Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 22, 2007

TAMPA

Teen charged in collision that killed man

A Brandon teen has been charged in the crash that killed a 69-year-old Riverview man last month. Justin Maye turned himself in Friday, a day before his 18th birthday, on a vehicular homicide charge in connection with a fatal Nov. 16 crash on Fishhawk Boulevard near Osprey Ridge Drive. Detectives say Maye had been driving recklessly at excessive speeds, Hillsborough sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said. Investigators say Robert Hardy, of 8450 Fantasia Parkway, died at the scene of the crash after Maye's 2007 Ford Fusion spun out of control and hit Hardy's Ford F-150 pickup truck. Hardy was headed east on Fishhawk Boulevard at 11 p.m. when westbound Maye tried to pass another car and lost control, deputies say. Hardy and his passenger, 16-year-old Andrew Gunnow, were both taken to Tampa General Hospital with injuries. After turning himself in at 10 a.m. at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, Maye, of 1907 Lido Drive in Brandon, was released on his own recognizance, which means he was not required to post bail.

ST. PETERSBURG

Photo released in First State robbery

Police have released a photograph of a man who robbed the First State Bank at 2832 Fourth St. N on Friday morning. Police say the man appeared to be in his 40s and had a pudgy face, goatee and a dark wool cap. Anyone with information can call police at (727) 893-7780.

BARTOW

Principal charged in child porn case

An elementary school principal was charged Friday with five counts of possession of child pornography. John Stelmack, 60, was arrested at his Lakeland home, said Gary Hester, chief of staff with the Polk County Sheriff's Office. He was held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Stelmack was put on administrative leave with pay. He earned $75,716 in 2006.

TARPON SPRINGS

Police identify burglary suspect

Police on Friday identified the man they think broke into an off-duty police officer's home as Quentin Y. Washington, 21, of Hillsborough County. About 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, a burglar broke into Clearwater police Officer Eliad Glenn's house while Glenn was in the shower, police say. Glenn fired at the intruder, missing him. Police said Washington's fingerprint was found in a nearby house that was burglarized earlier that day.

BROOKSVILLE

Man is arrested twice in 3 weeks

A Brooksville man was arrested Thursday on drug charges for the second time in three weeks. Antiquan Byrd, 27, faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and violation of probation. On Dec. 6, Byrd was arrested on charges that included trafficking in crack cocaine.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 00:18:54]