Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

A tentative settlement between a former Tampa Police Captain and the City of Tampa has been reached. The settlement brings a 5-year battle to a close.

Mayor Bob Buckhorn said the two sides reached an agreement and both sides are dropping their lawsuit. “It’s time we put this behind us. I’m willing to put it behind us and to let Marion put it behind him and move on as well. It wasn’t a lawsuit I started and I think this is best.

Mayor Buckhorn said the city has agreed to pay Marion Lewis an undisclosed amount. According to a source, Lewis will receive $350,000.

Mayor Buckhorn further said that the settlement has to be approved by members of City Council and by the presiding judge.

The circumstances that prompted the lawsuit began five years ago. In 2007, Lewis was a Captain with the Tampa Police Department when he decided to launch a campaign for the office of Mayor against former Mayor Pam Iorio. He said before filing for the office, he had contacted the State of Florida Elections Office and was told he did not have to resign his job to seek the office.

However, after filing his paper work with the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office, Lewis was forced into retirement.

Lewis filed a lawsuit and Judge Marva Crenshaw ruled in his favor. The City of Tampa appealed the judge’s decision and Lewis filed an appeal with the Second District Court of Appeals. That ruling resulted in a split decision with the courts handing it back to the lower courts.

The men and women of the Tampa Police Department enter the profession of law enforcement to serve our community. We take an oath to preserve life and protect property, swearing to keep our citizens and community safe. In cooperation with all citizens, we have made great strides in making Tampa a much safer city. However, if you have been a victim of crime, then our crime reduction statistics are meaningless numbers.  Therein lies the reason that our officers come to work every day – to protect our community and reduce the number of citizens who may become victims of crime.

There are few things more devastating to an officer than to be forced to take someone’s life. As stated, we enter this profession to help others. Deadly force is a last resort and is used only when the life of a citizen or an officer is in imminent danger.

It is a tragedy that Javon Neal, a 16-year-old, would be armed with such a dangerous weapon as an assault style shotgun. A life was lost and many more negatively affected. As a mother, I can’t imagine losing a child. Those who witnessed the event were deeply impacted, as were my officers, who are committed to preserving life. Everyone loses in this situation.
There are too many guns on the streets of our community, many of them in the hands of juveniles. Although homicides have been reduced dramatically in our city, from a high of 79 in 1986 to a low of 20 in 2009, there are still an inordinate number of homicides that involve black on black crime. And far too many involve the death of a young man. Every life is valuable; none more than another and we, as a community, need to be concerned.  

Through the years we have seen too much crime involving our younger generation. For some months now I have been meeting and speaking with community leaders concerning this alarming trend. It is my firm belief that most of our youth are positive, well-intentioned, good kids. In some instances they lack direction, or are influenced by that small group that is bent on violence and disruption. The question then is – what can we do as a community to provide guidance, a positive example, and constructive activities to this future generation?
Some of the actions taken to date include mentoring programs, scholarships to the Police Athletic League, a week-long Leadership Camp at the RICH House in Sulphur Springs, and a summer youth night basketball league at the YET Center in East Tampa. These programs are not the sole action of the City of Tampa, but a cooperative effort of community members and government working together. Constructive activities, such as listed, will undoubtedly touch young lives in a positive and formative way. I applaud all of our community partners who are taking the lead in helping our children. But the sad fact remains, it is not enough. We need more citizens and community leaders to join in the efforts to help our children and provide positive and inspiring role models for them.

Just last week, Tonya Lewis and Mr. and Mrs. Young from Project SAW (Show Another Way) put on a faith based youth event in Riverfront Park. Providing the keynote address was the first African American Astronaut, Colonel Benjamin Alvin Drew, Jr. He delivered a wonderfully inspirational speech about being able to achieve anything you wish, as long as you were willing to work hard. Unfortunately, there weren’t many children there to hear this speech. Despite the low attendance, the event was a success. There were a number of community leaders in attendance, those individuals who are working to make a difference – those who choose positive action over negative rhetoric.  Conspicuously absent were most of those individuals who have identified themselves as ‘community activists’ over the past few days; spewing misinformation and trying to create a wedge between the community and their police officers. The most damaging aspect of these recent actions is the impact they may have on our impressionable youth, the very ones we as a community are trying to show a better way.

