Beaten homeless man will be charged

ST. PETERSBURG - Police have identified the homeless man beaten by a crowd of other homeless people waiting for food Tuesday night at City Hall and say he will be charged with battery.

Boris Elroy "Free Bird'' Sampson (left), 54, is still in the hospital and has not yet been arrested. His beating came after he reportedly knocked a woman out cold with a stick. Police have said they will not charge anyone in that crowd.

Sampson will be charged with battery for punching Richard P. Gibson Jr, 24, and aggravated battery for hitting Jessica Freeman, 36, with a stick.

He has not yet been processed at the Pinellas County jail for this incident. This mug shot was taken on July 10, when Sampson was arrested for disorderly conduct.

--Andrew Dunn, Times Staff Writer

[Pinellas Country Sheriff's Office]

Man drowns at Honeymoon Island

Update: The man has been identified as Jorge Palma, 27, of Clearwater. His daughter and three of his cousins were with him at the park when he drowned. They have been turned over to relatives.

DUNEDIN -- A man drowned at Honeymoon Island State Park about 1:30 p.m. today. Lifeguards and Pinellas County sheriff's deputies tried to rescue him, but he was found unconscious and taken to the hospital. He was pronounced dead after several tries to resuscitate him. His family has been notified, but his name was not released.

--Andrew Dunn, Times Staff Writer

Feds open bidding for Job Corps Center operator

ST. PETERSBURG -- A new Job Corps Center is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The U.S. Department of Labor opened its bidding process for potential operators today. Federal officials will host a conference in Atlanta on Aug. 7 to discuss the process.

Interested parties can access all information regarding the job at http://www.fedbizopps.gov.   

The facility is already under construction at 22nd Street S and Fifth Avenue S. Job Corps is a national training program for economically disadvantaged youths between the ages of 16 and 24.

The "successful contractor shall provide academic and career technical training, operate counseling and residential living programs and provide support services to include: wellness/health services, student employability records, behavior management and incentive system, clothing issuances, mail and legal services," according to a statement released by federal officials.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Dog loses leg, likely to alligator

PLANT CITY -- A dog is recovering from surgery after losing her right front leg, likely to an alligator, Hillsborough County Animal Services authorities said. The call came in at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, just as Officer Rodger Parker was wrapping up a routine complaint.

The dispatcher told Parker that workers at Mosaic Fertilizer had spotted a dog that appeared to be missing a leg limping in the woods near the plant. When Parker arrived, a worker escorted him out to an area near a retention pond, where an adult female shepherd mix lay motionless on the ground.

The officer thought he had arrived too late to save the dog, whose right front paw was gone and the rest of the leg reduced to exposed bone. Mosaic workers did not know how the dog was injured, but Parker said he had little doubt.

"The area is full of old, swampy pits that gators love to hang out in." Parker, 23, knelt down a few feet from the dog he thought was dead.

"I think I said something like, 'Oh, baby.' "

Then the dog opened its eyes. "It was the saddest, most pathetic look I have ever seen." It struggled to its feet and hopped over to him, and rested its head on Parker's leg.

Parker rushed the dog to Animal Services, but they were overloaded. Authorities had raided a breeding farm in Seffner and had dozens of ill goats, dogs and cats to examine and treat. A veterinarian told Parker that the dog needed surgery, however.

A co-worker at Animal Services quickly located a donor who could underwrite the costs of surgery. Parker drove the animal to Florida Veterinary Services, where clinic workers nicknamed the animal "Bindi" after the daughter of late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. Besides the severe injury to her leg, Bindi suffered a broken jaw -- the likely result of defending herself against an alligator, said Cari Sadler of Florida Veterinary Services.

Veterinarians today amputated the injured leg below the shoulder and sutured the jaw. Bindi is recovering well and could be walking by Friday, Sadler said. Bindi will then later go back to Animal Services to be claimed by its owner or adopted.

Parker, an animal control officer for two years, said he knows officers are not supposed to get attached to animals they come across on the job. "You have to build up a wall," he said. But with one pathetic look, that wall broke down.

-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer

[Hillsborough County Animal Services]

USF researcher pulls in more big dollars

TAMPA -- Jeffrey Krischer, a diabetes researcher at the University of South Florida who already had the distinction of earning the school's largest research grant, is raking in more money.

Krischer, a professor of pediatrics, has been awarded a $128-million, seven-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to coordinate worldwide studies on the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

That's on top of the $169-million, 10-year grant that the NIH awarded Krischer last year to study why diabetes rates are rising in young children.

Add those two awards to Krischer's other grants, and he has brought USF a staggering $389-million. The new grant pushes USF into the top 50 U.S. medical schools for NIH funding.

In the new study, called TrialNET, researchers will screen more than 150,000 children and adults. Those with early signs of diabetes may receive new drugs to prevent the disease from progressing. Krischer will head the study's data coordinating and technology center. The study will have research sites around the world.

Lisa Greene, Times staff writer

[Kathleen Flynn, Times files]

City removes homeless items without incident

ST. PETERSBURG -- City officials removed without incident a truckload of personal belongings left by the homeless living under Interstate 375 today.

As several police officers looked on, code compliance officials asked homeless people with more items than they could carry to put their extra belongings in black garbage bags. The bags were photographed and tagged.

The property owners can pick up the bags at the city's storage facility within the next 30 days or the items will be thrown out, said Gary Bush, code compliance operations manager.

"We aren't taking everything these people have," said Bush. "We see how much stuff they have and  encourage them to take only what they need. ... They should be able to take their stuff and go."

A city ordinance passed within the past year requires public property and rights of way to be clear of private belongings. City officials put up a sign near Fifth Avenue N and 15th Street on Tuesday morning advising the homeless that their items would be moved by 9 p.m. Wednesday, but the city waited until today to take action.

The bags filled up the bed of a pickup truck. Some property owners had left behind their items as they went to work or job hunting. But the homeless who sat under the highway did not complain or protest about the raid.

"They were very respectful," said Clay Ellis of the city workers. Ellis, 47, was asked to turn over the three sofa cushions he uses for a bed.

