Page 20 - 8-11-15 Tuesday's Edition Updated

Crime
Police Investigate Separate Shootings In West Tampa
Armed Suspect In Bank Robbery Being Sought
Suspected bank robber.
Police in Clearwater are searching for a man in an armed bank robbery.
Police said the suspect, wear- ing panty hose on his head, en- tered US AmeriBank, 2571 Countryside Boulevard, around 12:45 p. m. Friday and de- manded money from a teller before running from the bank.
Police are still searching for the suspect, and ask anyone with information to call (727)562-4242.
Man Arrested After Crashing Into Retaining Wall, Gas Line Near Detention Center
MICHAEL LEE ROBERTS
On August 9th at 11 a. m., the Hernando County Sheriff’s Of- fice and Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to a single- vehicle crash on Spring Hill Drive, near the entrance to the Hernando County Detention Center.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Michael Lee Roberts, 31. He was trans- ported to a local hospital for treatment. He was later ques- tioned and arrested on an ac- tive warrant for discharging a firearm from a vehicle. He was also charged with three counts of threatening to harm a public servant and two counts of felony criminal mischief.
Roberts is the same man who was arrested July 27th after he drove an SUV onto the lawn of the detention center, and crashed into a flag pole after doing donuts.
Couple Arrested In Drive-By Shooting Of Police Station
FREDDY BENSON
Tampa Police are investigat- ing two separate shootings that occurred within minutes of each other in West Tampa.
The first shooting occurred at 10:32 p.m. at 909 West Grace Street and involved Freddy Benson, 19. He suf- fered non-life threatening in- juries and was transported to a hospital.
DIMARIO LOFTON
The second shooting oc- curred at 10:43 p. m. at Main Street and Fremont Avenue and involved Dimario Lofton, 24. He was also trans- ported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police have not said what the motive was for the two shoot- ings, and no suspects have been identified at this time.
Clearwater Police officers ar- rested a couple in connection with a string of shootings Thursday night that involved several buildings, including a police station.
The shootings occurred at 11 p. m. when two houses on Carl- ton Street and the police sta- tion were struck by bullets fired from a passing car, police said.
Police said all three buildings were occupied when the shots were fired, but no one was hurt.
Blake Harris, 23, has been accused of firing into the build- ings, and police said he is a documented gang member whose group has allegedly made threats toward police.
Investigators said Harris and the driver of the car, Mo- riah Carpenter, 18, were tar- geting the station.
Harris is facing charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Harris and Carpen- ter together face three counts of shooting into an occupied structure.
Police were able to recover a weapon they believe was used
BLAKE HARRIS
MORIAH CARPENTER during the shootings. Harris
and Carpenter were booked into the Pinellas County Jail.
Detectives Need Help In Identifying Robbery Suspect
Detectives Investigating Water Bill Scam
The City of Tampa and the not provide any money.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports that on July 29th at 4:30 p. m., a man approached a woman in the parking lot of the Walmart Store, 2701 East Fletcher Av- enue. He reportedly requested the woman’s phone number.
Police said the woman de- clined, and as the man contin- ued to ask for her phone number, he continued walking closer to her and snatched an envelope containing cash from her hand.
The suspect is described as a Black male in his late 20s to early 30s, 5’10” tall with dreadlocks and weighing 170
This is a surveillance photo of a man suspected of robbing a woman in the parking lot of the Walmart Store on Fletcher.
pounds.
Tampa Police Department are warning business owners about a recent scam involving water bills. A suspect posing as a water department employee has contacted several business owners claiming they have outstanding water bills and if they don’t provide payment through MoneyGram, their water will be turned off. Police have one active case, but six other businesses have con- tacted the water department claiming similar calls. They re- alized it was a scam and did
Detectives are looking for additional victims who may have provided MoneyGram payments to someone claim- ing to be a water department employee.
The City of Tampa recom- mends that customers who re- ceive a phone call from anyone regarding a utility bill, hang up, and call 9813) 274-8811. Customers will have the cer- tainty that they are connected with an authorized agent be- fore discussing any utility bill issue.
Suspect Arrested For Breaking Into Flea Market
At 12:40 a.m., Tampa Police responded to a silent alarm at 11612 North Nebraska at the Tampa Flea Market.
The first officer arriving on the scene reported seeing a man in all black inside the building. He reportedly ig- nored the officer’s commands and fled deeper into the build-
ing. An extensive search was done and officials discovered the man had broken into the building through the roof and was concealed on the roof under a large pipe.
Robert Rosado, 21, was arrested. Tampa Fire Unit 313
ROBERTO ROSADO
had to help police take Rosado off the roof.
Uncle Sandy Says...
Progress is impossible 3, 19, 29, 40 without change, and those who cannot 14, 25, 45, 75 change their minds 2, 7, 9, 12 cannot change anything. 33, 38, 43, 59
PAGE 20 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015