Patrick Henkels, WTSP-TV (St Petersburg, FL) Journalist Profile

Articles

Lightning strike leads to house fire in Clearwater

3 weeks ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

CLEARWATER, Fla. — A house in Clearwater went up in flames after it was struck by lightning during Saturday morning's storms. Little is known about the fire, but officials with the City of Clearwater confirmed that it happened just before 6 a.m. on Murray Avenue and that no one was injured. The Tampa Bay area is under a Weather Impact Alert for thunderstorms and dangerous winds through 11 a.m. Saturday.
Deputies seek suspect in Brandon road rage shooting

4 weeks ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

BRANDON, Fla. — Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are searching for the man involved in a road rage shooting in Brandon. The shooting happened Tuesday, May 27, on Causeway Boulevard, the agency said in a Facebook post. Surveillance footage revealed a black sedan approaching behind the victim's car at a stop sign. Shortly after, the shooter can be seen getting out of the sedan before firing "three rounds" at the victim's car.
Prepping for this year's hurricane season? Here's what you'll need in your kit

4 weeks ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As Florida's west coast continues to recover from 2024's storms, including Helene and Milton, the 2025 hurricane season is just days away. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says residents should assemble a basic disaster supplies kit that will last every family member, including pets, for at least a week.
Friends of suspect attacked officers during DUI crash arrest in Tampa

1 month ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

TAMPA, Fla. — Three men are behind bars after a DUI crash that severed a 27-year-old man's leg early Monday morning in Tampa. The driver, 25-year-old Richard Meadows, has been charged with DUI, while Julian Jackson, 29, and Rashon Goode, 28, reportedly escalated the situation by assaulting officers during the arrest. The incident happened around 2:50 a.m., the Tampa Police Department said in a news release.
FHP: Crash throws mother, 3-year-old son and 5-year-old nephew from car on I-75 in Tampa

1 month ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

TAMPA, Fla. — A 22-year-old woman, her 3-year-old son and her 5-year-old nephew suffered serious injuries after their car flipped over on I-75 in Tampa. The crash happened around 3:17 p.m. Monday, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said in a news release. Troopers said the mother was driving north along the I-75 entrance ramp leading from Fowler Avenue. "The driver failed to negotiate the curve of the ramp, departed the roadway, and overturned twice," FHP said.
VIDEO: Clearwater police officer rescues missing girl near the beach

1 month ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

CLEARWATER, Fla. — An officer with the Clearwater Police Department rescued an eight-year-old girl after she was reported missing near the beach. In a Facebook post, the department shared bodycam video of the rescue, adding that "the situation was especially urgent, as the young girl did not know how to swim." The eight-year-old is also autistic and non-verbal, according to the department.
Suspect sought in hit-and-run that seriously injured motorcyclist in Pasco County

1 month ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

HOLIDAY, Fla. — Florida Highway Patrol troopers are searching for the driver involved in a hit-and-run that seriously injured a 60-year-old motorcyclist Sunday night in Pasco County. The incident happened around 11:21 p.m. in Holiday, FHP said in a news release. The suspect was reportedly driving a silver SUV south on Grand Boulevard while the motorcyclist was traveling east on Sunray Drive.
Florida deputy kills woman accused of shooting daughter during dispute

1 month ago | wltx.com | Patrick Henkels

TAMPA, Fla. — A grandmother was shot to death by a deputy after she allegedly shot her own daughter in the hand during a domestic violence incident in Tampa. During a presser on Sunday morning, Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Joseph Maurer said deputies were responding to a burglary call around 5 a.m. at a home on Carolton Circle. "As we made our way on scene, we received information that our suspect, the grandmother, shot her daughter in the hand," Maurer said.
Deputies rescue group from boat stuck on oyster bed near Apollo Beach

1 month ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

APOLLO BEACH, Fla. โ Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies rescued a group of people after their boat became stuck on an oyster bed near Apollo Beach. The rescue happened just after midnight Saturday, the agency said in a Facebook post. The sheriff's office shared bodycam video of the rescue, as the boat can be seen resting on top of an entire oyster bed.
Deputies investigating pair of deadly crashes in Polk County over the weekend

1 month ago | wtsp.com | Patrick Henkels

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A pair of unrelated crashes, one involving two motorcycles and the other involving a homemade go-kart, left two people dead Saturday in Polk County. In a news release, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said the crash involving the motorcycle happened around 9:40 a.m. on Green Pond Road near San Juan Avenue in Polk City. A 72-year-old man from Mascotte was leading a group of motorcycles westbound before drifting in front of another group of motorcycles heading east.