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Police: 2 Crimes Solved Because Of Left-Behind Phones

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 15, 2008

Jermaine Berry

Ada Quiles

TAMPA - Memo to bad guys: Take your cell phone with you after committing a crime.

Tampa police say they made arrests in two crimes yesterday because people left their phones behind.

The first incident began at 1:50 p.m., when Kenneth Kuhm of Land O' Lakes was at a stop sign at Avon and Virginia avenues, according to a police report.

According to the report:

Jermaine Cornelias Berry, 27, of 2213 Emma St. and a second man — described as a black male with a light complexion, 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds — stopped the silver 2008 Chrysler 300 they were driving in front of Kuhm's car.

The men got out of the Chrysler.

Berry, armed with a nickel-plated handgun, and the second man, armed with a black semi-automatic handgun, approached Kuhm and, from both sides of the car, pointed their guns at him.

They demanded Kuhm's wallet, cell phone and keys. Then they got back into the Chrysler, which had two other unidentified people in it, and sped off.

Later that day, police Officer Shane Gadoury observed the Chrysler parked at a church on Osborne Avenue. He contacted Sgt. John Haggart, whose squad watched the Chrysler for a while. When no one came to pick up the car, police checked it for evidence.

Inside, they found a cell phone. The phone belonged to Berry.

Police called a number on the phone and, eventually, Berry was found at his home. The Chrysler, it turns out, was registered to Dollar Rent A Car.

Berry was arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held in the Orient Road Jail with no bail set.

The second suspect is still at large.

The second incident involving a cell phone left behind by a suspect started at 10:46 p.m., according to a police report.

According to the report:

Ada Quiles, 35, of 5510 N. Himes Ave. asked her co-worker, Juan Romero, 27 for a ride home, but it was a setup.

Once they arrived at Quiles' apartment complex, Romero was confronted by three men, who pointed guns at him and stole cash and jewelry before taking off with Quiles.

There was no description of the getaway vehicle or a direction of which way it went.

But Quiles did leave behind some evidence: Her cell phone.

After the robbery, Romero picked up the phone, looking for a contact number for Quiles. As he searched for the number, Romero found text messages between Quiles and the suspects outlining the robbery scenario.

Later, Quiles returned home, where she was arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm, a felony, as well as three outstanding warrants for obtaining property with a worthless check, all misdemeanors. She is being held at the Orient Road Jail with no bail set.

After being read her rights, Quiles admitted her role in the crime, police say.

The three accomplices are still on the lam.

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com

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