Police reports

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 11, 2001

New Sheriff's Office dog has nose trained on drugs

DADE CITY -- With his old dogs, Pasco sheriff's Cpl. Scott Grant had to worry about scaring people.

With his new dog, K.T., he has trouble keeping people away.

"The kids just love her," Grant said.

The golden Labrador retriever attended her first day of school Wednesday at James Irvin Educational Center with Grant, her handler and the school's resource officer. She becomes the Sheriff's Office's second school resource officer dog, replacing T.C., a German shepherd that died of cancer in June. K.T. is the agency's first retriever and weighs just 48 pounds.

"She doesn't bite," Grant said. "She's not that kind of animal."

On the plane ride here last week from Memphis, where the 2-year-old was trained, she sat on Grant's lap. Flight attendants and passengers took pictures with her.

K.T. is trained only in sniffing for drugs. She can recognize marijuana, hashish, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines, Grant said. She will work in the jail and schools.

Police say man ruptured another's eardrum in fight

DADE CITY -- A 20-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after he ruptured another man's eardrum during a fight, according to a police report.

Ronald Hambrick Jr. of 14609 Osceola St. had been fighting with 42-year-old Kinnie Perez Clayton about 4:30 p.m., Dade City police officers said. They said Hambrick punched the man in the head, causing his right eardrum to rupture.

When officers went to Hambrick's house to confront him about the incident, he ran from them, a report stated. Hambrick later was caught and faces charges of aggravated battery and resisting arrest without violence.

Hambrick was taken to the county jail in Land O'Lakes, where he remained Wednesday in lieu of $3,000 bail.

Man charged with picking a fight with detective

DADE CITY -- Pasco County sheriff's deputies arrested a man Tuesday who they say tried to fight them for no apparent reason.

Deputies said they were investigating a local animal complaint when Russell J. Pye, 18, of 37003 Oak St. took a fighter's stance. Reports state he closed his hand into a fist, drew back and told a detective that he was "fixing to get popped."

When deputies tried to arrest Pye, he refused to get into the police car. He faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.

Pye was taken to the county jail in Land O'Lakes, where he later was released on his own recognizance.

Deputies say man beat up his mother and her friend

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Sheriff's deputies on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old man who they say beat up his mother and her friend.

Robert Todd Chenkin of 4623 Orange Blossom Drive had come by the house he shares with his mother sometime Monday evening and was upset, witnesses said. He returned about 1:45 a.m. Tuesday and pushed his 47-year-old mother, Doris Chenkin, several times. He also grabbed her by the throat and bit her hand, reports stated.

His mother's friend Richard Smith had to hold Robert down until police arrived. Robert Chenkin bit Smith on the left arm, reports stated.

Doris Chenkin said that while she was calling police, her son pulled the phone from the wall.

Robert Chenkin faces charges of aggravated domestic violence, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery and tampering with a witness.

He was taken to the county jail in Land O'Lakes, where he was released later Tuesday on his own recognizance.

Man charged in burglaries of 3 homes in September

DADE CITY -- A 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in connection with three burglaries in Dade City during September.

Gregory Allen Branham of 8346 Richland School Road faces three charges of grand theft. Reports state that he stole more than $6,500 worth of goods in the three incidents. The houses that were robbed are at 38525 Arena Road, 36700 Christian Road and 36910 Teresa Road.

Branham was taken to the county jail in Land O'Lakes, where he remained Wednesday in lieu of $38,100 bail.

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