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GULFPORT — A Gulfport died from a gunshot to the head by a roommate during an argument late Saturday, police say.
Riley Bryan, 67, was being held Sunday without bond at the Pinellas County jail on a charge of first degree murder. Bryan identified himself as the shooter in a phone call to Gulfport police dispatchers, city police said in a news release.
EAST LAKE — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man who dressed as a woman and robbed a bank Friday afternoon, authorities say.
Just before 4 p.m., the suspect, described as a black man wearing a wig and a long, purple sweater over black stretch pants, entered the Bank of America at 2551 Tarpon Woods Blvd., deputies said.
ST. PETERSBURG — Deputies on Friday arrested an 18-year-old student they say had weapons in his car while on school property.
Michael August Volpini of 6433 49th Ave. N, faces a charge of felony possession of weapons on a school campus. Authorities took him into custody shortly after 11 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of Dixie Hollins High School, where he is an 11th grader.
TAMPA — A mentally ill Vietnam veteran was sentenced Friday to five years of probation for making repeated threats to kill his Veterans Affairs financial guardian and blow up the agency's office building.
Ronald Franklin Barnes, 59, of Wildwood had already spent close to 15 months in custody following his arrest. He pleaded guilty in August to making the threats, and U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich granted a defense motion to vary from the sentencing range of 15 to 21 months based on the amount of time Barnes has already served.
CLEARWATER — Clearwater Beach residents are intensely protective of the Municipal Marina. They cherish it as one of the last places on the barrier island where the public has free and easy access to Clearwater Bay.
Despite the misgivings of many beach dwellers, the Clearwater City Council has decided to push forward with an initiative that would make it possible for the city to redevelop the marina property someday.
In St. Petersburg, a three-wheeled Harley-Davidson hearse roars to cemeteries. Off Madeira Beach, companies scatter ashes at sea. Across Tampa Bay, undertakers stream funerals online.
CLEARWATER — Police identified the motorcyclist and passenger who crashed on Montclair Road Thursday night. Both died.
Daniel B. Rivers, 34, of 1401 Rose St. in Clearwater was heading west on his 2004 Suzuki motorcycle at a high speed when he lost control at a curve near the 1800 block of Montclair Road, said Clearwater police spokeswoman Elizabeth Watts.
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