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Channel 28 Manager Faces Charges After Car Crash

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

Updated: 09/14/2007 05:46 pm

TAMPA - The general manager of WFTS, Channel 28, crashed into a woman's car Wednesday night, became belligerent and grabbed the motorist by the neck, police said Friday.

William G. Carey, 49, of 11617 Highbury Way turned himself in to police Friday afternoon.

Ok Yi of Lutz told police she was driving on Memorial Highway at about 10:30 p.m. when her Mercedes was rear-ended by a 2006 Ford Explorer.

William G. Carey

Yi followed the Ford for about a mile, honking her horn until Carey pulled over, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said. Carey approached Yi's car and handed her his driver's license through her car window.

When Yi told Carey she was going to call police, "he became agitated, reached through the window and tried to grab the driver's license back," Davis said.

"A struggle ensued over the license, and when the suspect couldn't get his license from the victim, he grabbed her arms and tried to pull her through the window," Davis said. He was unable to because Yi had her seatbelt on, Davis said.

"While speaking with the victim, the suspect became belligerent and grabbed the victim by the neck," the police report said.

"He opened the car door, grabbed her shirt and once again attempted to pull her out of the car," Davis said. "She unbuckled the seatbelt, exited the car and started running down Memorial Highway."

Carey chased after her but quit after a short distance and returned to the victim's car, Davis said.

The victim's husband arrived and found Carey rummaging through the Mercedes, Davis said. Carey then drove off in his Ford.

Officers identified the suspect from the license he left behind, Davis said. They called him on his cell phone and asked him to come to District I headquarters for questioning, but he didn't show up, she said.

He didn't answer when police knocked at his front door, so officers impounded his car as evidence, Davis said.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he turned himself Friday afternoon. He was charged with burglary with assault or battery and leaving the scene of a crash. He was released about 4 p.m. after paying $25,000 bail.

His attorney, Eddie Suarez, said the television station has placed Carey on paid leave and that he is cooperating with the investigation.

"We are confident that this misunderstanding will be cleared up," Suarez said.

Calls to Channel 28 and Carey's home seeking comment were not returned Friday evening. No one answered a knock at the door of Carey's home.

His neighbor, Larry Ware, said he doesn't know Carey well but that he always appeared friendly.

"If there was any incident, I'd be totally surprised," Ware said.

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