Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 2, 2007

TAMPA

Trick or treat: Teen is wounded on walk home

An 18-year-old man who said he was walking home from trick-or-treating was shot twice in the leg in Clair-Mel City late Wednesday, Hillsborough sheriff's officials said. He refused to cooperate with authorities. Deputies said Maurice Vidana of Riverview was walking with friends near Tidewater Trail and Deauville Road about 9 p.m. when a car or cars approached the group. An argument broke out. Soon after, someone in one of the cars opened fire. Two small-caliber bullets hit Vidana's leg. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital. After the shooting, Vidana and his friends did not cooperate with deputies, sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said, telling them "he couldn't identify the shooters and doesn't recall what kind of car they were in." And he wouldn't identify them even if he could, Callaway said he told them. "He was content with the issue being finished that night," Callaway said. Vidana was not wearing a costume.

Tampa man killed crossing Nebraska

A Tampa man was struck and killed by a truck while walking across Nebraska Avenue late Wednesday, Florida Highway Patrol officials said. About 10:45 p.m., Juan Flores Calderon, 43, was struck by a northbound Ford F-150 driven by 22-year-old Arturo Perez Garcia, according to a Highway Patrol news release. Authorities said Garcia tried to avoid Calderon, but couldn't. Calderon died at the scene. Charges have not been filed. The investigation continues.

WESLEY CHAPEL

Officers find home rigged to grow pot

Pasco deputies arrested a 63-year-old Wesley Chapel man Wednesday after they said they found a "sizable load" of marijuana plants growing inside his home. Deputies said Manuel Diego-Gil outfitted the bedroom and garage of his Quail View Lane home with grow lights and an irrigation system to cultivate his crop of 286 pot plants. Diego-Gil diverted power from the main electrical line to fuel his growing operation, deputies said. Diego-Gil was at the Land O'Lakes jail Thursday on $10,500 bail. He is charged with marijuana cultivation and theft of electrical services.

ZEPHYRHILLS

Boy exposes self to girl on bus

A 15-year-old Zephyrhills High School student exposed himself to a 14-year-old girl as they rode a school bus to an off-campus classroom facility last week. The boy told Zephyrhills police he exposed his genitals to the girl, also a student at Zephyrhills High, because he was attracted to her, according to the arrest report. Wednesday he was charged with lewd or lascivious exhibition on a victim under 16 years old.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Two charged with abuse of girls

Two men were charged Wednesday in separate sexual crimes involving young girls. According to a report from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Jason Clapp, 35, of Tarpon Springs sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl from June 2006 until January, the report said. Clapp, was charged with sexual battery. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Land O'Lakes jail. Robert Lynn, 34, is facing a lewd and lascivious battery charge for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl.

[Last modified November 2, 2007, 00:28:06]