A plea for accountability in Ybor City Monday night, as people in Tampa came together to try to prevent future tragedy in the entertainment district.
It comes after a suspected drunk driver plowed his car into a crowd of people in November, killing four people and injuring a dozen others after being chased by Tampa Police and Florida Highway Patrol.
The meeting on Monday was organized by Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, who were joined by the cousin of the victims, both calling for police and troopers to be held accountable for their role in the crash.
Christy Turner is a cousin of Sherman Jones, who died outside Bradley’s on 7th, part of a crowd enjoying a late Friday night.
“He was really funny, charismatic,” she says. “When we had gatherings, he was always one of the people to crack jokes. He was just cool to be around, and it just really sucks.”
TAARPR says they went door to door in Ybor recently and claim residents want the officers and troopers who chased Silas Sampson on 7th Avenue to face repercussions. No law enforcement officer is suspected of violating any policy or procedure for either agency; however, FHP last year reverted to a policy allowing troopers to engage in high-speed chases more freely.
At the time of the crash, state officials said in a statement that troopers and FHP “will give no quarter to those who terrorize our roadways and communities,” and that troopers will continue to put themselves at risk to protect others.
Tampa Police haven’t commented on the role the chase may have had on the crash, referring to FHP, which is investigating. Monday night, neither returned a request for comment on the status of the investigation.
Jones’s family also wants 7th Ave. shut down during busy pedestrian times on the weekends. The city has responded with a plan to add more street parking to narrow the road and replace the brickwork. The city is also planning to lower the speed limit on 7th and install bollards, not in the road, but on the sidewalk along some intersections.
“That’s trash,” Turner says. “I feel like human life is more important.”