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2 Teens Arrested In St. Pete In Longwood Officer's Death

By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Two teenagers were arrested in St. Petersburg on Tuesday night in connection with the death last year of a police officer in Volusia County.

On July 14, Sgt. Karl Strohsal, 58, who worked for the Longwood Police Department, was driving on Interstate 4 when he swerved to avoid a plastic chair that was in the road, the Florida Highway Patrol said. His unmarked squad car struck a guardrail and then broke down in the eastbound lanes.

Strohsal tried to get to safety but was struck by a 2005 Pontiac Vibe that was driven by a 19-year-old who eventually was charged with driving with a suspended license, the patrol said.

A lengthy investigation by a highway patrol traffic homicide investigator revealed the chair had been placed in the road, the patrol said. The findings from that investigation were turned over to the prosecutors' office responsible for Volusia County.

On Tuesday night, St. Petersburg police assisted the patrol in arresting two people. Tyler Jenkins, 19, of St Petersburg, who authorities say put the chair in the road, was charged with manslaughter, and his bail was set at $15,000. Katie Jo Peller, 19, of Deltona, was charged with being an accessory after the fact. Her bail was set at $5,000.

Another person, Eric Biggs, 18, already was in custody in Volusia County.

The charges were filed against Peller and Biggs because they were there when Jenkins put the chair in the road, the patrol said.

A St. Petersburg police report says authorities were told by Jenkins' brother that Jenkins and Peller possibly were working at a local Taco Bell. Peller was found there; she told authorities where Jenkins was, said Jennifer Dawkins, spokeswoman for the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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