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Hillsborough briefs

News of note.

By Times Staff
Published September 15, 2006

Two face meth charges

SEFFNER - Deputies have arrested two Tampa men, accusing them of trafficking in methamphetamine. Alexander Lopez, 28, and Wilmur A. Ortez, 35, both of 6410 N Armenia Ave., were arrested Wednesday night on charges of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in the drug, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Lopez and Ortez were arrested at 11 p.m. at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Parsons Avenue after they delivered 40 grams of meth to undercover detectives, deputies say. Investigators also found $1,999 cash. The street value of 40 grams of meth is about $4,000.

Both were taken to the Hillsborough County jail, where they were held without bail Thursday.

City decides to move generator

TAMPA -The Tampa City Council on Thursday directed the city's wastewater department to find money in next year's budget to move a controversial generator slated for Bayshore Boulevard.

Residents in the nearby Monte Carlo condominium tower have been vocal about keeping the stormwater pumping generator out of the median, saying it doesn't belong along Tampa's scenic waterfront street.

Plus, they say, it's too close to the water and in too low a spot to function properly in case of a severe flood.

The city staff says it will cost $300,000 to $500,000 to move the generator and a bunker-like enclosure to another location.

Council member John Dingfelder, who made the motion to change the location, said it was not just to please Bayshore residents, because the street is "an asset to the entire city."

Still at issue, though, is where to put the structure. Mayor Pam Iorio said that even with the council vote she's not sure where the generator will end up.

Arrest made in teen's death

TAMPA - Deputies charged a 19-year-old Brandon man late Thursday in the shooting death of Christine Veltri.

Leland Lenaire Johnson, 1850 Providence Lakes Blvd, Apt. 1014, faces first degree murder charges in connection with the Wednesday triple-shooting at Sterling Palms Apartments that left 16-year-old Veltri dead.

Deputies first arrested Johnson Wednesday after they spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the morning incident. He was arrested for driving without a valid driver's license.

Deputies found a .380-caliber automatic pistol in the car.

Investigators said Johnson told them he fired six shots at Veltri's vehicle because he was angry that she and her friends did not let him use a cell phone.

[Last modified September 15, 2006, 06:08:42]