Fake interpreter fools Tampa cops - KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Tampa police say a career criminal posing as an American Sign Language interpreter last week during a hastily-called news conference announcing an arrest in the Seminole Heights serial shooting case left many deaf viewers confused by her “gibberish.”

Tampa police spokesman Steve Hegarty says a lack of due diligence allowed sign language poser Derlyn Roberts to be a part of the news conference.

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.

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.”

Roberts got out of state prison last year after serving years for organized fraud.