As I stated to Javon’s mother the night of the incident, I am sorry for his death. The loss of a young life, and so unnecessarily, is a sad commentary on our whole community. I do not, and will not, apologize for the actions of my officers. In fact I stand firmly in support, knowing that if not for their quick reaction to this dangerous threat, they may not have gone home to their families. I can ask my officers to lay down their lives for the good in our community; I cannot and will not do so for those who are breaking the law.

JANE CASTOR
Chief of Police
Tampa Police Department

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

On Sunday afternoon, members of the community will gather at the Al Barnes Park, (formerly 18th Avenue Park) for a Voter Registration and Primary Election Rally. The Hillsborough County Coalition for Concerned Citizens will host the event. It will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Marvin Knight said several organizations and concerned citizens have come together to make the event possible. He further stated that there will be a representative from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office at the event to answer questions and explain the process of registering.

“We are trying to register people for the November Election and we want everyone to come out and have a good time. This is our way of coming back to give back. We are trying to pick up another brother or sister. There will be free food, activities for the entire family, and live entertainment.

“We realize that other organizations are registering people as well. This is a collaboration to celebrate the hard work that has already been done and to realize that we still have a long way to go,” he said.

Tampa Fire Chief Tom Forward said, “We are encouraging the community to come out and participate in this healthy election season forum to gain an increased understanding of the discussions, the candidates, and the voting process.

“In this upcoming election season, you’re either in the game or you’re a spectator; the decision is yours. Let’s get out and VOTE!”

Ms. Donna Douglas said, “It’s important to exercise something so precious as our right to vote. We must focus on unity of our community. We are facing so many obstacles.  So we must educate our community with the statistics and the relevance of voting.”

Scott A. Hardy said, “Now is the time to exercise our right to vote, which was fought for by our ancestors many years ago.  This is not a time to sit back and see what will happen rather than be a significant part of the process to aid in making a difference locally as well as nationally.”

City Councilman Frank Reddick said, “We’re having this event to encourage members of the community to come out and register if they haven’t already, as well as a reminder that the Early Voting will begin on July 30th, and the Primary Election will take place on August 14th.

“But, it is also for those who are already registered. We want everyone to come out to this family-oriented event, bring the family, and just have a good time.”

Some of those providing entertainment at the event are: Shawn Brown Entertainment, Nate Mitchell, jazz artist Henry Ashwood, of St. Petersburg, Theo Valentin, Mike McCarthur, the Military-Rap Group, and the

St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Praise Team, among others. Some representatives from City and County government are also expected to attend.

Tampa Police officers were called to the Central Court Apartments, 2510 North Central Avenue, at 7:21 p. m. Sunday for someone shooting a weapon in the street near the complex.

According to their reports, when officers arrived at the complex, they reportedly spotted someone matching the description of the person described firing the weapon.

As Officers Gregory Pryor and Shannon Murphy approached the alleged gunman, he reportedly began to walk away from them. The officers said they gave him the order to stop, but he began running towards the courtyard area of the complex. The suspect ran up an outdoor staircase, and as he was running, the officers said they saw him pulling something out of his pant leg.

Police said the officers continued to give him orders to stop and show his hands. When he reached the third floor, he allegedly turned toward the officers, armed with a pistol griped shotgun. The officers once again gave commands for him to drop the weapon. When he didn’t, they fired reportedly in self-defense.

The suspect, later identified as 16-year-old Javon Neal, was reportedly shot at least once, and was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

Residents at the complex Monday gave a different account of the incident.

“When the police came, Javon was running from me, because we were horsing around,” said Lloyvonshae Copeland. “When he saw the police, he picked up speed a little bit, but, he really wasn’t running. After they shot him, I tried to help him, but an officer told me he would shoot me if I touched him.”

Duprina Brown said the whole thing started from incidents that had been occurring earlier in the day. “Someone was throwing a birthday party, and that always draws a crowd,” said Ms. Brown.

“There were a lot of guys standing around in the parking lot, and somebody said something about guns. Someone had been shooting earlier, but when the police arrived, they saw Javon.”

