Spider Causes Crash, Fake Cop Busted: 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 stories that have had people talking over the past few weeks:

Fake Cop Jailed After Illegal Traffic Stop: Sheriff

An accused fake cop got to see the inside of a real jail Wednesday afternoon after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say his attempt to pull over a motorist didn’t work out so well for him.

Florida Mom Tried To Give Tot Away: Cops

A 31-year-old Vero Beach woman faces charges after police say she tried to give her child away to strangers at a Kountry Kitchen restaurant.

Shootout Between Motorists Under Investigation In Sarasota

The Sarasota Police Department is investigating a Monday afternoon shootout between people in two cars that were traveling along North Washington Boulevard.

Divebombing Spider Causes Car’s Crash Into Pole

A Florida woman’s Tuesday morning commute took an unusual turn when she happened to spot a hitchhiking spider perched atop a web above her head. When that spider decided to scale down its silk and land on her leg, things took a dangerous turn.

Man Named Trigger Shot Then Arrested

A 35-year-old Port Richey man is in hot water after Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies say he managed to shoot himself inside a Dollar General store over the weekend.

Forbes’ Flub: 7 Cities No Longer Best For Young Professionals

Cigar City is no longer considered one of the Top 25 metro areas for young professionals to pick up sticks and move to in 2017. Thanks to a data error, Tampa is joined by six others, including Anaheim, California; Charleston, South Carolina; and St. Louis, in getting the boot from Forbes’ Best Cities For Young Professionals 2017 rankings.

Brandon Sandy Hook Truther Sentenced

A 57-year-old Brandon woman who pleaded guilty to threatening the father of a boy killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Connecticut, has been sentenced to five months in prison.