The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog

FROM CHANNEL 10 NEWS:

Southeast Seminole Heights - It’s hard to believe the woman with blonde hair wearing an oversized man’s work shirt is a Tampa Police Officer but she is. We are not identifying the woman because on Friday evening she was working undercover as a streetwalker. She says “It’s not a victimless crime like a lot of people say. When I first started doing this I felt like oh my gosh I grew up to be a police officer not a prostitute but it becomes one of those things you take yourself out of that place and become an actor.” The officer is a decoy for unsuspecting “johns” who will try to proposition her. Sgt. John Haggart says “Johns usually drive by, circle the block, or stop immediately.” The undercover officer says besides being arrested the men who hire prostitutes are putting their health at risk too. “Normally when we pick up the prostitutes I’d say close to 85% of them have some type of transmittable disease.” For many of the people living in the area the crackdown they say is long overdue. Sgt. Haggart says “We want them to be aware the next time you’re driving down Nebraska and you think about picking up a prostitute it just may be a police officer.” By 11 on Friday night Tampa police had made 36 arrests over a four day period. The sting was set to last through the early morning hours. Early Saturday morning police planned

Recently, FDOT invested millions of dollars to resurfacing
Nebraska Ave through SESH and OSH. This project, originally slated to be started and completed years ago has been one giant step forward for Greater Seminole Heights. Over time, neighbors have talked about what they envision seeing in Seminole Heights. Many people talk about “pedestrian friendly” or “walkable” or “bikable”. We have seen, as one of the first for Tampa, bike lanes added to Nebraska Ave. Now neighbors throughout much of Seminole Heights can access many of the neighborhood businesses, parks and other areas via biking. In addition, The parks now have tracks/sidewalks circling them allowing for great biking. Along the river, there are plenty of biking opportunities. There is nothing more refreshing than taking the family for a bike ride down central to the “north side” to end up at Bo’s for some ice cream! (Who said you have to diet and bike?)

 

For years we heard the request for bike lanes, we attended meetings that unveiled the much anticipated Nebraska Ave. Yet, after much fighting, begging and negotiating, very few people are taking advantage of the neighborhoods new amenities. So I am challenging each and every one of you.

 

THE WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 18^TH AND 19^TH WILL BE GREATER SEMINOLE HEIGHTS FIRST EVER “PARK AND PEDAL”.

 

For one weekend, I am challenging each and every neighbor to park their car and bike about the neighborhood. Let’s put these bike lanes to use! When you head to Starbucks to meet you neighbor, lets all meet on our bikes. For dining out, lets bike to a local restaurant. This challenge can accomplish many things!

 

1)      We get to see our neighborhood by bike and send a message to FDOT and city officials. Give us Bike Lanes, we will use!

2)      Save Gas and miles on cars!

3)      From an earlier email regarding the upcoming bike tour, this will give the neighborhood a test run!

4)      Shop Local, for one weekend it will keep our money within OUR neighborhood.

5)      BURN CALORIES!

 

One of the most exciting parts will be the neighborhood feel that is created as you pass your neighbors, see your friends at the local restaurants and so much more!

 

Its your turn, step up and pedal!

Last week, both newspapers featured articles regarding a sex offender apartment complex at 6601 N. Florida in OSH. I had listed it on here as well which drew many comments ranging from “Live and let live, they have paid their dues” to “They should not allow that many in such a concentrated space”.

My feelings are that of the latter. Historically speaking, when they place so many of these ex-criminals at one address, it typically does not work out. Yesterday, proved no exception with this address.

Yesterday, Anthony Reed, one of the house sex offenders was arrested. What makes this extremely disturbing is that this was not his first arrest. It seems that Mr. Reed has a problem with drugs, does not like to register his whereabouts and likes to obtain fake IDs so no one knows who he truly is.

For those that say “live and let live” I ask, is this someone you would want living next to you, your children, nieces, etc?   Speak out.

Over the weekend, it seems as though TPD may be listening to
Seminole Heights residents’ complaints. Since Friday, TPD made numerous arrest for Prostitution along Nebraska Avenue.

 

It does make one wonder, if residents would not have become vocal, what would happen to our neighborhood. It is unfortunate that, as a neighborhood, we must continue to keep pressure on our city officials. The minute one lets up, we seem to slowly slip backwards. I am a bit puzzled to receive the emails below, yet we only see 4 arrest over a 3 day period, and only one within our boundaries. For those that continue to say prostitution is a victimless crime, please notice that with every single one of these arrested, each have records of drug use, some have theft/burglary, battery and more. With the exception of one, these are all repeat offenders. How do we break the cycle with these women? Are there no laws, programs to help these women?. Do these women spend any time in counseling, rehab, jail? If they are arrested for a repeat crime are there probation programs that make them perform community service in the neighborhoods that they are committing these quality of life crimes? Read on…

 

POWELL,VALERIE HICKS

Arrested on north Nebraska Ave. Has 3 arrests. All 3 include prostitution, drug paraphernalia and cocaine.

 

SANDERS,FELISHA MADDESSEA

Arrested near 50^th/Hillsborough for Prostitution and possession of Cocaine.

SHAW,SHANNON MARIE   

Arrested on 50^th. Has been arrested  11 times over the past few years. Most arrest have been for Possession for drugs, cocaine and prostitution.

RODRIGUEZ,CHRISTINA LEIGH

Christina was arrested at Nebraska and Hillsborough. She has 6 prior arrest. 3 for battery, 2 for battery on a law enforcement officer, 2 for prostitution, 3 prior drug/cocaine charges.

Below are few emails that were sent on the email groups.

