Winter Park reeling after Park Avenue teen death

Aracy Couto stopped by Winter Park’s Central Park on Tuesday and straightened out a memorial to Roger Trindade, the Winter Park High School student who died after a fight there last week.

Couto, who knows Roger’s mother through work, picked up family photos from wilting floral bouquets and tucked them into a yellow ribbon someone had tied around a tree.

“The family is devastated; they don’t know what to do,” she said. “I don’t know what to do because I’ve been living in Winter Park for more than 10 years. Nothing [bad] happens.”

Roger, 15, was found unconscious on Park Avenue the night of Oct. 15. People who called 911 said a group of teenagers got into a fight and suddenly scattered, leaving him on the ground. He showed few physical signs of trauma when

police arrived but was declared brain dead at Florida Hospital Orlando. He died Oct. 17. Violent crime is rare on the busy Park Avenue commercial strip, according to Winter Park police records of calls for service between Jan. 1, 2015, and mid-October.

By far the most common reason police came to the street was business alarms (82 times), followed by reports of suspicious people (35 calls) and illegal parking (15 reports). There were no reports of assaults, batteries or homicides.

“We have had violent crime happen over the years on Park Avenue, but it’s been years and years,” said Lt. Pam Marcum, an agency spokeswoman. “We consider it a safe area.”

Winter Park police officers said they’ve been hearing from residents concerned about Roger’s death, especially on social media. They’ve increased patrols along Park Avenue.

Officers have almost finished gathering evidence and video and collecting witness and possible suspect statements, Marcum said.

Investigators said they need to wait for the OrangeOsceola Medical Examiner’s Office to determine what caused Roger’s death before deciding what charges are appropriate. The office is waiting for toxicology and other labtest results, which typically take a few weeks.

Officers do not want to make any arrests without having all the evidence they need, partly because Florida’s speedy-trial laws are more stringent in juvenile cases, Marcum said. Prosecutors typically have 21 days to bring cases to trial after a minor’s arrest.

Eleven of Orange County’s homicides this year have been of teenagers, up from just two last year, according to medical examiner and law enforcement records. The figure does not include Roger, since his death has not been ruled a homicide.

Christine Girand, who has lived in Winter Park for about two years, said police and elected officials should expect scrutiny, although she said she thinks they are capable of handling the investigation properly.

“They’re going to get a lot of tough questions and a lot of tough comments because there’s a child’s death,” she said, stopping by the memorial during a walk. “It’s part of their job. They’re our leaders, and we’re going to lean on them, we’re going to push them.”

Bill Toms, whose son is a senior at Winter Park High School and played soccer with Roger, said he moved his family to Winter Park because he knew it was a safe community. But no place is completely immune, he said.

“These things happen everywhere, even in ShangriLa,” he said.

Roger’s classmates will honor him at the start of their annual pep rally and barbecue in Central Park today at 6 p.m.