Pregnant woman punched in face, godsister hit with brick

ST. PETERSBURG - A pregnant woman who had recently moved to a new neighborhood and her godsister were attacked by a group of women on Tuesday after they were told they had to "get broke in to walk down the street."

Levada Bellamy was struck on the upper right portion of her forehead and right eye with a brick and cut on the foot by a bottle in two attacks, causing "massive" swelling to her face, according to police. Charneshia Bell, who is pregnant, was punched. The attack occurred in Bellamy's yard at 1020 18th St. S.

Bellamy said trouble began when a group of six females began verbally harassing Bell.

"They'd been saying things to us. Whatever you say, words don’t hurt me," she said. "We don’t initiate anything. They asked (Bell) if she was pregnant when she was walking down the street and she wouldn't answer. ... They came back later and started attacking us right in my yard."

Bellamy said the girls attacked her again when they learned she was calling the police.

Dwanesha Harrington, 21, of 935 19th St. S (at left) was arrested by St. Petersburg Police on a charge of aggravated battery on a pregnant female. Mary L. Harrington, 20, (at right) of 2333 33rd St. faces a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Bellamy said this or a similar group "does this all the time."

"They jump people, then they say they were attacked," she said. "This time I called the police first and they came to my home. They’ve had so many altercations, but they say people are always bothering them. There must be 15 other girls in jail because of them."

St. Petersburg Police spokesman Bill Proffitt, however, said he was not aware of any similar incidents in the area and that it "was not part of any pattern we are aware of."

By Brant James, Times staff writer

*

Comments

[memaw]

Just when you THOUGHT the South side of St. Pete couldn't get more thugish and animalistic, these two bimbos rear their ugly heads and show us even more of Thugville.

I can see a LOT of of comments coming up on this article. I'm sure that tp and smplyred will blame it on anyone but these girls and their actions. What horrible initiation they put the other girls through.

[Sandie]

It's gona get worse before it gets better.

[CTJ]

You got to be shizzin me
"get broke in to walk down the street."
this is gettin stupid

[Jim Kurp]

My neighborhood is old fashioned. We give new owners information on the neighborhood, contact info for utilities and services, coupons from area businesses, and some gifts donated by businesses. The brick in the face never occurred to us.

[goo]

so are we going to put out an award or bounty for assaulting w/bricks or just having a brick. like there is for having any type if gun...so who gets the bounty for these beauties?????

[sinbad]

need to be's put on a boat back to tribe

[Garrison]

For the 101th time- Build the wall!
then Barbwire it!
I'll drive around = not thru

[Paul]

Wow,

The welcome wagon sure has changed
since since I moved to a new neighborhood.

Put these ignorant #$%^&* in jail and let them be welcomed there.

[florida]

When I hear blacks refer to themselves as African-Americans, I often wish they would leave off the American part.

[TJ]

Stay classy South St. Pete

[florida]

Thug life. It's so romantic. Excuse me while I pull up my baggy shorts by the crotch.

[Houston]

If the thugs and victims were all male this would not be in the news

[florida]

I always look forward to seeing how 'Whitey' and local government is blamed for these incidents. "If the Police had been doing their jobs...". Go get em Joe Waller. "Why do we keep picking on these poor Africans?".

[darefugee]

Hey Houston, it sure WOULD be in the news. I saw a news story about a pregnant male a few days ago.

[JR]

? Why did my comment get removed? So again, these two are part of the reason that South Side will always remain the way it is. They will have kids and teach them the same thing..how to break in people for wanting to walk down the street. Seriously, what is the problem with someone walking down your street and why do you have to be such animals about everything?

[florida]

Why didn't they 'break-in' the new arrivals with a broomstick up the backside?

[cesspool]

Nat'l Association for da Advancement of Colored People

[Boat Woman]

Wow--
I just moved to Fla. one month ago from LA. Much scarier here, much more domestic violence and randomized attacks.
Felt much safer in LA. Will go back ASAP.
I never even felt I had to lock my door in CA.
This is a shocking and unpleasant discovery about the Tampa Bay area.

[marks34668]

if blacks are african-americansand get special treatment, why don't italian-americans or irish-americans or scandinavian-americans? either you're american or you're not. a black is a black, a red is a red a white is a white.
color has nothing to do with the direction this country is going in. we're sll going down the crapper faster than we can save ourselves.

[Big Coop Dogg]

This crime is WRONG!!!!! They should be put under the jail. But I am so glad that I read the paper online to see how many people out there still hate blacks!!!!! Thanks st.pete times for opening my eyes.. So if you are one of those who pretend to like us, do us a favor and just be yourself. Not all blacks act like this. We do go college, we are RN's, Doctors, Firemen, Business Owners, the list goes on....one more thing pls take a look at the Tampa Bay mugshot and just count each race!!!!!

