Advertisement

Congressman Grayson weighing whether to ask Justice Department to investigate 2014 death of Andrew Joseph III

 
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, left, listens to activist Andrew Joseph Jr. on Monday at the Bricks of Ybor rest?au?rant in Ybor City. Joining them is Laila Abdelaziz of CAIR Florida.
U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, left, listens to activist Andrew Joseph Jr. on Monday at the Bricks of Ybor rest?au?rant in Ybor City. Joining them is Laila Abdelaziz of CAIR Florida.
Published Sept. 22, 2015

TAMPA — After an hourlong meeting with members of Black Lives Matter Tampa on Monday, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson said he may call for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the 2014 death of 14-year-old Andrew Joseph III.

Andrew, an eighth-grader at St. Stephen Catholic School, was struck and killed by a car while trying to cross Interstate 4 after Hillsborough sheriff's deputies ejected him and dozens of other teens from the Florida State Fair that year.

Grayson, an Orlando Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, said his office will review how the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office handled the incident and then decide whether to recommend a federal investigation.

"There's a racial element in this that needs to be thoroughly investigated," Grayson said. "We'll have to see if there was any type of motivation or any type of negligence."

Grayson met with Black Lives Matter organizers and Andrew's parents at the Bricks of Ybor restaurant. Grayson listened as members talked about the 14-year-old's death, complaints of racial profiling and the mayor of Tampa's recent decision to start a Citizens Review Board to hear complaints about police — without input from City Council or community activists.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn rankled those groups when he signed an executive order Aug. 28 creating the board without their input. Members of Black Lives Matter are among those critics who say the board is not representative of the community.

The 11-member advisory panel has the authority to review incidents involving city police officers' use of force, as well as general practices and policies. But critics would like to see more members appointed by the City Council, and would like the review board to have subpoena power.

Reports of fighting led to many teens being ejected from the fair that night in 2014. Most were black. Most of the authorities who responded were white.

"If you're in any circumstance where any part of the community is singled out, whether intentionally or inadvertently," Grayson said, "that's unfair."

One of those who Grayson met with has become a vocal critic of Hillsborough law enforcement since his son Andrew Joseph III died in 2014: Andrew Joseph Jr.

"Police brutality is the biggest gang in the world," the father said. "It's time to face responsibility."

Donna Davis, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Tampa, said her group wants local political leaders and law enforcement officials to work with her group and be more forthcoming about having a conversation about policing and race.

"What I heard is that the congressman understands the issues and that he has spoken out forcefully in the past," she said. "We have no reason to believe he won't continue to do so. We will always push to actively and consistently hold our elected officials accountable."

Contact Michael Majchrowicz at (813) 226-3374 or mmajchrowicz@tampabay.com. Follow @mjmajchrowicz.