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Crime
Man has two guns in USF lot
He is arrested when police find him napping in his car.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE and NICOLE HUTCHESON
Published April 25, 2007
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Cloal Lang Leatherman was arrested on the University of South Florida's Tampa campus Tuesday with a loaded handgun, a shotgun, a survival knife and 78 rounds of ammunition.
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TAMPA -- From the outside, his life sounded ordinary. A 47-year-old man, divorced with a daughter and a steady job at a construction contracting firm in a Tampa office. So why did Cloal Lang Leatherman show up on the University of South Florida's campus Tuesday with a loaded handgun, a shotgun, a survival knife and 78 rounds of ammunition? "We don't have any information he intended to do any harm to anyone on campus," said Lt. Meg Ross. "He said the .38 was for his own protection." Leatherman didn't threaten anyone, but officials said it was a unnerving situation, especially after the shootings on Virginia Tech's campus. The incident began at 3:58 a.m. Tuesday, when USF police officers saw a car drive into their parking lot and pull into a space reserved for police cars. The officers waited a few minutes. They peered into the car and saw Leatherman sleeping, a handgun on the seat next to him. The police drew guns and woke him. Leatherman told police he had a shotgun in the trunk. He was taken into custody without a struggle. They also found a 6-inch knife under his seat and ammunition for a .223 rifle, the shotgun and the handgun, Ross said. Leatherman told the officers he was homeless and stopped at the parking lot, located just south of Fletcher Avenue, because he needed a place to sleep for the night. "He was not threatening in any way," Ross said. He had a valid concealed weapons permit, but no guns are allowed on campus, so he was arrested, Ross said. He was taken to the Hillsborough County jail, where his bail was set at $2,000, records show. But a judge later revoked Leatherman's bail, and jail officials said he was put on suicide watch. News researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 226-3373 or vansickle@sptimes.com.
[Last modified April 24, 2007, 23:13:03]
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by Debbie
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04/25/07 10:18 PM
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Sounds like this nut was waiting for the classes to start the next day,thanks God he was caught before something happen.
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by Paul
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04/25/07 03:07 PM
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Something doesn't add up here. He has a steady job at a construction company, a car, and valid DL & insurance. He can afford a conceald weapons permit and multiple guns. Why is this guy homeless ???
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