Begging not allowed!
Aggresive begging is a crime. If you are solicited more than once, it is considered aggressive, and is punishable by law. Make sure to contact TPD if this happens to you.
YBOR CITY - Michael Dunn had an unpleasant experience recently with what he calls an aggressive panhandler who wanted him to buy fake flowers made of twigs and leaves.
The incident happened in front of Dunn’s business, Stogie Castillo’s Cigar Lounge and Factory in Centro Ybor, where a cigar roller works behind the window, often attracting a crowd.
Dunn told the panhandler to move along and called the police when the man didn’t budge. The officer handcuffed the man but released him a few blocks away, Dunn said.
Back came the man to thumb his nose at the shopkeeper.
Dunn called Capt. Marc Hamlin of District 3 and was reassured that wouldn’t happen again.
"Capt. Hamlin feels our pain," Dunn said.
Hamlin said he’s determined to clean up begging on the streets of Ybor City. During a recent two-day sweep, his officers arrested 23 panhandlers in the historic district and took them for booking.
Some have felony records; others have outstanding warrants.
"In most cases, we’re dealing with career criminals here," Hamlin said.
He isn’t sure when the panhandling detail will work again.
"It could be a weekly thing or monthly," he said. "But one thing is for sure, we want to monitor this situation and maintain our vigilance. This should never get out of hand again."
That’s delightful news to Ybor City’s retail development committee. During a recent meeting at the Ybor City Development Corp., 2015 E. Seventh Ave., some of the 25 or so in attendance expressed gratitude for law enforcement’s crackdown on panhandling.
Through the years, Ybor City officials have asked for help. The city council passed an ordinance in 1993 outlawing aggressive panhandling, which is described as harassing or repeatedly asking for money.
Aggressive panhandling is common along Seventh, officials say.
"I’m pretty impressed with the police response," said committee chairman Joe Howden, who lives in Ybor City and works part time at King Corona Cigars on Seventh. "Their strategy is to keep the panhandlers moving right out of Ybor City and it’s working."
Vince Pardo, president of the development corporation, encouraged store owners to report panhandling.
"This is all about community involvement," he said. "We can’t say, ‘It’s not my problem’ and walk away. This hurts our attracting tourists and visitors. We need to minimize the characters on the street."
Tom Keating, president of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, said the recent police operation was sophisticated.
"This wasn’t a casual thing at all," he said. "They moved in."
David Harvey, who operates Centro Ybor for M&J Wilkow, a Chicago-based real estate company, said the shopping and office plaza has full-time security.
"They patrol constantly," he said, although working with law enforcement is the only way to eliminate panhandling.
Beginning Jan. 27, Ybor City will have beefed-up patrols for retail customers and shop workers. Hamlin said two officers will patrol from about 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., either in golf carts or on bicycles.
"This could start earlier in the morning because people do come to the district for breakfast," he said. "But the point is to be in concert with the merchants. Our officers will get to know them and their issues."
The Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association is starting a crime watch. To learn more, e-mail crime watch@hynca.com.
To contact police District 3, call (813) 242-3800.
Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.
