Crime journal
By TIMES STAFF
Published July 7, 2007
TAMPA
BAND-AID BANDIT APPEAL CLAIM GETS REFUTED
A federal prosecutor punctured the Band-Aid Bandit's bid for a new trial Friday. Rafael Rondon, 47, filed a motion Tuesday claiming one of the grand jurors who indicted him was later allowed to serve on his trial jury. But a prosecutor said Friday she reviewed the lists of jurors and found no overlap. Rondon was found guilty of armed bank robbery, conspiracy and illegal weapon use. He was sentenced to nearly 150 years.
TAMPA
Attacker shoots himself in hand
After knocking his ex-girlfriend to the ground outside a 7-Eleven late Thursday, Tarvaris M. Jones, 39, pistol-whipped her, police said. Then he accidentally put a bullet through his left hand and drove away in a blood-spattered white Chevrolet Suburban. Aided by a police helicopter, officers caught up with Jones at his family's home on W Violet Street after he tossed a .380-caliber handgun out the window. The victim, Latasha Nicole Heart, was treated for minor injuries. Jones was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital. Expected charges included aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, aggravated stalking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
CLEARWATER
Man 71, is hit crossing the street
A 71-year-old pedestrian was struck Friday at McMullen-Booth Road and State Road 580. The accident happened about 2 p.m. Robert Lockridge of Safety Harbor was crossing State Road 580 from when a Dodge van driven by Rudolph Reisberg, 65, of Safety Harbor made a right turn onto SR 580. The van knocked the Lockridge was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where his condition was unavailable Friday.
TAMPA
Man arrested in shootings at club
Hillsborough sheriff's deputies have arrested a Tampa man in connection with a double shooting June 29 at the Thirsty Turtle Bottle Club on W Waters Avenue. Wenceslas Aurelien, 32, was charged Thursday with two counts of attempted murder following an incident where two Tampa men, Charles Griffith, 26, and Shivago Reeves, 24, were shot after a 3 a.m. argument. Deputies say Aurelien pulled a gun during a fight with Reeves and Griffith. One man was critically injured and the other wounded. Both were treated at St. Joseph's Hospital.
TAMPA
Girl, 8, left alone; father is arrested
Police charged a father with child neglect Friday, accusing him of leaving his 8-year-old daughter alone at his apartment for more than an hour while she screamed for help. Police said the girl was yelling for her father, 26-year-old Derrick J. Davidson, in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 4133 Busch Blvd. around 2 a.m. Witnesses told police the girl was alone for an hour and a half and was screaming because she was scared. Davidson, who has a lengthy arrest record, came back to the apartment after numerous calls to his cell phone, police said. The girl was left in the custody of her grandmother.