OMG PD: Shot at Starbucks, Firearm Near School, Wendy's Grease Theft

Man With Loaded Firearm Arrested Near Turkey Creek

A self-proclaimed "sovereign citizen" was arrested on school grounds in Plant City, after the suspect, Bruce Charmers Hicks, 46, strolled by Turkey Creek Middle School on May 16 with a "small firearm holstered on his left hip," according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Hicks, a resident of Plant City, at 5004 Calhoun Road, reportedly now faces charges of possession of a firearm on school property, felon in possession of a firearm and the open carrying of a firearm. It was reported that he had an extensive crimial history, including lewd or lascivious molestation of victims under age 18.

Starbucks Patron Shot When Friend's Gun Discharges

Forget the shot of espresso. A woman having coffee at Starbucks in Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg this past weekend was shot in the calf when her friend's gun discharged from inside her purse.

According to an article in the Tampa Bay Times, 38-year-old Amiee Peterson of Pinellas Park did not even realize that she had been shot until she saw blood oozing from her leg.

Her friend, 51-year-old Pamela Back, also of Pinellas Park, told police that she kept the gun in her purse, but had never taken it out or cleaned it, since her father had given her the .25 caliber firearm.

Mailbox Crash Uncovers Urination in Pants

Jeffrey Lannon Porter, a habitual offender who has been arrested and charged multiple times for DUI and driving on a suspended or revoked license, was arrested again earlier this month following a traffic stop in Largo.

A Largo Police officer stopped Porter after witnessing his red Jeep crash into a mailbox and then leave the scene on May 7, according to an arrest report.

Porter was pulled over outside of 201 36th St. SE, where the officer reported that Porter admitted to possibly striking the mailbox and showed signs of impairment. 

Those signs included slurred speech, an odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes and urination in his pants, according to the report.

Car Slams Into Dillard's at Countryside Mall

A driver intentionally crashed his Honda Accord into Dillard's Department Store at Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater, sparking a fire on the east side of the building Wednesday, according to police.

Ellis Vaughn, the 64-year-old driver, was extricated and transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa with serious but non-life threatening injuries and burns, according to Clearwater Police. He has since been transferred to Tampa General.

Vaughn told investigators that he was trying to commit suicide and drove his vehicle at a high rate of speed into the building, according to investigators. The crash occurred at about 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Accused Wendy's Grease Thieves Can't Slip Sarasota Police

Two men are charged with stealing used cooking and fryer grease from a Wendy's in Sarasota and may be responsible for similar crimes in Pinellas County, authorities said Friday.

The duo was seen using a white truck to extract the grease from a storage system attached to the inside of the fast food restaurant at 1601 S. Tamiami Trail around 3:30 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. When the restaurant's manager noticed the men were not wearing the normal uniform and were acting unusual, he called police.

A patrol officer found the two men and the truck later that night at Fruitville Road and Shade Avenue, police said. One of them, 23-year-old Leroy L. Shorter of Pinellas Park, is also charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence after he attempted to eat a piece of marijuana when officers pulled the truck over, according to an arrest report.

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