Troopers identify second victim in fiery crash

TAMPA -- State troopers released the identity tonight of a woman killed in a fiery, one-car crash on State Road 60 in Plant City early Sunday. Joanna Beth Chastain, 19, of Brandon, was driving a 2000 Acura sedan just after midnight when she lost control, spun out and hit a utility pole, the Florida Highway Patrol reported. The crash killed front passenger Christopher Michael Richards, 20, also of Brandon. Backseat passenger Andrew Santilli, 20, of Valrico, survived with critical injuries.

Times staff

Air tests find no Raytheon contaminants

ST. PETERSBURG -- A second round of tests of the air inside homes around the site of a toxic underground plume from the Raytheon plant has found no sign of the plume's chemicals, Florida Department of Health scientists said Monday.

Air samples taken inside nine homes and condominiums in the neighborhood came back negative for those chemicals, said Susan Skye, a scientist with the state Department of Health, reported in September. However, four of the tests disappeared in shipping, so they had to be repeated.

None of the air tests found any sign of the chemicals in the plume from Raytheon, Skye said Monday.

"There is no imminent health risk," she said, so there will be no further tests.

The pollution originated from a drum storage area on land that then belonged to a company called E-Systems. Tests found a plume of chemicals — including vinyl chloride, trichloroethene, 1,4 Dioxane and cis-1,2-Dichloroethene — in the groundwater beneath the site.

When Raytheon bought E-Systems in 1995, it inherited the pollution headache but did little beyond monitoring the problem. In 1999, tests showed the plume had begun moving toward residential neighborhoods near Azalea Park, but most residents were not notified about it until earlier this year.

Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer

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Hernando, Nature Coast brace for brief chill

BROOKSVILLE -- It's time to prepare extra pots of broccoli and cheese soup, bring in those iguanas and bundle up tight for the night.

Hernando County and the rest of the Nature Coast are about to endure the first bout of wintry weather.

The National Weather Service is predicting lows in the upper 20s on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the low temperatures a remnant of a cold front that passed through the area over the weekend. Temperatures should rebound into the 60s during the day and, by Thursday, residents can again trade winter coats for T-shirts.

"It's the first winter blast that we've recorded this season," said Anthony Reynes, a meteorologist with the National Weather service in Ruskin. "But this isn't something we'd consider out of the ordinary for mid November. This is the time to have these cold fronts."

At the Rising Sun Cafe in downtown Brooksville, employee Gail Witek said a steady stream of customers were coming in for hot bowls of soup. Broccoli and cheese are served Mondays and Thursdays, french onion on Tuesdays and Fridays, and baked potato on Wednesdays.

"We're always prepared," Witek said. "We don't like to run out."

Kathy Oleson, owner of Boyett's Grove in Spring Lake, said she wasn't expecting enough of a chill to damage any of her crops. However, the iguanas, birds and monkeys that populate the property must be brought in in the evenings to escape the cold.

County officials didn't have plans to open a shelter in anticipation of the brief cold snap but noted that Jericho Road Ministries in Brooksville would be available for those seeking refuge.

Reynes advised residents to simply stay out of the cold, bring in pets and sensitive plants for the night, and beware of starting fires in these dry conditions.

"We have very, very good conditions for wildfires to start," Reynes said. "It's important for people to not start fires outside for the next two or three days."

Joel Anderson, Times Staff Writer

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Plant High students seek counseling, express grief

[From left, Plant High School students Lizzy Mischo, Kristen Hurst and Karlyn McKell attend the prayer service for Allyson Faulk at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church on Sunday. The three survived the accident that killed Allyson on Friday night. Gen Yamaguchi | Times] 


TAMPA -- Near the center of a giant, yellow banner making the rounds inside Plant High School today, someone drew a heart and placed a halo above it.

"Gone But Never Forgotten," someone else wrote in large letters, surrounded by pictures of Allyson Faulk and thoughts about her.

Allyson, 17, a Plant senior, died Friday night when the Ford SUV she drove careened off Interstate 75 near Gainesville and burst into flames.

"It has been a tough day. Our kids are hurting," said Jim Landers, a school psychologist assigned to Plant. "They are coping the best way possible."

By early afternoon, more than 100 students had volunteered to speak with grief counselors, school administrators said.

"Kids don't have the experiences with death that we do as adults," Landers said. "So we're trying to normalize it for them as much as possible."

Students spent the weekend dealing with the tragedy. A memorial Sunday night was attended by three surviving friends -- Lizzy Mischo, 18, Karlyn McKell and Kristen Hurst, both 17 -- who were riding along with Allyson to the Florida State University homecoming game.