Ellis said he plans to pick up his belongings before the 30-day deadline and move them to a less visible homeless camp rarely visited by city officials.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Some rescued pups ready for adoption

SEFFNER -- The Wednesday raid on a breeding operation has produced several dogs available for adoption. Hillsborough County Animal Services will be ready to place the dogs in homes starting Friday.

An investigation led authorities to a property registered to Rae Lynn Smart, where they found 55 goats, 35 dogs and seven cats, many of which were in poor health, Hillsborough County Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.

Many Pekingese and Boston terriers were sent to rescue organizations and are not immediately available for adoption, Ryan said.

Between six and eight Boston terrier puppies have been deemed healthy enough to adopt. Their coloring is red or "chocolate" and white or brindle and white. (See photo at right, of one of the dogs with animal control officer Pam Perry.)

Adoptions can be done at the the Animal Services building, 440 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to  5:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The shelter is closed Sunday. Friday adoptions are open only to Hillsborough County residents. Residents of other counties can apply starting Saturday.

Applicants should bring proof of residence and a photo ID. Renters should bring their lease agreements to verify policies permitting pets. "Preapplications," the process through which those wishing to adopt a specific kind or breed of animal may leave a request on file for six months at a time, are not accepted. Those who are first in line and meet the requirements will be the first to take home a dog, Ryan said. For more information, call Hillsborough County Animal Services at 744-5660.

-- Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer

(Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Animal Services)

Hillsborough County proposes property tax rate decrease

TAMPA -- Property tax rates will decrease if Hillsborough County commissioners get their way, but the average homeowner will see only a slight difference.

Under the proposed rate for 2009, a person would save about 55 cents in taxes on a house worth $200,000 and eligible for $50,000 of homestead exemptions in unincorporated Hillsborough County.

After cutting several more services and positions today and restoring others, county commissioners announced the tax rate will be $10.81 for every thousand dollars of taxable property value in unincorporated Hillsborough County.

That is a reduction from the 2008 rate by 0.37 of a cent for every thousand dollars.

The proposed rate must go through two public hearings before being officially adopted. The first hearing is Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the County Center, 601 E Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

'Super termite' makes debut in Pinellas County

The highly destructive Formosan subterranean termite has been found in a Gulfport home, the first ever Pinellas County sighting of the most dreaded of all termites.

Rudolf Scheffrahn, professor of entymology at the University of Florida in Fort Lauderdale, confirmed the "super termite" on Thursday morning.

"We do not understand how this particular house became infested," said Scheffran Thursday, hours after he'd looked at the termites under a microscope. "Because it's not on water and there are no railroad ties or big pieces of wood around that may have helped its transport. It's a big mystery."

Some of the termites were winged swarmers, indicating they had been around for at least five years. It takes that long for a colony to get established and once it does, there can be hundreds of thousands of them. They are not fast-moving but it is likely that there are other younger colonies in the area, he said.

Damage to the Gulfport home appears to be minimal, however, indicating they were caught before they did massive damage, said John Mangold, a technical specialist with Terminix in Largo. Terminix discovered the termites and sent them off to the Scheffran.

Mangold said people should be aware of the termites, but he didn't want to scare people.

"Sometimes there is a little bit of hysteria with Formosan subterannean termites," Mangold said, "but at this point in time, it's going to be some period of time before they become numerous in Pinellas County. Normally they only spread several hundred yards a year."

The Formosan termite is considered one of the most destructive termite species in the world because it generates large colonies and eats wood at an extremely fast rate. There is no way to entirely eradicate them once they are introduced into an area though treatment will kill them.

The Formosan is native to China and is believed to have been transported around the world on ships. The first record of it in the U.S. was in Charleston, S.C., in 1957.

St. Petersburg is the last big city in Florida to get the termite, Briscoe said.

Leonora LaPeter Anton, Times staff writer

[Ron Niquette, who is an inspector with Terminix, examines locations where a Gulport house was treated for Formosan subterranean termites. Chris Zuppa, Times]

Woman killed trying to cross Hillsborough Avenue

TAMPA -- Troopers this morning continue their investigation into what led to a Tampa woman's death on Hillsborough Avenue on Wednesday.

Wanda Ivette Moulier, 39, was trying to cross Hillsborough Avenue at Webb Road in Town 'N Country about 8:40 p.m. when she stepped into an inside lane of Hillsborough and was struck by a 2004 Mazda M3, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins said the Mazda, driven by Adam T. Robles, 20, 6037 Catlin Drive, was part of a trio of cars seen speeding along Hillsborough Avenue.

Two of the cars, described only as a black car and a white or gray colored car, had been racing east on Hillsborough. The Mazda was "accelerating to catch up with them when the crash occurred," Gaskins said in a statement.

The Mazda skidded to a stop after striking Moulier, troopers said. The other cars didn't.

Moulier, 4729 Stonepointe Place, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Early Thursday, no charges had been filed, but the investigation is continuing. Troopers with the FHP's traffic homicide unit say they'd like to learn more about the other two cars.

"We have very little to go on as far as those," Gaskins said.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to call FHP Cpl. Frank Burke at (813) 632-6859 or (813) 631-4020.

-- Alexandra Zayas and Casey Cora, Times staff writers    

St. Petersburg police arrest teen, 15, neighborhood shooting

St. Petersburg police arrested a 15-year old with a criminal history today in connection with a Tuesday night shooting in the 2200 block of East Harbor Drive S.

Darris Brown is charged with attempted murder. Police say he shot Ernest Wooten, 46, in the chest Tuesday because Wooten told the car's driver to slow down. Wooten is in critical condition at Bayfront Medical Center, but he is expected to survive, police said.

Even after Angel's stunt, Spyglass rubble continues to draw onlookers

[Deanna Simsek of Clearwater Beach, left, and Millie Lyons of Pinellas Park collect a few bricks this morning from the site of the Spyglass Resort, where Illusionist Criss Angel pulled off an elaborate escape moments before its demolition Wednesday. Dougles R. Clifford, Times]

Gawkers stood this morning in front of the pile of rubble that was once the Spyglass Resort. Last night the aged hotel on Clearwater Beach stood nine-stories high with a well-known hot-air balloon mural painted on one of its outside walls.

Today, it was a pile of bricks and concrete with folks still trying to figure out how Las Vegas illusionist Criss Angel managed to escape from inside before the final plume of smoke cleared the night air.

