Officer John Fox Jr., 37, faces one felony count each of attempted sexual penetration and assault under the color of authority.
He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery and one count of indecent exposure in the Sept. 29 incident
The charges stem from a 3:45 a.m. noise complaint that prompted Fox to knock on a door in the 35-000 block of Maria Road.
During his investigation, Fox stripped out of his uniform and jumped naked into the backyard pool with three women, according to Riverside County District Attorney spokesman Michael Jeandron.
The homeowner called 911 to complain about the officer. Fox put his uniform back on and left before a supervisor arrived, Jeandron said.
The women told The Desert Sun later that day they had jokingly invited the officer into the pool but were stunned when he stripped off his uniform and holstered gun.
Fox — who has worked for the department for about nine years — was placed on paid administrative leave later that morning.
He will remain on leave until the criminal case or an on-going internal investigation concludes, police spokesman Lt. Chuck Robinson said.
Robinson did not know Thursday how much money Fox makes, but a police union pay schedule indicates his annual salary ranges from $64,000 to $73,500.
City Manager Don Bradley declined to comment, citing personnel privacy.
It is the second time in department history that a Cathedral City police officer has been charged with sexual misconduct. The previous case, which was filed in the early 2000s, ended in a hung jury, but the officer no longer works with the department, Robinson said.
The complaint filed against Fox is otherwise an anomaly, Robinson said.
“People know they’re not supposed to do that. So when a guy does it, you go, ‘Obviously there’s got to be something going on,’” he said. “About the only thing you can do in those circumstances is you hold that guy up as an example of what not to do.”
Robinson declined to say whether Fox — who will appear in court Monday to enter a plea — has ever had a complaint filed against him, citing personnel privacy.
“I can’t stress enough that we rely on the public trust, that we’re going to do our job, and we will police our own officers and make sure they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” Robinson said.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Enraged woman bites and scratches veterinary clinic worker
A Florida woman is facing charges after allegedly biting a worker at a veterinary clinic.
Officials at the Affordable Animal Care Clinic in Fort Myers said it was quite the bizarre brawl.
They say Kathleen Minneker dropped off her dogs almost an hour late and was mad when they weren't ready in time.
So, deputies say, she started biting.
The owner of the clinic, Gina Brashear, is covered in bites, bruises and scratches.
She got out of the hospital Wednesday morning.
"She bit me, clawed me and was on top of me just biting me," Brashear described. "She's a biter."
Lee County deputies say it all began when Minneker dropped of her two shitzus at the clinic to be groomed.
Brashear says she came in late and that it was already close to closing time.
"It takes an hour and 15 minutes per dog, so she knew we weren't going to be done until 6," she said.
She also explained that dogs' fur was matted, so it took a little longer, and Brashear says Minneker, who showed up early, was not happy they weren't finished.
"We hear this bang, bang, bang on the door and I'm like, 'Oh God,'" she said.
Deputies say Minneker began screaming, 'Where are my dogs?' That's when they say she attacked the groomer.
Brashear said she got in the way to stop the attack.
"I ran down the hall, opened my arms up and got between them," she said.
She says Minneker pushed her to the ground, cracking her tail bone and biting her everywhere.
"A chunk is gone off my finger and a chunk off my toe - a chunk here," she said.
Deputies rushed to the scene and arrested Minneker.
Wednesday, she was out of jail on that battery charge, but she didn't answer the door at her home.
Brashear is on seven different medications to stop the infection from human bites.
Even though she runs a veterinarian clinic, she says she never expected to be bitten this bad - at least not by a customer.
"No, never a human - this is a first," she said.
Officials at the Affordable Animal Care Clinic in Fort Myers said it was quite the bizarre brawl.
They say Kathleen Minneker dropped off her dogs almost an hour late and was mad when they weren't ready in time.
So, deputies say, she started biting.
The owner of the clinic, Gina Brashear, is covered in bites, bruises and scratches.
She got out of the hospital Wednesday morning.
"She bit me, clawed me and was on top of me just biting me," Brashear described. "She's a biter."
Lee County deputies say it all began when Minneker dropped of her two shitzus at the clinic to be groomed.
Brashear says she came in late and that it was already close to closing time.
"It takes an hour and 15 minutes per dog, so she knew we weren't going to be done until 6," she said.
She also explained that dogs' fur was matted, so it took a little longer, and Brashear says Minneker, who showed up early, was not happy they weren't finished.
"We hear this bang, bang, bang on the door and I'm like, 'Oh God,'" she said.
Deputies say Minneker began screaming, 'Where are my dogs?' That's when they say she attacked the groomer.
Brashear said she got in the way to stop the attack.
"I ran down the hall, opened my arms up and got between them," she said.
She says Minneker pushed her to the ground, cracking her tail bone and biting her everywhere.
"A chunk is gone off my finger and a chunk off my toe - a chunk here," she said.
Deputies rushed to the scene and arrested Minneker.
Wednesday, she was out of jail on that battery charge, but she didn't answer the door at her home.
Brashear is on seven different medications to stop the infection from human bites.
Even though she runs a veterinarian clinic, she says she never expected to be bitten this bad - at least not by a customer.
"No, never a human - this is a first," she said.
Sleepwalking Man Likely Shot Self in Knee
Police say a Colorado man who told police he woke up to a "bang" and realized he suffered a gunshot wound to his knee likely shot himself while sleepwalking.
The Daily Camera reports that 63-year-old Sanford Rothman of Boulder told investigators he had no clear recollection of the incident early Tuesday. No one else was in Rothman's home at the time.
Boulder police Sgt. Paul Reichenback says Rothman keeps a 9 mm handgun near his bed and takes prescription medication for pain. Police say no alcohol or illegal drugs played a role in the incident.
The Daily Camera reports that 63-year-old Sanford Rothman of Boulder told investigators he had no clear recollection of the incident early Tuesday. No one else was in Rothman's home at the time.
Boulder police Sgt. Paul Reichenback says Rothman keeps a 9 mm handgun near his bed and takes prescription medication for pain. Police say no alcohol or illegal drugs played a role in the incident.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Farmer charged with assault after hatchet attack
On May 29, a couple arrived at their home northwest of Taber to discover an unfamiliar vehicle parked in the driveway. The 46-year-old homeowner parked behind the vehicle, trapping it, while he fetched a hatchet, RCMP said.
The man searched the house and found no one inside but soon encountered a man in his 20s trying to escape in the blocked car.
Police said the homeowner struck the man twice with the blunt end of a hatchet, smashing his teeth and face.
The injured suspect ran off but police tracked him down to his home.
Police arrested two other men on a road near the house. All three were charged with breaking and entering.
Now, five months later, police have charged the homeowner with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.
"Under the Criminal Code, people can use degrees of force when protecting property or a person, but there are limitations, especially if the courts determine it to be excessive force," said Sgt. Patrick Webb.
Joseph Bradley Singleton, 46, is charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.
Tattoo Lover Inks His Eyeballs
Gone -- who estimates he has covered more than 98 percent of his body with ink -- recently tattooed his own eyeballs.
"I never really knew how far I would ever go, and [tattooing my eyes] is about as far as you can go," he told Fox 12.
The Portland, Ore., resident started getting tattoos about 20 years ago to mask birth defects that left him with some undeveloped muscles. Since then, he's adorned his body with elaborate images and a unique checkerboard design.
But his latest tattoos are certainly his most eye-catching.
"I picked different colors cause I like mutations because I have birth defects," said Gone, who injected blue ink into his left eye and blue and green ink into his right.
Ophthalmologists say they don't like the looks of eye tattoos, arguing they can lead to infection that could cause blindness or even the loss of an eye.
Gone isn't the first person to get an eye tattoo, and he says he carefully "patch tested" before doing the deed.
Though he's proud of his own work, he doesn't want to see others duplicate it.
"I'm glad I [tattooed my eyes] -- I got lucky -- but it's your risk and I'm not going to help you," he said. "I did this for me, this is my project, my body."
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Police: 6 children robbed 9 homes in north Florida
PALATKA, Fla. (AP) -- Six children are accused of being responsible for a string of burglaries in north Florida.
Palatka police say the children range in age from 10 to 15. The children face felony charges for allegedly stealing computers, jewelry, guns and other items in nine burglaries since April.
Detective Danette Evey said Monday that the children didn't think they had done anything wrong because they hadn't hurt anyone.
Police said the children watched the houses they intended to rob. The 10-year-old allegedly knocked on each door to see if anyone was home.
Evey said investigators found two of the children holding bags of jewelry. Evey said the children couldn't explain where they had gotten the jewelry.
Police say they expect to arrest two more children and two adults.
Palatka police say the children range in age from 10 to 15. The children face felony charges for allegedly stealing computers, jewelry, guns and other items in nine burglaries since April.
Detective Danette Evey said Monday that the children didn't think they had done anything wrong because they hadn't hurt anyone.
Police said the children watched the houses they intended to rob. The 10-year-old allegedly knocked on each door to see if anyone was home.
Evey said investigators found two of the children holding bags of jewelry. Evey said the children couldn't explain where they had gotten the jewelry.
Police say they expect to arrest two more children and two adults.
Florida Bomb Squad Defuses a Box of Kittens
NewsCore) - A Florida police bomb squad called out to deal with a suspicious package -- a cardboard box wrapped with duct tape -- scanned it with X-ray equipment before opening it up to reveal two ginger kittens, the Sun Sentinel reported Monday.
The surprise package was discovered by a security guard outside the front entrance of a Social Security office in Sharpes, east of Orlando, on Friday.
The Brevard County's FBI-accredited, 10-man bomb squad has encountered beeping pagers, science projects and toys in the line of duty, but admitted the two cute, live kittens was a new experience.
One kitten made a bolt for it, while its companion was taken to the North Animal Care Center, Florida Today reported.
The surprise package was discovered by a security guard outside the front entrance of a Social Security office in Sharpes, east of Orlando, on Friday.
The Brevard County's FBI-accredited, 10-man bomb squad has encountered beeping pagers, science projects and toys in the line of duty, but admitted the two cute, live kittens was a new experience.
One kitten made a bolt for it, while its companion was taken to the North Animal Care Center, Florida Today reported.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Jury Doesn't Buy "Sleepwalking" Defense
A Pottawattamie County jury convicted Butts on seven charges, including second-degree kidnapping and assault. He'll be sentenced in early December. Butts' attorney argued his client was insane when he broke into the woman's apartment last November.
The woman's sister, who was hiding in the bathroom, called police. County Attorney Matt Wilber called Butts' defense "incredible," and listed 116 actions Butts would have had to do while he was "asleep."
Florida’s SB 1070: All Immigrants Must Carry Papers, Except Canadians and Europeans
Well, folks, it appears we’ve come to the point where it’s not necessary to even feign non-racism any longer. You've seen the ads. Now, witness the draft of an immigration law modeled after Arizona’s SB 1070 “papers, please” law that takes the controversial tied-up-in-court-because-it’s-ridiculous law even further.
Tim Elfrink at Miami New Times (full disclosure: I work for the paper) reports that the law drafted by Florida state representative William Snyder, and supported by GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, includes a clause that "Even if an officer has 'reasonable suspicions' over a person's immigration status … a person will be ‘presumed to be legally in the United States’ if he or she provides ‘a Canadian passport’ or a passport from any 'visa waiver country.'" Elfrink points out that aside from four Asian countries, all other visa waiver countries are located in Western Europe.
What the…? Yep, that’s right. The Florida law in a nutshell: If you’re a white non-Hispanic, you’re presumed to be in the country legally and don’t need to show any proof. If you belong in the “all others” category, better carry your papers.
