Romey Battle, who has been helping students in Tampa in both academics and athletics for about 16 years, turned himself in to Tampa police today, accused of trafficking in cocaine in East Tampa.
He and another man, 34-year-old Michael Brown, were arrested following a three-month police investigation.
"The disheartening thing in this case is Battle was trafficking cocaine in the neighborhood where he was supposed to be helping the children turn their lives around," Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.
Police say they seized 167 grams of cocaine, 83 grams of crack cocaine, $1,800 in cash and two vehicles. The cocaine is valued at $10,020, and the crack cocaine is valued at $8,300.
Battle and Brown were each charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.
Battle, the program director for The Center for Urban Programs and Services, was recognized by Bank of America in 2007 as one of its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award winners.
Police said, however, that a search warrant was served in April on Battle's East Tampa home and on another East Tampa home where he was thought to be storing and selling cocaine. He wasn't arrested then because an investigation was ongoing into the trafficking of cocaine in East Tampa, police say.
The investigation ended today, and Battle turned himself in, McElroy said.
Battle has served as a youth adviser for the Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc., according to a September 2007 Tribune story.
For years, Battle has been an after-school counselor for young minorities, many of whom are athletes.
Battle and Brown remain in Orient Road Jail today. Their bail was set at $25,000 each.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement
Advertisement