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ROBBERY VIDEO TAPE

June 3, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred at approximately 6:20 this morning at the Kwik Stop store located at 2300 SW 4 Ave.

The suspects enter the store together and one of the suspects exits shortly, the second suspect approaches the counter and reaches across punching the clerk in the head. After striking the clerk the suspect grabs the entire cash register and pulls it off the counter. The clerk runs from behind the counter and goes outside the store and holds the door in an attempt to keep the suspect inside. The suspect eventually is able to force his way out where the clerk gives chase on foot.

The clerk suffered minor injuries, and both suspects are able to flee in a late 80’s early 90’s Jeep SUV, blue in color.

Suspects are described as:

1. Black male, 25 years of age, 6’1”, 200 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, wearing white t-shirt, black shorts, white and black bandana
2. Black male, 25 years of age, 5’5”, 175 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, wearing a white t-shirt, black print long pants.

There is a videotape of the incident available to be picked up in the lobby of the station

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CALEA RECOGNITION

June 5, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has been awarded recognized status by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) at a meeting held in Maitland, Florida. Many aspects of the Department’s policies and procedures, management, operation, and support services were reviewed to determine compliance with 96 recognized standards of excellence that were critical to life, health and safety issues. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department was previously accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) in May 1998 and again in May 2001.

Undergoing the voluntary recognition process provides an agency with a “quality assurance review” and encourages intense self-scrutiny, resulting in more efficient and effective daily operation. Becoming recognized by CALEA, while also being accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, is considered a significant accomplishment and this status is held in high esteem by the criminal justice community.

By choosing to participate in the formal and thorough peer review, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department can document to the citizens of Florida that it adheres to high standards of professionalism and is among the finest law enforcement agencies in the state.

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CRIME WALK

June 13, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department along with the South middle River Home Owners Association will be sponsoring a Crime walk and Night Out Against Crime on Friday, June 14th, from 10:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department Mobile Command Vehicle will be parked in the 100 block of NW 5 Avenue where members of the Home Owners Assn. will be grilling hot dogs and selling sodas at a nominal price.

Home owners, residents and neighbors, along with members of the police departments Street Narcotics Unit, Uniform Patrol and Code Team will all be joining forces as they walk through the neighborhood getting everyone involved in crime prevention and to meet their neighbors along with the officers that work in their neighborhood.

All members of the media are invited to attend.

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DETENTION OFFICER ARRESTED

June 14, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has arrested and charged Stuart Hopper, 01-08-67, and charged him with one count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, and one count of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance. Hopper is currently employed as a Detention Officer in the Fort Lauderdale Police Jail at the rank of Lieutenant.

Information on Hopper was developed and a controlled buy was conducted on May 28, 2002 in which 20 MDMA pills were purchased from Hopper at his home in Hollywood. As a result of the investigation and sale of the MDMA an arrest warrant was obtained. Fort Lauderdale Police Special Investigations Detectives took Hopper into custody without incident as he left work Thursday night, June 13, 2002. A search warrant was then served at Hopper’s home in Hollywood with the assistance of the Hollywood Police Department and as a result of the search an additional 13.8 grams of MDMA was recovered.

Hopper was immediately suspended with pay pending the outcome of an Internal Affairs Investigation. Hopper was hired by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department on January 30, 1995 and has worked in the jail as a detention officer since that time.

ARRESTED:Stuart Hopper, 01-18-67

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OFFICERS TO BE HONORED AS STATE OFFICERS OF THE YEAR

June 20, 2002

Fort Lauderdale Police Officers Sam Bryant and Bob Norvis will be honored by the Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police as the 2001 Officers of the Year for the State of Florida. At a ceremony at the Wyndham Hotel, 4833 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, at 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 22, 2002, Governor Jeb Bush will make the official presentation and Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bruce Roberts will receive a plaque on behalf of the Police Department.

Officers Bryant and Norvis were involved in a life and death shoot-out on September 1, 2000, when they attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired tag. Upon being stopped in the 1200 block of North Federal Highway, the vehicle driver, David Royce Truman, opened fire on the officers with a handgun, striking Officer Bryant in the neck and arm and Officer Norvis in the hand. The officers returned fire striking Truman several times. Truman was pronounced dead at the scene. Both officers have recovered from their injuries and have returned to full active duty.

