The Stupid Crimes & Misdemeanors Thread
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Woman, 91, Teaches Purse Snatcher a Lesson
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - She's 91 and uses a hearing aid and eyeglasses, but Katherine Woodworth wasn't about to let somebody steal her purse.
Woodworth clobbered the would-be thief with her bag until he ran away, police said.
"I didn't have my hearing aid in, and I thought he said that he was going to take my pulse," Woodworth said. "Then he said it again, that he was going to take my purse, and I said, 'No, you're not.'"
She fought off the man in a department store parking lot Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Police arrested a 20-year-old suspect and charged him with robbery, felony theft, assault, aggravated menacing, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sgt. Tim Hanus said women of Woodworth's age shouldn't try to fight attackers. Woodworth said she didn't think her age was much of a factor.
"I'll be 92 in August and I guess I've got more nerve now than when I was younger," she said.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - She's 91 and uses a hearing aid and eyeglasses, but Katherine Woodworth wasn't about to let somebody steal her purse.
Woodworth clobbered the would-be thief with her bag until he ran away, police said.
"I didn't have my hearing aid in, and I thought he said that he was going to take my pulse," Woodworth said. "Then he said it again, that he was going to take my purse, and I said, 'No, you're not.'"
She fought off the man in a department store parking lot Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Police arrested a 20-year-old suspect and charged him with robbery, felony theft, assault, aggravated menacing, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sgt. Tim Hanus said women of Woodworth's age shouldn't try to fight attackers. Woodworth said she didn't think her age was much of a factor.
"I'll be 92 in August and I guess I've got more nerve now than when I was younger," she said.
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Homeless Fla. Man Accused in Parking Scam
DESTIN, Fla. (AP) - A homeless man is facing a possible prison term for allegedly charging tourists $5 to park in a free lot during the busy Memorial Day weekend.
Bruce Lee Thompson, 57, was held Monday at the Okaloosa County jail in Crestview on $2,000 bail. He has a July 19 court date on charges of obtaining property by impersonation, theft and a licensing violation. If convicted, penalties could range from probation to more than five years in prison.
The unemployed man set up a sign advertising "party parking," according to his arrest report.
"It's totally ridiculous," said Beverly Canady of The Finishing Touch, a store in the small shopping center where Thompson put up his sign. "We don't mind people parking here, but you just don't come literally off the street and charge people to park."
Canady said the center has an unspoken agreement that customers of a nearby restaurant can use the lot at night. She said she pulled beside Thompson on the night of May 28 to ask him what was going on.
"He said he watched the parking lot fill up the night before and said it looked like a good way to make money," Canady said.
A deputy told Thompson to stop but caught him collecting a parking fee an hour later, the report said.
Jail records did not indicate whether Thompson had a lawyer. The Public Defender's Office has a policy against commenting on pending cases.
___
Information from: Northwest Florida Daily News
DESTIN, Fla. (AP) - A homeless man is facing a possible prison term for allegedly charging tourists $5 to park in a free lot during the busy Memorial Day weekend.
Bruce Lee Thompson, 57, was held Monday at the Okaloosa County jail in Crestview on $2,000 bail. He has a July 19 court date on charges of obtaining property by impersonation, theft and a licensing violation. If convicted, penalties could range from probation to more than five years in prison.
The unemployed man set up a sign advertising "party parking," according to his arrest report.
"It's totally ridiculous," said Beverly Canady of The Finishing Touch, a store in the small shopping center where Thompson put up his sign. "We don't mind people parking here, but you just don't come literally off the street and charge people to park."
Canady said the center has an unspoken agreement that customers of a nearby restaurant can use the lot at night. She said she pulled beside Thompson on the night of May 28 to ask him what was going on.
"He said he watched the parking lot fill up the night before and said it looked like a good way to make money," Canady said.
A deputy told Thompson to stop but caught him collecting a parking fee an hour later, the report said.
Jail records did not indicate whether Thompson had a lawyer. The Public Defender's Office has a policy against commenting on pending cases.
___
Information from: Northwest Florida Daily News
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'Underwear Thieves' Return in Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Robbers who strike while wearing only underwear, their bodies slathered with oil to make them slippery and harder to catch, have resurfaced in Cambodia.
Two unidentified, underwear-clad burglars robbed homes in the southern province of Takeo on May 30, The Cambodia Daily quoted area police chief Sok Tum as saying.
Police thought they had quashed the "underwear gang" last year, the report said. They apparently wear only underwear in an attempt to make themselves harder to identify.
Residents had started a community watch program to prevent such crimes, Sok Tum said. But "the underwear thieves resurfaced in my region because the villagers stopped," he said.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Robbers who strike while wearing only underwear, their bodies slathered with oil to make them slippery and harder to catch, have resurfaced in Cambodia.
Two unidentified, underwear-clad burglars robbed homes in the southern province of Takeo on May 30, The Cambodia Daily quoted area police chief Sok Tum as saying.
Police thought they had quashed the "underwear gang" last year, the report said. They apparently wear only underwear in an attempt to make themselves harder to identify.