Of course, there’s an explanation for such blatant racism, as Snyder told a radio host: "What we're doing there is trying to be sensitive to Canadians. We have an enormous amount of ... Canadians wintering here in Florida … That language is comfort language."
Ah, yes tons of Canadians wintering here in Florida … along with MILLIONS of South Americans. In the biggest tourism destination in the state, Miami, people from South America comprise 52% of the visitors alone. That’s not even counting tourists from Central America and the Caribbean. These are people with plenty of disposable income, and plenty of tourism options. If Florida became a state suspicious of Latinos, they would just take their billions of dollars elsewhere. For a state whose economy relies so heavily on tourism, especially from Latin America, you’d think politicians would be a little bit more worried about making everyone feel comfortable. But that’s what makes it obvious this little clause isn’t about tourism at all. It’s about using every thin veil and pretense possible to try to legalize racial profiling
Tim Elfrink at Miami New Times (full disclosure: I work for the paper) reports that the law drafted by Florida state representative William Snyder, and supported by GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, includes a clause that "Even if an officer has 'reasonable suspicions' over a person's immigration status … a person will be ‘presumed to be legally in the United States’ if he or she provides ‘a Canadian passport’ or a passport from any 'visa waiver country.'" Elfrink points out that aside from four Asian countries, all other visa waiver countries are located in Western Europe.
What the…? Yep, that’s right. The Florida law in a nutshell: If you’re a white non-Hispanic, you’re presumed to be in the country legally and don’t need to show any proof. If you belong in the “all others” category, better carry your papers.
Of course, there’s an explanation for such blatant racism, as Snyder told a radio host: "What we're doing there is trying to be sensitive to Canadians. We have an enormous amount of ... Canadians wintering here in Florida … That language is comfort language."
Ah, yes tons of Canadians wintering here in Florida … along with MILLIONS of South Americans. In the biggest tourism destination in the state, Miami, people from South America comprise 52% of the visitors alone. That’s not even counting tourists from Central America and the Caribbean. These are people with plenty of disposable income, and plenty of tourism options. If Florida became a state suspicious of Latinos, they would just take their billions of dollars elsewhere. For a state whose economy relies so heavily on tourism, especially from Latin America, you’d think politicians would be a little bit more worried about making everyone feel comfortable. But that’s what makes it obvious this little clause isn’t about tourism at all. It’s about using every thin veil and pretense possible to try to legalize racial profiling
Man arrested for trying to enter Mullet Festival without paying
Niceville Police were called to the vendor parking area at the festival after a man tried to re-enter the event after leaving it, according to an arrest report from the Niceville Police Department.
When the officer approached the man, he smelled “the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person and mouth,” the report stated.
The officer told the man he was being trespassed from the event for illegal entry, but the man refused to leave.
He was eventually arrested and charged with disorderly intoxication and trespassing after a warning.
Man tells police: I was held hostage and forced to smoke crack
FORT WALTON BEACH -- A 45-year-old disabled man with burn blisters on his mouth and hands was charged with DUI after telling police he'd been held hostage and forced to smoke crack cocaine.
On Oct. 8 the man was detained by a Fort Walton Beach police officer after a hit and run accident. The officer wrote in his report, "(The man) appeared to be intoxicated at the scene when I made contact with him and I observed a burn blister on his mouth and on his hands."
The man was taken to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, where he told officers he'd given his debit card to someone to buy crack cocaine. "(The man) stated he was forced to smoke crack-cocaine and held hostage at his apartment" the officer wrote.
On Oct. 8 the man was detained by a Fort Walton Beach police officer after a hit and run accident. The officer wrote in his report, "(The man) appeared to be intoxicated at the scene when I made contact with him and I observed a burn blister on his mouth and on his hands."
The man was taken to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, where he told officers he'd given his debit card to someone to buy crack cocaine. "(The man) stated he was forced to smoke crack-cocaine and held hostage at his apartment" the officer wrote.
Berliners strip in protest at city's sky-high rents
The movement is sending shock waves through the normally orderly world of Berlin estate agents: when they show off apartments for rent, their presumed tenants strip off and prance around wearing nothing but Mickey Mouse masks to hide their identities.
The protesters, who paint their naked bodies with slogans such as "too expensive" and "rip off", pose as ordinary would-be tenants and queue up to "view" expensive apartments to let.
Once inside they strip off and dance around to blaring music pumped through loudspeakers while being filmed. In most cases they manage to flee before the police arrive. A video of their protest usually appears on YouTube the following day.
"We want every estate agent and every apartment management company to be aware that if they try to rent out flats at rip-off prices, they can expect a visit from us," one of the protesters, who would only identify himself as Denis, declared on one of the videos.
The rent rise protest is conducted by a group called Hedonistic International which recently gained publicity after its members stormed a neo-Nazi pub. Their demonstrations have so far been confined to the Berlin inner-city districts of Kreuzberg and Freidrichshain. Both districts are being gentrified after providing cheap flats for immigrants and students for more than two decades.
"We did not want to go on demos where everyone is either angry or sad, we wanted to do something that says yes to life," another of the naked protesters called Peter told Der Spiegel magazine. "We want to shock in order to get our political message across."
While some estate agents have resorted to calling the police and tried to bring charges against the protesters, Andreas Stücke, of Germany's estate agents' umbrella organisation Haus und Grund Deutschland remains unruffled. "Those who enjoy stripping off on such occasions should get on with it," he said, dismissing the protests as a passing "hip" fad.
The Berlin protesters admit to being inspired by anti-rent activists in Hamburg and Paris where similar demonstrations have been held. But by the standards of both cities, not to mention Munich and London, Berlin's rent levels are minimal. Although the rent for a very well appointed apartment in one of the capital's more fashionable inner-city districts can occasionally reach up to €1,000 a month, the current average for a two bedroom flat in these areas is €640 a month.
"Berlin's tenants are spoiled," argues David Eberhart of the accommodation group which controls 40 per cent of the city's rented homes.
He points out that compared to the comparatively wealthy city of Munich, where tenants spend an average of 17.6 per cent of their income on rent, in Berlin the average is only 12.3 per cent. He maintains that as much of the rent increases are a result of making uninhabitable property habitable, the rises are in everyone's interest.
However, the protests appear to have alarmed Berlin's Social Democrat and reform communist Left Party government headed by Klaus Wowereit, the socialist mayor who coined the term "poor but sexy" for the capital. His administration has just launched an initiative aimed at capping rents in the city's gentrified inner-city boroughs.
The protesters, who paint their naked bodies with slogans such as "too expensive" and "rip off", pose as ordinary would-be tenants and queue up to "view" expensive apartments to let.
Once inside they strip off and dance around to blaring music pumped through loudspeakers while being filmed. In most cases they manage to flee before the police arrive. A video of their protest usually appears on YouTube the following day.
"We want every estate agent and every apartment management company to be aware that if they try to rent out flats at rip-off prices, they can expect a visit from us," one of the protesters, who would only identify himself as Denis, declared on one of the videos.
The rent rise protest is conducted by a group called Hedonistic International which recently gained publicity after its members stormed a neo-Nazi pub. Their demonstrations have so far been confined to the Berlin inner-city districts of Kreuzberg and Freidrichshain. Both districts are being gentrified after providing cheap flats for immigrants and students for more than two decades.
"We did not want to go on demos where everyone is either angry or sad, we wanted to do something that says yes to life," another of the naked protesters called Peter told Der Spiegel magazine. "We want to shock in order to get our political message across."
While some estate agents have resorted to calling the police and tried to bring charges against the protesters, Andreas Stücke, of Germany's estate agents' umbrella organisation Haus und Grund Deutschland remains unruffled. "Those who enjoy stripping off on such occasions should get on with it," he said, dismissing the protests as a passing "hip" fad.
The Berlin protesters admit to being inspired by anti-rent activists in Hamburg and Paris where similar demonstrations have been held. But by the standards of both cities, not to mention Munich and London, Berlin's rent levels are minimal. Although the rent for a very well appointed apartment in one of the capital's more fashionable inner-city districts can occasionally reach up to €1,000 a month, the current average for a two bedroom flat in these areas is €640 a month.
"Berlin's tenants are spoiled," argues David Eberhart of the accommodation group which controls 40 per cent of the city's rented homes.
He points out that compared to the comparatively wealthy city of Munich, where tenants spend an average of 17.6 per cent of their income on rent, in Berlin the average is only 12.3 per cent. He maintains that as much of the rent increases are a result of making uninhabitable property habitable, the rises are in everyone's interest.
However, the protests appear to have alarmed Berlin's Social Democrat and reform communist Left Party government headed by Klaus Wowereit, the socialist mayor who coined the term "poor but sexy" for the capital. His administration has just launched an initiative aimed at capping rents in the city's gentrified inner-city boroughs.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Cops: Man stuffs Cheetos in shirt, Ho Hos in pants
NAPLES, Fla. — A man is under arrest after allegedly stealing a bag of Cheetos and some Ho Hos from a Hess gas station.
Authorities say Alfonso Matyises allegedly refused to return the Cheetos he hid underneath his shirt.
When asked to leave the gas station, the report states he refused, even after being warned he would be placed under arrest.
As the deputies tried to handcuff him, they say Matyises resisted heavily.
Deputies managed to control Matyises and place him under arrest.
The report states deputies later found Ho Ho's hidden in Matyises' pants.
Matyises is charged with trespassing and petit theft.
Authorities say Alfonso Matyises allegedly refused to return the Cheetos he hid underneath his shirt.
When asked to leave the gas station, the report states he refused, even after being warned he would be placed under arrest.
As the deputies tried to handcuff him, they say Matyises resisted heavily.
Deputies managed to control Matyises and place him under arrest.
The report states deputies later found Ho Ho's hidden in Matyises' pants.
Matyises is charged with trespassing and petit theft.
Man with warrants approaches deputy with complaint
OKALOOSA ISLAND — A man who reported being tossed out of a club got tossed in jail after approaching an off-duty Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputy. The deputy was in full uniform at the time of the Sept. 5 incident, according to an arrest report from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
At around 20 minutes after midnight, Justin Dwayne McDonald, 21, told the deputy he had just been thrown out of The Swamp by a man who claimed McDonald had touched his wife’s buttocks.
The deputy spoke to The Swamp security and learned McDonald was questioned about touching a woman’s buttocks. When McDonald became uncooperative with security, he was escorted out of the night club. The Swamp employees said it was their second incident with McDonald.
The deputy ran a check on McDonald and learned that he had two active warrants for his arrest, one from California and another from Arizona.
“Both warrants were drug related,” the report said.
Arizona authorities requested McDonald, currently a student at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Georgia, be taken into custody so that he could be extradited to the state.
McDonald was searched during his arrest. The deputy found a bottle containing 112 Oxycontin (a controlled substance) tablets and a pack of cigarettes with one tablet. A portion of the tablet in the package had been partially shaved off.
McDonald told the deputy the prescription belonged to his father-in-law.
The deputy notified the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona that McDonald now faces charges in Okaloosa County. He was charged with one county of felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
At around 20 minutes after midnight, Justin Dwayne McDonald, 21, told the deputy he had just been thrown out of The Swamp by a man who claimed McDonald had touched his wife’s buttocks.
The deputy spoke to The Swamp security and learned McDonald was questioned about touching a woman’s buttocks. When McDonald became uncooperative with security, he was escorted out of the night club. The Swamp employees said it was their second incident with McDonald.
