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Tampa Police: Domestic Dispute Ends With Chase, K-9 Scuffle

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By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 20, 2008

Harold Osborne

TAMPA - First, police say, Harold Osborne became so enraged at his girlfriend that he punched her mouth hard enough to dislodge part of her gums.

Then, they say, after running from police, he attacked a police dog that bit him while he was hiding under a house.

According to a police report, it all began shortly before 5 p.m. Monday at 6700 N. Rome Ave., Apt. 524A.

In an interview with Tampa police, the woman said 37-year-old Osborne attacked her because he was jealous over one of her ex-boyfriends. She told them she and Osborne first dated more than 20 years ago when they were teenagers and that recently they reunited.

The couple had been living at 911 Knollwood St. for two months, according to the report.

This is what she and witnesses told police, according to the report:

Osborne and Cherl Gulino had been dating about six months. Monday afternoon, Osborne chased Gulino into an apartment on Rome Avenue. He started beating her, hitting her mouth with a closed fist so hard that there was damage to her teeth and part of her gums was detached from the roof of her mouth.

Osborne ran out of the apartment.

Gulino was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she told police that Osborne took off in a red Honda Civic. Police dispatch was notified and an alert went out for Osborne.

Police spotted the Civic and attempted a traffic stop at Hillsborough Avenue and 15th Street.

Osborne fled and police chased him. Osborne stopped the car outside 1425 Powhatan Ave. and ran away.

Police followed, yelling, "Stop, police!"

He continued running until he got to a house at 1309 Clifton St.

Officer Jason Tkach and his dog, Bosco, chased Osborne. Bosco found him hiding under the house.

Tkach told Osborne that if he did not come out, Bosco would be sent in after him.

When Osborne failed to answer, Bosco was released. The dog found Osborne and bit him.

Osborne shouted, "I give up," and Bosco stopped biting. But before surrendering, Osborne grabbed Bosco and pinned him against the home's support beams. Bosco yelped in pain. Tkach and another officer then went under the house and arrested Osborne.

Osborne, who has a tattoo on his chest proclaiming "Only God Will Judge Me," was charged with felony battery domestic violence, felony burglary of an unoccupied structure, misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence and an offense against a police dog, a misdemeanor.

He was being held at Orient Road Jail. Bail had not been set.

Gulino, whose age was not given, said she was scared.

"He said he didn't want to be with me anymore," she told police. "I was in fear for my life."

Editor Howard Altman can be reached at (813) 259-7629 or haltman@tampatrib.com.

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