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Suspect in kettle thefts dies in stolen car
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005 |
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![[Image]](/content_images/120705_fpg-01-a.jpg) |
| Lee J. George |
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TAMPA - A man suspected of robbing several area Salvation Army donation kettles was found dead Monday afternoon in a car that had overturned and submerged in a creek north of the Hillsborough River.
Tampa police on Tuesday said the body found in the car had been identified as Lee J. George, 41, of Clearwater. George was wanted by Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg Police Departments in connection with a number of robberies involving Salvation Army donation kettles.
Tampa Police divers found George in the back seat of a 2002 Buick Century, which had been reported as stolen from Clearwater on Thanksgiving Day. Divers allegedly found a half-full liquor bottle and what appeared to be a small amount of marijuana in two unmarked pill containers, according to a report from the Tampa Police Department.
Tampa Detectives are investigating the death as a traffic fatality and are awaiting the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's ruling as to the cause and time of death. The investigation is continuing
According to a report from the Pinellas Park Police Department, George was the suspect in the Nov. 28 and Nov. 30 thefts of Salvation Army donation kettles at the Wal-Mart store at 8001 U.S. 19.
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![[Image]](/content_images/120705_fpg-01-b.jpg) |
| Photo courtesy Pinellas Park Police Department |
| Police believe the man in this video snapshot seen exiting his car just before taking a Salvation Army Kettle from a Wal-Mart store in Pinellas Park on Nov. 28 is Lee J. George. |
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Police said that the suspect would park his vehicle next to the Salvation Army Kettle attendant and exit the vehicle leaving the drivers side door open. The suspect then approached the attendant, making small talk before unsnapping the kettle from the tripod chain and leaving with it in a car described as a dark green, four-door, Buick Century, late 1990s to early 2000s model.
Police believe the car is the same one in which George was found dead on Monday.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
Reports from the St. Petersburg Police show that George also was suspected in the robbery of a Salvation Army Kettle at the Winn-Dixie at 1049 62nd Ave. N. and Publix supermarket at 7999 Ninth St. N. on Nov. 28 and the Publix at 3501 49th St. N. on Dec. 3.
Police reports said George had been positively identified in a felony theft at 4th Street Cigars and Martini Bar at 2900 Fourth St. N. on Nov. 29. George also was suspected of committing a retail theft at the Hess Gas Station at 3225 34 St. N. on Nov. 27, as well as a theft at Wilson's Sports Bar at 3030 Fourth St. N. on Nov. 29, according to the police report.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005
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