Florida Sentinel Bulletin

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

NOTE: The Sentinel has chosen not to identify the witness because he fears retaliation.

A 64-year-old Tampa man was allegedly beaten by Tampa Police and arrested Sunday. He was charged with unlawful solicitation of newspapers and obstructing or opposing an officer with violence.

According to a witness, the incident took place between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., Sunday, at the intersection of E. Lake Avenue and N. 29th Street.
The witness gave the following account of what took place:

“I came up on the corner and I was talking to Johnny (Teel). He was telling me that some police officer told him to pack up and don’t sell anymore papers (Tampa Tribune).

He said he only had about 6 or 7 left and he was going to sell his papers.

“About 15 or 20 minutes later, this officer stopped at the corner and Johnny said, ‘I think this is the officer.’”

The witness said the officer sat in his cruiser between 10 and 12 minutes, with traffic having to go around him. The witness said the officer then pulled into a parking lot and continued to sit in his car.

The witness said the officer said, “I told you not to sell anymore newspapers. Pack your stuff up.” The witness said neither he nor Teel responded and continued to stand on the corner. The witness said the officer sat in the car about 15 minutes.

“A man drove up in the parking lot and some people went into the store. When they came out, the man asked Johnny if he had a Tribune.

At that point, the witness said, the officer exited his vehicle and said, “I told you to pack your stuff up, put your hands behind your back.”

The witness said Teel continued to stand there holding his newspapers.

“He whipped out his stick and hit him. Johnny still didn’t do it, and he hit again on the leg and Johnny started to stumble. He hit him again and Johnny fell. He hit Johnny again after he fell,” the witness said.

“Johnny should have just dropped the papers and put his hands behind his back. But, that officer was wrong hitting that man like that. There were a lot of people up there with camcorders and phones,” the witness said.

He further stated that paramedics were called to treat Teel before he was transported to jail. He was released from the Hillsborough County Jail after posting a bond of $2,250.

The witness further stated that this is not the first time they have been harassed while selling the newspaper. He said he spoke with Major Gerald Honeywell about the harassment and was told to tell the officer to contact him if there was a problem.

“When I told the officer Major Honeywell said to call him, the officer said, ‘you call him, you got his number, you call him.’

The witness further stated that there are as many as four people at that intersection selling newspapers and they comply with the law. “We do what we’re supposed to do, we wear our vests and everything. I just hope it’s safe for me to go back up there and sell my papers.”

Teel, who also sells the Sentinel at that corner, did not return telephone calls.

The City Ordinance states that news carriers can sell newspapers with the exception of 10 identified corners in the City limits. On Sundays, anyone is allowed to solicit on the city corners with the exception of the ten corners prohibited at any time.[private]

***Look for full story in Friday’s Sentinel***

Police Dept. Release Statement
When contacted by the Sentinel, the Tampa Police Department said in a written statement, “This is a situation where the subject would have received a notice to appear in court, but instead he became combative and chose to fight the officer. In this circumstance, the suspect’s aggressive actions towards the officer made it necessary for him to use force to stop the suspect’s resistance and make the arrest.”

According to the police report, “Officer S. Cicolello observed the subject selling the Tampa Tribune at the corner of 29th Street, N and Lake Avenue. E. The subject was not wearing the required vest and was also inhibiting the flow of traffic. Officer S. Cicolello parked his marked unit and made contact with the subject on foot. Officer S. Cicolello explained to the subject that he was in violation of City Ordinance 6-265 by not wearing the required vest, impeding traffic flow, and having no credentials from the Tampa Tribune. Officer Cicolello gave the subject a warning and asked the subject to leave the area. The subject understood and began moving his things to his vehicle,” the report stated.

The officer stated in the report that when he returned an hour later, the man was wearing the vest, but was still impeding traffic. The officer said at that time, he parked his vehicle and approached the man on foot to make an arrest.

The report stated, “…The defendant yanked his arm away twice. The defendant became combative and assumed a fighting stance with his fists balled up. He refused to comply with verbal commands.

“… An unknown subject grabbed the defendant and tried to calm him down, but the defendant broke away and charged at the officer who then struck the defendant twice in the legs with his ASP baton.”

After being placed on the ground, the defendant continued to resist. Fire rescue responded, but no medical attention was required, the report said.[/private]

BY GWEN HAYES
Sentinel Editor

Elder Roland H. Oliver, Sr. passed away Friday, March 2, 2012, at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 53 years old.

