Latest news with #PinellasCountySheriff
Fox News
2 days ago
- Fox News
Bodycam footage shows Powerball winner arrested after kicking deputy in face
Newly released body camera footage shows Florida deputies arresting a Kentucky Powerball winner after allegedly kicking a deputy in the face, shortly after he collected the jackpot prize. James Farthing, 50, was charged with one felony count of battery on a law enforcement officer and two misdemeanor counts of simple battery and resisting an officer in connection with the incident on April 29. Farthing's girlfriend, Jacqueline Fightmaster, was also arrested. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of disorderly intoxication. She was accused of trying to fight other patrons in the resort bar. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office released body camera video on Tuesday that appeared to show Farthing kicking a deputy in the face as he attempted to break up a fight between the suspect and another man. Deputies had arrived at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida, and found two men fighting and a woman on the ground. Farthing allegedly punched another hotel guest in the face during an argument. When a responding deputy attempted to break up the fight, Farthing allegedly kicked him in the face and subsequently tried to flee the scene, although deputies used a taser, and he was tackled before being taken into custody. "No shirt comes over to kick him, misses and hits me right here," the deputy is heard saying in the video. The other man involved in the fight was also seen being placed in handcuffs. The arrests came shortly after Farthing and his mother won the Powerball jackpot in Kentucky. Farthing had purchased a $2 ticket from a gas station in Georgetown, Kentucky. After matching all the numbers, Farthing and his mother, Linda Grizzle, won a $167.3 million jackpot prize, the largest ever awarded in the state. Farthing was on parole for charges in Kentucky when he was arrested in Florida. He waived his right to a probable cause hearing in June, requesting to serve out the remainder of his sentence. He is expected to be released later this month. He has a lengthy criminal history, having spent a total of 30 years in prison at various facilities, according to reports. He has convictions across nine counties in Kentucky for several offenses, including choking a girlfriend, bribing officers while in prison and selling cocaine to an undercover officer.
Fox News
08-07-2025
- Fox News
Suspect arrested after alleged mid-flight bomb threat caused emergency landing
A suspect who allegedly made a bomb threat on an Allegiant Air flight over the weekend was arrested Sunday afternoon and charged with false information and threats. Taj Malik Tayor, 27, of Largo, Florida, told another passenger on Allegiant Air flight 1023, headed to Roanoke, Virginia, that his laptop was a bomb, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The plane had taken off from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), and quickly returned to that airport after the alleged threat. "The passenger immediately notified the flight attendants," the sheriff's office said. "Detectives say several other witnesses on the plane also heard Taylor state that he had a bomb." After the plane landed, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office K9s searched Taylor's belongings. They did not find a bomb. According to Pinellas County jail records, Taylor was booked just before 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night, and was released from custody about 11 hours later on Monday morning. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken over the case, and provided an arrest affidavit for Taylor. The affidavit says that Taylor, "knowing the information to be false, willfully and maliciously with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, gave, under circumstances in which the information may have reasonably believed, false information about an alleged attempt being made to do an act… specifically, possession on or about the defendant's person an explosive device…" According to the affidavit, Taylor told investigators that he made the comments after a passenger was rude to him, and said that he was recently released from a mental health facility. He said he had taken medication on Saturday, the day before the alleged threat, and was "suffering from a lack of clarity." Taylor appeared in court Monday morning, according to the FBI. It is unclear whether he has an attorney. "Allegiant does not tolerate disruptive behavior of any kind, so the decision was made to return to the airport," the airline told Fox News Digital in a statement. "The plane landed safely and was met by law enforcement officers, who took the passenger into custody." "We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our passengers and thank them for their patience. As a gesture of goodwill, we issued $100 vouchers to each itinerary, to be used for future travel." Fox News Digital reached out to Taylor.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Allegiant flight forced to return to airport over passenger's terrifying remark to stranger
