OMG PD: Cuba Kidnap, Stolen Pinwheels, Guns at U.S. Capitol

Why Would Someone Steal 200 Pinwheels?

Half of the 400 shiny blue and silver pinwheels placed on State Road 56 in Pasco County on Easter Sunday by the GFWC Pasco Junior Women's Club in honor of Child Abuse Prevention month have gone missing. 

New pinwheels have replaced the missing ones thanks to landowner Sierra Properties, but club members are still baffled by the caper.

Man Exposes Himself to Minors at Wiregrass Mall

A 55-year-old Pennsylvania man showed off his privates at Wiregrass Mall — and was subsequently shown the inside of a jail cell.

Stephen J. Racik, of Jenkintown, Pa., drove by a parking lot carnival at Wiregrass late Friday, April 5, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office complaint affidavit. Racik stopped his vehicle near minors and then “arched his back, exposed his penis … and began to shake it before driving off," the affidavit said.

The minors, who were only described as “under the age of fourteen,” immediately alerted authorities.

Police: Clearwater Man Brought Unregistered Guns to U.S. Capitol

A Clearwater man was arrested after authorities said he brought unregistered guns and ammunition onto the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on Sunday, according to a report from The Associated Press.

Ty Carroll Mitchum, 29, was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police after they found him outside the building Sunday afternoon and searched his car.

Ex-Pharmacy Owner Sought for Alleged Drug Trafficking

Manatee County authorities, working with the state, are seeking a former pharmacy store owner wanted since May 2012 in connection to a drug trafficking operation.

Investigators accuse Ajay Patel of filling prescriptions for Oxycodone for a drug trafficking operation. Patel operated pharmacies on Longboat Key, Parrish and Bradenton. The Parrish pharmacy is the only one that is still open.

Investigators say that Patel may have fled the country.

Mistreated Dog Discovered During Cocaine Bust in Bradenton

When investigators executed a search warrant at a Bradenton home Wednesday, they found one thing they were looking for — a man allegedly in possession of rock cocaine — and one thing they didn't: An injured dog that had to be euthanized.

Manatee County Animal Services arrived to take the canine to an animal hospital, where it ultimately had to be euthanized.

As for the suspect, 61-year-old Junior Lee Lessley, he was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty and possession of rock cocaine.

Police: Man Stole Equipment From Unmarked Cars

A St Petersburg man is charged with stealing equipment from two unmarked police cars, officials said Tuesday. 

According to St. Petersburg Police, Rashaud Desean Benjamin, 19, broke into an undercover detective's vehicle that was parked outside of his home sometime between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. Stolen were the detective's ballistic vest, a police radio, a cell phone charger and a flashlight. No firearms were in the car at the time, police said.

Authorities said some of the stolen equipment was found in Benjamin's possession when a Honda Civic he was driving was stopped by detectives Monday afternoon at 13th Avenue North and 25th Street. Also found was property taken from the unmarked police vehicle of Detective Matthew Furse, which was stolen March 25 and later found in Lake Maggiore.

St. Pete Beach Man Linked to Illegal Sports Gambling Operation

A St. Pete Beach man is under arrest after authorities say he was part of an illegal sports bookmaking business that took in more than $1 billion in illegal bets.

In all, 34 people and 23 entities were indicted as part of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Oklahoma, officials said Wednesday.

Luis Robles, 48, aka "Big Lou," of St. Pete Beach, is among the 34 people alleged to have been employees and associates of Legendz Sports. Robles is accused of being a "runner" for the organization, picking up or delivering money on behalf of the operation on several occasions in Orlando.

One time, in 2008, Robles was directed to pick up $50,000 cash from another defendant at the Orlando International Airport, the indictment states. Another time, he allegedly delivered money to someone at a mall there.

Former Palm Harbor Insurance Agent Ordered to Pay Back Millions

A former Palm Harbor insurance agent will have to pay millions of dollars in restitution to senior citizens who he was convicted of selling unsuitable financial investments to.

Neal Seth Smalbach, 50, of Palm Harbor was found guilty of grand theft for misrepresenting details of financial products to more than 30 clients who were senior citizens, according to Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.

Smalbach was sentenced to seven years in prison and 10 years probation in addition to paying full restitution to his victims.

Deputies: Moon Lake Woman Kneed Elderly Boyfriend

A 43-year-old Moon Lake woman was arrested recently and accused of attacking her elderly boyfriend.

The 71-year-old man told a Pasco County Sheriff’s deputy Friday, April 5 that Laura Gibson, his live-in girlfriend, struck him with her knee, hitting his chin, according to an arrest report. He said she also scratched his face.

Gibson told a deputy no violence took place and grew agitated when a deputy ased her to explain. When she was told was under arrest, she said “no” and tried running away. The deputy caught hold of Gibson’s arms but she  continued to struggle, the report said.

He eventually was able to get Gibson, whose profession is listed as “laborer” on the arrest report, under control and arrest her. He also found marijuana in her possession.

The parents of Cole and Chase Hakken returned from Cuba in the early morning hours of April 10. Upon arrival, they were booked into jail on a host of charges related to last week’s kidnapping of their two young sons.

A week ago at this time a manhunt for the Hakkens began after Joshua, 35, was accused of breaking into his mother-in-law’s Carrollwood area home, tying her up and taking his two young children by force. His flight with the children, Chase, 2, and Cole, 4, would take him into Pinellas County’s Madeira Beach where he had a sailboat waiting.

From Madeira beach, the Hakken family sailed to Cuba. The government there cooperated with the U.S. State Department and swiftly remanded the elder Hakkens and their two young children into American custody. A plane loaded with law enforcement officers flew to Cuba April 9 to retrieve the family.

Sign up for the Land O' Lakes Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight to your inbox so you won't miss a thing!