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Officer Injured, Felon On Run After Sting

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By VALERIE KALFRIN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

TAMPA - Police are searching for a felon who with another man beat a Tampa police officer early Monday during an undercover prostitution sting.

Yuber Sanchez, 32, is sought on a felony attempted armed robbery count and other charges, Tampa police said. He stands about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 190 pounds and was last seen wearing a rainbow-colored golf shirt, tan shorts and a hat.

Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call (813) 231-6130.

Another man who police say joined in the beating, Isaac Rodriguez, 40, is in fair condition at St. Joseph's Hospital after being shot in the base of the neck by Officer Alberto Burgos, police and hospital officials said.

Burgos, 30, was not hurt seriously. The three-year veteran has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the shooting, which is standard procedure, police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

The shooting occurred about 1:30 a.m. Monday on North Elmore Avenue near East Floribraska Avenue, roughly 150 feet from the Interstate 275 ramp where two police detectives were killed a decade ago.

Detectives Ricky Childers and Randy Bell were shot on May 19, 1998, with Childers' service weapon while escorting a prisoner, Hank Earl Carr. Carr also killed a 4-year-old boy and Florida Highway Patrol Trooper James B. Crooks that day before killing himself, police said.

"It was very eerie," McElroy said Monday. "Thankfully, today's incident ended on a more positive note, and the officer will go home to his family."

Police said Burgos was posing as a customer in the sting when he was approached by Heather Nunn, 22, Sanchez and Rodriguez. Another officer, who has not been identified, was hiding in the back of Burgos' Chevrolet van for backup.

Burgos and the others agreed on $50 for services, McElroy said. Burgos told them he only had $30 and Nunn could accompany him to an ATM for the rest; the group said he needed to have the money first and to return, McElroy said.

The officer circled the block, McElroy said. When he returned, one of the men grabbed Burgos by the neck. Then the men kicked and beat him, she said.

According to McElroy, the officer yelled, "I'm being robbed!"

One of the men pulled out a knife, and Burgos opened fire, she said.

The backup officer had climbed over the van's seat to help, but by the time he exited the van, Burgos had shot Rodriguez, McElroy said.

"It all happened within about twenty seconds," she said.

Rodriguez has clashed with law enforcement previously, public records show. He was released from a Florida state prison in 2003 after serving about 18 months for felony obstruction with violence, felony cocaine possession and other charges.

In 2006, Rodriguez served 364 days in a county jail for felony battery on a law enforcement officer, records show. Last year, he served a month in a county jail for felony cocaine possession.

Public records show Sanchez was released from a Florida state prison in 2005 after serving about three years for commercial fraud, manufacture or delivery of heroin and other offenses.

Nunn, of Dade City, was held at Orient Road Jail on $15,250 bail Monday. She is charged with felony attempted armed robbery, felony burglary and misdemeanor prostitution, records show.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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