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Police reportsBy Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times, Halloween thieves steal woman's purseZEPHYRHILLS -- Lola Kurtz was expecting trick-or-treaters Wednesday night when she heard a knock at the door. Two men, wearing light shirts, dark pants and skeleton masks, were outside her door inside Village Chase about 7:15 p.m. Ms. Kurtz, 90, later told police she thought the men looked too old to be trick-or-treating, but she started to hand them candy anyway. As she opened the door, one of the men grabbed her arm while another ran to the back bedroom and grabbed her purse, which contained keys, papers and about $50. The two men then ran away. Ms. Kurtz described them to police as both being about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 160 pounds. Zephyrhills Police Capt. Richard Scudder said that in addition to the home invasion and robbery charges, the robbers also face felony charges of battery on an elderly person. "To take advantage of an elderly woman like that, that says a lot about these people's character," Scudder said. "It just blows your mind." No arrests were made Thursday evening. Boy, 15, charged with attempted armed robberyNEW PORT RICHEY -- A 15-year-old New Port Richey boy was arrested Wednesday after Pasco County sheriff's deputies said the teen threatened three trick-or-treaters with a knife and tried to steal their Halloween candy. The trio -- the female victim and her two younger brothers -- told deputies that they were trick-or-treating around 9 p.m. when the suspect approached them with a knife and demanded their candy, reports said. The Times is not identifying the suspect because of his age. The suspect held the knife to the sister's chest and said, "I could kill you," according to reports. Then he threatened the brothers with the knife, holding the weapon against the throat of one of them, reports said. The siblings ran away without handing over their candy. The suspect is facing charges of attempted armed robbery and was taken to the Pasco County Juvenile Detention Center in San Antonio. A Sheriff's Office spokesman was unable to provide the ages of the victims. Man held in sex battery on retarded 14-year-oldDADE CITY -- A 36-year-old Dade City man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he forced a developmentally disabled 14-year-old girl to have sex with him, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported. Richard Alexander Meyers IV, of 36922 Oakwood Drive was charged with involuntary sexual battery. He was held in the Land O'Lakes jail late Thursday in lieu of $150,000 bail. According to a report, the victim, who has the maturity of a 6-year-old, told detectives that Meyers forced her to have sexual intercourse. The girl's mother said she came home to find her daughter sitting naked beside Meyers, the report said. When questioned by detectives, Meyers asked for a lawyer, the Sheriff's Office said. Brooksville man arrested in Zephyrhills robberyZEPHYRHILLS -- A Brooksville man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a September armed robbery at a Zephyrhills home, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported. William Earl McCalop, 44, was booked into the county jail on a charge of armed robbery. He was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. The robbery happened Sept. 3 at 38233 Tucker Road, according to reports. McCalop, who had a knife, and a woman went to the house and demanded money from 51-year-old John Niemtus, a report said. The assailant stabbed Niemtus in the right thigh and took a check, credit card and other items out of his wallet, the Sheriff's Office said. McCalop was arrested after Niemtus picked him out of a photo lineup, reports said.
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