OMG PD: Osprey Shooting, Marble Slingshots, Child Given Mushrooms

Osprey Found Shot in East Lake 

An osprey that was found shot in East Lake has had its injured wing amputated. The female osprey was found injured Saturday morning near the Pinellas Trail, just off East Lake Road and across from East Lake United Methodist Church.

Ospreys are protected by Florida statute and federal law.

Tarpon Springs Man Allegedly Hits Doctor with Car Multiple Times

A Tarpon Springs man has been accused of striking a doctor at Florida Hospital North Pinellas "three to four times" with his car after hitting the doctor in the face.  

According to the arrest affidavit, 32-year-old Robert Ratliff began yelling at the doctor while he was looking at medical paperwork. He then hit the doctor with his open right hand, police said.

When he left the hospital, the doctor followed. Ratliff then allegedly got into his vehicle and began backing up and striking the doctor multiple times with his vehicle at a slow speed. 

A Dunedin man was arrested over the weekend and accused of DUI and kicking a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy in the face. 

Jason Sutton 33, refused breath, blood or urine tests to check his blood alcohol content after he was pulled over last Saturday in Holiday, deputies said. He then began to walk away and bowed his shoulders back assumed a fighting posture, according to a report.

He was then arrested. While being placed in the rear of the patrol car, he kicked a Pasco Sheriff’s sergeant in the left cheek, according to the report.

Clearwater Police say 21 businesses and seven vehicles were apparently hit with marbles shot from a slingshot from Saturday night into Sunday. 

Police arrested the suspects, Dominick Zambrano, 24, and Seth Cazalas, 22, on charges of shooting a deadly missile at an occupied vehicle and
criminal mischief.

The incidents occurred at the beach, downtown and in other parts of Clearwater. The suspects broke windows at a Surf Style, Bob Heilman's Beachcomber, Peace Memorial and Calvary Baptist Church, police said. 

Clearwater Church Burglary Suspect Arrested in St. Petersburg

A man suspected of burgarlizing two Clearwater churches was arrested by St. Petersburg Police Thursday.

Scott Edward Regan, 44, was arrested and charged with burglary and grand theft at Grace Lutheran Church and burglary at Skycrest United Methodist Church, according to police.

A church van also was stolen during the Grace Lutheran Church incident after the keys were obtained in the break in. It was recovered a short time later near Crest Lake Park. Money was also taken from two other churches last month.

Police: Largo Man Gave Child Hallucinogenic Mushroom

A 19-year-old Largo man is in jail after allegedly feeding a child a hallucinogenic mushroom Feb. 23.

According to the arrest affidavit, Ryan Parris knowingly bought illegal mushrooms and gave them to a child to eat. The child's age was not released by police.

Parris has been charged with child abuse and is currently awaiting trial at the Pinellas County Jail on a $10,000 bond. 

Jeffrey William LaChance, 24, of St. Petersburg, admitted to sending a 15-year-old girl text messages soliciting her for sex in return for money and a photo of his private parts, authorities say.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, the 15-year-old girl showed the text messages in December to her grandmother, who informed police.

Detective questioned LaChance on Wednesday, March 6, at which time he admitted to the text messages, police say. He also told detectives that at one time he was a youth group leader at a local church and had found the teen through Facebook.

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