BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
On November 21, 2011, Wathson Adelson was driving south on Manhattan Boulevard near Waters when he encountered Alcisviades Polanco, who was driving in the same direction.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Adelson sped around Polanco’s vehicle then came to a stop in the roadway blocking Polanco’s vehicle.
Deputies said both men got out of their cars, exchanged words, and at some point, Polanco armed himself with a weapon, and stabbed Adelson in the head and shoulder area. Adelson was hospitalized and eventually died from his wounds.
An investigation was initiated, and Polanco claimed he was defending himself and used the “Stand Your Ground” law as a defense.
On Monday, the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office released a statement, saying they had completed their review of the incident and no charges will be filed against Polanco as “the evidence is insufficient to rebut Polanco’s claim of self defense.
Adelson’s uncle, James Medard, said the family is angry over the decision, and plans to take action.
“I’m personally investigating the case based on what witnesses said and it makes no sense. I don’t see how this could be self defense when Wathson was sitting in his car when he was stabbed. What kind of threat could he have represented to that man sitting in his car?”
Medard said the family is going to hire an attorney to appeal the decision that this was self defense.
“Too many people stand behind this law when something like this happens and in this case, the facts don’t justify that,” said Medard.
“My nephew was never threatening to this man, and from what we’ve been told, Polanco got out of his car and approached Wathson and attacked him. He never had a chance to protect himself.”
Medard said the family wants the incident heard in a court system that will see all the facts.
“Right now, it seems someone took Polanco’s story and just ran with it. We feel this has racial overtones and when I get back to Miami, I will sit down with my pastor, who is president of the NAACP chapter there.”
Medard said the family is planning a candlelight vigil for Wathson, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure this case doesn’t disappear.
“They have opened a can of worms and now they are going to have to deal with it.”
