Police reports

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 23, 2001

Deputies search for driver after chase early Sunday

DADE CITY -- A drawn out car chase Sunday left Pasco County sheriff's deputies still looking for the car's erratic driver.

Just after midnight, deputies noticed a green Cadillac Seville at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Lock Street with an inoperative brake light, a report stated.

When the light turned green, the car took off north at about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. It also crossed back and forth over the center line.

Later, it sped up to 75 mph in a 55 mph zone, at which point a deputy tried to make a traffic stop, the report stated.

But instead of stopping, the Cadillac accelerated to 95 mph. After about three high-speed miles, the car turned east on Cummer Road. It then turned south on Wormack Road, east on McRay Road and north on Stewart Road back toward Cummer Road.

The driver eventually lost control and ran the car into a field near an abandoned building on the southwest corner of Stewart and Cummer roads, the report stated.

The driver escaped after he ran into a nearby patch of woods.

James Edward Hambrick, 34, of Dade City, and Samuel Charles Ceazer, 22, of Lacoochee, were passengers in the car.

They told deputies they didn't know the driver of the car, which belonged to Hambrick. Hambrick told deputies he had let the man drive the car because Hambrick had been drinking.

Deputies deemed the case inactive pending more information about the suspect.

Man punches boy, women, deputies say

HUDSON -- A 48-year-old man was charged Sunday with child abuse, domestic battery and simple battery after deputies said he punched a 12-year-old and two women.

Pasco County sheriff's deputies said Ricky Lynn Helmick of 13317 Clara Drive slapped, punched, pushed and kicked the boy shortly after 8 p.m. Helmick also hit his live-in girlfriend and another woman during the fight. The victims received minor injuries.

Helmick was released Monday from the county jail in Land O'Lakes on his own recognizance.

No one hurt after car crashes into building

DADE CITY -- A Monday afternoon wreck shook up both a 76-year-old Zephyrhills woman and a Dade City law firm building.

Nobody was hurt seriously in the incident that happened about 1:30 p.m.

Officials said Virginia Ross was heading to Greenfelder, Mander, Murphy, Dwyer & Morris law firm for a mediation session.

But for some reason, when she turned into the parking lot off Meridian Avenue, she didn't stop.

Her Toyota Camry ran head-on into the building, cracking the blue stucco wall and damaging the front end of the car. Both of Ross' air bags deployed in the crash.

Because the police and fire stations are within shouting distance to the site, a caravan of emergency vehicles were on the scene in minutes.

"I think she just hit the wrong pedal," said Dade City Fire Rescue Capt. Joey Wubbena. "It's just not her day today."

Attorney Glen Greenfelder said the crash startled some of the employees inside the practice.

"They all screamed," he said. "We've never had anybody jump our curb before."

"We'll get this wall back together," he said. "I just feel sorry for her."

Ross was treated and released from Pasco Regional Medical Center.

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