Digest

Crime Journal

By Times Staff
Published August 22, 2007

TAMPA

JUDGE THROWS 'O'REILLY' CREW OFF HIS PROPERTY

Circuit Judge Manuel Lopez arrived home Monday evening to find a crew from Fox's The O'Reilly Factor parked in his driveway. The crew wanted to interview Lopez about his decision to grant bail to Michael Allen Phillips, who later killed sheriff's Sgt. Ron Harrison. The judge wanted them off his property - and summoned law enforcement to help. A sheriff's deputy issued trespass warnings to Brian Lyle, Jesse Watters and Colin Kelly. The men face penalties only if they return to the judge's home, said sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway. But the show's executive producer said Lopez blocked the men's SUV, prohibiting them from leaving. "They would have left without incident if the judge had let them," said David Tabacoff.

LAND O'LAKES

Hair, skin services land nurse in jail

A Pasco County registered nurse was arrested and charged with performing laser skin and hair treatments without a license. Those treatments injured several people, state health officials said. Nancy Kay Garrity, 43, of Vanda Lane in Land O'Lakes, performed laser hair removal and laser skin treatments on at least three patients at Caliente Resort's Spa Sereno and several other locations, health officials said. Spa Sereno fired Garrity in October 2006. Garrity earned a temporary electrologist permit in March 2007. She would be able to practice electrolysis under the supervision of a certified physician. Garrity was released from the Land O'Lakes jail Tuesday on $5,000 bail.

TARPON SPRINGS

Pasco man found dead on sidewalk

Authorities are investigating the death of a New Port Richey man whose body was found on a sidewalk at Riverside Apartments in Tarpon Springs. Michael Scott Steele, 25, suffered upper body trauma, said the Tarpon Springs Police Department. An official cause of death will be released once the medical examiner's report is complete. Authorities could not say Tuesday why Steele was in the apartment complex or why he might have been killed. They are investigating the death as a homicide.

TAMPA

Man found smoking in school restroom

A 21-year-old man was arrested at Plant High School Tuesday after the principal found him smoking in the restroom with two juveniles, only one of whom was a student. Rhett Sumner Jones of 4316 W San Luis St. had a 4-inch pocketknife with him, according to police, and was charged with trespassing with a weapon on school property. Hillsborough schools spokesman Stephen Hegarty said the Plant student involved was suspended and the other juvenile arrested. Jones was released from jail Tuesday on $2,000 bail. Jail records show he was charged in June with a lewd and lascivious battery, a case that is pending in court. Hegarty said that Tuesday's incident would result in a review of campus security.

[Last modified August 21, 2007, 23:59:25]