Page 7 - 3-20-15 Friday's Edition

Local
Police Seek Information From Community To Solve 2015 Murders
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Since the beginning of the New Year, twenty-two people have died violent deaths in Hillsborough County. Of that number more than half have taken place within the city limits of Tampa.
Chief Jane Castor of the Tampa Police Department said detectives are assigned to the cases, but are in need of help. She is appealing to the community to provide infor- mation to solve the cases.
So far, detectives have in- vestigated the violent deaths of 13 individuals. But, only 5 of those cases have been solved, or are pending rulings from the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office.
Chief Castor said, “When someone is murdered in our city, the Tampa Police Depart- ment responds in full force. Homicide detectives also re- spond out in force and work tirelessly, often for days on end to try to solve the case, bring justice to the victim, and accountability for the suspect; thereby preventing them from harming any other citizens.”
But, Chief Castor said, one of the problems detectives encounter is a lack of cooper- ation from witnesses to the crimes. In many cases, they encounter the same lack of co- operation from individuals who have survived being shot.
“It is a sad, but true state- ment that the department’s ef- forts to solve homicides are often hindered by witnesses unwilling to share informa- tion. Detectives investigate a homicide as if it were their family member. We would all appreciate any assistance from the multitude of wit- nesses who usually exists,” Chief Castor said.
The unsolved homicides are as follows: During the month of January, Tampa Po- lice Detectives responded to five violent deaths. Cases in which no arrests have been made are Life Coleman, and James Strouse, who both died on January 5th in unre- lated incidents; LeTerrence Goggins, on January 19th; and Christopher Reddick, on January 17th. Although no arrests have been made in the Reddick case, police said the case is domestic related.
During the month of Feb- ruary, Tampa Police investi- gated four violent deaths, two of which remain open investi- gations. Reginald High- tower was killed on February 8th, while at the Columbus Court Apartments and Robert Cruz Gomez died on February 21st.
Tampa Police have re-
JANE CASTOR Tampa Police Chief
sponded to four violent deaths in March so far. Three of those deaths, David Cooper, (March 7); Ikeim Boswell and Jamylin Turner (both March 14) are under investi- gation.
Police referred the shoot- ing death of Anton Fisher to the State Attorney’s Office to determine if Anthony Mar- tin will be charged.
Homicide detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office have also re- sponded to several violent deaths this year. During the month of January, that agency investigated two cases that in- volved the deaths of three peo- ple. Arrests have been made in both cases.
During the month of Feb- ruary, detectives responded to two violent deaths. The Febru- ary 14th death of Christino Galvez remains open and the case of Angel Reyes that oc- curred on February 28th, has been referred to the State At- torney’s Office to determine if Armando Yordan will be charged.
So far, during the month of March, the Sheriff’s Office has investigated two violent deaths, and arrests have been made in both cases.
The Plant City Police De- partment is investigating the death of Manuel Silva Mal- donado that occurred on January 14th. No arrests have been made and the case re- mains under investigation.
The Temple Terrace Police Department is investigating one shooting that took place on March 7th. In that case, Michael Estenfil died. The State Attorney’s Office will de- termine if Kelvin Spencer will face charges in the case.
Anyone with information can contact the Tampa Police Department at (813) 231- 6130; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200; or Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 1- 800-873-TIPS.
Anyone contacting Crime Stoppers can remain anony- mous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
Inspectors Report Corruption Rampant In Florida Prison System
A group of current and for- mer prison inspectors have told Florida lawmakers that they were ordered on several occasions to ignore evidence of crimes committed by corrupt officials in the Florida Prison System. The inspectors alleged they were told reporting the problems would give the De- partment of Corrections a bad reputation.
Three current inspectors and one former inspector testi- fied about interference by un- named agency officials as they tried to weed out inmate abuse, medical neglect, gang violence and organized crime.
Giving testimony before the Senate Criminal Justice Com- mittee, the inspectors reported cases where they were told to withhold information from prosecutors, to close investiga- tions into staffers who were politically connected, and to avoid bringing criminal charges no matter how much evidence they had.
John Ulm, who works for the Inspector General’ Office reported that after being told to back off cases, they some- times pursued them anyway, because the misconduct was so blatant that they couldn’t ig- nore it. He said they were later threatened or retaliated against by their bosses in the Inspector General’s Office.
Ulm said he was briefly or- dered to clean out his office after a story was published about how he and a group of DOC investigators had uncov-
Inmates Matthew Walker, Darren Rainey, and Randall Jordan- Aparo all died in Florida prisons.
ered possible criminal wrong- doing and a cover-up in the death of Randall Jordan- Aparo. The 27-year-old was found dead after being repeat- edly gassed by guards in an iso- lation cell at Franklin Correction Institution in 2010. The inspectors said they found evidence that corrections offi- cers and others had submitted fabricated reports to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who investigated the death.
A former inmate who wants to be identified only as Africa, said he spent 17 years in prison, and the system is cor- rupt.
“It’s really bad for those going to prison for the first time. You have to deal with the gangs and corrupt guards who easily take bribes to allow ille- gal things to happen.
“When we are released, a lot of us are told to keep our mouths shut, because if we find ourselves in prison again in the future, it won’t be an ex- perience you will tell about.”
Africa said threats, intim- idation, and the use of other prisoners to keep newcomers
in line is a regular thing in the system.
“When we get out of prison and we try to tell our story, no one believes us. They think we’re just trying to get back at the prison because we were locked up.
“People on the outside al- ways see us as criminals and someone who can’t be believed or trusted. How can you get anyone to listen to you when they’ve already made up their minds you’re lying?”
Africa said he’s witnessed beatings, and other illegal ac- tivities by guards involving in- mates, and it’s about time someone looked into it.
“I’ve been out of prison for almost 12 years now, but I have relatives still in prison, and all of them are scared to death. They’re already telling me how they’re being treated and one of them is so scared, he doesn’t think he’ll get out alive.
“The prison system in Florida has always been cor- rupt as far as I’m concerned, because there’s no way they would act that way if they had- n’t been doing it for a long time and getting away with it.”
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7-A