Motorcyclist killed in three-vehicle Pasco crash

LUTZ -- A motorcyclist died after his bike veered into the wrong direction of traffic on State Road 54 this evening, Florida Highway Patrol troopers reported.

Steven C. Hammonds, 37, was traveling west on S.R. 54 near Magnolia Boulevard just before 7 p.m. when he inexplicably crossed the center lane into the eastbound traffic, troopers said. He collided with a pickup traveling east and was ejected. Both he and the bike flew back into westbound traffic. A Nissan four-door hit the motorcycle.

Hammonds, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, Robert Diamond, 58, was not hurt. The driver of the Nissan, Yvette Camarillo, 22, and her passenger Samuel Dejesus, 21, suffered minor injuries.

No charges were filed though an investigation is ongoing.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Tampa Marines are back from Iraq

Jami Zupo, of Land O'Lakes, greets her husband, Cpl. Anthony Zupo, 28. Zupo got a first look at their 5-month-old son, Anthony Dino. Click to enlarge image. [JOHN PENDYGRAFT | Times]

UPDATE: The Marines have landed. Family and friends greeted the returning unit of about 70 Marine reservists when they arrived at the Marine Reserve Training Center about 6 p.m.

TAMPA -- About 70 Marine reservists are returning home to Tampa today after seven months in Iraq.

The Marines, part of the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, fly in to Tampa International Airport and head to  the Marine Reserve Training Center on Gandy Boulevard in Tampa between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., where family will be waiting to greet them.

The Marines are part of the battalion's headquarters and service company. They spent seven months in Iraq.

The battalion conducted counter-insurgency and security operations in Iraq and suffered no casualties during its deployment.

-- William R. Levesque, Times Staff Writer

Iorio pledges to work with electric utility on conservation

TAMPA -- Mayor Pam Iorio today pledged to appoint a task force to work with Tampa Electric Co. on citywide energy conservation efforts. Iorio made the promise in a memo sent to City Council members and copied to TECO President John Ramil. But the overture still doesn't satisfy those who want to see conservation measures and commitments to renewable energy included in a 25-year franchise agreement between the city and utility that is set for final approval by the council next week.

"It's good that the administration has recognized that the citizens are concerned about these issues," said City Council member Linda Saul-Sena. "But there's no incentive after we sign this 25-year agreement for TECO to be cooperative."

The council rejected the agreement earlier this month after hearing from dozens of environmental advocates who opposed the contract. But a week later, it reversed the decision when Council member Joseph Caetano asked for a reconsideration so he could change his vote.

Iorio and TECO have argued that the point of the franchise agreement is to determine how much the utility has to pay for the privilege of using the city right-of-way for its power lines. Conservation measures are regulated by the state, says City Attorney Chip Fletcher.

"I appreciate all of the issues raised by council during the franchise agreement deliberations," Iorio wrote in the memo. "Once we have the agreement behind us I believe that this task force will add significanlty to our green efforts as a city." 

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

Deputies seek would-be bank robber in Apollo Beach

APOLLO BEACH -- A man who tried robbing a bank in Apollo Beach this afternoon is also suspected in a bank holdup Friday in Brandon, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

The man entered a Bank of America branch at 203 Apollo Beach Blvd. at 2:33 p.m. and handed a teller a note saying he had a bomb and demanding "large denominations of money," sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. When the teller explained that she didn't have the amount of money the man wanted, he grabbed the note and ran out of the bank.

The man is between 5-foot-10 and 6-feet tall, 30 to 35-years-old and 165 pounds to 180 pounds, the Sheriff's Office said. He was wearing sunglasses and a shirt that read "Hill-Joiner Family Reunion." Investigators believe the same man robbed M&I Bank at 103 W. Bloomingdale Ave.

This photo was taken Friday during a robbery at an M&I Bank branch in Brandon.

(Photo coutesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office)

-- Kevin Smetana, Times staff writer

Bicyclist dies following Florida Ave. crash

TAMPA -- A 19-year-old bicyclist is dead after losing control on Florida Avenue last night.

