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A K-9 unit shortens the freedom for a man who bolted from a deputy's cruiser.
By RYAN DAVIS
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 8, 2001
GOWERS CORNER -- Lucas John Papendry didn't want to go back to jail.
Pasco County sheriff's Detective James Gariepy was driving Papendry from New Port Richey to the county jail in Land O'Lakes at 10:22 a.m. Wednesday, Sheriff's Office spokesman Jon Powers said. The detective had slowed to about 15 mph as he approached U.S. 41 on State Road 52 when the 19-year-old homeless man unbuckled his seat belt kicked open the door and sprung from the front seat of the car.
"He was able to jump out, shedding clothing as he went," Powers said.
Papendry fled into the woods, south of 52, west of 41 and east of the CSX Transportation railroad tracks. For more than an hour and a half, Powers said, the burglary and drug suspect eluded more than a dozen deputies, other law enforcement officials and a Sheriff's Office helicopter.
When Deputy Travis Gardner and his dog, Fox, found Papendry lying in the woods near Lake Pierce at about noon, he was wearing a white T-shirt with cut-off sleeves, blue and green boxer shorts, a white sock on his left foot and no handcuffs.
The Sheriff's Office is investigating how he got out of the car and the handcuffs, Powers said.
The manhunt brought some nearby residents and workers outside to check out the helicopter and the deputy cars lining 52 and 41 near the busy intersection.
"A bunch of cops running around in the woods and a chopper. It's the only action we've seen around here in a while," said Ronnie Neace, a manager at Crossroads Sawmill Hardware.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper searched the trunks of some cars driving on Pierce Lake Road by the railroad tracks.
It was the second time in a day Papendry was uncovered by a Pasco K-9 unit.
Deputies and another dog, Emir, found Papendry on Wednesday morning hiding inside a dark closet at the Auto Junction, 1533 U.S. 19 in Holiday. He had broken a window to the building, gone inside and attempted to take a cigarette box and gold locket.
While inside, he decided to sleep in the closet, deputies said.
Papendry said a friend was going to give him crack cocaine in exchange for keys or computers from the store, according to deputies.
When deputies found Papendry in the closet he had a crack pipe and marijuana, their reports said.
In an interview after his arrest, Papendry also confessed to stealing a car March 2 from Plaza Dodge, 1925 U.S. 19 in Holiday, deputies said.
After being treated for cuts, Papendry was in county jail at Land O'Lakes on Wednesday night on charges of escape, three counts of burglary of business, grand theft auto, possession of burglary tools, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, deputies said.
He was being held on $71,000 bail, Powers said.
As Papendry was locked into a police car after the manhunt, a deputy, who would not give his name, slammed the cruiser's door.
"Hey," the deputy said mockingly to Papendry, "open up that door."