By Robbyn Mitchell
Lakeland Ledger
TAMPA, Fla. -- While scores of authorities scoured the city for a man wanted in killing two Tampa officers, the suspect’s aunt was feeding insider information to his friends that thwarted the manhunt, an investigation released Tuesday shows.
Less than a week after the Tampa Police Department suspended Carolyn Riggins without pay from her civilian job at the headquarters, the agency fired her Tuesday.
“Our investigation has revealed that Carolyn Riggins both withheld pertinent information that could have aided in the suspect’s apprehension and provided information to his associates that interfered with the department’s ability to track down the suspect,” police Chief Jane Castor said in a statement.
“Carolyn Riggins’ relationship to the suspect and his associates played no role in her termination. Her dismissal is based solely on her actions that hindered the search for Dontae Morris.”
No one at Riggins’ household answered the door to a reporter seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.
After a nearly four-day search, Morris was arrested and was charged with killing Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab during a June 29 traffic stop in east Tampa.
Morris has since been charged in two other slayings.
Shortly after his arrest, his brother, Dwayne Callaway, and Riggins’ daughter, Alaina, were arrested on drug and weapons charges at a Tampa motel.
The department suspended Carolyn Riggins, a civilian employee in the office that handles police extra duty, without pay last week, saying she didn’t inform supervisors her daughter had a “close-knit” relationship with the two men officers were searching for at the time - Morris and Callaway.
Police said at the time they were investigating whether Alaina Riggins was in touch with Morris while he was on the loose - and, if so, if her mother, who is Morris’ aunt, knew about it.
In its disciplinary action Tuesday, police did not answer that question directly.
But the department’s investigation found Carolyn Riggins hampered the search.
“When Carolyn Riggins revealed our investigative techniques to third parties, she displayed a consciousness of guilt and knowledge of these investigative techniques, consistent with an ongoing pattern of withholding information; thwarting intelligence gathering that potentially would have expedited capture of the suspects, and prevented fear of further violence to police officers or citizens,” reads a finding by Lt. Kenneth Morman of the Strategic Investigations Bureau.
His memo says Carolyn Riggins “withheld information regarding the whereabouts of persons who were wanted for questioning and/or arrest.”
In her 10 years with the department, Carolyn Riggins appeared to be a model employee.
She was routinely praised in annual evaluations for a positive attitude and enthusiasm.
A supervisor even commended her on her good hygiene.
Copyright 2010 Lakeland Ledger Publishing Corporation