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By MIKE BRASSFIELD
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 7, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- A St. Petersburg police officer was arrested Saturday and is a suspect in an attempted street robbery in Gulfport.
Antonio Terrell Garner, 32, drove away on a motorcycle when a Gulfport police officer came to his house to question him about Saturday morning's robbery attempt, authorities said. The Gulfport officer told Garner to stop, but Garner didn't, police said.
Garner, who was off duty, was then arrested on a charge of obstructing an officer. He was not charged in the attempted robbery, but police are still investigating.
Garner, a St. Petersburg patrol officer for six years, was released from the Pinellas County Jail on Saturday afternoon after posting $150 bail. He has been placed on leave from his job while he is being investigated.
"The public can be assured that this entire incident will be investigated fully," said St. Petersburg police spokesman Rick Stelljes. "When the investigation is complete, hopefully we'll know exactly what really occurred here."
The attempted robbery occurred about 6:45 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 711 58th St. S in Gulfport.
Gulfport police Lt. Larry Tosi Jr. gave the following account:
Christopher Croley, 36, of St. Petersburg, was delivering a shirt to a friend at the apartment complex. As Croley pulled into the parking lot, he noticed a white Ford Bronco pull in behind him.
After Croley dropped off the shirt, he walked back to his car to find that the Bronco's driver was pointing a gun at him. The gunman threatened to shoot Croley if he didn't give up all his money.
Instead, Croley managed to get away without giving up anything. The would-be robber got back into the Bronco and drove off. Croley got back into his own car and chased the Bronco.
Gulfport police said Croley got the Bronco's license plate number and called 911. Police found that the Bronco was registered to Garner.
Gulfport police Officer Regina Johnson found Garner at his home, but Garner left on a motorcycle. When he later returned, he was arrested.
Gulfport police are investigating the attempted robbery. The St. Petersburg police internal affairs unit has started its own investigation of Garner.
"We're certainly concerned whenever any of our officers are arrested by another agency," Stelljes said. Garner couldn't be reached for comment Saturday. His Bronco, parked at his home, was towed away as evidence Saturday evening.
Croley described the would-be robber as a black man, about 6 feet 2 and weighing 180-190 pounds. Jail records list Garner as 6 feet 3 and 200 pounds.
Garner lives in the 5300 block of First Avenue S. As Croley was driving to the apartment complex where he was nearly robbed, he first stopped at a Shell station at 58th Street and Central Avenue. But Croley didn't know whether the Bronco had followed him from the gas station.
Croley already has discussed suing Garner's employer, the city of St. Petersburg. Croley referred questions to his lawyer, John Trevena.
Trevena wants to know whether Garner is a suspect in any other robberies.
Stelljes, the St. Petersburg police spokesman, knew of no other cases where Garner was a suspect. He noted that Garner is not charged with trying to rob Croley.
"The investigations are in progress," Stelljes said.