Digest

Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 26, 2007

GULFPORT

Anti-semitic threat found on student's paper

Police on Thursday were investigating an anti-Semitic threat that appeared on a school assignment at Boca Ciega High School. The threat, "Jews Will Die," was handwritten on an assignment and turned in on Wednesday to a substitute teacher, who is Jewish, police Lt. Howard Coombs said. Investigators have talked with the student who completed the assignment, but they believe the threat was added by someone else. Coombs said he didn't believe the note constituted a crime, but police want to talk with the student. "The goal is to find out why it happened and see what their intentions are," Coombs said. "The ultimate goal is to get them the help that they need."

DUNEDIN

Deputies find man hiding under house

A man accused of briefly kidnapping his girlfriend's infant son was found hiding beneath a home under construction Wednesday, Pinellas sheriff's officials said. On Monday, authorities said, Nicholas Curry, 18, his girlfriend and her 9-month-old son were on their way home from the playground when Curry struck the mother. When they arrived at Curry's home at 460 N Hibiscus Drive, authorities said, Curry drove away with the baby, whom he turned over to a relative. Late Wednesday afternoon, deputies tracked Curry to a home under construction at 446 Palmetto St. and arrested him after a struggle, officials said. He was being held without bail at the county jail on counts of false imprisonment, felony domestic battery, grand theft auto, resisting arrest with violence, obstruction by disguise for providing a false name, possession of marijuana and violation of probation on a robbery charge.

ZEPHYRHILLS

Decomposed body found near road

Pasco deputies are working to identify a body found in the woods near the intersection of Ryals Road and State Road 54. Tree trimmers working in the area found the body Thursday morning, deputies say. The body may have been there for weeks, and its decayed state made it hard for deputies to immediately determine the sex or age. "At this point, it's a possibility that it is a woman. We don't know yet, it's so badly decomposed," said Kevin Doll, spokesman for the Pasco Sheriff's Office. The body was found in a sitting position. One end of a string was wrapped around its neck, the other end was tied to a tree branch about three feet off the ground. Deputies said they believe the person may have committed suicide. The woods, located west of an Assembly of God church, are dense and covered in vines. The body was less than 15 feet from SR 54, deputies say.

ST. PETERSBURG

Teen accused of attempted robbery

Police arrested a 17-year-old man after a short pursuit Wednesday night after they say he and two others tried to rob a CiCi's Pizza restaurant. About 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, a white van pulled up at the drive-through window of the restaurant, 2216 34th St. S, said St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa. A man pointed a large black revolver through the window, demanding money from a female cashier, he said. Salaam Jovantae Singletary, 17, of 4216 18th Ave. S, faces one count of armed robbery.

[Last modified October 25, 2007, 23:37:44]