Tampa Declares Curfew; Mayor Called Rioting Heartbreaking To See

TAMPA, FL — The city of Tampa is under a curfew as officials continue to assess the damage from Saturday night's riots.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has declared a citywide curfew beginning Sunday at 7:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly until further notice.

More than 41 adults and juveniles were arrested on charges ranging from burglary to rioting to carrying concealed firearms.

Multiple businesses were looted along Hillsborough Avenue, Busch Boulevard and Fowler Avenue including CVS pharmacy, AT&T, Cricket, K&G Fashion Superstore and the Gold & Diamond Source at 1715 E. Fowler Ave.

The Mobil gas station at North 30th Street and East Busch Boulevard and the Champ's sporting goods store at North 22nd Street and East Fowler Avenue were set on fire as well.

The violence after a peaceful demonstration began at 2 p.m. Saturday in front of Boston Market at 56th Street and Fowler Avenue in Temple Terrace. Escorted by Temple Terrace police officers on foot and in cruisers, about 300 demonstrators carrying signs protesting the death of a Minneapolis black man at the hands of a white police officer walked south on 56th Street and turned west onto Busch Boulevard, crossing into the Tampa city limits.

At one point, Tampa Mayor Sandy Castor and Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan joined in the peaceful march "because we share your anger over the death of George Floyd, and we share your hopes and expectations of a better tomorrow," said Castor.

She said a number of young people approached her asking how they could get involved.

"This lifted my heart more than last night's destruction saddened it," she said.

As the marchers approached 30th Street around 6 p.m., the tone of the demonstration changed.

Castor, a lifelong resident of Tampa, said it was heartbreaking to see the destruction that ensued.

"Over half of my 60 years has been spent in service to our community. I saw a lot during my 31 years as a police officer but I've never seen anything like what I saw last night in our community," she said during a news conference Sunday. "A peaceful march began yesterday afternoon, a march in which everyone was allowed to express their thoughts in a very safe environment. Most expressed what the nation feels, and that is anger and outrage over the treatment and ultimate death of George Floyd. Others spoke of social injustice and the issues that boil just below the surface."

She said police officers "lined the street to ensure that everyone had a safe platform in which to express themselves."

"There were few incidents and all of the residents remained peaceful," she said. "Around 6 p.m. that tone changed. Individuals in the area of East Busch and north 30th Street and in the area of the University Square Mall parking lot began throwing objects at officers."

Protesters threw rock, bottles and shot off fireworks in the direction of the uniformed officers who, at that point, wore no riot gear.

At one point, protesters surrounded a group of bicycle police and began yelling profanities at them. They threw rocks at an unoccupied Hillborough County Sheriff's Office cruiser, breaking its windows.

A video taken by Tampa Police helicopter shows looters at the CVS pharmacy and K&G Fashion Superstore followed by the arrival of police officers, now wearing full riot gear. An armored police vehicle drives into the crowd and the rioters surround it, some climbing on top of it.

The Mobil gas station convenience store was set on fire at about 8:45 p.m. Police had to clear the crowds so fire rescue crews could douse the flames before the fire spread to the gas pumps, causing an explosion. Then, some time after 11 p.m., rioters looted and set fire to the Champs store.

"When the violence began and the arrests started to be made, I was certain, I was certain those individuals were from outside of our city," said Castor. "The story this morning said that they were not. What I saw last night was not a call for voices to be heard, ideas to affect change or ways to shine the light on inequality. What I saw was shameful. What I saw was also heartbreaking for our community. And what I saw did not reflect our community and the values we all share."

While there were no reported injuries to the rioters or bystanders, a sheriff's deputy was taken to the hospital after an object was thrown at the back of his head.

"Physical violence and looting is just criminal behavior, behavior that solves nothing," said Castor. 'Make no mistake, there are systemic issues and problems that must be addressed in our community. What happened last night happens in other cities. It does not happen in Tampa. We are better than that."