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Tampa Bay briefsBy Times staff writers © St. Petersburg Times, published January 3, 2001 Cellular tower falls on assisted living centerPALM HARBOR -- A cellular tower toppled off the roof and into the courtyard of St. Mark Village, an assisted living facility at 2655 Nebraska Ave., about 6 p.m. Tuesday. No one was injured. Ed Hutfilz, St. Mark's president and CEO, said the 97-foot tower had been installed a few weeks ago. He said no one knew why it fell and that the incident caused minimal damage to the six-story building. Boy listed as critical after van strikes him, friendTAMPA -- A 7-year-old boy was in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital after he and a friend were hit by a Ford Econoline van as they darted across Nebraska Avenue about noon Tuesday. Police said Jashon Gillis, 7, and Razia Johnson, 10, ran out from behind a building and into the street in front of the van driven by Harry J. Thomas, who was not charged. Witnesses told police that Thomas was driving slowly and tried to stop. Both Jashon and Razia suffered head injuries, but Jashon also suffered internal injuries from being stuck underneath the van. Razia was listed in fair condition Tuesday night. Investigators identify man killed in house blazeTAMPA -- Investigators have identified the man who died in a fire Monday night at 3104 E McBerry St. in northeast Tampa. Charles Green, 52, was found by firefighters in the small, concrete block home after they put out the fire about 9:30 p.m. The Hillsborough County medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Green lived with his mother, Mary Howard, but she was not at home when the fire started. Father admits guilt in death of 9-month-oldTAMPA -- As his 9-month-old son cried last July, Tony Lamont Bragg Sr.'s mind was on something else: the Everquest computer game. Authorities think Bragg squeezed Tony Jr. to keep him quiet, then left him in a utility closet in their Temple Terrace apartment more than 24 hours. The boy died. On Tuesday, Bragg, 24, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Bragg appeared to get annoyed by his son's crying, said prosecutor Suzanne Rossomondo. The baby's heart was punctured, causing him to bleed to death. His ribs and collarbone were fractured. Bulldozers strip Pasco land to make way for nudist resortLAND O'LAKES -- The 5-year-old dream to develop a Mediterranean-style nudist village in the heart of Pasco County is finally grounded in reality. Construction workers spent December bulldozing 97 acres east of U.S. 41 to build Caliente, a challenge to the dominance of Paradise Lakes, a Pasco resort that draws about 75,000 visitors a year. Caliente broke ground in a ceremony attended by 150 in July 1996. But the resort's managing partners struggled for years to finance the $38-million project. As the community's fifth nudist resort, Caliente will help seal Pasco's reputation as a capital of the unclothed. The other resorts are Paradise Lakes, Lake Como, The Island Group and the Riverboat Club. Seven jurors seated in police labor lawsuitTAMPA -- Five men and two women were sworn in Tuesday as jurors in a labor lawsuit involving the St. Petersburg Police Department. Plaintiff Karen Lea, a former officer, claims she was retaliated against for complaining in the past about sexual harassment. Lea and a few other high-ranking police supervisors are expected to testify today before visiting U.S. District Judge Ann Aldrich. Lea's case is one of 11 separate legal actions filed in state or federal court since police Chief Goliath Davis III was appointed in 1997. Davis sat at the defendant's table Tuesday, flanked by Tampa labor attorney Thomas M. Gonzalez and Assistant City of St. Petersburg Attorney Ernest Mueller. Meanwhile, outside the chambers, Davis said Tuesday that he has received "a lot of inquiries, a lot of inquiries" about running for mayor of St. Petersburg. In a switch from saying he would not enter the race, Davis said that he has not come to a decision about joining the 10 candidates. Lea's retaliation claim stems from discipline she received under Davis for making profane comments about an employee's sexual orientation. She was demoted from sergeant to officer. She said the discipline was too harsh. She sued in 1999. Lea won a $29,000 annual service pension after doctors testified that depression and stress destroyed her career.
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