Page 38 - 7-1-15 Friday's Edition

Crime News
Three Men Charged In Restaurant Robbery
Reward Offered In Homicide Investigation
The Tampa Police Depart- ment is currently seeking in- formation about a shooting that left a man dead. The shooting took place around 2:20 a.m., Saturday morning.
According to police, wit- nesses in the area of N. 30th Street and E. Osborne Avenue heard gunshots and observed Kirk Tyrone Chang, 40, running and then collapse on
the roadway. Chang died at a local hospital.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspects involved in the murder.
Anyone wishing to provide information can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).
DEVIN SMITH
Tampa Police took three men into custody Monday in connection with the robbery of a local restaurant. The men are also suspects in a robbery that took place last week as well.
According to police, around 11 p.m., Sunday, the suspects entered the rear door of the Fodder & Shine Restaurant, 5910 N. Florida Avenue. Once inside, one of the suspects forced an employee to open the safe and remove cash. The two other suspects robbed the em- ployees.
After committing the of- fense, the men fled the scene in a Mitsubishi Lancer.
ALEXANDER JACKSON
Additional police officers had been assigned to the area where the robbery occurred because of other robberies in the area. The officers observed the vehicle and initiated a pur- suit. The driver of the vehicle stopped and the suspects fled the scene in different direc- tions.
Air Service was notified and directed the officers to the suspects. Following a foot pur- suit, all three men were taken into custody.
Police searched the vehicle and found property that had been taken during the robbery of the restaurant and a stolen handgun.
DARREL POOLE
The men were identified as 27-year-old Devin Smith, of Tampa, was charged with armed robbery, fleeing to elude, and driving with a sus- pended license. Alexander Jackson, 23, of Tampa, was charged with armed robbery, carrying a concealed firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Police charged Darrel Poole, 26, with armed robbery, carrying a con- cealed firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The investigation into the string of robberies in the area is continuing, police said.
Police Seek Suspects In Robberies Of Gas Stations
Robbery Suspect
The Tampa Police Depart- ment is investigating two armed robberies that took place during the early morning hours. The first robbery took place shortly after 3 a.m., on Monday, June 29th.
According to police, an un- known suspect wearing a mask entered the Mobil Gas Station, 4242 E. Busch Blvd. the sus- pect jumped the counter, place a knife to the clerk’s side, and demanded money from the cash register.
The clerk armed himself with an axe handle and struck the suspect in the head. Blood was found at the scene, indicat- ing that the suspect was in- jured. The suspect fled the store on foot with the cash tray.
He is described as a Black man in his early 30s.
He is known in the area as “Zed” and is believed to live near the store. “Zed” is often seen wearing a camouflage hat and shorts. The suspect left the hat behind, police said.
The second robbery took place early Tuesday morning.
According to police, a man who was wearing a mask on his face walked into the Mobil Gas Station, 10002 N. Florida Av- enue, around 1 a. m.
The suspect implied that he was armed and ordered the clerk to give him the money. The clerk complied and the suspect fled the scene in an un- determined direction.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, ap- proximately 30 years of age, approximately 5'05", thin build and last seen wearing dark clothing.
No injuries were reported to police. The investigation into the robbery is continuing.
Anyone with information about either of the robberies is asked to contact the Tampa Po- lice Department or Crime Stop- pers of Tampa Bay at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).
Police Find Drugs, Weapons After Raid On Store
On Wednesday, St. Peters- burg Vice and Narcotics inves- tigators executed a search warrant at the Fat Boys Deli, 2680 5th Avenue, South.
The raid was the result of numerous complaints and tips from the neighborhood that drug activities were occurring at the store.
In the past couple of months, detectives conducted an undercover operation and determined drugs were being bought at the store. A customer knowing the right code word would be taken into the back room to buy drugs, mostly marijuana and crack cocaine.
Police said in the past year, they have received 57 calls for service at the store. On April 15th, the police legal depart- ment sent the business a warn- ing letter that it was becoming
a nuisance to the neighbor- hood. Since that time, detec- tives said they have documented drug activity at the store.
After entering the store, de- tectives reported finding a stolen handgun hidden under- neath lottery tickets behind the cash register stand, drug para- phernalia, several rounds of ammunition, and marijuana.
Several people were ques- tioned by detectives, and ar- rests are pending.
It was also reported that the police department will attempt to bring the store before a Nui- sance Abatement board for a hearing, due to the store own- ers being warned previously about the problems at the store on April 15, 2015. A hearing could result in the store receiv- ing fines or being closed down.
Prostitution
SWAT Standoff Ends With Suspect Being Shot
Clearwater Police have re- ported that the man involved in a 12-hour standoff at his home Wednesday was shot several times and transported to a local hospital.
Police said family members of Frederick Nelson, 43, called police to their home in the 1500 block of Carroll Street at 6:30 a. m.
Officers said the situation started when Nelson threat- ened a family member. The family member reportedly got out of the house safely.
Negotiators tried to talk with him until 6:30 p. m., and reported that he barricaded himself in his room under cin-
der
blocks, doors and other debris. Nelson either pointed his weapon at or fired at an officer. Two officers fired back on those two different occasions.
Nelson has had previous contact with police for mental health related issues.
FREDERICK NELSON
Sting Sends
13 To Jail
In a prostitution sting Tues- day, St. Petersburg Police ar- rested 13 men. Among the men arrested, 5 had their vehicles impounded and will have to pay a $500 fine to get them back. They all face charges of solicita- tion for prostitution.
Arrested in the sting were:
Malachi Eastridge, Christo- her Vinci, John Uber, Ronald Gavin, Klodian Mullaj, Jairo Benavides, Mohinder Singh, Dominick Maddaloni, Hillard Franklin, Jeremy Medeiros, Warren Tensley, Damian Anderson, and Kevin Skeene.
Man Shot Outside Home In Serious Condition
Police are currently investi- gating a shooting that took place Tuesday. The victim was outside of his residence in the 1600 block of N. Taylor Road, when the shooting took place.
According to the Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office, Gilben Longino Comacho, 35, went outside his home around 4 a.m., to determine why his dogs were barking.
Police said he was looking around his yard when he was confronted by at least two sus- pects. The men ordered him to the ground, and the suspects grabbed an ATV that was parked outside. The suspect began to roll the ATV toward their vehicle, which was parked nearby.
As the suspects were leaving,
for undetermined reasons, they fired at least once at Comacho. Comacho was transported to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious condition. Po- lice said he is expected to sur- vive. The investigation into the
shooting is continuing.
Anyone with any informa-
tion reference the suspects is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or anyone with any information regarding the iden- tity and whereabouts of these suspects and who wants to be el- igible for a cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 873-TIPS (8477), report anony- mously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or text "CSTB plus your tip" to C- R-I-M-E-S (274637).
Uncle Sandy says...
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, 2, 25, 35, 45 finding it every- where, 12, 37, 40, 43 di- agnosing it incorrectly 5, 49, 59, 61 and applying the wrong remedies. 3, 33, 53, 58
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 23-A