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Agencies Report Fewer Arrests

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: February 8, 2009

TAMPA - Local authorities reported fewer arrests Saturday compared with a year ago as an estimated 350,000 people converged on downtown Tampa for the Gasparilla celebration, a Tampa police report showed.

Preliminary reports from four agencies reported 79 arrests as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday by the Tampa and Temple Terrace police departments, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol.

Those included two felony arrests, 73 misdemeanors and four charges of boating under the influence.

In addition, the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco reported 62 arrests, including 57 arrests for possession under the age of 21, one for a sale without a license, one for sale under age, two for possession without a license and one for obstruction.

Tampa Fire Rescue responded to 80 Gasparilla-related calls for medical service, most of which were falls. Twenty people were taken to area hospitals, but none of the injuries were serious, the preliminary report stated.

Last year's preliminary report showed 84 arrests during the Gasparilla festivities, with 79 for disorderly conduct and other misdemeanors, by three local agencies. The other five were for unspecified felonies.

One Gasparilla-related accident Saturday afternoon involved a 40-foot boat returning from the festivities in Tampa that ran aground more than a mile off Coquina Key in Pinellas County, leaving one man with a fractured arm and head laceration, authorities said.

The Coast Guard coordinated a rescue that began about 3:30 p.m. and also involved marine units from St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue and Eckerd College Search & Rescue.

The names of the three boaters aboard the Razzle Dazzle were not available. The injured man was transported to Bayfront Medical Center, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue officials said.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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