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As chase tears along I-275, city streets, one motorist is killed
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 20, 2007
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William Watson, who is charged with vehicular homicide, is also accused of entering two homes.
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ST. PETERSBURG - William Watson sped away from a state trooper on I-275 Sunday afternoon before turning off the interstate and smashing his Chevrolet sedan into another car on 34th Street N, killing the driver, authorities said. Watson jumped out of his car and ducked into two houses as he fled, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. He was arrested on numerous charges, including vehicular homicide. The Florida Highway Patrol was still trying to notify the family of the man Watson is accused of killing, and declined to release his name Monday. Arrest affidavits identify the victim as Donald Dillard, 51. Watson, 25, has a criminal record that includes arrests on charges of battery, fraud and cocaine possession. His driver's license had been suspended since 2003 for failing to pay a traffic fine, records show. When he was arrested Sunday, authorities found a small amount of marijuana on him, they said. A trooper first saw Watson on Sunday afternoon speeding south on I-275, according to Highway Patrol spokesman Larry Coggins. Coggins said the trooper followed Watson's Chevrolet Lumina as it exited the interstate at 54th Avenue N and sped south along 34th Street. At 36th Avenue N, Watson rammed into another Chevrolet driven by Dillard, who was trying to make a left turn from the northbound lanes of 34th Street, the patrol said. Watson ran away. His first stop: a house in the 2900 block of 27th Avenue N. He rushed through an open rear door, pushed a man who was inside, then struggled with him before running outside, authorities said. He then entered another house on the same block by walking in through an open front door. He begged the residents for permission to use the phone, according to an arrest affidavit. They refused. Police were approaching, and Watson was minutes from being arrested. Before running outside and jumping a fence in a final, doomed attempt to get away, he asked the residents to call his mother. Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.
[Last modified November 20, 2007, 00:04:58]
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by meg
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11/24/07 01:19 PM
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Mr. Dillard was my uncle, he will be sorely missed. All the kind words are appreciated.
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by More Truth
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11/21/07 08:56 AM
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I have been educated by a decade of watching drug dealers take over a west St. Pete neighborhood and the police being held back from doing anything because the Uhurus are calling the shots with what City Hall is allowed to do.
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by Mary
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11/20/07 08:51 PM
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MORE TRUTH: What are you talking about??? Educate yourself before you write anything. This was not SPPD and what in the world does City Hall have to do with this??? Stop showing your ignorance!
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by More truth
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11/20/07 02:43 PM
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What ever happened to SPPD arresting drug dealers? What ever happened to integrity in City Hall? What ever happened to a St. Petersburg not run by criminals that are protected by a terrorist group?
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by Concerned??
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11/20/07 01:40 PM
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What ever happened to the "no chase policy?" Many lives have been loss because someone is being persued for a VOP or Child support warrant. Sympathy to the family of Mr. Dillard..God Bless
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by Beth
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11/20/07 01:14 PM
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Hello Melinda, they didn't publish the name when the story was published on Monday. Read the story.
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by Melinda
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11/20/07 12:49 PM
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Was it proper to publish the victim's name before the family was notified? Just because you have access to the info doesn't make it right.
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by justme
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11/20/07 12:27 PM
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Its time the law takes back the streets and gets the thugs off the road. Aim, Shoot.. no questions asked. Maybe then people will be afraid of the law instead of laughing in their faces.
My deepest sympathy to Mr Dillards family.
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by Not Reverend Al
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11/20/07 12:08 PM
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Make him the Dillard family slave for the rest of his life.
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by Jules
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11/20/07 11:53 AM
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My THoughts and Pryaers go out to the family of Mr. Dillard. Kill the SOB that hit him. He deserves nothing but to be killed just like he did Mr. Dillard. No Trial, No Jail
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by Truth
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11/20/07 11:30 AM
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Just one more prime example of Mayor Rick Baker's indulgence of the Uhurus and the reining in of SPPD. Sheriff Coats, are you ready to take over???? Your supporters are overwhelmingly ready for you.
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by Dave
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11/20/07 11:06 AM
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There should be no trial. The police need to be judge, jury, and executioner. Kill off the criminals like this, and you don't worry about overcrowding.
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by h man
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11/20/07 09:35 AM
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I concur with Will totally.
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by JK
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11/20/07 08:51 AM
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AGAIN?
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by Will
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11/20/07 08:10 AM
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Another thug that needs to be put down like a rabid dog. They never learn, so why are we intent on rehabbing them?
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by Ernie
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11/20/07 07:05 AM
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William Watson called for his mother when he got apprehended. I hope he calls for his mother for many years while he is in prison for the vehicular death of Donald Dillard. My sympathy goes to the family of Mr. Dillard.
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