The deputy ran a check on McDonald and learned that he had two active warrants for his arrest, one from California and another from Arizona.
“Both warrants were drug related,” the report said.
Arizona authorities requested McDonald, currently a student at Chandler Gilbert Community College in Georgia, be taken into custody so that he could be extradited to the state.
McDonald was searched during his arrest. The deputy found a bottle containing 112 Oxycontin (a controlled substance) tablets and a pack of cigarettes with one tablet. A portion of the tablet in the package had been partially shaved off.
McDonald told the deputy the prescription belonged to his father-in-law.
The deputy notified the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona that McDonald now faces charges in Okaloosa County. He was charged with one county of felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
Parent threatens to blow up Deep Creek school
CHARLOTTE COUNTY - A Charlotte County Sheriff's School Resource Officer arrested a Deep Creek man Monday afternoon who threatened to blow up Deep Creek Elementary School.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office received a call at 12:28pm that a disgruntled parent, 28-year-old Jason Beach, went to the school and made a threat to blow up the school when students were off campus. He was at the school to remove his child for a Health Department appointment at the request of the Department of Children and Families regarding the burn mark on his child's arm.
The report said Beach made the threat after he learned a school staff member notified DCF regarding a burn mark on the child's arm. School employees are required to report such injuries to students.
The school principal said she had legitimate concern regarding Beach's threat as she knew him to be a hostile and aggressive parent from previous encounters and he would carry out the threat. Beach was previously trespassed from Peace River Elementary School in Port Charlotte for being aggressive and hostile to staff there.
The SRO and two other deputies went to Beach's home and talked to him about the threat, which he said was done jokingly. Due to the witness statement, there was probable cause to charge Beach with Threat to Discharge a Destructive Device.
He was transported to the Charlotte County Jail with no bond set, pending first appearance Wednesday. DCF and the CCSO continue their investigation into the report of injuries to the child.
The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office received a call at 12:28pm that a disgruntled parent, 28-year-old Jason Beach, went to the school and made a threat to blow up the school when students were off campus. He was at the school to remove his child for a Health Department appointment at the request of the Department of Children and Families regarding the burn mark on his child's arm.
The report said Beach made the threat after he learned a school staff member notified DCF regarding a burn mark on the child's arm. School employees are required to report such injuries to students.
The school principal said she had legitimate concern regarding Beach's threat as she knew him to be a hostile and aggressive parent from previous encounters and he would carry out the threat. Beach was previously trespassed from Peace River Elementary School in Port Charlotte for being aggressive and hostile to staff there.
The SRO and two other deputies went to Beach's home and talked to him about the threat, which he said was done jokingly. Due to the witness statement, there was probable cause to charge Beach with Threat to Discharge a Destructive Device.
He was transported to the Charlotte County Jail with no bond set, pending first appearance Wednesday. DCF and the CCSO continue their investigation into the report of injuries to the child.
Woman returning from OWI court appearance arrested for another OWI, police say
Ridgeway woman returning from a court appearance Monday in Waukesha for allegedly driving drunk was arrested in Madison for another drunken driving offense, this time after crashing into two vehicles, Madison police reported.
Ruth Crow, 54, was tentatively charged with either her sixth or seventh drunken driving offense following her arrest at 2 p.m. Tuesday on South Midvale Boulevard at the westbound Beltline exit, police said.
"She evidently decided to have a few beers before returning home," said Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain.
According to the incident report, Crow made an appearance in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Monday morning, where she was charged with a fifth or sixth operating while intoxicated offense.
(State court records show Crow got a fourth OWI in 2005).
"Her commute back to Iowa County was unsuccessful," DeSpain said.
She reportedly ran the red light at the exit and collided with an SUV and a car on South Midvale Boulevard.
The drivers of the two vehicles — a 46-year-old female from Verona and a 38-year-old man from Madison — said Crow tried to drive away after crashing but the car was too badly damaged.
"One of the drivers told an officer that it looked like she was trying to floor it, but the wheels were spinning," DeSpain said.
Crow blew a 0.13 on the breathalyzer; the legal limit for drivers with no priors or up to three OWIs is 0.08, for multi-offenders with more than three OWIs the limit is 0.02.
Ruth Crow, 54, was tentatively charged with either her sixth or seventh drunken driving offense following her arrest at 2 p.m. Tuesday on South Midvale Boulevard at the westbound Beltline exit, police said.
"She evidently decided to have a few beers before returning home," said Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain.
According to the incident report, Crow made an appearance in Waukesha County Circuit Court on Monday morning, where she was charged with a fifth or sixth operating while intoxicated offense.
(State court records show Crow got a fourth OWI in 2005).
"Her commute back to Iowa County was unsuccessful," DeSpain said.
She reportedly ran the red light at the exit and collided with an SUV and a car on South Midvale Boulevard.
The drivers of the two vehicles — a 46-year-old female from Verona and a 38-year-old man from Madison — said Crow tried to drive away after crashing but the car was too badly damaged.
"One of the drivers told an officer that it looked like she was trying to floor it, but the wheels were spinning," DeSpain said.
Crow blew a 0.13 on the breathalyzer; the legal limit for drivers with no priors or up to three OWIs is 0.08, for multi-offenders with more than three OWIs the limit is 0.02.
Drunk woman falls from moving motor home, seriously injured
DEFUNIAK SPRINGS – A 55-year-old woman suffered serious injuries after she fell out of a motor home that was traveling on Interstate 10.
About 4 p.m. Tuesday, three people from Midland City, Ala., were heading westbound on I-10 a few miles from the U.S. Highway 331 exit in a 1975 Dodge motor home when Sharon R. Glover walked to the rear of the motor home to use the restroom, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Glover somehow fell out of the vehicle and slid 100 feet on the paved emergency lane before hitting the grass shoulder.
“It is unknown if the passenger opened the wrong door or leaned on the door,” an FHP news release said.
The driver, 50-year-old Bonnie J. Rickett, noticed that Glover had fallen out of the motor home and pulled off the road about a quarter mile west of where she hit the ground, the release said. Glover was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries.
Rickett was not under the influence of alcohol, but Glover had been drinking, the release said. Another passenger, 53-year-old Stanley J. Rickett, was also in the motor home
About 4 p.m. Tuesday, three people from Midland City, Ala., were heading westbound on I-10 a few miles from the U.S. Highway 331 exit in a 1975 Dodge motor home when Sharon R. Glover walked to the rear of the motor home to use the restroom, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Glover somehow fell out of the vehicle and slid 100 feet on the paved emergency lane before hitting the grass shoulder.
“It is unknown if the passenger opened the wrong door or leaned on the door,” an FHP news release said.
The driver, 50-year-old Bonnie J. Rickett, noticed that Glover had fallen out of the motor home and pulled off the road about a quarter mile west of where she hit the ground, the release said. Glover was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries.
Rickett was not under the influence of alcohol, but Glover had been drinking, the release said. Another passenger, 53-year-old Stanley J. Rickett, was also in the motor home
High Court rules for sex-change super appeal
Alan Michael Finch underwent male-to-female sex change surgery in 1988 aged 21 and lived for the next eight years as Helen Finch.
But by 1996 she wanted to be Alan again, undergoing surgery to reverse the gender change as far as possible.
But by 1996 she wanted to be Alan again, undergoing surgery to reverse the gender change as far as possible.
'Secret' Salem tunnels could see light of day
SALEM, Ore. (AP) – After decades lying dormant beneath the streets of downtown Salem, rooms frozen in time one day could be visible to the public.
For the past four months, Rebecca Maitland, the creative director at Reed Opera House, and retired Linfield College historian John Ritter have been working to unearth hidden worlds in the core of Salem.
"There's a lot of history in Salem," Ritter said, "but you have to dig for it, literally."
Much of that history exists under some downtown Salem buildings constructed about a century ago.
Buildings in the city's business district, including Marion County Courthouse, were linked by tunnels that stretched to the Oregon State Penitentiary on State Street, Ritter said.
"People could go from one building to the next without being seen," he said. "Men could enter speakeasies, where illegal liquor was sold, card games were common and opium was smoked."
Ritter's most prized quarry is Salem's former Chinatown, which he believes to be below Liberty Street NE.
Historical records show Chinese immigrants came to Oregon around the time the Transcontinental Railroad was being constructed in the 1860s. The immigrants settled in Salem around the 1870s and early 1880s, with the population peaking at 300.
"Salem had a very active Chinatown; dozens of stores sold everything from tea to clean shirts," Ritter said.
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act resulted in a surge of anti-Chinese sentiment in Salem, and most of the city's Chinese population headed south to San Francisco, Ritter said. Others stayed in Salem, going underground, where they set up gambling, bootlegging and opium dens, he said.
So far, Ritter and Maitland have not been able to uncover the elusive Chinatown.
The pair said they are stymied by walls built to limit access to the city's tunnel system.
It doesn't appear there is anything that would prohibit them from digging, save, perhaps, a building's owner.
Sean O'Day, the city's deputy city manager, said the city would not have a role in the pair's unearthing efforts, unless it were to affect a right of way, such as a city street.
"Our role would be supporting John (Ritter)," O'Day said. "We think what's he's doing is exciting and intriguing, and if there's a role for the city to play, we'll be more than happy to engage in it and support John. We wish John good luck as he continues his work."
Ritter is hoping his research will culminate in underground tours in the near future.
Kathy Goss, president of the Go Downtown Salem! Board, welcomed the idea.
"It would add to the interest in downtown Salem," she said. "Anything that helps businesses would be good."
In the meantime, Ritter and Maitland continue to trek into underground spaces with flashlights in hand, peering through whatever slight crack a door or wall may have, in the hope of finding more pieces of Salem's underground history.
They've made their way through spider webs and secret catacombs, finding an antique bank vault, an intact gold drop, a 1920s stairwell that goes to nowhere, a 1930s grocery drop with painted grocery aisles and lockers, a 1980s disco, a 1920s mural in what was once an underground cafe and a number of odd architectural finds.
"What I found most interesting were the rusting elevators, the empty shafts where people lived, (and) dusty, rusted chains hanging as silent witnesses to a bustling business long gone," Ritter said.
Even so, he's determined to find the underground Chinatown, even if he has to dig it out inch by
For the past four months, Rebecca Maitland, the creative director at Reed Opera House, and retired Linfield College historian John Ritter have been working to unearth hidden worlds in the core of Salem.
"There's a lot of history in Salem," Ritter said, "but you have to dig for it, literally."
Much of that history exists under some downtown Salem buildings constructed about a century ago.
Buildings in the city's business district, including Marion County Courthouse, were linked by tunnels that stretched to the Oregon State Penitentiary on State Street, Ritter said.
"People could go from one building to the next without being seen," he said. "Men could enter speakeasies, where illegal liquor was sold, card games were common and opium was smoked."
Ritter's most prized quarry is Salem's former Chinatown, which he believes to be below Liberty Street NE.
Historical records show Chinese immigrants came to Oregon around the time the Transcontinental Railroad was being constructed in the 1860s. The immigrants settled in Salem around the 1870s and early 1880s, with the population peaking at 300.
"Salem had a very active Chinatown; dozens of stores sold everything from tea to clean shirts," Ritter said.
The 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act resulted in a surge of anti-Chinese sentiment in Salem, and most of the city's Chinese population headed south to San Francisco, Ritter said. Others stayed in Salem, going underground, where they set up gambling, bootlegging and opium dens, he said.
So far, Ritter and Maitland have not been able to uncover the elusive Chinatown.
