Family of suspect in police shootings wants him to surrender

As a massive manhunt continues for the suspect in the fatal shooting of two Tampa police officers, the man's relatives said Tuesday night that they hope he turns himself in.

"We, the family of Dontae Morris, send out our condolences out to the families of the slain officers," said Ronni Watson, who identified herself as Morris' aunt and read from a prepared statement.

"We do not condone his actions, which have affected a lot of lives. We stand together as a family in asking that Dontae be allowed to turn himself in safely."

Watson declined further comment than to say the news surrounding Morris has shocked her and other relatives.

Morris, 24, is wanted on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Throughout the day Tuesday, the reward for information leading to Morris' arrest grew to $95,000.

The FBI is offering $50,000 for Morris, who was released from state prison in April after serving two years on a drug conviction.

The U.S. Marshals Service, the Police Defense Fund, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement each have contributed $10,000 and Crime Stoppers is offering $5,000.

Tuesday afternoon, police detained the woman they say was driving the red 1994 Toyota Camry stopped by Officer Dave Curtis just before he and Officer Jeffrey Kocab were killed.

Cortnee' Nicole Brantley, 22, was taken into custody at the Bristol Bay City View apartment complex in Palm River. She was released late Tuesday after being questioned for several hours. Castor said it is still possible she could be charged in connection with the case.

"Our interview with her is critical for us to be able to get to the shooter," Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Police Chief Jane Castor said "the perimeter is tightening" around Morris. Digital billboards across Florida - six in Tampa and two each in Orlando and Miami - are displaying information about Morris.

"He should be very scared," Castor said. "As I said earlier, he should give himself up. That would be the smartest move he made to date."

Police searched a motel at Hillsborough Avenue and 15th Street on Tuesday afternoon believing they were just a few steps behind Morris. An unidentified man taken into custody at the motel is an associate of Morris, Castor said.

Investigators believe Morris is still in Tampa.

Kocab, 31, had been with the department for about 14 months, coming from the Plant City Police Department. His wife Sara is nine months pregnant.

Curtis, also 31, had been with the department for almost four years. The former Hillsborough County jail deputy leaves behind his wife Kelly and four sons, ages 9 years to 8 months.

"This is an unbelievable tragedy for these families and for the larger family of TPD and for the larger family of the city of Tampa," Mayor Pam Iorio said. "Our hearts are just breaking. It is so very tragic."

The incident began about 2:15 a.m. when Curtis pulled over the Toyota, which was missing a tag, near 50th Street and 23rd Avenue, McElroy said. Morris, the passenger, was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant out of Jacksonville for a worthless check.

Curtis called for backup and Kocab arrived at the scene.

Both officers were shot in the head at close range as they approached the passenger side of the Toyota, McElroy said.

The officers made no radio transmissions and fired no shots.

Minutes later, someone called 911 to say two officers had been shot.

Police said Morris ran after the shooting and Brantley drove off, but that she soon picked him up in the Toyota. The car was found later at the Bristol Bay complex near an apartment where Brantley lives, Castor said.

Witness Chris Arline said she was walking her dog at a Shell gas station when she heard "pop-pop, pop-pop."

She walked north on 49th Street and saw a police officer performing CPR.

"This is terrible," Arline, 49, said. "They shot this man and left him for dead."

The sound of two gunshots awoke Rose Dodson in her nearby apartment. She ran outside and a neighbor called 911.

Dodson said the officers were on their back, arm-in-arm. She placed her hand on one officer's neck.
"He had a faint pulse," she said.

The other officer was in worse shape, Dodson said.

Curtis and Kocab were rushed to Tampa General Hospital. A steady stream of officers arrived at the hospital before dawn, some grim-faced and others hugging comrades.

"It's just been heart-wrenching as the family members have said goodbye to their loved ones," Iorio said outside the hospital. "And then it's been heart-wrenching to see the officers and how much this affects them."

Kocab was a former Plant City Officer of the Year. In May 2007, he told The Tampa Tribune that he loved "being able to bring my energy to the street. I love to get the bad guys."

Police Capt. Rocky Ratliff said Kocab and Curtis "were both go-getters. You didn't have to tell them what to do, they knew."

Castor said the department is "still reeling" from the fatal shooting of Cpl. Mike Roberts in August.

"We're a very close family ... and to have such a tragedy as this is very difficult," she said.

It's the second time in a week that officers have been shot during traffic stops in the Tampa Bay area.

Two Polk County deputies were shot early Friday in Lakeland after stopping a man riding a bicycle in an area plagued by thefts.

The officers' conditions are improving.

The bicyclist was killed at the scene.

Any motorists who were on 50th Street at the time of the shooting should call authorities at (813) 231-6130. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477, report tips anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com or text "CTSB plus your tip" to 274637.