Neal’s father, Michael Lovett, said when he got home around 7:30, he was told the police shot his son as he was running upstairs.

“His mom lives on the second floor, but not at the end where he was shot.

“When I arrived at the hospital, I got a lot of different versions of what happened. In my heart, nothing justified my son being shot.”

Mr. Lovett said his son spends a lot of time with him at his residence near Bearss.

“He enjoys spending time with me, but he’s always in a hurry for me to take him back to Tampa Heights. That’s where he grew up, and that’s where all his friends live. “I had just talked to him about hanging out on the streets. He was big for his age, and I knew someone could think he was an adult.”

The 16-year-old’s girlfriend, Latarsha Gary, said she and Javon were together seconds before the shooting occurred. “He had been in the house all day, and just decided to come out. The next thing I knew, he had been shot. I tried to give him CPR, but they threatened to shoot me if I got near him.

“I never saw him with the shotgun, but I have seen that weapon before. I never saw Javon with a shotgun or any kind of weapon.”

Ms. Gary, Ms. Copeland, and Ms. Brown all said Neal was trying to toss marijuana in his pockets when he was shot.

Ms. Gary said when she saw Javon at the hospital, he had 14 bullet wounds.

The Tampa Police Department Internal Affairs Bureau and the Homicide Shoot Team, along with the state Attorney’s Office, are conducting a thorough investigation.

Officers Pryor and Murphy will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Pictured: Javon Neal and his girlfriend, LaTarsha Gary.

Mr. and Mrs. John (Grace) Clark passed away Sunday and Monday, less than 24 hours apart.

According to their son, Fred Hearns, Mr. Clark passed away Sunday afternoon a little more than an hour after visiting his wife at Tampa General Hospital.

Mr. Clark was in an assisted living facility, Hearns stated. “He had not spoken in over 2 months. I picked him up Sunday, took him to her hospital bed, put their hands together, and said, ‘John, say whatever you want to say to mom. He said over and over, ‘I love you Grace’,” Hearns explained.

Mrs. Clark joined a group of AME’s a few weeks ago for the convention in Nashville. While there, she started complaining about not feeling well and even decided not to go on one of the planned tours.

After returning to Tampa, she was admitted to the hospital after having a heart attack. Last Thursday (7-19), she suffered a stroke and died about noon on Monday (7-23).

Mr. and Mrs. Clark were members of Allen Temple AME Church.

Funeral services for both are incomplete at this time. Wilson Funeral Home will handle services

A disaster recovery center is now open in Hillsborough County to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by Tropical Storm Debby. The center, located at the University Area Community Development Center, 14013 N. 22nd St. (33613), is open 8 a. m. to 6 p. m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p. m. on Sunday.

Dan Jurman, executive director and CEO of the University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc. (UACDC), worked with FEMA to conduct an extensive site evaluation to ensure the facility could accommodate representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U. S. Small Business Administration and other agencies that will be at the center to explain disaster assistance programs and help victims apply for aid.

It is recommended that before going to a disaster recovery center, people with storm or flooding losses register with FEMA.
*    By calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Help is available 7 a. m. to 10 p. m., seven days a week in most languages. For the deaf, hard of hearing or those using a TTY can call 800-462-7585.
*    Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by tablet or smartphone using the FEMA app m.fema.gov.

Anyone who sustained damage in any of the 22 Florida counties designated for federal individual disaster assistance can visit the disaster recovery center. Federal disaster assistance can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property loss and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are also available to help with residential and business losses not covered by insurance. Go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, call  800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people who are deaf or hard of hearing).

On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that five alleged gang members were sentenced to a total of 70 years in prison and 64 years of probation for their participation in a violent street gang from North Tampa known as the “Cross Fletcher Hot Boys.”

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the “Cross Fletcher Hot Boys” in 2009. The gang allegedly was dominating the drug trade in North Tampa, and the gang’s members were implicated in a number of homicides, armed robberies, and shootings.

In late 2010, HCSO took 10 gang members into custody on racketeering and other charges.

Dijon Johnson, 25, was sentenced to 10 years to be followed by four years probation, after pleading guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, resisting officers with violence, and drug conspiracy charges.

