Tampa Bay briefs

Compiled from Times staff and wire reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 5, 2000

Pizza Hut manager beaten at Dade City restaurant

DADE CITY -- The manager of a Pizza Hut was ambushed and beaten Friday morning when he arrived at work, police said.

During the armed robbery, the 27-year-old manager suffered severe head injuries, apparently from being whipped with a pistol, Dade City police said.

The injured manager was discovered on the floor of the restaurant, 14910 N U.S. 98 Bypass, by a truck driver making a delivery at the store. The driver called 911 about 6:45 a.m., police said.

The manager was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Police would not release his name or condition Saturday.

The truck driver saw two men fleeing the store, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call (352) 521-1493 or (352) 521-5604.

Fire damage at Dade City church at least $5,000

DADE CITY -- An early morning fire Saturday caused at least $5,000 damage, mostly to a second-story office, at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, firefighters said.

An electrical short-circuit between the building's first and second floor set the flooring and wall on fire, said Dade City Fire Lt. Mike Schultz.

A man walking near the church, 14549 Eighth St., saw the fire and called the Fire Department about 5 a.m., Schultz said.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about 15 minutes, Schultz said.

Police say Miami rape may have been planned

MIAMI -- Five males took turns raping a 16-year-old girl, an assault that may have been part of a growing local practice of planning gang rapes in advance, police said.

Miami police sex crime detectives are aware of three similar cases within the past six months and they fear there might be more. The perpetrators call such rapes a "train."

"This is the type of crime that victims don't report out of shame," Lt. Bill Schwartz said.

Kenny Theorck, 18; Richard Milrod, 19; Macdroley A. Francois, 18; and two boys, ages 16 and 17, were arrested Friday and charged with sexual battery and kidnapping for Thursday's attack. If convicted, they could face from 25 years to life in prison.

Theorck picked up the girl and told her they were going to the movies. But he then said he had to change cars and went to a house in northeast Miami, Schwartz said.

At the house, Theorck asked the girl to have sex with him and stripped off her pants when she refused, Schwartz said. After telling her she would not be able to leave until they had sex, she told investigators she refused again, and Theorck raped her.

Schwartz said the suspects took turns raping her and then took the girl back to her own house, where she called police and led them to her attackers.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright