Five charged in multiple arson cases PINELLAS PARK – Five teenagers who were arrested in February in connection with a series of arsons in St. Petersburg were arrested by Pinellas Park Police on March 3 on similar multiple charges.
Charged as adults and booked into the Pinellas County Jail on multiple acts of arson, throwing a deadly missile, attempted arson and criminal mischief are:
• Quoc Tan Lam, 17, was charged with 21 felonies and two misdemeanors.
• Francis Huy Du, 16, was charged with 44 felonies and two misdemeanors.
• Mathew Pineda Kiernan, 16, was charged with 44 felonies and two misdemeanors.
• Alain Nguyen, 18, was charged with 44 felonies and two misdemeanors.
• Tan Minh Tran, 16, was charged with 45 felonies and one misdemeanor.
Police said that between Jan. 19 and Feb. 1 the suspects, all St. Petersburg residents, participated in criminal acts that included at least 10 cases of smashing car windows with baseball bats, throwing bricks and throwing Molotov cocktails into occupied buildings.
Police said firefighters responded to seven home and vehicles fires on Jan. 19 and two others at a later date. The attacks were similar to those in St. Petersburg that involved Molotov cocktails made from soda bottles.
Man arrested in shooting PINELLAS PARK – A St. Petersburg man was arrested on March 3 after he allegedly fired an automatic weapon into trees near an assisted living facility. No one was injured. Demetrius A. Roberson, 24, is charged with discharging a firearm. Since that is a misdemeanor, the suspect was not arrested or processed into the Pinellas County Jail.
Capt. Michael Haworth, patrol commander, said events began to unfold at about 12:45 p.m. when a complaint was called into police dispatchers that four persons fired at least three rounds from an assault rifle at trees in the direction of the Summerville Assisted Living Facility at 8980 49th St. When officers arrived, police said, they challenged four men who were in the area. Police said Roberson fired the weapon which he later left at an apartment in the 4900 block of 91st Avenue. Upon searching the apartment, police said, officers confiscated the weapon. Also found was a sawed-off shotgun, crack cocaine and marijuana. No other arrests were made. Police said two of the four suspects who were not identified because they are juveniles are members of the Squad King street gang. An investigation continues.
Man wakes up and slams into cruiser PINELLAS PARK – A Clearwater man on March 1 was arrested after police said he fell asleep at a traffic light, was awakened by police and then crashed his car into a cruiser. Michael D. Robertson, 25, is charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended or revoked license and DUI. He was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting $4,750 bail.
Police said Robertson was on U.S. 19 and 110th Avenue shortly after midnight when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel while waiting at a traffic light. When Robertson saw the officer who was trying to wake him, police said, he removed his foot from the brake pedal and hit the accelerator.
Police said Robertson’s 2008 Pontiac struck a patrol unit. The suspect kept his foot on the gas pedal and the wheels continued to spin. Police had to use a baton to shatter the vehicle’s windows. Robertson himself put the car into park and surrendered. Police, during a search of Robertson’s vehicle, allegedly discovered a bag each of marijuana and cocaine, a razor blade and $1,913 in cash.
