SPRINGFIELD — The parents of a 19-year-old shooting suspect have been accused of attempting to bribe law enforcement in an attempt to drop charges against their son, according to court records.
Tracey and Michael Vernon Porter II, of Panama City, have been identified in Springfield Police Department arrest records as attempting to bribe an officer with $1,000 to drop several gun-related charges against their son, 19-year-old Michael Porter III, police reported. However, instead of accepting the money, the officer reported the incident. Michael Porter II now faces a charge of tampering with a witness, according to court documents.
Tracey Porter was identified as a co-defendant in the case, but as of Friday had not been charged, court records indicated.
The couple’s son was arrested in October of last year in connection with a trio of young men allegedly firing upon a group of people. Michael Vernon Porter III, 19, Damarius Mimms, 19, and Jakorey Shivers, 19, were each charged with aggravated assault and discharging a firearm in public.
According to their arrest affidavits, Mimms, Porter and Shivers were armed in the 10th Street and Kurze Avenue area on Sept. 21 when they began shooting at citizens in the roadway. A bullet grazed a 16-year-old girl’s hand and an adult man’s leg. Once the three men began shooting, the crowd fled in terror, police reported.
Michael Porter III was again arrested in February for armed robbery. Police said Porter and other people approached a man in the 200 block of Claire Avenue on Dec. 17 at about 8:30 p.m. Porter and company allegedly came up from behind the victim, brandishing a firearm. Leveling the gun on the victim, the crew stole an EBT card, Florida identification, a digital camera, $7 and a cellphone, police reported.
Following those incidents, police reported Tracey and Michael Vernon Porter II approached an officer April 14 in the parking lot of the State Attorney’s Office and allegedly offered money for one or more of the charges to be dropped. A warrant for Michael Porter’s arrest was issued after the officer reported the incident, authorities reported.
Michael Vernon Porter II was arrested Thursday and charged with witness tampering. He is being held on a $15,000 bond.