Rev. Oliver was the pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Palmetto.

According to close family members, Elder Oliver preached harder than he has ever on the second Sunday, February 12, 2012.  However, after worship service, he complained about tightness in his chest, but said it was probably acid reflux. At first, he refused to seek medical attention until one of his deacons told him he’d meet him at the hospital. Instead of the hospital, they agreed to meet at a clinic, where he was immediately sent to the hospital.

Elder Oliver, affectionately known in Tampa as ‘Jim Buie,’ began his education at St. Peter Claver Catholic School and continued his education at Tampa Catholic High School, where he was valedictorian of his graduating class. He attended Hillsborough Community College and Bethune-Cookman College, where he was drum major. He loved to sing and played the piano, drums and organ.

According to his wife, Mrs. Elnora Oliver, Elder Oliver was called to preach the gospel in his late teens and preached his first sermon at Greater Bethel Baptist Church, where his uncle, Rev. Oscar Johnson, Jr. is the pastor, and where he grew up.

Approximately 10 years later, he was ordained and became the pastor of Faith Temple Missionary Baptist Church. He later became the pastor at St. John in Palmetto where he remained until his death.

At St. John, Elder Oliver sang and directed the Male Choir, licensed 5 ministers, ordained 10 deacons, started the food bank, Trustee Board and Brotherhood, in addition to teaching the Word of God.

He was religiously trained at Florida Theological Seminary and graduated from Baptist Fellowship Seminary in 1982.

His other affiliations include: Secretary, Progressive M&E Baptist State Convention; Advisory Board, Palmetto Youth Academy; held several positions in Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Association. He was in Tampa earlier in February and participated in the Inaugural Ceremony (Pastor’s Conference Chair, Litany of Installation) honoring Moderator Rev. Dr. Hosea L. Daniels.

R. W. Roland Oliver, Sr. (33/43 degree) was also the Deputy Grand Master of St. Joseph Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. State of Florida and held other Masonic positions.

There will be a viewing for Elder Oliver on Thursday evening at Greater Bethel M. B. Church, 1207 N. Jefferson; Friday evening, 5-8 p.  m. the Wake services will be held at St. John, 1701 1st Ave. E., Palmetto (34221). The funeral service on Saturday, March 10, 2012, will be held at Mt. Raymond Full Gospel Baptist Church, 2410 4th Ave. E., Palmetto (34221). Interment will follow the service back in Tampa at Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Ray Williams Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. (More information in Friday’s Funeral Notice)

The son of the late June and Oscar Oliver, Elder Oliver was raised by his aunt, Ms. Frances Johnson from the age of 2 when his mother died. He was an only child.
In addition to his wife, Elder Oliver is survived by 2 sons, Roland, Jr. and Jonathan and 2 daughters, Marquitta and Precious.

BY GWEN HAYES
Sentinel Editor

Michelle Shelley-Moseley is the new face at the Tampa Museum of Art in downtown Tampa. She’s the Museum Educator in the Programming Department.

That title entails developing exhibition-related educational materials for the public, teachers, students and the everyday audience. This position also includes working with various community groups on art projects and museum visits, as well as scheduling museum tours for groups.

Mrs. Shelley-Moseley has only been at the Tampa Museum of Art since September 2011, but she is where she wants to be – surrounded by various works of art.
One of the reasons she enjoys what she’s doing is because it comes easy. She’s an artist and talking art is what she does.

Mrs. Shelley-Moseley came to Tampa at the perfect time – a few months before the opening of the Romare Bearden: Southern Recollections exhibition in January at the museum. Ironically, she came to Tampa from St. Louis, Missouri, where she spent a year as a Romare Bearden Graduate Minority Fellow. She found herself well-prepared to talk about the artist and his works in Tampa.

Mrs. Shelley-Moseley received undergraduate and master’s degrees in art education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK.

While here in Tampa she hopes to someday have her work on display. Her art is centered around the African-American experience. She does various forms of art – from oil paintings to mixed media and collages.

Professionally, she is a member of the Florida Art Education Association, National Art Education Association and the American Association of Museums. Mrs. Moseley is the Children’s Activity Committee Chairperson for the 2012 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.

