Morris surrenders

An intense, four-day manhunt ended late Friday when the man wanted in the fatal shooting of two Tampa police officers surrendered.

Police confirmed Dontae Rashawn Morris, 24, was taken into custody about 10 p.m. - about 12 hours before the officers' funerals were slated to begin.

At a late-night press conference, a visibly relived Tampa police Chief Jane Castor and Mayor Pam Iorio said the city is safer and that they hope the arrest brings closure to the community - especially the families of Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab.

"It is so important to bring closure to this before the funeral," Iorio said.

Morris acted nervous when placed under arrest, Castor said.

"I would like to ask him why - why he would kill two fine men in cold blood, but frankly I don't think the answer would give me any peace," the chief said.

Morris was arrested on charges of first-degree murder in the slayings Tuesday of Curtis and Kocab. The officers were killed after they tried to arrest Morris on a misdemeanor worthless check charges during a traffic stop, police said. Morris also is a suspect in two other slayings.

Officers from more than 15 local, state and federal agencies had hunted Morris since the shooting early Tuesday in East Tampa.

Castor said she was surprised Morris turned himself in.

"I had a sinking feeling this was not going to end well," she said. "This all ended decently."

Also Friday, police arrested the woman they say was driving the red 1994 Toyota Camry stopped by Curtis just before he and Kocab were killed. Police said Morris was the Camry's passenger and that after the shooting, driver Cortnee Nicole Brantley drove from the scene while Morris ran.

Brantley, 22, was arrested about 10:30 p.m. She will face a federal charge for witnessing a felony and not reporting it, Castor said.

On Thursday, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee confirmed that Morris is "a prime suspect" in the slaying of a 25-year-old Valrico man in June. Police also named Morris a suspect in a May 18 slaying at a Tampa apartment complex and said he may be involved in yet another homicide, also in Tampa.

Gee said Morris, who was released from state prison in April after serving two years on drug charges, is a suspect in the drug-related slaying of Harold Wright, 25, of Valrico.

After learning of the arrest, Wright's aunt, Claudette Michel, said, "Thank God! ... I feel safer."

As for what should happen to Morris now, Michel said, "He needs to pay for what he has done."

Morris also is a suspect in the May 18 slaying of Derek Anderson, police said. While walking home with a backpack full of freshly laundered clothes, Anderson was shot in the back at the Johnson and Kenneth Court complex.

Anderson's aunt attended the press conference.

"I am so ecstatic. I just want to run up and down these streets," Latasa Williams said.

Morris only has been charged in the officers' deaths.

Since Tuesday's shooting, at least 200 officers searched for Morris at any given time, police said. Investigators followed nearly 400 leads, Castor said.

There was a $100,000 reward offered for information leading to Morris' arrest.

A woman answering the phone at the home of Morris' mother, Selecia Watson, hung up when called about the arrest.