Local Residents Taken In Massive Drug Operation

Lazaro Martin (left) and Heather Short
Lazaro Martin (left) and Heather Short

By Matt Wiley,

A recent, large-scale drug sting operation by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has resulted in more than 50 arrests in just 24 hours, including two Wesley Chapel residents, each charged with dealing in controlled substances.

As part of the PCSO Vice Narcotics Unit’s “Operation: Balderstone,” on September 5, 55 arrests were made across Pasco County, including Lazaro “Lachi” Martin, 23, of the Riverside Crossing community on S.R. 54, and Heather Marie Short, 35, of Quail Hollow, who were arrested after selling prescription pills and other drugs to undercover PCSO deputies.

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Zephyrhills Woman Dies In New Tampa Head-On Collision

By Matt Wiley

A woman is dead following an early-morning head-on collision in New Tampa.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), just before 4 a.m. on September 20, Kunjummen Arun Babu, 18, of Zephyrhills, was driving north on Morris Bridge Rd. near Pictoral Park Dr., about half of a mile north of Cross Creek Blvd. in his 2010 Honda Accord. At the same time, Rita Marie Sutliff, 68, also of Zephyrhills, was driving south on Morris Bridge in her 2012 Ford Explorer. Both vehicles were traveling at about 50 m.p.h.Continue reading

Wesley Chapel Business, Auto Burglar Behind Bars

Ramon Junior Rivera
Ramon Junior Rivera

By Matt Wiley

The man behind numerous business and auto burglaries in the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills areas is behind bars, following his arrest on September 16.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Ramon Junior Rivera, 24, a convicted burglary felon (for burglary and weapons possession) who was released from prison last July, is the man behind at least ten business burglaries stretching from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills and even into Hillsborough County, deputies say.Continue reading

Man Caught With Pants Down Gets DUI

Benjamin Mishoe
Benjamin Mishoe

By Matt Wiley,

After being found with his pants down and under the influence in his vehicle that was parked in the middle of the street, a Wesley Chapel man has been released from the Pasco County jail.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Benjamin Chad Mishoe, 36, of Road Runner Rd. in eastern Wesley Chapel, was arrested at 5:45 a.m. on September 14 when a deputy found him sleeping in the driver’s seat of his running vehicle about half a mile from his home. The arrest report states that, in addition to driving a vehicle with several empty beer bottles, Mishoe’s pants were pulled partially down and that his genitals were exposed.

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Ciao! Italian Bistro — New Co-Owner, New Chef & Homemade Pasta!

Ciao! Italian Bistro's new pork chop entree is just one of many additions to the restaurant's revamped menu.
Ciao! Italian Bistro’s new pork chop entree is just one of many additions to the restaurant’s revamped menu.

By Gary Nager | September 14

Although we currently have some outstanding pizza places in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, we’ve never really had a great Italian restaurant. And, although some folks in the area seemed to enjoy Pagelli’s Italian Restaurant when it opened in the Shops at Wiregrass mall a couple of years ago, the owners decided a year or so ago to revamp the concept and change the name to Ciao! Italian Bistro.

Well, according to Justin Fleming, the new chef and co-owner of Ciao!, neither Pagelli’s (and Justin worked for two years at the original Pagelli’s in Estero, FL) nor Ciao! was good enough, so he decided to move to the Tampa Bay area to start over and re-create Ciao! as a real, sit-down Italian restaurant that utilizes fresh ingredients and has dishes for men, and women, with family-friendly dishes and pricing.

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