Report: U.S. marshal shot suspect by accident

TAMPA -- A U.S. marshal's firearm discharged last month when he physically collided with a suspect, wounding the man.

That's according to a report released today by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which investigated use of force during the Oct. 16 arrest by the U.S. Marshals Service's Fugitive Task Force.

David Sills, left, who was sought on drug trafficking warrants, survived the shooting. He was treated at St. Joseph's Hospital and then booked at the Hillsborough County jail.

Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober reviewed what he called "the unfortunate use of force" and said it was it "justified," according to a letter from Ober released by the FDLE.

Agents spotted Sills leaving the Club at Hidden River condominiums and heading toward a vehicle, the report said. He ran when confronted, triggering a foot pursuit. Deputy Marshal Keith Vinski collided with Sills during the pursuit, the report said. Vinski's firearm discharged, wounding Sills.

Vinski later told investigators that his finger closed around the trigger at the moment of collision, causing the accidental discharge. He said he shouted out, "AD! AD! AD!" to fellow agents, signaling an accidental discharge, meaning he hadn't been hit and the shooting of the suspect was not intentional.

Sills continued resisting efforts to subdue him and was Tasered by Deputy Marshal Ron Lindbak, the report said.

In an interview with the Times last month, Sills said he was shot in the back and the bullet exited at his shoulder. He said he was unarmed at the time.

Stay with www.tampabay.com for updates from today's report.

Photo of Sills courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Rebecca Catalanello, Times Staff Writer

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Lawyer's husband sentenced for bigamy

TAMPA -- A man accused of being married to a South Tampa divorce lawyer and another woman at the same time has pleaded no contest to a bigamy charge.

George Dumstorf Jr.'s own attorney said he received "a sweetheart deal" from prosecutors in Panama City, where the charge was filed. Here's why: Dumstorf's bigamy sentence will run concurrent with a 27-month prison sentence he received last month after pleading guilty to a federal bank fraud charge.

Dumstorf's multiple relationships were recounted by the Times in a November 2007 story. He held himself out to at least four women to be a high-level military and NASA man; in reality he was neither.

The women he conned are not pleased with his bigamy sentence, which they said amounts to no punishment, given that it runs alongside the federal prison time. They are also unhappy that he'll serve his time in federal, not state, prison.

"He’ll be in a country club for 27 months," said Valerie Gaines, whose mother divorced Dumstorf in 1999 after suspecting him of bigamy.

Martha-Irene Weed served as Dumstorf's attorney in that case. She later married him herself in Panama City, but eventually accused him of bigamy when she learned that he had another wife.

Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer

[Photo: Times files]

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Calvin Harris is new Pinellas commission chairman

In its first act, the revamped Pinellas County Commission this afternoon named board member Calvin Harris chairman for 2009. The move was expected. Harris had been serving as vice chairman. Commissioner Karen Seel was named vice chair.

The primary job of chairman is to manage meetings of the seven-member commission.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

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New Pinellas County commissioners sworn in

It's official. Newly elected Pinellas County Commissioners Neil Brickfield and Nancy Bostock were sworn in at a brief ceremony that began at 2 p.m. today.

Brickfield, a former Safety Harbor city commissioner and Bostock, a former School Board member, won election on Nov. 4.

Also sworn in were incumbent County Commissioners Ken Welch and Karen Seel, each of whom begins their third term. Commission terms are four years.

Seel also won on Nov. 4. Welch was unchallenged.

"It was very humbling and very gratifying," Brickfield said of the ceremony.

The new commission, whose partisan divide of five Republicans and two Democrats is unchanged, will meet later this afternoon for the first time.

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

Temperatures in free fall overnight

Gary Parke walks between his covered strawberry plants at Parke Family HydroFarms in Dover. [Brian Cassella, Times]

2 a.m. update: Freezing temperatures were already hitting Levy and Citrus counties and were moving southward. They were expected in Hernando and Pasco in the next couple of hours, said Rick Davis, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

11 p.m. update: Temperatures in the northern Tampa Bay region were falling fast overnight, on track for freezing temperatures in Pasco County northward and a frigid wind chill in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

The coldest temperatures were expected inland from the coast, in eastern parts of the Tampa Bay area. Meteorologists were predicting that the lows could be record-setting for Nov. 19 in some cities.

"Bundle up going into work and having the kids at the school bus stop," said Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

An arctic wind blew into the Tampa Bay area this afternoon and dropped overnight temperatures near record lows, but balmy weather could return as early as Thursday afternoon.

A surge of cold, dry air reinforced a cold front that arrived over the weekend. Citrus and Hernando are the worst hit with temperatures in the high 20s forecast for Wednesday night. Parts of eastern Pasco and Hillsborough counties will approach freezing.

“Winter is just knocking on our door,” said Anthony Reynas, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

It should warm up into the high 50s and low 60s Wednesday afternoon in Pinellas and Hillsborough, then drop back into the high 30s and low 40s Wednesday night.

“It’s time to put away the flip-flops, at least through the weekend,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Barron.

Barron’s advice: along with socks, opt for wearing layers of long sleeved garments and a coat. Bring houseplants inside, and cover plants in the ground. Pets should be brought indoors.

Tampa carjacking suspect arrested

TAMPA -- A Tampa man was arrested and charged in a carjacking in Tampa yesterday afternoon, minutes after the victim pulled out a gun and shot him, police said.

Irving Flores, 40, of Tampa (pictured) was taken into custody at the Pollo Tropical restaurant, at 3285 W Hillsborough Ave., at 5:15 p.m. Monday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Police are still looking for a woman, Efphalia Diamandoulis, 23, who was with Flores.

It began at about 4:50 p.m. when the victim, Deangelo Fletcher, 29, of Tampa, met Flores and Diamandoulis at a coin laundry at Hillsborough and Himes avenues, according to a Tampa police report. Fletcher offered the two a ride in his 1994 Lexus, and when they entered his car, they pushed him out, police said.

Behind the wheel, Flores steered the car toward Fletcher, police said. That's when Fletcher pulled out his .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol and shot Flores once in the shoulder, police said.

The car veered onto the northbound lanes of Himes Avenue where it struck two vehicles, police said. The female suspect ran through a nearby Bank of America parking lot, police said.

A bystander called 911, saying shots were fired into a car, police said. When officers arrived, they set up a perimeter and found Fletcher.

The restaurant where Flores was found was a block away. Flores, who was initially taken to Tampa General Hospital for a shoulder injury, was charged this morning with one count of carjacking.

During the events, Himes Avenue, north of Hillsborough Avenue was closed for approximately two hours, police said.

[Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff]

Elisabeth Parker and Luis Perez, Times staff writers

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