Residents had started a community watch program to prevent such crimes, Sok Tum said. But "the underwear thieves resurfaced in my region because the villagers stopped," he said.
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Suspected cookie thief goes to extremes
NICOSIA, Greece (Reuters) - Cyprus international airport operations were disrupted when a man drove a car under parked planes and forced a taxiing airliner to change course to avoid a collision, authorities said.
A chase to catch the driver, identified as a 30-year-old Greek, disrupted airport traffic Wednesday night.
Control tower workers raised the alarm after seeing a car speeding under parked aircraft at Larnaca airport on Cyprus's southeast coast.
A Cyprus Airways jet which had just landed had to change course to avoid collision. "The car was heading straight for us," the pilot said.
The man was being questioned by police, who suspect he was fleeing after being caught taking cookies from a nearby bakery.
NICOSIA, Greece (Reuters) - Cyprus international airport operations were disrupted when a man drove a car under parked planes and forced a taxiing airliner to change course to avoid a collision, authorities said.
A chase to catch the driver, identified as a 30-year-old Greek, disrupted airport traffic Wednesday night.
Control tower workers raised the alarm after seeing a car speeding under parked aircraft at Larnaca airport on Cyprus's southeast coast.
A Cyprus Airways jet which had just landed had to change course to avoid collision. "The car was heading straight for us," the pilot said.
The man was being questioned by police, who suspect he was fleeing after being caught taking cookies from a nearby bakery.
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Pilots guilty of operating jet while drunk
MIAMI, Fla. (Reuters) - Two former America West pilots were convicted on Wednesday of operating a jet full of passengers while still drunk from a night of beer guzzling.
A Florida court jury convicted Thomas Cloyd, 47, and Christopher Hughes, 44, on one count each of operating a plane while intoxicated or in a reckless manner. They face punishment ranging from probation to five years in prison and are to be sentenced on July 20.
The pilots were hauled off an America West flight at Miami International Airport on July 1, 2002, after a security screener reported that they smelled of alcohol.
The Airbus 319 was being towed to the runway for takeoff to Phoenix with 124 passengers and three flight attendants aboard when it was ordered back to the terminal.
"They were about five or six minutes away from flying," said Assistant State Attorney Hillah Katz, one of the prosecutors.
Police said Cloyd's blood-alcohol reading was 0.091 and Hughes' was 0.084 in tests given about three hours after they entered the cockpit. Florida law considers a vehicle operator drunk if his blood alcohol level is 0.08 or higher.
According to trial testimony, the pilots spent the evening before the flight playing pool and drinking at Mr. Moe's Cantina in Miami. They left the bar around 5 a.m. after running up a tab for 14 jumbo glasses of beer -- the equivalent of nearly 22 pints (10.5 litres) -- and showed up late for the 10:30 a.m. flight.
Defense attorneys said the pilots should not be convicted because they were not really operating the plane at the time in question. They said it was under control of the tug truck driver towing it to the runway.
The tug driver, who was the lone defense witness, testified that the plane's engines were off and the steering disabled but acknowledged he acted only on orders from the pilots.
America West fired Cloyd and Hughes shortly after their arrest and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revoked their pilots' licenses. FAA rules bar pilots from consuming alcohol for eight hours before a flight.
MIAMI, Fla. (Reuters) - Two former America West pilots were convicted on Wednesday of operating a jet full of passengers while still drunk from a night of beer guzzling.
A Florida court jury convicted Thomas Cloyd, 47, and Christopher Hughes, 44, on one count each of operating a plane while intoxicated or in a reckless manner. They face punishment ranging from probation to five years in prison and are to be sentenced on July 20.
The pilots were hauled off an America West flight at Miami International Airport on July 1, 2002, after a security screener reported that they smelled of alcohol.
The Airbus 319 was being towed to the runway for takeoff to Phoenix with 124 passengers and three flight attendants aboard when it was ordered back to the terminal.
"They were about five or six minutes away from flying," said Assistant State Attorney Hillah Katz, one of the prosecutors.
Police said Cloyd's blood-alcohol reading was 0.091 and Hughes' was 0.084 in tests given about three hours after they entered the cockpit. Florida law considers a vehicle operator drunk if his blood alcohol level is 0.08 or higher.
According to trial testimony, the pilots spent the evening before the flight playing pool and drinking at Mr. Moe's Cantina in Miami. They left the bar around 5 a.m. after running up a tab for 14 jumbo glasses of beer -- the equivalent of nearly 22 pints (10.5 litres) -- and showed up late for the 10:30 a.m. flight.
Defense attorneys said the pilots should not be convicted because they were not really operating the plane at the time in question. They said it was under control of the tug truck driver towing it to the runway.
The tug driver, who was the lone defense witness, testified that the plane's engines were off and the steering disabled but acknowledged he acted only on orders from the pilots.
America West fired Cloyd and Hughes shortly after their arrest and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revoked their pilots' licenses. FAA rules bar pilots from consuming alcohol for eight hours before a flight.
