Stolen Cocaine, Beach Joyride Backfires, Homework Ban

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:

Charges Mounting For Florida Beach Joyrider (Video)

The 27-year-old Pinellas Park man arrested Thursday afternoon after allegedly driving a black Jeep Cherokee across Clearwater Beach and onto Caladesi Island faces a growing list of criminal charges for the stunt that was live streamed on Facebook. Clearwater Police announced a lengthy list of charges late Thursday night and said other law enforcement agencies involved may add more for the “jaunt onto Caladesi Island.”

Florida Seawater Bacteria Case Count Rises

The state of Florida has confirmed two new Vibrio vulnificus-related infections, bringing the total number of cases up to 12 in 2017 so far. The new cases reported by the Florida Department of Health on Friday occurred in Escambia and Lee counties.

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Dante Fowler Jr. Arrested In St. Pete

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. found himself behind bars after a Tuesday night dispute about his driving in a St. Petersburg apartment complex allegedly took a violent turn.

Florida Drug Dealer Reported Stolen Cocaine: Cops

A Florida man’s Sunday plea for help from deputies in Okaloosa County didn’t fall on deaf ears exactly, but its outcome probably wasn't quite what he expected. That’s because officials say the Fort Walton Beach man described himself as a “drug dealer” and was asking for help in recovering cocaine that had been stolen from him.

Watch: Gators Infest Florida Lake

As the temperatures across Florida soar well into the 90s, humans aren’t the only ones trying to escape the heat. Alligators are also taking cover, at least in the Lake Apopka area where an Orlando man recently captured dozens of the creatures on video, swimming in the early morning hours.

Florida School District Bans Homework

Elementary school students in Marion County might be the envy of others across the state when those first bells of the 2017-18 academic year ring in August. Superintendent Heidi Maier on Wednesday instituted a ban on homework at the 31 public elementary schools across the county.

Herpes: Florida’s Most Googled Health Problem, Study Says

While asthma, diabetes and obesity are big concerns in many states across the country, people in Florida turn to “Dr. Google” most frequently to find out about herpes. That’s according to a recent analysis of Google Trends data that sought to uncover the most commonly searched up health problems by state.

Florida Chick-Fil-A Invaded By Animal Rights Activists

As Chick-fil-A fans across the country cashed in on the chain’s Cow Appreciation Day freebies Tuesday, a group of animal rights activists in Pinellas Park seized the opportunity to take a stand. Wearing blood-covered animal costumes and brandishing butcher knifes, the activists staged their protest in the middle of the restaurant.

Hillsborough Deputy's Disney Crash Led To DUI Arrest: Troopers

An off-duty sergeant with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office faces a DUI charge after a Tuesday crash at the Walt Disney World Resort. Florida Highway Patrol troopers say the crash involved a pedestrian bridge, two open bottles of Fireball whisky and a law enforcement officer who claimed to not understand Miranda rights.