Fire and Police Report
Article published on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008 |
75 firefighters extinguish fire at Aerosonic
CLEARWATER – A three-alarm fire in Clearwater Aug. 8 took 26 units, 75 firefighters and 3 1/2 hours to extinguish. Clearwater Fire and Rescue got aid from the Clearwater Police Department, Safety Harbor Fire Department, Largo Fire Department, Dunedin Fire Department, and Pinellas County Hazmat.
At 11:15 p.m., Clearwater Fire and Rescue responded to the fire at Aerosonic Corporation, 1212 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater. The fire spread quickly due to chemicals and materials stored in the at least 40,000-square-foot building, according to a press release from Elizabeth Daly-Watts, Clearwater public safety spokeswoman. The chemicals intensified the fire and caused several explosions.
The Pinellas County Hazmat Team helped monitor the air and decontaminated firefighters who may have been exposed to chemicals. No firefighters were exposed, Daly-Watts said. Hazmat also determined the fire and wastewater did not cause any environmental problems. The building was a total loss, Daly-Watts said. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for an ankle injury and three firefighters were treated at the scene for fire exhaustion.
Two injured in house fire
CLEARWATER – A Clearwater resident said a fire at his home was the result of a Molotov cocktail, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s report. Around 5:49 a.m. Aug. 9, there was a fire at 15677 Morgan St., Clearwater. Ryan Barger, 26, who lived at the residence and Nicholas Berry, 21, of Clearwater, ran next door to tell a neighbor of the fire and that it was started by a Molotov cocktail that was thrown through the window, according to the sheriff’s report. The Largo Fire Department and deputies responded to the scene, and detectives from the Sheriff’s Arson Unit are investigating. Barger and Berry were taken to Tampa General Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Upon initial investigation, detectives do not believe the fire was caused by a Molotov cocktail.
Man charged with lewd and lascivious battery on minor
CLEARWATER – A 19-year-old Clearwater man was arrested for lewd and lascivious battery on a 14-year-old girl and for violation of probation. A 21-year-old woman also was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Maury Lynn Scott Jr. and Victoria Elena Arbia were arrested Aug. 10, at 2:33 p.m., after Clearwater Police responded to reports of a loud fight at a private residence in Clearwater. Officers found Scott, Arbia and the victim engaged in a water fight while all were dressed in their underclothes, according to a press release from Elizabeth Daly-Watts, Clearwater public safety spokeswoman.
An investigation showed that Scott engaged in sexual activity with the 14-year-old on two occasions at that location, and he is on probation for a prior lewd and lascivious charge with the victim and was forbidden to have contact with her, the report said. Arbia knew about the inappropriate relationship and allowed it to happen, the report said.
Scott is being held at the Pinellas County Jail, and Arbia was released on bond.
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Article published on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008
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