Crime journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 26, 2008

TAMPA

Man accused of usinf toy gun to rob Wendy's

A former Wendy's employee is behind bars, accused of using a toy gun to hold his former co-workers during a Sunday night robbery. Donald Doctor, 25, of 3801 Wallace Ave., Apt. 1, was with an accomplice when they entered the fast food restaurant at 4314 W Gandy Blvd. at 9:19 p.m., police said. Doctor jumped over the counter and locked all the employees in a walk-in freezer, police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor said. Then, he demanded money from the store manager, who recognized Doctor and refused to hand over any money. They still got away with $800 from the manager's desk. Officers found Doctor hiding in bushes, where police say he became combative. Doctor is charged with armed robbery, false imprisonment, obstructing or opposing an officer with violence and threatening a public official. He is being held at the Orient Road Jail without bail.

Officials release sketch of dead man

Hillsborough sheriff's investigators have released a composite sketch of a man whose body was found floating in the Alafia River on Feb. 14. The sketch issued Monday reveals features of a man believed to be white, 5 feet 10 with a thin build in his 40s. He had brown-gray, collar-length hair and had a beard and mustache. A passing boater discovered the body in the river at U.S. 301. The dead man was wearing gray pants and T-shirt with a blue pullover sweat shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at (813) 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8744.

BROOKSVILLE

2 grow houses are linked, officials say

A huge grow-house operation north of Weeki Wachee that police raided last week and a massive "marijuana factory" in an upscale area near Brooksville that was raided in December are linked, authorities said Monday. All the suspects are from Vietnam, authorities said. Two men and a woman were arrested Friday in connection with the marijuana operation at 8264 Nightwalker Road near Weeki Wachee. Hung Dinh, 31, Lam Dinh, 37, and Kim Nguyen, 33, all of Tampa, are being held without bail in the Hernando County Jail. In December, Viet Khac Dinh, 34, and Tuan Nguyen, 37, were charged in connection with the raid near Brooksville.

[Last modified February 26, 2008, 00:10:28]