"It's not every day that you get to see the aftermath of a hotel destruction," Bob Tompkins of Pittsburgh said this morning. "It's amazing to see what was a building yesterday is a pile of rubble today."

The city of Clearwater estimated that 50,000 to 70,000 people were on the beach to watch Angel, while a national cable TV audience watched from their homes. The event was televised live on Angel’s show Mindfreak, which airs on the A&E Network.

Click here for coverage of the event from Thursday editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

Demorris Lee, Times staff writer

Middle school teacher arrested on child porn accusations

A teacher at Clearwater Intermediate Middle School was arrested today on accusations of possessing child pornography.

Aaron J. Stewart (left), 28, admitted to knowingly possessing the images, many of which appeared to be of children as young as 7 or 8, according to a news release by Attorney General Bill McCollum's CyberCrime Task Force.

Investigators discovered Stewart’s possession of child pornography during an undercover Internet investigation that traced the files back to his computer, according to the Attorney General's Office. A search warrant was executed at Stewart’s Clearwater home, and his computer was seized, along with additional computer equipment.

Stewart was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. The Attorney General's Office says he will be charged with one count of promoting the sexual performance of a child, a second-degree felony, and eight counts of possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony. He faces up to 55 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

Alex Leary, Times staff writer

[Pinellas County Sheriff's Office]

Criss Angel event coverage

FINAL POST FOR THE NIGHT

Well, it's finally over and I'm back home, and just have a few thoughts on the whole event after reading some of the comments. Criss Angel admits that a lot of what he does isn't real. When he picks a lock? That's real. When he levitates? That isn't. But he's always said the one thing he wants to do is inspire people and blur the line between reality and illusion. And tonight -- live -- he did. Myself and Jackie Alexander talked to hundreds of people all day (or technically yesterday) and we didn't hear one bad thing about him. I do believe anyone who does what he does is crazy. But you know what, it's his life. And he has made the most of it. And he made a lot of people happy. And he probably made a lot of businesses that have been suffering on Clearwater some money. And his show gave the city some publicity. So without sounding like a shill for the man, I think all in all, it was a pretty good night. And thankfully, the traffic home wasn't that bad. Was if fake? Who cares. It's entertainment. That's what the guy does. Cheers. And good night.

Mike Donila, Times Staff Writer

Manhunt ends in Largo aggravated assault case

LARGO -- The man police say came after his girlfriend with two pistols while she was at work has turned himself in.

Neil Marshall James, 38, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and burglary. He was booked into Pinellas County jail just after 2 p.m after a several-hour manhunt.

The situation began at about 4 a.m. Wednesday when police said James struck his girlfriend, 27, in the head with a pistol. She was unhurt.

She did not report the crime until 10 a.m., when she was at work. While on the phone with police, James showed up brandishing two guns and threatening several employees. He fled before police arrived and turned himself in about 1:30 p.m.

--Andrew Dunn, Times Staff Writer

Police find injured man, burned chair, marijuana

SEMINOLE -- Soon after Pinellas County detectives found a man covered in cuts outside his home, they went inside and got a bigger surprise.

A chair had been set on fire, and it was surrounded by 95 marijuana plants.

Stephen L. Wiecht, 56, was flown by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries about 10 a.m. today. Police do not know how he got the wounds, and no suspects are currently being sought.

When Wiecht gets out of the hospital, he will be sent to the Pinellas County jail. He's wanted for growing marijuana in Polk County and faces more charges for today's discovery, according to authorities.

--Andrew Dunn, Times Staff Writer

Update on fish kill

In addition to Ben T. Davis beach on the Hillsborough end of the causeway, the Courtney Campbell Causeway Beach was closed today because of a bacteria outbreak that killed hundreds of fish. Water testing has begun and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is looking into the outbreak.  The beach closing is precautionary until a reason is found, said Krystal Schmidt, from the city of Clearwater.
According to a release from Clearwater, “the cause likely is not Red Tide, although an algae bloom is suspected to have caused the fish kill.”
Scientists may not know until later this week the actual cause of the kill.
The dead fish included catfish, menhaden, trigger, puffer and spade fish and a sting ray.
Clearwater workers began removing the dead fish this afternoon.

[Photo: Douglas R.Clifford, Times]

Missing bull mascot recovered

UPDATE: Acting on a tip, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies recovered the bronze statue Wednesday night from a truck storage yard at 1922 N. 59th Street in Tampa.

Deputies found the bronze beast about 25 yards from the entrance, according to J.D. Callaway, spokesman for the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. The statue was returned to Bloomingdale High School.

Callaway said a criminal investigation of the theft is under way.

VALRICO -- Bloomingdale High School's bronze bull is gone.

Someone -- or, more likely, some group -- stole the 400-pound bronze statue of the school's mascot, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office reported. It's worth about $8,000.

School employees noticed it missing on Monday, so they guess it was removed over the weekend, principal Mark West said. He's worried it might not just be a prank carried out by students from a rival school.

"If it were a prank, it would probably be done while students were here," he said.

He's called principals at nearby schools, but nothing has shown up yet. Sheriff's deputies don't have any suspects.

West hopes the bull will be returned because students spent two years raising money to buy it. They placed the life-size bull on the patio of the school in 2006. The thieves removed bolts that held the sculpture in place.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8240 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times staff writer

Photo: [Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

Zephyrhills police chief and sergeant placed on paid leave

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Zephyrhills Police Chief Russell Barnes and Sgt. Rob Perrault were placed on paid leave Tuesday night.

City Manager Steve Spina said he received a citizen complaint regarding the two men, but would not elaborate on the allegation.

“We’re starting an investigation into the complaint, and then we’ll just go from there,” Spina said. He had no idea how long the investigation would take.

Sgt. Perrault, the department’s spokesman, has been on the staff since 1999, Spina said. Barnes has been chief since 2003.

-- Helen Anne Travis, Times Staff Writer

Man who ran down pro wrestler sentenced to life

TAMPA -- A convicted murderer found guilty of killing again in the hit-and-run death of a former professional wrestler was sentenced today to life in prison.

