Registered Sex Offender Arrested for Peering in Window!
Many of you may recall the many post this summer regarding the “clustered” sex offenders. With each post, many comments were left, many saying “they are harmless, they have served their time, etc.” On the other side, many neighbors called for tougher regulations and inspections. Not even 6 months after our discussing the address on
North Nebraska, we have our first arrest. In today’s Tampa Tribune, there was a story that caught my eye. While we are lucky that it was only a peeping offense. We ask ourselves, what would happen if TPD would not have shown up? For a system known for lack of research and prior offenses failing to show up in timely manners, we were fortunate that this officer did their due diligence. Their speed and investigative work helped put this offender back behind bars.
In my opinion, we as a neighborhood affected by our fair share of sex offenders may want to consider working with law enforcement departments, judicial authorities and prosecutors to fight for tougher laws and penalties. For those homeowners that prey on the previously convicted, sex offenders, etc, they should be held accountable for their tenants. Evidently, we can’t regulate who lives there, we can fight to force each home be staffed with qualified personnel to oversee the tenants. According to the city of Tampa, these homes can not be classified as boarding homes. However, to the neighbors, we see a much different story. Ask yourself this questions; What if it was your window, your wife’s, your mother, your loved one, etc? At what point does the innocent neighbor have their rights protected versus the convicted sex offender? What do you think would have happened had TPD not arrived? Who would be responsible?
From the Tampa Tribune:
Tampa - A man hiding beneath a woman’s motel room window early this morning turned out to be a registered sex offender on probation until 2015, police said.
Edward R. Haycraft is being held without bail at the Orient Road Jail today. He is charged with two misdemeanor offenses – loitering and prowling, and giving a false name to a law-enforcement officer – as well as violating his felony probation from Palm Beach County on burglary and rape charges.
Tampa police officers found Haycraft, 51, hiding behind a small tree beneath an open window at the Swan Motel, 6407 N. Nebraska Ave., about 4:08 this morning, an affidavit states. The officers noted in the document that a woman in the room was naked at the time.
Confronted, Haycraft ”could not reasonably explain his reason for being in this location,” the affidavit states. He also gave the officers a different name.
A computer check with a photograph identified the man as Haycraft, the affidavit states. Haycraft is a registered sex offender on probation until 2015, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Corrections.
As a condition of his probation, Haycraft is under a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the affidavit states.
Since November, his address with FDLE has been an apartment at 6601 N. Nebraska Ave., about two blocks from the motel, records show.
The scariest part of this story is that the man arrested had been in the apartment only a month. With them being a transit apartment complex who knows how many or who is coming from day to day. It would be a fulltime job keeping up with them. With TPD not being the most proactive organization, it is scary to know that these guys live less than 3 blocks away.
To answer your question regarding who should be held responsible… The state Attorney is in a position to protect the citizens of Florida. His office should have to answer questions regarding how these offenders continue to be allowed to cluster. Next, you are right, there should be laws requiring licensed professionals must be on staff at all times. The problem lies in the fact that the City of Tampa will not recognize these homes as boarding houses. While the state calls them boarding homes, Tampa says that they are nothing more than roommates. Until this loophole is closed, there is nothing neighbors can do. It is terrifying to speak with TPD and Code Enforcement as none of them really know who comes and goes from these establishment. My husband won’t let the kids play in the front as there are some offenders less than 2 blocks away. They are constantly drunk and walking the streets. It is sad to see all the children playing out in the street unsupervised.
I think there are a lot more people to blame than just one person or agency. These parole officers could care less where these people live. All they care is that they have an address. Then there is TPD who plays the numbers game and has their hands full. If they could take some time to run these people they could link more together. Next and most importantly you have a judicial system that keeps turning the offenders out. I agree, that the offenders have more rights than our neighborhoods. Shelly
I disagree. I think the city can be held liable. As a neighborhood, we have had countless meetings regarding this property. The city has chosen to give them all the freedom in the world. As with the houses in SESH, they do not want to use the states guidelines as how to classify a boarding house. This could give neighborhoods much more protection. It will take a murder or rape before something is done.
Let’s think this one through. A man on probation for prior rape charge. A man hiding under an open widow. A naked lady laying on the bed. A felon that give police the wrong name. What the Frick do you think would have happened next? I agree with you number 4. Unfortunatly, it will be murder or rape before our laws protect us over the felons.
There are only two people to blame… 1) The loser that is now in jail and 2) The owner profiting on the offenders. STOVER CHRISTIAN LEE TRUSTEE
Mailing Address
3106 W TAMBAY AVE
TAMPA, FL 33611-1538
I admire your writing style so much.