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Man Escapes From Cell by Digging Hole
LOS ANGELES, Ca. (AP) - A robbery suspect escaped from a holding cell Thursday by boring a hole through the wall and slithering out, then slipping through an emergency exit, authorities said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was booked at the LAPD's 77th Street station on suspicion of robbery for robbing and threatening a homeless man with a metal pipe, said Lt. Carlos Islas.
The man apparently bored the 9- by 15-inch hole in the drywall and escaped around 3 a.m., Islas said.
"Clearly, there's a hole in the wall," he said. "Whether it's a construction flaw will be determined at a later date."
Canine and metro units were deployed around the station to search for the suspect, who was described as 5-foot-6, 160-pound Hispanic man with a shaved head and an abrasion on his right cheek. He may go by the nickname "Junior," Islas said.
LOS ANGELES, Ca. (AP) - A robbery suspect escaped from a holding cell Thursday by boring a hole through the wall and slithering out, then slipping through an emergency exit, authorities said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was booked at the LAPD's 77th Street station on suspicion of robbery for robbing and threatening a homeless man with a metal pipe, said Lt. Carlos Islas.
The man apparently bored the 9- by 15-inch hole in the drywall and escaped around 3 a.m., Islas said.
"Clearly, there's a hole in the wall," he said. "Whether it's a construction flaw will be determined at a later date."
Canine and metro units were deployed around the station to search for the suspect, who was described as 5-foot-6, 160-pound Hispanic man with a shaved head and an abrasion on his right cheek. He may go by the nickname "Junior," Islas said.
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Police: Ice cream man charged with selling marijuana from truck
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Court TV/AP) — An ice cream man is getting a chilly reception from police.
Marshall Gene Beasley, 27, was arrested Wednesday on charges of selling marijuana along with his other frosty fare.
"This is a guy going down neighborhood streets who's around and near children," said David McGriff, drug task force director. "I'm not saying he sold to children, but we bought marijuana from him while he was operating the ice cream truck."
The company Beasley worked for will get back the truck and its stock because there's no evidence the business knew of his alleged activities.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Court TV/AP) — An ice cream man is getting a chilly reception from police.
Marshall Gene Beasley, 27, was arrested Wednesday on charges of selling marijuana along with his other frosty fare.
"This is a guy going down neighborhood streets who's around and near children," said David McGriff, drug task force director. "I'm not saying he sold to children, but we bought marijuana from him while he was operating the ice cream truck."
The company Beasley worked for will get back the truck and its stock because there's no evidence the business knew of his alleged activities.
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Man lights fire during gasoline theft
WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (Court TV) - Glen B. Germain, Jr., may be mourning the loss of his goatee, but authorities in Warren County, N.Y., think he's lucky he didn't lose his life.
On May 4, while allegedly siphoning gasoline from a skid steer (a small bulldozer), Germain flicked a lighter to gauge the amount of gas he had collected in his can. The can ignited and Germain suffered burns on his hands and face. The fire also singed his goatee.
Sheriff Larry Cleveland said Germain panicked and fled the scene, but abandoned the can, which then ignited the skid steer. The construction vehicle was completely destroyed.
"Because of the can and the extent of the fire, we could tell that someone had been there and that something had obviously gone awry," the Sheriff said.
Germain, who had been implicated in a previous gasoline theft, became the primary suspect. Investigators' suspicions were confirmed when they approached Germain at his home and noted the injuries to his face and hands.
Deputies arrested the 19-year-old firestarter, who denied any involvement in the incident.
Sheriff Cleveland said the county has experienced a recent rash of gasoline thefts with the rise of gasoline prices.
Germain was charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief and released on bail. His case is pending in Thurman Town Court.
WARREN COUNTY, N.Y. (Court TV) - Glen B. Germain, Jr., may be mourning the loss of his goatee, but authorities in Warren County, N.Y., think he's lucky he didn't lose his life.
On May 4, while allegedly siphoning gasoline from a skid steer (a small bulldozer), Germain flicked a lighter to gauge the amount of gas he had collected in his can. The can ignited and Germain suffered burns on his hands and face. The fire also singed his goatee.
Sheriff Larry Cleveland said Germain panicked and fled the scene, but abandoned the can, which then ignited the skid steer. The construction vehicle was completely destroyed.
"Because of the can and the extent of the fire, we could tell that someone had been there and that something had obviously gone awry," the Sheriff said.
Germain, who had been implicated in a previous gasoline theft, became the primary suspect. Investigators' suspicions were confirmed when they approached Germain at his home and noted the injuries to his face and hands.
Deputies arrested the 19-year-old firestarter, who denied any involvement in the incident.
Sheriff Cleveland said the county has experienced a recent rash of gasoline thefts with the rise of gasoline prices.
Germain was charged with petit larceny and criminal mischief and released on bail. His case is pending in Thurman Town Court.
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Police: Man who exposed himself to women blamed his bladder
DEKALB, Ill. (Court TV) - To get through the long and arduous hours at his construction job, Rosendo Montes says he drinks a lot of water and thus has to use the bathroom often.
But police in Dekalb, Ill., say Montes's frequent bladder urges are a poor excuse for exposing his private parts to women in public parking lots.
According to Sgt. Jason Leverton, three separate groups of women have identified Montes as the man who pretended to be urinating near his car and then turned to face them with his penis exposed when he heard them approaching.
