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Traffic Gridlock Aids Arrest

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - A robbery suspect whose getaway car got stuck in traffic last week was captured when he got out and tried to make a run for it.

Three Plant City police officers chased and tackled Henry Kennedy Evans, 25, 4311 Fifth St., Zephyrhills, a short distance from where authorities say Sunshine State Savings and Loan Association, 102 W. Baker St., was robbed.

A woman who was driving the getaway car got away, police said.

Plant City police Sgt. James Shultz said close communication between two police agencies April 25 contributed to the arrest.

Zephyrhills police contacted the Plant City Police Department about 2 p.m. that day, indicating that Evans, who was a suspect in an April 24 Bank of America robbery in Zephyrhills, was traveling to Plant City, Shultz said.
Shultz said his department called area bank officials, described Evans and warned them to watch out for him.

"At about 3 p.m., officials at Sunshine State called us to say someone who looked like Evans was in the lobby of the bank," Shultz said. "We notified officers who were already in the area to go to the bank."

Before officers could get there, a man approached a teller, indicated he had a gun and demanded money, Shultz said. The robber took an undisclosed amount of cash and left the savings and loan, he said.
Shultz said the suspect ran to a silver Volkswagen Passat driven by a woman. A patrol officer followed the vehicle for a brief distance and was joined by a detective, and the three vehicles got caught in a traffic jam.

"Evans exited the car and ran from the area," Shultz said. "We had reason to believe he was armed."

The patrol officer and the detective ran after the suspect. They were joined by a motorcycle patrolman in a chase that ended at McLendon and Franklin streets, Shultz said.

Police said Evans had the money taken in the savings and loan in his possession when he was arrested. He was not armed, Shultz said.

The woman driving the Volkswagen drove away while officers were chasing Evans, Shultz said.

Evans was being held this week with no bail set at Orient Road Jail, county records show. He was charged with robbery and obstructing or opposing an officer in the Plant City robbery, and robbery in the Zephyrhills Bank of America case, records show.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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