Five Tampa residents were given sentences that ranged from 17 years to 32 years in federal prison. They were convicted of a string of armed robberies that spanned four counties.

Judge Virginia Covington sentenced Daisy Louise Thomas, 32, to 17 years in prison. She was convicted during a jury trial on November 17, 2011.

Antoine Markeist Harris, 21, was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison. Antonio Cortez Harris, Jr., 22, Rykeith Andre Levatte, 25, and Alden Bernard Lewis, were each sentenced to 32 years in prison. They all entered a guilty plea on November 1, 2011.

All five were also sentenced to a five-year term of supervised release after they complete their prison sentences.

According to court documents, on May 11, 2010, the All About You Hair Salon in New Port Richey was robbed. Evidence presented at trial connected Ms. Thomas, Rykeith Levatte, and another person to that robbery.

The suspects reportedly wore disguises and brandished firearms.

On May 24, 2010, Levatte, Lewis, and another suspect entered King’s Grocery in Tampa, wearing disguises and demanding money. Ms. Thomas was the getaway driver.

The string of robberies continued on May 25, 2010. The four men entered a 7-Eleven Store in Pinellas Park and robbed it at gunpoint. The following day, the four men hit another 7-Eleven Store in Gibsonton and robbed it at gunpoint as well.

Other robberies took place at another 7-Eleven Store, and a Circle K in Tampa; a Hess Station and a 7-Eleven Store in New Port Richey; a 7-Eleven Store in Lakeland; and a Mobil Gas Station in Land O’ Lakes.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeland Police Department, New Port Richey Police Department, Pinellas Park Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement were involved in the investigation.

Pictured: DAISY LOUISE THOMAS-Sentenced to 17 years in prison; ANTONIO HARRIS, JR.-Sentenced to 32 years in prison;  ANTOINE HARRIS-Sentenced to 19 years, 7 months in prison; RYKEITH LEVATTE-Sentenced to 32 years in prison

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

Marva Anglin said no matter what anyone says, she’ll never accept the explanation given by police that her son killed himself.

On January 30th at 4:20 a. m., Tampa Police reported that Trey Anglin, 19, had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head while sitting inside a car that was parked in his front yard. The gun used in the shooting belonged to Anglin, but they can’t determine whether or not the bullet that killed him matched the gun found underneath his left arm.

Ms. Anglin said where the gun was found raised doubts, because her son is right handed.

“We have had contact with the detective investigating what happened, but we still need a clear explanation of what really happened. When this happened, I was sitting in my home office that has a window facing the front yard. I would have heard a gunshot, and I heard nothing, nor did any of my neighbors. Also, we’re upset at some of the comments the detective made as they were insensitive and racial.

“When we met with some of the detectives, they told us Trey killed himself, and that was it. They also told us they are still treating this as a homicide, and awaiting the results of some tests.”

Ms. Anglin said some of her neighbors are concerned why detectives didn’t go door-to-door with questions or concerns about the shooting.

Ms. Anglin said every facet of their investigation is based on what the girl who was in the car with her son told them.

“She claims Trey told her he was going to kill himself, and we definitely don’t believe that. There’s just no reason for it. “Every time I read or hear what that girl has said, I come away not believing a word of it. There are just too many holes in her story.”

Ms. Anglin said the family wants a more thorough investigation, and they have contacted the NAACP to see if they can intervene and conduct their own investigation.

“I remember the night this happened,” said Ms. Anglin. “Trey came out of his room dressed and said he was going down the street to see his friend. That was the last time I saw him. The friend at the house he went to said the girl did pick Trey up at 12:30 a. m. She also said they came back to my house, and sat in the car in my yard for a couple of hours.”

Ms. Anglin said she sat and looked through her office window waiting for Trey to come home, and there was no strange car in her yard.

“My son will never agree to go to another man’s house that he doesn’t know, but the detectives did not find her story changing to be odd. It’s also ironic that people living in the area of his friend’s house reported hearing a gunshot, and that was n ever looked into.”

Police spokesperson, Janelle McGregor, said they rely on the report of the Medical Examiner to determine the cause of death in all cases.

“The M.E.’s findings, along with the forensic evidence, confirms Anglin did shoot himself. We’ve been in constant communication with his family, providing them various details of the case throughout the investigation.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

In protest of the treatment African Americans received in a segregated society, sit-ins were effective non-violent protests, shut down businesses for several hours.

