SEBRING — A Sebring man remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail, charged in connection with allegedly slashing his roommate with a sword and a knife and not letting him leave. Ian Preston Dressel, 28, of 2808 DeSoto Road, was charged with aggravated battery by a person using a deadly weapon and kidnapping to commit or to facilitate the commission of a felony. At 8:16 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 13, sheriff's deputy Robinn Singles reported he met with the mother of the victim, who told him her son, 33, was slashed with a knife and named Dressel as the suspect. ...more

January 15, 2008

A Plant City man sneaked into his ex-girlfriend's room while she slept and beat her head and body with a 2-foot-long club, Hillsborough County deputies say. ...more

January 14, 2008

SEBRING — A "body-less" murder trial is uncommon, but it's not unheard of, according to Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin. Because authorities were unable to locate the body of the alleged newborn that Silvia Zanchez supposedly threw into the trash last November, prosecutors now have to prove through circumstantial evidence that Zanchez actually delivered the baby, if her case goes to a criminal trial. A Highlands County grand Jjury indicted Zanchez, 24, of 109 Sarasota St., Lake Placid, Wednesday, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. "We're going to have to prove circumstantially that she gave birth to a live human being," said Houchin, who also said that he's never prosecuted a "body-less" trial. ...more

January 11, 2008

A blind and disabled Tampa woman was beaten and robbed in her home early Friday and two people have been charged with the crime. ...more

January 4, 2008

University of Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft, Gators coach Urban Meyer confirmed Thursday evening. ...more

January 4, 2008

Of the three career highs University of Florida center Marreese Speights notched in Wednesday night's 88-70 win against High Point, the most significant was the final number. ...more

January 3, 2008

SEBRING — As the cops reporter, most of what I write about, the daily crime in Highlands County, is generally depressing, with an occasional laugh from some of the dumber crimes. ...more

January 1, 2008

A 16-year-old Tarpon Springs boy has been charged in one home invasion and has emerged as a suspect in two other crimes - another home invasion in which a 92-year-old man was toppled from his wheelchair and a burglary in which a dachshund's throat was slit, police and victims say. ...more

December 27, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - A 20-year-old man was arrested in connection with a home invasion of an ex-roommate today and police are investigating whether he's involved in another. ...more

December 23, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - A suspected gang member is accused of threatening to kill a sheriff's detective to collect a $100,000 bounty, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said. ...more

December 21, 2007