The pair said they are stymied by walls built to limit access to the city's tunnel system.
It doesn't appear there is anything that would prohibit them from digging, save, perhaps, a building's owner.
Sean O'Day, the city's deputy city manager, said the city would not have a role in the pair's unearthing efforts, unless it were to affect a right of way, such as a city street.
"Our role would be supporting John (Ritter)," O'Day said. "We think what's he's doing is exciting and intriguing, and if there's a role for the city to play, we'll be more than happy to engage in it and support John. We wish John good luck as he continues his work."
Ritter is hoping his research will culminate in underground tours in the near future.
Kathy Goss, president of the Go Downtown Salem! Board, welcomed the idea.
"It would add to the interest in downtown Salem," she said. "Anything that helps businesses would be good."
In the meantime, Ritter and Maitland continue to trek into underground spaces with flashlights in hand, peering through whatever slight crack a door or wall may have, in the hope of finding more pieces of Salem's underground history.
They've made their way through spider webs and secret catacombs, finding an antique bank vault, an intact gold drop, a 1920s stairwell that goes to nowhere, a 1930s grocery drop with painted grocery aisles and lockers, a 1980s disco, a 1920s mural in what was once an underground cafe and a number of odd architectural finds.
"What I found most interesting were the rusting elevators, the empty shafts where people lived, (and) dusty, rusted chains hanging as silent witnesses to a bustling business long gone," Ritter said.
Even so, he's determined to find the underground Chinatown, even if he has to dig it out inch by
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Trash bag clad robber tries to hold up jewelry store while getaway wheelchair waits outside
Two people are in police custody following an unbelievable attempted jewelry store heist in El Paso, Texas.
Security camera footage shows 44-year-old Noemi Duchene and 45-year-old Luis Del Castillo arrive outside of Estate & New Jewelry late Tuesday morning with Del Castillo pushing Duchene in her wheelchair.
Duchene then gets out of her chair, covers her head and upper body with a large black trash bag and enters the jewelry store while Del Castillo waits with the chair.
Once inside Duchene pulls a kitchen knife and demands "everything".
Store owner Linda Bradely decided not to comply and drew a stun gun in response.
"We're chasing each other around like keystone cops," Bradely recalls. "I knew I could outrun her because she was obviously not very quick."
A store customer eventually tackled Duchene and held her until police arrived.
Del Castillo was still waiting outside with the wheelchair and was also arrested.
Investigators say the pair live in an apartment across the street from the jewelry store.
Security camera footage shows 44-year-old Noemi Duchene and 45-year-old Luis Del Castillo arrive outside of Estate & New Jewelry late Tuesday morning with Del Castillo pushing Duchene in her wheelchair.
Duchene then gets out of her chair, covers her head and upper body with a large black trash bag and enters the jewelry store while Del Castillo waits with the chair.
Once inside Duchene pulls a kitchen knife and demands "everything".
Store owner Linda Bradely decided not to comply and drew a stun gun in response.
"We're chasing each other around like keystone cops," Bradely recalls. "I knew I could outrun her because she was obviously not very quick."
A store customer eventually tackled Duchene and held her until police arrived.
Del Castillo was still waiting outside with the wheelchair and was also arrested.
Investigators say the pair live in an apartment across the street from the jewelry store.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Police charge man with towing car he couldn't steal
An Irvington man was arrested Wednesday after Hillside police caught him allegedly stealing a car by having it towed to his house.
According to a release from Hillside police Lt. Vincent Ricciardi, Oneil N. Swaby, 21, first tried to steal a blue 1998 Acura Integra Wednesday morning from the parking lot of a Long Avenue convenience store. When the attempt failed, Swaby, posing as the vehicle’s owner, called a tow truck to have the car transported to his Irvington residence.
It is not believed that the tow truck driver was in on the scam, said Hillside police Lt. Richard Floyd.
Hillside and Irvington police tracked the car to Krotik Place in Irvington, where Swaby was arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle. He is currently being held in the Union County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
According to a release from Hillside police Lt. Vincent Ricciardi, Oneil N. Swaby, 21, first tried to steal a blue 1998 Acura Integra Wednesday morning from the parking lot of a Long Avenue convenience store. When the attempt failed, Swaby, posing as the vehicle’s owner, called a tow truck to have the car transported to his Irvington residence.
It is not believed that the tow truck driver was in on the scam, said Hillside police Lt. Richard Floyd.
Hillside and Irvington police tracked the car to Krotik Place in Irvington, where Swaby was arrested and charged with theft of a motor vehicle. He is currently being held in the Union County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
ALF claims raid on Molalla deer farm
MOLALLA, Ore. -- A posting on a website that conveys information for the Animal Liberation Front says animal activists removed a large section of fencing at a deer farm at Molalla.
The message says the raid last Saturday was intended to allow deer to escape into the surrounding forest.
Owner Richard Bentley told KGW-TV he's raising 80 European Fallow deer for meat, but there were no animals on the land where the fence was cut. He wonders why animal activists would want to release tame deer during deer hunting season.
The Portland FBI office says it's looking into the incident
The message says the raid last Saturday was intended to allow deer to escape into the surrounding forest.
Owner Richard Bentley told KGW-TV he's raising 80 European Fallow deer for meat, but there were no animals on the land where the fence was cut. He wonders why animal activists would want to release tame deer during deer hunting season.
The Portland FBI office says it's looking into the incident
T tagger gets 6-month jail stretch
An Iraq war vet who moonlighted as an interstate serial graffiti vandal was sentenced to six months in jail yesterday for painting nine T trains with massive murals on a three-day tagging spree in May.
T police said Chicago-native Jose Alvarez, 25, is a member of the international graffiti crew MUL — or Made U Look. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of vandalizing MBTA property for spray-painting his tag “WOES” on four Red Line trains at the Codman storage yard in Dorchester and five Orange Line trains at Forest Hills on May 5-7. The guerrilla art project cost the T an estimated $18,000.
“A six-month sentence is more than reasonable considering the amount of damage he caused,” Judge Kenneth Fiandaca said in granting prosecutor Gretchen Sherwood’s request for serious jail time for Alvarez’s “significant graffiti vandalism.” He was given credit for three months served awaiting trial and has three months to serve
Alvarez, a sophomore at Harold Washington College in Chicago, served six months at Rikers Island for graffiti in New York City and is suspected of tagging BART trains in San Francisco, court papers said. He saw combat with the Army in Iraq, said his attorney, Kim Foster.
“Judge, you will not see him back in Massachusetts,” Foster said. “Hopefully, he will find a better outlet for his art.”
Transit Police Lt. Nancy O’Loughlin said Alvarez’s license plate, “WOESDC5,” helped link him to the crime.
T police said Chicago-native Jose Alvarez, 25, is a member of the international graffiti crew MUL — or Made U Look. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of vandalizing MBTA property for spray-painting his tag “WOES” on four Red Line trains at the Codman storage yard in Dorchester and five Orange Line trains at Forest Hills on May 5-7. The guerrilla art project cost the T an estimated $18,000.
“A six-month sentence is more than reasonable considering the amount of damage he caused,” Judge Kenneth Fiandaca said in granting prosecutor Gretchen Sherwood’s request for serious jail time for Alvarez’s “significant graffiti vandalism.” He was given credit for three months served awaiting trial and has three months to serve
Alvarez, a sophomore at Harold Washington College in Chicago, served six months at Rikers Island for graffiti in New York City and is suspected of tagging BART trains in San Francisco, court papers said. He saw combat with the Army in Iraq, said his attorney, Kim Foster.
“Judge, you will not see him back in Massachusetts,” Foster said. “Hopefully, he will find a better outlet for his art.”
Transit Police Lt. Nancy O’Loughlin said Alvarez’s license plate, “WOESDC5,” helped link him to the crime.
Finnish anchorman is sacked for swigging beer live on air
A Finnish anchorman has been sacked after being caught live on air drinking a bottle of beer.
Kimmo Wilska got into trouble when he pulled out the brew during recorded footage about licensing laws.
However, when the report cut back to the studio, the country's most well known English-speaking newsreader was seen taking a swig.
A YouTube video shows Wilska looking startled and spilling some of the alcohol down his suit before he wrapped up the show.
More than 430,000 web users have viewed the video making it the latest internet hit Furious television bosses have now fired Wilska, despite him telling them the whole incident had been a prank intended to make the behind-the-scenes crew laugh.
However, they refused to accept his excuses and fired Wilska - who is described by fans as the Barry White of Finland for his distinctive and deep tone of voice.
Fans have now set up a Facebook page showing their support for Wilska which has already attracted more than 49,000 supporters from around the world.
Many have demanded that YLE TV give him back his job.
Fan, Vilhjalmur Olafsson said on the page: 'Come on, you guys. It was a joke.'
While sympathetic Dominic Murphy
Kimmo Wilska got into trouble when he pulled out the brew during recorded footage about licensing laws.
However, when the report cut back to the studio, the country's most well known English-speaking newsreader was seen taking a swig.
A YouTube video shows Wilska looking startled and spilling some of the alcohol down his suit before he wrapped up the show.
More than 430,000 web users have viewed the video making it the latest internet hit Furious television bosses have now fired Wilska, despite him telling them the whole incident had been a prank intended to make the behind-the-scenes crew laugh.
However, they refused to accept his excuses and fired Wilska - who is described by fans as the Barry White of Finland for his distinctive and deep tone of voice.
Fans have now set up a Facebook page showing their support for Wilska which has already attracted more than 49,000 supporters from around the world.
Many have demanded that YLE TV give him back his job.
Fan, Vilhjalmur Olafsson said on the page: 'Come on, you guys. It was a joke.'
While sympathetic Dominic Murphy
Maple Ridge man in trouble for evading bridge toll
He really didn't want to pay the toll!
Langley RCMP Corporal Holly Marks says a 50 year old Maple Ridge man who frequented the Golden Ears Bridge is now in big trouble. She tells us the man was caught with an altered license plate, which fooled the system for a while.
"[He] altered the face of the license plate with cut-outs from other license plates... This is our first experience, to this point, with the toll bridge where something like this has happened.
She explains, "[It was a] quite a well-executed alteration. You wouldn't necessarily recognize what had been done unless you were really, really looking closely."
Marks says they started investigating the situation after a man who had never used the bridge before complained he kept getting a bill in the mail.
The toll evader was fined over $400 for failing to display a front plate, altering his license plate, and speeding.
Langley RCMP Corporal Holly Marks says a 50 year old Maple Ridge man who frequented the Golden Ears Bridge is now in big trouble. She tells us the man was caught with an altered license plate, which fooled the system for a while.
"[He] altered the face of the license plate with cut-outs from other license plates... This is our first experience, to this point, with the toll bridge where something like this has happened.
She explains, "[It was a] quite a well-executed alteration. You wouldn't necessarily recognize what had been done unless you were really, really looking closely."
Marks says they started investigating the situation after a man who had never used the bridge before complained he kept getting a bill in the mail.
The toll evader was fined over $400 for failing to display a front plate, altering his license plate, and speeding.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Woman 'threw poop' at motorist
Boston officer Lt. Rick Santangelo said yesterday that the woman, whose name has not been released, admitted tossing doggie dung at the driver because she believed he was speeding.
He said the woman initially contacted police last week and reported that she was walking her dog when she saw the motorist nearly hit a man on a bicycle.
Santangelo said the motorist contacted police the next day to report being struck in the face with dog feces.
The woman was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism to property and disorderly conduct.
