CLEARWATER
Photo released of suspect in cabbie's death
Clearwater police have released photos of a possible suspect in the slaying of a cab driver on Wednesday. The shooting took place behind a Clearwater strip mall between 1 and 2 a.m. Cab driver Jack LaGrand, 50, was shot dead in his cab. A business owner in the strip mall found him just before 7:30 a.m. and called 911. The suspect is described as between 5-feet-7 and 5-feet-9 with a thin build and short, dark hair. He was last seen wearing a large white T-shirt with a black skull design across the upper back and skeleton hands on the front shoulders. He was also wearing dark colored shorts. Detectives ask anyone with information to contact the Clearwater Police Robbery/Homicide Tip Line at (727) 562-4422.
TARPON SPRINGS
School locked down after tip
Tarpon Springs Middle School went on lockdown about 3 p.m. Friday after police received a tip that a suicidal man might be armed in the area. A caller told police that a relative was suicidal and could be armed on Sunset Beach. Police notified nearby schools and rerouted traffic near Gulf Road and Florida Avenue. Police later found the man in his home on the opposite side of the city. He was placed in custody under the Baker Act for mental evaluation. The middle school lockdown lasted about 30 minutes.
DUNEDIN
Bank robber took a taxi, deputies say
Deputies with the Pinellas Sheriff's Office arrested a 55-year-old man Thursday, minutes after he robbed a Dunedin bank, they said. The robbery occurred about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, at the Wachovia Bank at 1483 Main St. Gordon Ritchie, was arrested about 10 minutes later near Keene Road at Beltrees Street. Detectives said Ritchie entered the bank and presented a note to a teller implying he was armed. The teller told Ritchie she was assigned to work the drive-through window and did not have access to a cash drawer. Then, officials said, Ritchie approached another teller who told him her window was closed. The first two bank employees notified a manager, while Ritchie approached a third teller, authorities said. Deputies responding to the robbery stopped the taxi Ritchie was riding in. He was charged with robbery and was being held at the jail Friday in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Pinellas deaths
Bright, Thelma E.
Chamberlain, Walter L. "Nemo"
Coe, James
Coyne, Helen M.
Dedman, Charles
Gilmore, Dawn L.
Jonap, Lane
LaGrand, Jack
Loken, Luverne M. "Vern"
Mankovs, Inez B.
Saroukos, Eirini "Irene"
Spatzer, Lucille
Traverse, John F.
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