[S.F.]

As a landlord in the Tampabay area, if these POS where my tenants. I'd see a 3 day notice in their immediate future (before they post bail)...

[S.F.]

PS. I'm Black. Not Afro-American or African American or Negro... Just Black. Been called all 4 and worse. Criminal activity has no color barrier.

[James]

Next thing you know day b spressen dem selves and der rites. How did these two get off their leash?

[Mashiach Bjorklund]

Boat Woman: I take it that when you lived out in California you didn't live in East LA, or Oakland, or the South of Market in S.F. Every place with a population like Tampa Bay has a neighborhood like South St. Pete. As an ex-Californian I have seen my fair share of gang bangers, drug dealers, and thugs (IE: bad neighborhoods)out there as well. This place isn't any worse. Next time try Idaho.

[PrincessHaven]

Why are black girls so mean?

Very sad.

[Vinny]

It's amazing how many "Imbeciles" show they're ignorance, online. The southside of St Pete has its issues but it also has the wealthiest homes and subdivisions in the County. You can't lump south St Pete as a whole...It wouldnt be fair to the Professional Athletes, Doctors, Lawyers and other upstanding citizens...As for the racial overtures in the comments, Im black and wonder how does it feel to becoming a minority to all my "jaded caucasians"...

[sinbad]

where da chicken

[Betty]

Tampa Bay isn't as progressive as some would wish... obviously from some of the postings here; there is a lot of racism, crime and just plain poor manners alive and well in Tampa/St. Pete.

[harry buck]

Say what you to but that has never , ever happened in Palm Harbor. If you live in S. St. Petersburg, you take your chances.

[Paul]

Those of you that complain about the ones that pick on the south side should
lighten up.

You know what areas they are talking about, and I agree.

I live on the south side and have for thirty plus years.

I don't live in the hood and that is where the problem lies.

Lighten up.

[Karl]

Expect new legislation that requires all whom are arrested be required to register to vote, prior to booking.

[tp uruhu]

yeap we black and proud of it at least we kill each other and not our selves and family like u crackers do and trouble is every where not just in south st pete your kids want to be blacks the blacker the berry opps for yall the cofee lol the sweeter the juice stayoutta the sun and come to the hood for your tan and i bet u will leave being an crack head thats what we do to you white folks turn yall out have yall spending all of your money then u kill you and your whole family tragedy

[blade126]

what is an african american? my parentage is white and i was born in africa while my father was stationed there. so i am a white african american?

[Jerzy]

They should hang these so called woman in the middle of St pete. Maybe show the other low life's what happens when your ignorant!! Let them ROT in Prison!!!

[BayBaller]

I'm a white male and somehow I feel like this is my fault...I don't know why, maybe it's because every other day on the front page of the St Pete times is a story of some black person down in the dumps because of whitey...they now got my mind playin tricks on me

[BayBaller]

Oh uhuru I know you think you have a grip on the south side of st pete but trust me no matter how fast you "breed" down there we will keep supplying you with all the things that will bring your demise like: welfare, food stamps, free work boots etc...I can't believe there's an entire city that has their kids born into an excuse...keep doing the things you're doing and you'll never bring your kids up to think they are born into anything different

[Rudie]

It is sickening that there are people that are so hateful. Yes, of course the ladies were wrong for their act of violence. But how does that transfer to all people who have similar skin color and live in the same vicinity as those women? It is as if no other cultures ever commit crimes. I just do not get why people have to be so mean.

[sublime23in]

This comment did bring out the racists in Tampa. I see white people commit crimes all the time (those girls in Lakeland who beat up the girl on youtube). Crime is much more a function of class than it is race.

Nobody has got on here and tried to excuse these two girls behavior but all I see the racists do is predict how 'liberals' or minorities will react when you have no clue.

[Della Costa]

Where the heck is Daryl Rouson? If the victims were black and the perps were cops, I would expect that Morgan & Morgan stooge to run his mouth?

[sublime23in]

Della would it be ok to you if the victims ere black and the perps cops? Would you be making excuses for the cops breaking the law?

These girls are wrong and should be in jail and so are any othr people including cops if they break the law.

[Dawn]

Florida, You and this crime have alot in common. Both are completely classless.

[lune c]

Hmmm. Reminds me of growing up around Price Hill; but then it was just the Junior High girls who hadn't dropped out yet and the local hookers that acted this way. It wasn't color coded either, despite the finger pointing going on around here.

[someonesMOM]

I must agree with Rudie, why does everything have to become a race issue. Were I come from black and white actually get along. I have seen my share of white girls acting badly so why is black girls acting badly have to be such an issue. What they did was wrong no matter what color they are. Come on folks grown up the Civil War was over along time ago and we all know who won. Give it a rest. Oh by the why I am white if it matters, and some of my best friends are black.

