A Tampa Bay area sheriff’s deputy has accepted a five-day suspension for allowing a DUI suspect to escape from her patrol car and drive off, eventually killing a motorcyclist.
A report released Tuesday recommends that Pasco County Deputy Ashley G. be suspended for violating prisoner custody and transport regulations.
The report said the 23-year-old Ashley left a window of her patrol car down while Brittany M. was in custody in the back seat after a May 10 traffic stop. Deputies say the 21-year-old Brittany got one hand free of her cuffs and escaped, speeding off in her pickup truck and injuring Ashley when the deputy tried to stop her.
Deputies say Brittany blew through a red light at an intersection and killed a man riding a motorcycle. She is now charged with his murder.
Facing DUI charges in Pasco? If so, contact a Pasco County DUI defense attorney at Musca Law today for a free legal consultation.
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Authorities were searching for three siblings on Friday they said were on a “violent mission” after allegedly shooting at a Florida police car and robbing a south Georgia bank.
A U.S. magistrate judge on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Ryan D., 21, Dylan S., 26, and Lee Grace D., 29, in connection with the August 2 robbery of a bank in Valdosta, Georgia.
“Understand that these fugitives are on a violent mission and must be stopped by any means possible before they harm another innocent person or a law enforcement officer,” a Florida sheriff and police chief said in a joint statement.
In Georgia, one of the suspects carried an AK-47 assault rifle as they entered the bank dressed in black and wearing masks, a statement from the FBI in Atlanta said.
Shots were fired at the ceiling, and everyone in the bank was ordered to get down. The three suspects escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, the FBI said.
They were last seen in a white, four-door 2006 Subaru Impreza, with the New York license tag FBE 5900, the FBI said.
The siblings are also suspected of shooting at a Zephyrhills, Florida police officer’s patrol vehicle earlier that same day.
The officer was in pursuit of a white, four-door car for speeding when suspects inside the car shot at the officer and disabled the patrol vehicle. The officer was not hurt.
The FBI said the siblings should be considered armed and dangerous.
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Another west Pasco business was hit Wednesday by “smash and grab” criminals: Mama Mia Pizzeria at 14038 Hicks Road. The door was shattered at 1:10 a.m. Petty cash was stolen.
Nineteen west side businesses have been burglarized with the same method since July 1.
“This is a crime spree,” said Sgt. Chris Beaman of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. He said the county has had these types of crimes in the past — criminals smash a window or door and grab whatever they can — but not this many.
“We need the public’s help” to identify suspects, Beaman said.
Surveillance videos can be viewed at youtube.com/pascosheriff.
Three juvenile suspects were recently arrested in a dozen such burglaries, and authorities say two suspects are still at large: James Keith Hudson, 45, and Michael C. O’Neill, 26.
More suspects are likely, authorities said. Beaman asked anyone with information about the crimes to call Detective William Wood toll-free at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7277. Anonymous calls can be left on the tips line at 1-800-706-2488.
At Musca Law, we don’t support robberies or the like, but we do understand many mistakes are made when making arrest and charging people with crimes. If you’d like to fight any allegations law enforcement has made against you in Pasco County, contact our Pasco defense lawyer today for a free legal consultation.
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John M. was watching television about 8 p.m. Sunday when he heard the loud crashing of broken glass and a man’s yells.
“I looked out my window and this guy was smashing a toilet against my neighbor’s front door,” said John, 60.
After the toilet had shattered, the man hurled porcelain chunks at the front door. Then he ripped electrical wires out of the meter box before smashing the plastic piping of the front yard water well on Palatine Drive, according to Pasco County Sheriff Office reports.
John told the man to leave the house, which belongs to his nephew, 44-year-old Grady M. Authorities later identified the man as Kenneth S. They say Kenneth, 46, went on the rampage because Grady was taking too long on a beer run.
Earlier Sunday evening, Kenneth and Grady were drinking beers in the front yard. Kenneth gave him $6 to buy more.
Grady took off on a bicycle, pedaling through the summer heat while Kenneth waited.
A witness told deputies he saw Kenneth pacing in front of the house, then he grabbed the toilet in the front yard.
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Family and friends of 19-year-old Samuel S., beaten to death at a party early Sunday morning, said he had declined to fight the man accused of killing him and was attacked while seated.
Mary S. described her 6-foot, 6-inch son as a “gentle giant.” Samuel had graduated from Wiregrass High School last year and was trying to find a job.
“He was a good kid,” she said. “He didn’t do drugs and only drank once in a great while – like a lot of teenagers do. He’d do anything for you.
“I know he was sitting down (when he was attacked). He blindsided him.”
Richard S., 27, is charged with second-degree murder in the beating.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Samuel was seated in a lawn chair when the 5-foot-9-inch, 150-pound Richard began hitting him in the face and head. Richard continued beating Samuel after he was unconscious, the sheriff’s office said.
Richard was arrested at his home on 18th Street in Zephyrhills around 10 a.m. Sunday morning. He was being held without bail in the Land O’ Lakes Jail Monday afternoon.
