Crime & Safety

OMG PD: Wig-Wearing Bank Robber; Rooftop Burglaries

OMG PD is a roundup of the week's "oh my gosh" crime stories.

This story was written by Patch Associate Regional Editor Jason Bartolone.

Girl, 7, Left in Median as Madeira Beach Man Flees DUI Crash

A Madeira Beach man is behind bars after authorities say he crashed into a telephone pole and left the scene, dropped a 7-year-old child passenger off in a median, hit two more cars and took off again Wednesday night.

Deputies eventually caught up with 41-year-old Grant Everett Mulder — who faces a litany of charges, including DUI, child abuse, driving with a suspended/revoked license and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage — at 113th Street and Ulmerton Road in Largo.

When Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies arrested Mulder and placed him in their cruiser he also tried to kick the windows out, they said.

Man Charged with Breaking Into Fumigated Homes

St. Petersburg Police have charged a man with six counts of residential burglary after he allegedly broke into several tented, fumigated homes. 

Police arrested Christopher Alexander, 25, Monday after responding to a burglary in the 4200 block of 32nd Avenue North. 

According to police, a resident at the home saw Alexander attempting to break into his house through the back door.

K-9 Rex Collars Restaurant Rooftop Burglar, Deputies Say

K-9 Rex of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office cornered an alleged burglar inside a Thai restaurant Thursday, after scaling a ladder and discovering the rooftop hole where the suspect had entered the building.

Deputies say that Bryon Newville, 29, will face an aggravated burglary charge, after he is released from the hospital, where he is being treated for injuries sustained when he fell through the ceiling of the Thai Spice Restaurant, 6233 14th St. W., Bradenton.

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Sarasota Deputies Investigate Rooftop Burglary of Jewelry Store

Authorities are looking for clues in locating whoever is responsible for an early morning rooftop burglary of a jewelry store at Westfield Sarasota Square mall.

The Sarasota Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene July 5, shortly after a 4:17 a.m. burglary alarm sounded, where investigators found evidence of forced entry on the roof of Kay Jewelers, 8201 Tamiami Trail.

Wig-Wearing Bank Robbery Suspect Charged in Clearwater

A man is charged with donning wigs to rob banks in Clearwater and Belleair in the past two months, according to police.

Daniel Christopher Williams, 29, of Largo, was arrested Sunday and charged with strong-arm robbery in connection with the May 24 heist at 1st United Bank, 1465 S. Fort Harrison Ave.

In that robbery, the suspect entered the Clearwater bank at 10:36 a.m. May 24 wearing a woman's wig, sunglasses, soft black gloves and a yellow polo shirt. He handed the teller a note demanding cash and then ran from the scene, police said.

Clearwater detectives learned Williams had been taken into custody by the Belleair Police Department on another bank robbery that occurred there, in which a suspect wore a wig of dreadlocks and a happy-faced doo rag as part of a disguise.

49 Trash Bags Of Synthetic Drugs Seized In Raid

Clearwater Police removed 49 black trash bags filled with synthetic marijuana during a raid at the Hillcrest Store in the city's East Gateway Thursday. 

The retail value of the 18,000 packages of seized drugs is estimated at $300,000, according to police. 

Weapons were also taken during the search. 


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