Digest

Man threatened with gun for honking horn

By TIMES WIRES
Published July 14, 2007

PORT RICHEY

A 42-year-old landscaper was parked outside Checkers at State Road 52 and Little Road late Wednesday night, eating in his truck, when his arm slipped and he accidentally honked the horn.

Bad timing.

According to a sheriff's report, another man and a woman were walking by at the time, and the woman turned to look at him, thinking he'd honked at her.

Minutes later, three young men approached his truck and asked why he was looking at the woman.

The landscaper said he didn't want any trouble.

One of the men pulled a silver pistol, cocked it and pointed it at him.

"I think you were trying to proposition the girl," the young man said.

Fortunately for the landscaper, his motor was running.

He put the truck in drive and sped away. The Times is withholding the victim's name because no arrests have been reported.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Pair stole purse from woman, 92, police say

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 woman was outside the bank 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, of 6537 Sutherland Ave., New Port Richey, had bail set at $10,500. Barefoot, of 5820 Massachusetts Ave., New Port Richey, was also charged with credit card fraud; her total bail was $10,300. They remained Friday at the county jail in Land O'Lakes.

[Last modified July 14, 2007, 00:28:02]