Digest

Gunshots in the dark startle homeowner

By TIMES WIRES
Published July 14, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS

Carl Lamonte, 47, was awake in his home on 20th Street in Zephyrhills at 1:30 a.m. Thursday. He heard a pop, and then another. It sounded like fireworks, he told Pasco deputies. As the noises got closer to his home, they didn't sounds like bottle rockets anymore - they sounded like gunshots. Then there was a thud, Lamonte said, like something hitting the house. Lamonte found a bullet in his bedroom wall. He told deputies it passed through his shed before hitting the house. Deputies found five 9mm casings on the road. No other houses had been damaged, the report said. Lamonte told deputies he had no enemies and hadn't received any threats. No arrests have been made.

DADE CITY

Night of drinking ends in man's arrest

Julian Bala, 40, told Dade City police he had been drinking Thursday evening and entered a stranger's home to use the bathroom, according to a police report. From there, things get blurry. Bala said he didn't remember whether he had walked around the home, shorts around his ankles, as he has been charged, the report said. Bala said he simply couldn't recall whether he had asked the woman who was alone in the house for sex, the report said. The woman called the police. As of Friday, Bala was in the Land O'Lakes jail, charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition. Bala was held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

LAND O'LAKES

School district will host job fair Tuesday

The Pasco County school district will host its School-Related Personnel Job Fair from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Land O'Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane. Full- and part-time opportunities are available in custodial services, food and nutrition services, instructional assistance, before- and after-school child care, and transportation. Substitute positions are also available for both instructional and school-related personnel. For information, go to www.pasco.k12.fl.us.

WESLEY CHAPEL

Community event will feature fun for kids

Community Expo and Fun 4 Kids Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 22. The Meadow Pointe Entrepreneurs Club will present this free event at Sports on Field, 2029 Arrowgrass Drive, Wesley Chapel (off State Road 56). Kids can enjoy free activities including simulated rock climbing, face painting and magic shows. Adults can tour the exposition area showcasing local products and services. Call (813) 992-5374.

NEW PORT RICHEY

MAN, WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER PURSE IS STOLEN

A man and his female accomplice stole a purse containing $1,030 in cash from a 92-year-old woman outside a Wachovia bank on Thursday, authorities said. At about 11 a.m. at 5211 U.S. 19, the elderly woman was outside waiting for her ride when the man approached her and grabbed at her purse, causing her to fall to the ground, according to a report from the New Port Richey Police Department. The man took off with the purse in a getaway car driven by a woman, the report said. About 90 minutes later, authorities arrested Ray Sizemore, 33, and Sherry Loper Barefoot, 47, and charged them with strong-arm robbery, auto burglary and resisting arrest without violence. Sizemore, 6537 Sutherland Ave., New Port Richey, had bail set at $10,500. Barefoot, 5820 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey, was also charged with credit card fraud; her bail was set at $10,300. They remained Friday at the county jail in Land O'Lakes.

[Last modified July 14, 2007, 00:33:54]