He said the woman initially contacted police last week and reported that she was walking her dog when she saw the motorist nearly hit a man on a bicycle.
Santangelo said the motorist contacted police the next day to report being struck in the face with dog feces.
The woman was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, vandalism to property and disorderly conduct.
Kung fu sisters stage combat tournament to find men to date
Marital arts experts Xiao Lin, 22, and little sister Yin, 21, are to stage a three day fighting festival in Foushan, south east China, where only the toughest suitors stand a chance of getting through.
First contestants must show off their archery skills, then they must carry a heavy weight over sharpened bamboo spears, and finally they have to defeat one of the sisters in full contact combat.
Only then will contestants earn the right to remove the girls' masks and propose to them.
'They can chose open hand or any weapon they wish but we won't be holding back. If they can't beat us they aren't worthy," explained Lin.
'We tried dating agencies but the men we met were all to weak. We could beat them easily,' said Yin.
'So we went back to ancient ways called Bi Wu Zhao Qin - which was the way warrior princesses would find their men.'
But so far, only a trickle of brave contestants has come forward.
'I'm a very good martial artist - but I think I'd want to see them with the masks off before I decided whether I wanted to fight for them,' said one doubtful suitor.
First contestants must show off their archery skills, then they must carry a heavy weight over sharpened bamboo spears, and finally they have to defeat one of the sisters in full contact combat.
Only then will contestants earn the right to remove the girls' masks and propose to them.
'They can chose open hand or any weapon they wish but we won't be holding back. If they can't beat us they aren't worthy," explained Lin.
'We tried dating agencies but the men we met were all to weak. We could beat them easily,' said Yin.
'So we went back to ancient ways called Bi Wu Zhao Qin - which was the way warrior princesses would find their men.'
But so far, only a trickle of brave contestants has come forward.
'I'm a very good martial artist - but I think I'd want to see them with the masks off before I decided whether I wanted to fight for them,' said one doubtful suitor.
Some moms-to-be like to stay active right up until delivery
Police in Alliance, Ohio, say a woman in labor robbed a Walmart with an accomplice, NewsNet5.com reported.
Katurah Petty and Staniel Petty were arrested Thursday and charged with theft and forgery.
Police say the women stole $271 worth of computer software. The two women used computer-generated serial number adhesive labels to steal the merchandise, Fox19.com reported.
Katurah Petty was in labor during the theft, and police transported her to the hospital after the arrest, according to Fox19.com.
No information was available on the condition of mother or child.
Katurah Petty and Staniel Petty were arrested Thursday and charged with theft and forgery.
Police say the women stole $271 worth of computer software. The two women used computer-generated serial number adhesive labels to steal the merchandise, Fox19.com reported.
Katurah Petty was in labor during the theft, and police transported her to the hospital after the arrest, according to Fox19.com.
No information was available on the condition of mother or child.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Man takes off in ambulance with ill relative: officials
A man who "thought he could get to the hospital quicker'' jumped behind the wheel of an ambulance and took off Saturday while his ailing family member and two paramedics were inside, authorities said.
Jimmy McCoy, 27, of the 4800 block of West Superior, "probably thought he was helping'' when he took the wheel as a relative was being treated for a diabetic episode, Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.
McCoy was arrested and charged with felony unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Ambulance No. 23 was stopped in the 4300 block of West Wilcox at 11:30 a.m. while paramedics were treating the relative in the back, Langford said.
The male and female paramedics immediately radioed in, saying: "This is ambulance 23. Our ambulance has been stolen, and we are in the back with a patient,'' according to Langford.
The paramedics were "somewhat agitated'' but handled the situation professionally, he said.
McCoy allegedly began driving northbound on Kostner.
Fire Truck No. 26, which had gone on the medical run with ambulance No. 23, stopped the ambulance about three blocks away, Langford said.
Truck No. 26 "made a U-turn and made it to the intersection of Madison and Kostner, where it blocked the ambulance,'' Langford said.
Police surrounded the ambulance and arrested McCoy.
Police said McCoy, who has been arrested 32 times before, allegedly told officers he "thought he could get to the hospital quicker'' than the paramedics.
The patient was taken by another ambulance to the hospital, fire officials said.
Jimmy McCoy, 27, of the 4800 block of West Superior, "probably thought he was helping'' when he took the wheel as a relative was being treated for a diabetic episode, Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.
McCoy was arrested and charged with felony unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
Ambulance No. 23 was stopped in the 4300 block of West Wilcox at 11:30 a.m. while paramedics were treating the relative in the back, Langford said.
The male and female paramedics immediately radioed in, saying: "This is ambulance 23. Our ambulance has been stolen, and we are in the back with a patient,'' according to Langford.
The paramedics were "somewhat agitated'' but handled the situation professionally, he said.
McCoy allegedly began driving northbound on Kostner.
Fire Truck No. 26, which had gone on the medical run with ambulance No. 23, stopped the ambulance about three blocks away, Langford said.
Truck No. 26 "made a U-turn and made it to the intersection of Madison and Kostner, where it blocked the ambulance,'' Langford said.
Police surrounded the ambulance and arrested McCoy.
Police said McCoy, who has been arrested 32 times before, allegedly told officers he "thought he could get to the hospital quicker'' than the paramedics.
The patient was taken by another ambulance to the hospital, fire officials said.
Police fail to spot man had been murdered until undertakers find knife in back
Antoine Denis, 66, was found slumped on his back in the bedroom of his flat in Chatham, Kent, in January this year.
Detectives at the scene pronounced father-of-four Antoine dead but found nothing that suggested a crime had been committed.
It was only when undertakers arrived to remove the body that they found blood and a 12CM (4.7in) KNIFE stuck up to its hilt in Antoine’s back.
One of the officers received a verbal warning following an internal police investigation into the handling of the as yet unsolved murder.
Mid Kent and Medway coroner Roger Sykes criticised the police handling of the case and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at an inquest into Antoine’s death held in Maidstone, Kent, on Thursday.
He said: ”My understanding is that in the process of the undertaker’s preparation it was discovered there was some blood and indeed a knife and at that stage investigating officers attended.”
Det Con Linda Robb said: ”That is true. I think because of the flat being in darkness and him lying on his back there was no outward sign of anything untoward.”
Coroner Sykes concluded the inquest by appealing for anyone with information on Antoine’s murder to contact Kent Police.
He said: ”It is always unsatisfactory when I conclude an inquest when the full circumstances have not been revealed.”
Officers had arrived at the scene and discovered retired painter and decorator Antoine lying on his bedroom floor where a police nurse pronounced him dead.
But when undertakers arrived to remove the Antoine’s corpse they rolled him over and found dried blood and a knife in his back.
Detectives recovered the knife and police spent almost three days at the flats carrying out forensic investigations.
In April an internal investigation was opened into the handling of the crime scene and an officer was spoken to about procedural matters.
Coroner Sykes told the inquest Antoine died from a single stab wound, which penetrated his lung due to ”the unlawful act of a person whose identity has not yet been established”.
He said Antoine died on or around December 27 last year because a newspaper, which he bought every day, was found for that date.
Kim Albone, of Chatham, was arrested and charged with Antoine’s murder on January 21 but was later released after a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Det Chief Insp Dave Chewter has appealed for anyone with information on the murder to come forward
Detectives at the scene pronounced father-of-four Antoine dead but found nothing that suggested a crime had been committed.
It was only when undertakers arrived to remove the body that they found blood and a 12CM (4.7in) KNIFE stuck up to its hilt in Antoine’s back.
One of the officers received a verbal warning following an internal police investigation into the handling of the as yet unsolved murder.
Mid Kent and Medway coroner Roger Sykes criticised the police handling of the case and recorded a verdict of unlawful killing at an inquest into Antoine’s death held in Maidstone, Kent, on Thursday.
He said: ”My understanding is that in the process of the undertaker’s preparation it was discovered there was some blood and indeed a knife and at that stage investigating officers attended.”
Det Con Linda Robb said: ”That is true. I think because of the flat being in darkness and him lying on his back there was no outward sign of anything untoward.”
Coroner Sykes concluded the inquest by appealing for anyone with information on Antoine’s murder to contact Kent Police.
He said: ”It is always unsatisfactory when I conclude an inquest when the full circumstances have not been revealed.”
Officers had arrived at the scene and discovered retired painter and decorator Antoine lying on his bedroom floor where a police nurse pronounced him dead.
But when undertakers arrived to remove the Antoine’s corpse they rolled him over and found dried blood and a knife in his back.
Detectives recovered the knife and police spent almost three days at the flats carrying out forensic investigations.
In April an internal investigation was opened into the handling of the crime scene and an officer was spoken to about procedural matters.
Coroner Sykes told the inquest Antoine died from a single stab wound, which penetrated his lung due to ”the unlawful act of a person whose identity has not yet been established”.
He said Antoine died on or around December 27 last year because a newspaper, which he bought every day, was found for that date.
Kim Albone, of Chatham, was arrested and charged with Antoine’s murder on January 21 but was later released after a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Det Chief Insp Dave Chewter has appealed for anyone with information on the murder to come forward
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Man bites dog, police say
It's often said if a dog bites a man it's not news, but if a man bites a dog, you've got a story. Well, here is that story.
West Haven, Conn., Officer Scott Bloom was on patrol with his K-9, Onyx, near the Rite Aid on Elm Street early Thursday morning, when he noticed Roderick Lewis walking toward him. Lewis yelled out, "I need a bag of dust," referring to angel dust, or PCP, according to police
Lewis, 23, walked toward the officer and reached into his waistband, police said, and the officer grabbed Lewis's arms and told him to stop. That's when Lewis punched officer Bloom in the face, according to police.
Onyx, the police dog, jumped from Bloom's cruiser and attacked the suspect, latching onto his leg, according to police. But then Lewis did his own chomping, biting into the dog's side, police said. Lewis didn't let go until the officer was able to pull him off the dog, police said.
Lewis was charged with assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and cruelty to animals.
Officer Bloom and Onyx were treated for their injuries.
West Haven, Conn., Officer Scott Bloom was on patrol with his K-9, Onyx, near the Rite Aid on Elm Street early Thursday morning, when he noticed Roderick Lewis walking toward him. Lewis yelled out, "I need a bag of dust," referring to angel dust, or PCP, according to police
Lewis, 23, walked toward the officer and reached into his waistband, police said, and the officer grabbed Lewis's arms and told him to stop. That's when Lewis punched officer Bloom in the face, according to police.
Onyx, the police dog, jumped from Bloom's cruiser and attacked the suspect, latching onto his leg, according to police. But then Lewis did his own chomping, biting into the dog's side, police said. Lewis didn't let go until the officer was able to pull him off the dog, police said.
Lewis was charged with assault on a police officer, disorderly conduct and cruelty to animals.
Officer Bloom and Onyx were treated for their injuries.
$8 fake skeleton turns out to be $3,000 real thing
TAMPA - A Hillsborough County man thought he was buying a Halloween decoration when he spent $8 for a box of bones at a yard sale in Brandon. But when he and his wife got the box home, they realized it was an actual human skeleton.
"I got looking at it and thought, gosh, this is the real thing," recalled Judith Fletcher, wife of Mitchell Fletcher, the retiree who bought the box of bones.
The couple called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office. Detectives took the mystery bones to the medical examiner's office. Experts there determined it's a professionally prepared human anatomical skeleton, the kind used in college and university medical courses, like the example pictured here.
They estimate it's worth more than $3,000.
"We did find a serial number on the femur," says sheriff's spokesperson Cristal Bermudez Nunez.
