Crime & Safety

OMG PD: Thief Grabs Crane Parts; Indecent Exposure in Jail

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

This story was reported and written by Associate Regional Editor Jason Bartolone.

Suspect Hops Fence, Steals Part Of A Crane

A robbery over the weekend netted thieves $1,500 worth of property, including part of a crane, according to the Tampa Police Department.

Sometime between Friday and Monday, someone entered fenced-in property by climbing over a chain link fence, police say. Once inside, the suspect took "various metals and the component base for a crane," police say, before fleeing.

The incident was not captured on video. The materials were worth about $1,500, police say.

Holiday Man Accused of Masturbating in Front of Jail Staff

Holiday man Jarvis Boatwright was in the Land O' Lakes jail this month when he stuck his sex organ through the bars of his cell and started masturbating while looking at a control room operator, according to a Pasco County Sheriff's Office's arrest report.

Boatwright, 26, of 1222 Darlington Road, was charged with indecent exposure in connection to the incident, which occurred June 9. 

He has an arrest record in Pasco that includes charges for indecent exposure, being a felon in possession of a weapon and possession of cocaine.

Crowbar Threat at Five Guys Restaurant Led to Man's Arrest, Deputies Say

A Palm Harbor man is accused of going to his former spouse's workplace and threatening another man with a crowbar.

An arrest affidavit says jealousy prompted Ramy Deon Ramirez Jr., 19, to go to the Five Guys restaurant in East Lake at 11:37 p.m. on June 14, 2013.

Ramirez got out of his vehicle with a 24-inch steel crowbar in his hand and threatened to hit Zachary Clarence Jardin Leclair with the tool. The crowbar was taken away during a physical altercation and Ramirez left the restaurant, according to the affidavit.

Homeless Man Takes $86 Worth of Steak Without Paying: Police

Tarpon Springs Police arrested David Ashcraft, 42, last weekend after he allegedly stole $86.45 worth of steak from a Sweetbay Supermarket in Tarpon Springs.

According to an arrest affidavit, the loss prevention officer at the grocery store watched Ashcraft place the steak under his shirt before exiting the store. He did not pay before leaving with the steak.

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Police: Diaper-Clad Kid Left in Downpour

A Clearwater woman was charged with felony child neglect after leaving three of her children home alone, according to Largo Police.

Teanna Marie Ketter was arrested and charged June 23 after a witness found a child wearing a diaper in the middle of the street during a downpour, according to arrest records.

After seeing the first child in the street, the witness entered Ketter's home and found another child alone and crying upstairs; an infant was also discovered wrapped up and laying on the living room floor, the report states.

The witness took custody of the three children and called the police.

Largo Firefighters Lose Job After Gun Incident

Two Largo firefighters have resigned and a third was placed on suspension, after the three failed to turn in a loaded gun to police that a resident had brought into Largo Station 40 in High Point.

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The Tampa Bay Times reports that the three were supposed to have contacted police or their supervisor and hand the gun over, after a good Samaritan found it and brought it into the station.

Instead the men reportedly took the gun apart to examine it and then placed it into a firefighter's glove compartment.

Teacher Had Student Put in Chokehold Until He Passed Out, Police Say

A former Largo High School teacher faces child abuse charges, after Largo Police say that he had a 16-year-old student choke another child until he passed out.

Thomas E. Farmer, 44, was arrested Wednesday in connection to an incident on May 30, two days before school ended for the summer. He also resigned from his position at the school.

According to police, a group of students was playing cards, when Farmer asked them to stop. The teacher then told the students that if they did not put the cards away he would allow another student to physically make them stop, according to police. The cards were not put away, and the 16-year-old was told by the teacher to choke one of the card-playing students, according to police

The 14-year-old victim later passed out, fell and hit his head.

Police: Man Batters Officer at Publix

A 55-year-old Treasure Island man has been charged with battery on a police officer after he was allegedly resisting arrest at the Treasure Island Publix, 111 104th Ave.

According to the arrest affidavit, a Publix employee on June 13 asked David Combs to leave the store, but he refused and tried to go back into the store. 

An officer later "had to physically move Combs and place him on a planter area to sit," the affidavit states. At that point, police said Combs fell backward and grabbed a handful of sand/dirt and threw it in the officer's face. 

Morton pulled out his Taser, and police said Combs then complied with instructions.

Police: Man Stabs Brother After Being Hit with Hammer

After being hit with a hammer, Carlos Webb allegedly stabbed his brother with a knife in self defense, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. 

Police said they responded to the scene around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of 9th Avenue South and determined that during a dispute, Emanuel Webb, 57, attacked his brother, Carlos Webb, 58, with a hammer.

According to police, Carlos Webb responded in self-defense by picking up a knife and stabbing Emmanuel Webb in the chest. 

Police said the nature of the dispute has not yet been determined, but alcohol does appear to be a factor.

Police: 30-Pound Box of Tile Used as Deadly Weapon

A Gulfport woman is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after she dropped a 30-pound box of tile on a sleeping victim's head, according to Gulfport Police.

Lisa Ann Buttry, 33, came home and found the person sleeping on the couch, according to Pinellas County arrest records. She then "lifted a box of (beige) floor tile above the victim's head and dropped it," causing a gash to the left side of the victim's head and ear, arrest records say.

Cops: Man Used Bike to Steal Lawnmower

A man stole a lawnmower from a Sarasota home last weekend and used a bicycle as a getaway vehicle, police said.

A neighbor spotted Michael Scott Barwick, 53, entering the carport of a home in the 5000 block of Stevens Drive around 2:21 p.m. Sunday, according to Sarasota Police.

A few minutes later, the neighbor said he saw Barwick pushing a lawnmower, tying it to a string on his bicycle and riding away. 

Officers caught up with Barwick on Tamiami Trail and brought him back to the home, where the homeowner told police he had not given Barwick permission to enter his property and take the lawnmower. He was arrested and charged with felony burglary.

Man, 84, Opens Fire on Robbery Suspect at His Bradenton Home

An 84-year-old Bradenton man who returned home to find a burglary suspect  confronted and then opened fire on the him as he fled, deputies say.

The elderly man came home around 5:35 p.m. Sunday to find a newer model Volkswagon in his driveway before a man "appeared from the victim's home," according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.

The victim confronted him with his pistol, and later fired two shots after the man got into his car and sped away, the report states.

"He believes one shot struck the door of the suspect's car," according to the report. The other shot struck the rear window of a neighbor's car across the street.

The Case of the Stolen Golf Carts

Four golf carts and a push mower were stolen from homes in the Village on the Greens manufactured-home park in Bradenton, authorities said.

The thefts happened at five separate lots in the 55-and-older community on 44th Avenue East sometime between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not have any suspects, according to the sheriff's report.


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