Archive | Crime

Juvenile Justice Sergeant Charged With Sex Crime

Juvenile Justice Sergeant Charged With Sex Crime

KATELYN GOMEZ

      Last Wednesday, detectives arrested a Juvenile Justice Detention Center Sergeant for soliciting sexual activity with a juvenile inmate.

Detectives responded to the Pinellas Regional Juvenile Detention Center,
5255 140th Avenue, North, in Clearwater, after approximately ten
inappropriate letters were found in the bed of a sixteen-year-old male inmate.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives learned that 27-year-old,  Sergeant Katelyn Gomez wrote the letters.

The letters explicitly described what would take place during their first sexual encounter and described an ongoing relationship, which had developed while the victim was incarcerated. There was also a photo of Gomez in the victim’s cell.

Detectives said Gomez was hired as a Sergeant on January 5, 2024, and was
assigned to the victim’s pod three weeks ago.  Additionally, Gomez was
instructed to not be alone with the juveniles, however staff members observed
her one-on-one with the victim several times.

Detectives interviewed Gomez, who admitted to writing the letters to the
victim and stated she began developing a relationship with him when they met
at the facility several weeks ago. Gomez admitted that she fantasized about
having a sexual relationship with the victim and planned to build a life with
him once he was released.

Gomez was arrested and charged with one count of solicitation of a child to
engage in an act that constitutes sexual battery by a person in familial or
custodial authority. She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

The investigation is continuing.

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Man Charged With Hit And Run Fatality Of His Brother

Man Charged With Hit And Run Fatality Of His Brother

TYREE GLAND

 

     The St. Petersburg Police Department has arrested a 34-year-old man and charged him with first-degree murder. He is accused of intentionally running over his brother with a vehicle twice, killing him.

Tyree Gland was arrested on February 26th and charged with killing 35-year-old Taiwan Gland. It occurred on 7th Avenue
South, near 12th Street South.

Tyree Gland was taken into custody without incident in the 1900 block of 3rd Ave., N.

Early on the morning of February 26th, detectives believe Tyree intentionally
struck Taiwan with a vehicle two times, killing him. The vehicle used in the murder was a dark blue 2018 Cadillac ATS, with tag AT21AH.

St. Petersburg Police also arrested and charged 32-year-old Sebastian Williams with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.  He was the
passenger in the vehicle that struck and killed Taiwan Gland.

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Man Arrested After Shooting Outside A High School

Man Arrested After Shooting Outside A High School

JAHFAHREE EDWARDS

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man who fired a gun at students near a high school in Riverview.

On February 14, 2024, at 4 p. m., Jahfahree Edwards, 24, was seen on surveillance footage firing a gun at students after a fight had broken out down the street from Spoto High School.

After a thorough investigation, HCSO detectives located Edwards on February 29, 2024, staying with a family member in the 13000 block of Flame Wood Court, in Tampa.

He was taken into custody without incident and is facing the following charges: four counts of attempted murder in the second-degree firearm; four counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony with a weapon; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and throwing a deadly missile within or into a vehicle.

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Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide

Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide

JENRI FUENTES RODRIGUEZ

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man after a traffic fatality that occurred at Waters Avenue and Himes Avenue.

On Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 6 a. m., HCSO received a 9-1-1 call in reference to a vehicle crash.

In the early morning, while leaving a nightclub, Jenri Fuentes Rodriguez, 39, collided with an occupied vehicle, but proceeded to flee from the scene. After leaving the scene, Rodriguez pulled into a McDonald’s parking lot, where he hit another vehicle, and he, yet again, continued without stopping.

Proceeding down Waters Avenue, traveling at a high rate of speed, Rodriguez then ran a red light, causing his car and another vehicle to collide and flip multiple times, forcing the victim and her vehicle into a wooden utility pole.

When deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, they found Ann Marie Rutkowski, 59, deceased.

Rodriguez was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Upon being discharged from the hospital, Rodriguez was transported to Orient Road Jail and is currently facing a charge of vehicular homicide.

The investigation is continuing. More charges may be forthcoming.

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Man Accusing Of Abusing 8-Month-Old Baby

Man Accusing Of Abusing 8-Month-Old Baby

JAMES CLARK

 

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for aggravated child abuse of an eight-month-old baby.

On Sunday, February 18, 2024, the mother of an eight-month-old baby left her child in the care of James Clark, 33, while she went to work.

While the mother was at work, she got a call from Clark, who informed her that the child had accidentally burned its hand by reaching into a cup of hot chocolate. Upon returning home, the mother noticed that her baby had suffered severe injuries and discovered bruises all over the child’s body. The mother immediately rushed her baby to the hospital.

After being examined by medical personnel, it was determined that the baby had endured various inflicted injuries. These included injuries to the ears from high-velocity force, broken blood vessels, a non-displaced left parietal fracture, and a significant burn needing skin grafting.

