Typical; Good or bad.

[ImaShepardRU]

Two convenience store robbers involved in the shooting of an undercover police detective:
"He wasn't raised that way".
"He's not that type of person at all."
Of course he's not! Why would anyone think otherwise?

Teen's Family Reacts To Officer's Shooting

Teen's Family Reacts To Officer's Shooting
By STEPHEN THOMPSON

sthompson@tampatrib.com

The two undercover detectives were driving by when they noticed three teens on bicycles acting oddly outside a gas station Monday evening.

As members of the St. Petersburg Police Department's special investigations unit, they had to have been aware of the city's seemingly endless stream of convenience store robberies, some of which ended with clerks or owners shot.

As the plainclothes detectives watched about 10:20 p.m., two of the teens entered the Suncoast Exxon gas station, 3061 First Ave. N., and, their faces concealed, robbed the business at gunpoint.

Neither of the two clerks - nor a customer - was shot, but within seconds, one of the detectives was.

Outside, the detective either grabbed one of the teens, who was watching the bikes, or he confronted the 18-year-old who had just robbed the gas station, and the 18-year-old opened fire, police said.

The 41-year-old detective - whom Police Chief Chuck Harmon described as a stellar officer and a married father - was shot at least four times. He was in serious but stable condition at Bayfront Medical Center on Tuesday.

This was the second time he was involved in a shooting. In 1994 while working undercover, he wounded a homeless man who had a toy gun and tried to rob him and a partner. The officer was cleared.

His identity is not being released by the Tribune because he is undercover.

Harmon said it was too early to say whether the people arrested Monday night were involved in previous convenience store robberies.

Family members of one of the teens, however, questioned the detectives' actions.

The 18-year-old accused of shooting the officer has been identified as James Seay of Gulfport. He was being held without bail at the Pinellas County Jail on charges of attempted murder of a police officer and armed robbery.

The other teens, Shaheed Wright, 16, and Desmond Creary, 17, both of St. Petersburg, were arrested and charged in the robbery and with attempted murder of an officer.

After the robbery, Seay and Wright ran back to their bicycles, where Creary was waiting, police said. In one account provided by police, the detective grabbed Creary. That's when Seay approached the detective and shot several rounds from a midsize-caliber handgun, striking the officer several times in the upper and lower body, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said Tuesday morning.

The detective returned fire; none of the teens was struck.

Seay's jail affidavit, however, states that Seay shot the undercover officer when the detective confronted him and told him to halt.

After the shooting, the three teens ran but quickly were caught. A police dog attacked Seay as he ran, but the resulting wound was described as minor by police.

Seay's family came to his defense.

"I know one thing," said the Rev. Daryl Seay, his uncle. "He wasn't raised like that."

"He's not that type of person at all," said Seay's brother, Ferrell Davis. Davis showed up at a news conference the chief gave at the police department's training building but was escorted out.

Davis said James Seay recently had been robbed twice and might have been protecting himself or an acquaintance.

"The way they're blasting him is ridiculous," Kimberly Davis, James Seay's sister. "If you were dressed undercover - they are not in uniform - and you grab my arm, I'm going to defend myself, too."

The Seay family wondered aloud about the police department's version of events. They wondered why the police dog was loosed on him and why the undercover detectives did not stop the teens before they robbed the gas station.

"I think it's just as much their fault as it is the boys," the Rev. Seay said of the officers.

Creary's mother, Renee, was dumbfounded. "I'm hearing it, but I'm just not believing," the certified nursing assistant said of the charges.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[RIA45]

This is gonna be a story to watch here. Luckily, no one is dead. I did wonder myself why they didn't prevent the robbery. The store clerk could have been killed. Something isn't right here.

[cvhoss]

Davis said James Seay recently had been robbed twice and might have been protecting himself or an acquaintance.

I'd buy that. After all, he had the money that he'd just got at gunpoint from the convenience store and no way he should have to give up money that he worked so hard for. I hope they lock him and his buddies away for so long they're too arthritic to commit a crime when they get out.

