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Bondsmen Charged In Office Fray

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Twin brothers working as bail bondsmen have been arrested in connection with last week's melee inside the Pasco County Tax Collector's Office in New Port Richey.

Donald Lowman, 44, of Gulfport, is charged with being a convicted felon acting as a bail bondsman, according to New Port Richey police Lt. Jeff Harrington.

David Lowman, owner of Help Bail Bonds of Clearwater and also a Gulfport resident, is charged with allowing a convicted felon to act as a bondsman, Harrington said.
David Lowman is a licensed bail bond agent; his brother is not.

In fact, Donald Lowman has a lengthy record of drug convictions, most recently in 1998, court records indicate.

On Jan. 8 about 1:30 p.m., the brothers entered the tax collector's office at 4720 U.S. 19 after getting a tip that a suspect they were looking for was trying to register a truck, police reports stated.

When they approached Edward John Darlington in front of a service counter inside the building, he pulled out a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun and tried to load it, police said.

The brothers took him to the floor as customers started screaming, hitting the floor and running.

Nobody was injured except Darlington, who received minor cuts on his face, Harrington said, but the lieutenant said the incident in the crowded office could have played out a lot differently.

"The outcome could have been tragic," he said.

"It was a totally irresponsible move."

The brothers were taken to Land O' Lakes Jail. No bail had been set as of Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Darlington, 45, of 5123 Darlington Road in Holiday, faces charges of aggravated assault, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, improper display of a firearm and grand theft.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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