PINELLAS PARK -- An employee at a manufacturing plant was burned on his face and legs Wednesday when a vacuum cleaner motor ignited flammable powder, authorities said.

Robert Kershaw, 60, was admitted to Tampa General Hospital, where he was in stable condition. He suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns over about 15 percent of his body, said Pinellas Park fire Chief Kenneth Cramer.

The accident happened just after 10:30 a.m. at the Epson Emser Corp. at 5430 70th Ave. N, Cramer said. The company is a defense contractor that manufactures high-tech batteries.

"There are all kinds of chemicals and powders there," Cramer said. "Some powder was ignited by the electric motor in a vacuum cleaner."

That sparked a small explosion that injured Kershaw but did not damage the building. It caused about $1,000 worth of damage to items inside the building, firefighters said.

A Pinellas Park fire inspector was investigating the cause of the accident.

Bandanna-wearing men rob two more stores

GULFPORT -- A gunman or gunmen wearing a bandanna robbed two convenience stores Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, firing a gunshot at one store's owner.

The holdups appeared to fit a pattern: Eight other convenience stores in St. Petersburg and unincorporated Pinellas County have been robbed by men in bandannas this year.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Gulfport Mini Mart at 1615 58th St. S was robbed by a man who got into a fight with store owner Osama Anany, police said. The robber fired a shot that passed through Anany's shirt and hit a counter. Anany was not hurt. The robber dropped the money as he ran from the store.

About 10 a.m. Wednesday, the Joy Food Mart at 1005 49th St. S was robbed by a man who ordered two customers to lie on the floor as the clerk emptied the register.

In both cases, the robber wore a dark bandanna over his face, a black skull cap, a black long-sleeved shirt, black pants and black gloves.

Both times, the robber worked alone. But the previous eight robberies this year involved two bandanna-wearing gunmen who wore all black.

Man who drowned in bay described as a transient

ST. PETERSBURG -- A man whose body was found floating in Tampa Bay on June 20 has been identified as Timothy Kaminski, 37, who had no permanent address. The day before his body was retrieved from the water, his wallet and bicycle were found on the Friendship Trail Bridge. His death has been ruled a drowning, St. Petersburg police officials said. No foul play is suspected.

There was a delay in releasing the man's name because police had difficulty locating next of kin. Police describe Kaminski as a transient, and a roommate said he suffered from depression.

Deputies arrest suspects in carjacking

TAMPA -- A trio of carjackers robbed a woman of her sport-utility vehicle at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon, but were quickly caught, sheriff's officials said.

Two of them confronted Ola Fadaly, 41, just after 3 p.m. as she stood next to her 1994 Suzuki Samurai in the parking lot of a Kash n' Karry at 2770 E Fowler Ave., sheriff's spokesman Rod Reder said. One of them had a gun.

Accompanied by a female in another stolen car, they drove off in the SUV. Deputy Rick Woychowski spotted them about 15 minutes later on Inoma Street by Fletcher Avenue and began following.

The suspects drove into a county park, jumped from their vehicles and ran in three directions, Reder said.

All three were caught, and one of them suffered a bite to his back from Bo, a 2-year-old German Shepherd who works with Deputy Mark Hall. The vehicles also were recovered.

Reder said deputies arrested Habert Holmes, 21, who gave no address; Gregory Thompson, 24, of 1528 139th Ave.; and Coretha Black, 21, of 13612 Inoma St. They were charged with armed carjacking.

Gunman robs Hollywood Video Store

CARROLLWOOD -- Martinko Caver showed up at his old workplace Tuesday night saying he wanted to talk about a final paycheck from the Hollywood Video Store at 14330 Dale Mabry Highway. But according to the Sheriff's Office, the 21-year-old Tampa resident wanted more.

Caver, who lives at 7210 N Manhattan Ave., Apt. 811, is accused of pulling out a handgun and robbing the store.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Caver entered the store about 11:30 p.m. After speaking with the manager he went to the bathroom and returned wielding a chrome handgun, officials said.

He is accused of ordering the manager to open the safe and taking cash and a cell phone before fleeing on foot.

Van sought after school bus accident

TAMPA -- Authorities are looking for a white van with a Maryland tag that struck a Hillsborough school bus early Wednesday, causing minor injuries to three people including a 7-year-old disabled Dover Elementary student.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Sterling King said the van was northbound on Interstate 275 near the Alafia River bridge and pulled in front of the bus about 8 a.m. Wednesday. The van struck the bus driven by Carolyn Brock, causing a dump truck driver traveling behind the bus to hit the back of the bus.

Brock, the girl and an adult attendant were taken to Brandon Regional Medical Center for observation. The bus was on its way to Dover Elementary.

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