In Tampa, an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping resulted in the arrest of a number of individuals who are thought to have ties to a Detroit Lions player.
According to police, the armed robbery is connected to reported burglaries at a property in Largo that was rented by Terrion Arnold, a Detroit Lions cornerback.
What we know:
The armed robbery and abduction took place on February 4 at a residence in the Eagles Point neighborhood of the Tampa Palms complex, as stated in court records. According to detectives, Jasmine Randazzo and Ariana Del Valle tricked the three men into coming to the apartment.
According to a warrant, one of the men opened a closet door when he entered a bedroom in search of one of the women, only to find two armed guys who began beating him and one of the other supposed victims. According to police, Lyndell Hudson and Christion Williams are thought to be those two alleged suspects.
The pair appeared in Hillsborough County court for pre-trial detention hearings on Tuesday morning.
A Tampa Police Department detective said they are using a handgun to strike the three victims and insert it into one of their mouths.
Hudson and Williams were demanding their property, according to the detective.
Dig further:
The detective claimed that two thefts were reported from a residence in Largo a few days before the alleged armed robbery and abduction. According to him, Arnold was renting the house as a temporary rental.
The detective stated that some things were missing. About a week later, on a second occasion, further things went missing.
According to him, the stolen items included $100,000 in cash, a mobile phone, firearms, and expensive handbags. Williams is thought to be Arnold’s cousin, while Hudson is a member of his security detail, according to the investigator.
The alternative:
The alleged victims of the armed robbery and kidnapping were questioned by Hudson’s and Williams’ counsel.
These are the same purported victims who are said to have stolen a lot of belongings, right? The detective was asked by Hudson’s lawyer.
The detective responded, “Yes, by the suspect. “
In conclusion, the accused are accusing the purported victims. The attorney questioned, “The alleged victims blaming the suspects, but here today, you have chosen to believe the alleged victims, solely on hearsay from both parties? “
Indeed, the detective replied.
The three purported victims contacted the Tampa police to report the armed robbery and abduction hours after it occurred, according to investigators.
Hudson’s lawyer stated that he is hitting these individuals for 1. 5 hours, yet there are no pictures of their injuries. We have nobody going to the hospital. They spend hours sharing their stories with each other between leaving that place and arriving at your place, which is a seven-hour trip. Are we going to sit here and assume that Mr. Hudson is simply lying in wait in the closet, waiting for them to open that door and jump out and grab them?
Hudson’s lawyer also highlighted that the original warrant does not specify his name.
As far as we can tell, Hudson’s lawyer stated, Mr. Hudson might not even be there. Mr. Hudson might be downstairs for all we know. They have not produced any proof that Mr. Hudson had any awareness of or intention to abduct or hold anybody captive.
Additionally, the defense maintained that neither Hudson nor Williams had ever committed a crime before.
Chief Judge Hon. Christopher Sabella stated that he understands the defense argument about the need for the credibility of the purported victims and that there is a lot of hearsay. The issue for the defense, however, is that the text message-containing evidence supports the hearsay in this case and does appear to show a protracted event, an hour and a half, during which three victims were held captive at gunpoint and subjected to threats.
At this time, the judge recognized that the case is heavily reliant on hearsay evidence.
“Today, I am not finding them guilty,” Sabella said. Although the criteria are quite different, the text messages, along with what the detective has said, are very persuasive.
Next:
On some of the counts, the judge rejected Hudson and Williams’ bond and approved the state’s request for pre-trial imprisonment. They are now facing charges for aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping with possession of a firearm, and armed robbery.
More suspects are thought to be involved in this instance.
The unknown:
The whereabouts of the stolen property from the house in Largo, as well as whether any arrests have been made in connection with the alleged thefts, remain unknown at this time. We will update this story when we hear from the Largo Police Department, whom FOX 13 has contacted for further details.
Note from the Editor:
Terrion Arnold’s representative responded and explained that Hudson is not one of Arnold’s security guards and that Williams is not his cousin.