She says detectives are contacting colleges and universities who may be missing a skeleton.
The Fletchers can't remember the exact address where they attended the yard sale. They told deputies it was somewhere on Parsons Avenue in Brandon.
State law says individuals can't own human skeletons, so the Fletchers won't get their blockbuster find returned.
"If I see any more, I'll report them to the sheriff's office," said Mitchell. "But I don't want them."
The Fletchers say they will continue to search for deals at yard sales.
"But, I don't know about anything that would be that spectacular," added Judith. "It's hard to top a human skeleton
"I got looking at it and thought, gosh, this is the real thing," recalled Judith Fletcher, wife of Mitchell Fletcher, the retiree who bought the box of bones.
The couple called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office. Detectives took the mystery bones to the medical examiner's office. Experts there determined it's a professionally prepared human anatomical skeleton, the kind used in college and university medical courses, like the example pictured here.
They estimate it's worth more than $3,000.
"We did find a serial number on the femur," says sheriff's spokesperson Cristal Bermudez Nunez.
She says detectives are contacting colleges and universities who may be missing a skeleton.
The Fletchers can't remember the exact address where they attended the yard sale. They told deputies it was somewhere on Parsons Avenue in Brandon.
State law says individuals can't own human skeletons, so the Fletchers won't get their blockbuster find returned.
"If I see any more, I'll report them to the sheriff's office," said Mitchell. "But I don't want them."
The Fletchers say they will continue to search for deals at yard sales.
"But, I don't know about anything that would be that spectacular," added Judith. "It's hard to top a human skeleton
Octuplets mom offered $20,000 to be tickled
Will 30 minutes of "tickle torture" and a good hair washing save Nadya Suleman from impending foreclosure on her La Habra home?
A fetish website has offered the mother of octuplets $20,000 if she agrees to be videotaped washing her hair and getting tickled, and a spokesman says Suleman is considering it
A call to Suleman's attorney Jeff Czech went unanswered. But a website spokeswoman said they sent Suleman a letter with the offer after hearing about her financial woes when it became public that she was considering welfare and are now in communication with "her representative."
"The objective is 30 minutes of having her hair washed and 30 minutes of tickling," a website spokeswoman told the Register. "It's called tickle torture because you're generally bound."
Nudity is not involved. The website is the same one that recently offered Lindsay Lohan $50,000 to pop a bunch of balloons, TMZ reports.
A fetish website has offered the mother of octuplets $20,000 if she agrees to be videotaped washing her hair and getting tickled, and a spokesman says Suleman is considering it
A call to Suleman's attorney Jeff Czech went unanswered. But a website spokeswoman said they sent Suleman a letter with the offer after hearing about her financial woes when it became public that she was considering welfare and are now in communication with "her representative."
"The objective is 30 minutes of having her hair washed and 30 minutes of tickling," a website spokeswoman told the Register. "It's called tickle torture because you're generally bound."
Nudity is not involved. The website is the same one that recently offered Lindsay Lohan $50,000 to pop a bunch of balloons, TMZ reports.
Man Allegedly Spied on Neighbor from Closet
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a case of criminal surveillance in Jacksonville, Alabama after a female victim claims her neighbor spied on her.The female victim claims that paneling in her apartment closet had repeatedly come unfastened from the wall. The landlord came to the property and fixed the paneling numerous times, however, it continued to come unfastened.
The female victim then reported to police that she heard her neighbor, Aaron Anthony Brambley, knock on the closet wall in the area of the pushed free paneling.
She said that Brambley whistled at her and she heard sounds of possible masturbation.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed that Brambley of Jacksonville was gaining access to the victim’s apartment through the closet to conduct visual surveillance.
On October 7, 2010, Brambley was arrested for Criminal Surveillance. His bond is set at $5,000.00.
The female victim then reported to police that she heard her neighbor, Aaron Anthony Brambley, knock on the closet wall in the area of the pushed free paneling.
She said that Brambley whistled at her and she heard sounds of possible masturbation.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed that Brambley of Jacksonville was gaining access to the victim’s apartment through the closet to conduct visual surveillance.
On October 7, 2010, Brambley was arrested for Criminal Surveillance. His bond is set at $5,000.00.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Woman dies after saving five children from blaze
Louisville Fire Captain Sal Melendez told WHAS-AM that the woman, whose name hasn't been released, died at University Hospital Thursday morning after making sure that all the children made it to safety. The blaze broke out about 6:30 a.m. and the woman had to throw some of the children from windows to save them.
Melendez said after all the children were out, the woman collapsed and firefighters pulled her from the town home.
Firefighters say the children, who are all under 10, suffered minor smoke inhalation, but are expected to be OK.
The station reports the woman was the mother of three
Brown or aide is heard slurring Whitman
In a private conversation inadvertently captured by voicemail, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown or one of his associates can be heard referring to his Republican opponent Meg Whitman as a "whore," saying she cut a deal protecting law enforcement pensions while the two candidates competed for police endorsements.
The comment came after Brown called the Los Angeles Police Protective League in early September to ask for its endorsement. He left a voicemail asking Scott Rate, a union official, to call him, then apparently believed he had hung up the phone. The voicemail captured the ensuing conversation between Brown and his aides.
With frustration, Brown discussed the pressure he was under from police unions to pledge not to reduce public safety pensions. Months earlier, Whitman agreed to exempt public safety workers from part of her pension reform plan: the bid to enroll new government workers in 401(k)-style plans instead of pensions.
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"Do we want to put an ad out? … That I have been warned if I crack down on pensions, I will be — that they'll go to Whitman, and that's where they'll go because they know Whitman will give 'em, will cut them a deal, but I won't," Brown said.
At that point, a voice — either that of Brown or a second person — can be heard saying: "What about saying she's a whore?"
"Well, I'm going to use that," Brown says. "It proves you've cut a secret deal to protect the pensions."
The situation, in which Whitman was receiving a labor endorsement while supporting the union's position on pensions, is a reversal from the usual position the two candidates have been in. Unions have been a mainstay of Brown's campaign and have spent millions of dollars in a bid to help get him elected. Whitman has repeatedly charged that Brown would be unwilling to confront the rising costs of civil service pensions.
Two audio recordings of the conversation were released to The Times on Thursday by the police union. On the initial recording, the voice making the "whore" reference appears to be that of someone other than Brown. A union official later produced what he described as an enhanced version of the recording. In that recording, it is unclear whether the "whore" remark was made by another person or by Brown himself.
The union has endorsed Whitman and is spending $450,000 on her behalf.
Brown spokesman Sterling Clifford confirmed the tape's authenticity, but said Thursday evening that campaign officials had been unable to determine who had said what during the discussion. "I am confident it was not Jerry Brown," Clifford said, after reviewing the tape. "Whoever said it is speaking over the top of him in several places."
Steven Glazer, Brown's campaign manager, said the discussion was "a private conversation" but that "at times our language was salty. We apologize to Ms. Whitman and anyone who may have been offended."
Whitman spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said: "The use of the term 'whore' is an insult to both Meg Whitman and to the women of California. This is an appalling and unforgivable smear against Meg Whitman. At the very least Mr. Brown tacitly approved this despicable slur and he himself may have used the term at least once on this recording."
The comment came after Brown called the Los Angeles Police Protective League in early September to ask for its endorsement. He left a voicemail asking Scott Rate, a union official, to call him, then apparently believed he had hung up the phone. The voicemail captured the ensuing conversation between Brown and his aides.
With frustration, Brown discussed the pressure he was under from police unions to pledge not to reduce public safety pensions. Months earlier, Whitman agreed to exempt public safety workers from part of her pension reform plan: the bid to enroll new government workers in 401(k)-style plans instead of pensions.
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"Do we want to put an ad out? … That I have been warned if I crack down on pensions, I will be — that they'll go to Whitman, and that's where they'll go because they know Whitman will give 'em, will cut them a deal, but I won't," Brown said.
At that point, a voice — either that of Brown or a second person — can be heard saying: "What about saying she's a whore?"
"Well, I'm going to use that," Brown says. "It proves you've cut a secret deal to protect the pensions."
The situation, in which Whitman was receiving a labor endorsement while supporting the union's position on pensions, is a reversal from the usual position the two candidates have been in. Unions have been a mainstay of Brown's campaign and have spent millions of dollars in a bid to help get him elected. Whitman has repeatedly charged that Brown would be unwilling to confront the rising costs of civil service pensions.
Two audio recordings of the conversation were released to The Times on Thursday by the police union. On the initial recording, the voice making the "whore" reference appears to be that of someone other than Brown. A union official later produced what he described as an enhanced version of the recording. In that recording, it is unclear whether the "whore" remark was made by another person or by Brown himself.
The union has endorsed Whitman and is spending $450,000 on her behalf.
Brown spokesman Sterling Clifford confirmed the tape's authenticity, but said Thursday evening that campaign officials had been unable to determine who had said what during the discussion. "I am confident it was not Jerry Brown," Clifford said, after reviewing the tape. "Whoever said it is speaking over the top of him in several places."
Steven Glazer, Brown's campaign manager, said the discussion was "a private conversation" but that "at times our language was salty. We apologize to Ms. Whitman and anyone who may have been offended."
Whitman spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said: "The use of the term 'whore' is an insult to both Meg Whitman and to the women of California. This is an appalling and unforgivable smear against Meg Whitman. At the very least Mr. Brown tacitly approved this despicable slur and he himself may have used the term at least once on this recording."
Man stabbed by friends who wanted to suck his blood
CHANDLER, Ariz. – Police say a man was stabbed for refusing to let two of his friends suck his blood.
Aaron Homer, 24, and Amanda Williamson, 21, are reportedly into “vampire stuff” and “paganism.”
The victim, identified as 25-year-old Robert Maley, says he has let his friends suck his blood on previous occasions but refused on Monday and was then allegedly stabbed in the arm.
The three individuals were roommates.
Homer faces aggravated assault charges and Williamson faces charges for false reporting. The victim was also arrested for an outstanding warrant.
Police say Williamson and Homer provided conflicting accounts during questioning. Williamson said she stabbed the victim in self-defense while Homer could not stick to one story and officers determined he was lying.
The knife was later found in between bedroom mattresses
Aaron Homer, 24, and Amanda Williamson, 21, are reportedly into “vampire stuff” and “paganism.”
The victim, identified as 25-year-old Robert Maley, says he has let his friends suck his blood on previous occasions but refused on Monday and was then allegedly stabbed in the arm.
The three individuals were roommates.
Homer faces aggravated assault charges and Williamson faces charges for false reporting. The victim was also arrested for an outstanding warrant.
Police say Williamson and Homer provided conflicting accounts during questioning. Williamson said she stabbed the victim in self-defense while Homer could not stick to one story and officers determined he was lying.
The knife was later found in between bedroom mattresses
Dead People Received $18 Million In Stimulus Checks
More than 89,000 stimulus payments totaling millions of dollars went to people who were either dead or in prison, a government investigator says in a new report.
Half the payments, which were of $250 each, were returned. In all, nearly 72,000 dead people received $18 million and more than 17,000 prison inmates got $4.3 million, according to the report by the Social Security Administration's inspector general.
Most of the inmates, it turns out, were eligible to get the payments because they were newly incarcerated and had been receiving Social Security before they were locked up.
The payments, which were part of last year's massive economic recovery package, were meant to increase consumer spending to help stimulate the economy.
In all, the $250 payments were sent to about 52 million people who receive either Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, at a cost of about $13 billion. Other federal retirees also received the payments, but they were not part of the inspector general's review.
