Crime & Safety

OMG PD: Naked Man in Dunkin' Donuts, Prisoner Escapes, High School Fireworks

We compile the odd, unusual 'oh my gosh' police items from throughout the Tampa Bay region.

Prisoner Escapes in Tarpon Springs

Officials are searching for an inmate who escaped from the Tarpon Springs Work Release Center last Friday.

Anthony Pruitt, 22, was last seen at the Brady Road facility around 8:30 p.m., The Tampa Bay Times reports, citing the Tarpon Springs Police Department. A search that included police dogs and a helicopter reportedly turned up empty.

According to reports, Pruitt has been convicted of cocaine and marijuana possession, grand theft and burglary.

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Thief Gets Away on Stolen Bike

A getaway vehicle wasn’t necessary for one Tampa thief.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the man swiped a ride from the University Bicycle Center, 1220 Fletcher Ave. E., Temple Terrace, around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 13.

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Deputies say the suspect walked into the store, took a seat off a Giant Revel Aluxx 6000 series bicycle, walked past the last point of sale and rode the bike away in a northwest direction.

They’re now looking for that man on a grand theft charge.

Naked Man Runs Through Dunkin' Donuts

A naked man who hid his face with a white shirt ran through a Dunkin' Donuts shop in Manatee County on Monday night.

A surveillance video showed that the man did have shoes and socks on — but nothing else — when he entered the doughnut shop, at 612 10th St. E., Palmetto, the Bradenton Herald reported.

The streaker did not stop and order a doughnut or try to linger in the store. He has not yet been identified, authorities said.

A 28-year-old suspect driving without a license has been captured by deputies after trying to ram a patrol car and leading officers on a chase through Bradenton and Palmetto, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

The chase ended when Bryan Johnson, the suspect, tried to exit his own vehicle and jump into a vehicle driven by his 67-year-old mother, whom he had phoned to pick him up.

Johnson faces charges that include: aggravated assault on an office, fleeing to elude, habitual driver without a license, vehicle pursuit and cocaine possession, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

A call about a possible "active shooter scenario" turned out to be fireworks set off at Hillsborough High School's campus in Tampa.

The Tampa Police Department responded to the call within minutes Thursday afternoon. In all, 53 police officers showed up and searched the school, floor by floor. During the search they found lit fireworks on campus. Police believe that the fireworks resulted in the noise that caused concern.

Detectives were interviewing students in an attempt to determine who set off the fireworks.


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