Hillsborough Sheriff's Wife Injured in Crash With Gang Member
Rhonda Gee suffered possible head injuries when her car was struck by a driver who had just threatened to kill a Valrico gas station clerk, officials said.
The wife of Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee was injured in a traffic crash Thursday morning in Valrico when her car was struck by a reported gang member who had just threatened to kill a gas station clerk, authorities said.
Rhonda Gee, 42, suffered possible head injuries when her 2012 Dodge was hit by a 1995 Buick at Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest Road sometime after 7:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
The driver of the Buick, Raul de Alejandro, 21, of Dover, had gotten into an argument with the clerk at the Hess gas station at 3353 Lithia Pinecrest Road after the clerk refused to sell him cigarettes because he had no identification to prove his age, officials said.
De Alejandro is listed as a certified "Dover Locos" gang member with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to sheriff's office spokesman Larry McKinnon.
"De Alejandro threatened to leave the store and return to kill the clerk," McKinnon said in a media release. "The clerk and store patrons followed de Alejandro out to his car to get his tag number when de Alejandro stated, 'I'll just kill you now,' " McKinnon said.
De Alejandro's 16-year-old sister was waiting in the car and began screaming, "no, don't do it" after de Alejandro reached back in between the seats implying he had a gun, McKinnon said.
De Alejandro fled the parking lot in his car after the clerk warned him the sheriff's office was on its way. That's when de Alejandro struck Gee's car as she was driving through the intersection. He then fled the crash scene before breaking down on the side of the road a short distance away.
A passing motorist followed de Alejandro and was able to direct deputies to him. He was taken into custody without further incident, McKinnon said.
Gee was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she is being examined for possible head injuries, officials said.
De Alejandro and his sister were not injured in the crash.
De Alejandro is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, leaving a crash with injuries, leaving the scene with property damage, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and disorderly conduct.
Stay tuned to Patch for updates to this story.
ptb
9:22 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
Guess her husband hasn't done a very good job of getting criminals off the street
Ello Elle
8:31 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
"Dover Locos"? Seriously? There's a gang with a name that silly? THAT'S comedy right there...
KCF
11:56 pm on Monday, June 4, 2012
Did they actually find a gun or was the fact that he "reached" for something in the back seat good enough for the charge of "aggravated assault with a firearm"?
Jason Bartolone
8:12 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
No KCF, a sheriff's office spokesperson told me they did not find a gun, but his reaching in the car while allegedly threatening to kill the clerk was enough to cause de Alejandro to be charged with aggavated assault with a firearm.
Joe
10:01 am on Thursday, August 2, 2012
All gangs should be outlawed. I defy you to show one instance where gang activity has lead to a positive outcome in any situation. It's just a for criminals to feel more powerful and emboldened. Tell the ACLU to focus on something that is worth their time. Outlawing gangs would simply be officially labeling the members criminal organizations as criminals and give law enforcement agencies more leverage to combat their tactics and activities before they inflict misery or harm on law biding citizens.
maggie
3:35 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Stating that the guy was in a gang is irrelevant.