Annie Mapp

Articles

WFLA •

‘My worst nightmare’: Mamajuana Cafe owner speaks out after bottle sparklers ignite ‘devastating’ fire

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A “devastating” fire at Mamajuana Cafe has shut down the restaurant for nearly two weeks.


The fire broke out at the restaurant’s tiki hut, causing dozens of people to evacuate on a busy Saturday night, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said.


“It was like my worst nightmare; I thought I was in a movie,” Mamajuana Cafe owner Miguel Guzman said.

Fire rescue officials said a server who was carrying a sparkler in an “innocent celebration” accidentally lit part of the tiki h...
WFLA •

‘Can’t even hear each other talk’: Safety Harbor residents frustrated by downtown noise

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) — Some residents living in downtown Safety Harbor say music coming from businesses is too loud.


“If you don’t turn it down, I’m going to call the police,” Kelly Barnes said. “They call that weaponizing. I call it taking care of my peace of mind.”


Barnes says she and several others are tired of dealing with loud music.


“We can’t even hear each other talk,” Barnes said.


Safety Harbor has an ordinance in place that states noise can’t be “loud and raucous.” How...
WFLA •

Judge orders woman accused of sexual relationships with middle schoolers stay in jail

TAMPA, Fla (WFLA) – A Tampa woman facing numerous felonies for having sexual interactions with middle schoolers was ordered Monday morning to stay in jail until trial.


Alyssa Zinger, 23, was rearrested last week after Tampa Police detectives learned of four new victims ages 12 to 15, who alleged they were sexually involved with Zinger.


She was originally arrested in November of 2023 when the first victim came forward.


According to police, Zinger told the victims she was 14 years old an...
WFLA •

‘She was crying and screaming’: Seffner gas station worker helped woman escape alleged kidnapper

SEFFNER, Fla. (WFLA) — Ashraf Zakher was working at a Mobil Gas Station in Seffner on Monday when he saw a woman run into the store in distress.


“She went into the bathroom and locked herself in. She was crying and screaming so bad,” Zakher said.


Zakher said that prompted him to call 911. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to discover a victim with severe injuries.

According to HCSO, the woman had just escaped her alleged abuser, 48-year-old Walter Medina. The victim...