‘Latin King’ gang member threatened to shoot FHP trooper for passing him ‘too fast’: affidavit

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A documented “Latin King” gang member was arrested Saturday after authorities said he made threats to shoot a Florida Highway Patrol trooper who went “too fast” passing his vehicle.

FHP Trooper Minaya was conducting speed enforcement on the Howard Frankland Bridge around 11:30 a.m. when he spotted a speeding motorcycle and attempted a traffic stop.

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Shortly after the trooper stopped the biker, FHP dispatch received a complaint by James Keister, 43, a convicted felon and documented Latin King gang member, who said Trooper Minaya was “going too fast passing his vehicle.”

According to an arrest report, Keister told dispatchers he would shoot the trooper if he saw him again. While on the phone, the 43-year-old identified himself and asked to speak with a supervisor.

FHP Sergeant Sulaiman advised Keister that threatening a trooper was a misdemeanor offense and that he could go to jail. Keister then told the Sergeant that if he’s “going to jail then he will shoo the trooper and both go to jail.”

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Keister was in a Mr. Rooter Plumbing truck, which had GPS tracking when he made the call, allowing troopers to track down his location.

Troopers found the work truck at William’s Park Boat Ramp on U.S. 41/Riverview Dr., but Keister was not inside the vehicle. He was found approaching the truck between other bystander vehicles.

When FHP saw Keister, he complied with the trooper’s commands and was arrested for possession of a concealed handcuff key, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and two counts of threat of death or serious bodily harm of specified personnel.

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