TAMPA - A local man facing burglary charges told police that stealing from cars wasn't wrong, Tampa police say. Kevin Renaldo Mapes, 20, told an officer "that if someone is stupid enough to leave their car unlocked, it's OK to take their stuff," an arrest affidavit states. "The [defendant] stated that he lets people know he's bipolar because it helps him in court." ...more

October 22, 2007

LAKELAND - It looks innocent enough, just another storefront in a busy south Lakeland strip mall, nestled right between "Nail Boutique" and "Lynn's Fish 'n Pets." But Polk County Sheriff's Office vice detectives say The Palms Redemption Arcade has been operating as an illegal gambling house full of video slot machines since it opened about two months ago. This afternoon, they arrested the owner of the business, Janet Bruggeman, 55, and her husband Joseph, 52. ...more

October 22, 2007

TAMPA - Three Tampa residents tried to make their Howl-O-Scream experience more eventful with nitrous oxide, but police intervened, Tampa police say. ...more

October 22, 2007

TAMPA - A man crawled under nine vehicles without permission at Tampa Hondaland, using a cordless saw to cut out their catalytic converters, Tampa police say. ...more

October 17, 2007

TEMPLE TERRACE - A Tampa woman tried passing two fraudulent $500 Visa travelers checks this morning at a CVS pharmacy, but the plan didn't work because the store caught onto her scheme, according to the Temple Terrace police department. ...more

October 14, 2007

TAMPA - After breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home this morning, a Tampa man brandished a knife and threatened to kill her and another person, Hillsborough County deputies say. ...more

October 14, 2007

TAMPA - A Latin Kings gang member failed to provide proper shelter to several dogs and birds, causing them to live in their own waste, investigators say. Carlos Ruben Rodriguez, 24, of Tampa, was arrested Monday. ...more

October 9, 2007

TAMPA - When Reginald Cotton was pulled over for having too much windshield tinting on his car, he fled, leaving behind his two infants and a pill bottle filled with crack, deputies say. ...more

October 7, 2007

University of Florida coach Urban Meyer has stripped senior safety Tony Joiner of his captaincy, and Meyer said Wednesday night that Joiner will not play Saturday against top-ranked LSU as long as he remains accused of a felony. ...more

October 4, 2007

A court commissioner in Los Angeles ruled Wednesday that Britney Spears can have visits with her two sons but did not reverse an order giving temporary custody to Kevin Federline, the pop star's ex-husband, his attorney said. ...more

October 4, 2007