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© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2002
Teens put rat in Subway; shop employee is bitten
SPRING HILL -- Four teenagers released a rat inside the Subway sandwich shop on Spring Hill Drive Tuesday.
A 38-year-old employee raced around the restaurant, crowded with students from Springstead High, and tried to catch it. She reached under a table to grab the rat, which bit her on the finger.
The teens fled but were later identified by a pet store owner who sold them the rat. Authorities found the teens at Springstead. They were not charged because deputies could not determine that a crime had been committed.
SPRING HILL -- A 19-year-old woman told authorities that a co-worker assaulted her and trapped her in a bedroom Tuesday.
Authorities charged Marcial Medina, 49, 16168 Schaffer St., with false imprisonment, battery, and giving alcohol to someone under 21.
The woman old authorities that she and Medina went swimming in Chassahowitzka and drank alcohol before returning to Medina's home. She said she fell asleep on his bed and awoke because Medina was on top of her.
Despite her protests, he tried to hold her on the bed, she told Hernando County sheriff's investigators.
She said Medina slapped her face and she scratched him. She said she tried to leave the bedroom but he locked the door. She said she finally escaped.
A passerby picked her up while she walked home, her blouse torn and lip swollen.
Medina told authorities he did not touch the woman and said she got mad because he would not let her use his car.