Digest

Three deputies cleared in death of armed man

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 28, 2007

HUDSON

The State Attorney's Office on Wednesday cleared three sheriff's deputies in the fatal shooting of a gun-wielding 26-year-old man earlier this month. The deputies were called out June 1, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said, when Dustin James Welch broke into a mobile home on Bolton Avenue and fought with homeowner Mark Tatum. Tatum ran into the woods and called 911. Six sheriff's deputies responded and confronted Welch, who came out with a handgun. Deputies repeatedly told Welch to drop the weapon, the Sheriff's Office said, but he refused and began firing. Deputies William Ferguson, William Orndorff and Jeffrey Desenso returned fire and killed Welch. The deputies were placed on paid administrative leave. They are expected to return to duty soon, said sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.

PORT RICHEY

You might say he has sticky fingers

The Little Dutch Boy plugged his finger in a hole in a dike to keep the sea out until help arrived - or so the fable goes. The Pasco County version goes like this: Carlos Santiago plugged his finger in a gas tank to siphon the gas out, according to the Sheriff's Office, and was stuck until deputies arrived. An employee at Leverette Home Design Center at 6836 Ridge Road spotted Santiago in the back Monday night trying to steal gas, the report said. Santiago, who had been fired from the business a few days earlier for stealing other items, said he was short on cash and needed the gas, the report said. But his middle finger got stuck when he pushed the fill tube open. Pasco Fire Rescue had to cut a small section of the tube out to free him. Santiago, 38, of 9203 Park Richey Blvd., was charged with petty theft.

ZEPHYRHILLS

History group to meet Wednesday

The Zephyrhills Historical Association will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Zephyrhills Depot Museum, 39110 South Ave. The program, scheduled for 7 p.m., is "Growing Up in Zephyrhills, How Times Have Changed, " and will be presented by Bill McGavern. The next craft day at the depot is at 11 a.m. July 11 and the theme is Show and Tell. The yard sale at the depot has been discontinued until the first Saturday in October. Call (813) 780-0067.

WESLEY CHAPEL

New River school holds registration

The soon-to-open New River Elementary School is holding summer registration for students entering kindergarten and those in grades 1 through 5 who are not transferring from Wesley Chapel Elementary. Hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Sand Pine Elementary campus, (Portable Classroom 9), 29040 County Line Road. Call (813) 346-0500.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 21:38:10]