Woman poses as ASL interpreter during announcement of serial killer arrest
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tampa police spokesman Steve Hegarty says a lack of due diligence allowed a career criminal to take center stage as an American Sign Language interpreter last week during a hastily called news conference where the police chief and mayor announced they had captured a suspect in the Seminole Heights murders.
Even worse, Hegarty says, is the sign language poser Derlyn Roberts blew the assignment with a gibberish-filled interpretation broadcast on live television at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
“My major concern is that she was representing our department and didn’t do a good job,” Hegarty said.
Hegarty says Roberts presented herself as an interpreter for the deaf just before the news conference.
In that hectic moment, he says he failed to ask the right questions to determine whether she was from Purple Communications, which the city typically hires for sign language duties.