Harry Brian Taylor (left), 38, was found guilty earlier this month of second-degree murder for running over 52-year-old motorcyclist John Michael Meek on Aug. 29 after they got into a dispute at a Riverview bar.

Prosecutors say Meek, known to his friends as Uncle Ugly, had ignored Taylor when he tried to make conversation at James' Place bar on U.S. 301. Witnesses testified that Taylor felt insulted, and prosecutors said when the former wrestler left the bar on his motorcycle, Taylor followed him in his van and ran him over.

Taylor was previously sentenced to 40 years in prison in the 1988 killing of a Marion County man in an armed robbery.  But because of credit for good behavior and a policy designed to ease prison overcrowding, he served only 12 years, a reduction of sentence that could not happen under today's law.

-- Thomas Kaplan, Times staff writer

[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

Hillsborough pastor accused of abusing 12-year-old Pasco girl

A Hillsborough County pastor accused of forcing himself upon a 12-year-old girl in April 2005 turned himself in Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Daniel A. Gomez, 38, faces one count of lewd and lascivious battery. The name of the church where he works could not be confirmed.

Gomez visited the girl's home in Pasco County, according to a complaint affidavit. When she let him into the home, the affidavit said, he kissed her and touched her breasts. He then exposed himself, removed the girl's pants and tried to have sexual intercourse with her, the affidavit stated.

There were multiple incidents, Pasco sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said, but he declined to elaborate.

Mordenti free from prison with plea in murder-for-hire plot

TAMPA -- Twice convicted in a 1989 murder-for-hire plot, Michael Mordenti won his freedom last week by pleading guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.

In exchange for the plea, Mordenti (left) was sentenced on Friday to 25 years in prison and a concurrent life sentence, said Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi. However, he had accumulated enough credit time that the plea allowed him to be released after serving 17 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Mordenti shot and stabbed 54-year-old Thelma Royston in her Odessa horse barn on June 7, 1989. They said her husband paid Mordenti to do it.

But before he committed suicide, the husband, Larry Royston, told his attorney that prosecutors had charged the wrong man with the killing. Three separate juries never heard the claim and, in February, an appellate court said they should have because the information might have exonerated Mordenti if a jury believed it.

Bondi said that prosecutors agreed to the plea because Mordenti has been in prison since his 1991 conviction, and the victim's daughter did not want to go through another trial.

-- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer

[Melissa Lyttle, Times files]

Times, Clear Channel to combine efforts on storm coverage

The St. Petersburg Times and Newsradio 970 WFLA will cooperate on hurricane coverage during this year’s storm season. Under the news-sharing agreement, Times journalists will present audio reports on 970 WFLA and seven other stations Clear Channel owns in the Tampa Bay market.

Largo police search for armed man

[A Largo Police officer unloads a shotgun Wednesday after responding to a call that Neil Marshall James had shown up at his estranged girlfriend's place of work trying to see her. Police say he had two handguns and was making threats. He was arrested this afternoon. Douglas R. Clifford, Times]

LARGO -- Police and sheriff's deputies are looking for a man who they say showed up at his girlfriend's office with two handguns and threatened two employees.

The incident happened at 2401 W. Bay Drive in Largo just after 10 a.m.

Authorities say Neil Marshall James, 38, was involved in an aggravated battery with a firearm around 4 a.m. today at the house of his estranged girlfriend.

The girlfriend, who is not being identified, didn't report the crime until 10 a.m. when she was at work.

About the same time, James showed up at the commercial plaza with two handguns. The employees at the business locked the door as James tried to get in.

He was eventually able to get inside, police said, and threatened two employees with the guns, asking where his girlfriend had gone. It turns out, she fled out the back back door.

When James realized that, police said, he left in his 1987 Black Cadillac six-door limo.

Police said he had a woman in the passenger's seat when he arrived at the complex. The woman tried to get out of the car, but he told her to wait.

James is 5-foot 11 and 300 pounds. He was last seen wearing a button down shirt and possibly shorts. The license plate number for his limo is 734IYC.

--Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

Animal Services raid finds 'deplorable' conditions

Authorities seized dozens of dogs, cats and goats this morning and declared a feced-filled Seffner home unlivable.  Times photos by Skip O'Rourke

SEFFNER -- Authorities seized dozens of dogs, cats and goats this morning and declared a feced-filled Seffner home unlivable.

An investigation into animals being housed at 2005 S. Parsons Ave. began after two Pekinese dogs were dropped off at Hillsborough County Animal Services with a request that they be euthanized, Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.

"We didn't think they necessarily needed to be euthanized, we just thought they needed care," Ryan said. Animal Services turned the dogs over to a rescue organization and began inquiring about the people who had surrendered the dogs.

"Conditions were deplorable," Ryan said. "You had to cover your mouth because of the smell."

Dead fish close Ben T. Davis Beach

[Douglas R. Clifford, Times]

TAMPA -- Ben T. Davis Beach is closed indefinitely after hundreds of dead fish washed up on shore and brought a noxious odor with them, city officials say.

Reports of the fish kill began to trickle in over the weekend, and the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department closed the beach on Wednesday as the stench from the fish became increasingly overpowering. Marine biologists are still trying to determine what killed so many fish, but red tide has been ruled out, according to the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

Jan Landsberg, a research scientist at the institute, said scientists believe algal blooms in the area could be at fault in the deaths, though they are waiting to conduct more tests to determine the exact cause. "We've got several scenarios," she said.

Reward offered for recovery of stolen watch

[St. Petersburg Police Department photos]

ST. PETERSBURG -- Police released surveillance images and video this morning showing a man stealing a laptop computer and a watch in two separate thefts last week.

The first theft took place around 12:45 p.m. July 23, when a man entered an 11th floor office space in a building at 100 Second Ave. S and took a laptop.

Two days later, police said, the same man walked into Hess Fine Arts, 1131 Fourth St. N, swiped a watch, then ran from the store and rode away on a bicycle.

Police say a $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to the watch's recovery.

Investigators described the suspect as a black male, 40 to 50 years old with a receding hairline, about 5 feet 10 inches tall and 170 pounds.  Authorities are asking anyone with information to call St. Petersburg Police Department at (727) 893-7780.