"He would tell the women, 'Oh, I'm sorry. I had to pee,' and then jump back into his car," Leverton said.
Montes was arrested on June 6 after exposing himself to a group of women in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store on the same day. The other two incidents occurred on June 2 and 4, in the parking lots of a Target store and the same Wal-Mart store, respectively.
Police believe Montes targets cars with more than one female passenger, waits until the women enter the store and then parks his vehicle next to their car when a spot becomes available. He jumps out of his car when he sees the shoppers returning and pretends to be urinating with his back turned to them. When the women come closer, Montes looks over his shoulder, apologizes and then turns around to face them.
Montes reportedly denied that the exposures were intentional, but police are not convinced.
"After doing it three times, it became more than a coincidence," Leverton said. "If he had to go so badly, why didn't he just go to the restrooms in the stores?"
The women in the third incident called police, and Montes fled as squad cars approached the parking lot. The women took down a description and the license plate number of his vehicle.
Montes voluntarily turned himself in to Dekalb Police later that evening after investigators from the Sycamore police department contacted him. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and public indecency.
Leverton said Montes told investigators that he had relieved himself in public at least five or six times. Although Montes has no known history of indecent exposure, Dekalb police think he has exposed himself to more women.
"It was possible that other victims didn't realize what [Montes] was doing or did not see his private part," Leverton said.
Montes posted $300 bail and was released.
DEKALB, Ill. (Court TV) - To get through the long and arduous hours at his construction job, Rosendo Montes says he drinks a lot of water and thus has to use the bathroom often.
But police in Dekalb, Ill., say Montes's frequent bladder urges are a poor excuse for exposing his private parts to women in public parking lots.
According to Sgt. Jason Leverton, three separate groups of women have identified Montes as the man who pretended to be urinating near his car and then turned to face them with his penis exposed when he heard them approaching.
"He would tell the women, 'Oh, I'm sorry. I had to pee,' and then jump back into his car," Leverton said.
Montes was arrested on June 6 after exposing himself to a group of women in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store on the same day. The other two incidents occurred on June 2 and 4, in the parking lots of a Target store and the same Wal-Mart store, respectively.
Police believe Montes targets cars with more than one female passenger, waits until the women enter the store and then parks his vehicle next to their car when a spot becomes available. He jumps out of his car when he sees the shoppers returning and pretends to be urinating with his back turned to them. When the women come closer, Montes looks over his shoulder, apologizes and then turns around to face them.
Montes reportedly denied that the exposures were intentional, but police are not convinced.
"After doing it three times, it became more than a coincidence," Leverton said. "If he had to go so badly, why didn't he just go to the restrooms in the stores?"
The women in the third incident called police, and Montes fled as squad cars approached the parking lot. The women took down a description and the license plate number of his vehicle.
Montes voluntarily turned himself in to Dekalb Police later that evening after investigators from the Sycamore police department contacted him. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and public indecency.
Leverton said Montes told investigators that he had relieved himself in public at least five or six times. Although Montes has no known history of indecent exposure, Dekalb police think he has exposed himself to more women.
"It was possible that other victims didn't realize what [Montes] was doing or did not see his private part," Leverton said.
Montes posted $300 bail and was released.
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Inmate allegedly smuggles drugs in peanut butter sandwich
THOMASVILLE, Ga. (Court TV) - Curtis Hall won't be getting himself out of this jam anytime soon.
Hall, an inmate at the Thomas County Prison in Georgia, allegedly tried to use a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to smuggle marijuana into the prison.
According to the newspaper the Thomasville Times Enterprise, when Hall left the prison as part of a work release program, he received a packed lunch that contained the sandwich.
Prisoners are not allowed to return to the facility with any item and are searched before reentry. When Hall returned, prison guards found the sandwich and the drugs. Three grams of marijuana were wrapped in plastic and placed between the slices of bread, the report said.
The sandwich was sent to the Thomas County Narcotics and Vice Division, where it tested positive for marijuana.
Hall, who is serving time for burglary, was charged with possession of marijuana. He will be transferred from the county prison to a state prison, the report said.
THOMASVILLE, Ga. (Court TV) - Curtis Hall won't be getting himself out of this jam anytime soon.
Hall, an inmate at the Thomas County Prison in Georgia, allegedly tried to use a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to smuggle marijuana into the prison.
According to the newspaper the Thomasville Times Enterprise, when Hall left the prison as part of a work release program, he received a packed lunch that contained the sandwich.
Prisoners are not allowed to return to the facility with any item and are searched before reentry. When Hall returned, prison guards found the sandwich and the drugs. Three grams of marijuana were wrapped in plastic and placed between the slices of bread, the report said.
The sandwich was sent to the Thomas County Narcotics and Vice Division, where it tested positive for marijuana.
Hall, who is serving time for burglary, was charged with possession of marijuana. He will be transferred from the county prison to a state prison, the report said.
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Suspect cuts hole in drywall to escape cell
LOS ANGELES, Ca. (Reuters) - Los Angeles police are trying to figure out how a robbery suspect managed to cut a hole in the wall of a cell and escape through a 15-by-9-inch hole in the space of an hour.
