Witnesses to shooting to bypass police

ST. PETERSBURG — The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement said it has found eyewitnesses to Saturday's police shooting of a teenager but will not refer them to police.

Instead, it is sending the witnesses to a lawyer who will refer them to prosecutors.

"Most of the people we are talking about are children, young people who are traumatized by this experience, from seeing their friend gunned down before them," said Uhuru leader Omali Yeshitela. "I know they are afraid of the police."

Police, frustrated that none of the more than 250 teens at a chaotic graduation party have stepped forward, issued a plea Wednesday for witnesses to cooperate in their investigation into the shooting of Javon Dawson.

Maj. Michael Puetz, who is overseeing the department's criminal investigation, said police would prefer to talk to witnesses but do not mind if witnesses want to speak directly with the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, which also reviews shootings involving police.

"I don't have any issues if witnesses feel better talking directly to the prosecutors," Puetz said. "Of course, we would like for them to talk to us because we're part of the investigative process."

Police began distributing hundreds of fliers to recreation centers near the Palmetto Park neighborhood where the shooting took place. The fliers ask "Were you there?" and ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact authorities.

Yeshitela said witnesses contend that 17-year-old Dawson was unarmed and running away when officer Terrence Nemeth shot him, contradicting police accounts that Dawson fired several shots in the air before pointing the gun at Nemeth. But Yeshitela has refused to identify the witnesses.

Witnesses will be funneled to St. Petersburg defense attorney Maura Kiefer, who will provide them to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office for supervised questioning, Yeshitela said.

"It's not a question of somebody trying to keep witnesses from the police," Yeshitela said, "it's a question of youngsters having been traumatized by this experience and the same forces are now chasing them, looking at them."

Yeshitela also criticized news coverage of the shooting, saying reports have been too quick to lionize the officer and criticize Dawson.

He wondered why a teenager with no previous brushes with the law "would choose to engage himself … at an after-graduation party where he would pull a gun and shoot at the police. It's absolutely absurd."

Police found a revolver at the scene near Dawson's body with three spent shell casings inside.

Yeshitela also called for the arrest and conviction of Nemeth, the 24-year-old police officer at the center of the investigation. He called Nemeth, who has been with the department about 18 months, a "battle-scarred" Iraq war veteran.

Times staff writer Abhi Raghunathan contributed to this report. Casey Cora can be reached at (727) 580-1542 or ccora@sptimes.com.

Comments on this article

by chris	Jun 19, 2008 9:57 AM
how nice ,a new generation of troublemakers being taught to misbehave by the last generation.teach your children well.

by jrs	Jun 15, 2008 12:10 AM
They dont make it such a big deal when they kill each other, as long as its not the police. They condone killing each other while they glorify the gangsta lifestyle, brandishing guns on websites and flashing gang colors. Let em all out of jail.

by Bill	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
Hey Ray...the police haven't produced a witness because blacks won't talk. They know the police were within the law, so heaven forbid a black supports the police. That's what the Uhurururururu's teach and it is why YOU'LL admit YOUR prejudice later.

by Loretha	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
Why does anyone care what the Uhuru's think? Aren't they a made up group? Why acknowledge them? The law is the law and citizens are supposed to abide by it. That includes BLACKS.

by Dan	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
Also, someone did bring a gun to this school party and fire it. Did officer Nemeth prevent another Columbine type shooting? Maybe the culprit was just beginning his rampage.

by Dan	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
If Dawson did not have a gun, then the person who brought the gun and fired it should be held responsible for creating this circle of danger. Can Omali bring this person forward? Will that person be prosecuted for causing this chain of events?

by Realistically Speaking	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
I think I'll wait to hear the autopsy results before anything else gets said here.They'll do a gun powder test on the kids hands.If there is gun powder residue, then he fired the gun. PERIOD! That's enough proof for me that he did something wrong.

by Paul	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
I honestly can't believe that Omali isn't sitting his butt in a jail cell now on charges of interfering with an investigation. That man is nuts. And the people in the Uhuru's are nuts too. I used to live next door to one and she was half crazy.

by mike	Jun 15, 2008 12:09 AM
hi joe,ive known you for many years and you have not changed, your stll as lazy as you ever were, taking money from thugs to promote yourself, get some help before its too late, its been too many years teaching yourself and others to hate, be a man.

by S St Pete Resident	Jun 13, 2008 5:19 PM
The Uhuru's do not speak for everyone in this community.I wish no ill will towards SPP however unless you've been treated like dirt even as a bystander do not tell us in SSP the police are our friends & that there's no need to question their actions

by Mr. White	Jun 13, 2008 3:06 PM
I think we should give the racists Uhurus what they want. No more police action in South St. Pete. Lets build a wall around it and let it implode.

by Ray	Jun 13, 2008 3:06 PM
If he pointed the gun, then why havent the police produced one witness from amongst the kids at the party. All of you who called this deceased child a thug, are going to have to admit your prejudice when all this is over.

