BAD EDUCATION: This one's a real "He Said-They Said." Police responded to Cahoon Elementary School after receiving reports of possible child abuse. On scene, the cops interviewed the victim, who stated that his abuser (the report is never clear, but the supposed aggressor seems to have been a teacher) "grabbed him by his throat and began to choke him [and] then forcibly placed him onto a chair." At first this seemed a credible story, due to scratches found "on the front of the victim's neck chest. … There were also scratches to the left side and back of his neck." Although the physical evidence pointed to some kind of abuse, witness interviews told a different story. Police interviewed at least five of the victim's classmates and teachers, and they all stated that there was no improper touching. A student in the class where the alleged incident occurred told police that the suspect had "picked the victim up and placed him in his seat. He added that the scratches to the victim were inflicted by the victim, 'because he likes to scratch himself.'" Police took no further action.
AND PROUD OF IT: A Tampa police officer spotted a man sitting on the steps in front of a BP gas station on Nebraska Avenue. The man could be seen drinking "Schlitz Malt Liquor 5.9% alcohol by volume" out of a container that was "partially concealed by a paper bag." Upon spotting the officer, the man chucked the beer-bag behind him, but it was too little, too late. The cop made the arrest "using verbal direction only" and began questioning the suspect. During this routine questioning, the man was asked if he was HIV positive. His cheery response: "I have AIDS all the way!" The man was removed from the scene without further incident.
SPEAKING OF DRINKING: Checking in with our friends down the Suncoast, after receiving a 911 call, a Sarasota emergency dispatcher sent an officer to a 41st Street residence. Upon arrival the officer knocked on the door. Though the officer could hear a woman's voice, no one answered the door. While the officer investigated outside the home, the owner arrived on the property, opened the door and invited the officer in. Once inside, the two men found the homeowner's wife drunk and passed out on the floor. The homeowner explained that this was a continuous problem and that he would call if he needed additional assistance. The officer departed the scene without incident. — Daina Crafa
From the files of the T.P.D. and S.P.D.
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2006.
