Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 14, 2007

TAMPA

GUNFIRE RINGS FROM ROBBERY IN CHANNELSIDE

The sound of a woman's scream and a gunshot echoed through Channelside Tuesday afternoon as a man robbed a gas station and fled. Remata Senter, 66, was standing on the fourth-floor pool deck of the Ventana condominium when she heard the yell and the bang from the BP gas station across the street at Kennedy Avenue and Channelside Drive. Police searched for a man they said entered the gas station at 1:15 p.m. and took off with an entire cash register on foot. Helicopters, police dogs and patrol cars searched downtown Tampa for several hours. Cpl. Jared Douds said the robber may have injured himself, possibly by gunshot. One shot was fired inside the store and maybe two more outside, Douds said. No witnesses or bystanders were injured. A female cashier appeared shaken as she spoke with a detective at the scene.

LARGO

Man is charged in two robberies

Police arrested 49-year-old Michael James Benjamin of 13216 120th Lane N, Largo, on Tuesday and charged him with strong-armed robberies at a 7-Eleven on Saturday and a Publix on Sunday. In both cases, he walked up to cashiers, demanded cash, implied he had a knife and hurried out with an undisclosed amount of money. Both holdups were captured on video surveillance systems. While watching the video, one detective thought he recognized Benjamin, "a known burglar," said Lt. Mike Loux. His picture was included in a photo pack prepared by detectives and shown to witnesses, who identified Benjamin. He was being held without bail Tuesday at the Pinellas County Jail.

BROOKSVILLE

Teacher accused of DUI, drug charge

A Hernando County social studies teacher is no longer in the classroom after being arrested over the weekend. Powell Middle School teacher Jesse T. Mockler, 30, faces charges of driving under the influence and drug trafficking after deputies stopped him on Cortez Boulevard near Brooksville Regional Hospital about 3:30 a.m. Saturday. A deputy stopped Mockler's four-door black Suzuki after seeing him drive 10 mph below the speed limit and fail to stay in his lane. He was released from the Hernando County Jail on $51,000 bail. Hernando County school officials said Mockler is no longer teaching, pending an investigation

[Last modified November 14, 2007, 00:27:58]