See surveillance video of the suspect

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Man attacks homeless group outside City Hall

ST. PETERSBURG -- A group of homeless people subdued and beat a deranged man who violently interrupted them as they waited to be fed by a church group outside City Hall late Tuesday, police said.

A man identified only as John Doe approached the line around 10 p.m. and punched 24-year-old Richard P. Gibson, Jr. with a closed fist "for no reason at all," said police spokesman George Kajtsa.

The attacker left, but police said he returned a short time later. Armed with a one-foot tree branch, the man began yelling at Jessica Freeman, 36, who was in the process of dialing police when the man swung the branch and struck her on the side of the head.

"That's when the crowd took control," Kajtsa said.

The man ran away but was apprehended by the group, beaten unconscious and held until police arrived, police said. It is unclear how many participated in his capture. 

The man, who police said was incoherent and could not give his name, was hospitalized with injuries and was later booked into the Pinellas County Jail.

No charges were filed against the retaliating attackers.

"They just responded to a situation that was happening in front of their face," Kajtsa said. "They were defending the victims."

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Man shot, collapses in driveway after confronting passing vehicle

ST. PETERSBURG -- An argument ended in gunfire Tuesday after a man standing in a neighbor's driveway told a speeding driver to slow down, police said.

The shooting took place at 2200 E. Harbor Drive S. around 6:15 p.m., police said. Ernest Wooten and his neighbor were standing in the driveway when a silver four-door car zoomed past.  Witnesses told police the car was chasing a person on a motorized scooter.

"Wooten seemed to think the guy was going fast, so he yelled for him to slow down," police spokesman
George Kajtsa said.

The car's driver reversed, settled next to Wooten and his neighbor then flashed a silver handgun. The driver fired once through the open rear passenger window but missed, police said.

Wooten, 48, then grabbed what police described as a "weighted plate" and approached the car. The driver fired two more shots, police said. One of them struck Wooten in the chest.

Wooten was taken to Bayfront Medical Center. His condition was not immediately available.

At this hour, police have only vague descriptions of the shooter and a passenger in the car. Investigators ask anyone with information to call St. Petersburg police at (727) 893-7780

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Evacuation ordered when smoke fills St. Pete hotel

ST. PETERSBURG -- About 200 people were ordered out of a Carillon area Hilton hotel this morning when an electrical malfunction caused a smoky haze to fill the hotel's interior.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue crews responded to the Hilton Carillon Park at 950 Lake Carillon Drive around 5:22 a.m., after getting reports of smoke in the hotel.

Investigators say a motor attached to an air-handling system on the roof malfunctioned, causing a light haze and the odor of burnt electronics to fill the hotel's nine stories, said Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Joel Granata.

About 170 guests and 20 employees of the hotel were ordered out of the building while firefighters conducted a room-by-room search, Granata said. No injuries were reported. Everyone was allowed back inside around 7:15 a.m.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Pasco deputies seek help in locating missing woman

A mentally-challenged woman remains missing this morning after disappearing from a New Port Richey home Tuesday, Pasco sheriff's officials said.

Rosalee C. Starr, 38, left, was last seen between 4 and 7 a.m. Tuesday at 7141 Aurora Drive. She is described as a white female with brown and gray hair, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and 140 pounds. Starr's caretaker told authorities she suffers from anxiety.

Deputies have searched area hospitals, harbors and cab companies to no avail.

Authorities ask anyone with information to call the Pasco County Sheriff's Office at (727) 844-7711.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Detective on leave during husband's investigation

ST. PETERSBURG -- A St. Petersburg Police Department detective has been put on paid administrative lead while the department investigates alleged drug activity involving her estranged husband and current boyfriend.

Detective Leticia Harrison, 36, is married to Marvin Wedderburn, who currently sits in Pinellas County jail. He was arrested in June on charges of possessing and selling marijuana. Harrison and Wedderburn, 33, have been separated since last year.

Harrison now lives with Audra Howard, 40, who was also arrested the same day. He is charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana. He was freed on $10,150 bond.

-- Andrew Dunn, Times Staff Writer

Hillsborough County to absorb former Pinellas deputies

One county’s loss became another’s gain when 36 Pinellas County detention deputies who were laid off because of budget cuts found openings at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinellas County let 24 newly trained detention deputies go last month, and because Pinellas and Hillsborough have similar backgrounding and training standards, those deputies were easily folded into a recent Hillsborough training session, Maj. Jim Previtera, Hillsborough County sheriff’s commander of training. They are expected to complete training and be sworn in next week.

After the initial 24 were laid off, another 12 were also cut, and are in the same training program. Another 20 Pinellas road deputies, who had been employed for some time before losing their jobs, are also being evaluated for employment, Previtera said.

The shift comes after Pinellas County had to cut its sheriff’s budget by about $25-million, while the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office only cut $4-million.

Hillsborough County has actually been struggling to fill 90 vacancies as recruiting has become more and more of a problem nationwide, Previtera said, so the timing worked out well.

“It’s unfortunate for Pinellas that they didn’t have the number of vacancies that we had at the time of budget cuts,” Previtera said. “You hate to move in when someone else is having difficulty, but we’re very fortunate to give qualified law enforcement deputies someplace to continue their careers.”

--Emily Nipps, Times staff writer.

Aisenberg informant moved to new prison

TAMPA -- Against his wishes, a self-described informant in the Sabrina Aisenberg investigation has been moved to solitary confinement at a new prison, his attorney says.

Dennis Byron, 34, was taken from Gainesville Correctional Institution to Columbia Correctional Institution Monday, records show. Largo attorney John Trevena said he learned of the move this afternoon.

The news came hours after Trevena said he filed a motion in Hillsborough Circuit Court on Byron's behalf, asking a judge to correct the "illegal sentence imposed upon him."

Byron is at the center of a recent firestorm over the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office investigation into the disappearance of baby Sabrina Aisenberg. The 5-month-old was reported missing from her family's home in 1997.

Byron told attorneys in sworn statements last week that sheriff's detectives cut a deal with him, asking him to wear a wire to record conversations with a longtime friend and former cellmate who they suspected might have been involved in the baby's disappearance. In return for Byron's cooperation, prosecutors agreed to allow a judge reduce his sentence, Byron says.

