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

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2008

Updated: 01/17/2008 12:22 am

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 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 driven by a 19-year-old who was charged with driving with a suspended license, the patrol said.

A highway patrol traffic homicide investigator found that the chair had been placed in the road, the patrol said. Findings from that investigation were turned over to the prosecutor's 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, 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, and she told authorities where Jenkins was, St. Petersburg police spokesman Jennifer Dawkins said.

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

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