ST. PETERSBURG -- "United in Ethics," a seminar for public officials, will be from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Music Center of St. Petersburg College, 6605 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg.

Speakers will discuss ethical issues including the struggle in balancing freedoms and security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Participants will include Christopher Ave, assistant editor in Clearwater, St. Petersburg Times; Jay Black, professor of Media Ethics at the University of South Florida; Rod Challenger, WFLA-Ch. 8; Lars Hafner, associate vice president, University Partnership Center at St. Petersburg College; Calvin Harris, Pinellas County Commission chairman; Carl Kuttler, St. Petersburg College president; James Large, St. Petersburg Fire Marshall; state Rep. Frank Peterman, D-St. Petersburg; Mary Dawn Pyle, St. Petersburg College ethics professor; Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice; state Sen. Don Sullivan, R-Seminole; and Bonnie Williams, Florida State Chairman, the Commission of Ethics.

The seminar is free. A $15 registration pays for a continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and lunch at noon. For information, call 341-4335.

Former police officer pleads guilty to charges

TAMPA -- A former Plant City police officer pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to grossly violating citizens' civil rights, including conducting illegal searches, faking affidavits and threatening suspects. Robert David Dixon, 40, reached an agreement with federal prosecutors that calls for him to assist in the investigation against a number of other defendants.

Dixon's sentencing will be delayed until after his work with investigators is done. He has agreed to help build cases against at least nine defendants -- eight police officers and one public official -- who are accused of either taking part in the illegal activities or doing nothing to stop them.

The identities of the defendants have not been made public because it is an ongoing investigation.

Dixon, who will be free until he is sentenced, faces up to 10 years in prison.

Tampa woman dies of injuries suffered in crash

TAMPA -- A Tampa woman died Monday night after a car accident earlier in the day, police said.

Vivian L. Choate, 61, of 3252 Village Way, had left a parking lot at 5125 S Dale Mabry Highway shortly before 1 p.m. Monday when she was struck by a southbound car.

Daniel Hittle, 26, of Tampa, was unable to stop in time and hit Choate's car on the left side, police said. Hittle was not injured.

Choate was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where she died about 10 p.m.

DEP says Seminole man lied about storage tanks

The state Department of Environmental Protection has charged a Seminole businessman with falsifying laboratory reports about leaking underground storage tanks in southwest Florida.

Steven D. Stratton, 51, of 11291 Oakridge Trail Drive in Seminole, was charged Monday with nine counts of organized communications fraud.

DEP officials said the investigation began in March 1999. They refused Tuesday to release details of the charges. "The case is ongoing," said Capt. Grea Bevis of the DEP's law enforcement division.

Bevis said investigators "expect additional victims down the road."

Stratton and his attorney, Bob Tetreault, denied the allegations and said the matter was more a paperwork problem.

Tetreault said investigators will find that his client did nothing wrong.

Stratton owns Environmental Evaluations Inc., a Seminole-based environmental consulting business that evaluated conditions at sites where leaking underground petroleum storage tanks were being removed and cleaned up.

DEP investigators accused Stratton of falsifying laboratory reports and charging clients for laboratory services that he did not provide.

No charges were filed.

Armed robber suspected in other bank heists

TAMPA -- Police think a man who robbed the Southern Exchange Bank at 1901 W Swann Ave. on Tuesday is the same man responsible for five bank robberies in the area since April.

He is described as black, 35-40 years old, 6 feet tall and 250 pounds. He drives a late-model green, four-door Ford Escort or Tempo.

Other banks he is suspected of robbing include the First Union at 1770 N 50th St., Republic Security Bank at 2100 W Swann Ave. and the SunTrust Bank on S MacDill Ave.

Tuesday's robbery occurred about 2:25 p.m. Witnesses said the man displayed a handgun. No one was injured.

In the five previous robberies, the suspect said he had a weapon but none was seen.

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