Byron pleaded guilty on Oct. 23 to charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, of driving with his license suspended and being a habitual traffic offender and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Three months later, the court reconsidered that sentence, instead giving him 24 months of community control -- a form of house arrest -- with the condition that he complete a residential drug treatment at Operation PAR in Pinellas County.

But Byron was rearrested Feb. 8 after fleeing the program. When he tried to get leniency from a new judge, based on his previous assistance to the Sheriff's Office, a prosecutor said detectives had severed ties.

A judge revoked the community control and sentenced Byron to five years in prison -- a sentence Trevena holds to be illegal.

"It is null and void because the court lacked jurisdiction to impose it," Trevena wrote in his motion Tuesday, calling for a 36-month prison sentence.

Trevena also said he plans to ask the governor's office tomorrow to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate how the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office has handled the Aisenberg probe.

Both Trevena and Tampa attorney Barry Cohen have criticized the Sheriff's Office this week, saying detectives tried to implicate Cohen in the baby's disappearance. Cohen has represented parents Marlene and Steve Aisenberg since shortly after the baby was reported missing.

The Sheriff's Office denies Cohen has ever been a target.

 

- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

[Florida Department of Corrections]

Police: Tampa man admits molesting 11-year-old

TAMPA -- Police say a 50-year-old Tampa man has admitted to molesting an 11-year-old female relative.

Luis A. Miranda Jr., of 3406 W Beaumont St., faces charges of sexual battery and lewd or lacivious molestation. He was arrested on Monday night.

The victim reported to police that from November 2006 to March 2007, Miranda had touched her inappropriately. In an interview with police, Miranda reportedly admitted he also forced her to perform oral sex on him while he watched pornography.

-- Thomas Kaplan, Times staff writer

[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

Man, 47, begs for arrest, gets wish

PLANT CITY-- Peiter Vanvliet desperately wanted to be arrested. Problem was, the 47-year-old hadn't done anything wrong -- until he began harassing authorities and asking them to send him to jail.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Vanvliet, of 560 Joe King Road, repeatedly called 911 from a pay phone on Monday night to inform deputies there was a warrant for his arrest and that he would wait for them to come and arrest him.

Yet there was no warrant. Vanvliet wasn't wanted for any crime -- except that his repeated calls prompted deputies to charge him with misuse the 911 system. He was arrested.

-- Thomas Kaplan, Times staff writer

[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

Middlemen get prison in driver's license bribery scheme

TAMPA -- Two men received 21-month federal prison sentences today for taking part in a scheme to obtain fake commercial driver's licenses through the Pinellas County Tax Collector's Office in Largo.

Santos Alamo and Gustavo Soler both pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy and one count of fraudulent production of identification documents. Prosecutors said the men paid bribes to a tax collector employee in exchange for commercial driver's licenses.

Yolanda Pippins, the tax collector employee, received a 21-month prison sentence earlier this year and was fined $1,000 for conspiracy to make false statements and to corruptly solicit and accept things of value in connection with the business of a state government agency.

The special license is required for drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle, which include vehicles that transport more than 16 people and vehicles that weigh more than 26,001 pounds. Applicants for a commercial driver's license must complete a written and skills examination.

Prosecutors described Alamo as the main middleman between Pippins and the applicants paying the bribes. Investigators said Alamo recruited Soler as another middleman in the scheme.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

Tampa police: Man shoots girlfriend and co-worker, kills self

TAMPA -- Upset about a disagreement with his girlfriend, a Tampa man shot her and a co-worker outside a fast-food restaurant this morning and then killed himself, authorities say.

The shootings stemmed from an altercation Monday night at the the Sonic Drive-In at 4411 W Gandy Blvd., where police say the man argued with a female employee whom he had been dating, identified as Cassandra Gorham, 21, of Seffner.

Shortly before 2 a.m., after the restaurant had closed, the man returned with a handgun and opened fire on several people sitting inside cars in the parking lot, said Andrea Davis, a spokeswoman for the Tampa Police Department. Gorham and another Sonic employee, Michael D. Stephens, 24, of Tampa, received nonlife-threatening injuries, police said.

Two hours later, authorities found the man dead inside a car on the 9300 block of Adamo Drive near Brandon, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police are withholding his name until his family members can be notified.

Gorham and Stephens were transported to Tampa General Hospital, where they were in stable condition, Davis said.

Please return to This Just In for updates.

-- Thomas Kaplan and Casey Cora, Times staff writers

Bees kill pitbull

LARGO — A swarm of bees killed a pitbull tied up outside its owners home on Monday.

Lisa Pham heard her 18-month-old dog, Mimi, yelping and ran outside her mobile home to find a yellow and black swarm.

Pham grabbed a hose and turned it on the bees.

A few of them broke off from the dog and attacked her, leaving stings on her forehead and on the back of her head.

So she went inside and called the police department, which summoned the fire department, which came to the scene at 646 Egret Way in Largo just after noon.
Fire rescuers suited up and retrieved the dog, taking her to a local animal hospital where she died.

Pham was told by the veterinarian that her dog suffered more than 1,000 stings and died of cardiac arrest. It’s unclear what provoked the bees to attack.

The hive appeared to be located underneath a mobile home next door.

“I’ve cried so much I don’t think I can cry anymore,” Pham said Monday night as she waited for a bee exterminator.

-- Jon Abel, Times Staff Writer

[The site where bees had a hive under a mobile home where they swarmed out from under it and killed a Largo dog. Jim Damaske, Times]

Tampa bus accident sends 12 people to hospital

TAMPA -- At least 12 people have been hospitalized after an automobile ran a red light and collided with a HARTline bus on the Marion Street Transitway this afternoon, authorities say.

A spokeswoman for the Tampa Police Department said all injuries were considered minor.

The accident occurred at 1:26 p.m. when a 2005 Lincoln Town Car traveling westbound on E Kennedy Boulevard disregarded a red light and struck the bus, which was traveling northbound on the transitway, said Janelle McGregor, a TPD spokeswoman.

HART spokesman Ed Crawford said video tapes from cameras mounted inside the bus show that the bus operator was not at fault in the collision.

"It is clear in the tape that not only was the light green for our bus operator, but it was a green for at least a half a block before he arrived at the intersection," Crawford said. "There's really no question that somebody violated the right-of-way, and it wasn't us."

