Commissioner Murman mentioned in this WTSP 10 News article on Thee Crazy Horse police raid:
Community relieved after police raid leads to 9 arrests
10 News Staff, WTSP 11:49 p.m. EDT March 21, 2015
TOWN-N-COUNTRY, FLA. — Early Saturday morning at about 4:00 am, HCSO law enforcement personnel assisted by agents with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco (ABT), Florida Probation and Parole, Hillsborough County Fire Marshal’s Office, Florida State Department of Agriculture and Hillsborough County Code Enforcement officers executed a court authorized search warrant at the “Glo Ultra Lounge” located at 8831 West Hillsborough Ave in Town-n-Country.
This establishment is a licensed “bottled club” which allows patrons to bring in their own alcohol, but prohibits any sales of alcohol by its employees.
Sheriff David Gee organized this investigation with a coalition of the listed investigative agencies due to the continued threat “Glo Ultra Lounge” and a similar club next door, “Thee Crazy Horse” posed to the safety and well-being of the surrounding residential and business community in the area.
As a result of this early morning raid, 9 individuals were arrested, substantial amounts of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine were seized along with $1951.00 in US currency, 70 bottles of unlawful wine and liquor, 67 bottles of beer and one firearm from a vehicle.
Since June 2014, “Glo Ultra Lounge” and “Thee Crazy Horse Club” at 8829 W.
Hillsborough Ave have collectively had over 130 law enforcement calls for service due to drug and prostitution activity along with violent crimes that included at least 4 separate shooting calls with one resulting in a homicide.
Local businesses know about those 911 calls and have had to make some of their own. Owner Alexandra Graham from Reruns 4 Little Ones across the street said, “I had someone pass out in my store and called the cops on them. Thank God – thank you for doing this for us – thank you HCSO. Especially for a baby store – HCSO makes us feel better about where we are.
Sheriff David Gee’s number one priority is violent crime in Hillsborough County, therefore he will continue to make sure these types of havens of violent criminal activity and whose owners refuse to help reduce criminal activity within their businesses get shut down.
This is second type establishment raided this year for violent criminal activity. On January 17, 2015, HCSO deputies along with agents from the Florida Division of Alcohol Beverage and Tobacco conducted a similar raid on a business known as “Till Dawn Bottle Club” located at 8205 N. Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa.
Sheriff Gee is working closely with Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra L. Murman as they both share a mutual goal to make sure these types of business that blatantly allow unlawful and violent crimes are swiftly dealt with.
Alexandra Graham, one of the store owners of a nearby baby store, was thankful that the police raided the club, “We are open at dark time, so I was nervous about mommies and employees. Now this is changing this environment.”
These enforcement actions should send a clear message to any criminal enterprises such as these that they will not be allowed to continue to operate and diminish the safety and well-being of the citizens of Hillsborough County.
More arrest are pending as this investigation continues.
The nine people arrested include:
– Antoneo T. Bethea, 35
Charges: VOP warrant for Dealing in Stolen Property False Info to a Pawnbroker
– Adenawer Gonzalez, 28
Charge: DWLS warrant
– Davonn A. Banks-Peacock, 37
Charge: Carrying a Concealed Weapon
-Desiree M. Lindsey, 31
Charge: Possession of Cocaine
– Jimmy J. Velasquez, 30
Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell, Possession of Paraphernalia
– Kira P. Ankney, 24
Charge: Sale of Alcohol with Improper License
– Jordan T. Hamilton, 25
Charge: Sale of Alcohol with Improper License
– Lindsey H. Botts, 23
Charge: Sale of Alcohol with Improper License
– Carlos Guzman, 51
Charge: Keeping and Maintaining a Place Where Alcohol is Sold (2 charges)
