Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 12-27-16 Online Edition

Crime
2 Arrested, 2 Sought For Kidnapping Lyft Driver
Police Find
Two Shot After Men Shoot Into Crowd
WILLIE DAVID BROWN, III
The Tampa Police Depart- ment is currently looking for two men who allegedly kid- napped a Lyft driver and held him for several hours. Two men have already been taken into custody.
According to police,
Manuel A. Araujo-Diaz,
of St. Petersburg, responded to a smart phone app to pro- vide Lyft services around 10:45 p.m., Tuesday. He met a Black male on a bicycle when he arrived at 3208 E. Diana Street, and the bicy- clist asked him to drive around the corner to pick up his friends.
Araujo-Diaz told police four men entered his vehicle and pointed a silver and black handgun at him. One of the suspects, later identi- fied as Willie David Brown, III, allegedly de- manded that the Araujo- Diaz drive them to several locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk Counties. As he drove from one loca- tion to the next, the four men allegedly committed several retail thefts and committed
AARON MILFORD DIGGS
drug crimes while holding the driver against his will.
Approximately 11 hours later, the men told Araujo- Diaz to drive them to the 3400 block of E. Diana Street. Before being released, the suspects allegedly robbed him of $130, police said.
Shortly after dropping the men off, Araujo-Diaz ob- served a police officer on routine patrol and told him of the events of the previous night.
Police located two of the suspects at the Woodlawn Terrace Park, 6410 N. 32nd Street. Araujo-Diaz posi- tively identified Brown and Aaron Milford Diggs, both 18, as two of the as- sailants. They were both taken into custody. The two were charged with armed kidnapping and armed rob- bery. They are being held at the Hillsborough County Jail on a $100,000 bond each.
The investigation is con- tinuing and police are searching for the other two suspects.
A husband and wife were found dead in their South Tampa home Friday evening. Police responded to the home shortly after 1:30 p.m., after the District I office received a disturbance call.
When the officer arrived at the scene, they discovered Frank Licke, (who would have turned 56 on Christmas day), and his 57-year-old wife, Naomi Licek dead.
Police have not released any additional information and the cause of the deaths is pending the findings of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Woman’s Death Investigated As Homicide
TAYLOR McALLISTER
Early last Thursday, the body of a 22-year-old woman was discovered in an alley in the 2100 block of 63rd Avenue, S. The St. Petersburg Police said a man discovered the body while collecting alu- minum cans.
The woman identified as Ms. Taylor McAllister, did not have a home address, po- lice said.
No cause of death has been released pending the outcome of the Medical Examiner’s Of- fice. However, police are in- vestigating the death as a homicide.
Anyone with any informa- tion is asked to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department. Call at (813) 893-7780.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is currently in- vestigating a shooting that took place at a home Sunday. Two people were transported to a local hospital with non- life threatening injuries.
According to police, shortly before 9 p.m., Saturday, po- lice responded to a shooting at 1608 Russell Street, South. Upon arrival, they learned that several people were gath- ered at the home when two unknown men became in- volved in a quarrel with the guests.
As the two men were leav- ing, they allegedly fired shots at the group of people who were outside.
MS. YAKIA POWELL Ms. Yakia Powell, 18,
and Charles Thomas, 45, were hit by the gunfire. Both are expected to survive their injuries.
The investigation into the shooting is continuing.
Couple Dead
In Home
Woman Dies After Being Stabbed
The Clearwater Police De- partment was investigating a murder that took place Mon- day morning.
The victim died after being transported to a local hospi- tal.
Details of the incident were sketchy at press time. However, police and fire res- cue responded to 1450 S. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Av- enue, around 10:25 a.m.
Police discovered that the unidentified woman had been stabbed while inside the residence. She suffered life- threatening injuries and was treated at the scene before being transported to Morton Plant Hospital. The woman died after reaching the hospi- tal.
There was no additional information, however, the in- vestigation is continuing.
Man Shot And Killed At His Home
A 47-year-old man was shot and killed at his home. The shooting took place Sat- urday evening.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, offi- cers responded to 10830 Maplewood Avenue, in New Port Richey in reference to a shooting.
When officers arrived shortly before 10:30 p.m., they discovered Anthony Fontana laying in the front yard. Fontana died as a re- sult of his injuries.
Police were searching for William Gaston, a possible witness in the case. Gaston was located on Christmas
WILLIAM GASTON
Day and charged with fleeing and eluding police.
The investigation into the murder is continuing.
UNCLE SANDY
Helping someone in need today 1, 17, is a down payment on a blessing 5, 56 for tomorrow. 31, 41.
PAGE 20 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2016