by Cathie	Jun 13, 2008 3:06 PM
This is exactly why we need a police chief w/a backbone. If you think for 1 second they are not coaching these kids on what to say, you are just as deranged as Yeshitela. Obstruction of justice. Thank you to all LEO's for what you do every day for US

by GH	Jun 13, 2008 1:32 PM
What saddens me is how the Uhuru group jumps to the comclusions. How do they know for a fact the kid didn't point the gun? Maybe he was drunk or high and did point the gun. The Uhuru group is like Jessie and AL come in stir the pot no matter what!!

by David Duke	Jun 13, 2008 1:32 PM
Keep up the good work Yeshitela and Uhurus. You people are doing great things for your people and other peole like me.

by Mike	Jun 13, 2008 1:31 PM
The Uhurus seem to keep the fires going in St Pete maybe its time for the rest of the African-American community to speek up for sure they are not the spokesmen for all. They should be arrested for witness tampering you know they are coaching them.

by John	Jun 13, 2008 1:30 PM
I have a great idea for you Mr.Omali Yeshitela. Hire Nick Bollea as your personal driver.

by Jim	Jun 13, 2008 1:30 PM
The St. Pete Times should be ashamed for listening to a group that has attacked the St. Petersburg Police for years. There is proof that their members attacked police officers in Child's Park years ago with bricks and bottles.

by Uhurus Suck	Jun 13, 2008 1:29 PM
Uhurus are just a bunch of racist who sound like the segregationist of 40 years ago...their agenda seems to be to reverse race relations. How could anyone subscribe to their divisive stupidity?

by SICK AND TIRED	Jun 13, 2008 1:29 PM
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS PUT THEM ALL ON A CURFEW AND DISCIPLINE YOUR OWN. GIVE JOBS TO MANY AND SOME OF THE CRIME WILL STOP. LIFT THIS FELONY MESS AND GIVE FOLKS A SECOND CHANCE, AND MAYBE THAT WILL TAKE SOME OF THE CRIME OFF THE STREET. PLZ HELP!

by Jeff	Jun 13, 2008 1:29 PM
Since when is anyone allowed to "bypass" the police?City government in St. Pete is WAY too concerned with the opinion of the South St.Pete crowd.What happens if things don't go their way? Do they riot again? This is why people leave St.Pete for Tampa

by Dina	Jun 13, 2008 1:28 PM
And when the prosecutors question the children that "witnessed" the event, they can then questions their parents...why were those kids out so late??

by Aesop	Jun 13, 2008 1:28 PM
Hey, Joe! Ever heard of The Boy Who Cried Wolf? That's who you are! You've falsely cried "racism" so many times that now nobody listens to you or cares what you have to say. You have done more harm to the black community than you can ever imagine.

by Support SPPD...	Jun 13, 2008 1:28 PM
I'm a proud wife of a 22yr veteran SPPD officer.Cops are not "gun-happy"-wanting to shoot soemone-they do their job & with God's grace go home to their family.The lack of support most officers(yes, white)get is disgusting. Walk a mile in their shoes.

by Todd	Jun 13, 2008 1:27 PM
Let this stand as public record that the crime of witness tampering has been perpetrated by the People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, and more specifically Omali Yeshitela. The police have a legal OBLIGATION to arrest them!

by SEJ	Jun 13, 2008 1:27 PM
I would like to know some facts.Did they bag the young man's hands & clothes to check for gsr(gun shot residue)?If he fired or was around someone firing a gun the evidence would speak volumes.I would feel beter if outside people could exam boy's body

by sick of it	Jun 13, 2008 9:19 AM
Witness tampering and obstruction of justice. If anyone BUT the Boohooroos tried this, they'd be in front of a judge in no time flat.

by Anne	Jun 13, 2008 9:19 AM
Seems to me that what the Uhurus are doing constitutes obstruction of justice- What is wrong with them? I question their motives.. if they truly want to help blacks succeed , why not focus their efforts on education and character building?

by Time is a Joke	Jun 13, 2008 9:19 AM
Sounds like the Uhurus are orchestrating the witnesses, advising them not to speak with the police in their investigation. Also like they have a few days to get a story together. Isn't that obstruction or witness tampering?

by Me	Jun 13, 2008 9:18 AM
This young man had no respect for authority, see his school discipline record.He thought he could behave the same w/police as he had in school. Teach your children respect regardless of race. You & they will be much happier.

by Bill	Jun 13, 2008 9:18 AM
I wonder at what time the black community will stop allowing the drug financed Uhuru's to speak for them? Until they do, crime will continue to dominate their lives. Witnesses need to step forward to solve this tragedy, and the murder of Amuel Murph.

by Pete	Jun 13, 2008 9:15 AM
can you say "obstruction of justice"?

by rc	Jun 13, 2008 9:15 AM
the Uhurus should be ashamed of themselves...

by Theresa	Jun 13, 2008 9:15 AM
Oh my gosh!Can anything get any more crazy? "Traumatized Children" you've got to be kidding! Do guns belong at a party. Yeshitela you should be traumatized by THAT!

by tash	Jun 13, 2008 9:14 AM
nobody said he shot at the police, yeshitela. stop twisting the facts, yeshitela.