Vanord Rutherford, 25, Oliver Hodges, 28, Milton Smith, 25, and Jeremiah Newsome, 26 were found guilty by a jury after a three-week trial in April and May of 2012 on charges of racketeering and conspiracy. Each was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation.

The case was prosecuted through a partnership between the Office of the State Attorney and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. To date, nine of the 10 arrested defendants have been sentenced to a total of 113.5 years in prison and 65.5 years of probation.

Earlier this week, the federal government indicted a 46-year-old Tampa man on seventeen counts of filing false tax returns. The false returns totaled $704,676.

Koffi M. Gbikpi was arrested on Tuesday. According to the indictment, he prepared and filed the tax returns in the names of several individuals between February and November of 2009. Gbikpi allegedly used several Internet email addresses to electronically submit the false income tax returns to the IRS (Internal Revenue Service).

If convicted on all of the charges, Gbikpi faces five years in federal prison on each count. He could receive a maximum of 85 years in prison.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

James C. Preston, Jr., Prosecutor for the U. S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, announced on Thursday morning that he plans to retry Ms. Cortnee Brantley. Her first trial ended with a deadlocked jury on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Preston said in a press release, “Pursuant to this Court’s inquiry, following the declaration of a mistrial in this case, the United States informs the court of its intent to pursue its prosecution and to retry the defendant at such time as the court deems appropriate.”

The trial of Ms. Brantley, 24, who is linked to the deaths of two Tampa Police officers began on Monday. She was charged because she did not tell police that her passenger was a convicted felon in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop.

The case was given to the jury for deliberation Tuesday evening. Attorney Grady Irvin, her court appointed counsel, did not call any witnesses. A motion to dismiss the case was submitted last month.

However, U. S. District Judge James Moody, Jr., denied the request.

On Wednesday afternoon, jurors notified Judge Moody that they were deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict.

Ms. Brantley was arrested two years ago on a federal charged of concealing information from law enforcement after her companion, Dontae Morris, 26, allegedly shot and killed Tampa Police Officer David Curtis, 31, and Officer Jeff Kocab, also 31, two years ago.

During the early morning hours of June 29, 2010, Officer Curtis stopped Ms. Brantley’s vehicle because the license plate was not visible. Officer Kocab was his backup unit.

Ms. Brantley pulled over to the side of the road on N. 50th Street and E. 23rd Avenue.

Morris was a passenger in the vehicle. Morris is alleged to have shot both officers in the head as they attempted to arrest him on an active warrant for worthless checks.

Attorney Irvin had successfully had the charge dismissed last year. However, federal prosecutors won an appeal.

Last month, Attorney Irvin stated in a brief submitted to the court, “Discovery materials in the murder prosecution(s) of Dontae Morris were released to members of the media. Included with released material was a 38-page transcript of Quinisha McMillian, who is apparently an occasional Morris paramour.

“…McMillan witnessed Morris in possession of a firearm and ammunition on no less than two separate occasions. The first occasion occurred shortly after McMillan saw Morris near a dead body in her apartment complex. While the second occasion occurred shortly after Morris admitted to McMillan that he had killed the person.”

Attorney Irvin further said Ms. Brantley is the target of “emotional and selective prosecution” while there is a lack of prosecution of Ms. McMillan “who possibly could have saved the lives of those officers and two others after she witnessed the first victim, Derek Anderson, laying on the ground dead in the apartment complex where she lived.”

He further stated that in addition to knowing that Morris had recently been released from prison, Ms. McMillan watched him remove spent cartridge shells from his handgun and reload it with fresh bullets.

Attorney Irvin also requested an Evidentiary Hearing based on the newly released information. Judge Moody had not issued a response to either request at press time.

Derek Anderson, 21, was killed on May 18th while at the Kenneth Court Apartment Complex on East Hillsborough Avenue. On May 31st, 41-year-old Rodney Jones was shot and killed as he left a West Tampa nightclub. Harold Wright, 25, was shot and killed on June 8th, in Palm River.

Ms. Brantley was arrested July 3, 2010, on an active warrant the day after Morris surrendered to police, ending a massive nationwide manhunt.

Judge Moody gave Prosecutor James Preston, Jr., until Monday, to determine if he will seek a re-trial.