Teen arrested after burglary spree in Seffner and Dover
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office determined a teenager committed a string of burglaries in June and July, and announced his arrest Tuesday.
HCSO said William McDougal, 16, burglarized several businesses and properties in Seffner and Dover between June 26 and July 30. McDougal now faces misdemeanor and felony charges for the Hillsborough County burglaries and also has a warrant for his arrest out of Polk County for additional charges of burglary and grand theft.
The crime spree began June 26, when HCSO said McDougal forced entry into Collier’s Mower Repair in Seffner and stole cash from the register as well as a DVR used for surveillance video, valued in total at $390.
One month later, at 2 a.m. on July 27, he and an unidentified suspect entered a barn in Dover through a detached door and stole three dirt bikes and two chain saws, a total value of $4,500. The pair were caught on video. McDougal and an unidentified suspect went to Parkesdale Farms later that morning, broke a surveillance camera and stole a John Deere Gator HPX vehicle valued at $4,000.
HCSO said McDougal’s last three burglaries were committed on July 29 and 30. McDougal entered a closed barn in Dover during the morning of July 29 and stole three dirt bikes, a mountain bike, lawn equipment and tools valued together at $7,850. Sometime that night, he and an unidentified suspect took a Yamaha YZF R3 motorcycle valued at $10,000 from a driveway in Seffner. On July 30, he dismantled a privacy fence surrounding a Seffner property to enter it and steal a Polaris ATV, valued at $12,000. Police said he successfully started both the Yamaha and the Polaris damaging the ignitions, using a screwdriver for the Polaris, and also damaged the ignition of another ATV on the Seffner property on July 30 but failed to start the engine.
McDougal was arrested the next evening, July 31, and charged with Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (x9), Criminal Mischief $200 or Less (x4), Burglary of an Unoccupied Structure (x3), Burglary of an Unoccupied Structure while Wearing a Mask, Grand Theft Third Degree ($750-$5,000) and Grand Theft Third Degree ($5,000-$10,000).
HCSO deputies are looking for the unidentified suspect who accompanied McDougal in several of the burglaries. Anyone with information is asked to call 813-247-8200.
PCPD identifies suspect in Bethune Drive shooting
Plant City Police Department said Tuesday it has identified a suspect in the July 22 shooting on Bethune Drive.
Criminal charges were filed and an arrest warrant was issued for Rodarius Recardo Young, 22, of Zephyrhills, on one count of Attempted First Degree Murder. PCPD believes Young has either left Florida or is planning to and may be with his girlfriend, Arshaneki Wright, 26, of Plant City. The department believes they may be in Wright’s 2009 black Chevrolet Impala sedan with the tag NVY Y25. That was not the vehicle described at the scene of the shooting, which was a silver Nissan sedan.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Schairer of the Plant City Police Department at 813-757-9200.
Elks donate to food bank
The Plant City Elks Lodge took advantage of another grant opportunity from the Elks National Foundation and lent another helping hand to the United Food Bank of Plant City.
Elks members Tina Goodwien and Judy Wise presented a $2,000 check to the food bank on July 31. Since April, the Plant City Elks have given $7,500 in grant funds and member donations to the UFB.
“Our Plant City lodge determined the best way to assist our community at this time is through the food bank,” Wise said.
Help local teachers get supplies
During a normal school year, teachers have to dig into their own pockets to fill their classrooms with school supplies. Teachers are now facing a new year with new hurdles. So much is still up in the air about the next school year, but teachers can’t wait until the last minute to decide if they’re stocking their classroom or not.
We want to help.
Are you an educator with an Amazon wishlist for your upcoming class? Do you know a teacher that has a public shopping list? If so, visit our Facebook page, see the below listed post, comment a link to the list and state which school you teach at. Teachers can post their wishlist links and readers can then skim the comments to have a simple and clear way to lend a hand.
Visit facebook.com/PlantCityObserver/posts/3268712009859477.
HCSO promotes storm safety
Though Hurricane Isaias didn’t have a major effect on Hillsborough County, Sheriff Chad Chronister still wanted to remind residents there’s no time like the present to get ready for hurricane season.
“We never know for sure where a storm or hurricane will hit, but it’s not too early to start getting ready,” Chronister said in a July 29 public service announcement.
Chronister encouraged taking several steps:
- Know Your Risk: Visit HillsboroughCounty.Org to determine if your home is in an evacuation zone.
- Prepare for the Worst: Stock up on water, batteries, flashlights, cleaning supplies and non-perishable foods for your family.
- Have A Plan: Decide in advance where your family and pets will go if severe weather hits.
To view the PSAs in English or Spanish, visit the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office YouTube page.
Seniors targeted in recent scams
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is cautioning senior citizens to keep their guard up as it investigates a series of scams that has hit the area recently.
HCSO said in a press release that an unknown caller is targeting seniors and telling them a relative was either arrested or involved in an accident and needs anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 to pay for bonds, bills or attorney fees. Victims are asked to put the cash in an envelope or box and give it to a courier. The sheriff’s office has been investigating at least five such cases and asks anyone who believes they’ve been targeted in this scam to call 813-247-8200.
“As our detectives work to identify and catch the people behind this heartless and abusive crime, we urge others to remain alert and listen for red flags whenever they get a call from someone they don’t know,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.