Sex offenders charged with exposing themselves

TAMPA -- Two registered sex offenders were arrested in separate incidents Sunday after exposing themselves in public, authorities said.

At an apartment complex near 138th Avenue and 19th Street, two girls, 8 and 10, were playing in the parking lot about 7 p.m. when they saw a man masturbating. He talked to the girls and gave the older one a $5 bill, as well as a piece of paper with a telephone number on it. He said to call him, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

The girls ran away and told adults, several of whom chased down the man and held him for deputies. The man suffered a cut mouth and abrasions on his arms. Raymond Leroy James, 48, of 1222 E 138th Ave., Tampa, was charged with exposure of sexual organs, lewd or lascivious exhibition and probation violation. He was held without bail Monday.

Later that night, another man was seen publicly masturbating at Bobalouie's bar on Bearss Avenue, according to the HCSO. Shedrick Reshord Jenrette, 30, of 14511 Hensel Lane, No. 129, Tampa, was charged with exposure of sexual organs. He was held Monday in lieu of $500 bail.

--Thomas Lake, Times Staff Writer

Rattling fence gives away gunmen's approach, deputies say

RIVERVIEW -- Hillsborough County deputies say two gunmen sneaked into a back yard in the 12000 block of Glen Hill Drive about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, looking for two people in a shed.

The people in the shed heard the chain-link fence rattling and knew they were under attack.

"Shoot now," one gunman said to the other, and both opened fire. One victim was hit in the leg.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says three men, including the getaway driver, were arrested, charged with attempted murder and held Monday without bail:

• Elvido Antonio De La Cruz, 18, of 4212 Amber Ridge Lane, Valrico.
• Dwayne Victor Worthington, 21, of 4102 Eastridge Drive, Valrico.
• Kevin Ellsworth Sanders, of 9236 River Rock Lane, Riverview.

The reports did not make clear the extent of the victim's injuries.

Thomas Lake, Times staff writer

Police: Woman drove drunk with her daughter, 9, in car

TAMPA -- Police say a woman drove drunk through the dark with her headlights off and her 9-year-old daughter on board.

Jennifer Bonilla, 29, of 7710 N Central Ave., was going south on 50th Street near Broadway Avenue about 10 p.m. Sunday when a police officer saw her. The report said she took two breath tests and blew a 0.154 and a 0.145, nearly twice the level at which the state presumes impairment.

Bonilla was arrested and charged with DUI and child neglect. She was released from jail this morning on $2,500 bail.

Thomas Lake, Times staff writer

Pinellas schools athletic director's son, 18, dies

Frank Grasso, the 18-year old son of Pinellas County Schools athletic director Nick Grasso, died early Sunday morning. The cause of death is unknown.

"(Frank) enjoyed kids and was wonderful to have around," said Nick Grasso of his son, a senior at St. Petersburg High School  "He brought a lot of joy to our family."

Nick Grasso said Frank died in his sleep at a friend's house early Sunday. Frank was taking medication for an enlarged heart, according to Nick Grasso.

Frank played football at Northeast High from 2005-06 before transferring to St. Petersburg last year. He played football and baseball with the Green Devils as a junior but decided to quit sports this year in order to concentrate on his academics, Nick Grasso said.

A viewing is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Catholic Church at 1900 12th St. N in St. Petersburg. A service at the church will be at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Bob Putnam, Times staff writer

Motorcyclist run over, killed on Interstate 4

TAMPA -- Two cars ran over a man who fell from his motorcycle on Interstate 4 early Monday morning, and neither stopped. The man was killed.

Rafael A. Colon, 32, of Mulberry, was going east on I-4 approaching Interstate 75 about 2:45 a.m. when he smashed his motorcycle into the back of a tractor trailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Colon fell into the road and was run over by two other vehicles.

Details were sparse on those two vehicles. One was described as a new sedan with very dark tinted windows. The other was described as a dark passenger car.

According to the FHP, the drivers might not have realized they ran over Colon. Anyone who was going east on I-4 near I-75 about 2:45 a.m. and who may know something about the crash is asked to call the FHP at (813) 632-6859.

Thomas Lake, Times staff writer

One killed, one hurt in Plant City crash

PLANT CITY -- One person was killed and another was critically injured in a crash Sunday evening at State Road 39 and Holloway Road.

Louise B. Porter, 87, of Plant City, was crossing S.R. 39 in a Buick Century about 7:40 p.m. when she failed to yield to an oncoming Kia Sephia driven by 22-year-old Kenneth W. McCullers, also of Plant City, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The two cars collided, and the Buick spun clockwise. The Kia hit a yield sign and overturned. Porter was pronounced dead at the scene. McCullers was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center; his condition was not disclosed Monday.

Thomas Lake, Times staff writer