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Holdup Suspects In Gang, Deputies Say

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By JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 1, 2008

VALRICO - The three men who committed an armed robbery of a Subway sandwich shop where gunshots were fired Sunday appear to be involved with the Bloods, a gang popular in this area, Hillsborough County deputies say.

About 9:18 p.m. Sunday, two men - their faces covered by white T-shirts - walked into the Subway at 3208 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, according to the sheriff's office. The men fired two shots and took cash, sheriff's officials said.

They fled in a white four-door Buick driven by Rodney Brenard Richardson, reports state. No one was injured.

During the robbery, David Lavone Hill grabbed a clerk by the throat and put a gun to her head, demanding money, according to a criminal arrest affidavit. While leaving, Hill fired a shot, records state.

One shot fired inside the store hit a freezer, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Deputies arrested Hill, 18, of Tampa; Richardson, 23, of Plant City; and James Michael Davis, 20, of Brandon.

Hill is a member of the Bloods gang, and evidence indicates Richardson and Davis also appear to be affiliated with it, said Detective Marc Wilder of the sheriff's office's gang enforcement section.

The Bloods gang, which originated in the Los Angeles area, has a large presence throughout Hillsborough County, he said.

"We're definitely seeing an increase in their numbers here," Wilder said. "We have a lot of local gangs, hybrid gangs, and we're seeing more affiliation with the hybrids and the Bloods."
Patrol deputies were alerted to look out for the men after the robbery. On State Road 60, the Buick was spotted by a deputy, who tried to stop it. The deputy followed it to Imperial Eagle Drive and Mulrennan Road in Valrico.

The Buick then crashed into a wall at Eaglewood Estates Home Owners Association, causing about $3,000 damage. The three men bailed out of the car and fled. All three men were caught and arrested in Valrico, sheriff's officials said.

Deputies recovered $315 from the trio's pockets and two weapons, a sheriff's office report states.

Hill, Richardson and Davis were charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault with a firearm and resisting arrest without violence. Hill and Davis also face a misdemeanor battery charge.

All three were taken to Orient Road Jail. No bail had been set.

In May 2006, Richardson was arrested on several charges including battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of crack-cocaine and injuring a police dog. He was found guilty in October 2006 and sentenced to a year and a day in prison.

In that incident near U.S. 301 and Interstate 4, Richardson struggled with a deputy and struck the deputy on the face, Carter said. A separate deputy used a Taser with negative results. Richardson fled, but a sheriff's canine caught him.

Richardson wrapped his legs around the dog and struck it several times with his hands, Carter said. When deputies arrested him, they found 7.6 grams of crack in his possession.

The Subway robbery investigation continues.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib

.com or (813) 259-7691.

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