The suspect, described as a 20-year-old homeless man, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, escaped from a holding cell at a police station early Thursday morning.
Police said he appeared to have cut or torn a hole in the cell's drywall and ripped up a metal security mesh sandwiched inside the wall before crawling out and leaving through a fire exit.
He had been searched before being put in the cell, but when police checked on him an hour later he had vanished.
"I'm reluctant to put any blame on anyone at this point," said police Lt. Carlos Islas. "Clearly there's a hole in the wall. Whether it's a construction flaw will be determined at a later date."
The department said it was inspecting cells at all 19 of the city's police stations. The man was still at large on Friday.
LOS ANGELES, Ca. (Reuters) - Los Angeles police are trying to figure out how a robbery suspect managed to cut a hole in the wall of a cell and escape through a 15-by-9-inch hole in the space of an hour.
The suspect, described as a 20-year-old homeless man, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, escaped from a holding cell at a police station early Thursday morning.
Police said he appeared to have cut or torn a hole in the cell's drywall and ripped up a metal security mesh sandwiched inside the wall before crawling out and leaving through a fire exit.
He had been searched before being put in the cell, but when police checked on him an hour later he had vanished.
"I'm reluctant to put any blame on anyone at this point," said police Lt. Carlos Islas. "Clearly there's a hole in the wall. Whether it's a construction flaw will be determined at a later date."
The department said it was inspecting cells at all 19 of the city's police stations. The man was still at large on Friday.
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Lottery winner turns thief after blowing cash
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - A German lottery winner who blew all his winnings decided he was better off supplementing his income as a thief than claiming welfare benefits, a court in the central town of Meiningen said on Tuesday.
The court said shortly after the man had frittered away the last of his prize worth around 760,000 euros ($921,000) by autumn 2003, he turned to robbery, looting cars and houses for sums as small as one euro.
"He's confessed to about 60 offences," said a spokesman for the court. "He would break in to see how much money they had -- I guess you could say it was a kind of lottery too."
The spokesman added the 49-year-old, who stopped working after his cash bonanza in 1997, had said he was too ashamed to go to the welfare office after the money ran out.
"He didn't want it known he'd spent it all."
The court said he faces a jail sentence of several years.
BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) - A German lottery winner who blew all his winnings decided he was better off supplementing his income as a thief than claiming welfare benefits, a court in the central town of Meiningen said on Tuesday.
The court said shortly after the man had frittered away the last of his prize worth around 760,000 euros ($921,000) by autumn 2003, he turned to robbery, looting cars and houses for sums as small as one euro.
"He's confessed to about 60 offences," said a spokesman for the court. "He would break in to see how much money they had -- I guess you could say it was a kind of lottery too."
The spokesman added the 49-year-old, who stopped working after his cash bonanza in 1997, had said he was too ashamed to go to the welfare office after the money ran out.
"He didn't want it known he'd spent it all."
The court said he faces a jail sentence of several years.
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Cops: Boy Takes Alcohol-Induced Late Ride
NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A young driver took his friend's mother's car for an alcohol-induced, middle-of-the-night, trash can-smashing joyride before wrecking the vehicle and landing in the hospital with some broken bones, state police said.
After he is released, the driver's case will be referred to juvenile court because he's only 12 years old.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police post in Niles made the surprising discovery after freeing the youngster from the vehicle, which crashed early Tuesday in a dead end in Berrien County's Niles Township. The boy was not wearing a seat belt.
"We normally don't see 12-year-olds driving, plus consuming alcohol," state police Lt. Michael Brown told the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune for a Wednesday story.
The boy drove for several miles on rural roads, striking numerous trash cans and mailboxes along the way. His joyride ended when the car went down an embankment and struck some trees, Brown said.
The St. Joseph River lies just beyond the stand of trees.
The boy initially was taken to Lakeland Hospital in Niles but later was transferred to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he was listed in fair condition, Brown said.
Investigators were awaiting laboratory tests to determine the boy's level of reported intoxication.
"Right now, we don't know where he got the alcohol," Brown said. "We're still investigating."
NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - A young driver took his friend's mother's car for an alcohol-induced, middle-of-the-night, trash can-smashing joyride before wrecking the vehicle and landing in the hospital with some broken bones, state police said.
After he is released, the driver's case will be referred to juvenile court because he's only 12 years old.
Troopers from the Michigan State Police post in Niles made the surprising discovery after freeing the youngster from the vehicle, which crashed early Tuesday in a dead end in Berrien County's Niles Township. The boy was not wearing a seat belt.
"We normally don't see 12-year-olds driving, plus consuming alcohol," state police Lt. Michael Brown told the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune for a Wednesday story.
The boy drove for several miles on rural roads, striking numerous trash cans and mailboxes along the way. His joyride ended when the car went down an embankment and struck some trees, Brown said.
The St. Joseph River lies just beyond the stand of trees.
The boy initially was taken to Lakeland Hospital in Niles but later was transferred to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he was listed in fair condition, Brown said.
