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Hernando Today

Deputies Looking For Suspicious Man

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By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF

Published: March 11, 2009

HERNANDO BEACH - Authorities are searching for a suspicious man who sat in his truck Monday and stared at two girls, ages 9 and 8, as they were sunbathing.

The girls were tanning near the water behind their house along Eagle Nest Drive, shortly after 5:30 p.m. when they noticed the man in the blue pickup truck, Hernando County Sheriff's deputies said.

The girls tried to leave and the man began circling them in his truck, eventually blocking them as they tried to run to the house, according to a sheriff's report.

They ran around him and, as they passed the truck, they noticed the driver had opened the door and smiled at them, deputies said.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male with a "distinct tan" who stood 5 feet 10 inches tall. He weighs approximately 150 pounds and has short, black hair. He appeared to be in his 40s and was last seen wearing jean shorts and a blue T-shirt. His face was unshaven and he had no visible tattoos, the girls said.

The pickup is described as a newer-model with two doors, an extended cab and turquoise in color. The suspect drove away heading westbound along Eagle Nest Drive, deputies said.

The girls told authorities they saw him walking around in the area three weeks earlier. He approached other females and asked them "personal questions," according to the sheriff's report.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hernando County Sheriff's Office at 352-754-6830 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-8477 (TIPS).

Inmate Arrested For Contraband

BROOKSVILLE - A woman went to jail and was warned not to carry contraband inside.

Following a routine search, a plastic bag filled with Oxycodone was discovered and she was charged with trafficking in drugs and possession of contraband while in jail, deputies said.

Stacy O. Kent, 34, of 11296 Rainbow Woods Loop in Spring Hill, was brought to the Hernando County Jail on a warrant from Highland County for a child support claim.

The bag of pills was discovered before she took a mandatory shower. The item was being clinched "between the defendant's buttocks," according to a sheriff's report.

The defendant alleged she had a prescription for the pills, but threw it away, deputies said.

Walgreens Employee Charged With Theft

BROOKSVILLE - Deputies arrested a woman after her boss at Walgreens on Cortez Boulevard saw her carrying a cart full of "concealed merchandise" on a surveillance video, according to a sheriff's report.

Elizabeth C. Branson, 58, was charged with grand theft and scheming to defraud.

After she was confronted by her manager and an employee, Bronson admitted to stealing items from the store since October 2007, deputies said.

The estimated amount she stole was more than $12,600, according to the sheriff's report.

The stolen items ranged from diapers to over-the-counter medicines, deputies said.

For more crime stories

see page A14.

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