My prayers to the officer for a speedy recovery.

Hoss

[Sticks]

An arrest for armed robbery carries a stiffer sentence than attempted robbery or menacing and illegal possession or a firearm.

[bandit383]

He still had a gun and he still shot a police officer (whether undercover or not)...I sure don't see the good Rev mentioning that part...throw away the key.

Rick

[Freedom Doc]

This is gonna be a story to watch here. Luckily, no one is dead. I did wonder myself why they didn't prevent the robbery. The store clerk could have been killed. Something isn't right here.

How exactly is an undercover officer that is outside the store supposed to "prevent" the robbery? He probably saw them go in, with guns out and that might be his first clue. Other than that, he saw them getting off their bikes -- what are you going to do, draw down on them for riding bikes while black? Unless you recognize them (in the dark!) as persons of interest, not much you can do.

Just like the store clerks, your first clue is someone just outside the door with a gun. Better draw fast!

[cvhoss]

You just have to love this:

"I know one thing," said the Rev. Daryl Seay, his uncle. "He wasn't raised like that."

"He's not that type of person at all," said Seay's brother, Ferrell Davis, who until recently had been in jail. Davis, who said he was recently released from jail, showed up at a press conference the chief gave at the police department's training building, but was escorted out.

I wonder who raised him since he wasn't raised like that but his brother had just been released from jail.

And how can anyone fault the cops for not stopping the crime beforehand? Up to the point they pulled the gun, what were they guilty of, wearing a ski mask in Florida? May not be smart, but I don't think it's illegal. It's bad enough that cops (and all of us) have to deal with scum like these guys every day but then you have to deal with their idiot family and friends who try and blame the cops for having the audacity to arrest them. I guess we're supposed to believe the cop let himself get shot and almost killed just so he could charge the kid with more crimes.

Hoss

[Miggy]

And we have updates:

Attorney For Suspected Cop-Shooter: Don't Rush To Judgment

Flanagan attributed the family's remarks to the heat of the moment and, he said, they were reacting to what they were told.

Flanagan characterized the aftermath of the shooting as having racial overtones.

And the race card has been played.

[Sticks]

Oh, just put the damn families in a room and have them watch the store security video.

[ImaShepardRU]

And from that same article;

Flanagan said Seay has never gotten into trouble before. "To the best of my knowledge, he has no criminal record, no juvenile record," Flanagan said.

Just because someone 'has never gotten into trouble before', but yet commits an armed robbery, should the blame be placed on the LEO's for not 'preventing' the crime? Sheesh!

Well guess what? He's gonna have a record now, just like his brother.

[ImaShepardRU]

Oh brother, here's some more good ones:

Cousin Carla Seay said he was "a mama's boy," who hung out only with family and played video games all the time. "As a juvenile, he didn't get in no trouble."

The Seay family wondered aloud about the police department's version of events. They wondered why the police dog was sicced on him, and they wondered why the undercover detectives didn't stop the teens before they robbed the gas station.

"I think it's just as much their fault as it is the boys," the Rev. Seay said of the officers' actions.

They also said they hadn't heard from James Seay since his arrest, and wondered they he hasn't called them. "Who's to say they ain't verbally abusing him, if not physically abusing him," said the reverend, a self-described ex-convict.

Always amazes don't it?

[NKMG19]

I hate dirbags, dirtbag families and dirtbag reverends. This is the kind of crap that teach kids that no matter what they do it's always someone's else's fault. He better get use to a jail cell.

[cvhoss]

I really liked this one:

The Seay family wondered aloud about the police department's version of events. They wondered why the police dog was sicced on him

Well, let's see -- maybe because he just committed an armed robbery, shot a cop and was trying to run away!!! He's lucky they didn't put a bullet in his hind end.

Hoss

[concealed]

....And the race card has been played....

Now what if the white officer had shot the black youth?

[Guardian]

Kids own statement reads, shot LEO after he was told to halt/stop, pretty much sums that up.