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Ex-police recruit involved in shooting

By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published January 11, 2007

TAMPA - Police are still investigating whether a Tampa day care owner and former Clearwater police recruit broke the law when he fatally shot a man outside a convenience store, authorities said.

Rodney Cruz Rivera, 35, of 13525 White Elk Loop fatally shot Eric Arnaldo Suarez Jr., 24, of 2701 W Waters Ave., Apt. 501 on Tuesday night outside the Marathon Stop N Pick store on Waters, said Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis.

Police at the scene Tuesday night said the shooting may have been self-defense, but Davis said she could not confirm that theory. Detectives were still interviewing witnesses and Rivera.

Rivera was leaving the convenience store at 1815 Waters Ave., when Suarez approached him, cursing at him and threatening to stab and kill him, police say.

Suarez followed Rivera to his vehicle in front of the store.

A woman yelled at Suarez to get into his car and leave, but Suarez ignored the woman and walked over to Rivera's car, police say. As Rivera got into the car, Suarez slammed the driver's side door on Rivera's leg.

Rivera dropped his keys onto the floorboard because of the pain of the impact, and Suarez backed away, still threatening to kill Rivera, police say. Suarez then approached Rivera's car again, and Rivera feared Suarez would stab him, police say.

When Suarez again slammed the door on Rivera's legs, Rivera pulled out a 9mm Glock handgun, firing a single shot, police say. Suarez fell onto the ground, and bystanders called police.

Police and Tampa Fire Rescue performed CPR, and Suarez was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Rivera declined to comment.

Rivera is the owner of Rocking Horse Academy, a licensed day care facility for children 12 years old and younger. The academy, a yellow and purple brick building in a neighborhood near the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and Hillsborough Avenue, can accommodate 41 children.

County inspectors visited the facility Wednesday after learning of the shooting and found it to be following county guidelines, said Mike Bross, a senior child care licensing inspector.

Child care is not Rivera's only job experience. In 2001, he joined the Clearwater Police Department as a probationary police recruit, said Joe Roseto, human resources director for Clearwater.

Rivera worked for the department for five months before leaving, Roseto said.

"He was a probationary employee," Roseto said. "He obviously was not going to complete his probation successfully."

It was not clear Wednesday whether Rivera had a concealed weapons permit. A person must have such a permit to carry a gun, even if the weapon is locked inside a vehicle, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.

Rivera has been arrested twice in Florida, state records show. In 1989, he was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal mischief. He pleaded guilty, records show.

In 2001, the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office arrested him on charges of DUI. It's not clear how the case was resolved.

Suarez also had a criminal record. He had been arrested three times since 2001 on charges, including marijuana distribution, failure to appear in court and DUI, records show.

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 226-3373.

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 23:53:16]