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Arrest total for raft race reaches four
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, HOMOSASSA -- Two people were nabbed by authorities and accused of drunken driving after leaving Super Raft Race 2001 in Homosassa Saturday, bringing to four the total number of people who ended the day of festivities in handcuffs. Richard Jordan Thompson, 33, of Crystal River, was charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license after colliding with another car near the intersection of U.S. 19 and Venable Street on Saturday night. He told a Florida Highway Patrol trooper he and his girlfriend had been at the race all afternoon. John Daniel Bedford, 23, of Hernando was stopped by a Citrus County Sheriff's deputy because of a broken left taillight after leaving the event. The deputy said Bedford smelled strongly of alcohol and a Breathalyzer test showed he had a blood alcohol level of between 0.223 and 0.237, according to an arrest report. He was charged with driving under the influence. Two other people were arrested during the event in connection with fights. Jerard Dean Brotherhood, 18, of Hernando Beach in Hernando County and Joshua David Doud, 20, of Homosassa were charged with disorderly intoxication after separate fights Saturday afternoon. Despite the arrests, organizers considered the race a rousing success. "We had a few fights, but that's to be expected," said Grace Zettle, manager of K.C. Crump's, which coordinated the event. She noted this year's race offered more food and activities for children than in the past. Zettle estimated the crowd at more than 6,000 people. "Next year we'll get a little more security in here and keep things under control," she said.
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