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Tampa Traffic Stop Escalates Into Escapes And Arrests

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2007

TAMPA - An early morning traffic stop today led to two escape attempts and three arrests, police say.

One street gang member fled from police, chucked 36 rocks of crack cocaine from a car window, crashed the vehicle and hid in a trash bin, police say. A second gang member tried to help a third person escape custody, authorities said.

Police arrested Monte Lamar Irving, 18, about 3:30 a.m. and charged him with attempting to aid an escape. Irving tried opening the left rear door of a police vehicle, trying to help 24-year-old Raymond M. Turk of Tampa escape, they said.

Police arrested Antwan Leron Belin, 20, about the same time today. He was charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a church, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a crash, not having a valid driver's license and driving with a license canceled, suspended or revoked.

Police say Belin ran from the traffic stop at 1611 N. Nebraska Ave. this morning and got in the driver's seat of a silver Pontiac. Officers arrested Irving at the scene.

Turk also was arrested after the traffic stop. He was charged with failure to accept a traffic citation.

Irving and Belin are members of the Draks, a street gang, according to criminal arrest affidavits.

An officer tried to stop the Pontiac driven by Belin after seeing it run a red light at Seventh Avenue and Nuccio Parkway. That's when Belin threw a small plastic bag of crack out of the Pontiac, according to the arrest affidavit.

Belin ran a stop sign at Nuccio and Channelside Drive and a red light at Channelside and Adamo Drive. The Pontiac later crashed, and Belin fled on foot, police say. He was found in a trash bin at 12th Street and Channelside Drive.

Belin, of 8308 N. Marks St., was taken to Orient Road Jail. His bail was set at $24,000.

Irving and Turk, both of Tampa, also were taken to Orient Road Jail. Their bail was set at $2,000 and $250, respectively.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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