Sewage Woes, Witness Tampering, Manatees Freed: Weird Florida

Patch operates 23 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the wacky, wonderful or just plain weird stories that have made headlines over the past few weeks:

Loaded Gun in Courthouse: Attorney Arrested

An attorney from Redington Beach faces criminal charges after Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies say he brought a loaded gun into the Pinellas County Justice Center.

Watch: 7 Manatees Trapped by Hurricane Hermine Floodwaters Rescued

When Hurricane Hermine swung through Florida’s Gulf Coast region earlier this month, people weren’t the only ones in peril. Manatees, too, suffered as flood waters began to rise. A total of seven manatees, including a mother and baby, found themselves trapped on a golf course in Crystal River.

Samsung Galaxy Note7 May Not Have Caused St. Pete Fire, Officials Say

The cause of a Sept. 5 fire that ripped through a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee in St. Petersburg remains unknown. The city’s fire rescue department announced the outcome of its investigation into the cause of the blaze on Monday, saying it cannot isolate a Samsung Galaxy Note7 that was reportedly left in the vehicle as the ignition source.

Dad Intentionally Hit Elderly School Volunteer with Car: Deputies

A 34-year-old father faces aggravated battery charges after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say he intentionally hit an elderly school volunteer with his 2006 Cadillac CTS Tuesday morning.

Tampa Bay Beaches Get Extra Testing After Sewage Spill

As St. Petersburg faces scrutiny following its need to dump millions of gallons of partially treated sewage into Tampa Bay after Hurricane Hermine blew past, the Florida Department of Health is keeping closer tabs on water at the region’s beaches.

Florida Woman Made Bomb Threat to Stop Urine Test: Cops

A Lake Wales woman faces felony charges after police say she took her devotion to her boyfriend to criminal levels Tuesday. The 31-year-old woman is accused of calling in a bomb threat to prevent her boyfriend from taking a urine test at his parole office.

Murder for Hire Arrest: Sex Slavery, Kidnapping Also Considered, Sheriff Says

Rachael Natalie Leahy wanted custody of her children and didn’t see any other way to make it happen than take steps to ensure her ex-husband, David, was “gone completely.” That’s how Rachael Leahy, 34, described her situation to an undercover Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detective when she met with him on Aug. 29, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Drive-By Shooting Meant to Stop Parents’ Testimony: Sheriff

A 20-year-old New Port Richey man’s troubles with law enforcement took a turn for the worse Thursday morning when Pasco County deputies say he fired shots at his parents’ home to prevent them from testifying against him in a grand theft case.

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