Investigators were awaiting laboratory tests to determine the boy's level of reported intoxication.
"Right now, we don't know where he got the alcohol," Brown said. "We're still investigating."
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Cops: Boy Steals School Bus, Takes It Home
OWEGO, N.Y. (AP) - Police say a 15-year-old boy stole a bus from school and then led officers on a chase that ended at his home in a neighboring county.
A school employee called police around to report the theft.
While the initial report was being taken, the bus zipped past a Broome County sheriff's deputy on patrol. The deputy started to pursue the bus but the driver wouldn't pull over.
A state trooper set up a tire deflation device in Tioga County but the bus kept going.
Police say the 10-mile chase finally ended when Michael Beckett pulled into the driveway of his home in the town of Owego. Officers apprehended Beckett after he ran from the school bus.
Authorities say charges are pending. Beckett was released to a parent.
OWEGO, N.Y. (AP) - Police say a 15-year-old boy stole a bus from school and then led officers on a chase that ended at his home in a neighboring county.
A school employee called police around to report the theft.
While the initial report was being taken, the bus zipped past a Broome County sheriff's deputy on patrol. The deputy started to pursue the bus but the driver wouldn't pull over.
A state trooper set up a tire deflation device in Tioga County but the bus kept going.
Police say the 10-mile chase finally ended when Michael Beckett pulled into the driveway of his home in the town of Owego. Officers apprehended Beckett after he ran from the school bus.
Authorities say charges are pending. Beckett was released to a parent.
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Man Nabbed After 140 Mph Motorcycle Chase
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) - A man who admitted fleeing authorities on a motorcycle at breakneck speeds was arrested Wednesday after stopping at a California Highway Patrol office to report the bike stolen, the CHP said.
Alvaro Rodriguez, 26, was spotted speeding on his 2003 Yamaha on Tuesday, and as CHP officers chased him he accelerated up to 100 mph on surface streets and above 140 mph on freeways, CHP Officer Wendy Hahn said.
In the televised pursuit, the cycle could be seen weaving in and out of traffic and at one point entering a freeway on an exit ramp as vehicles dodged it.
Authorities monitored the cycle from a helicopter and the seven-minute pursuit ended when the rider parked at a Glendale mall and eluded sheriff's deputies inside, Hahn said.
On Wednesday, Rodriguez walked in to the West Valley CHP station to report that his bike had been stolen. But after questioning, he confessed he had been driving it and apologized, Hahn said.
"He also said he was scared traveling at such high speed," she said. "He thought he was going to die."
Rodriguez was booked Wednesday on charges including evading arrest, filing a false police report and perjury. He was being held on $75,000 bail and was expected to appear in Superior Court on Friday, Hahn said.
Rodriguez was wanted on an arrest warrant for a previous speeding ticket, she said, adding that he held two suspended drivers licenses.
The CHP initially called the suspect in the breakneck pursuit "the one that got away" but Hahn noted triumphantly Wednesday: "That's the Highway Patrol — we get our man."
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) - A man who admitted fleeing authorities on a motorcycle at breakneck speeds was arrested Wednesday after stopping at a California Highway Patrol office to report the bike stolen, the CHP said.
Alvaro Rodriguez, 26, was spotted speeding on his 2003 Yamaha on Tuesday, and as CHP officers chased him he accelerated up to 100 mph on surface streets and above 140 mph on freeways, CHP Officer Wendy Hahn said.
In the televised pursuit, the cycle could be seen weaving in and out of traffic and at one point entering a freeway on an exit ramp as vehicles dodged it.
Authorities monitored the cycle from a helicopter and the seven-minute pursuit ended when the rider parked at a Glendale mall and eluded sheriff's deputies inside, Hahn said.
On Wednesday, Rodriguez walked in to the West Valley CHP station to report that his bike had been stolen. But after questioning, he confessed he had been driving it and apologized, Hahn said.
"He also said he was scared traveling at such high speed," she said. "He thought he was going to die."
Rodriguez was booked Wednesday on charges including evading arrest, filing a false police report and perjury. He was being held on $75,000 bail and was expected to appear in Superior Court on Friday, Hahn said.
Rodriguez was wanted on an arrest warrant for a previous speeding ticket, she said, adding that he held two suspended drivers licenses.
The CHP initially called the suspect in the breakneck pursuit "the one that got away" but Hahn noted triumphantly Wednesday: "That's the Highway Patrol — we get our man."
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Fort Worth school vandalized, set on fire
By JIM DOUGLAS / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - A group of teens allegedly vandalized a Fort Worth school and then started a fire before being caught when officers responded to an alarm.
Police said the vandals, all said to be gang members and as young as 13, broke into S.S. Dillow Elementary in southeast Fort Worth Thursday night.
They came with bolt cutters and a crowbar, knocked a window out and headed into the gym for a little recreation. The group spray-painted gang signs, ripped down a water fountain and set an office on fire.
"One of the suspects said 'we needed some money', another said there's a school down the road, (and) one thing led to another," said Sgt. Bill Beall of the Fort Worth Police Gang Unit.
