NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County sheriff's deputies responding to a break-in at Calusa Elementary School early Saturday arrested a man found inside a portable classroom. According to arrest reports, deputies who responded to reports of a burglary at the school about 1:30 a.m. peered through a window and saw Matthew Cory Anderson, 18, of Mockernut Lane, Port Richey, inside, viewing pornography on a computer.
Entering the classroom, the deputy reported noting the man's shorts were pulled partially down.
A kitchen knife was found on a desk near the computer, and Anderson admitted using the knife to pry his way inside the classroom so he could use the computer and sexually stimulate himself, the report said.
Anderson admitted he had done the same thing repeatedly over the past year, according to the arrest report.
He was charged with armed burglary and taken to the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes and booked on $100,000 bail. A judge on Saturday agreed to release Anderson on his own recognizance.
Babies left home alone leads to neglect chargeHOLIDAY - Leaving two babies home alone for more than four hours Friday led to the arrest of a Holiday man on a charge of child neglect, Pasco County sheriff's deputies reported Saturday.
According to arrest reports, a deputy was called to Tricon Lane Apartments about 4:30 p.m. about two children crying inside one of the apartments. The deputy reported investigating and finding a newborn and a 2-year-old, both girls, inside, but no adults.
The children's mother, Kelly Zigander, came to the scene and said she left the girls in the care of their father, Jeremy Adam Dodds, 25, while she went to work.
The father returned about 6:30 p.m. and admitted he left the children about 2 p.m. and "lost track of time." A deputy reported he smelled of alcohol.
He was charged with child neglect and taken to the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes, where he remained Saturday on $5,000 bail.
Moving van hits parked patrol carHOLIDAY - A Pasco County sheriff's deputy escaped injury Friday afternoon when a moving van crashed into his patrol car at a convenience store, according to Sheriff's Office reports.
Authorities said Deputy Matt Cohen was at a 7-Eleven store along U.S. 19 in Holiday about 4 p.m. when a moving van driven by Carl Leon Wilson, 33, of Tampa, made a sharp turn in the parking lot and crashed into his patrol car.
No charges were filed and no injuries were reported. The investigation was turned over to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Man at garden center reports being muggedNEW PORT RICHEY - A 61-year-old man told Pasco County sheriff's deputies he was mugged about 3:45 p.m. Friday at a garden center.
According to deputies, the man said he was loading sod at the Balogh Garden Center, 8751 Ridge Road, when a man walked up, pushed him against a truck, and held him there while grabbing for his wallet.
The victim said the robber got about $900, then walked away and got into a white car.
No detailed description of the robber was available Saturday.