Some young adults and students who participated in the sit-ins in Tampa included now prominent Tampa residents, Arthenia Joyner, Gwen Miller, Clarence Fort, Delano Stewart, and Walter Smith, among others.

For decades, the Woolworth and Kress 5¢ and 10¢ Stores have been vacant. Now, the owners of the property are in the process of redeveloping it. However, they are seeking ideas from the community on how to memorialize the historic site.
City Councilman Frank Reddick said the developers want to include the suggestions from the community when they appear before Council next month.

“The lunch counters are gone, but the buildings are still there. The developers want to memorialize those two stores and they are asking for suggestions from the community. They want to find a way to preserve the history of the sit-ins,” Councilman Reddick said.

The first successful sit-in took place in Baltimore in the mid 1950s, Maryland, followed by another in Witchita, Kansas. By February 1, 1960, sit-ins were taking place throughout the United States.

Councilman Reddick is asking anyone wishing to submit a suggestion to send it to him by March 21, 2012 at  Frank.Reddick@TampaGov.net.

A Hillsborough County teacher has been arrested and charged with three counts of lewd battery and two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives began their investigation when the victim’s mother notified them she believed her 12-year-old son was having sex with a 29-year-old female known to the family.

The woman, Ethel Anderson, is a teacher at Mango Elementary School. The victim is not one of her students.

Detectives said beginning in December 2011 through February 2012 while at Anderson’s residence on Waterton Drive, she had sex and inappropriate touching with the victim.

School officials said Anderson would be suspended with pay, and they will take action later this month to have her suspended without pay.

Spokesperson, Linda Cobbe, said Anderson called in sick to school all week, and was preparing paperwork to take a leave of absence.

Anderson had worked for the school district since 2006, and taught two fifth-grade language arts classes. She is married and has a young daugther.

Anderson is being held without bond on the charges.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Five years ago, Verizon began recognizing its employees who went above and beyond duty. They call the year-long recognition “Service Heroes.”

Last week, Ms. Jeanmarie Milla, Verizon’s South Region Operations President, announced the name of its 5th “Service Hero.”

Ms. Zabrina Mitchell was named a “Super Hero.” She is also a multi-year Platinum Club winner.

In addition to having the recognition for an entire calendar year, a larger than life-sized photograph of Ms. Mitchell adorns the front of Verizon’s Zack Street building in downtown Tampa.

Bob Elek, Manager of Media Relations said of Ms. Mitchell, “Her proactive approach to engaging customers and solving problems is helping to drive customer loyalty, builds service culture credibility with her team and helps maintain high morale in her store. Zabrina is a Verizon Service Hero that lives the role everyday through her strong unwavering commitment to our customers evident through her daily actions, teamwork, and overarching service focused business strategy.”

During an interview with the Sentinel, Ms. Mitchell said she was surprised that she won the award. All of the company’s employees were in competition for the title.

“It feels good to be recognized for the contributions. For a customer service representative, it means everything,” she said.

A Tampa native, Ms. Mitchell attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. After graduating from Robinson High School, she continued her education at St. Leo University, where she majored in Criminology.

Ms. Mitchell joined Verizon in 1999, and has worked in several capacities throughout her tenure. She was promoted to management in 2004 with the company. Her current role in management requires her to work with 33 stores throughout the state.

When time allows, Ms. Mitchell enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family.

Tampa Police report that on Wednesday, February 22nd between 4:45 p. m. and 5:19 p. m., Derrick Grady, Jr., 24, was driven by a female acquaintance to meet Jacob Nelson, 25, at 9410 North 13th Street.

Authorities have not disclosed what the confrontation was about that led to one man fatally shooting the other. Police said when Grady arrived, he was directed to the front door of the apartment.

A witness told police Nelson armed himself with a handgun and was upset prior to Grady’s arrival. When Grady stepped inside the apartment, Nelson allegedly shot Grady once in the chest. Grady ran and collapsed a short distance away. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Nelson fled the scene, but turned himself in Thursday, February 23rd.

A witness identified Nelson as the person who shot Grady. He was charged with second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

Although arrest records indicate that Nelson and Grady both spent time at the Brevard Correctional Institute, they were not at the institution at the same time.

Detectives said they cannot release the name of the woman who drove Grady to the apartment because she is a witness, and they haven’t released information on what the dispute was about between the two men.