Homeless man held in street killing

The victim, found Monday with a fatal head injury, also was homeless.

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 17, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Calvin Ford, 44, left fingerprints on beer cans found at the crime scene, officials say.

TAMPA - Police have arrested a transient in the death of Donald Ronald Kay, a homeless man found bleeding Monday night near a Columbus Plaza storefront at 5016 E 10th Ave.

Calvin Ford, 44, also listed as homeless in jail records, is charged with second-degree murder.

He was held Saturday without bail in the Hillsborough County Jail.

He has previously been arrested on charges of forgery, theft and battery official records say.

Police said the street anticrime unit arrested Ford late Friday at 22nd Street N and Columbus Drive.

He was brought in for questioning by homicide detectives and booked on the murder charge.

Witnesses told investigators that Kay and Ford had an argument about two hours before Kay was found.

Emergency workers tried to resuscitate Kay, 44, but could not. He died of skull fractures, an arrest affidavit said.

Ford's fingerprints were found on two Natural Light beer cans found at the crime scene.

Ford denied knowing Kay or being near the scene of the crime, a report stated.

[Last modified February 17, 2008, 00:13:12]