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Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 9, 2007

SEMINOLE

Description of bank robber is released

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on Monday released a description of a robber who detectives said held up a Seminole Wachovia bank branch Friday afternoon, as well as his getaway vehicle. The robber is a white man between 45 and 50 years old. He is about 6 feet tall, weighs about 160 pounds and has dark collar-length hair and a mustache. During the crime, he was wearing a white ball cap with a Tampa Bay Devil Rays logo, a white T-shirt and knee-length denim shorts and brown work boots. He was driving a black pickup, possibly a Ford or Chevrolet, with an unidentified red decal on the back left quarter panel. He may be armed. If you have any information, contact Detective Jim Cavagnaro at (727) 582-6200 or call 1-800-873-TIPS.

SPRING HILL

Woman accused of theft from league

A former president of the Hernando Athletic Association, which runs the Screaming Eagles youth football league, has been charged with stealing at least $7,257.13 from the league's coffers. Hernando County sheriff's deputies arrested Kathleen Kristine Mahla, 37, early Monday after an investigation into claims that she took cash and made several personal purchases using the league's checking account in 2006. Authorities believe the thefts occurred systematically during Mahla's two-year term as president, during which she was in charge of the league's day-to-day finances. Subpoenaed financial records showed at least one theft of $600 in cash, investigators said. Investigators also determined that Mahla cashed a $1,900 check and falsified records to cover up money she took from a sponsor. Attempts on Monday to reach Mahla or officials from the Spring Hill Athletic Association were unsuccessful. Bail for Mahla was set at $2,000.

PALM HARBOR

School evacuated for bomb search

Students at Palm Harbor University High School were evacuated to the school's football field late Monday morning while authorities checked the school. The evacuation was planned in what the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said was an abundance of caution after someone discovered a message in a bathroom last week saying that a bomb would go off at the school at midday Monday. Working with administrators, deputies swept the school twice Monday morning and checked the campus again around noon. None of the sweeps found anything dangerous. Students were allowed to return to classes after that.

[Last modified October 8, 2007, 22:48:26]