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Fleeing Robbery Suspect's Mom Dies In Crash, Police Say

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - A mother and son committed an armed robbery Sunday night in Tampa, leading to a police chase and a crash in St. Petersburg that left the mom dead, police said.

Junior H. Rodney, 17, who police say drove the fleeing car, was arrested. His mother, Angela Rodney, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

The incident started at 10:14 p.m. Sunday when a man was robbed at 2601 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said. The victim called 911, and less than 10 minutes later, an officer spotted the suspects' car, a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, and tried to stop it near Lois Avenue and Interstate 275.

"I was just hoping they didn't shoot me," the robbery victim said. The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com are not using the man's name because he requested anonymity. The victim said he was still shaken by Sunday's incident.

"They told me to give them what I got," he said. "The driver jumped out and snatched my wallet. They got my car keys and drove off."

The suspects fled on I-275 southbound, police said. The officer followed until the suspects got on Interstate 375 in St. Petersburg, then let a helicopter continue the pursuit, Davis said. Soon after, the car crashed into utility poles at Fourth Avenue North and First Street Northeast, Davis said.

Angela Rodney, 36, of Orlando, was in the back seat, St. Petersburg police said.

Two people got out of the Impala and started running, authorities said. Junior Hasseltine Rodney, who is 6-foot-2 and weighs 280 pounds, was arrested a short distance away by St. Petersburg police.

Rodney faces charges of vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and armed robbery.

The third suspect was still on the loose Monday.

St. Pete police never joined the pursuit, said George Kajtsa, St. Petersburg police spokesman. A K-9 officer saw a large flash from afar when the car struck the utility poles.

Police do not know the identity of the suspect who got away, Kajtsa said.

Reporter Josh Poltilove and News Channel 8 reporter Natalie Shepherd contributed to this report. Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or sthompson@tampatrib.com.

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