Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Briefs

Man accused of letting dog die in car

By Times Staff
Published November 8, 2005

TAMPA - A New Jersey sex offender who recently moved to Tampa now stands accused of leaving his Jack Russell terrier inside a hot car for so long, the dog later died.

Lil Mamma, estimated to be between 2 and 3 years old, died Monday morning of apparent heatstroke, investigators said. On Sunday, owner Jose Matos, 50, of 2909 E Lake Ave., was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

According to Florida records, he registered here last month as a sex offender. He was convicted of a sexual assault in New Jersey, although further details of the case were not available.

Hillsborough County Animal Services investigators say a deputy on bicycle patrol at University Mall at 2 p.m. Sunday noticed the terrier inside a gray four-door sedan parked in front of Ruby Tuesday. The windows were cracked open only a few inches, according to investigators.

The dog was yelping and acting "erratically," according to animal services officials. When the deputy came back minutes later to check on the dog, she appeared even more distressed.

The deputy removed the dog from the vehicle, and Animal Services took her to Florida Veterinary Specialists of Tampa for emergency treatment of convulsions and heatstroke.

"She had the classic signs of heat stroke," Animal Services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said. "She was having seizures upon arrival. She was given IVs and fluids, but it was too late."

Motorcyclist dies in collision with vehicle

TAMPA - A 33-year-old Tampa man died Sunday after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a 1999 Dodge, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

William Harry Wood, 5408 Marlwood Court, was traveling west on Gunn Highway on his 1993 Kawasaki motorcycle when he struck the rear of the vehicle in front of him.

Wood died at the scene.

The driver of the Dodge was Jesus Wilfredo Minsal, 27, of 5718 N Lincoln Ave., Apt. D, in Tampa. No charges had been filed Monday. Officials were still investigating.

Sewer line cave-in closes Platt Street

TAMPA - A sewer line cave-in Monday prompted the closing of Platt Street from Plant Avenue east to Bayshore Boulevard. The street will remain closed for about a week while city crews repair the 24-inch pipeline. A detour will direct drivers north on Plant Avenue to Kennedy Boulevard.

No sewage overflows resulted from the cave-in, said city officials, and the sewage system in the area is still functioning.

Lit cigarette damages house, injures two

TAMPA - A Tampa woman fell asleep on her couch with a lit cigarette in hand, sparking a fire that did $20,000 in damage and left her and her husband suffering from minor burns and smoke inhalation.

Mary Garcia, 39, and Jose J. Garcia, 50, were awakened Monday morning by a smoke alarm. They tried and failed to pull the burning couch outside, according to a fire rescue report.

When Tampa Fire Rescue workers arrived at 7:46 a.m., smoke was coming from the one-story, 2,350-square-foot home at 4021 N Glen Ave., just east of Raymond James Stadium.

Rescue workers brought the fire under control within 20 minutes, according to a fire rescue report.

At the time of the fire, the Garcias' school-age son and the child's grandfather also were inside the house.

Mary and Jose Garcia were taken to St. Joseph's Hospital.

Boy, 8, in custody after gun incident

TAMPA - An 8-year-old boy with a history of mental problems is in protective custody after an incident Sunday night involving a .22-caliber rifle and a large knife.

According to a police report, the boy was riding in the back seat of his family's car with his 4-year-old brother. His mother and her fiance were in the front seat, traveling along Fowler Avenue shortly past 7 p.m.

The boy pulled out the rifle, which he had taken from his 23-year-old brother's bedroom and said he had "3,000 rounds" and would "kill the police" with them, according to police. His mother pulled the car over in a McDonald's parking lot at 900 E Fowler Ave. and got out of the car with her fiance and younger son.

The mother called police, said Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin. Officers persuaded the 8-year-old, who has previously threatened to kill himself and his mother, to put down the rifle and get out of the car.

They discovered the rifle wasn't loaded, but he had a large knife hidden in his pants, said Tampa police spokesman Joe Durkin.

The boy was taken to a crisis center.

Ruskin man dies when car hits truck

TAMPA - A Ruskin man died Sunday morning when his car crashed into a parked semitrailer truck and threw him onto the road.

Jorge Mora-Lopez, 23, of 2611 Ince Road was driving a 1995 Mercury Mystique north on U.S. 41 in the inside lane at 9:30 a.m., according to a Florida Highway Patrol report released Monday. He had a passenger, 25-year-old Jesus Lopez.

Maria Mendiola-Soto, 37, of 8901 Honeywell Road in Gibsonton was traveling in the outside lane in a 1993 Ford Astro van. Mora-Lopez lost control of the Mercury, collided with the van and spun into the east shoulder of U.S. 41, where a semitrailer truck was parked, according to the FHP.

Mora-Lopez hit the truck, his door came off and he flew out of the Mercury, tumbling 50 feet before coming to rest on the east shoulder. He died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, said FHP spokesman Trooper Larry Coggins.

Lopez and Mendiolo-Soto were taken to Brandon Regional Hospital for their injuries, which were not life threatening.

The truck driver, Steven M. Holmes, 49, of 1930 N U.S. Highway 301 in Tampa was not injured.

[Last modified November 8, 2005, 12:58:11]