Tampa Police Raid 2nd Motel, Making 5 Arrests, Recovering Guns, Drugs

TAMPA, FL — In its continuing mission to get guns off the streets of Tampa, police raided another motel Saturday night and arrested five people on gun and drug charges.

Once again, following up on tips from the community, Tampa police obtained search warrants and converged on the Rodeway Inn at 2307 E. Busch Blvd., at 8:17 p.m., arresting five people on narcotics charges and recovering a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended 30-round magazine and a Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver.

The raid is part of Tampa Police Chief Mary O'Connor's Safer Summer Initiative to get illegal guns off the streets and put a stop to the city's escalating gun violence.

See related stories:

• 'Heat Is On' For Tampa Residents Carrying Illegal Firearms, Says Chief
• Complaints About Crime At Motels Leads To Multiple Drug, Gun Arrests

After residents complained that much of the illegal activity was taking place at motels in East Tampa, police began an investigation and were able to obtain enough evidence for probable cause to raid the motels.

"This is another example of our residents providing information and our officers diligently working to address the issues, and together making our entire city safer," said O'Connor. "In this case, narcotics are off the street and two guns are now in our possession and cannot be used by those with criminal intent."

Arrested were:

• Anthony P. Brown, 42, of 2307 E. Busch Blvd., charged with two counts of possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver within 1,000 feet of a school, two counts of sale of cocaine, two counts of delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of a controlled substance (methadone), possession of a controlled substance (MDMA), possession of a drug without a prescription (methadone), possession of cannabis (less than 20 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Christopher D. LaRocca, 51, of 8359 Sandstone Lake Drive, Tampa, charged with possession of cocaine
• Freddie L. Dennard, 28, of 2307 E. Busch Blvd., charged with sale of cocaine, violation of probation for burglary and violation of probation for possession of cocaine.
• Derrick J. Evans, 26, of 2307 E. Busch Blvd., charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cannabis (less than 20 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver within 1,000 feet of a school, sale of cocaine and two counts of delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school.
• Uriel S. Mitchell, 25, no address, charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver within 1,000 feet of a school.