Largo man disappears after hospital release

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 27, 2001

A 45-year-old Largo man who suffered severe smoke inhalation in a Jan. 12 car fire was released from a Gainesville hospital earlier this week.

Now, investigators can't find him.

Firefighters found an unconscious Gary Wisemandle in the front seat of a car in the parking lot of Largo Middle School in the early morning hours of Jan. 12. A fire was burning under the hood, and Wisemandle suffered from some burns and smoke inhalation. He was taken by helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, then transferred to Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Although he was in critical condition for several days, Wisemandle was released this week, Largo police Lt. Michelle Smith said. Wisemandle is not suspected of any criminal activity. The fire that began in the engine was ruled accidental, she said.

But investigators still would like to speak with him to determine why he was unable to escape from the smoke.

Motorcyclist sought after Thursday robbery

LARGO -- Detectives were searching Friday for a motorcyclist who robbed a truck driver near Largo on Thursday night. The driver had completed his route for Great Bay Distributors, 2310 Starkey Road, and had pulled into the business' parking lot about 7:55 p.m. when he was robbed, according to Pinellas County sheriff's spokesman Greg Tita.

The driver had gone into the office to get a key, then returned and emptied a drop safe in his truck. After placing the cash in the bag, the driver began walking back to the office. A man on a black Ninja-type motorcycle pulled up and blocked his path, Tita said. The man on the bike pulled up his jacket, revealing a handgun in his waistband, and said "Give me the money," said Tita. The robber then drove off with an undetermined amount of cash. No one was injured. The robber was wearing a black jacket, black pants, gloves and a black motorcycle helmet.

Two pharmacy employees arrested on drug charges

CLEARWATER -- Two employees at a Tampa pharmacy were arrested Thursday night and charged with selling prescription drugs to undercover Clearwater police. Dave Sagy, 27, of 8905 Citrus Village Drive in Tampa, was charged with selling an undercover officer 1,000 hydrocodone pills, said authorities. The transaction occurred about 10 p.m. near Countryside Mall, said police spokesman Wayne Shelor.

About 90 minutes later, Karim Riad Georgy, 18, of 9001 Breland Drive, Tampa, was charged with selling an undercover officer 180 Xanex pills for $400, Shelor said. That transaction occurred near Sunset Point Road and U.S. 19, according to arrest reports. Both men work in the pharmacy at the Kash n' Karry, 10617 Sheldon Road in Tampa, according to Shelor. It was unknown if that's where the men got the drugs or if they were working together, Shelor said. Police also found five Viagra pills in Georgy's car; he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, but wasn't trying to sell that drug, Shelor said.

Slate of candidates set for Oldsmar council

OLDSMAR -- Oldsmar Planning Board member Don Bohr qualified Friday to have his name appear on the ballot as a candidate for the Oldsmar City Council. He will square off against Dale Renbjor for Seat 4. Bohr was the last of seven people who filed and qualified as candidates for three seats on council. In other races, council member Ed Manny and former Mayor Jerry Beverland will compete for mayor. Deborah Chapman, Marcelo Caruso and Jean Jorgenson will vie for Seat 2, now held by Ed Richards, who is leaving the council because of term limits. The qualifying period for candidates ended Friday, meaning the field of candidates now is set for the March 13 city elections.

Addition for BIC Graphic gets local financial support

LARGO -- BIC Graphic, a supplier of promotional products, is building a 45,000-square-foot addition at the ICOT Center. On Tuesday, the Pinellas County commissioners approved a request to provide local financial support to the company. The company is requesting $210,000 in tax refunds from the state. The county will provide 10 percent, or $21,000. That amount will be matched by the city of Largo to facilitate the state's approval process, for a total of $42,000 in local tax incentives.

The project began in December and is scheduled for completion in May. All told, it will cost $9.2-million, including the costs to demolish the existing facility, construct a new one and add new equipment. About 70 jobs will be created over the next five years, and employees will be paid, on average, $34,000 annually. BIC Graphic, which prints logos on BIC pens and other products, also plans to introduce a new product on May 1. A company official said the new venture is not a pen, but declined to name or describe the product.

Annual memorial service honors four chaplains

The 58th annual Four Chaplains Memorial Service will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 4 in the J.C. Cobb Room, main hospital building of the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg. The service, which includes a guest speaker and the posting of the colors, honors four military chaplains who died when their troop transport ship, the SS Dorchester, was torpedoed and sank in 1943 during World War II. The chaplains gave up their life jackets to soldiers as the ship sank off Greenland. Call 392-5648 or 393-0548.

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