Police led away the five teens after catching them wheeling away stolen school computer equipment in a recycling bin. Officers spotted them while responding to the alarm set off by the office fire, so the suspects essentially called the police on themselves.
"Obviously they weren't thinking this through very clearly," Beall said.
Firefighters contained the blaze to one room. Investigators believe the teens drenched papers and books with WD-40, and set the pile ablaze.
Beall tried to explain it to the mother of one of the young suspects, who asked, "Why would they do something so stupid?"
"I said, 'ma'am, I can't answer that question,'" Beall said.
One of the suspects told officers they lit a fire because they couldn't see, but police don't buy that. They said a lightbulb would have drawn a lot less attention.
By JIM DOUGLAS / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - A group of teens allegedly vandalized a Fort Worth school and then started a fire before being caught when officers responded to an alarm.
Police said the vandals, all said to be gang members and as young as 13, broke into S.S. Dillow Elementary in southeast Fort Worth Thursday night.
They came with bolt cutters and a crowbar, knocked a window out and headed into the gym for a little recreation. The group spray-painted gang signs, ripped down a water fountain and set an office on fire.
"One of the suspects said 'we needed some money', another said there's a school down the road, (and) one thing led to another," said Sgt. Bill Beall of the Fort Worth Police Gang Unit.
Police led away the five teens after catching them wheeling away stolen school computer equipment in a recycling bin. Officers spotted them while responding to the alarm set off by the office fire, so the suspects essentially called the police on themselves.
"Obviously they weren't thinking this through very clearly," Beall said.
Firefighters contained the blaze to one room. Investigators believe the teens drenched papers and books with WD-40, and set the pile ablaze.
Beall tried to explain it to the mother of one of the young suspects, who asked, "Why would they do something so stupid?"
"I said, 'ma'am, I can't answer that question,'" Beall said.
One of the suspects told officers they lit a fire because they couldn't see, but police don't buy that. They said a lightbulb would have drawn a lot less attention.
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Drunken man tries to ride lawn mower to grocery store
DELHI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (Court TV) - Late-night cravings are nothing unusual, but Joseph Mundy's munchies landed him in trouble.
The Ohio man was arrested and charged with DUI after attempting to ride his lawn mower to the grocery store.
According to Delhi Township Police Lieutenant Richard Ideker, Mundy, 23, and a friend had allegedly been drinking. At about 3 a.m., they decided that they were hungry and planned a trip to a local grocery store.
Mundy, who had a suspended license, drove the lawn mower without headlights and almost collided with a police vehicle patrolling the area.
The officer conducted a field sobriety test, which both men failed, Ideker said. Mundy reportedly told the officer that he was heading for the store because he had the munchies.
Mundy was taken to the police station, where his blood-alcohol level was recorded at .189. The legal limit in Ohio is .08.
The suspect was charged with driving under suspension and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was cited and released, while his lawn mower was impounded. His friend was not charged.
DELHI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (Court TV) - Late-night cravings are nothing unusual, but Joseph Mundy's munchies landed him in trouble.
The Ohio man was arrested and charged with DUI after attempting to ride his lawn mower to the grocery store.
According to Delhi Township Police Lieutenant Richard Ideker, Mundy, 23, and a friend had allegedly been drinking. At about 3 a.m., they decided that they were hungry and planned a trip to a local grocery store.
Mundy, who had a suspended license, drove the lawn mower without headlights and almost collided with a police vehicle patrolling the area.
The officer conducted a field sobriety test, which both men failed, Ideker said. Mundy reportedly told the officer that he was heading for the store because he had the munchies.
Mundy was taken to the police station, where his blood-alcohol level was recorded at .189. The legal limit in Ohio is .08.
The suspect was charged with driving under suspension and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. He was cited and released, while his lawn mower was impounded. His friend was not charged.
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Police: Thief dropped wallet at crime scene
HARRISON, Ark. (Court TV) - Police in Harrison, Ark., may not have Thomas Ernest Smith in their jurisdiction, but they're keeping a cell waiting for him.
Smith, 19, allegedly robbed a Good Samaritan on June 7, but accidentally left his wallet at the crime scene.
According to Harrison Police Chief Lyle Smith (no relation), the incident occurred when the victim allowed Smith into his home to use a telephone.
"This is a trusting community and if you're a stranger who needs to use a phone, nine out of 10 residents will let you into their homes," the Chief said.
The phone was located in the bedroom, where Smith allegedly spotted the man's wallet on the bed, snatched the wallet and then hit the man several times in the face before grabbing $100 from the wallet and fleeing. But Smith dropped his own wallet during the altercation.
When police arrived at the scene, the man handed them Smith's wallet, which had his Texas state ID card and a birth certificate. Officers were able to get the suspect's Social Security number and address.
Although Harrison Police circulated Smith's picture in the local media, they have been unable to locate him. But the police chief said the suspect's information has been added to a national police database.
"If he's stopped or arrested in another area, law enforcement authorities there will see that he's wanted in Harrison, Arkansas."
HARRISON, Ark. (Court TV) - Police in Harrison, Ark., may not have Thomas Ernest Smith in their jurisdiction, but they're keeping a cell waiting for him.
