Digest

Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 1, 2007

PINELLAS PARK

Officers find theft suspect at courthouse

Detectives have arrested a man in connection with the armed robbery of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Pinellas Park on Thursday. Fingerprints taken from Wal-Mart merchandise touched during the robbery belonged to 26-year-old Carlos W. Rodriguez, who detectives learned was slated to appear in court Friday morning on drug charges. Detectives arrested Rodriguez, 26, of St. Petersburg, at the Pinellas County courthouse. He remained in jail Friday night on $100,000 bail. He faces charges of armed robbery and possession of Xanax, according to jail records. Police said two thieves, aided by an assault rifle, stole high-priced electronics from the Wal-Mart at 8001 U.S. 19 at about 5:50 a.m. Thursday. The men grabbed shopping carts and headed straight to the electronics and automotive sections. The second thief, as well as the merchandise and assault rifle, remained at large Friday.

DADE CITY

Woman found dead in grove

Pasco County deputies Thursday night found the body of a missing Dade City woman in an orange grove. The death of Shaquieta Lewis, 25, has been ruled a homicide. Sheriff's deputies had been searching for Lewis with air and ground units since she disappeared Wednesday evening in the area of 37402 Tait Ave. in Dade City. They found her body a few miles away, in a grove near Blanton and Frazee Hill roads. Deputies initially responded to a report of gunshots Wednesday where Lewis disappeared. They didn't see any victim at the time, but they did find spent shell casings and blood. As of Friday evening, investigators hadn't said how Lewis died.

WEEKI WACHEE

Motorcyclist dies in SUV collision

A motorcyclist died Friday evening after a head-on collision with a sport utility vehicle on Cortez Boulevard west of U.S. 19, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred about 5:15 p.m. and shut down the main coastal thoroughfare for hours. Authorities were still piecing together the details of the accident and had not identified the victim by Friday night. It was unclear whether anyone in the SUV was injured; however, an emergency medical helicopter was called to the scene to airlift a patient.

[Last modified September 1, 2007, 00:19:05]