CLEARWATER -- A 17-year-old boy is accused of threatening a Pinellas County Commissioner over funding for the proposed new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Pinellas sheriff's office says Brandon Corkran commented on an X (Twitter) post by Commissioner Chris Latvala about the Rays' situation, threatening to go to his house and shoot him "with (his) short barreled (shotgun)."
Latvala contacted deputies, who arrested the teenager. Corkran is charged with one count of Written Threats to Kill.
Latvala is one of several commissioners objecting to the deal that uses tourism taxes to secure bonds on the new ballpark. He told a Pinellas commission workshop Thursday that he was a no vote if the Rays decided to play their 2025 season in Hillsborough County. Shortly after Latvala's remarks, the Rays announced that next season's home games would be played at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, irking Pinellas commissioners who say the team that's asking for county tourism tax money should play at a facility inside the county, such as the Phillies' facility in Clearwater. Rays owner Stu Sternberg tells the Tampa Bay Times, the commission's delay makes the team's future in the region less certain.
Commissioners will take up the bond issue again Tuesday.
Photo: Tampa Bay Rays