Landers said the best way teens deal with death is by talking with one another. That's how most students have spent the day, he said. He said counselors have offered tips on dealing with grief and have helped students understand that each of them grieves differently.

Some students have said, "This could have happened to me," Landers said.

He sends this message to parents: "When your kids get home from school today, hug them and tell them you love them."

Kevin Graham, Times Staff Writer

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Medal of Honor recipients honored at MacDill

TAMPA -- In two different war-torn countries a year apart, two members of the Navy SEALs did not hesitate to perform acts of heroism that define "above and beyond the call of duty."

Both paid the ultimate price to save their comrades: their lives.

In a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base early today, U.S. Special Operations Command unveiled the names of Lt. Michael Murphy and Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor on a memorial designed for special ops members who have died in training or combat.

With their families watching, Murphy and Monsoor joined 38 other Americans on a wall of the monument reserved for Medal of Honor recipients, the military's highest distinction. (SEAL stands for sea-air-land.)

"These men excelled at everything they did," said Adm. Eric Olson, SOCOM commander. "In the end, each willingly and knowingly sacrificed their lives to save others."

(Monsoor is at left in a photo taken in Afghanistan.)

In September 2006 while deployed to Iraq, Monsoor, 25, of California, worked with SEAL snipers in the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi to help protect an American force in the city. As he manned his gun, a grenade was lobbed into their position on a rooftop outcropping, bouncing off Monsoor's chest.

He yelled, "Grenade!" and smothered it with his body, even though he was the only one of three SEALs close enough to an exit to escape. The blast killed him.

In June 2005, Murphy was part of a four-man SEAL team trying to track a terrorist leader high in the mountains of Afghanistan. But the men were spotted by locals. Up to 50 members of the Taliban engaged them in a fierce fight.

(Murphy is pictured on right in a photo taken in Iraq.)

Unable to call for help on a satellite phone because of the rugged terrain, Murphy, 29, of New York, gave up his cover to find a spot in the open where he could transmit. In so doing, he exposed himself to the enemy. Shot twice, Murphy stayed on the radio transmitting.

Only one member of the team escaped with his life.

William R. Levesque, Times Staff Writer

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Two harassed patrol horse, police say

TAMPA -- Two people were arrested Sunday, accused of harassing a horse-mounted police officer and his horse in Ybor City.

Trecia Roberts and Alecia Roberts, both 19, are each charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and offenses against a police animal.

Officer Will Wagner was patrolling Ybor City at 3:20 a.m. atop Sequence, an 18-year-old Quarter horse Tennessee Walker mix (pictured), when he said Alecia Roberts grabbed the horse's left rear leg.

Wagner turned the horse around to get Alecia Roberts to stop. Roberts and Trecia Roberts ran from the horse, police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

When Wagner, an eight-year police veteran who has been on mounted patrol for a year, ordered them to stop, they began hitting Sequence and Wagner with their hands, Davis said.

A third person, Jonathan Garcia, 20, was nearby and began "air-kicking" near the horse, without making any physical contact, Davis said. He was charged with obstructing or opposing an officer without violence and offenses against animals.

"It sounds like an alcohol-related incident," Davis said. "Even if it was a prank, you should never touch a police animal without first talking to the officer. Fortunately, these horses are so well-trained that no one was injured."

Sequence has been on the Tampa police force for eight years. He has won gold and silver medals in the police olympics and is regularly shown at schools and other educational events, Davis said.

Trecia and Alecia Roberts were released on $2,500 bail. Garcia remains in jail, where records indicate he was sentenced to 60 days.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer

Photo courtesy Tampa Police Department

NOTE: An earlier version of this post listed the incorrect charges and disposition for Jonathan Garcia.

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Pinellas deputy shoots at burglary suspect

SEMINOLE -- A deputy shot at a burglary suspect late Sunday night, but the bullet did not hit him, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office says two deputies responded to a suspicious vehicle call in the Harbor Lights Mobile Home Park late Sunday night. They found the vehicle parked in a carport and saw someone moving in the dark mobile home at 4701 Harbor Lights Drive N in Seminole. They concluded that a burglary was in progress.

When a man emerged from the mobile home, Deputy Barnett Bernoff identified himself and held the suspect at gunpoint. The man turned around, and Bernoff thought he saw the barrel of a gun pointed at him. Bernoff shot once at the suspect but did not hit him, deputies say. The item in the man's hand turned out to be a flashlight.

The man was identified as Michael Barravecchio, 28. He dropped to the ground after the deputy fired, and was arrested on burglary charges. Authorities suspect he may be responsible for other area burglaries.