Many of the payments to dead people were sent because the death was recent, and the Social Security office was not informed of the death in time.
Lawmakers intended to keep people in prison from getting checks. But this report says the law only stopped people from getting payments if they were locked up in the three months before the bill passed.
The report says people returned about $10 million of the inappropriate payments. That leaves about $12 million in still out there.
The inspector general for the Social Security Administration has been performing an audit to make sure no checks went to ineligible recipients. The latest report was dated Sept. 24 but was just recently posted to the agency's website.
"Based on the failure of the SSA to properly check its records, and Congress' failure to fully think through the provisions needed to govern these payments, SSA lost $22.3 million in American tax dollars," said Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). "These findings are yet another example of congressional stupidity and a lack of accountability."
The Social Security Administration said that despite tight deadlines, workers accurately processed more than 99.8 percent of the 52 million stimulus payments.
"We worked with Treasury, developed new processes, and began issuing [payments] about 30 days earlier than the legislatively mandated deadline," the agency said in a written response included in the inspector general's report. "This was a major accomplishment for our agency."
The inspector general's report said that if similar payments are authorized in the future, prison inmates should be ineligible and the government should be able to recover payments made to dead people.
Half the payments, which were of $250 each, were returned. In all, nearly 72,000 dead people received $18 million and more than 17,000 prison inmates got $4.3 million, according to the report by the Social Security Administration's inspector general.
Most of the inmates, it turns out, were eligible to get the payments because they were newly incarcerated and had been receiving Social Security before they were locked up.
The payments, which were part of last year's massive economic recovery package, were meant to increase consumer spending to help stimulate the economy.
In all, the $250 payments were sent to about 52 million people who receive either Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, at a cost of about $13 billion. Other federal retirees also received the payments, but they were not part of the inspector general's review.
Many of the payments to dead people were sent because the death was recent, and the Social Security office was not informed of the death in time.
Lawmakers intended to keep people in prison from getting checks. But this report says the law only stopped people from getting payments if they were locked up in the three months before the bill passed.
The report says people returned about $10 million of the inappropriate payments. That leaves about $12 million in still out there.
The inspector general for the Social Security Administration has been performing an audit to make sure no checks went to ineligible recipients. The latest report was dated Sept. 24 but was just recently posted to the agency's website.
"Based on the failure of the SSA to properly check its records, and Congress' failure to fully think through the provisions needed to govern these payments, SSA lost $22.3 million in American tax dollars," said Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). "These findings are yet another example of congressional stupidity and a lack of accountability."
The Social Security Administration said that despite tight deadlines, workers accurately processed more than 99.8 percent of the 52 million stimulus payments.
"We worked with Treasury, developed new processes, and began issuing [payments] about 30 days earlier than the legislatively mandated deadline," the agency said in a written response included in the inspector general's report. "This was a major accomplishment for our agency."
The inspector general's report said that if similar payments are authorized in the future, prison inmates should be ineligible and the government should be able to recover payments made to dead people.
Lee County woman arrested for impersonating hooker, police officer
Lee COUNTY, Fla.- A Lee County woman is behind bars, facing felony charges of fraud for impersonating a law enforcement officer. But here's the twist - the Lee County Sheriff's Office says the woman accused was pretending to be an undercover cop doing a prostitution sting.
Lee County Sheriff deputies say it started when they were called to the scene of a robbery on Palm Beach Boulevard, but the chain of events reveals a more colorful crime.
"We were notified of what appeared to be a robbery. Male thrown against a wall, hands out, person going through his pockets," John Sheehan of the Lee County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Deputies say Misty McNeal was frisking a man she lured in for sex, but then turned around and tried to arrest him, in an attempt to make out with some cash.
"This proposition for sex turned into an actual robbery because the suspect was pretending to be an officer," Sheehan said.
According to the arrest report, the man says McNeal ordered him not to move, and keep his hands on the wall. The man told deputies she pulled out a fake badge, saying he truly believed she was the police, and thought he was in trouble for picking up a prostitute.
"To the untrained eye, it might have been believable. That time of night it's dark outside," Sheehan said.
Then, deputies say McNeal tried to pocket nearly $400 worth of cash from the man's wallet. By that time, deputies were on the scene, and the roundabout robbery ended in McNeal's arrest for robbery and fraud. As for the man involved, he's not facing charges, but the Sheriff's Office says he learned a lesson the hard way.
"He was a victim, I wouldn't say he was necessary the most innocent victim, because he kind of put himself in the wrong place, really doing something he shouldn't have been doing," Sheehan said.
McNeal is still in custody for the two felony charges. She has a criminal record with Lee County Sheriff's Office going back for more than a decade.
Read more: http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-10-07/Lee-County-woman-arrested-for-impersonating-police-officer?009#ixzz11mr7dC1r
Lee County Sheriff deputies say it started when they were called to the scene of a robbery on Palm Beach Boulevard, but the chain of events reveals a more colorful crime.
"We were notified of what appeared to be a robbery. Male thrown against a wall, hands out, person going through his pockets," John Sheehan of the Lee County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
Deputies say Misty McNeal was frisking a man she lured in for sex, but then turned around and tried to arrest him, in an attempt to make out with some cash.
"This proposition for sex turned into an actual robbery because the suspect was pretending to be an officer," Sheehan said.
According to the arrest report, the man says McNeal ordered him not to move, and keep his hands on the wall. The man told deputies she pulled out a fake badge, saying he truly believed she was the police, and thought he was in trouble for picking up a prostitute.
"To the untrained eye, it might have been believable. That time of night it's dark outside," Sheehan said.
Then, deputies say McNeal tried to pocket nearly $400 worth of cash from the man's wallet. By that time, deputies were on the scene, and the roundabout robbery ended in McNeal's arrest for robbery and fraud. As for the man involved, he's not facing charges, but the Sheriff's Office says he learned a lesson the hard way.
"He was a victim, I wouldn't say he was necessary the most innocent victim, because he kind of put himself in the wrong place, really doing something he shouldn't have been doing," Sheehan said.
McNeal is still in custody for the two felony charges. She has a criminal record with Lee County Sheriff's Office going back for more than a decade.
Read more: http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2010-10-07/Lee-County-woman-arrested-for-impersonating-police-officer?009#ixzz11mr7dC1r
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Grand Prairie ISD aide fired over note on student's arm
"It hurt me because it made me feel like they didn't care about her, that they didn't respect her," said Jackie Baldwin, the student's mother.
The incident happened Tuesday. The aide wrote with a marker on 11-year-old Makada Christopher's arm: "Call Jayne!! to nite!"
"If you respect this child, there is no way you would have written on marker down her arm in a classroom where there's paper, pencils," Baldwin said.
Baldwin showed News 8 the communication notebook that comes home with her daughter every day. Inside, there are notes from the teacher and other aides, but she said the aide in this case elected not to use the tablet.
Baldwin met with the principal and the aide Wednesday morning. She said the aide admitted to writing the note, and mentioned that she forgot to include a phone number.
The message was a reminder for Baldwin to call the Special Olympics coach. The problem is, "Jayne" doesn't exist. The aide got the coach's name wrong and also misspelled "tonight."
"She said, 'I'm sorry for not putting the number on there,'" Baldwin said. "She never understood that it was wrong to do it."
The district took action hours after Baldwin complained.
"We thought the infraction was severe enough to remove this person from the district," said Grand Prairie ISD spokesman Sam Buchmeyer.
According to the district, the employee violated its procedures.
"This was a special needs student," Buchmeyer said. "There is a process in place already to communicate back-and-forth with the parent on the campus. Obviously, that was ignored."
For Baldwin, the aide — who was a nine-year veteran — failed to use common sense.
"If you didn't do it to hurt her, you did it because you didn't know any better," Baldwin said. "If you don't know any better and you are dealing with special needs children, then shame on you."
Chef loses possessions in car mix up
Faye Pounder, 25, was moving house when her flatmate Paul Robbins offered to carry her bags downstairs and load them into her white Citroen Xsara Picasso.
But he mistakenly opened the boot of an identical silver Xsara Picasso which was parked outside their flat and left unlocked by its owner.
He dutifully loaded all of Faye's belongings into the car - over £3,000 worth of clothes, documents, computers, and keepsakes.
But when Faye emerged from the rented property a few hours later she was horrified to discover her car was sitting empty - while the silver Citroen had disappeared.
She is now appealing to the owner of the other car to come forward and reunite her with her possessions.
Faye said: ''It is an absolute nightmare. Everything of importance was in that car, I'd packed everything apart from the pots and pans which are useful but have no value.
''When I woke up the next morning I felt sick. I didn't want to talk to anyone, it was just too awful to think about.
''The worst part is that my fiance had bought tickets for Alton Towers on Tuesday as a birthday treat for me but they were packed so we just sat at home instead.
''It is one of those things that you never, ever imagine happening but I suppose it is quite funny in a way.''
It began after gastropub chef Faye packed up her bags at her flat in Bristol on Monday.
She was moving to Cornwall with fiance Ali Walker, 31, to be closer to her family.
Flatmate Paul offered to load up her car while Faye stayed in the flat and packed her last few things.
Among the items he packed into the silver Citroen was a £2,000 record collection, cameras, make-up, clothes, shoes and all her personal financial documents.
Faye and Ali, who are set to marry next summer, are appealing for any information about the incident in Stokes Croft, Bristol, at around 1pm on Monday.
But he mistakenly opened the boot of an identical silver Xsara Picasso which was parked outside their flat and left unlocked by its owner.
He dutifully loaded all of Faye's belongings into the car - over £3,000 worth of clothes, documents, computers, and keepsakes.
But when Faye emerged from the rented property a few hours later she was horrified to discover her car was sitting empty - while the silver Citroen had disappeared.
She is now appealing to the owner of the other car to come forward and reunite her with her possessions.
Faye said: ''It is an absolute nightmare. Everything of importance was in that car, I'd packed everything apart from the pots and pans which are useful but have no value.
''When I woke up the next morning I felt sick. I didn't want to talk to anyone, it was just too awful to think about.
''The worst part is that my fiance had bought tickets for Alton Towers on Tuesday as a birthday treat for me but they were packed so we just sat at home instead.
''It is one of those things that you never, ever imagine happening but I suppose it is quite funny in a way.''
It began after gastropub chef Faye packed up her bags at her flat in Bristol on Monday.
She was moving to Cornwall with fiance Ali Walker, 31, to be closer to her family.
Flatmate Paul offered to load up her car while Faye stayed in the flat and packed her last few things.
Among the items he packed into the silver Citroen was a £2,000 record collection, cameras, make-up, clothes, shoes and all her personal financial documents.
Faye and Ali, who are set to marry next summer, are appealing for any information about the incident in Stokes Croft, Bristol, at around 1pm on Monday.
Black judge rejects plea deal for 'white boy'
PITTSBURGH — A black judge from western Pennsylvania rejected a plea agreement for a man accused of fighting with police during a traffic stop, saying it was "a ridiculous plea that only goes to white boys."
The plea agreement was for a sentence of three months probation. Allegheny County Judge Joseph Williams said on Tuesday that a black defendant in that situation would not have been treated as leniently.
In court, Williams told Assistant District Attorney Brian Catanzarite that he "for some reason comes up with I think ridiculous pleas whenever it's a young white guy," according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I'm just telling you what my observation is. If this had been a black kid who did the same thing, we wouldn't be talking about three months' probation."
Catanzarite responded that he was standing in for another prosecutor and didn't broker the plea deal.
