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Temple Terrace police, suspect trade gunfire

By Times Staff
Published October 25, 2005

TEMPLE TERRACE - A suspect who fired at two police officers who returned fire got away and remained at large Monday night.

Temple Terrace police sought Shaka Aquil, 31, of Brandon after he fired at them after a traffic stop at 3:30 a.m. Monday near Big Lots parking lot at E Busch Boulevard and 50th Street, according to Temple Terrace police.

As Aquil ran south through the parking lot, the two officers fired at him but missed, police said. No one was injured.

Derek McCalla, 33, of Brandon, who was with Aquil, was arrested at the scene and charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine as well as a charge of felon in possession of a firearm, according to police and county jail records.

McCalla remained in the county jail Monday night on $25,000 bail.

Tampa police helped search for Aquil, but he has not been found, police said.

The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on standard administrative leave pending a review of the case, police said.

Two men held in pharmacy robbery

TAMPA - Two Brandon men are being held in the county jail on felony charges after the theft of more than $20,000 in powerful prescription drugs from a Brandon pharmacy Sunday night.

Ronald Patient, 40, of 112 Versant Drive Apt. 204; and Leo Carl Behrens, 25, of 709 Red River Court Apt. 12, are accused of using a crowbar to pry open the front door of the Better Health Pharmacy, 2007 S Parsons Ave., at 10:40 p.m..

According to Hillsborough County sheriff's investigators, Patient and Behrens then used burglary tools to get into a locked drawer containing drugs such as OxyContin and oxycodone. Patient wore a mask and gloves; Behrens wore only gloves, according to a sheriff's report.

The men stuffed the prescription medications into a duffel bag, left through a window and fled the property, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

Deputies caught them nearby, handcuffed them and took them to jail.

Behrens and Patient are each charged with burglary of a structure, possession of a burglary tools, second-degree grand theft, criminal mischief and trafficking in illegal drugs. Patient also is charged with obstructing an officer and obstruction by a disguised person, according to jail records.

[Last modified October 25, 2005, 15:18:45]