Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 6, 2001
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A nurse's assistant at an assisted living facility is accused of striking an 81-year-old Alzheimer's patient in the head and pushing the woman into a metal door, according to the Pasco Sheriff's Office.
Edward Joseph Stengele, 69, of 7104 Kirsch Court, New Port Richey, was charged Sunday night with one felony count of abuse of the elderly.
A deputy said the abuse occurred Sunday at the Oakview Terrace assisted living facility on Baillie Drive. The woman was in Stengele's care when he struck her twice in the head with his open hand and pushed her into the door, a report said. Three people saw the abuse, the deputy said.
The victim did not remember the incident, and the deputy said he did not see any physical injuries.
Stengele, who denied the charge, was booked into the county jail in Land O'Lakes, and was released Monday on $5,000 bail.
Oakview Terrace employees did not return calls to the Times Monday.
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A man who led police and sheriff's deputies on a chase has been charged with two more criminal counts.
Larry Cook, 31, of 4880 Glenbrook Drive, Palm Harbor, was charged Friday with carjacking and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.
During the Feb. 27 chase, Cook rammed at least six police cruisers and tried to run over more than one officer, authorities say. New Port Richey police and the Sheriff's Office were involved in the chase, and eight officers fired at Cook.
They also say Cook forced a man out of his car as the man sat in the parking lot of a club on State Road 54. Cook later crashed that man's car on U.S. 19 near Buena Vista Lane and was wounded by officers' gunfire in the middle of that intersection in Holiday.
Cook was in serious condition at Bayfront Medical Center on Monday, a hospital spokesman said. He already faces two counts of aggravated assault on an officer and three counts of felony criminal mischief, and authorities said he likely will face other charges, including aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.