"Now that the court has essentially called me a racist, I think that's unfair. I don't make offers based on race. I make offers based on facts," Catanzarite said, according to the Tribune-Review.
Williams later recused himself from the case, and a white judge accepted the plea agreement for 24-year-old Jeffery McGowan.
The defendant, who had no criminal record, agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct. He had faced charges including aggravated assault.
Williams' secretary on Wednesday told The Associated Press the judge does not give interviews.
The Allegheny County district attorney's office did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, told the Tribune-Review the plea deal was appropriate and agreed to by the officer, who was not injured.
"Negotiated pleas are never based on the race of a particular defendant but rather on the behavior of the defendant and the facts associated with that behavior," Manko told the newspaper.
"The assistant district attorneys who handled this plea on behalf of the commonwealth have outstanding reputations, and we firmly stand behind their integrity and the integrity of all of our prosecutors."
The plea agreement was for a sentence of three months probation. Allegheny County Judge Joseph Williams said on Tuesday that a black defendant in that situation would not have been treated as leniently.
In court, Williams told Assistant District Attorney Brian Catanzarite that he "for some reason comes up with I think ridiculous pleas whenever it's a young white guy," according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I'm just telling you what my observation is. If this had been a black kid who did the same thing, we wouldn't be talking about three months' probation."
Catanzarite responded that he was standing in for another prosecutor and didn't broker the plea deal.
"Now that the court has essentially called me a racist, I think that's unfair. I don't make offers based on race. I make offers based on facts," Catanzarite said, according to the Tribune-Review.
Williams later recused himself from the case, and a white judge accepted the plea agreement for 24-year-old Jeffery McGowan.
The defendant, who had no criminal record, agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct. He had faced charges including aggravated assault.
Williams' secretary on Wednesday told The Associated Press the judge does not give interviews.
The Allegheny County district attorney's office did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, told the Tribune-Review the plea deal was appropriate and agreed to by the officer, who was not injured.
"Negotiated pleas are never based on the race of a particular defendant but rather on the behavior of the defendant and the facts associated with that behavior," Manko told the newspaper.
"The assistant district attorneys who handled this plea on behalf of the commonwealth have outstanding reputations, and we firmly stand behind their integrity and the integrity of all of our prosecutors."
Teacher sacked for schoolgirl rape Tweet
As a consequence, the 21-year-old man's first workday at the preschool was also his last, Göteborgs-Posten (GP) reported on Wednesday.
The preschool principal received a tip on Monday morning about the Twitter posts.
"[Name of school] preschool Start 9.30am. Think I will rape 6-7 young girls," the man wrote on Twitter on Monday using his iPhone.
"I informed the parents. Some chose to pick their children up earlier. Later, I called the police and asked if they could trace the message. When I read it, they thought it was very serious, so they came here," the principal told GP.
The principal continued following the Twitter feed, on which the substitute teacher also wrote, "Haha. A little girl thought my name was Max. That was too cute *smile*"
"Got myself out of changing diapers all day. Pooh", read a later post, followed by "Finishing at 5:30pm. Dying."
The principal suspected the new substitute teacher since the Tweets appeared during the man's coffee and lunch breaks. The principal said police took the man in for questioning.
The substitute teacher confessed immediately and is now under suspicion of being a threat to groups and may not be able to return to his temporary position ( WHAT !!! )
The preschool principal received a tip on Monday morning about the Twitter posts.
"[Name of school] preschool Start 9.30am. Think I will rape 6-7 young girls," the man wrote on Twitter on Monday using his iPhone.
"I informed the parents. Some chose to pick their children up earlier. Later, I called the police and asked if they could trace the message. When I read it, they thought it was very serious, so they came here," the principal told GP.
The principal continued following the Twitter feed, on which the substitute teacher also wrote, "Haha. A little girl thought my name was Max. That was too cute *smile*"
"Got myself out of changing diapers all day. Pooh", read a later post, followed by "Finishing at 5:30pm. Dying."
The principal suspected the new substitute teacher since the Tweets appeared during the man's coffee and lunch breaks. The principal said police took the man in for questioning.
The substitute teacher confessed immediately and is now under suspicion of being a threat to groups and may not be able to return to his temporary position ( WHAT !!! )
Naked gunman suffered detention centre trauma
A Perth judge has accepted post-traumatic stress from years in detention as an explanation for the actions of a naked man who sent downtown Perth into lockdown when he climbed to the top of a billboard holding a replica gun.
In Perth Magistrates Court today, Sayeed Mehman, 38, pleaded guilty to being armed in public in a way that caused fear.
On July 17, Mehman climbed on top of a large billboard in the Perth CBD, stripped naked and paraded up and down with a replica handgun.
Police locked down the area while commuter trains were also halted until negotiators persuaded Mehman to drop the "gun" and come down.
Mehman's lawyer Belinda Lonsdale told the court her client was mentally ill but was not a danger to society.
"Clearly he didn't intend to cause anybody any harm," Ms Lonsdale said.
She said Mehman suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after spending four years in an immigration detention centre.
"He really hasn't dealt with the trauma that he has been subjected to," she said.
The court was told Mehman was originally from Iran and fled to Malaysia when he ran into trouble with authorities in his homeland.
In Malaysia, he met some people smugglers and came to Australia in 2000.
"He had anticipated that Australia would be a country that would welcome him with open arms," Ms Lonsdale said.
She said he did not know he had to prove his refugee status and after spending time in detention decided he would rather return to Iran.
However, while in Perth, he met with the Uniting Church, which helped him join society in 2004.
Ms Lonsdale said Mehman had been suffering from nightmares and on the morning of the billboard incident had woken up from one about his time in detention.
She said he drove his vehicle to the beach where he consumed alcohol, before driving to the city.
Ms Lonsdale said Mehman was "disturbed" and could not offer an explanation for his nudity.
However, she said he was genuinely remorseful for the effect his actions had on the city and said he had spent some time in a mental institution since his arrest.
Chief Magistrate Steven Heath said Mehman has caused "serious disruption" to the city but commended the police for their handling of the situation.
"This is without a question a serious offence, albeit the accused had no intention or ability to cause harm with a replica gun," he said.
The chief magistrate said it was important to consider a psychiatric report on Mehman's mental health before sentencing him.
The report concluded that Mehman had depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress from his treatment in Iran and as a refugee in Australia.
The report also found that Mehman had a "sense of hopelessness", was prone to self-harm and had considered suicide.
Mehman was sentenced to an 18-month community based order.
In Perth Magistrates Court today, Sayeed Mehman, 38, pleaded guilty to being armed in public in a way that caused fear.
On July 17, Mehman climbed on top of a large billboard in the Perth CBD, stripped naked and paraded up and down with a replica handgun.
Police locked down the area while commuter trains were also halted until negotiators persuaded Mehman to drop the "gun" and come down.
Mehman's lawyer Belinda Lonsdale told the court her client was mentally ill but was not a danger to society.
"Clearly he didn't intend to cause anybody any harm," Ms Lonsdale said.
She said Mehman suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after spending four years in an immigration detention centre.
"He really hasn't dealt with the trauma that he has been subjected to," she said.
The court was told Mehman was originally from Iran and fled to Malaysia when he ran into trouble with authorities in his homeland.
In Malaysia, he met some people smugglers and came to Australia in 2000.
"He had anticipated that Australia would be a country that would welcome him with open arms," Ms Lonsdale said.
She said he did not know he had to prove his refugee status and after spending time in detention decided he would rather return to Iran.
However, while in Perth, he met with the Uniting Church, which helped him join society in 2004.
Ms Lonsdale said Mehman had been suffering from nightmares and on the morning of the billboard incident had woken up from one about his time in detention.
She said he drove his vehicle to the beach where he consumed alcohol, before driving to the city.
Ms Lonsdale said Mehman was "disturbed" and could not offer an explanation for his nudity.
However, she said he was genuinely remorseful for the effect his actions had on the city and said he had spent some time in a mental institution since his arrest.
Chief Magistrate Steven Heath said Mehman has caused "serious disruption" to the city but commended the police for their handling of the situation.
"This is without a question a serious offence, albeit the accused had no intention or ability to cause harm with a replica gun," he said.
The chief magistrate said it was important to consider a psychiatric report on Mehman's mental health before sentencing him.
The report concluded that Mehman had depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress from his treatment in Iran and as a refugee in Australia.
The report also found that Mehman had a "sense of hopelessness", was prone to self-harm and had considered suicide.
Mehman was sentenced to an 18-month community based order.
Voting By Mail: The Perfect Solution
Voting by mail is becoming more popular in more places.
The growing popularity of ballot-by-mail is one of the arguments against the proposal to drop one day of mail delivery to save the U.S. Postal Service money.
Voting by mail has many pluses. Also, sometimes, some minuses.
Members of the American Postal Workers Union, for obvious reason, elect their national officers via mail ballot. Most postal clerks, who sort the mail, belong to the union. Their union brothers with the National Association of Letter Carriers deliver the mail. And their track record, considering the massive daily mail volume, is very good.
Most of the time.
Unlike many unions where national leaders decide which presidential candidate the union will back, postal unions let their members make the choice. Again by mail ballot.
Normally the APWU election committee would be counting ballots this week, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel downtown. But there has been a problem. So far only 39,071 ballots have been received which is only a small percentage of the union's membership and a much lower total than in past elections.
So what happened to all those mail ballots?
You got it!
They seem to be lost in the mail.
According to the union a lot of members say they haven't received their ballots. So...
They've extended the voting deadline to Oct. 14.
The growing popularity of ballot-by-mail is one of the arguments against the proposal to drop one day of mail delivery to save the U.S. Postal Service money.
Voting by mail has many pluses. Also, sometimes, some minuses.
Members of the American Postal Workers Union, for obvious reason, elect their national officers via mail ballot. Most postal clerks, who sort the mail, belong to the union. Their union brothers with the National Association of Letter Carriers deliver the mail. And their track record, considering the massive daily mail volume, is very good.
Most of the time.
Unlike many unions where national leaders decide which presidential candidate the union will back, postal unions let their members make the choice. Again by mail ballot.
Normally the APWU election committee would be counting ballots this week, at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel downtown. But there has been a problem. So far only 39,071 ballots have been received which is only a small percentage of the union's membership and a much lower total than in past elections.
So what happened to all those mail ballots?
You got it!
They seem to be lost in the mail.
According to the union a lot of members say they haven't received their ballots. So...
They've extended the voting deadline to Oct. 14.
Pea shooting champion threatened with fine over phallic garden hedge
Click on headline for full story
Piano man arrested in front of Grand Rapids Police Headquarters
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM)- Grand Rapids Police say they found a man wanted for home invasion right in front of their headquarters.
Xavier Ross, 19, was wanted on a felony burglary charge. Last Monday officers say a man was out in front of the Grand Rapids Police Headquarters playing "Chopsticks" repeatedly on a piano placed there for ArtPrize.
A sergeant was about the arrest the man for creating a disturbance when another officer reporting for his night shift recognized the piano play. After some quick checking he discovered the man at the keys was Xavier Ross.
The would-be musician is in the Kent County Jail.
Xavier Ross, 19, was wanted on a felony burglary charge. Last Monday officers say a man was out in front of the Grand Rapids Police Headquarters playing "Chopsticks" repeatedly on a piano placed there for ArtPrize.
A sergeant was about the arrest the man for creating a disturbance when another officer reporting for his night shift recognized the piano play. After some quick checking he discovered the man at the keys was Xavier Ross.
The would-be musician is in the Kent County Jail.
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