Linebacker Darren Hambrick has been subpoenaed by a grand jury investigating the killing of deputy Charles "Bo" Harrison.
By CHASE SQUIRES
Published June 17, 2003
DADE CITY - NFL linebacker Darren Hambrick has been subpoenaed as a witness at Wednesday's scheduled grand jury investigation into the shooting death of Pasco County Sheriff's Office Lt. Charles "Bo" Harrison, according to court records.
Hambrick, 27, a Lacoochee native who returns to the area frequently, is one of two civilian witnesses summoned for the proceedings where prosecutors are looking to formally charge Alfredie Steele Jr., 19, with Harrison's death.
Steele has been jailed since June 3, when he was arrested on the non-specific charge of homicide. State Attorney Bernie McCabe said on the day of the arrest that he expected to seek a charge of first-degree murder.
In anticipation of that charge, Pasco-Pinellas Public Defender Bob Dillinger filed notice in court that the attorney appointed to Steele's case - Tom Hanlon - is qualified to represent clients in potential death penalty cases.
Harrison, 57, was shot in the back while sitting in his car on duty June 1. Investigators say he was shot with a high-powered rifle. Harrison was a 30-year veteran less than two weeks from retirement.
Hanlon said Monday that, though Steele is allowed by law to speak to the grand jury, he probably will not. Hanlon said if prosecutors were willing to entertain an offer to settle the case for a plea on a second-degree murder charge, and 25 years in prison, he might be inclined to present his client to the grand jury.
But without some indication that prosecutors are willing to listen to a negotiated plea, Hanlon said there is no reason for his client to speak.
A negotiated settlement and a quick resolution to the case would be best for the Lacoochee community and efforts to mend fences between angry residents and law enforcement agencies, Hanlon said Monday.
Prosecutor Phil Van Allen said that without an indictment or specific charge, it was too early to speculate on what, if any, negotiated plea his office might accept.
Hanlon said he did not specifically know what Hambrick would testify to, but he said he has heard Hambrick drove Steele to an interview with Sheriff's Office investigators before Steele was arrested.
Hambrick is facing his own legal troubles, awaiting the outcome of a case in which he was arrested and charged earlier this year with grand theft in a check cashing case.
Also summoned for the grand jury are Sheriff's Office detectives Kaii Gardner, Jennifer Christensen, Alan Proctor, Richard Harrison and Chris Starnes, who engineered an April drug raid on a Lacoochee house that netted cocaine and weapons.
The only other civilian listed in the court file is Steele's cousin, Nathaniel Daniel "Nate" Vanzant. According to the arrest report when Steele was charged, Vanzant told deputies Steele told him he had killed a law enforcement officer.
Hambrick, a five-year NFL veteran, played with the Cleveland Browns last season.
His attorney, Aldo Ojeda, could not be reached for comment Monday. Last week he said Hambrick is in no way connected to any wrongdoing in Steele's case.
Van Allen said grand jury proceedings are secret and he could not comment on anything Hambrick might be asked about.
