Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

Eight members will be promoted

What:
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will host a promotion ceremony recognizing eight Sheriff’s Office members.

When:
The ceremony will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2014.

Where:
The promotion ceremony will be at the Sheriff’s Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Why/How:
As part of the promotion ceremony, family members and friends will pin new badges on their fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, who have just been promoted.

The following certified members have been promoted:

Promoted to Sergeant are:

Joleen Bowman

Kimon Koungras

Paul Langlais

John Waugh

Promoted to Captain are:

Richard Nalven

Jennifer Nobles

Civilian Promotions:

Ricky Butler – Community Programs Manager

Sean Diluzio – Accountant I

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide Unit
Patrol Operations Bureau

Male in his 20s found deceased

What:
Detectives assigned to the Robbery/Homicide Unit are conducting a death investigation after a body of a male in his 20s was located in the park. Preliminarily, the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

When:
The body was found in the morning hours of Thursday, October 9. 2014

Where:
The body was found at Walsingham park located at 12555 102nd Avenue North in Largo.

Why/How:
The investigation is in its initial stages.

The body of the male was located in the northeast side of the park. Detectives have not yet released his identification.

According to detectives, the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

The investigation continues.

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.)

Cory Ziegler (Arrested Driver)
DOB: 07/16/1995
Address: 211 Earl Street, Tarpon Springs
Arrested for 3-counts of reckless driving with serious bodily injury

Three passengers injured in crash

What:
M.A.I.T. investigators have arrested the driver involved in a December 2013 crash which resulted in three people sustaining serious injuries.

When:
The suspect was arrested on October 15, 2014.

The crash occurred on December 6, 2013.

Where:
The suspect was arrested at his residence in Tarpon Springs.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Belcher Road and Highland Woods Drive (which is just south of Curlew Road) in Dunedin.

Why/How:
Following the crash that occurred on December 6, 2013 deputies continued to conduct their investigation. After multiple witness interviews and a crash reconstruction, deputies obtained an arrest warrant for 19-year-old Cory Ziegler and executed that warrant at about 7:15 p.m. on October 15, 2014.  Ziegler was arrested for three-counts reckless driving with serious bodily injury. He was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident. Deputies say the investigation determined that Ziegler was driving at a high rate of speed, well over the speed limit, at the time of the crash.

According to investigators, Ziegler was traveling northbound in the median lane of Belcher Road in his 2002 Ford Sport Track when he changed lanes into the curb lane in order to go around a slower moving vehicle. As he changed lanes, deputies say he noticed a truck pulling a directional arrow sign board and attempted to accelerate around the slow moving vehicle. As he attempted to move back into the median lane to avoid the arrow board trailer, Ziegler struck the trailer with the rear quarter panel of his vehicle, causing him to lose control and the vehicle to fishtail. According to deputies, the Ford then struck the median and began to roll. The roll caused Ziegler’s three passengers to be ejected from the vehicle. All three passengers sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash. Ziegler was not injured. (For further details see Release #13-264.)

The investigation continues.

Who:
Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

What:
Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was presented the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International Sheriff of the Year Award for his many contributions to CIT and the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office to assist people with mental illness in the community.

When:
The award was presented this week.

Where:
The award was presented at the CIT International Conference held in Monterrey, California on October 13th – 15th, 2014.

Why/How:
Sheriff Gualtieri was nominated by Donald and Judy Turnbaugh, Past Presidents of NAMI Pinellas County Florida; and was selected among nominees for his commitment and leadership on issues related to mental illness.

The award recognized the Sheriff’s active involvement and leadership in the coordination of a county-wide CIT program; the administration of Pinellas Safe Harbor; his attention to deputies’ mental health needs; ensuring inmates receive appropriate psychotropic medications; and for personally convening with community advocates and mental health providers.

Pinellas County is currently in its 16th year as Florida’s first CIT program.

The CIT Program is a specialized training and practice for first-responder law enforcement officers in how to properly and safely handle situations involving persons with mental illness. The cornerstone of CIT is a 40-hour course taught free of charge to the community by mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, persons with a mental illness diagnosis and advocates.

The training includes essential information about mental illnesses and how to recognize it; information about the local mental health system and state laws; de-escalation skills; and, the opportunity to learn first-hand from consumers and family members about their experiences.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

Update at 2:00 a.m. on October 17, 2014
***Update Begins***
Deputies have advised that found child’s mother has been located.
***Update Ends***

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

Found Girl
Description: Name possibly Nina; approximately 6 years old; possibly Hispanic; thin build; dark black shoulder-length hair; wearing green shirt with a pink guitar, a zebra print skirt and no shoes.

The child was found with her dog, a tan and white male Chihuahua.

