Fake Cop Busted, Fatal Standoff, New Mom Arrested

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the top stories from the past day:

Atlantic Hurricane Season 2017 Predictions Released

If the folks at Colorado State University are correct, the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season may be a tad below average in regard to activity. The hurricane researchers on the school’s Tropical Meteorology Protect team are predicting 11 named storms during the upcoming season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

Fake Cop Followed Woman Home: Deputies

A 55-year-old Bradenton man faces criminal charges after Sarasota County deputies say he followed a spa owner home over the weekend and then proceeded to rob her. The man is also accused of passing himself off as a police officer while visiting the woman’s Sarasota spa on previous occasions and during the alleged attack.

Search For Teen Returns To Flatwoods Park Friday

Tampa Bay area residents are being asked to steer clear of Flatwoods Park again on Friday as the search for a missing 17-year-old girl continues.

Mom Smoked Crack Moments Before Giving Birth: Cops

A baby boy whose life got off to a rocky start on Monday is in stable condition at a local hospital. His mother, however, now faces child neglect charges after Clearwater Police say she smoked crack cocaine moments before giving birth to the child on the porch of a Cleveland Street. She is then accused of trying to hide the newborn from her friend and authorities.

Theft From Grandma Led To Granddaughter’s Arrest

A 26-year-old Brooksville woman faces criminal charges after her New Port Richey grandmother reported fraudulent charges on her credit card to Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies.

Fatal Bradenton Standoff: Identities Released

A Bradenton hostage situation that began in the early morning hours Thursday ended around 2 p.m. with the suspect's death. The hostage was rescued, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, and taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Advisories Issued For Tampa Bay Coastal Areas

Thunderstorms that created loud rumbles in the early morning hours Thursday are expected to clear out of the Tampa Bay area as the day progresses. Some weather warnings, however, remain in place.

Paul O’Neill, Trans-Siberian Orchestra Founder, Dead At 61

Paul O'Neill, the 61-year-old founder of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, was found dead in a Tampa hotel room on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of the National Hurricane Center