Complaints About Crime At Motels Leads To Multiple Drug, Gun Arrests

TAMPA, FL — A series of complaints about criminal activity occurring at motels and hotels in East Tampa has led to multiple arrests for armed drug trafficking.

On June 2, Tampa police raided rooms at the Alamo Motel, 6110 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, leading to multiple arrests and the recovery of drugs and weapons.

Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor credited the community with providing leads to the major investigation.

"The engagement of our community and detailed police work that led to these arrests is outstanding," said O'Connor Thursday. "We rely on the community to be our eyes and ears. Hearing concerns directly from our residents and then quickly working to address these issues is a clear example of the cooperative partnerships our city is known for, and what will continue to make our city safer."

During a search of the motel rooms and a vehicle, police seized two 9 mm handguns, methamphetamine, cocaine, synthetic cannabis, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly), heroin, psilocybin (commonly known as magic mushrooms) and the prescription sedative trazodone.

Arrested were:

• Tiana Stevens, 28, charged with Sale of methamphetamine, sale of cocaine, armed possession of asynthetic cannabis with intent to distribute, armed trafficking in cocaine, armed trafficking in fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Zachary Speights, 34, charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Shadae May, 24, charged with two counts for sale of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of MDMA and possession of synthetic cannabis.
• Edward Crews, 58, charges with delivery of cocaine.
• Terrence Sampson, 28, arrested on warrants for failure to appear for possession of cocaine, failure to appear on charges of delivery of cocaine and two counts of failure to appear on battery charges.
• Robert Richardson, 51, charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of cannabis, trafficking in heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of psilocybin, possession of trazodone and possession of drug paraphernalia.