Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 7, 2008

TAMPA

Chicago man is indicted in airplane fracas 

A federal grand jury indicted a Chicago man Wednesday on charges that he assaulted a flight attendant last month as his airplane approached Tampa International Airport. Gene R. Komosa, 52, was arrested and taken to jail after the Jan. 18 incident. A federal magistrate has released him on $5,000 bail. According to an FBI report, Komosa made sexual remarks and racial slurs and hit a flight attendant in the face aboard Southwest Airlines flight 3238, which originated from Chicago Midway Airport. About 20 minutes before the airplane landed, Komosa stood up and refused multiple commands by a flight attendant to sit down. He was "flailing his arms around uncontrollably" then hit the flight attendant in the face, the FBI report said. An off-duty officer on the airplane heard Komosa yell words to the effect of, "I'm going to blow the plane up," the FBI reported. A female passenger said Komosa placed his hand on her and made sexual innuendos toward her. He hit her on the arm and face with his forearm. A male passenger also said Komosa used strong language with him before hitting him in the face with an open hand.

Woman arrested in animal neglect case

A woman accused of abandoning a houseful of dogs and cats and leaving them to starve was found Tuesday night and arrested, Hillsborough sheriff's officials said. Cynthia Cuervo, 42, had been missing since last week's discovery of three cats and 16 dogs, all filthy and starving, at a home owned by her parents at 8202 W Crenshaw St. She was located at 10 p.m. Tuesday at Hillsborough Avenue and Sawyer Road. Cuervo was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on 60 charges, including confinement of animals without food and water and cruelty to animals, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

PORT RICHEY

Woman stabbed at bowling alley

The people who saw Sandra Hesler after she was attacked outside the Lane Glo bowling alley Tuesday night have different memories of the incident. Some witnesses recalled a man and woman; some just a man. Some saw a gray car; others saw a gray truck. But a sheriff's deputy who investigated the incident reported that Hesler, 38, of Port Richey suffered severe stab wounds to her arm and another to her forehead. No arrests have been made.

DADE CITY

One convicted, one freed in robbery

Two men went on trial this week in the robbery of the Zephyrhills Golden Corral Buffet and Grill. The jury of five men and one woman found Shedrick Antwan Russell guilty of robbery, according to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office. But that same jury also found Anthony Lamar Wilson not guilty of the same charge. Zephyrhills police accused Russell of being the masked gunman who demanded the restaurant manager empty the safe the night of May 9, 2004. The robber made off with $17,033, according to police.

[Last modified February 6, 2008, 23:56:43]