Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 5-17-16 Online Edition

Crime
Suspect Charged With Sexual Battery
Warrant Issued For Man In Nightclub Murder
Tampa Police have arrested a man in connection with a sexual battery that occurred early Saturday.
According to police, at 4:38 a. m., the victim told them she saw the man in a convenience store, and he followed her as she walked home.
The suspect, identified as Andre Lawson, 23, allegedly had a knife and forced the vic- tim behind a business at 6310 South Dale Mabry where he raped her.
Officers blanketed the area and based on a detailed de- scription and video from the convenience store, detectives found Lawson at his resi- dencewhere he was arrested.
ANDREW LAWSON
Lawson has been charged with sexual battery with a deadly weapon and armed kid- napping.
Shortly after 1 a.m., Friday morning, a 24-year-old man was fatally injured while at a nightclub. Police have identi- fied a suspect during their in- vestigation and issued a warrant for his arrest.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, David Allen Smith, of Tampa, was at the Tiaga Night- club, 10315 Causeway Blvd., in Brandon. At some point Smith became involved in an altercation with an unidenti- fied patron in the club. The al- tercation escalated and moved outside of the club. Once out- side, the man reportedly shot Smith and fled the scene in a gray vehicle.
Smith was transported to a local hospital, where he died a short time later. As a result of the investigation that followed the shooting, police have been able to identify a suspect.
Detectives have obtained a
STEVE EDMUND EVANS ... Wanted in connection with the death
warrant and are actively look- ing for 32-year-old Steve Ed- mund Evans, of Brandon. The warrant is for first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a firearm. Evans is con- sidered armed and dangerous.
Evans is described as being about 6’1” and weighing 200 pounds. He has short,
black hair and short facial hair. He could possibly be driving a Black Chevy Tahoe or a green Buick Park Avenue.
Anyone with information pertaining to his whereabouts is asked to contact the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice at (813) 247-8200; or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).
DAVID ALLEN SMITH
Couple’s Death Ruled Murder-Suicide
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has identified a couple found dead Thursday morning on Wright Lane near Handcart Road.
Michael Hall, 56, and his wife, Lynda Hall, 53, had both suffered fatal gunshot
wounds. An investigation into their deaths revealed Michael Hall used a shotgun to shoot his wife, then turned the gun on himself.
Investigators believe the motive was due to financial troubles.
Man Crashes Into Gas Pump, Flees Leaving Children Behind
A surveillance camera cap- tured a Tampa man crashing into a gas pump Sunday after- noon at a 7-11 Store.
Authorities said Maurice Betard, Jr. had a passenger and his sons, ages 1 and 5, in the car at the time of the crash.
Sarasota County deputies said Betard, 28, was running from deputies after they tried stopping him for a traffic vio- lation.
In was reported that before the crash, Betard, Jr. told a passenger to forgive him and he wasn’t going to jail. The passenger said that’s when Betard, Jr. sped up, and started weaving in and out of traffic. That’s when the car crashed into the gas pump.
Surveillance photos shows the passenger and Betard, Jr. getting out of the car. Be- tard, Jr. took one of his chil- dren, handed him to the passenger, then made a run for it.
Betard’s children were air- lifted to a local hospital where
MAURICE BETARD, JR. .....being sought by authorities in Sarasota and Hillsborough Counties.
both underwent surgery for their injuries.
Betard, Jr. is wanted by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for this incident. He’s charged, in this case, with flee- ing to elude, leaving the scene of an accident with injury and without rendering aid, and child neglect. He’s also wanted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, charged with aggravated battery on a preg- nant person.
Vandals Destroy Tiles At Perry C. Harvey, Sr. Park
These are some of the tiles that were vandalized at the Perry C. Harvey Park. (PHOTO BY BRUNSON)
It hasn’t been two months, and a historical downtown park has been vandalized.
Tampa Police are looking for the vandals responsible for de- stroying several pieces of art at the new renovated Perry C. Harvey, Sr. Park.
The park was erected as a historic reminder of what was once Central Avenue, where Black-owned business were lo- cated from south to north along the street. The park in- cludes the faces of Black busi- ness leaders and some of the
patrons who frequented the area.
The city is estimating the damage to be at $3,000. The artist who made the tiles is coming back to Tampa in June, and will evaluate the damage and repair the tiles.
Police are not sure of a mo- tive for the act, and ask anyone with information to call (813) 621-6130.
City officials said they will be improving the lighting at the park, and installing secu- rity cameras.
Uncle Sandy
says...
In the End, 18, 24, 30, 33 we will remem- ber 4, 36, 44, 50 not the words of our enemies, 20 26, 27, 29 but the si- lence of our friends. 7, 39, 52, 55.
PAGE 20 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016