5th suspect in Tampa armed robbery, kidnapping linked to Detroit Lions player appears in court
TAMPA, Fla. – The fifth suspect charged in reference to an armed theft and kidnapping in tampa appeared in court.
Boakai Hilton, 23, was arrested final week in connection to the armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred originally of February. Tampa police stated the armed theft and kidnapping occurred a few days after valuables had been reported stolen from a house in Largo that was rented by a player for the NFL.
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According to a detective with the Tampa Police Department, the “web” of suspects is related to Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold.
The backstory:
According to court paperwork, the armed theft and kidnapping occurred at an house on the Eagles Point in Tampa Palms complicated on February 4. Detectives stated three males had been lured to the house by Jasmine Randazzo and Ariana Del Valle.
Pictured: Jasmine Randazzo and Ariana Del Valle.
A warrant stated that when one of many males went right into a bed room searching for one of many girls, he opened a closet door and was confronted by two males with weapons who began hitting him and one of many different alleged victims. Detectives stated these two alleged suspects are believed to be Lyndell Hudson and Christion Williams.
The two appeared in court in Hillsborough County for pre-trial detention hearings final week.
Det. John Barnett stated that in accordance to interviews with the victims, Hudson and Williams had been battering the victims, pistol whipping them and caught a gun in one of many sufferer’s mouths. He stated Hudson and Williams had been demanding their property.
The different facet:
A number of days prior to the reported armed theft and kidnapping, the detective stated two thefts had been reported from a house in Largo. He stated the house was a short-term rental that was being rented by Arnold.
Barnett stated the stolen objects included high-end luggage or baggage, two firearms, $100,000 in money, a necklace and a cellphone. It’s not clear the place the stolen objects are or whether or not they’ve been discovered.
Pictured: Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold.
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Barnett stated that Hudson labored safety for Arnold, and that Williams was a good friend who was typically referred to as a cousin of Arnold. A consultant for Arnold denied these claims, although, final week. They stated Hudson was not Arnold’s safety guard, and Williams was not his cousin.
Boakai Hilton’s first look
Hilton was arrested final week in Hernando County. During his pre-trial detention listening to in Hillsborough County on Tuesday morning, Det. Barnett offered extra particulars in regards to the reported thefts from the Largo house and the armed theft and kidnapping.
What they’re saying:
He stated the group of individuals, together with Arnold, who had been renting the house, found property lacking on two events.
“It was high-end luggage bags or,” Barnett stated. “It was two firearms. It was reported that $100,000 in cash and an $80,000 necklace that belonged to Mr. Arnold and a cellular telephone.”
Pictured: Boakai Hilton throughout his first court look.
Barnett stated the armed theft and kidnapping occurred a few days later.
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“In the course of interviewing the victims, did you ever ask them if they were responsible for any of the stolen property,” Justin Diaz, a prosecutor with the thirteenth Judicial Circuit stated.
“Yes,” Barnett stated.
“What did they say?” the prosecutor stated.
“They emphatically denied that they had taken any of the property,” the detective replied.
Pictured: Lyndell Hudson and Christion Williams.
According to the detective, two of the three alleged victims in the armed theft and kidnapping had been to a latest get together on the Largo house. Police stated Hilton was a part of the alleged plot to get the stolen objects again on the house complicated.
“He is telling the group to communicate,” Diaz stated. “He is coordinating them. He is giving Dell and CJ directions. Dell and CJ are confirming that they are en route to the apartment. They also confirm when they do arrive at the apartment. Mr. Hilton is the one specifically asking Mr. Hudson if he has his gun with him. He is giving a variety of directions during the time that he would’ve been watching the event play out live.”
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What we all know:
On Tuesday, the detective once more related the 5 suspects to Arnold.
“At this point, what is our belief in the connection between Lyndell Hudson and Terrion Arnold?” Diaz stated. ‘Um, that he’s type of safety for Terrion Arnold when he is in Tampa?'” Barnett stated.
Barnett also said that Williams was sometimes referred to as Arnold’s cousin, despite not being a blood-related cousin. He said Hilton was Arnold’s friend.
The other side:
On Tuesday, Hilton’s attorney argued that he was not part of the physical attack on the victims inside the apartment.
“It’s my understanding, clear from the proof, that Mr. Hilton performed no half in phrases of ransacking the house, or beating any of those folks up, or placing a gun to anyone, or pistol whipping anyone, or taking their, in phrases of cash. There’s been no proof that my shopper advised them to take any cash, any in phrases of knickknack or in phrases of telephones,” Hilton’s attorney said.
The detective said that according to interviews with the victims, Hilton was not seen with a weapon. Hilton’s attorney said he has no prior criminal record.
FOX 13 reached back out to Arnold’s representative. We will update this story when we hear back.
Source: This information came from court testimony, warrants and court documents related to this case.
