St. Petersburg Times
Pasco
Special report
Video report
  • For their own good
    Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
  • More video reports
Multimedia report
Print Email this storyEmail story Comment Letter to the editor
News
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Your name Your email
Friend's name Friend's email
Your message
 

After umpteenth arrest, can't they take his keys?

By Times Staff
Published May 10, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT
photo
[Times photo: Brendan Fitterer]
Michael Wiley is wheeled from the Emergency Room exit of Community Hospital to a waiting New Port Richey police car for transport to the jail Wednesday.

Michael Wiley, Pasco County's armless, one-legged habitual traffic violator accused of eluding two police cruisers in a car chase Tuesday afternoon, was captured Wednesday morning.

He was charged with fleeing to elude and habitually driving with a revoked license. Wiley, 40, has had his license suspended or revoked nearly 20 times in the past 20 years. Despite a childhood accident that cost him three limbs, he taught himself how to drive - though not to follow traffic laws.

A tip led police to Wiley. In past arrests, Wiley was released from jail on little or no bail because judges felt sorry for him and jails had trouble meeting his needs. Not this time: A judge set bail at $500, 000.


[Last modified May 10, 2007, 08:40:52]


Share your thoughts on this story
Read our guidelines for comments
First Name (only)

Location
Comment (May be published online and/or in print)

You have 250 characters left to comment.
 

Comments on this article
by Just Me 05/11/07 10:55 AM
I know this guy, or I should say, I knew him when we were kids. I remember the day of the accident and visiting him in the hospital! I was hoping he was doing good, he comes from a good family! Sorry to see this news! Grow Up Mikey!!
by Kristen 05/11/07 09:05 AM
It dosen't matter why his license was suspended. If your lisence is suspened, You're not allowed to drive. Let alone flee and elude!!Drive safely and you get to keep your license.
by Joe 05/11/07 07:29 AM
I have to wonder if he is being held to a higher standard because of his disability. Has he caused accidents? Is he unsafe? Or is his license suspended for technical violations like no current tags? The article fails to tell us the real story.
by Joe 05/11/07 07:20 AM
Poor journalism. There is nothing in this story that indicates just exactly what the guy did that was unsafe or makes him a menace. There are many people with disabilities who drive safely and lawfully, and many "normal" folks who flaunt the law.
by Pinás 05/11/07 03:30 AM
one leg, one scotch, one beer!
by bird 05/10/07 10:07 PM
Impound any vehicles he is caught driving.
by shellpicker 05/10/07 09:42 PM
Wake up Jo. He isn't allowed to drive. The problem is that criminals don't respect any laws. Quit feeling sorry for him and people like him and tie them to a tree, give them water and keep them there until they understand the law.
by Bubba 05/10/07 09:31 PM
Why is it the bleeding heart liberals that legislate from the bench keep letting him go free? I bet the guy that set bail at $500,000 was a law respecting Republican.
by Wiper 05/10/07 09:05 PM
Great driver...this cat could have been world Champion. AJ Foyt has Two arms!!!
by John 05/10/07 07:01 PM
Even the loss of three limbs has NOT deminished the ability of this man to do LESS than good{evil}! If he were using guns to cause destruction, I'm sure the MEDIA would hone-in and put the blame on the gun,NOT the person using it. Let's destroy autos
by James F. Smith 05/10/07 06:52 PM
Cut off his leg. Put him on a shelf and dust him off occasionally. Hurry before someone suggests raising the sales tax a penny to support him.
by Rickster 05/10/07 04:52 PM
With the way people drive here, he fits right in. If everyone would use their turn signals, seatbelts and ashtrays, this county would be a better place. We lost a member of our family to an idiot driver, I have no sympathy for him.
by Safe at last 05/10/07 04:39 PM
I'm feeling safer on Pasco roads already. Throw the book at him.
by Jo 05/10/07 04:08 PM
He should not be allow to drive. I don't want to be his next victim ---DO YOU...or one of your family???
by Sandy 05/10/07 03:10 PM
Can you say heres your sign to the whoever that keep giving his license back
by UbuntuUtnubU 05/10/07 03:07 PM
The rascal should buy himself a Rascal and stay off the roads.
by JT 05/10/07 02:48 PM
He needs to go to jail and they need to throw away the key. I am done feeling sorry for him. He has no respect for the law and others in society.
by jack s 05/10/07 02:09 PM
The only way to stop wiley from driving is either to cut off all stumps and legs or permanent incarceration. Either way the state is going to wind up taking care of him. Its probably what he wants to begin with.
by Bernie 05/10/07 01:30 PM
Not sure whether to laugh or cry. This guy is both a riot and a menace. Simple solution. Impound his car forever and make him were a leg monitor. He's got one leg. Sounds like a good and safe use for it.
by Kathy 05/10/07 01:27 PM
Habitual offenders, regardless of gender or anything else, must be held accountable or they waste our tax money. I'm tired of paying for fools!
by Dingo 05/10/07 01:23 PM
Another example of your communities finest at work...How can you not catch this guy...are you going to wait until he goes hopping by the donut shop like the Easter Bunny? Pathetic...makes us feel well-served.
by Dallas 05/10/07 01:03 PM
Maybe he can take Dale JR's seat at DEI.
by jack 05/10/07 12:57 PM
WILEY FOR PRESIDENT!
by pamela 05/10/07 12:49 PM
I'd like to comment on the title to the article...about the dumbest I've seen. Take his Keys? Ya think that will stop him? That 500,000. bond might help.
by ken 05/10/07 12:42 PM
they should do this more often #1 you can't outrun police raidios, #2 helicopters can easily follow them. No need for deputies to chase at high speeds,their lives are more important to their families. We need good deputies not dead ones.
by nora 05/10/07 12:41 PM
Something has to be done. He is either going to kill some people or himself. He did not elude police, they let him get away. It is too dangerous to chase him. I feel sorry for his plight but he is a menace and has to stay off the roads.
by JS 05/10/07 11:16 AM
Why do they keep saying he "eluded" police? That's giving him way too much credit. THEY LET HIM GET AWAY! Why risk a high speed chase through residential neighborhoods during school hours when they can just pick him up later? mike is right.
by mike 05/10/07 10:02 AM
We all laugh at the thought of a man with no arms and 1 leg out running deputies. give chase and someone gets hurt their wrong.Let him go they know who is.Arrest him later nobody got hurt,great job. Wiley loves the press why feed his ego.
by Linda 05/10/07 09:54 AM
We really need to stop giving this guy the publicity, he's not worthy. I can not stomach reading one more article about him. EVERYONE just needs to be AWARE, he'll be back out there again soon. Stay safe and the hell out of his way.
by b 05/10/07 09:38 AM
wow!! FINALLY
by Dick 05/10/07 09:32 AM
Poor guy Give him another break
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily delivery
of the St. Petersburg Times.

Email Newsletters
Be the first to know. Register for free breaking news alerts and morning headlines.
ADVERTISEMENT

 

 

© 2009 · All Rights Reserved · St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South · St. Petersburg, FL 33701 · 727-893-8111
Contact Us | Join Us | Advertise with Us | Subscribe to the St. Petersburg Times | :) RSS
Privacy Policy | Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright