How the stalking BEGINS 3 days from being a stalker

Two families lost sons in crash
An aspiring actor and a father were killed when one's motorcycle collided with the other's SUV.
By JONATHAN ABEL, Times Staff WriterPublished January 9, 2008
An SUV was making a U-turn Monday in Palm Harbor when a speeding northbound motorcycle hit it. Both vehicles caught fire. The driver of the SUV and the motorcycle driver died.
[Gay Norton]

Jack R. Taschereau, 46, was a fisherman and coin collector. He was driving the sports utility vehicle in the crash.
Craig M. Hales, 22, a graduate of East Lake High School in 2004, was driving the motorcycle.
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PALM HARBOR - One was a hard-luck crabber looking for rare coins on his day off.
The other was a young man with a suspended license riding the motorcycle his family hated.
The lives of Jack R. Taschereau, 46, and Craig M. Hales, 22, intersected Monday in Palm Harbor, when Hales' bike rammed Taschereau's sports utility vehicle.
Their vehicles flipped and fell to the ground in a fireball that shut down northbound U.S. 19 for more than three hours.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released the names of the victims, but the families of both men said Tuesday that troopers have told them to expect the worst. And Hales' family said they were heartsick that two families had lost sons.
- - -
In the hours before the crash, Taschereau was engaging in his favorite pastime: coin collecting.
A massive heart attack last year forced the crabber to take some time off, which led to a rebirth of his fascination with rare coins.
Since then, he'd worked out deals with local bank tellers to hold any interesting pieces they came across. Every week or so, like the good fisherman he was, Taschereau would make a circuit of banks, checking the traps.
The Palm Harbor resident was driving between banks when he made the fateful U-turn.
Jo Ann Ames, Taschereau's mother, heard the bad news Monday night when authorities came to her door. The intensity of the crash left little to identify the driver, but a few scraps of paper in the SUV led them to her.
She told authorities about his medical history. They said it would take a little while to get complete confirmation.
Then the medical examiner mentioned something unusual, Ames said. He said there were a bunch of half dollars in the victim's pocket.
Ames knew it was her son.
He left behind an 11-year-old boy, Joshua, who lives with his mother in New Port Richey. Father and son loved fishing and chess and arguing about NASCAR.
It was a wrenching conclusion to a tortured 45 years.
"It'd be different if he had a good, prosperous life and all, but he struggled his whole life," Ames said. Small problems always lingered and festered until they became big ones.
At 19, Taschereau was thrown from his motorcycle by a driver running a red light. A quarter century later, his leg still hurt so much from the crash that he had to wear flip-flops everywhere.
Three years ago, Taschereau was anchored in the gulf when a shrimping vessel plowed into his boat. He almost sank.
The heart attack last year left him physically diminished. He couldn't pull the traps up by hand anymore so he joined with a friend, Sam Hart, and they worked Hart's boat together, the Crabby Cracker.
"You couldn't find a man who worked harder," Hart said. They talked just before the crash Monday. Taschereau had some errands to run then he was going to help ready the boat.
But Taschereau never showed up.
- - -
Craig Hales came to the crash scene from another direction.
He was 22, athletic and popular. His parents, Raymond and Tracey Hales, said he was just three days from starting firefighter training.
Hales' dream was to become an actor in Hollywood. He took acting classes in Orlando and had been an extra in a handful of movies.
Getting in shape for the fire academy, however, was Hales' immediate goal.
He started Monday with a protein shake. Then he told his father he was going to the gym, just a few miles up U.S. 19 from their Palm Harbor home.
It was the first nice day in a while so Hales drove his green Kawasaki Ninja bike.
Witnesses to the crash said the motorcycle appeared to be traveling faster than 100 mph, authorities said.
Raymond Hales said the family is devastated not only by the loss of their son but by the pain the crash caused for the Taschereau family. He said his son had a problem with speeding but was otherwise a sensible man and a very good person.
"When they're that young they feel invincible, that's the shame of it," Hales said. "We used to hate him having that bike for this reason."
The family moved from England 18 years ago and had been living in Palm Harbor for the past six years. Hales graduated from East Lake High School in 2004. He earned money working as a valet at Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Besides his parents, he lived with his sister Rachael, 19, and a brother Charlie, 14. He had each family member's name tattooed on his body, along with the three lions of the English national soccer team's crest.
State driving records show Hales has been ticketed five times since 2003 for speeding or reckless driving. His driver's license had been suspended since July for failing to appear in court on a Pinellas ticket.
"He was such a good kid," Raymond Hales said of his son. "I didn't want it to seem like he was reckless."
Times researchers Caryn Baird and Carolyn Edds contributed to this report.
[Last modified January 9, 2008, 07:07:14]

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Comments on this article
by Am
01/09/08 04:28 PM
It is so sad to see how fast people can judge someone they didnt even know he was a good kid and made a terrible decision..let me guess you all are perfect and have never made a mistake in your life. May the lord be with everyone in this sad time.
by S
01/09/08 02:27 PM
How dare people write such rude things. If it was your son would you be saying "how cool are you now" or "he was wreckless"?
by Fritz
01/09/08 02:09 PM
Pops, if you hated the motorcycle so much why did you allow your 22 year old son own it while he was living in YOUR house?
by mary
01/09/08 01:39 PM
why did the parents let him leave on his bike if they new he had a suspended license now a kid is with out a father?
by Mark
01/09/08 01:26 PM
Wait, What? Ticketed 5 times since '03 for reckless and speeding. Suspended since July for an FTA on a ticket. But daddy sez, "I didn't want it to seem like he was reckless". What was he then? Looks like wanton disregard for anything including life!
by Cheryl
01/09/08 01:21 PM
GOOD KID... Good kids DO NOT have suspended driving licenses, numerous tix to their driving record, speed in excess of 100 MPH on US Hwy 19, at almost lunch hour. Damn Him! he took an innocent man, husband, father, son, brother,uncle. NOT GOOD!
by where's the compassion??
01/09/08 01:20 PM
You can't judge someone by their driving record. I personally knew Craig, and honestly, he was a good kid. Not only am I sickened by the death of these two men, but also by some of the comments posted.EPHESIANS 4:32, read&please pray for the families
by Jan
01/09/08 01:15 PM
Enough criticism people, these families just lost their sons, have some respect!! This could happen to you!!! It's very sad.....
by Vickie
01/09/08 12:50 PM
Five tickets, suspended DL since July - This should have been an indication of what the future held for Craig. Unfortunately he took another life along with his own. My heart goes out to both families.
by maria
01/09/08 12:32 PM
my prayers are with both families at this time may god comfort you in this time of sadness and lets all pray that these men are in heaven,also lets pray that something is done about speeders ,and the layout of us 19 it is scary no matter what
by DEEZNUTZ
01/09/08 11:51 AM
LIVE FAST DIE FAST. IT'S SAD THAT HE HAD TO TAKE AN INNOCENT PERSON WITH HIM.
by Paul
01/09/08 11:49 AM
The moral is that one reckless person can destroy the innocent. Don't make excuses for these actions. This is becoming all too faniliar with these crotch rockets.
by Gee
01/09/08 11:02 AM
Is it horrible that I don't feel an ounce of sympathy for the young man? I feel for his family, but not for him.
by SD
01/09/08 10:56 AM
What parent knowingly allows their child to drive with a suspended license? Just curious
by laura
01/09/08 10:53 AM
amazing how that bad luck you foisted on mr. taschereau came back to get you. I'm sad for both families but you are RIGHT tallygirl. The firefighters like when newbies owe them FAVORS. It's how the stalking begins. Lucky boy never has to stalk folks
by SD
01/09/08 10:39 AM
How does a parent knowingly allow their child to drive with a suspended license? Just curious
by TOM
01/09/08 10:12 AM
Death by Kawasaki --- its getting to be a familar story.
by Jake
01/09/08 10:02 AM
How cool are you now?
by James
01/09/08 09:52 AM
I offer my condolences to both families.
by tallygirl
01/09/08 09:30 AM
How in the heck did this kid get accepted to fire academy when his driver's license were suspended and he had been ticketed five times since 2003 for reckless driving or speeding? I don't know of ANY department that would allow that.
by Karen
01/09/08 09:10 AM
I hate those bikes. Period. Everytime I see one on the road, the driver is either going way too fast or popping wheelies. Hales was reckless. A need for speed. It is a sickness.
by Tom
01/09/08 09:01 AM
He WAS wreckless!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Gene
01/09/08 08:58 AM
Life is short -- oftentimes, it seems, very short. Craig not only decided to drive on a suspended license, he blew away the speed limits and in the end, took another's life. One would hope that other youngsters would read this and learn from him.
by loser
01/09/08 08:46 AM
Another "good kid" destroys the lives of an entire family. I'm sick of hearing about how "good" these spoiled brats are. 5 tix, suspended lic, 100 mph--nah that's not reckless, dad. Not at all.
by Patrick
01/09/08 08:43 AM
No offense to the family but this kid's stupid actions killed a man. It's nothing short of murder.
by Sue
01/09/08 08:38 AM
"He was such a good kid", with 5 previous tickets, and a suspended license. If he had not been on the road, like he shouldn't have been, we wouldn't have lost a wonderful person- Jack Taschereau!!! Sue
by Donna
01/09/08 08:10 AM
You know it's sad that you're son died but it is even sadier that he took the life of my brother with him. My brother died and he was the innocent one. You try to make your son out like he was a saint. He was driving with a suspended license, speedin
by Michele
01/09/08 07:56 AM
Give their families a break. Stop making such disrespectful comments. You didn't know him and we don't know exactly what happened. Being so negative isn't going to bring either of them back. Think of their families and how this is affecting them!
by Nikki
01/09/08 07:52 AM
This is just a shame. And for the record, in my opinion, 22 is NOT too young to know that driving 100 mph on a road is dangerous. Clearly, you could kill someone. Unfortunately, he did.
by Kim
01/09/08 07:41 AM
Well put Josie. due to a reckless driver without a liscence my cousin is gone and leaves behind an 11 year old son!
by steph
01/09/08 07:25 AM
"It was the first nice day in a while so Hales drove his green Kawasaki Ninja bike." what the heck does that mean,his license was suspended,he shouldnt have been worrying about what a nice day would be on his bike,he took another mans life,how sad.
by Doug
01/09/08 12:41 AM
"I didn't want it to seem like he was reckless." ... give me a break!
by Josie
01/09/08 12:36 AM
Too bad this reckless, disrespectful kid (for the law) had to end another man's life...
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This is sad. This probably WASN'T a bad kid and it saddens me to say this but he'd have soon been stalking me and it really makes me wonder what those little thugs in the fire station around the corner were up to before they even got hired. Now it's hard looks and interstate and other stalking. Hopping on skateboards and rolling out in front of my car at LATE NIGHT. Driving in one direction at 40 or so miles an hour and glaring at ME. Like I've done anything besides live inside of my home.

This kid took someone else with him too, though. Anyway, the Firemen don't care. They'd have gotten him a 'business only' license and once they had him he would feel like he owed them. AND, that's how the stalking begins.

It starts younger than THIS now over to Jefferson High School and others in Pampa (formerly Tampa) Florida. But, heres's an indication of how the Tampa Fire Dept and others do their hiring. Thus it begins. The person whom they hire will DO ANYTHING to stay in favor because likely they are not employable anyplace else. It's the same way the Hitler Nazis performed. They got people over the barrel one way or another. Maybe your wife is an addict or your son is in trouble or you have a disabled or mentally incapacitated individual. Maybe you just like being a scum.


I almost missed this. But when I read the comments tallygirl had noted that the Fire Dept had hired him. I actually thought this was another threat directed at my family. Not this time. Maybe. The bowling alley owner who encouraged a very young member of my family to acquire a driver's license after I had been run off the road and interstate several times than nearly fell over when he found I was standing behind him. MY luck: a higher power tells me it's holding stronger than chamois. Your luck: Flat broke. Better spin the wheel again. IF you're counting on ME helping you get rich you had better really QUICK LIKE start talking. QUICK. Stop trying to manipulate my family and burn my house down and make it safe for you by disappearing and hanging my animals.

Stop hiring people and turning them into stalkers. Or stop hiring stalkers and turning them into firemen.
I'm about to break loose on all of this so .... IF I were you I would take cogent advice and start negotiating. AND, FIX THE WATER. I'm going to check tonight. If it's not better I'll be doing something interesting soon.

Read on Tampa Residents:

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/09/Northpinellas/Two_families_lost_son.shtml

Two families lost sons in crash
An aspiring actor and a father were killed when one's motorcycle collided with the other's SUV.
By JONATHAN ABEL, Times Staff WriterPublished January 9, 2008
An SUV was making a U-turn Monday in Palm Harbor when a speeding northbound motorcycle hit it. Both vehicles caught fire. The driver of the SUV and the motorcycle driver died.
[Gay Norton]

Jack R. Taschereau, 46, was a fisherman and coin collector. He was driving the sports utility vehicle in the crash.
Craig M. Hales, 22, a graduate of East Lake High School in 2004, was driving the motorcycle.
PALM HARBOR - One was a hard-luck crabber looking for rare coins on his day off.
The other was a young man with a suspended license riding the motorcycle his family hated.
The lives of Jack R. Taschereau, 46, and Craig M. Hales, 22, intersected Monday in Palm Harbor, when Hales' bike rammed Taschereau's sports utility vehicle.
Their vehicles flipped and fell to the ground in a fireball that shut down northbound U.S. 19 for more than three hours.
The Florida Highway Patrol has not released the names of the victims, but the families of both men said Tuesday that troopers have told them to expect the worst. And Hales' family said they were heartsick that two families had lost sons.
- - -
In the hours before the crash, Taschereau was engaging in his favorite pastime: coin collecting.
A massive heart attack last year forced the crabber to take some time off, which led to a rebirth of his fascination with rare coins.
Since then, he'd worked out deals with local bank tellers to hold any interesting pieces they came across. Every week or so, like the good fisherman he was, Taschereau would make a circuit of banks, checking the traps.
The Palm Harbor resident was driving between banks when he made the fateful U-turn.
Jo Ann Ames, Taschereau's mother, heard the bad news Monday night when authorities came to her door. The intensity of the crash left little to identify the driver, but a few scraps of paper in the SUV led them to her.
She told authorities about his medical history. They said it would take a little while to get complete confirmation.
Then the medical examiner mentioned something unusual, Ames said. He said there were a bunch of half dollars in the victim's pocket.
Ames knew it was her son.
He left behind an 11-year-old boy, Joshua, who lives with his mother in New Port Richey. Father and son loved fishing and chess and arguing about NASCAR.
It was a wrenching conclusion to a tortured 45 years.
"It'd be different if he had a good, prosperous life and all, but he struggled his whole life," Ames said. Small problems always lingered and festered until they became big ones.
At 19, Taschereau was thrown from his motorcycle by a driver running a red light. A quarter century later, his leg still hurt so much from the crash that he had to wear flip-flops everywhere.
Three years ago, Taschereau was anchored in the gulf when a shrimping vessel plowed into his boat. He almost sank.
The heart attack last year left him physically diminished. He couldn't pull the traps up by hand anymore so he joined with a friend, Sam Hart, and they worked Hart's boat together, the Crabby Cracker.
"You couldn't find a man who worked harder," Hart said. They talked just before the crash Monday. Taschereau had some errands to run then he was going to help ready the boat.
But Taschereau never showed up.
- - -
Craig Hales came to the crash scene from another direction.
He was 22, athletic and popular. His parents, Raymond and Tracey Hales, said he was just three days from starting firefighter training.
Hales' dream was to become an actor in Hollywood. He took acting classes in Orlando and had been an extra in a handful of movies.
Getting in shape for the fire academy, however, was Hales' immediate goal.
He started Monday with a protein shake. Then he told his father he was going to the gym, just a few miles up U.S. 19 from their Palm Harbor home.
It was the first nice day in a while so Hales drove his green Kawasaki Ninja bike.
Witnesses to the crash said the motorcycle appeared to be traveling faster than 100 mph, authorities said.
Raymond Hales said the family is devastated not only by the loss of their son but by the pain the crash caused for the Taschereau family. He said his son had a problem with speeding but was otherwise a sensible man and a very good person.
"When they're that young they feel invincible, that's the shame of it," Hales said. "We used to hate him having that bike for this reason."
The family moved from England 18 years ago and had been living in Palm Harbor for the past six years. Hales graduated from East Lake High School in 2004. He earned money working as a valet at Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Besides his parents, he lived with his sister Rachael, 19, and a brother Charlie, 14. He had each family member's name tattooed on his body, along with the three lions of the English national soccer team's crest.
State driving records show Hales has been ticketed five times since 2003 for speeding or reckless driving. His driver's license had been suspended since July for failing to appear in court on a Pinellas ticket.
"He was such a good kid," Raymond Hales said of his son. "I didn't want it to seem like he was reckless."
Times researchers Caryn Baird and Carolyn Edds contributed to this report.
[Last modified January 9, 2008, 07:07:14]

Share your thoughts on this story
Read our guidelines for comments
First Name (only) Location
Comment (May be published online and/or in print) You have 250 characters left to comment.


Comments on this article
by Am
01/09/08 04:28 PM
It is so sad to see how fast people can judge someone they didnt even know he was a good kid and made a terrible decision..let me guess you all are perfect and have never made a mistake in your life. May the lord be with everyone in this sad time.
by S
01/09/08 02:27 PM
How dare people write such rude things. If it was your son would you be saying "how cool are you now" or "he was wreckless"?
by Fritz
01/09/08 02:09 PM
Pops, if you hated the motorcycle so much why did you allow your 22 year old son own it while he was living in YOUR house?
by mary
01/09/08 01:39 PM
why did the parents let him leave on his bike if they new he had a suspended license now a kid is with out a father?
by Mark
01/09/08 01:26 PM
Wait, What? Ticketed 5 times since '03 for reckless and speeding. Suspended since July for an FTA on a ticket. But daddy sez, "I didn't want it to seem like he was reckless". What was he then? Looks like wanton disregard for anything including life!
by Cheryl
01/09/08 01:21 PM
GOOD KID... Good kids DO NOT have suspended driving licenses, numerous tix to their driving record, speed in excess of 100 MPH on US Hwy 19, at almost lunch hour. Damn Him! he took an innocent man, husband, father, son, brother,uncle. NOT GOOD!
by where's the compassion??
01/09/08 01:20 PM
You can't judge someone by their driving record. I personally knew Craig, and honestly, he was a good kid. Not only am I sickened by the death of these two men, but also by some of the comments posted.EPHESIANS 4:32, read&please pray for the families
by Jan
01/09/08 01:15 PM
Enough criticism people, these families just lost their sons, have some respect!! This could happen to you!!! It's very sad.....
by Vickie
01/09/08 12:50 PM
Five tickets, suspended DL since July - This should have been an indication of what the future held for Craig. Unfortunately he took another life along with his own. My heart goes out to both families.
by maria
01/09/08 12:32 PM
my prayers are with both families at this time may god comfort you in this time of sadness and lets all pray that these men are in heaven,also lets pray that something is done about speeders ,and the layout of us 19 it is scary no matter what
by DEEZNUTZ
01/09/08 11:51 AM
LIVE FAST DIE FAST. IT'S SAD THAT HE HAD TO TAKE AN INNOCENT PERSON WITH HIM.
by Paul
01/09/08 11:49 AM
The moral is that one reckless person can destroy the innocent. Don't make excuses for these actions. This is becoming all too faniliar with these crotch rockets.
by Gee
01/09/08 11:02 AM
Is it horrible that I don't feel an ounce of sympathy for the young man? I feel for his family, but not for him.
by SD
01/09/08 10:56 AM
What parent knowingly allows their child to drive with a suspended license? Just curious
by laura
01/09/08 10:53 AM
amazing how that bad luck you foisted on mr. taschereau came back to get you. I'm sad for both families but you are RIGHT tallygirl. The firefighters like when newbies owe them FAVORS. It's how the stalking begins. Lucky boy never has to stalk folks
by SD
01/09/08 10:39 AM
How does a parent knowingly allow their child to drive with a suspended license? Just curious
by TOM
01/09/08 10:12 AM
Death by Kawasaki --- its getting to be a familar story.
by Jake
01/09/08 10:02 AM
How cool are you now?
by James
01/09/08 09:52 AM
I offer my condolences to both families.
by tallygirl
01/09/08 09:30 AM
How in the heck did this kid get accepted to fire academy when his driver's license were suspended and he had been ticketed five times since 2003 for reckless driving or speeding? I don't know of ANY department that would allow that.
by Karen
01/09/08 09:10 AM
I hate those bikes. Period. Everytime I see one on the road, the driver is either going way too fast or popping wheelies. Hales was reckless. A need for speed. It is a sickness.
by Tom
01/09/08 09:01 AM
He WAS wreckless!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Gene
01/09/08 08:58 AM
Life is short -- oftentimes, it seems, very short. Craig not only decided to drive on a suspended license, he blew away the speed limits and in the end, took another's life. One would hope that other youngsters would read this and learn from him.
by loser
01/09/08 08:46 AM
Another "good kid" destroys the lives of an entire family. I'm sick of hearing about how "good" these spoiled brats are. 5 tix, suspended lic, 100 mph--nah that's not reckless, dad. Not at all.
by Patrick
01/09/08 08:43 AM
No offense to the family but this kid's stupid actions killed a man. It's nothing short of murder.
by Sue
01/09/08 08:38 AM
"He was such a good kid", with 5 previous tickets, and a suspended license. If he had not been on the road, like he shouldn't have been, we wouldn't have lost a wonderful person- Jack Taschereau!!! Sue
by Donna
01/09/08 08:10 AM
You know it's sad that you're son died but it is even sadier that he took the life of my brother with him. My brother died and he was the innocent one. You try to make your son out like he was a saint. He was driving with a suspended license, speedin
by Michele
01/09/08 07:56 AM
Give their families a break. Stop making such disrespectful comments. You didn't know him and we don't know exactly what happened. Being so negative isn't going to bring either of them back. Think of their families and how this is affecting them!
by Nikki
01/09/08 07:52 AM
This is just a shame. And for the record, in my opinion, 22 is NOT too young to know that driving 100 mph on a road is dangerous. Clearly, you could kill someone. Unfortunately, he did.
by Kim
01/09/08 07:41 AM
Well put Josie. due to a reckless driver without a liscence my cousin is gone and leaves behind an 11 year old son!
by steph
01/09/08 07:25 AM
"It was the first nice day in a while so Hales drove his green Kawasaki Ninja bike." what the heck does that mean,his license was suspended,he shouldnt have been worrying about what a nice day would be on his bike,he took another mans life,how sad.
by Doug
01/09/08 12:41 AM
"I didn't want it to seem like he was reckless." ... give me a break!
by Josie
01/09/08 12:36 AM
Too bad this reckless, disrespectful kid (for the law) had to end another man's life...
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**************************************************
"It gives us a very special, secret pleasure to see how unaware people are of what is really happening to them." - Adolf Hitler - Heated Discussion Firefighter vs Citizen pertaining to Fire Brigade abuse of tax dollars

Gang and Citizen Stalking
An interesting PUBLIC discussion pertaining to Firemen ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS at FloridaToday.com.
Unlike THIS victim I have NO intention of keeping this information to myself. I warned warned and warned. Let the chips fall where they may. I think I've made it PRETTY CLEAR that I intend to reveal if it doesn't stop and instead they thought they'd scare me and DO MORE. That's their choice.

Additional Data on Gang Stalking in America and Elsewhere
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