Tampa Bay briefs

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 2, 2001

Clearwater man accused of rape

CLEARWATER -- A Clearwater man was arrested early Monday and accused of breaking into a woman's home and raping her, according to arrest reports.

Vladimil Cruz, 18, of 1381 Voylan Ave., Apt. B, was arrested at 5:01 a.m. in Clearwater, 15 minutes after the alleged attack occurred, reports filed by Clearwater police say.

Cruz is accused of breaking into a Clearwater woman's home and holding down her arms as he raped her. In addition to the burglary and sexual battery charge, Cruz is accused of driving without a license.

He was being held late Monday at the Pinellas County Jail on $200,450 bail.

Firefighters find body of man after fire quenched

TAMPA -- A man was found dead in his home Monday night after firefighters put out a blaze there.

Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said Tampa police Officer Brian Bishop was on patrol in the area when he saw thick smoke coming from a house at 3104 E McBerry St. He radioed for help and he and another officer, David DiMarco, broke down the door to the house and tried to get inside. They were turned away by thick smoke, heat and flames.

Three minutes later, firefighters arrived and quickly put out the fire. It wasn't until they finished that the man's body was found.

Neighbors said a man in his 50s lived there with his mother, who was in failing health.

She was not home at the time of the fire. Police brought her to the scene an hour after the body was found and she later had to be helped to an ambulance, screaming.

Tampa police, the Tampa fire marshal and the state fire marshal are investigating the fire to determine the cause. No other information was available late Monday.

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