Police reports

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 3, 2000

Man charged with beating his wife

NEW PORT RICHEY -- A Moon Lake volunteer firefighter has been accused of punching and kicking his wife, leaving her with a fractured left tibia and several bruises and scrapes, Pasco sheriff's deputies said.

Richard McCune, 36, walked into the fire station at 11833 Corta Ave. about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday and pushed his wife, who was working as a dispatcher for the fire department, deputies said.

When his wife tried to run, McCune caught her in the parking lot and threw her to the ground, then started hitting and kicking her, deputies said. He also threatened to kill her if she notified the Sheriff's Office or his probation officer, deputies said.

McCune was on probation for aggravated child abuse and bonded out July 8 for obstruction by disguise. His bond for that charge was revoked on Sunday, and he was charged with violating probation and aggravated domestic battery and was being held with no bond late Wednesday at the Land O'Lakes jail.

His wife was treated at North Bay Hospital.

Tokyo Japanese Steak House closed by early morning fire

NEW PORT RICHEY -- A fire that broke out about 1 a.m. Tuesday at the Tokyo Japanese Steak House has put the restaurant temporarily out of business.

Tien Lee, the restaurant's owner, said the fire started after hours and might have been due to faulty electrical wiring.

The flames badly damaged the restaurant's sushi bar, but the rest of the restaurant is intact, he said.

Lee hopes the restaurant will be able to reopen in two or three weeks. Lee said he was waiting on damage estimates from an insurance claims adjuster.

New Port Richey man to stand trial in child sex case in N.C.

A 73-year-old man New Port Richey man is being extradited to Hickory, N.C., to stand trial on charges of taking indecent liberties with a child and a first-degree statutory sexual offense with a child under 13, deputies said.

Lyle Morgan Persinger of 9049 O'Neal Ave. was arrested by a Pasco County detective on Tuesday.

A deputy's report said Persinger, who also goes by "Uncle Perc," is retired and is being held at the Land O'Lakes jail on no bond until extradition procedures are complete.

Authorities at the Hickory police department could not be reached late Wednesday.

Cannon elected chairman of Sheriff's Association Board

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County Sheriff Lee Cannon was elected chairman of the Florida Sheriff's Association Board of Directors and appointed FSA Legislative Committee Chairman at the annual FSA conference at Saddlebrook Resort last week.

At the conference, held July 23-26, Cannon said the FSA legislative committee would seek tougher sanctions for juvenile delinquents under his direction.

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