JAN. 9
SNEAKY, SNEAKY
2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft/Dealing in Stolen Property. The suspect came to the Plant City store and took merchandise she had not paid for to the customer service desk. She then presented a receipt from the Gibsonton Walmart in an attempt to obtain a refund on the merchandise. She received a partial refund, but the store would not refund two cases of beer and she was told to take them back to Gibsonton. The suspect then took the stolen beer to the Gibsonton store, where she was detained and arrested by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Additional charges were placed on the suspect by the Plant City Police Department for the theft and dealing in stolen property committed at the Plant City store.
SOMETHING FISHY
2200 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Uttering Forged Check. An unknown white female suspect attempted to use a stolen identification to cash a stolen check. When the teller began to question the suspect about the check, the suspect left.
CLICKER CRIME
4600 block of Copper Lane. Residential Burglary. The victim stated she left this morning and returned home after work to find her back sliding door had been opened. The victim said her Toshiba Satellite laptop, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and a Bright House TV remote were stolen.
DESPERATE TIMES …
2200 block of North Park Road. Drug Investigation. An officer walked past a parked vehicle in the store parking lot and saw a male sitting in the truck with a white substance packaged in clear plastic baggies consistent with illegal narcotics. The officer made contact with the suspect, who first attempted to hide the baggies and then attempted to swallow them. The officer was able to pull the suspect from the vehicle. After a brief struggle, the officer got the drugs and prevented the suspect from swallowing them. The drugs field tested positive for cocaine. The suspect was arrested for possession of 1.4 grams of cocaine, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest. He was later transported to Orient Road Jail.
JAN. 10
COPPER CRIMINAL
800 block of North Wheeler Street. Theft. Sometime in the past few weeks, unknown person(s) stole several feet of copper tubing and copper wiring from the outside of this house.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
600 block of North Maryland Avenue. Fraud/Counterfeit Check. An officer was working off-duty at the store, when the suspect came in and produced a fake Bank of America check to be cashed. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Orient Road Jail.
BAD BLOOD
1400 block of North Gordon Street. Aggravated Assault/Battery. The victim advised he was standing in the driveway of his residence, when a charcoal-colored Ford Fusion pulled up. A black male — about 20 years old, wearing all black, with dreadlocks — got out and called the victim a racial slur, and the victim did the same. The suspect then came up and punched the victim on the chin. The victim chased after the suspect, who got back into the vehicle. The vehicle then drove at the victim in an attempt to hit him, but the victim was able to get behind a tree. The suspect fled north on Gordon toward Frontage Road. There were two other black males in the vehicle. The vehicle was previously reported stolen.
JAN. 11
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft. Store loss-prevention officials advised a Hispanic male juvenile attempted to steal a wireless box adapter, valued at $129. The juvenile was released to his mother pending a court date.
A FEW TOO MANY
2900 block of West Reynolds Street. DUI. An officer responded to the business following a call about a vehicle parked in the closed business parking lot with a male possibly passed out in the driver seat. Upon the officer arrival, he observed a black male passed out behind the steering wheel and an open container of an alcoholic beverage in plain sight. The suspect was unable to stand without assistance and could not successfully complete field sobriety exercises. He was arrested for DUI, transported to Central Breath Testing and subsequently booked in at Orient Road Jail.
NOT TOO BRIGHT
Intersection of Evers and Bates streets. DUI. An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driving with no headlights from the area of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, south to Alsobrook Street. He made contact with the driver, who was unable to successfully complete field sobriety exercises. He was arrested, transported to Central Breath Testing and subsequently booked in at Orient Road Jail.
JAN. 12
SNACK ATTACK
2100 block of North Park Road. Criminal Mischief/Grand Theft. Overnight, unknown person(s) pried open a vending machine on the third floor of the hotel. The suspect(s) then stole more than $300 worth of snack food.
TECH TAKEN
600 block of West Ball Street. Vehicle Burglary. The victim stated someone damaged the door to his white 2002 Ford van and stole a KIU brand electronic tablet from the van. The tablet was entered into FCIC/NCIC as stolen.
FIREARM FOUND
900 block of North Ferrell Street. Theft of a Firearm. Officers responded to this home after the victim, an off-duty Zephyrhills Police Department officer, had his personal Glock .40-caliber handgun stolen from the top of his marked ZPD police vehicle, where he placed it and walked inside his residence for a few minutes. The gun was located later in the day by a citizen at the intersection of West Baker Street and Whitehall Street and returned to the owner.
FORKLIFTS?!? REALLY?!?
2400 block of Police Center Drive. Business Burglary. Officers responded reference a call of an attempted stabbing at the business. Upon officer arrival, the suspect was seen running north across the business property then across East Alexander Street and into a cow pasture. A K-9 officer gave verbal commands for the subject to stop running, and when the suspect refused, the police dog was deployed. The dog apprehended the suspect. It was determined that the suspect entered the building, which was closed to the public, and was attempting to steal two propane-powered forklifts. When the suspect was confronted by an employee about his illegal entry into the building and attempted theft of the forklifts, the suspect produced an unknown metal weapon, possibly scissors, and threatened the employee with them before fleeing. The suspect was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail.
JUVENILE BEHAVIOR
2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft. A white male juvenile attempted to steal a pair of Flipswitch brand headphones, valued at $119.88. The juvenile was released to his mother and will participate in the juvenile diversion program.
JUST LOOKING
200 block of Citrus Landing Drive. Attempted Vehicle Burglary. The victim called when he noticed some lawn chairs that had been in the trunk of his Mazda RX8 lying on the ground. He checked the vehicle and determined that an unknown suspect had rummaged through the vehicle, but nothing was missing or damaged.
FAST RESPONSE
1100 block of Old Mossy Court. Vehicle Burglary. The complainant advised that he looked outside and saw a Hispanic male wearing a tan jacket, plaid shorts and black gloves inside his girlfriend’s vehicle, a 2008 Nissan Altima. When the complainant went outside to confront the subject, the subject rode off on a bike. As officers arrived in the area, a search was conducted, and the subject was located on the corner of Prosser Drive and Hunter Street. The subject was detained, and the complainant made a positive ID on the suspect, who was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail.
BACKDOOR ENTRY
2500 block of Thonotosassa Road. Business Burglary. Officers responded to the AT&T wireless store in reference to an alarm call. Upon arrival, it was observed that a hole was created by removing cinder blocks from the rear of the building. The subjects were gone prior to police arrival and entry. The manager responded and advised that it looked as though only some iPad cases were taken, but no phones or other electronics were missing.
MISSING MUSIC
1100 block of Old Mossy Court. Vehicle Burglary. The victim reported someone entered her unlocked Ford Explorer and took an unknown-brand car stereo.