Crime journal

By Times Staff
Published March 13, 2008

Palm Harbor

Fight over ipod hurts one, puts teacher in jail

An argument over an iPod ended with a woman hospitalized for a head injury and a Clearwater High School teacher jailed on a misdemeanor battery charge, Pinellas sheriff's officials said. Authorities said Tuesday's altercation began when Sheri Bosson-Sutton, 43, a teacher at Clearwater High, went to Kara Petelle's Palm Harbor home to retrieve the music player from Petelle's son. Bosson-Sutton said the iPod belonged to an unidentified third party. Petelle refused to turn it over. The ensuing argument turned physical, deputies said. Bosson-Sutton was charged with misdemeanor battery.

St. Petersburg

Mississippi fugitive arrested in Pinellas

A man wanted in Mississippi on various charges, including capital sexual battery on a child, was arrested at the Sandman Motel at 570 34th St. N on Wednesday morning, the Sheriff's Office said. Alex Daniel Thornton, 38, faces sexual battery charges in Mississippi, both on an adult and a child, as well as a local charge of failing to register as a sex offender.

Brandon

Colonial Bank branch is robbed

Hillsborough deputies are searching for a man who robbed a Colonial Bank early Wednesday in Brandon, according to a sheriff's spokeswoman. The robbery happened at 9:26 a.m., when a man came into the bank at 510 Vonderburg Drive, demanded money and left with cash, deputies say. The man is described as a 6-foot-2 black man wearing a blue vinyl jacket and a bandanna. No one was injured in the robbery.

St. petersburg

Homeless man accused of battery

A homeless man who lives near City Hall was arrested early Tuesday morning after striking another man on the head with a metal cane, police said. Bill Owen, 38, who lives in the Randolph Hotel, told police that he often visits the area near City Hall because he is friends with many of the homeless people there. Early Tuesday, Daniel Bushey, 27, told Owen to leave. When Owen refused, police say Bushey first swung at him with a pocket knife. Then, police say Bushey struck him with the cane, causing a 2-inch cut on Owen's head. Bushey was charged with aggravated battery, police said.

[Last modified March 13, 2008, 01:00:52]