart- ment has arrested a 22-year- old man in connection to a shooting at an apartment building Monday night. The incident took place at the Metro 510 Apartments, 510 E. Harrison Street. Police re- ceived more than 30 9-1-1 calls about the shooting.
According to police, shortly before 6:45 p.m., Monday, a Tampa police offi- cer was off duty in the area and heard gunshots coming from the apartment complex. He entered the complex and reportedly observed an indi- vidual, later identified as Samario Austin, walking on the 5th floor. Austin re- portedly was armed with a semi-automatic rifle in one hand, and a pistol in the other hand. Austin reportedly had both guns in the low-ready position as if prepared to fire.
Having already heard gun- fire, the officer was aware that Austin was actively shooting, and feared that the gunman posed an imminent, deadly threat to anyone he may have been walking toward who was out of the officer’s partial view.
The unidentified officer opened fire on Austin, but did not strike him. The gun- man fled in the direction of a stairwell.
Other Tampa Police Offi- cers arrived and began clear- ing the apartment complex unit-by-unit. Officers received information that Austin went intoapartment 607.
Due to the exigency of the situation, officers forced entry into unit 607. Inside they en- countered Samario Austin, and he surrendered without incident.
Officers recovered a BB gun, additional magazines and ammunition from the apartment. Austin’s pistol, and semi-automatic rifle were located in the stairwell be- tween the 5th and 6th floors. A canvass of the complex re- vealed several spent shell cas- ings on the 3rd, 5th, and 6th floors and multiple bullet holes in walls, doors, and win- dows.
According to apartment management, Austin was served with a 30-day eviction notice on 07/21/21 for non- payment. During a post Mi- randa interview, Austin admitted to the shooting and stated he did it because he was mad and high at the time. He advised he tar- geted the apartments of peo- ple that gave him problems.
Austin was charged with 3 counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and culpa- ble negligence.
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