Twelve passengers were aboard the bus at the time of the accident, and all were transported to Tampa General Hospital, McGregor said. The bus's operator was not hurt.

The driver of the sedan -- whose name was not immediately released -- was cited on a charge of running a red light, McGregor said. The driver's condition was unknown.

Please return to This Just In for updates.

-- Thomas Kaplan, Times staff writer

Owner of erotic art gallery pledges to sue city

[Times photo | Chris Zuppa]

ST. PETERSBURG-- Business owner Bill Schramm said the city violated his civil rights by raiding his erotic art gallery Friday night.

Schramm, who was arrested Friday (photo) on charges of allowing a nude model in a bar and allegedly touching an officer trying to enter the gallery, said he is closing down his shop on 2501 Central and will instead focus on fighting the city's charges.

Schramm was charged with battery of a law enforcement office and unlawful exposure of private parts. The nude model also was charged.

Police first questioned Schramm after neighbors complained of a large penis statue displayed outside the gallery.

Artist Sam Petty is now selling the supersized penis (photo below) on eBay.com. Bidding starts at $100. Proceeds of the sale will go toward Schramm's legal defense fund.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

[Times photo | Willie J. Allen Jr.]

Authorities investigating 2-week-old infant's death

PORT RICHEY -- Authorities are investigating the death of a 2-week-old boy today.

Damien Houston Tatum, born on July 14, was rushed to the emergency room at Community Hospital in New Port Richey this morning by his parents, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. But the infant was pronounced dead at the hospital, which then called deputies.

The parents told authorities they were sleeping with the infant in their bed together. But then they awoke and found the baby "unresponsive," according to the Sheriff's Office.

There were no signs of foul play, according to the Sheriff's Office. A cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

-- Times staff writer

It's official: Draper on way to Tampa Bay area

A Massachusetts R&D firm that builds tiny biomedical machines will indeed open satellite labs in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Gov. Charlie Crist announced today.

Draper Laboratory, a spinoff of MIT, will employ at least 100 people at a laboratory at the University of South Florida in Tampa and another 65 in St. Petersburg, said Len Polizzotto, Draper’s director of strategic development.

Most employees will have master's level degrees or higher, he said, and recruiting will start within weeks.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,’’ Polizzotto said. “I don’t want to waste any time.’’

 

Police find drug, handcuffs key during stop

ST. PETERSBURG -- When police stopped 43-year-old Otis Lee of St. Petersburg for driving his bike without lights just before midnight Sunday, they found a trace amount of cocaine inside a 3-inch pipe, authorities said.

Police also found a handcuffs key hidden in the pocket of his pants.

But Lee, 6835 21st Way S, didn't get to use it. Records show he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail and faces charges of cocaine and paraphernalia possession, as well as unlawful possession of a handcuff key.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Charges dismissed against two more in Latin Kings case

TAMPA -- A judge has dismissed the charges against two more defendants in the Latin Kings gang case.

Circuit Judge Daniel Sleet dismissed the case against Michael "King Michael" Lugo and Omari "King Omari" Tolbert, who each faced racketeering charges. Lugo and Tolbert also faced charges that included kidnapping with a firearm, aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

They stood accused with others of beating gang member Alexander Perez Valdez in May 2006. Law enforcement monitored the meeting with audio and visual surveillance but didn't intervene until 30 minutes after the beating.

"Obviously I'm thrilled and I'm thrilled for the clients," said Lyann Goudie, one of the defense attorneys. "I think the judge did a great job and the right thing."

Sleet previously dismissed charges against 23 defendants arrested during an Aug. 20, 2006, raid of a statewide leadership meeting by the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office. The judge ruled that the gang was dormant for several months before law enforcement encouraged an informant -- a felon with multiple convictions -- to revive it, then stood by as he committed new crimes and threatened people with violence if they did not attend meetings.

The Hillsborough State Attorney's Office declined today to comment on the latest developments.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

Fire strikes Dunedin home

[Times photo | Joseph Garnett Jr.]

A fire destroyed a single-story Dunedin house within about 15 minutes Monday morning as neighbors looked on in disbelief.

Everything had been fine at about 10:15 a.m. when homeowner Sue Koechlin, 66, had dashed out to deliver lunches for Meals on Wheels leaving workers from Quality Ceiling Refinishing preparing to remove the dropped ceiling from her kitchen. Not long after, Jim Colvin, a neighbor, saw smoke pouring from the garage.

"Within 10 minutes, flames were shooting out of the roof,'' he said.

The workers were standing outside near their truck.

Units from Dunedin Fire Resue, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue and Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded and put the flames out in minutes.

Officials reached Koechlin at one of her client's houses and told her what had happened. She rushed back to the house and couldn't believe what she saw. The windows were knocked out, the contents were ashes and there was a 20-foot hole in the roof.

Her husband, Bob, was out of town.

"All they were going to do was take my ceiling and raise it,'' she said. "I'm sure they feel horrible.''

There were no injuries. Damages are estimated at $70,000 according to Trip Barrs, Dunedin Fire district chief.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

18-wheeler goes for a spin on wet I-275

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue

A semitrailer truck lost control on a slippery Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg this morning, authorities said. The driver, Oelvis Dreke, was headed northbound on the Interstate about 10 a.m. when he lost control of his 18-wheeler at the 38th Avenue N exit. The truck, pulling a forklift, veered into the median and crashed into some bushes, which prevented Dreke from crossing into oncoming traffic, authorities said. There were no injuries, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue reported. Dreke said the rain caused him to lose control.

Nicole Hutcheson, Times staff writer

Escapee caught after officer stabbing

TAMPA -- Police have caught a man they say escaped from custody Saturday after the officer who was arresting him was stabbed in the neck by another man.

Mario M. Williams (left), 25, of 2317 W Conrad St., was found hiding in a closet at the Oakhurst Apartments, police said. Investigators are still looking for the man who stabbed the officer.

The stabbing happened as Officer Ryan Culbertson tried to settle a disturbance at Oregon Avenue and Chestnut Street. As Culberton arrested Williams, someone else came up behind him and plunged a sharp object into his neck. Culbertson suffered a broken jaw and received 10 stitches. He is now recovering at home.

