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Release Number: 09-199

For Immediate Release

Public Information Office

July 16, 2009

Deputy Larry McKinnon lmckinno@hcso.tampa.fl.us

(813) 247-8060

 

 

Who:

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
What:

Murder Plot to Kill HCSO Deputy
When:

N/A
Where:

Orient Road Jail 1201 Orient Rd N
 

 

 

 

 

Deputies Break Up Gang Members Plot to Kill a HCSO Detention Deputy and Break Out of Jail.

 

 

1. Arrested; Ball, Ronald, DOB 05-09-92    Certified Bloods Gang Member

                      Currently at Florida State Prison  for Dealing in Stole Property

 

    Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Murder First Degree of Law Enforcement

                Conspiracy to Escape from Confinement

 

2. Arrested: Juarez, Luis Adam DOB 08-25-92 Certified Note 14 Gang Member

    Currently at Orient Road Jail-Awaiting trail for Attempted First Deg Murder

 

   Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Murder First Degree of Law Enforcement

                   Conspiracy to Escape from Confinement

 

3. Arrested: Munoz, Eric, DOB 03-03-92 Certified Latin Life Gang Member

Currently at Orient Road Jail awaiting trail for Burglary with Assault/Battery 

 

    Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Murder First Degree of Law Enforcement

                   Conspiracy to Escape from Confinement

                    Introduction of Contraband to a detention Facility

 

4. Arrested: Serrano, Devon, DOB 11-22-91

                    Currently at Florida State Prison sentenced for Dealing in Stolen Property. 

 

    Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Murder First Degree of Law Enforcement

                    Conspiracy to Escape from Confinement

 

5.  Arrested: Rivera, Esteban, Vincent DOB 02-05-92, Certified Raw Dawg Gang Member

                     Currently in the Orient Road Jail waiting for Trail for Murder First Degree Tampa             Police Department  

 

 

On March 15th 2009, a juvenile housing unit at the Orient Road Jail was locked down after deputies discovered a plot to murder a detention deputy. The Hillsborough County Jail Tactical Apprehension and Control Team (TACT) was activated and conducted a tactical operation in the Housing Unit 2-D to search for evidence and contraband in the murder/escape plot.

   . 

Detention Deputies uncovered the murder plot while investigating a cell disturbance and several unusual incidents over an 18 hour period leading up to the revelation. Deputies and detectives immediately launched an investigation and discovered Ronald Ball masterminded the plan and recruited other juvenile cell mates to participate in the murder and escape. One conspirator, Devon Serrano, served as a trustee in the pod, assisting with cleaning and maintenance tasks. During his assignment Ball accessed disposable razors and removed blades that were used to construct weapons for the attack. Ronald Ball and the other suspects utilized the blades to make homemade knives, commonly referred to in jail as “shanks”. In addition to the razors, small pieces of wire were collected with the intent that they might be used to defeat door locks in the pod.

 

Ronald Ball and Esteban Rivera recruited Luis Juarez to carry out the attack killing the deputy. Juarez bragged to investigators about his willingness to kill a deputy without reservation. After killing the deputy the inmates intended to take the pod keys and escape from the jail through the recreation yard evacuation door.

 

Rivera, Munoz and Juarez are currently in the Hillsborough County jail under lockdown. Ronald Ball and Devon Serrano are incarcerated in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections and will be brought back to Hillsborough County to face these new charges.

 

This incident highlights the extreme danger the men and women working at the Hillsborough County Department of Detention Services face everyday. The knowledge, skills and dedication by the detention deputies involved in this incident prevented the escape of five dangerous individuals and the murder of a fellow deputy. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the Office of the State Attorney conducted the extensive investigation that followed this incident and resulted in the issuance of warrants for these individuals.

 

 

Col James Previtera will hold a press conference at the Orient Road Jail at 4:30 pm to provide photo’s of the weapons along with answering any additional question regarding the investigation.

 

Deputy Larry McKinnon

HCSO-Office of the Chief Deputy