TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Cameras Reel In Fish Kill Suspects

Chris Coyner / News Channel 8

Homeowner Carl White looks over his fish pond.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Anthony McCartney | The Tampa Tribune
and JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2007

Updated: 11/04/2007 07:27 pm

Video: Victim Had Installed Security Cameras

PALM HARBOR - By Sunday evening, the bodies of some of Carl White's koi still hadn't surfaced.

Early Sunday morning, authorities say two teenagers dumped liquid and powder dishwashing detergent into White's koi pond, killing 30 fish and causing about $4,000 in damages.

Pinellas County sheriff's deputies arrested Sean Michael Smith and Neal Shikarpuri, both 17-year-old Palm Harbor residents. They are accused of felony animal cruelty and felony criminal mischief.

Their arrest brought White some comfort - he would pay to individually pressure wash each of the rocks in his pond and eventually replace the fish, he said. He and his family mourned their dead pets, which had been given simple names such as Phil, Henry, Gloria and Mike.

White said he and his family moved to their home on the 800 block of Michigan Avenue so that they could build a koi pond and let his son, now 15, raise them.

Sunday wasn't the first time the Whites' colorful fish had been targeted, though.

Twice before, someone had dumped detergent into pond, killing the koi. After the last incident, White installed video cameras, which he used to help catch the teens who lived about five doors down.

The tape "caught them as clear as a whistle," White said, and neighbors helped identify the teens. White said he plans to pay a $4,000 reward to those who recognized the teens.

Deputies later recovered a box and bottle of detergent after opening a manhole cover in front of Smith's home.

Surveillance cameras captured Smith and Shikarpuri dumping the detergent in the pond about 1:30 a.m. deputies said, and Smith's dog also was captured on the video.

"The two teens had apparently gone to walk the dog when the crime was committed," a news release stated.

Shikarpuri and Smith were taken to the Pinellas Juvenile Assessment Center; their status was unknown Sunday night.

White said he was upset that people would target his house, but did not know of a motive for Smith and Shikarpuri's actions. He said that Sunday morning, before the teens' arrest, he contemplated filling his pond in.

Instead, he said, he would undergo the expense of cleaning the pond and replacing the fish - a process that could take up to four months.

Asked what would be a fitting punishment, White said he wasn't sure. "I've been thinking about that all day. I don't wish any ill will on them."

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@ tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691. Reporter Anthony McCartney can be reached at (813) 259-7616 or amccartney@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT