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Impostor thwarted at 2 schools

An outsider tries to get into the elementaries by posing as a workman, but leaves quickly after school personnel insist on seeing his ID.

By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published May 19, 2006

TAMPA - First, he tried to pass himself off as a private lighting company worker at Riverview Elementary School on Monday morning.

When school workers asked the man to show identification, he told them it was in his silver Buick. He went to his car and took off.

Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies looked for the man, but couldn't find him, spokesman J.D. Callaway said.

Then, someone made a similar move about 9:30 a.m. at Broward Elementary Tuesday. He pretended to be a plumber. School workers asked for his ID, and again he went to his car and drove off. Tampa police sent patrol cars to the area but couldn't find him, spokesman Larry McKinnon said.

"The internal security of the school worked," McKinnon said.

Schools spokesman Steve Hegarty agreed: "The guy never got anywhere."

Officials think the man might be the same person the Temple Terrace Police Department is tracking, Hegarty said. That man, who is black and heavyset, is featured as "Suspect No. 1" on the Temple Terrace police Web site: www.templeterrace.com/police/. The school suspect was described as black, 6-foot-2 and 275 pounds. Anyone who recognizes the man on the police Web site is asked to call Detective Anita Bridges at (813) 989-7110.

[Last modified May 19, 2006, 06:58:16]