The Bloodhound Wears A Tie

Read his story: Rob Spicker is out there in the cold and dark at 4 a.m. with the usual problem. He has a name and a blurry snippet of video. The name is for a guy shot the night before, who may or may not be dead. The blurry video shows yellow police tape from a deserted crime scene.

WFTS-TV early-early reporter Rob Spicker starts almost every bleary morn with a blurry video and the name of some woeful dead or injured soul. He isn't the only one in the dark. Morning news is big. Live broadcasts start at 5. Other luckless hounds of the graveyard shift are out there trying to carry the day for their stations, too.

While Rob freezes on a pirate dock, WTVT and WTSP are combing the cold ashes of a towing-company fire in Pinellas Park. WFLA is chasing the crash of a Polk County deputy. And Bay News 9 must be somewhere.

But Rob will get his story.