Shark Punched, Fake Cop, Teen's Wild Ride: Weird Florida

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties. The following are some of the more unusual, wacky, wonderful or just plain weird headlines that have had people talking over the past few weeks:

Girl Punched Shark That Bit Her In Florida Waters

A 17-year-old girl from Louisville, Kentucky, is on the mend after a close encounter with a shark in Gulf of Mexico waters Sunday. The young tourist reportedly punched the critter after it took a hold of her legs.

Math Student's Facebook Threats Added Up To Arrest

A Polk State College student’s alleged frustrations over her math class added up to grounds for her arrest, authorities say. The 19-year-old was brought into custody by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after posts were made to her Facebook page threatening to "shoot the school up."

Rattlesnake Pays Firefighters A Visit

An effort by Polk County Fire Rescue to put out a brush fire in the Indian Lake Estates area took a wild turn Wednesday afternoon. According to the agency, firefighters got a bit of a start when a rattlesnake slithered past them.

Dad Jailed After Boy, Tot Crash Car Into Canal

A boy’s Friday night high-speed joyride in a 1999 Toyota Camry ended with a crash, splash and arrest of his own father on child neglect charges.

Wild Crime Spree Ends At Gunpoint

A 48-year-old man faces a long list of criminal charges after Pasco County deputies say he kept them and residents of a Hudson condominium complex hopping on Friday morning.

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.

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.

Stolen iPad Led Deputies To Man's House

A 20-year-old Sarasota man faces criminal charges after deputies say an auto burglary victim helped them track his stolen iPad right to the accused thief's door.

Photo courtesy of Polk County Fire Rescue