Officer Bryant and Norvis are being honored for their bravery in the most dangerous of situations and their dedication to the community they serve.

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HOMICIDE

June 20, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a homicide, which occurred at approximately 1:00 am, June 20, 2002. Officers responded to a 911 call at 1814 SW 10 Street, Apt. 1. Upon arrival they found a black female victim, Jessica Williams (DOB: 5/16/85) suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. Williams was transported to Broward General Medical Center on life support. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital at approximately 7:30 am.

The victim’s boyfriend, Carlos Sands (B/M, DOB: 9/27/78), gave detectives a statement and has been arrested on one count of Murder.

Apparently Sands and Williams engaged in a domestic argument, which resulted in Sands shooting Williams.

Williams’ infant child has been placed in the custody of relatives.

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HOMICIDE

June 21, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has made an arrest in a homicide, which occurred on the morning of June 20, 2002.

At approximately 7:45 am on Thursday, June 20, 2002, detectives were notified of a homicide victim, Tekelia Wimberly (black female, DOB: 7/24/85), who had been brought into the emergency room at Broward General Medical Center where she was pronounced dead as a result of a gunshot wound. Two black males brought the victim to the emergency room in a private vehicle and told officers that the deceased was a victim of a random robbery attempt in the 600 block of NW 4 Ave. Officers were dispatched to the area to secure the crime scene and look for evidence. Officers were unable to locate in evidence of a crime as described by the witnesses.

Detectives interviewed the witnesses again and learned that the shooting actually occurred in an apartment at 734 NW 4 Ave. They also learned that the shooter was a black male nicknamed “Chopper” or “P.J.” Chopper, the witnesses and the victim had spent the night in the apartment. Upon arising Thursday morning, Chopper and the victim were in the kitchen of the apartment. At some point Chopper picked up a silver semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at the victim. The pistol fired and the victim was shot. The witnesses took the victim to the hospital and Chopper left the apartment.

Late Thursday afternoon detectives located Phillip James Williams (black male, DOB: 4/24/82), AKA Chopper, and took him to the police department for questioning. After first denying any knowledge of the shooting, Williams admitted to his involvement and gave detectives a statement.

Based on the witnesses’ statements, physical evidence and Williams’ statement, Williams was booked into the Fort Lauderdale city jail on one count of murder.

The names of the witnesses are being withheld at this time pending further investigation.

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ARREST IN 1999 HOMICIDE CASE

June 27, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for Jay Taylor, 12-26-46, in connection with the January 7, 1999 killing of Sheila Griffin.

Griffin who had been sexually assaulted and strangled was found dead in a vacant field in the 1300 block of NW 2 Street. Forensic Detectives were able to gather semen samples from the victim and the suspect’s DNA profile was determined from those samples.

The DNA profile was entered into the CODIS DNA Database maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a search was done to locate a match for the DNA profile with negative results.

In January of 2001 an elderly female was strangled and raped in the stairway of an Orlando apartment building, the victim survived and DNA evidence was recovered from her. That DNA was also entered into the CODIS DNA Database and was found to match the suspect DNA profile from the Griffin homicide.

In June of 2001 a female was confronted by an unknown attacker in her apartment in Miami Beach, the victim was able to fight off the suspect who fled from the apartment. Miami Beach Police Officers located the suspect a short time later and he was identified by the victim as her attacker and arrested. The arrested suspect was Jay Taylor, 12-26-46. DNA swabs were taken from him and placed into the CODIS DNA Database.

Taylor’s DNA was confirmed by FDLE to be the same DNA profile as the evidence recovered in the Orlando assault and the homicide of Shelia Griffin.

A search warrant was executed on Taylor who is currently in custody in the Dade County Jail, and DNA was obtained. The DNA samples were taken to the Broward Sheriffs Office Crime Lab and FDLE. The B.S.O. Lab confirmed the DNA as the same profile as that taken from Sheila Griffin and FDLE has confirmed the DNA as the same in the Orlando attack.

For more information on the Orlando case please call Detective Harper at (407) 246-2425.

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