 

FROM THE SESH EMAIL GROUP and RECEIVED EMAIL:

 

Email one from reader: Please notify your readers. This Saturday, I picked up an additional shift at the hospital. Originally, the sift was supposed to be from 7pm am Saturday morning. With things being quiet, I as able to leave about 4am. On the way home, I drove up Nebraska Ave all the way to Sligh. From MLK, I was shocked to see the sheer number of prostitutes lining our streets. Just between MLK and Hillsborough, there were 13. North of Hillsborough were another 7. With this many working girls, I was surprised to see no police presence. Driving down the street, the girls are very aggressive and flamboyant. While I understand TPD cannot make an arrest based on standing on the street, surely, their typically “prostitute behavior” can make for reason to question or arrests. (Lifting the skirt, bending over showing tail, waving down cars, yelling at drivers, asking for rides, stepping out into traffic) 

Email two from SESH Saturday night/Sunday AM

I made my lap early tonight. I drove Nebraska at 2am and there wasn’t a single hooker in sight. I though that maybe TPD had done a sweep. I then started thinking that maybe there is something to this 3am since that is when I always see the hooker crew. Then I realized that the bars close at 3am. I did a few laps and then parked in the lot of the big church at Hillsborough and 275. Still no hookers. Then I did a lap at 2:20. A hooker suddenly appears at Northbay and Nebraska. I also notice that 5 males, on foot, have also appeared along our stretch of Nebraska. At 2:25, I see two hookers walking on Caracas, toward Nebraska, from Talifero. On this same lap, two other hookers are on Nebraska, walking from Hillsborough. It was like they were all showing up to clock in at the same time. By 2:30, there were 7 of them. On the next lap, I saw something going on over on Curtis between Neb and Talif, so I turned on to Cayuga. There was a scrawny white male on foot walking on Cayuga at Nebraska. He gave me a funny look as I went by. Not 10 seconds later, I see a white cracked out hooker coming from behind the chiropractor building. That may explain why so many guys were on foot. I did a few more laps and still the numbers stayed consistent. The usual cars driving on the side streets started to appear. During all of this, I realize that I hadn’t seen a patrol car. Then at 2:55, I see one of those unmarked units. I made a u turn and another marked unit that had been behind me, slowed down and looked at me like he was giving some thought to pulling me over. When I approached Osborne, the unmarked unit, #824, had his spot light on 4 of the hookers that were congregated there. I did another lap and the unmarked unit had moved up the street and shined his spotlight on the 3 hookers by New Orleans. One police car with a spotlight cleared 8 hookers in 10 minutes. The two hookers that parked over near Hillsborough, took their time exiting after the patrol car drove away. I provided some encouragement, for them to leave, by slowing down and blasting my horn at them. At about 3:20, one new hooker appeared at New Orleans. Another came across MLK and took up a post at North Bay. I see a few patterns here. These hookers show up right when the bars are closing. They park within a few blocks of Nebraska. They are easily cleared with a police car and a floodlight. One last note. When I returned to my house which is near Hillsborugh HS, I noticed a suspicious vehicle parked on my street that was occupied by a scrawny looking male sitting in the passenger seat. I called the non emergency line and two patrol cars were there within 3 or 4 mins. I was impressed with the quick response.

Not sure what it is about Seminole Heights and group homes for Sex Offenders, but it seems like this is a problem that will not go away. While we can all remember the challenges faced by SESH, this is a problem that plagues all of the City of Tampa. Tomorrow, St. Petersburg Times will feature an article regarding a Sex Offender House here in Old Seminole Heights. You can read tomorrows news here TODAY!

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OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS — Just steps away from an apartment complex that houses convicted child molesters, a church day care center opened Tuesday on Nebraska Avenue.

Now that children are enrolled at the preschool at John Calvin Presbyterian Church, some of the registered sex offenders next door will have to move.

But not all of them.

State records show that 10 sex offenders live at the complex at 6601 N Nebraska Ave. Of those, four are not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of places where children congregate, a state rule that applies to anyone convicted of a sex crime against a child after October 1995.

The state Department of Corrections announced last week that it will require those four, but not the other six, to move.

City Council member John Dingfelder was among those who voted last year to give the church a permit for the day care center. He said this week that he didn’t know back then that some sex offenders would stay, but that it was up to the state.

“Ultimately,” he said, “council decided we weren’t going to penalize a day care and more specifically the church for having a seedy neighbor next door.”

Dingfelder said he’s confident the day care center has taken precautions to keep out strangers.

The Rev. Earl J. Smith says his church has secured the facility with surveillance cameras, extra fencing and blinds.

Only four children were enrolled on the school’s first day, but Smith hopes that number will grow to about 35 kids, ages 2, 3 and 4.

The issue highlights the problem in finding appropriate housing for sex offenders who have served their prison time.

The four offenders at the complex won’t have to move immediately. State officials recognize it will be difficult for them to find new homes.

“As long as offenders demonstrate that they are seeking new housing, we will give them some time,” said department spokeswoman JoEllyn Rackleff.

Once those move out, more offenders will move in.

Apartment complex owner Christian Stover says he still plans on housing sex offenders who don’t have the 1,000-foot restriction.

They’re the reason he bought his complex in the first place.

“These people need housing. There’s several of them living under bridges,” Stover said. “I figured that having them all under one central location would be a good idea.”

Stover said he spent about a year looking for a place and finally found the complex on commercial Nebraska Avenue last year.

The 1,000-foot rule doesn’t apply to the church, and Stover said he initially didn’t know about its plans for the day care center.

Stover protested, but the City Council gave the church a permit for day care in July 2007.

“I hoped that the day care wouldn’t open,” he said. “I think it’s a horrible location.”

John Calvin Presbyterian Church faces a motel across Nebraska Avenue on a stretch plagued by prostitution and drug sales and within a mile of 44 sex offenders and predators.