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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 22, 2001
Fire damages part of National Linen
TAMPA -- Fire damaged part of a linen company on Willow Avenue near Kennedy Boulevard on Friday night.
Firefighters called to the National Linen Service at 9:14 p.m. entered the building to find heavy smoke and flames, Tampa Fire Rescue District Chief Joe Wooles said.
Firefighters and sprinklers inside the building extinguished the flames. There were no injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. The company provides towels, sheets and uniforms to businesses, hotels and restaurants.
TAMPA -- A 28-year-old Wesley Chapel man died in a single-car accident early Friday on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, sheriff's officials said.
Jeffrey Keith Boswell of 6116 Ashfield Place was northbound about 3:20 a.m. when his 1998 BMW convertible crossed the grassy median and struck a TECO tension wire, officials said. The car vaulted over hedges and flipped, ejecting Boswell, who died at the scene, officials said.
His passenger, Michael Parodi, 33, of Austin, Texas, was treated at University Community Hospital and released.
TAMPA -- Hillsborough sheriff's deputies have issued a warrant for a second man who they say was involved in the fatal shooting of a Tampa woman.
A warrant for being an accessory after the fact of murder was issued for Francisco Rios of 2204 Lloyd Drive, Ruskin.
Rios, 22, was believed to be the driver of the vehicle that was carrying German Alberto Renteria-Robles of 3304 Willow Road in Wimauma.
On Dec. 16 at 12:30 a.m., authorities said, Renteria-Robles fired a shot from a handgun, hitting 27-year-old Liznette Riviera in the back of the head as she rode in a car on 78th Street with her boyfriend. Officials said Riviera and her boyfriend were returning from watching drag races. A warrant has been issued for Renteria-Robles also.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 247-8200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-8477.
Pinellas County Judge James T. "Tom" McGrady was appointed to the Pinellas-Pasco Circuit bench Friday by Gov. Jeb Bush.
McGrady, 52, of Indian Shores, who earned his law degree from the University of Florida in 1974 and was appointed to the county bench by Bush in July 1999, replaces Judge Catherine M. Harlan, who retires at the end of the year.
A native of Indiana, McGrady moved to St. Petersburg when he was 7. He graduated from Bishop Barry High School (now St. Petersburg Catholic). He specialized in civil litigation when in private practice.
McGrady, who is married with two children, could not be reached for comment Friday evening.
ST. PETERSBURG -- A man was shot to death early Friday on the second-floor landing of his apartment building at 1421 22nd St. S, police said. His body was then dumped in a trash bin in an alley behind the building.
His name was not released Friday because authorities were still trying to notify his family. He was a black man in his late 20s or early 30s.
Detectives had no suspects in the case, said police Sgt. Mike Puetz, head of the city's homicide squad.
The man stayed in an apartment in the building, although he was not the listed renter, the landlord told police.
Police were called shortly after midnight, after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. Officers found the dead man in the trash bin. He had been shot in the upper body.
This was the 21st homicide in St. Petersburg this year. The city had 16 homicides last year and 23 in 1999.