What:
Deputies are requesting the public’s assistance in locating the parents of a girl found in the Rainbow Village community. The girl was with her dog, a tan and white male Chihuahua.

When:
The child was found at about 8:07 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2014.

Where:
The child was found in the area of 125th Street and 134th Avenue in Rainbow Village.

Why/How:
Deputies say residents saw the little girl and her dog running around a pond in the Rainbow Village community and called the Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded and conducted a neighborhood canvass and did not locate the child’s family.

At this time, deputies are asking anyone with information that may assist in locating the child’s family to contact Corporal Scott Reid or Deputy Rebecca Locke of the Patrol Operations Bureau at (727) 582-6200.

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

Francisco Romero (Arrested)
DOB:02/19/1991
Address: 13474 Adams Circle Apt. C290, Largo
Child Neglect Without Bodily Harm

Victim is a 6-year old female. Per Florida Statute, no further information will be released that would tend to identify the victim.

What:
Deputies have arrested a Largo man- after the child he was caring left the house and was located with her dog in the Rainbow Village community.

When:
The caregiver was located overnight on October 17, 2014.

The child was found at about 8:07 p.m. on October 16, 2014.

Where:
The child was found at 125th Street North and 134th Avenue North in Rainbow Village.

Why/How:
Deputies have arrested 23-year-old Francisco Romero after he realized at about 1:24 a.m. on the 17th of October that the child he was caring for was missing. Deputies say Romero was alerted to the missing child by a roommate who had just arrived to his residence. Deputies say Romero immediately contacted the mother of the child, who was at work, and advised her that the child was gone.

The mother left work and responded to back to the the Rainbow Village home at 13474 Adams Circle. While enroute she called 911 to report the child missing. Deputies responded and made contact with the mother and the suspect. Deputies advised them that the child had been located at about 8:07 p.m. running around a retention pond with her chihuahua.

Deputies interviewed Romero, who ultimately admitted he’d been playing video games and did not realize the child had left the home.

Romero was arrested for child neglect and transported to the Pinellas County Jail without further incident.

The investigation continues.

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-School Resource Officer Unit

Contact: Deputy Ural Darling, SRO
727-547-7689 extension 2111

Pinellas County Schools

What:
The Sheriff’s Office is hosting a 12-hour drumming event designed to raise awareness about the problem of bullying; and to beat bullies out of Pinellas County Schools.

When:
The “Beat the Bullies” drumming event will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2014.

Where:
The event will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room at Osceola Middle School located at 9301 98th Street North in Seminole.

Why/How:
Pinellas County School Resource Deputy Ural Darling, along with other law enforcement members, students, teachers and community leaders will beat the drums against bullying for 12-straight hours.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the problem of bullying in schools and to encourage intervention and prevention before matters escalate and get out of hand.

Guest drummers this year are: Casey Grillo of “Kamelot”; Gumbi Ortiz (Toured with fusion guitar legend Al Di Meola). There will be a drum Circle by Steve Turner of Giving Tree Music. The event is also sponsored by Seminole Music and Sound.

The public is invited to come out to support the event and say “NO” to bullying.

For further information contact Deputy Darling of the School Resource Officer Unit at 727-547-7689 extension 2111.

Media wishing to cover may contact the Sheriff’s Public Information Office at (727)582-6221.

Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
Support Services Bureau
-Crime Scene Investigation Unit

Cody D. Conley (Deceased)
DOB: 07/17/1991
Address: 1141 Wheatfield Court, Centerville, Ohio

Nicholas R. Conley (Deceased Man’s Brother)
DOB: 09/29/1997
Address: 1141 Wheatfield Court, Centerville, Ohio

What:
Deputies have responded to conduct a death investigation on St. Pete Beach after an Ohio man fell to his death as he attempted to climb to the roof of a beach front condominium. Deputies say the death appears to be accidental in nature.

When:
Deputies responded to the scene just before 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

Where:
Deputies responded to the Sand Seair Condominiums located at 3805 Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach.

Why/How:
According to deputies at approximately 1:40 a.m. on October 18th,  23-year-old Cody D. Conley and his brother, 17-year-old Nicholas R. Conley, went to the 6th floor landing of the condominium. Deputies say Cody Conley removed his clothing down to his boxer shorts and attempted to climb up to the roof, which is several feet up from the landing.

Deputies say Nicholas Conley also climbed over the railing in an attempt to help his brother who was falling. Nicholas was unable to assist and Cody  fell to the pavement below.

Deputies responded to the scene; as did Emergency Medical Services.

Cody Conley was transported to Palms of Pasadena Hospital, where he subsequently died.

Deputies say there is no indication of foul play and that the death appears to be accidental in nature. Alcohol may be a factor.

The Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death.

The Conleys were on St. Pete Beach from Ohio to attend a family wedding.

The investigation continues.