Samuel’s girlfriend, Rheannon, and sister, Jamie, said they also were at the party at 4422 Transue Drive early Sunday.
“Earlier that night, Richard acted like he had a problem with Sam, but they confronted each other and decided to let it go,” Rheannon said. “They were toe to toe. Sam said he didn’t know (Richard) and didn’t have any problems with him. Richard said, ‘Let’s keep it that way.’ ”
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County commissioners preparing to put the final touches on next year’s budget got an unexpected windfall this week when Sheriff Chris Nocco said he plans to return $1.1 million unspent in the current year.
Constitutional officers routinely give back so-called “excess fees” to county officials, who can spend them in the upcoming budget that takes effect Oct. 1. This year’s amount is on the high end of what the Sheriff’s Office usually gives back.
During Sheriff Bob White’s tenure, he often asked that commissioners plug the unspent fees back into law enforcement. Nocco, who was appointed sheriff after White retired in April, made no such request this year. The sheriff’s budget was $86 million.
“It’s a lot better than what we’ve received in the past,” said County Administrator John Gallagher.
The money gives commissioners some wiggle room as they begin negotiations on the proposed $1 billion county spending plan. But it might not take long to spend the new cash. Consider some possibilities:
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There’s a new way to check on whether your neighbor was assaulted without leaving your own home.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has redesigned its website, and it now features a link to a digital map (https://www.crimereports.com/)that displays crimes in neighborhoods in its jurisdiction.
“It’s a real picture of what is happening,†Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said.
The map, the link to which is at the top of the Sheriff’s Office homepage, is maintained and updated through a $2,388 annual contract with CrimeReports, the largest public crime-mapping and citizen tip network in North America, according to a press release.
Updated nightly, the map plots out a variety of incidents, including thefts, traffic violations, assault, robberies, break-ins, arson, family offenses, weapons offenses, property crimes, vehicle theft, deaths, burglaries from vehicles and quality of life crimes. It shows incidents that happened in the last 90 days.
What isn’t included? Some crimes not tracked are sex offenses, although registered sex offenders are identified, and child abuse and neglect incidents. The map also only tracks Sheriff’s Office data and not information from any of the county’s other policing agencies.
Users can sign up for email alerts so they can get updates quickly.
The map is touted as part of Sheriff’s plan to move the agency toward Intelligence-Led Policing.
ILP uses information gathering and analysis to attempt to prevent crime. It focuses on the belief that 6 percent of a population commits 60 percent of the crime
The technique is a key component of Nocco’s $83.3-million budget request for Fiscal Year 2011-2012. It involves networking with other police agencies and getting community members, nonprofits, businesses and others involved.
Another big part o the site overhaul is an anonymous tip button at the top of the home screen. It allows users to email tips to the sheriff’s office, and the tips will also be deposited into the agency’s planned clearinghouse of information to be used for ILP. There’s a box for them to include their name, but the tips will be unanimous. Other icons on top of the homescreen link to the Sheriff’s Office’s YouTube account, Twitter account and Facebook fan page. Links to who’s in custody, active calls and a sex offender alert system have been added on the side of the page along with others.
The goal of redesigning the website was to get visitors the information needed in two clicks, Nocco said. Nocco said his agency wants to be able to send information quickly to people’s smart phones and computers.
“The biggest thing for us is simplicity,” Nocco said.
The Sheriff’s Office does not have an app, but CrimeReports does.
CrimeReports Map Legend
- B=Breaking and Entering
- H=Homicide
- R=Robbery
- T=Theft
- V=Theft of vehicle
- TV= Theft from vehicle
- VR=Vehicle Recovery
- A=Assault
- P=Property Crime
- O=Other
- Q=Quality of Life
- Upside Down triangle= Registered Sex Offender
If you’re facing criminal charges in Pasco County, it’s time you did something about it. Contact a Pasco defense attorney at our firm today for a free legal consultation.
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A Pasco man was formally charged Tuesday in the brutal death of his younger sister.
Aaron V., 28, is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with second-degree murder, with a special allegation that it was an act of domestic violence.
If convicted, he could face a sentencing of 10 to 18 years in prison, said Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant.
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Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating two shootings in Wesley Chapel that occurred earlier this week.
According to Kevin Doll, sheriff’s office spokesman, the shootings do not appear to be connected. He did say, however, that both appear to be prescription drug related. Both crimes occurred in the evening hours, just miles outside of New Tampa.
In the first incident, a 41-year-old man was inside his home on Eastport Drive around 9:25 p.m. Monday when a masked intruder broke in and shot him in the face. Doll said the victim was selling prescription drugs out of his home. The victim was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Doll added.
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The “detox” unit has become the busiest unit inside the Pasco County Jail. According to the commander of the sheriff’s detention division, Major Ed Beckman, most of the people booked into the detox unit had taken some sort of prescription pills.
“Oxycodone , roxycodone and psychotrophoic medications like Xanax,” he said.
The jail holds 1,390 inmates. As of the end of May this year, nearly 1,200 people had passed through the detox unit — almost enough to fill the entire jail.
“You would never have guessed in a million years that it would get to this point,” Major Beckman remarked.
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