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2 youths arrested in chase that rammed sheriff's car

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 21, 2006

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Monday identified one of the teens accused of stealing a van and ramming two cruisers in a pursuit Sunday night. Darren Taylor, 19, of Largo, the van passenger, faces charges of grand theft auto and possession of marijuana. He was held at the Pinellas County jail Monday in lieu of $1,250 bail. The 16-year-old driver of the stolen van, whom the Sheriff's Office did not identify because he had not been booked into a juvenile facility, is charged with one count each of grand theft auto, aggravated fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest with violence and resisting arrest without violence. The collisions took place near U.S. 19 and Gandy Boulevard, near the entrance to Interstate 275 N. The teens slammed the van into two sheriff's cruisers while trying to escape, authorities said. A 20-gauge shotgun was recovered from the stolen van, the Sheriff's Office said. No one was seriously injured.

DRIVER DIES IN CRASH NEAR INTERSTATE WORK

Troopers say an Orlando woman died early Monday morning after a car accident on Interstate 275 just south of Howard Avenue. Brenda K. Etheridge , 43, was headed north on the interstate in a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier, when she failed to slow for construction near the Howard Avenue exit and rear-ended a 2005 semitrailer truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Etheridge was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers say. She was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the semitrailer, Gary Smith, 30, of Spring Hill was not injured, troopers say. The crash is still under investigation.

Officers say man sold counterfeit NFL items

Police say an Alachua County man illegally sold knockoff National Football League gear near Raymond James Stadium. Raymond P. Kissane, 61, was arrested Sunday at 12:35 p.m. on a charge of vending goods with counterfeit labels, a misdemeanor, jail records show. Police arrested Kissane after he offered to sell a fake Washington Redskins visor to plainclothes officers, according to an arrest report. On his arrest report, he listed his occupation as hat seller. Kissane was released from the Hillsborough County jail Monday after posting $500 bail.

Man claims self-defense in fatal stabbing of cat

A Largo man stabbed a neighborhood cat in the heart Sunday and claimed self-defense. Police arrested Juan Moya Aviles, 67, after finding him with the cat's blood on him and in his home at the Westgate Mobile Home Park. He has been charged with felony cruelty to animals and is being held on $10,000 bail. After he was taken into custody, Aviles told police "a large, ferocious cat entered his house and he was afraid it was going to attack him," Hughes said. But when police first arrived, Aviles told them the cat actually did attack him.

[Last modified November 21, 2006, 05:34:38]