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Police reports

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2001


18-year-old arrested in stabbing incident

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County sheriff's deputies were still investigating Sunday a stabbing that occurred early Saturday morning at Moog Road and U.S. 19.

Little information was available about the stabbing, but deputies said they later had to arrest a man who had driven the victim in a car away from the incident.

According to his arrest report, Daniel Ray Gibbs, 18, of 4928 Amhurst Court was arrested after he had fled from deputies into U.S. 19 traffic at 5:20 a.m. Saturday just outside Dunkin' Donuts at 5524 U.S. 19.

Deputies said that Gibbs had driven Matthew Cole, who was stabbed at U.S. 19 and Moog Road, away from the scene and they stopped at the doughnut shop to call police and paramedics.

As deputies were investigating Gibbs' car as part of the stabbing incident, they said Gibbs got in the way, sat on his car, swore at officers and threatened to drive his car away. When deputies escorted him to a patrol car, he broke and ran, the report said.

Deputies used pepper spray to subdue him on U.S. 19. Gibbs was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge and taken to the Land O'Lakes jail. He was being held on $500 bail Sunday night.

Cole was taken by medical helicopter to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. His condition was unavailable Sunday evening.

Librarian, student charged with battery

ZEPHYRHILLS -- A Pasco-Hernando Community College librarian and student were arrested early Sunday morning after they fought with two people on Lado Drive, Pasco County sheriff's deputies said.

Colleen Alair, 39, the librarian, and Austin Scroggins, 41, both of 33151 Brisk Drive, were charged with battery at 3:42 a.m. Sunday. Scroggins was also charged with aggravated assault after deputies were told he pulled a folded-up knife and was trying to unfold it during the scuffle.

According to arrest reports, the pair were walking on Lado Drive when they began yelling at two people at 3733 Lado Drive. The report said Alair reached over the fence and punched a woman in the mouth and bit her.

Another report said Scroggins punched a man and they began fighting over the folding knife, which the man eventually took away from Scroggins.

Deputies arrested the pair and took them to the Land O'Lakes jail. Both were released Sunday, Scroggins on $5,250 bail and Alair on $250.

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