Police Blotter: Chasco Edition

Daniel Knapp, 33, of Holiday, was arrested and accused of dropping a two-month-old girl onto concrete while he was drunk.  The child suffered a contusion and swelling to the back of her head and was taken to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, where she was being treated by medical staff Saturday, according to a New Port Richey Police Department report. She was released the same day in "fine" condition, the St. Petersburg Times reports.

Knapp had been near the intersection of Grand Blvd and Illinois Ave for the Chasco Fiesta Street parade when he allegedly dropped the girl. During a non-custodial interview with police, Knapp first said he was handed the child and then dropped her. Later, he said he was talking to some friends, turned, tripped and dropped the girl.

An officer who arrived at North Bay at 4:35 p.m. to investigate the incident noticed that Knapp showed signs of impairment, such as slurred speech, a dazed expression and watery, bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath. Knapp told the officer he had drunk “five or six” Bud Lights in two hours.

Knapp said he was so intoxicated that he could not remember his address.

The girl’s mother, who told police she was not present when the incident happened, said she had left the girl with Knapp. Later, a woman approached her with the girl in her arms and told her she was dropped from chest height, about five feet, and her head had hit the concrete.

Knapp was booked into the Land O’ Lakes Jail Saturday and was released on $5,000 bail the next day. The report does not identify Knapp’s relationship to the girl.

Randy Allen Davis Jr., 18,  of Port Richey, remains behind bars on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest without violence and several other offenses.

Around 5:41 p.m., someone told a police officer on foot patrol in Sims Park that a white man in a red baseball cap had been seen with what looked like the butt of a handgun poking out of his pants waistband. 

The witness pointed out Davis to the officer. The officer called out to him. Davis made eye contact and looked away. The officer called out again. Davis looked at him, and the officer approached. Davis ran through a large crowd in the park. Several officers gave chase, and he was caught. Police found a half-bottle of alcohol sticking out of his pants, a butterfly knife in his front right pocket and two other folding knives in his back pockets.

A witness told police he saw Davis drop something while running. A .38 Smith & Wesson revolver was found on the ground near where Davis had fled.  Davis told the police he knew about the revolver but that it belonged to a girl with whom he was walking, and he was never in possession of it. Davis was previously arrested for burglary of an unoccupied home and has admitted he is a member of a street gang.

He remained in jail Monday in lieu of $1,650 bail. He faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, resisting arrest without violence, carrying a concealed firearm and possession of alcohol by a minor.

Chris Scott Erwig, 24, of Port Richey, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct

An officer learning of a disturbance at Main Street and Bank Street in Sims Park saw Erwig getting ready to fight someone and yelling “I’m going to shoot you!”  

People ran when they heard this. Erwig was searched, but police found no weapons. Erwig, who had slurred spech and smelled of alcohol, threatened to fight the officer. He was arrested around 6:15 p.m. and released that day.