PINELLAS PARK

Deputies: Man asks for work, sharpens machete when rejected

Joseph Lyle Matthews, 43, of Pinellas Park, walked up the street to a neighbor's house April 5 and asked for work, according to an arrest report. The neighbor refused, sheriff's deputies wrote, so Matthews began sharpening a machete in the man's front yard. The incident took place on 107th Avenue about 11:23 a.m.

According to the arrest report, Matthews stabbed the machete into the ground, pointed it at the man and shouted, "If you don't want me to work, then I'll fix you."

He faces charges including aggravated assault and possession of drugs without a prescription. According to a separate arrest report, Matthews later threatened to kill a deputy while en route to the jail.

ST. PETERSBURG

Burglary suspect was looking for 'opportunities'

Christopher W. Poulos, alias "Chris" or "Dale Jones," was canvassing the neighborhood for "opportunities" when he stumbled upon the lawn mower he stole, according to an arrest report.

Poulos, 40, of St. Petersburg, entered a yard in the 5500 block of 31st Street N and took a push mower from beneath a canoe, deputies wrote. He admitted to the offense, according to the report.

He faces a charge of burglary of an unoccupied structure.

Zachary T. Sampson, Times staff writer