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2 Arrested After Gold Chain Theft Leads To Chase, Shooting In Tampa

By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

TAMPA - John Miguel Houston pointed a gun at a Tampa man and told him to hand over a gold chain or die, police say.

The man, 19-year-old Fred L. Powell, refused to give Houston the chain.

"I didn't think that he was going to shoot me over a piece of gold," said Powell, who got the chain in March as a birthday present from a friend.

Houston snatched it from Powell's neck and ran south from East Palm Avenue and North Angel Olivia Street on Sunday, a police report states. Powell chased him. So Houston turned, pointed a gun at Powell and said he would kill Powell if he didn't stop chasing him, the report said.

Houston fired a pistol at Powell but missed, police said.

Then Houston ran again, jumping into a white 1999 Toyota Corolla parked at North 19th Street and East Eighth Avenue. He started the car, and another man, Joshua E. Wood, entered through the front passenger door. "The victim and several witnesses began to jump on top of suspect vehicle, causing many dents," a police report states.

Police arrested Houston, 23, and Wood, 26, after they tried to flee in the car but were caught in traffic.

Police searched the Corolla and found a chain and two guns, the report said.

Powell said he didn't want to lose the chain, nor did he want anyone else to be robbed.

When asked about Powell's actions, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said they weren't advisable.

"It depends on how valuable you think your life is," she said.

Houston and Wood were charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, robbery and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon. Houston was charged with theft of a firearm.

They remained in Orient Road Jail on Monday. Their bail had not been set.

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

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