Tampa Bay briefs

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 18, 2001

Police seek suspect in beating, robbery

TAMPA -- Police are looking for a man who beat a woman with a wooden plank outside her east Tampa home before robbing her of jewelry and cash.

The 64-year-old woman was sitting in her carport Saturday evening when the unknown man approached and asked her for something to drink.

Police said an argument started and the man picked up a wooden crate, broke it and began to beat her with the wood. He then dragged her into the house, ransacked the residence and made off with a purse, jewelry and cash.

Neighbors chased the man, who climbed a fence and fled on a bicycle.

The woman, who name is being withheld by the St. Petersburg Times, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital and received 47 stitches for cuts to the head.

Fire damages part of mobile home

ST. PETERSBURG -- A fire Sunday caused about $30,000 in damage to a mobile home. The fire, which might have been started by an electrical problem, was reported at 5:50 p.m. at 5150 Fourth St. N, Lot 668, said St. Petersburg fire Lt. Gary Reitz. No injuries were reported, and most of the damage was in the bedroom and living room areas. The fire was under control about 10 minutes after firefighters arrived. No one was home when the fire started.

Man accused of ramming fence to regain towed car

ST. PETERSBURG -- A man rammed his way out of a towing company's lot after climbing a 12-foot fence to regain possession of his Isuzu Rodeo, which had been towed, authorities say. Thomas Oettrich, 40, of 2443 68th Ave. S, drove the Rodeo through the lot's metal gate at 2600 24 St. N, causing more than $1,000 in damage, according to arrest reports. Oettrich was charged with criminal mischief and commercial burglary. He was booked at the Pinellas County jail early Sunday and was released later that day.

Man dies after fall at construction site

SEMINOLE -- A 20-year-old Plant City man died at a hospital Friday, two days after falling at a construction site in Seminole.

Jeffery Bruce Hunter was a fire sprinkler system installer and a lifelong resident of the Tampa Bay area. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center after the fall Wednesday morning. The Pinellas-Pasco Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the incident an accident.

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