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Deputies seek third suspect in third assault

By TIMES WIRES
Published March 13, 2007

SEMINOLE

A 78-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in her condominium on Monday, prompting investigators to search for a man they say could be responsible for two similar attacks last week.

The woman, whose name authorities did not release, was attacked in her home at the Paradise Shores Condominiums, 5230 81st St. N in Seminole.

Investigators said the man appeared at the back door of the home around 1:45 p.m. Monday.

The incident shares traits with last week's attacks in St. Petersburg in which two women were assaulted while alone in their apartments or condominiums, detectives said.

"There are a lot of similarities," said Sheriff's Office spokesman Jim Bordner.

"So absolutely, detectives are investigating any link there may be."

The intruder is described as a black man, between 20-30 years old with close-cropped hair and a thin face. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and jeans.

Monday's victim thought the man was a maintenance worker, so she opened the door. The man then forced himself into her home and proceeded to rape her, detectives said. The suspect then ran away from the condominium.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and is recovering from injuries sustained during the attack, Bordner said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective John Spoor of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at (727) 582-6200, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

BROOKSVILLE

Inmate sues company operating county jail

Two years ago, inmate Jeffrey McLaughlin was beaten up at the Hernando County Jail while waiting in line to use the microwave.

Last week, McLaughlin, who is now a state prisoner, filed suit against Corrections Corporation of America, the company that runs the jail, claiming that the jail was negligent in not preventing the other inmates from attacking him.

Hernando jail warden Don Stewart said he wasn't familiar with the accusations or the lawsuit.

TAMPA

Mayor touts crime rate in state of city speech

With city elections behind her, Mayor Pam Iorio on Monday highlighted what she sees as her biggest accomplishments over the past year during her annual state of city address.

A lower crime rate, drainage improvements, downtown development and redevelopment of struggling neighborhoods were at the top of her list.

"I am particularly proud of our drop in the crime rate," Iorio said, noting that figures show an overall 9.4 percent decrease last year, bringing the four-year drop to 36 percent.

LAND O'LAKES

Wind gust slams hang glider down

A 64-year-old man, Ronald Yatich, was flown to Tampa General Hospital on Monday evening after crashing his hang glider in a field outside the Land O'Lakes jail.

Pasco deputies Lt. Thomas Bailey and Sgt. William Lawless saw the accident at 5:20 p.m. as they were leaving the jail.

Yatich, of Traverse City, Mich., appeared to be trying to land, the deputies said, but a gust of wind threw his glider back up in the air just as his feet touched the ground.

The wind then slammed him back to the ground.

Yatich told the deputies he couldn't feel his legs.

He said he was in the Tampa Bay area with a group of hang gliders and had taken off from a shop near the Davenport Wallaby Ranch near Tampa.

His condition was not available Monday evening.

[Last modified March 16, 2007, 18:38:08]