[sick n tired]

First of all I am white, and I have 4 bi-racial grandchildren whom I dearly love. So I am not a racist. However, being a manager at the largest retailer in the world for many years, I loathe to handle problems at the service desk when I walk up and see a black customer standing there waiting to see me. 80%-90% of the time they throw out the "racial card" when they don't get the answer they wanted. They yell and scream to attract attention and figure they will get their way by causing a scene. Somehow the posted policies mean nothing to them. We all still owe them something even though slavery hasn't been around for 144 years! It's time to stop making excuses, most of our laws have been re-written in your favor and employers are forced to hire you because of your race, and the pressure to be diverse. However, the employers so far haven't been forced to go out and knock on your doors to beg you to work, you still have to go out and find one.
Your own attitudes are what keeps holding you back, you make dealing with you so offensive that it causes bad feelings. Read your bibles and see how God tell us to treat each other. I think the whites in this country have made huge steps to rectify what are ancestors did and YES most of us feel bad for what happened, but it's time to move on!
Who I really feel sorry for are the blacks who do live a Godly life and act in a socialable way, because the rest of their race must be such an embarrassment to them.

[Nee]

What does skin color or neighborhood have to do with anything? What about the caucasian girls who beat the other girl on video? what about neighbors in middle class areas who fight each other over shrubbery height? bullies come in all shades and from all areas.

[Vinny]

BayBaller...You mentioned the word "Breed" as in blacks having kids but I wonder whats going on in the TRAILER PARKS over the country!! Its not a hood in every city but there sure as hell is a Trailer park community...right is right and wrong is wrong...just that simple!! Race has NOTHING to do with it...what about the White teens who videotaped themselves beating a classmate?? Classy move you think?? Or how about the white teacher(Jennifer Porter) who hit 4 kids killing 2 and leaving one paralyzed?? That was a hit and run and her parents WASHED the blood off the car without any charges being filed!! Just be fair in the criticism please...

[Nee]

sick n tired, you do your grandchildren a disservice if you think the way you do about blacks. Your thoughts will reveal themselves as they grow older if you don't modify your thinking. other ethnicities have temper tantrums in stores (if i'm not mistaken, whites still hold the title for this) - check the news! maybe you work at a store or neighborhood that other ethnicities don't frequent? that's your choice, but don't blame the entire black race for the actions of your customers.

Other ethnicities aren't pressured/expected to walk around in a 'godly state of mind' all the time, why are blacks expected to always behave godly? and after all blacks have been put through, unequal treatment is not unheard of.

as a matter of fact, all that blacks have been put through (including the mindset of & treatment from the individuals making ignorant comments) is the reason black girls are so mean and is the reason these things occur.

monstrous behavior develops over time, it's not something that babies are born with. generation after generation of poor treatment, what do you expect from blacks (or humans of any ethnicity)? angelic behavior?

[StPeteCrimes.com]

If you want to find out what neighborhoods in St Pete have the most crime, check out StPeteCrimes.com

All the latest police calls are listed there. For black and white.

[ladybug]

What away to welcome someone and look at the age i wonder what do the mother and father think of these to kids what is worng wiht the young kids today back in the 50 and 60 this kind of thing did happen i this with these new laws don't beat your kids was the wrong message to send.

[Nee]

last thing sick n tired, did that thief Madoff embarrass you? or jeffrey dahmer? or any criminal who shares your ethnicity? exactly! how ridiculous....

[Vinny]

Sick n tired...you're what I'd refer to as a Imbecile as well!! Why would I be embarassed for someone of the same race ruining their own lives?? I guess you're embarrassed by Manson, Bundy, Bush(s), Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nicols, or anyone else of your race who's done Sadistic, terroristic or cannabalistic activities huh?? Wow...you have 4 bi-racials grands. So what?? That doesnt mean you're not biased does it?? Im sure your daughter went to black men after she seen your disdain towards blacks. I guess your job @ wal-mart is the reason you're biased...80-90% is astronomically high!! be more realistic please

[sick n tired]

Nee: As long as we keep making excuses for other's behaviors like you have, the bad behavior will continue. My own son, who went through counseling as a young child because his father was an alcoholic was told that he would destined to be an alcoholic due to genetics. And this has become his belief, his excuse and his reality. But that doesn't have to be true. What I am getting at is that if we raise black children with the belief (or mindset)that they are at a disadvantage, that will become their reality.
As for what stores I work in I have worked for the same company once in Ohio, 3 different stores in New Mexico and now in Florida and I can tell it was the same in every single store! I can tell you I am almost always persuaded to go in favor of the customer(black, white or whatever) if the person is courteous and respectful.
As for all the bi-racial children they are probably treated the worse of all, because each "half" of their heritage treats them as tainted because of being half black or half white. I as much as you want a better world for the next generation.

