Page 30 - Florida Sentinel 9-1-17

Crime
Men Who Burned Cross In Yard Sentenced To Prison
Teenagers Facing Armed Robbery Charges
JARREN WHITE
ADRIAN ALEXIS BAZALDUA-GONZALEZ
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two teenagers in connection with an armed robbery. The robbery took place Sunday night at the Speedy Select Store, 7712 Riverview Drive.
According to police, the two men entered the store around 10:15 p.m. The first man pointed an unknown type silver revolver at the victim while the second suspect went behind the counter, emptied the cash drawer and took cigarettes.
The second suspect was also armed with an unknown type semi-automatic firearm. As the two men were leaving the store, the first man fired one round at the victim, missing him by inches. The clerk was not in- jured, police said.
Information gathered dur- ing the investigation resulted in detectives identifying 19-year- old Jarren White as the masked suspect who allegedly shot at the clerk. Adrian Alexis Bazaldua-Gonzalez, 18, was identified as the second masked gunman.
White, of Riverview, was arrested at the residence of Bazaldua-Gonzalez, in Riverview. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder and two counts of armed rob- bery.
Bazaldua-Gonzalez was charged with 2 counts of armed robbery, possession of a con- trolled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, (ju- venile), being a felon in posses- sion of ammunition, and possession of cocaine.
Both men were transported to the Hillsborough County jail, where they are being held with- out bond.
Police Search For Early Morning Burglary Suspect
Police are searching for a man who broke into two busi- nesses. The burglary took place shortly before 4 a.m., Wednes- day, at the Hawkeye’s Pizza, 10854 Cross Creek Blvd., in New Tampa.
According to Tampa Police, the man used a pry bar to force entry into Hawkeye’s Pizza. Once inside, he entered the Mo- bile Gas Station through a con- necting door. He then removed cash and merchandise before
fleeing the scene.
He is described as being be-
tween 5’7” and 5’9,” weighing 175 to 180 pounds, with dark hair and possibly facial hair. He covered his face with a dark- colored bandana and wore dark gloves.
Anyone with information pertaining to the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, at 1-800-873-TIPS, or www.crimestopperstb.com.
PASCUAL CARLOS PIETRI ... Sentenced to 37 months in 2014
THOMAS HERRIS SIGLER, III
... Sentenced to 33 months
WILLIAM A. DENNIS
... Sentenced to
21 months
Teenager Charged With Home Invasion Robbery
On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced the last two defen- dants in a cross burning inci- dent to federal prison. The incident took place in October 2012.
U. S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Thomas Herris Sigler, III, 46, to 2 years and 7 months in prison. William A. Dennis, 56, was sentenced to 1 year and 11 months in prison.
Pascual Carlos Pietri,
55, is currently serving a 37- month sentence in federal prison. He was sentenced on March 23, 2016. A fourth de- fendant, who federal agents did not name, is now deceased.
According to court docu- ments, an African American man and his white girlfriend moved into a home next door to Sigler and Dennis in Septem- ber 2012. The two men began regularly harassing the man
with racial slurs and derogatory statements.
In mid-October, Sigler is said to have physically attacked the man while Dennis looked on and prevented another neighbor from intervening in the fight.
On Halloween night in 2012, the three men attended a party hosted by the fourth de- fendant. It was at that time, they decided to burn a cross in front of the interracial couple’s home.
Officials said the men planned to intimidate the cou- ple into moving. Using wood and tools belonging to the fourth man, Sigler and Den- nis constructed a wooden cross. Dennis poured gasoline on it and they carried it to the front yard of the couple’s home.
After leaning it against the mailbox, Dennis told Pietri to set the cross on fire, and he did.
A Pinellas County teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with a home inva- sion robbery. The offense took place at 9 a.m., on Wednesday.
According to police, Pinellas Park Police responded to a call of a home invasion in progress. When officers arrived at the res- idence in the 6600 block of 80th Avenue, North, they learned 17- year-old Matthew Anthony Cleveland was being detained by 40-year-old Alexander Mc- Master, the homeowner.
McMaster was using a full length axe to keep Cleveland from leaving the home. Police learned during the investigation that Cleveland was observed wandering in the neighborhood. He had left Sanders School, where he is a senior, before being observed by another neighbor who told him to leave her property, police said.
Cleveland was next ob- served at the victim’s home, where he reportedly knocked on the door. Ms. Christine Rob- les, 33, answered and Cleve- land reportedly asked about the
location of a park.
She told him she didn’t know
where the park was and at- tempted to close the door. At that point, Cleveland allegedly forced open the door and grabbed Ms. Robles by the throat, began choking her, and slammed her head into the wall.
He is alleged to have begun punching her about the head and body. She screamed for her boyfriend, McMasters, who was asleep upstairs.
McMasters reportedly came down stairs and observed Cleveland beating Ms. Rob- les. McMasters and Cleve- land struggled until McMasters grabbed an axe that was being used to prop open a window. He held the axe on Cleveland until police ar- rived.
Cleveland was arrested and charged with 1 count of home invasion robbery, 1 count of felony battery (strangulation), and two counts of simple bat- tery.
Ms. Robles suffered minor injuries, police said.
Crime Stoppers Offers Reward For Robbery Suspect
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay are offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of a robbery suspect.
The robbery took place on the Tampa Campus of the Uni- versity of South Florida on Au- gust 26th, between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
According to the University of South Florida Police Depart- ment, last Saturday, the victim was near the Interdisciplinary Science Building (ISA) when an unknown Black man walked up to her and asked her to change a $50 bill. As the victim took the money from her purse, the sus- pect snatched the cash from her hands and ran away.
He is described as having a medium build, medium com- plexion, approximately 30-40 years of age and 5’10” in height. He had short hair, and a goatee, and was carrying a dark colored backpack.
USF ROBBERY SUSPECT
Anyone with information regarding the incident is re- quested to contact Crime Stop- pers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS or visit the website at www.crimestopper- stb.com.
UNCLE SANDY
Write it 13, 18, 28, 48 on your heart 30, 41, 43, 44 that every day 1, 7, 20, 50 is the best day in the year. 39, 49, 52, 60.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A