Crime Journal

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 28, 2008

DADE CITY

Man, nephew shot, robbed outside club

Pasco sheriff's deputies are searching for two men they believe robbed and shot a man and his teenage nephew outside Grown Folks bar Tuesday night. Ranard Miller, 32, of New Port Richey and his 15-year-old nephew were listening to music outside the bar when two men approached them and demanded money, according to deputies. One of the men struck Miller twice in the face with his gun before shooting him in the back as he tried to run, deputies said Miller told them. The teen told deputies he put some of his jewelry in his pockets when he saw the men had guns. The suspects demanded money from the teen and made him give them his shorts, deputies said. They shot the teen in the leg as he tried to run, according to the arrest report. Miller was transported to Tampa General Hospital, the report said. His condition was not known Wednesday afternoon. The teen was treated at Pasco Regional Medical Center and released Tuesday night.

LAND O'LAKES

Woman accused of growing pot

A Land O'Lakes woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with cultivation of marijuana after Pasco sheriff's deputies said they found more than 70 marijuana plants growing in her home on Ehren Cutoff. Mary Mitchell, 35, had converted two rooms of her home into "grow rooms," according to deputies. Mitchell told deputies she grew the six dozen plants for her personal use, according to the arrest report. Mitchell was released from the Land O'Lakes Jail on Wednesday on $5,000 bail.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Arrest is made in nightclub gunfire

Bryan Gregory Heater went to jail in Pinellas County in January, accused of grand theft and domestic battery. He got out Jan. 13, and a little more than a month later, authorities say, he shot at three people during a melee outside a west Pasco strip club, Diamonds Gentleman's Club. One of the victims remains in critical condition. Heater, 27, of 4333 Erie Drive, faces three charges of attempted murder. He was arrested about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday near his home. Alexander Wilson, a bouncer at the club, was fired at, but not hit, Pasco sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said. Anthony Monti, 32, of New Port Richey, was shot in the left arm. Kellie Zorka, 27, of Holiday, who used to work at the club, suffered a gunshot wound to the head. She remains in critical condition on a respirator, Tobin said.

[Last modified February 27, 2008, 23:33:05]