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Target Of Fatal Plant City Manhunt Pleads Not Guilty

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2009

  Fransisco Rangel

TAMPA - The man who led authorities on an eight-hour manhunt through Plant City in December pleaded not guilty to 14 felony charges today.

Chuck Traina, the public defender representing Francisco Rangel, entered the pleas before Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Manuel A. Lopez. Rangel was not present at his arraignment.

Rangel led more than 400 law enforcement officers on a search that paralyzed Plant City for most of Dec. 5. A bystander died in the process. Rangel, 25, was captured by a deputy who spotted him walking between two houses near Trever and Collins streets.

Rangel is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, attempted second-degree murder and charges involving firearms and fleeing from officers.

Traina did not object to prosecutors request to obtain samples of Rangel's blood and saliva.

Lopez scheduled a status conference in the case for Feb. 19.

The manhunt for Rangel shut down streets, locked down schools and even forced the cancellation of the annual Christmas parade, a Plant City tradition.

Authorities said Rangel fired at least 17 shots from an AK-47 at detectives. No officers were hit.

Killed in the shootout was bystander Candelario Lagunes, 58.

Authorities were looking for Rangel because a warrant was issued the day before charging Rangel with killing Michael James Longoria, 36, whose body was found in the backyard of a home at 3506 Juanita drive, and wounding another man.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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