Banned customer arrested for watching race from homemade tree-stand

Tampa, Florida – A man who was banned from a racetrack for causing problems with customers has been arrested for watching the races from a homemade tree stand on private property next to the track, deputies said today.

Raymond Rogers, 31, of Tampa is charged with felony trespassing and violation of probation.

The sheriff's office said he was arrested Saturday night after he allegedly trespassed on private property and built a hunting tree stand in the woods to watch races at East Bay Raceway.

Deputies said they found the suspect in the tree stand about 15 feet in the air. The property is owned by Mosaic Phosphate.

Rogers told deputies he had been banned from the racetrack for causing problems with customers, and built the tree stand so he could still watch the races.

He's charged with trespassing on agricultural/chemical manufacturing property, a felony,