--Thomas Lake, Times Staff Writer

[Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office]

Cohen: 'They're trying to frame me'

Attorney Barry Cohen (seated far right) used visual displays of testimony during his press conference  about the recent events in the "Baby Sabrina" Aisenberg case Monday (7/28/08) at his office in downtown Tampa.  Photos By Ken Helle

TAMPA -- Barry Cohen, who defended Steve and Marlene Aisenberg from investigators' accusations after their 5-month-old daughter Sabrina disappeared in 1997, took aim squarely at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office during a news conference this morning.

Talking about an hour and 15 minutes to dozens of reporters, Cohen challenged the tactics of sheriff's investigators and asserted that they had targeted him in their investigation, in spite of a statement to the contrary that the Sheriff's Office released over the weekend.

"They're trying to frame me because I zealously defended the Aisenbergs, and they're trying to use these low-life people" to do it, Cohen said.

Police: Armed kidnapper, carjacker arrested after chase

ST. PETERSBURG -- Police arrested a man Sunday they say carjacked and kidnapped a woman as she returned home from a trip to the coin laundry.

The attack took place Sunday about 12:30 a.m., when Diane Richard, driving her daughter's blue 1992 Lexus, arrived in the parking lot of the Mosley Motel, 401 34th St. N, police said.

As she got out of the car, Richard, 50, was approached by McCordia L. Isom, pictured, who pointed a handgun and demanded that she get back into the driver's seat, police said.

Man, 75, dies in Gulfport house fire

[Times photo | Willie J. Allen Jr.]

In the burned-out shell of the carport, Don Rogers cuts a piece of plywood to cover and secure doors and windows in the Gulfport home where a fire killed Robert Brand early Monday.

GULFPORT -- Authorities this morning are searching for clues to what caused an overnight fire that left a 75-year-old man dead in a garage apartment, according to Gulfport police.

Fire crews responded to a house fire on the 2800 block of 45th Street S about 12:25 a.m. While battling the smoke and flames, firefighters discovered the body of Robert Brand in a garage apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

"It's just a shame," said neighbor Dave Dant, 40, adding that Brand was well liked among those in the serene cul-de-sac near Clam Bayou. "It was a pretty bad fire."

Property records show Brand was co-owner of the residence, which sits on the western tip of Clam Bayou. Police said Brand shared the home with an older man who was away at the time of the fire. 

Neighbors told police Brand suffered from multiple medical ailments and required the use of an oxygen tank. Investigators are looking into whether the tank played a part in the fire, according to a news release.

Investigators from the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the Medical Examiner's Office, and the Gulfport Police Department are investigating.

Please return to This Just In for updates.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Missing teen found safe

SEMINOLE - A teenager reported missing several days ago has been found unharmed.

Kaci Kae Smith, 17, returned Sunday night to the O'Hana House, the Seminole group home where she was living, according to a statement released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Smith, who had last been seen about 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, at Dixie Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, said she came home after seeing media attention about her disappearance. She said she had been staying with a friend in Tampa.

Authorities had previously issued a plea for information regarding Smith’s whereabouts because of concerns her life could be threatened if she didn’t take her daily medication.

- Rita Farlow, Times Staff Writer

Police catch suspect in stabbing with dog's help

PINELLAS PARK -- Police used a K9 unit to track down a Seminole man who fled after they say he stabbed another man in the torso Sunday afternoon.

Joseph R. Dunaway, 24, was arrested by Pinellas Park police officers after a search that lasted more than an hour and ended in a creek in an industrial area south of the 7200 block of Bryan Dairy Road.

The incident started about 4 p.m., when police received a call about a stabbing in the 6600 block of 96th Avenue N.

Dunaway stabbed 32-year-old Brian A. Bain, of Pinellas Park, with a serrated folding knife, according to police.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the attack, but they believe the two men were involved in a "previous issue."

Pinellas Park police found Dunaway in a creek about 5:30 p.m. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office used a helicopter to assist in the search.

Bain was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with serious, but nonlife-threatening injuries.

Dunaway was taken to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries he sustained while being taken into custody, police said. Once released, he'll be taken to the Pinellas County Jail and charged with aggravated battery.

Rita Farlow, Times Staff Writer

Sheriff's Office: Cohen not a target

TAMPA -- The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office denied today that the agency is attempting to implicate defense attorney Barry Cohen as part of the ongoing investigation in the 1997 disappearance of baby Sabrina Aisenberg.

"We feel compelled to deny the implication that our investigation has ever viewed Mr. Barry Cohen as a subject, target, suspect or person of interest," the Sheriff's Office said in a prepared statement. "Assertions to the contrary are simply wrong, baseless and designed to distract from the legitimate endeavor in which we are engaged."

Click here to read more in Monday editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

Emily Nipps, Times staff writer

East Hillsborough homicide victim identified, suspect sought

TAMPA -- Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies identified a man who was shot to death Saturday evening at a Clair-Mel tractor trailer storage facility.

Carlos Rodriguez, 42, died of gunshot wounds outside of the property, where he lived and worked as a handyman. Sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said investigators have a description of a possible suspect, a Hispanic adult male with shoulder-length hair.

The investigation is still active, Callaway said.

Emily Nipps, Times staff writer

Car hits and kills man, 76

The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for a small, dark car troopers say hit and killed a 76-year-old St. Petersburg man a little before midnight Saturday.
Tam Bai Hoang was walking north on 62nd Street N when the car struck and killed him instantly. The accident happened near 56th Avenue North where the car that apparently hit him was headed east.
Authorities say they know little about the car, but it would more than likely have damage to its front.
Anyone with information can call the Florida Highway Patrol at (813) 632-6859, ext. 382

Police looking for intruder who shot Tampa teen

TAMPA -- A 17-year-old Tampa boy died Sunday morning after an intruder kicked open the front door to the home he was in and shot him, according to Tampa Police.

Levi Dixon was alone in the house at 2536 W Walnut St. at 4:19 a.m. when the incident occurred. Police investigators said Dixon was able to run from the home but died a short distance away.

Police notified Dixon's mother, Angela M. Pratt, about the death of her on