Blacks get treated differently because they demand to be treated differently, they always want special concessions because they are black. There are better ways to get things than the "poor me" syndrome. I smile inside everytime a customers tells me that I made my decision because "it's a black thing isn't it?" Well, that makes it just as much a "white thing" because if I wasn't white you wouldn't be telling me that!

[sick n tired]

Ok Vinny you got me there, you're right, I'm not embarrassed of the Bundys etc of the world. However, you are wrong about one thing, my father was extremely prejudiced and I swore I would never be like that, and I can tell you I raised my kids to treat everyone with the same respect. My daughter says the reason whe is attracted to black men is they share the same likes in music, clothes, dancing etc. But going back to the counseling I mentioned above, I was told she chose black men because they were abusive to her (like her father). That people will always marry someone who is like their opposite sex parent because that's what is "familiar" to them even if it was negative. Truth be known we'd all be better off without some of the lousy counselors we have....
I am really sorry I got myself caught up in this whole conversation about the race thing. I just get so tired of hearing it and I guess it hit me on a bad day. As a matter of fact I have never subscribed to a blog before and I allowed myself to get caught up in the moment after reading some of the other comments.

I just wish I could get through to someone that most of the white race doesn't look down on blacks, it's just the ones that get in your face that sets you off. And it's a sad human behavior that we always remember the bad things about others, and never the good things.

[Grannyinfla]

Wow! I mean, Wow! I raised 3 children in Pinellas County and I used to brag that race relations were a non-issue for their generation because they never had to deal with this kind of hatred. Kids are much more accepting and forgiving then adults. My sister has 3 beautiful bi-racial sons - teens, good boys with jobs, one who is alos in college. My daughter married her high school sweatheart - Go Gibbs - and they have a beautiful baby boy and a girl on the way. People of one certain race dont act badly, people raised with bad parents do act badly. Bad parents come in an array of colors. I am glad I never made race an issue in my home becaue my children find racism abhorrant as well they should. Race isnt the issue folks. Plain old ignorance was the problem here and these young women werent ignorant because they're black. They're ignorant because they're ignorant. We live in a country at war. There really isnt room for this kind of hatred among us. Our disdain and anger should be used to win our country's war not hurt each other. And now I think I'll go hug a tree. lol PEACE

[Smplyred]

Well Memaw you called me out. Reading really is fundamental and I swear it seems the ones that have the most racist and/or negative things to say seem to have a real problem with comprehension. (and they say its our children with the problem; I wonder if it's the ones trying to decipher the scores) First off I'd like to know where you get the nerve to even think to associate anything I have posted with thinking I'd be accepting of what these criminals did. I call them like I see them. My issue has been and still is with the fact that those who are not of color will come online and post offensive things regarding the black community as a WHOLE. We are not all on welfare, we are not all thugs and convicts, we are not all lazy crack addicts. Too many of you rely on what the media portrays to you for your information and others are so caught up in their parents and grandparents beliefs that you refuse to educate yourselves and realize we are not all the same and those who are just as law abiding as you, deserve to be treated with respect not assumed to be just like someone else because our skin color is the same.

What these two people (I dare not call them women) did was wrong and unacceptable in ANY community. They deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. If you break the law, you deal with the consequences.

It's sickening to hear people say "blacks expect this, they want that". You know what? I EXPECT to be treated according to my character not the color of my skin. And I expect people with the gall to come online to post their "opinion" are educated enough to realize that a CRIMINAL is a CRIMINAL. The welfare, ghetto, crack, thug, saggy pants, baby momma comments are unnecessary. You don't use derogatory comments like that for white criminals so why do you feel the need to stoop to such ignorance when it comes to minorities.

[Smplyred]

And and for sick and tired, there is nothing tainted about me or my siblings. Our parents raised us to know about both cultures - the good, bad and ugly. They stressed education, we were disciplined and were taught to work hard for what you want in life. Because of BOTH my parents, I am proud of who I am and I grew up a confident bi-racial woman with standards and poise. Because I can offer a view from either side, I have never been made to feel "not enough". Any bi-racial person who lives this way has brought that on themselve because somewhere they felt they needed to "choose a side". Contrary to popular belief, this is not so; regardless of which side you most look like.

[Grannyinfla]

Well said smplyred. Well said. Your parents should be proud and I'm sure they are.

[TN]

lmao!! at some of your comments. In all sincerety this is sad that you can't even walk down the street in your new neighborhood.

[Pinky]

It is funny how people judge a whole race because of some much of thug children. Sorry not all Black people act like this.

[Ms.Beautiful]

Where were the parents on both sides while these young woman were acting like wild monkeys.