Gilbert Hernandez, of 2450 E Hillsborough Ave., Apt. 319, was riding his bike northbound near E Flora St. at 9:30 p.m. when he crashed and struck his head on the curb and pavement, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he later died.

-- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

I-275 Himes entrance to close Monday

TAMPA -- The entrance ramp to northbound Interstate 275 from Himes Avenue will close for several months starting Monday for construction on new lanes, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The new lanes and a new ramp will be finished in the spring of 2009, said FDOT spokesman John McShaffrey. In the meantime, motorists should use other I-275 entrances, such as Dale Mabry Highway to the west of Himes or Howard Avenue to the east.

Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer

Sunset at Indian Rocks Beach

Clouds painted red, yellow and orange appear ready to swallow a lone seagull as it flies over the Gulf of Mexico at sunset Monday.

Text, photo by Willie J. Allen | Times

Caretakers arrested in death of child

LARGO -- Police have arrested two people on charges that they murdered a 4-year-old girl in their custody.

The charges stem from an incident that happened on Aug. 16, but only after the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide and law enforcement located the suspects were they arrested.

Sylvester David Carew, 54, and Nikki Tyler Gardner-Bradley, 38, pictured left, were arrested in Hillsborough County and booked in the Orient Road Jail late Monday.

Police say Carew and Gardner-Bradley brought the child to the emergency room at Northside Hospital in August, although three hospitals were closer to their Largo apartment, Young said. They told staff that the girl was having trouble breathing on the ride to the hospital, though doctors at the hospital said that was unlikely according to Det. Lara Young of the Largo Police Department.

Police believe the likelier story is that the girl was beaten with multiple instruments over a period of time. They say the girl was throwing up and having trouble breathing that day. She was obviously dead when she arrived at the hospital, police say.

"One blow didn’t cause her death," Young said. "It wasn’t necessary to prove who actually swung the implements that struck her. The cause of death was over time while she was in both of their care."

Police had to wait on the official autopsy report that ruled the death a homicide and then a state attorney's review to get arrest warrants on first-degree murder charges for the couple. The autopsy showed the girl, Zineah Taylor Johnson, died of "systematic blunt trauma" and malnutrition was a contributing factor, Young said.

By that time, the pair had moved out of their apartment. Police called on the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force to find them in Hillsborough County. They were arrested Monday in the Tampa area.

The girl was Carew's grandchild. Her mother left the girl in her father's care, believing she would be better off with her father and his girlfriend while she tried to become financially stable and take custody. Carew and Gardner-Bradley were on disability and did not work, Young said. They blamed the abuse on each other but did not acknowledge the frequency or severity of abuse that police suspect killed her.

"They both are just so adamant that it was the other, I don’t think we’re getting the real story," Young said.

The girl's mother is not believed to have any other children. Young said she was devastated by the loss and told police that Carew was a good father to her.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Don't delay on rail plans, Congressman urges

TAMPA -- Now is the time for the Tampa Bay area to complete its plans for light rail, U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, told Hillsborough County leaders today.

Mica is the Republican leader of the House Transportation Committee. Congress will complete its five-year transportation funding bill in September, and President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to invest in infrastructure to stimulate the economy.

"I'm a right wing, conservative fiscal Republican," Mica said. "But I am adamant about public transportation, public transit. If you look at the issues that we face, the economy, nothing creates jobs like infrastructure  projects."

Mica said he hopes the new administration will be more open-minded about providing government guarantees of private investment in those projects.

"The Bush administration has been very myopic about financing," he said.   

The Tampa Bay area is one of the few large metropolitan areas without light rail, Mica said. Meanwhile, other cities are spending billions of dollars to expand their systems.

"It's almost embarrassing to have parts of Florida without modern transportation systems," he said. "What I need is everybody on the same page, everybody coming forward with their proposals." 

-- Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

Car smashes into 7-11

TAMPA -- A car ran into a 7-Eleven this afternoon.

The crash happened at 4901 W Linebaugh Ave., shortly before 2 p.m.

No one was injured, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley.

