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Tampa Police: Illegal Pawn Deal Helps Solve Home Invasion

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

Darrel Engram

Otis Reynolds

TAMPA - After Darrel Engram was arrested Monday on charges of making an unlawful pawn transaction, police say he told them how he got the purloined property.

He set up his cousin, according to an affidavit, who was the victim of an armed home invasion four days earlier.

The home invasion took place Friday afternoon, according to the affidavit from Tampa police.

According to the police affidavit:

Shortly after 2 p.m., Otis Paul Reynolds, 29, and another man — armed with handguns — knocked on Elishia Williams' home at 8804 N. Orangeview Ave. and gave a fake name. A 12-year-old inside unlocked the door, and the suspects pushed their way inside, knocking the child to the ground. Reynolds and the other man pointed the listed firearms at that child and two other children in the house and herded them into a back bedroom.

In another room, they pointed their guns at Williams and ordered him to the floor. Then they demanded money and jewelry.

Williams complied. handing over about $1,000 in cash and a jewelry box. The suspects ran from the apartment and were seen fleeing in a newer model Nissan sedan that had been parked around the corner.

The next day, Engram pawned the jewelry, receiving $550. Three days later, he was arrested. After being read his rights, he said that while he did not commit the robbery, he helped plan it. In return, he received money, illegal drugs and the jewelry. He also gave police information about Reynolds.

Reynolds was charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm and three counts of false imprisonment of a child younger than 13, all felonies. Engram was charged with being an accessory after the fact, dealing in stolen property and defrauding a pawnbroker, all felonies.

Both men are being held at Orient Road Jail. No bail has been set for Reynolds. Engram's bail was set at $37,500.

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

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