From meth labs to vandalized cars, video voyeurism, bank robberies and teen prostitution; a wide variety of crimes made headlines in Palm Harbor during 2012. One crime story in Palm Harbor Patch led to the arrest of a suspected bank robber.
We compile the odd, weird and ‘oh my gosh’ police news from throughout the Tampa Bay region. In Florida, there's no shortage.
In case you missed them, here's a look at the top stories on Palm Harbor Patch from Dec. 16-22.
The National Fire Sprinkler Association offers these tips for protecting your family.
Did you see all the Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputy cruisers on a side road of U.S. 19 Thursday? It was a chase involving an armed robbery suspect. Here's what happened.
"There's a lot of blood on the road. You drive on the road and you see all the blood and it doesn't speak well for our community," said Barb Walker, a Palm Harbor resident and mother of two children.
A Largo mother's discovery in her daughter's bedroom led to the arrest of a Palm Harbor man, according to police.
A special domestic violence court looks to follow up on violators and streamline the handling of these types of cases.
Veteran firefighter Dustin Seabolt was honored for his heroic efforts rescuing two people from life-threatening situations in Palm Harbor; a woman whose townhome had caught fire and a teen who was swept-up by Tropical Storm Debby's floodwaters.
We compile the odd, unusual and ‘oh my gosh’ police items from throughout the Tampa Bay region.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office netted 10 unlicensed contractors offering home repair services through Internet and newspaper ads during a two-day sting operation in northern Pinellas.
In case you missed them, here's a look at the top stories on Palm Harbor Patch from Dec. 9-15.
Patch has learned that a BMW involved in a crash at McMullen Booth and Curlew roads was stolen from a home in Clearwater the night before the crash.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri recognized 27 sheriff's office employees during a promotion ceremony December 13th.
"I think it's stooping pretty low to take toys that are donated and intended for less privileged children at Christmas. To do something like this is despicable," said East Lake Fire Rescue Chief Tom Jamison.
A BMW ran a red light at the intersection, killing a 54-year-old Holiday man in a pickup truck, investigators said Wednesday morning.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is moving a new captain to oversee the North District Station, which serves Palm Harbor.
John Paul Guekunst, 41, died of injuries sustained when he was struck while attempting to cross U.S. Highway 19 late Friday. He was not in a crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
James Perdue, 62, has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in helping underage girls prostitute themselves through online ads.
Pinellas County saw an decrease in collisions in 2011, and so did the rest of Florida, according to a new state report. We want to hear from you, Palm Harbor, on what roads worry you the most.
A resident recognized a photo of the suspect that appeared in a Palm Harbor Patch story and called deputies, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Lt. Richard Crean is accused of using a law enforcement database to help a Palm Harbor woman involved in a child custody battle with her estranged husband, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Detectives say this man robbed a Bank of America in Palm Harbor on Wednesday morning, implying that he had a gun.
Aspiring firefighters from Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs recently got a surprise visit from an author who visited the North Pinellas Fire Explorer Post #969.
Deputies say the man was wearing only construction boots when he was spotted near an area golf course.
Debbie Buschman, 43, is mother of four who beat incumbent Bob Shatanoff by a small margin of 247 votes.
Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies made one arrest and issued a citation during a sobriety checkpoint Friday night at the Clearwater Kmart on U.S. 19, according to officials.
According to Pinellas Park Police, one man was killed in an early morning crash, which closed part of U.S. 19 near Bryan Dairy for several hours Thursday.
A trip to the Palm Harbor Walmart landed a 19 year-old in jail after deputies say he shoplifted $13 worth of toiletries.
Palm Harbor Patch highlights interaction with our readers. Today, it's a reader-posted event, free CERT basic training to prepare for a disaster.
The car's 18-year-old driver was charged with failing to stop at a stop sign after she allegedly pulled in front of the bus carrying 21 students from Brooker Creek Elementary School.
Several studies have found that when working smoke alarms are present, the chance of dying from a fire is cut in half.
Lucas Daniel Cowden, 18, and another man are charged with driving a pickup truck onto the Tarpon Springs Golf Course, spinning doughnuts into the grass and causing $15,000 to $30,000 in damage, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
An arrest affidavit says Melissa Dawn Blankenbeckler, 37, of Palm Harbor, intentionally hit her ex-husband during an argument.
Citizens can now sign up to receive Blue Alerts, which are issued when a law enforcement officer is killed, assaulted, missing, or suffered serious injury, and the suspect is gone.
Do you plan on attending a Halloween party this weekend? A warning: the Florida Highway Patrol has launched an aggressive crackdown on impaired drivers that runs through Nov. 4.
Thomas Michael Bliss, 23, is accused of violating parole by leaving his home and going to a pawn shop, according to an arrest affidavit.
Deputies arrested Shiloh Sladon, 36, who shouted profanities and spit at reporters at the scene. It was the second time deputies discovered a suspected meth lab at the Palm Harbor home, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
The incident was recorded by a security camera at the complex, which is how Stephanie Yocoum, 26, was linked to the crime, according to an office administrator at Fox Chase condos.