Interpreter Signed 'Gibberish' At Seminole Heights Arrest Presser

TAMPA, FL - Hearing-impaired people tuning into a news conference about the arrest of Howell Donaldson III in the Seminole Heights shootings got a message of gibberish as they watched an American Sign Language interpreter.

The interpreter was identified as Derlyn Roberts, who got out of state prison last year after serving years for organized fraud, News Channel 8 reported. Tampa police spokesman Steve Hegarty said Roberts presented herself as an interpreter for the deaf just before the news conference broadcast on live television at 11 p.m. Nov. 28. Hegarty says he failed to determine whether she was from Purple Communications which the city typically hires for sign language duties.

Rachelle Settambrino, who teaches sign language at the University of South Florida, says interpreter Roberts signed the following: “Fifty-one hours ago, zero 12 22 (indecipherable) murder three minutes in 14 weeks ago in old (indecipherable) murder four five 55,000 plea 10 arrest murder bush (indecipherable) three age 24.”

Police Chief Brian Dugan was actually providing a timeline of the four shootings, and describing how his agency had received some 5,000 tips before arresting the 24-year-old suspect.

“She sat up there and waved her arms like she was singing Jingle Bells,” said Settambrino.

Hegarty said he thought somebody had called her to provide sign language for the press conference. He said he did not consider it a security issue, but added that she was "unqualified to do the service she was asked to provide."

Neighbors told News Channel 8 on Monday that Roberts claims to have sign language skills, but it’s not clear that she has any ASL credentials. Roberts could not be reached for comment Monday evening.

Read the News Channel 8 story here.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

Photo via Tampa Police Department