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First Coast Connect

ONLY IN FLORIDA: An Anti-Violence Riot, A Breast Pump Bandit, And A Stumped TSA Agent

I've heard of Columbia, but the District of Columbia? Could you step over here please, and check out this week's ONLY IN FLORIDA.ONLY IN FLORIDA is our weekly roundup of the strange, bizarre and just plain ridiculous headlines from right here in the Sunshine State.

ONLY IN FLORIDA does an anti-violence concert end in a riot.

A 16-year-old was shot and a 15-year-old knocked unconscious after an altercation broke out at a Pensacola concert called Stop the Violence.

The show’s organizer said the concert was billed as a free event where local music artists performed and spoke to the youths about ending violence in their communities. (Pensacola News Journal)

ONLY IN FLORIDA do shoplifters go on a breast-pump robbery spree.

Pinellas sheriff's deputies say they have arrested serial breast pump thief Ray Edward Chapa.

He was nabbed after stealing multiple breast pumps from a Target in St. Petersburg. He’s also suspected of lifting pumps from the local Walmart.

Police discovered 12 breast pumps in his vehicle from several different stores. Chapa is facing charges of grand theft and felony retail theft. (Tampa Bay Times)

ONLY IN FLORIDA do TSA agents mistake television reporters for potential terrorists.

WFTV Orlando reporter Justin Gray was flying out of Orlando this week when a TSA agent said his District of Columbia driver’s license wasn’t a valid form of ID.

The TSA agent didn’t seem to know what the District of Columbia — also known as Washington D.C. — is when Gray arrived at the security checkpoint.

Gray was able to get through security and then stopped to complain to a TSA supervisor. A TSA spokesman told Gray that all of the TSA agents in Orlando are now being shown copies of a District of Columbia driver's license. (WFTV)

Send your ONLY IN FLORIDA suggestions to firstcoastconnect@wjct.org.

You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax and Patrick Donges at @patrickhdonges.

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Melissa Ross joined WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her career as a television and radio news anchor and reporter, Melissa has won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting.
Patrick Donges served as WJCT's Digital Content Editor from August 2013 - August 2014.