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Letter to the editor

4-hour standoff at Largo home ends with man in custody

By Times Staff Writers
Published December 2, 2007

LARGO - A man who fired shots inside his home was taken into the custody of Pinellas County sheriff's deputies after a four-hour standoff with a SWAT team early Friday.

Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Bordner said the incident began about 9:30 p.m. Thursday when deputies were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 9300 block of 89th Avenue.

There, deputies took cover when Dennis Pestka, 32, fired the weapon from within his home, Bordner said, prompting the evacuation of five nearby homes. A SWAT team was dispatched. During the standoff, Pestka broke windows and furniture and punched holes in the walls of the home he shares with his mother.

About 1:45 a.m. Friday, Bordner said, SWAT team members approached the home in an armored rescue vehicle and ordered Pestka to surrender. He was taken into custody without further incident and transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.

No injuries were reported.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Sen. Fasano denounces plan for garbage dump

State Sen. Mike Fasano last week condemned a Largo company's plans to put a private garbage dump just outside Dade City in eastern Pasco County.

Angelo's Aggregate Materials of Largo would "make millions by making Pasco County a dumping ground," said Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

In a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Fasano said the landfill, which could potentially cover 1,000 acres, threatens water resources and the nearby Green Swamp conservation. The DEP is currently evaluating a permit for the landfill.

An Angelo's spokesman said the company plans to ask for time to speak at the Dec. 6 meeting of the Pasco legislative delegation meeting, where Fasano said he will oppose the project.

Chuin-Wei Yap, Times staff writer

Countywide

Transportation officials discuss sales tax hike

Transportation officials in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties say residents are frustrated with slow bus routes and outdated vehicles.

In recent months, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority both have begun discussing possible new sources of revenue, including a half-cent hike in each county's sales tax.

The sales tax increase would be used to modernize the struggling transit systems, which have been underfunded for years, said Ed Crawford, HART spokesman.

This year, the PSTA will pull in $37-million in property tax revenue. HART will earn $36-million.

The half-cent sales tax increase, which would require voter approval, could put an extra $70-million in the PSTA's coffers each year. HART could receive $110-million.

PSTA board member Karl Nurse said the authority could make a deal with voters: Increase the sales tax - now 7 cents on the dollar in Pinellas - by a half-cent and we won't tax your property. In that scenario, the PSTA's 0.6 millage rate would not be levied against property owners.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Gas tanks replacements keep companies busy

If you've had to break your routine because your favorite gas station is under renovation, get used to it.

A state deadline requires replacing underground fuel storage tanks in the next two years.

Because the task involves flammable liquids, it requires specialized skills, so the firms in that business have customers lining up.

"We're backed up," said Jared Samon with Norris and Samon. "And now it's getting magnified because of the deadline."

Two years might seem like a long time to meet a deadline requiring double-walled tanks for underground storage, but considering it takes three to four months to get the tanks and another two to do the construction work, it would take an army to replace the remaining 750 tanks in Pinellas County alone.

"I don't see it getting done," Samon said.

Paul Swider, Times staff writer

DUNEDIN

House blaze sets off blasts of ammunition

Firefighters battled a blaze in a Dunedin home Wednesday that set off about 100 rounds of ammunition.

The fire occurred at 1360 Michigan Blvd., the home of Dionisius and Michele Safos, who were on vacation at the time. No one was injured. When the ammunition went off, the rounds generally exploded in place, but did not shoot out of the structure, officials said.

The fire did more than $150,000 in damage. Its cause was under investigation.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

[Last modified December 1, 2007, 20:41:48]