Sunday, May 20, 2012

Tampa Police have arrested two black men who participated in the beating and robbery of an Army sergeant near MacDill Air Force Base

Geroshe Lewis, 18, a Tampa Robinson High School senior and Tampa resident, and Lerome Howard, 18, of Sulpher Springs were each charged with aggravated battery and robbery. Howard, whom police say has an extensive criminal history, was released from jail on bail. The men, along with another men, approached Sgt. Johnny Aparicio, 24, and asked him for a dollar. When Aparicio replied, the three men, joined by a fourth suspect, began punching and beating him. The beating was captured on surveillance video, which police released to the media and generated national attention. More than $16,000 in award money was pledged for information leading to the suspects' arrests. Police said that they received dozens of tips from the video - even the first name of one of the suspects before any reward money was offered. "One of the suspects told other people, and it spread like wildfire,” Tampa police spokesperson Andrea Davis said. “And we started receiving those tips. Lewis was arrested at the school as the school day ended. Howard was arrested at his home without incident. Police are still looking for the other two suspects. "Detective Tim DeGusipe, who's been the lead (investigator) on this case, said he will not rest until everyone is caught," Davis said. "He has been working nonstop on this case, and it's his mission for all four of them to be caught." Hillsborough County School District spokesperson Steve Hegarty said that Lewis will not return to Robinson High School. "Geroshe Lewis is a senior and belonged to no clubs and does not play any sports," Hegarty said. "He is not in the school yearbook. Based on the charges and the seriousness of the alleged crimes, he will not be returning." The video shows four men hitting and kicking Aparicio before they went through his pockets and took his cell phone and wallet. Aparicio eventually got up and was able to knock on a neighbor's door and call 911. He was treated at a local hospital.

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