Hillsborough sheriff's deputies are investigating.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

Cat, dog alert Dunedin man to fire

A late night fire in Dunedin caused $170,000 worth of damage to this home on Falcon Drive. The fire is under investigation. [Photo: Dunedin Fire Department]

Update: Charley the cat had a little help from Griffin's other pet, a Bullmastiff/bloodhound mix named Blondie. Blondie was nudging Griffin from one side of the bed, while Charley pawed and meowed from the other side, Griffin said Tuesday afternoon.  "If it wasn't for them, I probably would have slept through it," he said. | Click cat image to enlarge [Courtesy of Bay News 9 from video]

Update: The fire has been ruled accidental.

DUNEDIN -- His home was on fire when John Griffin was awakened by his cat's claws on his face.

It was about 12:30 a.m., when the black-and white alley cat, Charley, jumped on top of his human companion. Griffin ran outside his one-story wood-frame home at 1268 Falcon Drive, tripping over the cat as he did.

When firefighters got there, flames were shooting up about 45 feet into the air, and Griffin was attacking the blaze with a garden hose.

"He's a good cat," an exhausted Griffin said this morning in a telephone interview.

Griffin, 52, was uninjured, as was the cat and a dog in the home.

"Dozens of firefighters from Dunedin and Clearwater fire department battled the blaze for 40 minutes. The flames were raging so wildly, that homes on either side sustained blistered paint and melted blinds, said Division Chief Bill McElligott of the Dunedin Fire Department. Griffin's home sustained heavy fire and water damage, was deemed an unsafe structure by the Dunedin Buildings Department.

The fire was initially deemed suspicious in nature, but just after noon, fire marshalls determined that it was accidental. McElligott said it was likely caused by a faulty electrical wiring, though it was impossible to know for sure because of the extensive damage to the house.

McElligott said the flames were large for a small house. "The entire sky in this area of Dunedin was lit up," he said. "It was pretty spectacular."

McElligott told the Griffin that it was great his cat woke him up, but a smoke detector would have been even better.

- Luis Perez, Times staff writer

[Photo: handout]

Note to readers: How smart is your pet? Tell us.

Pasco commissioners approve foreclosure rescue plan

DADE CITY -- Despite stiff opposition from real estate agents, Pasco County commissioners gave final approval Tuesday to a foreclosure rescue plan that uses federal money to mainly rehabilitate older homes and provides less in direct down payment assistance.

The feds earmarked $19.5-million in emergency housing assistance back in September to help Pasco County, one of the hardest-hit counties in the state by foreclosures. The county planned to use most of the money to provide down payment assistance loans of up to $15,000 to help lower-income families buy homes.

But on Nov. 5, community development director George Romagnoli told the County Commission that banks and U.S. Housing and Urban Development officials wanted the money to go toward fixing up abandoned homes - some of which are old - to resist hurricanes and meet current codes before they are resold.

So the county rewrote its plan to use about $10-million of the grant to allow nonprofit agencies to buy and rehabilitate homes. The amount set aside for down payment loans was cut to $6.5-million.
West Pasco Board of Realtors president Greg Armstrong and the heads of the county’s other Boards of Realtors urged commissioners to keep most of the money in homebuyer loans to provide broader and faster relief. But county officials said they risked losing the grant if the federal agency rejected their proposal.

Money could start being used in January, but it must be committed within 18 months and spent in four years.

-- Lisa Buie, Times Staff Writer

Water Managers: Zoo president ignored environmental regulations

TAMPA -- Lowry Park Zoo president Lex Salisbury could face tens of thousands of dollars in fines after water managers say he never applied for necessary environmental permits in constructing Safari Wild, his for-profit exotic animal attraction in Polk County.

Robyn Felix, spokeswoman for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, says Salisbury and his business partner, St. Petersburg veterinarian Stephan Wehrmann, ignored environmental regulations in 13 areas of the 258-acre site.

Remember those 15 patas monkeys that escaped from an one-acre island in Safari Wild last March? Salisbury and Wehrmann dredged a moat to create that island. That's violation #10.

Other violations include:

- Fences built through wetlands that removed vegetation and added 18-inches of fill material. Water officials say the fill obstructs surface waters. They say the same for a half-acre parking lot, a rhino pen and a giraffe pen.

-Large pipes replaced at road crossings that may impact upstream and downstream property owners.

