Photo via La Gaceta (screenshot by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Screenshot from a video La Gaceta says shows Tampa police officers going through a resident’s mailbox.
Otella Edwards, 70, who lives at 6008 N. 32nd St., reported that two TPD officers came to her door on Thursday, Dec. 28, just before noon, and said they were looking for Alayja Williams. Ms. Edwards said Alayja didn't live there, she is her niece and everybody uses her address because it's permanent.
This column originally appeared at La Gaceta, Tampa's tri-lingual, more than century-old newspaper. If you want to read more, as we heard it, you'll have to buy a paper.
Ms. Edwards inquired why they wanted Alayja and the response was for a welfare check. The police also asked if she knew Kristianna Johnson. She asked for their cards and they said they had none left.A couple of hours later, a lady stopped by and told Ms. Edwards she saw the police looking in her mailbox. The woman recorded the video on her phone. We watched it and heard her narrate that the cops were in the mailbox and that she had never seen anything like that in her life.
The video was also caught on Ms. Edwards’ Ring camera. You see the policeman going to the mailbox using his one hand at the mailbox door. Then he uses two hands as he reaches inside and bends down to read the mail.
She went she went to the police station to complain about the police conduct and got Lt. Christina Gaudion, who, according to Ms. Edwards, said the police were at her house because Kristianna Johnson called for a welfare check on Ms. Edwards. That story later changed to the police had an arrest warrant for Kristianna Johnson. Ms. Edwards said Lt. Gaudion’ attitude wasn't the best.
She took her complaint to Det. Jason Degagne, of Internal Affairs, against the officers who went to her house, Blasini and Douglas, but so far, no satisfaction or apologies for the violation.
Pete Edwards, who is helping Ms. Edwards during this process, said TPD Major Brett Owen reached out to him and said the police have been trained to check inside mailboxes for 20 years and tried to blow it off like it was nothing.
We called judges and lawyers and were told cops can't search mailboxes without warrants.
We called Major Owen and asked if he told Pete Edwards that TPD regularly searches mailboxes without warrants. He told me to call the PIO office (public information officer). I told him I am talking to you about what you said. He once again refused to cooperate and told me to call the PIO.
If you're Black, get your mail quick before the cops get it.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