Smith, 19, allegedly robbed a Good Samaritan on June 7, but accidentally left his wallet at the crime scene.
According to Harrison Police Chief Lyle Smith (no relation), the incident occurred when the victim allowed Smith into his home to use a telephone.
"This is a trusting community and if you're a stranger who needs to use a phone, nine out of 10 residents will let you into their homes," the Chief said.
The phone was located in the bedroom, where Smith allegedly spotted the man's wallet on the bed, snatched the wallet and then hit the man several times in the face before grabbing $100 from the wallet and fleeing. But Smith dropped his own wallet during the altercation.
When police arrived at the scene, the man handed them Smith's wallet, which had his Texas state ID card and a birth certificate. Officers were able to get the suspect's Social Security number and address.
Although Harrison Police circulated Smith's picture in the local media, they have been unable to locate him. But the police chief said the suspect's information has been added to a national police database.
"If he's stopped or arrested in another area, law enforcement authorities there will see that he's wanted in Harrison, Arkansas."
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Car burglar gets locked in trunk
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (Court TV) - When authorities from the Fresno County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a man locked inside the trunk of a car, they assumed that the man was a possible victim of a crime.
Instead, they found an unlucky car burglar trapped inside the car he'd tried to rob.
Lieutenant Toby Rien said Miguel Rivera, 26, broke into two vehicles in the parking lot of an apartment complex at about 4 a.m. on April 24. After Rivera successfully burglarized the first car, he broke into the trunk of the second car and crawled in to remove its contents. In the process, the burglar accidentally kicked the roof of the trunk, which then slammed shut.
A security guard passing through the parking lot heard the man's cries for help coming from the locked trunk and contacted the Sheriff's Department.
Deputies freed the trapped man, but noted that he had cuts on his arms. They followed a blood trail from the second car to the first car, which had sustained damages from Rivera's initial burglary attempt, Lt. Rien said.
Rivera was arrested and taken to a hospital for treatment. He was later charged and booked on two counts of burglary and giving false information to a police officer.
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (Court TV) - When authorities from the Fresno County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a man locked inside the trunk of a car, they assumed that the man was a possible victim of a crime.
Instead, they found an unlucky car burglar trapped inside the car he'd tried to rob.
Lieutenant Toby Rien said Miguel Rivera, 26, broke into two vehicles in the parking lot of an apartment complex at about 4 a.m. on April 24. After Rivera successfully burglarized the first car, he broke into the trunk of the second car and crawled in to remove its contents. In the process, the burglar accidentally kicked the roof of the trunk, which then slammed shut.
A security guard passing through the parking lot heard the man's cries for help coming from the locked trunk and contacted the Sheriff's Department.
Deputies freed the trapped man, but noted that he had cuts on his arms. They followed a blood trail from the second car to the first car, which had sustained damages from Rivera's initial burglary attempt, Lt. Rien said.
Rivera was arrested and taken to a hospital for treatment. He was later charged and booked on two counts of burglary and giving false information to a police officer.
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Woman Accused of Attacking Snoring Husband
FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A woman upset about her husband's snoring is accused of stabbing him with a pen and hitting him with a dumbbell to wake him up. DeAnn Miller-Boschert, 45, was charged Thursday with simple assault, a misdemeanor.
Police Sgt. Jeff Skuza said the woman first poured water on her husband early Thursday morning, but that did not wake him up.
"She then stabbed him with a pen in the arm twice," Skuza said. "After he went back to sleep after the pen thing, she woke him up again with a workout weight."
Skuza said the man called police from a convenience store at around 4 a.m. Thursday. He was not seriously hurt and did not seek medical attention, Skuza said.
Skuza said the man had "two fresh puncture marks" from the pen but showed no signs of being hit with the 3-pound dumbbell.
"He did have some scratches on his shoulders and arms that he said were from previous attacks," Skuza said.
Officers said Miller-Boschert told them she wanted her husband to sleep on his side, to prevent him from snoring. She was taken to the Cass County Jail pending a court appearance Friday.
Skuza said the man returned to his home.
"I assume he went back to sleep," Skuza said.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) - A woman upset about her husband's snoring is accused of stabbing him with a pen and hitting him with a dumbbell to wake him up. DeAnn Miller-Boschert, 45, was charged Thursday with simple assault, a misdemeanor.
Police Sgt. Jeff Skuza said the woman first poured water on her husband early Thursday morning, but that did not wake him up.
"She then stabbed him with a pen in the arm twice," Skuza said. "After he went back to sleep after the pen thing, she woke him up again with a workout weight."
Skuza said the man called police from a convenience store at around 4 a.m. Thursday. He was not seriously hurt and did not seek medical attention, Skuza said.
Skuza said the man had "two fresh puncture marks" from the pen but showed no signs of being hit with the 3-pound dumbbell.
"He did have some scratches on his shoulders and arms that he said were from previous attacks," Skuza said.
Officers said Miller-Boschert told them she wanted her husband to sleep on his side, to prevent him from snoring. She was taken to the Cass County Jail pending a court appearance Friday.
Skuza said the man returned to his home.
"I assume he went back to sleep," Skuza said.
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