Bernoff, 60, was placed on administrative leave with pay while the Sheriff's Office investigates the shooting, which is standard procedure in deputy-involved shootings. Bernoff has worked for the Sheriff's Office since 2000.

Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

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Tampa police locate missing woman's vehicle

TAMPA -- Tampa police this morning found the vehicle belonging to missing woman Jennifer Denise Johnson.

The black Infiniti was parked in the parking lot of Oak Park at 5215 E 15th Ave., said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.

Crime scene technicians were processing the vehicle for clues this morning.

Meanwhile, ex-boyfriend Vincent Brown Jr. (pictured), 38, turned himself in at the Orient Road Jail late Sunday on a violation of probation charge, after seeing news coverage about Johnson's case.

Brown had been considered a "person of interest" in Johnson's disappearance ever since the estranged couple were seen arguing Friday night, Tampa police said. So far, he has been uncooperative, McElroy said.

Johnson, 31, wasn't at home for the birthday party she planned for her 2-year-old daughter Saturday afternoon, according to the Tampa Police Department. That's when her family knew something was wrong.

Johnson was last seen arguing with Brown at the Apollo Club at 5110 N 40th St. at 11 p.m. Friday. At 3 a.m. Saturday, Johnson went with Brown to his parent's home on E Cayuga Street, police said.

Her family reported her missing at 7:55 p.m. Saturday.

Chandra Broadwater, Luis Perez and Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writers

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3 fall ill in Palm Harbor high school chemistry class

PALM HARBOR -- Two students fainted and another felt ill in a chemistry class at Palm Harbor University High School, but sheriff's deputies say it doesn't appear to be related to chemicals used in the class.

About 7:45 a.m., two male students fainted, and a female student said she felt sick. The school resource officer cleared the lab and called Palm Harbor Fire Rescue. Paramedics attended to the students and checked the air quality, which was normal. No one was taken to the hospital, and no hazardous materials team was needed.

The school resource officer said the students were burning an alcohol fuel for the class, but the air quality wasn't affected.

Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

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Broken water line closes MacDill Avenue

A broken water line has closed off part of MacDill Avenue this morning.

Drivers should steer clear of MacDill Avenue between Wallace and Tyson avenues until this afternoon, when Tampa Water Department workers are expected to have fixed the rupture.

Luis Perez, Times Staff Writer

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Armed man shot by police dies

ST. PETERSBURG -- A man shot by police Sunday night died this morning, authorities said.

Roberto Garcia Lara, 42, of 6528 12th St. N, was shot by a police officer who responded to a report of a domestic dispute. He died at Bayfront Medical Center sometime after midnight.

The officer was identified as Karl Lounge, 41, who has been with the Police Department since 1990. He was placed on administrative leave with pay, standard procedure for an officer involved in a shooting.

The incident started when police received a call from an alarm company about 9 p.m. in reference to a woman screaming.

Police said the woman may have pushed a panic button on the alarm system at the home at 6528 12th St. N. Representatives with the alarm company heard the woman yelling and notified police.

Body found in rear of car after crash

A St. Petersburg Police Department investigator takes measurements near the burned wreck of a Pontiac Firebird involved in an accident this morning at 22nd Avenue S and 22nd Street S. [LUIS PEREZ | Times]
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St. Petersburg firefighters battling a fiery two-vehicle crash early this morning made a grim discovery: a human body inside the back of one of the cars.

The crash happened about 2 a.m., when a tan Chevrolet Suburban headed west on 22nd Avenue S struck the side of a white Pontiac Firebird headed south on 22nd Street S. The Firebird was pushed 50 feet from the point of impact, where it knocked down a utility pole and caught fire. The Suburban came to rest upside down a block away. Debris from the crash was spread across the area of the crash, including a brightly colored racing jacket. Investigators think excessive speed contributed to the accident.

Emergency responders found the body in the rear area of the burning Firebird, a car with a hatchback and no trunk. St. Petersburg police Lt. Lorri Borrelli said that wasn't necessarily a sign of foul play. "An unrestrained passenger can certainly end up anywhere," she said. Police think the body may belong the car's driver. They speculated that the person may have been trying to escape the car. The body is badly burned and may take days or weeks to identify, police said. It was not immediately clear how the person died.

One shot during flea market robbery

PINELLAS PARK -- A young St. Petersburg couple are in jail in connection with a Sunday afternoon armed robbery at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market that left one person shot and injured, deputies said.

Emanuel LaTorre, 20, left, and Aspyn Helle-Smith, 18, right, were arrested on one count each of armed robbery shortly after the 4 p.m incident, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

The shooting victim, identified only as 20 years old, was shot in the left ankle, deputies said. The victim was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.