- Structures creating impervious surfaces, including a covered hay barn, office building, visitor welcome center, caged monkey building and horse stable.

All new construction projects need to apply for environmental permits, Felix said. They protect wetlands, prevent flooding and examine stormwater runoff patterns.

The Safari Wild owners told water managers they didn't think they needed the permits, that they were exempt for agricultural reasons. Felix said they were told that was incorrect, and that they were in violation. She said they still continued their construction.

Water managers will work for the next couple of weeks to present the owners with fines for each of the 13 violations. Each fine could amount to a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, Felix said. Owners will get the chance to negotiate the fines before they go before a 13-member board for approval.

Safari Wild continues to be the focus of a Tampa audit commissioned by Mayor Pam Iorio. City auditors have spent the past two months combing private transactions between Salisbury and the zoo for conflicts of interest.

Salisbury remains on a paid leave of absence.

-- Alexandra Zayas can be reached at azayas@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3354.

[Photo: Joseph Garnett, Jr., Times files]

Elderly woman hit by car, in critical condition

LARGO -- An 83-year-old woman remains in critical condition today after she was struck by a car Monday as she crossed Oakhurst Road at 105th Avenue.

Kathryn Melnick was hit by a car about 2:11 p.m. Monday and airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center. The car's driver, Karl Merl, 53, also of Largo, has not been cited, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Gandy gas leak under control

TAMPA -- An hour after Tampa Fire Rescue crews responded to a gas line break at Gandy Boulevard and Trask Street is under control.

No one was injured and the area has been returned to normal following a temporary street closure, Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

Pasco County Commission elects new chairman

DADE CITY -- Pasco County commissioners today unanimously elected Jack Mariano as the new chairman,  replacing outgoing chairman Ted Schrader, whose annual term was up. Commissioners also elected Pat Mulieri as vice chairwoman. Mariano had served as vice chairman the year before.

-- Lisa Buie, Times Staff Writer

Police take to malls to combat holiday-related crime

TAMPA -- Tampa police are taking to the malls.

They'll be on horseback, motorcycle and unmarked cars.

Starting tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., dozens of police officers will begin patrolling International Plaza, Westshore Plaza and the Dale Mabry Boulevard shopping corridor, in anticipation of an uptick in holiday-related property crime including car burglaries.

Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis offered these tips to holiday shoppers this morning:

* Stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you. If you see people "hanging around" parking garages, parking lots, or the outside of stores, avoid the area. Notify the police or security department.

* If possible, shop before dark. Coordinate shopping trips with a friend if you plan to be out late. Always park your car in a well lit area.

* Lock your car doors and windows even if you are only gone for a few minutes.

* Keep packages and other valuables out of public view, preferably locked in the trunk.

* Park near street lights if possible and have your keys in hand when you return to your car. Always check the interior of your car before you unlock the door to get in.

* To discourage purse snatchers, don't overburden yourself with packages. Have your purchases delivered whenever practical.

* Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card whenever possible.

* Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry a purse under your arm with the strap across your body. Keep a wallet in an inside jacket pocket, not a back trouser pocket.

* Teach your children to go to a store clerk or security guard and ask for help if they should become separated in a store or shopping mall. They should never go into a parking lot alone.

Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

Firefighters: Child set fire to mobile home

BRANDON -- A 10-year-old boy playing with a lighter in his bedroom ignited a fire that destroyed his family's mobile home near Brandon Monday night, fire officials said.

The fire at 4108 Maywood Drive in Bloomingdale, began just before 8 p.m., as the boy set fire to a bed pillow that then ignited the bed and a wall, according to a fire report. Along with the boy, two other children were in the home with their mother. The children woke the woman up just as a smoke alarm began to chirp, according to Capt. Ray Yeakley of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

Flames spouting from the roof, 15 firefighters in five units put out the blaze in about 20 minutes, but the mobile home was ruined, said Yeakley. No firefighter was injured.

Authorities said the child will be referred to the Hillsborough County Juvenile Firesetter program, designed to educate families and children about fire prevention. The family was also refferred to the Red Cross for housing assistance.

Luis Perez, Times staff writer