Pumpkin Tossing, Giant Toads, Groping Therapy: Weird Florida

Patch operates 24 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the wackier, wonderful or just plain weird stories that have made headlines over the past few weeks:

Pumpkin, Rock Tossing Lands Man Behind Bars

A 26-year-old man was just “playing around” when a rock tossed at the window of a New Port Richey home caused the glass to shatter. That first encounter with the cause-and-effect scenario, however, didn’t stop the man from throwing more rocks and a large pumpkin at more of the home’s windows, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said.

Armed Man’s Threat Over Dog Backfires, Deputies Say

A 60-year-old man upset over his belief a neighbor’s dog had been in his yard found out the hard way late Tuesday night that pulling a gun can sometimes have unintended consequences.

New Charges for Psychotherapist Accused of Groping Patients

A Lakeland psychotherapist arrested in late September for allegedly telling female patients sexual contact by him was part of their therapy faces more criminal charges after four additional victims came forward.

Giant, Poisonous Toads Causing Problems for Tampa Bay Area Pets

A South Tampa schnauzer’s Monday run-in with a poisonous Bufo toad stands as a reminder that these critters pose a continual threat to pets in the Tampa Bay area. Although the non-native toads are generally most active in the summertime, the potential for encounters persists in the region no matter the season, veterinarians say.

Man Who Shot at George Zimmerman Gets 20 Years

The man convicted of trying to kill George Zimmerman will now face 20 years in prison. Matthew Apperson was found guilty last month on three charges related to the May 11, 2015, shooting in Lake Mary.

Fake Narcotics Cop Caught with Drugs, Sheriff’s Office Says

People trying to talk their way out of traffic tickets or other trouble with law enforcement is nothing new. Having someone falsely claim to work for the same agency as an investigating deputy to avoid hot water isn’t quite an everyday occurrence though.

Sleepy Burglar Helped Himself to Bologna, Nap: Deputies

A Zephyrhills man may have thought he’d been transported into a scene from “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” when he arrived home Wednesday morning. In this case, there was no gobbled up porridge or broken chair, but he did find a person sleeping in a bed.

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