Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 20, 2007

TAMPA

ELEMENTARY TEACHER JAILED ON DUI CHARGE

A Yates Elementary School fifth-grade teacher was arrested Sunday evening, accused of driving under the influence, jail records show. Deputies say Catharine Wind, 40, of 2238 Golden Oak Drive in Valrico had her 3-year-old son in the car at the time of her arrest. Wind was pulled over after someone reported that she was swerving on Falkenburg Road. A deputy said Wind drove onto the sidewalk. Her husband was called, and he arrived and took the boy, said Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter. Wind's blood alcohol level registered 0.20 percent and 0.21 percent, jail records show. Under state law, a person is presumed to be impaired at 0.08 percent. Wind took two days off from school and will likely be back in the classroom on Monday, said school district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe.

CLEARWATER

Shootings suspect caught in Georgia

A Clearwater man was arrested in Georgia on Monday in connection with a September home invasion that wounded a woman and killed a man, police say. Joseph Lee "Snoochie" Simmons was arrested in Carrollton, Ga., and charged with first-degree murder, police said. About 3:41 a.m. Sept. 18, Simmons, 21, and as many as three other people forced their way into 1307 Flagler Drive, in what authorities say was a drug-related robbery. Two people were shot. Joseph Shaw, 22, died. Shawanda Larry, 39, was treated and released from the hospital.

LARGO

400-pound statue stolen from park

Police said Monday they were investigating the theft of a 400-pound, 6-foot bronze statue from Largo Central Park over the weekend. Its estimated value is $3,300. The statue, pictured above, was in the James S. Miles and Richard A. Leandri Military Court of Honor on the north side of the park. It was anchored to concrete. "You would think they'd have to put it in a truck or a trailer of some sort," said police Lt. Mike Loux.

[Last modified November 20, 2007, 00:18:12]