On Thursday, February 22, 2024, Clark was arrested without incident and charged with: 2 counts of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm; child abuse; and child neglect.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

 

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After Road Rage Incident, 19-Year-Old Charged With Shooting Into Vehicle

After Road Rage Incident, 19-Year-Old Charged With Shooting Into Vehicle

 

SHYQUAN LEE GALON

On Sunday, February 25, 2024, Tampa Police officers responded to the
intersection of S. Morgan St. and Channelside Dr. at approximately 6:28 p.m.,
after multiple reports of shots fired following a two-vehicle crash.
Based on the investigation, officers were able to determine that the two
parties engaged in a physical dispute that stemmed from a roadway altercation. When both involved parties returned to their vehicles, the suspect, 19-year-old Shyquan Lee Galon, fired multiple shots at the occupied victim’s vehicle and then fled the scene.

No one in the vehicle sustained any injuries as a result of gunfire, but a
victim self-transported to a local hospital with minor non-life threatening
injuries from the physical dispute.

Following leads, officers made contact with Galon at his residence, where he
was taken into custody.

Galon was transported to Orient Road Jail and charged with one misdemeanor
count of battery, one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, and two felony counts of shooting at, within or into a vehicle.

 

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Mother Of Two Arrested On Child Abuse Charges

Mother Of Two Arrested On Child Abuse Charges

KARYN PARRISH 

A 28-year-old mother of two was arrested and charged with child abuse. The arrest came about after police were asked to conduct a welfare check.

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, deputies responded to a welfare check call at the Preserve at Sabal Park Apartments in Seffner.

When deputies arrived, they, along with an investigator from the Department of Child and Families, met with Karyn Parrish, 28, and asked to speak with her two children.

During the interaction with the children, deputies encountered a child under the age of five who exhibited signs of distress, shaking, and crying.

The child had recently received a new haircut and displayed a bruise on its cheek nearly two inches in size. Deputies asked the child how he got the bruise, and the child stated, “Maybe my mom. Maybe she was slapping me around. She doesn’t remember. Mommy tells her she doesn’t remember things.” Parrish later admitted she slapped the child at least three times.

Through investigative means, detectives also discovered videos on Parrish’s phone in which she directed one of her children to strike its sibling with a belt. In one of the recordings, Parrish can be heard laughing and saying, “Hit harder. Hit hard, baby. Beat the crap out of the sly devil.”

Detectives additionally uncovered a video in which Parrish informs her child that they are going to be tortured, and if they die, then so be it.

Parrish was arrested and charged with child abuse and transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

The children were removed from the home and placed in the care of a relative.

The investigation is continuing.

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Man Charged In Death Of His Elderly Mother

Man Charged In Death Of His Elderly Mother

DOUGLAS TURRELL

 

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man and charged him with the murder of his mother.

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, just after 7 p. m., deputies responded to a home on the 16000 block of Colwood Drive to do a welfare check on Joanne Turrell, 78. When deputies arrived, they found Turrell dead and covered with a blanket. Her adult son, 53-year-oldDouglas Turrell, who also lives in the home, was located in a locked bedroom with a firearm near him.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined Joanne Turrell died as a result of a gunshot wound. Detectives have arrested and charged Douglas Turrell with second-degree murder.

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Man Facing Attempted Murder Of Deputy, Other Charges

Man Facing Attempted Murder Of Deputy, Other Charges

JARRET FREDERICK, JR.

 

     A 22-year-old Polk County man is facing an attempted murder charge of a deputy, along with a dozen other charges. The charges came about after the deputy responded to a call to have property returned to a woman.

      According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, last Wednesday, the deputy responded to the intersection of Dr. M. L. King, Jr., Avenue and Canal Street, in Mulberry, around 7 p.m.

     When the deputy arrived, he observed Jarret Frederick, Jr., and a white woman, identified as a witness, walking down the street. After speaking with the woman, the deputy learned that the dispute centered around Frederick refusing to return her cell phone.

     The deputy attempted to detain him, but he continued walking down the street. When the deputy walked up to Frederick, Frederick allegedly struck the deputy twice in the face. At that point, a physical altercation took place.

     Frederick was able to get behind the deputy and placed his arm across the deputy’s throat, and applied pressure. The deputy told Frederick that he couldn’t breathe, but Frederick continued to apply pressure, police said.

     As Frederick continued to prevent the deputy from using his radio, the deputy reached for his gun. Frederick is said to have immediately release the deputy and said, “Don’t shoot me.”

     A second deputy arrived and Frederick allegedly continued to resist them as they attempted to handcuff him. Once Frederick was handcuffed, he reportedly slammed his body into the marked police car, causing a large dent.

     Once in the police cruiser, Frederick reportedly told the second deputy to, “Take the handcuffs off, or I’ll beat your p—y a–, you p—y a—cra—er.”

     He is facing numerous charges including attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, depriving an officer of the use of his radio, criminal mischief, more than $1,000 and several other charges.

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