Crime & Safety

OMG PD: Kid Left in Car at Strip Club; 'Voices' Made Him Steal Shoes

We compile the odd, unusual and the "oh my gosh" police items from throughout the Tampa Bay region.

This article was written by Patch Local Editor Jason Bartolone.

Woman Asks For Crack Money, Stabs Man Who Says 'No,' Deputies Say

A man was stabbed Monday in Bradenton after he turned down a woman's request for money to buy crack, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office reports.

The 47-year-old victim, who is homeless, was approached by the woman around 4:50 p.m. in the 200 block of 55th Avenue West, according to a sheriff's report. 

She asked him for money to buy crack and when he said "no," she stabbed him, deputies said.

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The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Truck Lands in Water, Drunk Driver Lands in Jail

A man landed in jail after his truck landed in the water Monday night in Tierra Verde.

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Authorities say 46-year-old Richard Newhouse was driving north on State Road 679, south of Madonna Boulevard, around 5:57 p.m. when he attempted to make a U-turn and lost control of his 2010 Toyota Tacoma.

The truck traveled off the roadway, across a grass shoulder, through a chain link fence and eventually into the waters of Tampa Bay at the Tierra Verde Marina Resort, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

It was later determined Newhouse was intoxicated and had a blood-alcohol content of 0.256, FHP investigators said, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08.

Ex-UF Football Player Left Child in Car While at Strip Club, Deputies Say

A Redington Beach man and former Florida Gators football player has been charged with child abuse after he allegedly drove to the Diamond Dolls strip club in Clearwater and left a 3-year-old girl unattended in the car while he was inside.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Monty Grow drove to the strip club around 9:38 p.m. July 14 and left the girl in a parking lot at 16211 U.S. 19. 

Grow played outside linebacker for the Gators from 1989 to 1993. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL. 

Student Robbed, Assaulted on School Bus, Police Say

A 13-year-old boy was assaulted and suffered a broken arm aboard a school bus Wednesday, according to Gulfport Police, who have charged three older teenagers in connection to the incident.

Two suspects each face an aggravated battery charge. The third is charged with aggravated battery and unarmed robbery, according to Woodman. All three suspects are 15 years old.

'Voices Made Me' Steal Nike Shoes

Voices told a Houston man to steal a pair of Nike shoes at Largo Mall on Sunday, according to police.

LT Jones, 53, walked into the shoe section at the Bealls at Largo Mall at 5:12 p.m., according to Largo Police. He cut a security tag off with a pair of Nike shoes with wire cutters, investigators said. Then Jones tried to hide the pair of shoes down the front of his pants, police said.

Jones walked past all the checkouts and left the store before a loss prevention employee confronted and escorted him back into the store, according to police.

After Jones was read his Miranda Rights he said he took the shoes because he did not take medication for his mental disorder and voices told him to take them, police said.

Woman Crashes Car Into Hooters in Suicide Attempt: Clearwater Police

A woman intentionally crashed her car into the original Hooters Restaurant in Clearwater early Sunday in an apparent suicide attempt, according to the Clearwater Police Department.

The woman, Lila Christians, 40, had been drinking at Razzel's Lounge across the street from the Hooters at 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd. and had made statements about wanting to end her life, police said.

Christians got into her car around 3:21 a.m., accelerated out of the parking lot and crashed into the west side of the Hooters, police report.

She suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Two-Year-Old Hurt During Attempted Drug Transaction, Police Say

A 27-year-old woman was arrested after her two-year-old was hurt during an alleged, attempted drug transaction, according to the Clearwater Police Department.

The Clearwater Police Department  arrested Nicole Whitfield on the charge of child neglect, according to a media release.

Whitfield allegedly tried to 'conduct a marijuana transaction' while her daughter was in a nearby car around 8:42 p.m. Friday in the 2000 Block of Drew Street, authorities said.

"Once the deal went awry, the daughter ended up being dragged a short distance by a vehicle. The child apparently was trying to get into the vehicle where her mother was when the vehicle began moving," police report.

Woman Demands Free Breakfast, Gets Arrested

Kimberly Womack went to the drive-thru of the McDonald’s at 7226 State Road 54 Sunday morning and demanded two free Big Macs because she did not like the ones she had the last time she was there, according to an arrest report from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

When she was told the restaurant didn’t have Big Macs because it was breakfast, she demanded Egg McMuffins. She was told to leave, but she refused to leave the drive-thru, according to the report.

When a deputy arrived, he found Womack still at the drive-thru in the driver’s seat of her vehicle. Womack complained her rights were being violated  because she didn’t get a free breakfast.

Womack, of 7932 Putnam Circle in New Port Richey, was given sobriety tests and failed them, according to the report. 

Womack's breath smelled of alcohol, and she told a deputy she took Klonopin.  She was arrested and charged with DUI. 

Authorities: Woman Ties Child to Urine-Soaked Mattress

A 26-year-old Land O’ Lakes woman was arrested on a child abuse charge after twice tying up a 3-year-old to a urine-soaked mattress, authorities say.

Amanda Nicole Greenwood, of Longshore Drive, was taken into custody Sunday, July 14 after her girlfriend reported the situation, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office report.

The report states Greenwood tied the youngster, who was in urine-soaked pants, to the soiled bed by his ankle. The second time the child was allegedly tied to the bed by his chest.

Woman Produced Counterfeit Money With Home Printer; Mother-in-Law Tipped Off Cops

A 44-year-old Land O’ Lakes woman was busted for forging U.S. currency.

Kelli McClain of Roundview Court printed out counterfeit bills on an HP printer inside her home and passed them off at a local supermarket and gas station, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office report.

Authorities said they were tipped off to the fake bills by McClain’s mother-in-law. McClain allegedly told deputies she needed money for food.


Police: Medication Stolen from Fire Rescue Truck During Call

Medications and supplies were stolen from a Tampa Fire Rescue truck while emergency responders handled a call, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Around 6 a.m. on Friday, a box with "several medication and medical supplies" was taken from Fire Engine 11 while Tampa Fire Rescue was on scene at a medical call at 2114 W. Burke Street near Seminole Heights, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Thief Drinks Liquor, Eats Before Stealing Flat Screen TV from Bar

An Ybor City bar was robbed earlier this week, but not before the suspect had a snack and an adult beverage.

Early Tuesday morning, someone entered the patio area of Gaspar's Grotto, 1805 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City, according to the Tampa Police Department. Before stealing a flat screen TV, the suspect emptied seven kegs of beer by draining them, according to a report from TPD.

The suspect also "ate food and drank liquor" before damaging the camera system, the report says.


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