The Tampa Police Department have arrested a woman, Erica Schmidt, charging her with assault, rioting, throwing rocks at police and handing them out to other rioters. Schmidt, 31, was arrested Saturday at an apartment located at 11727 12th Street and found a silver Hyundai Elantra, which matched the same carContinue Reading
As protests and rallies occur all over the country, Bradenton and Palmetto citizens came out to support George Floyd, speaking out against police brutality and calling for justice. “A crowd of several hundred people gathered in front of Bradenton Police headquarters early Sunday night,” reported Bay News 9, noting thoseContinue Reading
Officials are now reporting a cash reward up to $3,000 for information in the looting of the International Diamond Center in north Tampa during the protests and riots on May 30 and May 31. Surveillance video provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shows three men breaking the window andContinue Reading
Hillsborough County Republican Party Chair Jim Waurishuk has used inflammatory language to speak out against George Floyd protesters, claiming they are “violent hard core radical political left extremists” warning Trump supporters, conservatives that they ‘will be murdered.” Waurishuk shared an article about former PresidentBarack Obama’s statements on the protests calling them “aContinue Reading
A UCF professor is being denounced by the university and investigate for tweeting a racially charged statement, which included that “black privilege is real” and “shielded from legitimate criticism is a privilege. But as a group, they’re missing out on much needed feedback.” Charles Negy, an associate professor in theContinue Reading
As donations wane during the Chinese coronavirus outbreak, the Ronald McDonald House has found a new and exciting backer to help them survive. “Our biggest challenge with COVID is the fact that our families are not able to get meals like they normally would,” said Joe Citro, Director of DevelopmentContinue Reading
Former Florida Gator star and NFL player Donald “Reche” Caldwell was shot and killed in a robbery attempt in Tampa yesterday. According to TMZ, Caldwell was “ambushed” by a “couple of people” who jumped out of bushes trying to rob him. He was shot in the leg and chest, dyingContinue Reading
A protester in Plant City, Osvaldo “Ozzy” Banda, surrendered to police after throwing bottles at police during Tuesday’s George Floyd rally. Banda, 21, hid from police in the crowd of peaceful protesters at the gathering held at the RaceTrac gas station on James L. Redman Parkway. It was noted thatContinue Reading
The Orlando Police Department arrested a man, Kelvin Williams III, Thursday, for inciting riots and looting of Orlando Premium Outlets on social media. Williams, 20, was identified as a potential gang member and awareness rose as May 31 as OPD’s Gang Unit had been monitoring social media for “intelligence, specificallyContinue Reading
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a St. Petersburg area couple, Samantha Smith and Cody Corbin, charging them with child abuse, hiding the 6-year-old boy’s injuries and scars with makeup. Smith, 26, was charged with one count apiece of aggregated child abuse with great bodily harm and child neglect. Corbin, 31,Continue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested the Steinbrenner High School band director, Jason Phillip Allgair, for engaging in sex acts with the students both on and off-campus between October 2017 and May 2018. Allgair, 35, was arrested after officers interviewed the female student, who provided evidence of a relationship withContinue Reading
Three protesters are facing felony charges as details emerge from the arrests made during the march on E. Scott St. heading towards the Interstate 4/Interstate 275 on-ramp. Police arrested Emadi Okwuosa, 22, who was using a bullhorn “to incite the group in an attempt to disrupt the flow of trafficContinue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about several people who burglarized a jewelry store in Tampa during the George Floyd protests on May 31. The burglary happened at International Diamond Center at 10330 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in Tampa, around 2:30 a.m., officials said. Surveillance video (as seenContinue Reading
The NBA board of governors voted Thursday to approve a 22-team format to restart the 2019-20 season in Orlando, Fla., the league announced. Three-fourths of the 30 NBA teams must ratify the proposal. The new plan would see 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams play eight “seeding”Continue Reading
The Tampa City Council approved $952,000 to purchase more than 600 body cameras for the Tampa Police Department on Thursday, a move Police Chief Brian Dugan says many members of his force may not like, but if they don’t like it, “then I suggest that you turn your badge in.”Continue Reading
During the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group meeting Thursday afternoon, Hillsborough Commissioner Sandy Murman discussed the recent in coronavirus cases as testing has risen during recent weeks. Murman warned that the George Floyd rallies and protests could further the spike, stating they “are like incubators for the virus.’’ “I’m pretty concerned,’’Continue Reading
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a group of women who allegedly broke into a liquor store and stole thousand’s of dollars worth of alcohol under the guise of the George Floyd protests. Lawrencia Dixon, 19, was been identified from the surveillance video from inside the store, thenContinue Reading
The NBA Board of Governors is expected to approve a plan to resume play on Thursday afternoon. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN summarized the latest plan for the league to invite 22 teams, 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams, to Orlando to compete in eight regular-season games. ThoseContinue Reading
Gov. Ron DeSantisannounced Phase Two reopening in Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening movie theaters, bars and casinos with limited capacity. There will still be 50% occupancy limits at those locales, he said. “Those have not been operating up to this point,” DeSantis said. “They now have a pathway toContinue Reading
Police details some of the looting and riot arrests from early Tuesday, listing Lady Nicole Nash, Javonta McCloud, and Eddie Bryant among those charges with inciting a riot. Anthony Koedel was arrested for organizing the attack as a “protest” but the event quickly turned violent and dangerous. Koedel, 29, ofContinue Reading
As some protests and rallies erupt into riots and lootings over the last few days, Orange County Sheriff’s Office shows Sheriff John Mina and Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon made headlines by kneeling and praying with protesters. According to WOFL, Rolon urged protesters to do their part “to make sureContinue Reading