A passenger on an Allegiant plane derailed the flight and frightened passengers when he made a wild claim that his laptop was a bomb. Taj Taylor, 27, made the terrifying threat to another passenger on Allegiant flight 1023 departing from the St. Pete Clearwater Airport in Florida to Roanoke, Virginia on Sunday, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The passenger he threatened immediately notified flight attendants and after just 40 minutes in the air, the plane was diverted back to St. Petersburg. The sheriff's office K9 unit searched Taylor's belongings and fortunately came up empty-handed. Other passengers also reported hearing Taylor make the bone-chilling threats. Footage from those on the flight revealed the moments officers entered the plane and approached Taylor. The suspect stood up in his chair and removed his earphones as officers questioned him about the threats. Another video from inside the airport revealed Taylor walking with his hands behind his back down the tarmac. Three officers were seen escorting him off the plane. Once a new crew boarded the Allegiant flight, the plane took off for Roanoke. Flight logs showed that the plane landed back in Clearwater at 2:08pm and finally got back in the air at 6:26pm. Taylor was hit with felony charges of making threats and false information in the first degree. He was arrested and booked in jail on Sunday night. Taylor was released the same day and the case was taken over by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Taylor hasn't yet entered a plea, according to court records. Daily Mail reached out to the FBI for an update on the case. Social media accounts associated with Taylor have him listed as a seminary student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty is a private evangelical college and is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia. Social media accounts with Taylor's name have him listed as a seminary student at Liberty University and a veteran of the Air Force According to his Instagram bio, he graduated from Virginia State University and is an ordained clergyman. He also states that he is a veteran of the Air Force. Taylor's last post on Facebook is a video of his sermon on Father's Day. He doesn't have a violent criminal record other than charges from traffic court, according to Pinellas County court records. He was previously in court for operating a vehicle without insurance and speeding, among other minor traffic infractions.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Gold & Diamond Source employee accused of stealing $650K worth of high-end watches from store
The Brief An ex-Gold & Diamond Source employee was arrested for stealing more than $650,000 worth of high-end watches from the store. He's accused of stealing 36 high-end watches from the Gold & Diamond Source, which is located off of Ulmerton Road in Clearwater. He was arrested nearly a month after he was fired from the Gold & Diamond Source. CLEARWATER, Fla. - An ex-Gold & Diamond Source employee was arrested for stealing more than $650,000 worth of high-end watches from the store. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said Michael Kelly, 32, is now facing a scheme to defraud charge. He's accused of stealing 36 high-end watches from the Gold & Diamond Source, which is located off of Ulmerton Road in Clearwater. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Detectives said they began investigating Kelly after receiving a report of a theft by the now former employee. They learned that Kelly stole the high-end watches between October 31, 2021, and May 3, 2025, according to PCSO. Investigators said Kelly entered fake information into the company's point-of-sale system, making the business believe a watch was sold. Deputies said the suspect created false sales records that indicated a customer traded in a watch and purchased another. READ: What is racketeering? Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez arrested on related charges In reality, though, Kelly would steal a watch from the inventory and place it in his suit jacket, according to authorities. The former employee was seen on surveillance video entering fake trade-in transactions with no customer present, PCSO said. Kelly was fired from his job at Gold & Diamond Source on May 10, after causing the company more than $650,000 in financial loss. He was arrested nearly a month later on Thursday and was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. The Source The information in this story was released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Woman shoots father during custody exchange in Largo: PCSO
The Brief The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that happened during a custody exchange in Largo. Detectives say the adult daughter of the victim shot him twice. The suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the first-degree. LARGO, Fla. - The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that happened during a custody exchange at a sheriff's administration building in Largo. The backstory Detectives say Rogerio Nascimento was with his sister, and his estranged wife was with their four minor children and a friend. With the children in the car, the adults were standing outside their vehicles talking in the parking lot. Detectives said three of the four children were hesitant to get out of the car. OTHER NEWS: 13-year-old girl rescued from Tampa motel: 'This child was lured' That is when the adult daughter of Nascimento, 28-year-old Gabriella Nascimento, showed up and got out of her car. Not long after she arrived, detectives said she went up to her father with a semi-automatic gun and shot him in the back. Rogerio ran toward the front lobby of the sheriff's administration building with his daughter chasing after him, shooting him a second time, according to detectives. Rogerio made it into the building. Gabriella fell on the sidewalk, put the gun on the ground and stood up on the sidewalk until deputies took her into custody, according to PCSO. Rogerio was taken to the hospital in critical, but stable condition. No one else was injured. What's next Gabriella was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the first-degree. She was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. The sheriff's office did not say what led up to the shooting. The Source Information for this story was provided by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
