Makeshift home in shed burns near State Road 52

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 15, 2001

DADE CITY -- A wooden shed near State Road 52, the apparent makeshift quarters of a homeless man, burned Wednesday morning, fire officials said.

"There's still some walls standing, but it's a total loss," said Lt. Tony Hicks of the Dade City Fire Department. "It can't even really be used for storage anymore."

Firefighters found some clothes, a mattress, a table and a motorcycle inside the 15- by 20-foot building, Hicks said. He doesn't know who owns the shed, he said, but people in the area told him the man living there had hitched a ride on a truck and was out of town Wednesday.

Firefighters arrived at the scene, near Williams Road, at about 9:10 a.m. and had the fire under control in less than five minutes, firefighters said.

The cause of the fire had not been determined on Wednesday evening, Hicks said.

Man warned twice, then arrested on DUI charge

ZEPHRYHILLS -- Police told Chett Herbert Dupree not to drive.

A half-hour later, they told him again.

But the man wouldn't listen.

Dupree, 37, of 907 Candlewood Ave. in Tampa was arrested early Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence and knowingly driving with a suspended license, police said.

Police said they found Dupree standing in the back of a truck about 3 a.m., when they were dispatched to check out a suspicious vehicle at Sixth Street and B Avenue. Dupree smelled like alcohol and couldn't keep his balance, they said. He also had a suspended license for two previous DUI arrests.

Dupree said he would walk home, police said.

At 3:30 a.m., police found him walking back to the truck and again warned him not to drive. Again, he said he would walk home.

At about 4:40 a.m., police said they found him driving the truck. Dupree was arrested at Sixth Street and A Avenue.

He refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

Dupree was being held Wednesday afternoon at county jail in Land O'Lakes on $5,250 bail.

Two charged with driving with suspended licenses

DADE CITY -- Two people withnumerous driving offenses on their records were arrested Tuesday and charged with driving with suspended licenses, Pasco County Sheriff's deputies said.

Michael Anthony Davis, 36, of 17435 Jessamine Road was pulled over at a traffic stop about 8:15 p.m., when deputies realized he had 18 license suspensions, deputies said.

Earlier in the day, Sandra Lynn Herrim, 40, of 11306 Ewing Drive was also pulled over for a traffic stop when deputies realized her license had been suspended eight times, deputies said.

Both Davis and Herrim were being held Wednesday at county jail in Land O'Lakes on $500 bail.

Social service worker accused of hitting spouse

DADE CITY -- A social service worker for an agency that helps potentially troubled families was arrested Tuesday and charged with simple domestic battery, deputies said.

Erika Nikole Grant, 28, of 37153 Oak Court said she works for Healthy Families of Pasco, deputies said.

Her husband said that she hit him with a closed fist while they were traveling on Fort King Road at Clinton Avenue in Dade City, deputies said. He suffered minor injuries.

Grant admitted to deputies that she hit her husband, but said she was "being assertive, not aggressive," deputies said.

Healthy Families program manager Kathy Bell said Wednesday that she has not yet spoken with Grant so no action has been taken.

Grant was being held without bail Wednesday afternoon at county jail in Land O'Lakes.

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