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Authorities: 'Neutral ground' defense lands pair in hot water

 
Published Oct. 15, 2014

CLEARWATER

Authorities say 'Neutral ground' defense lands pair in hot water

Two West Coasters out for an evening dip off Pier 60 ignored calls from police officers to return to land, and instead stood waist-deep in the waves and said: "We are in neutral ground. We don't have to come to shore."

Matthew Fishman, 27, of San Francisco and Kai Whittier, 27, of Seattle were both charged Oct. 10 with resisting an officer without violence because they did, in fact, have to come to shore.

Police had seen the two jumping off the pier, according to arrest affidavits, and they had refused the commands of officers on both land and boat before being arrested.

PINELLAS PARK

Suspected grease thief fails to slip away

A man broke into Rosie's Clam Shack on 49th Street N on Oct. 10 to steal used grease, according to police.

Matthew Owen, 25, of St. Petersburg faces charges of misdemeanor theft and felony burglary. Authorities said they caught Owen in the act and contacted the clam shack's owner, who was, to say the least, not impressed.

The owner, according to arrest affidavits, told investigators that the business cannot even contract someone to remove its grease because of how frequently thieves break in to take it.

Though not exactly liquid gold, police noted in their report that grease can be resold to recycling businesses that will repurpose it.

DUNEDIN

Man's TV stolen … just kidding, he sold it

Thieves stole Donald James' 55-inch television last week, or so he said, according to an arrest affidavit.

James, 43, of Dunedin, called officers to report that someone stole his TV on Oct. 10. Then he voluntarily showed police his text messages.

It was quickly apparent that James had in fact sold his television for $100, according to the arrest affidavit. He is charged with making a false report of a crime.

Zachary T. Sampson, Times staff