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Tampa Bay briefs

Briefs from around the area.

By Times Staff
Published June 9, 2006

Pinellas deputy charged with DUI while off duty

ST. PETERSBURG - A deputy at the Pinellas County jail was arrested Thursday on charges of driving under the influence, the Sheriff's Office said.

Kristine Hammack, 32, was stopped for speeding around 12:30 a.m. at 46th Avenue N and 78th Lane N, authorities said. She was travelling 48 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone.

Hammack refused to submit to a breath test, the arrest report said. A sheriff's deputy wrote that she had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. She failed field sobriety tests.

Hammack, a sheriff's employee for six years, was off duty at the time of the arrest. She was released after posting $250 bail.

Because the Sheriff's Office arrested Hammack on a misdemeanor charge, she was not placed on administrative leave.

Insurer won't pay dead mother's medical claims

PLANT CITY - The company that provides medical insurance to the family of a young pregnant woman who died after a nurse gave an overdose of a drug to slow early labor will refuse to pay any related health claims, a spokesman for the family said Thursday.

Elisha Crews Bryant, 18, was seven months pregnant when she went to South Florida Baptist Hospital with early labor pains. A doctor ordered magnesium sulfate, a common treatment to stop premature labor, but a nurse administered too much.

Bryant died a few hours later, on May 26. Her son, Levi, survived and was delivered by emergency caesarean section.

During a news conference Wednesday, hospital officials acknowledged the mistake and apologized.

The Bryants' attorney, Doug Burnetti, received word Thursday that the insurer, Tower Insurance Co., intended not to pay medical claims related to the mother and the baby, who is in neonatal intensive care, because a third party caused the events.

Family spokesman Bill Frederick said the decision came as a surprise, because insurance companies generally pay claims, then seek the responsible party to recoup the money. The family's medical costs have not been determined, he said.

Bill Ulbricht, the hospital's chief operating officer, has said the hospital offered to pay all medical bills for the family, but the Bryants' attorney said he has received no such offer.

Tampa City Council delays tax district decision

TAMPA - The City Council on Thursday postponed a vote on a special taxing district that would help redevelop Central Park Village, an aging public housing complex on the eastern edge of downtown.

The council, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency that controls Tampa's eight redevelopment areas, delayed the vote until Thursday so city attorneys can review a new state law that would allow Hillsborough County commissioners to serve on the agency, starting July 1.

Creating the taxing districts requires approval of the city and county. County commissioners on Wednesday voted 4-2 in favor of the Central Park district on the condition that two commissioners serve on the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Bank of America has proposed rebuilding Central Park Village as a mixed-income community with 794 affordable residential rental apartments, 1,236 market value condos and shops.

Shelters at Hillsborough bus stops may get ads

TAMPA - Hillsborough's bus agency wants private businesses to build and maintain shelters at bus stops across the county in exchange for advertising space at each location.

For the partnership to move forward, HARTline needs the City Council's help.

The city has an ordinance that prohibits advertising signs on the right of way. But council members agreed Thursday to consider an ordinance allowing bus shelters with advertising.

"I think it's a good program, but I want to make sure it's done properly and with taste," said council member Mary Alvarez.

[Last modified June 9, 2006, 06:20:28]