Bon Jovi lead guitarist, Richie Sambora, has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence. The arrest came after he had been seen driving erratically in his black Hummer in Laguna Beach. There were three passengers in the vehicle with the rock star, two of them minors; none of them have been named.

It's rather ironic that Bon Jovi's last album was entitled Lost Highway,which the band are currently on tour to publicize. He really needs to get off that Bad Medicine.

Sambora said on the Today show that he checked into detox but that he missed rehab. Guess where he's going next!

Showbuzz

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:34 AM | Permalink

A deputy sheriff who slapped another deputy's backside has been slapped in return - with a 45 day suspension from duty. It may seem a harsh penalty for a seemingly trivial crime, but the slappee quit his post after the slapper slapped him.

The slapper's attorney is quoted as saying, "It's like executing somebody for blowing their nose and not washing their hands."

Yes, quite...

UPI

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:26 AM | Permalink

David F. Vanhousin crashed into a woman's car and 'fled' from th scene. Just a short time later, police received reports about a possibly drunk driver, who was swerving all over the road. A couple of cops on their way home saw the car in question and tucked in behind it to follow the driver home. The car was going at just 10mph when the emergency brake lights went on. The driver didn't stop, so the police, unsuccessfully, tried to stop the car using spike strips. The guy just continued driving and the cops just continued following. By this time, more cops had joined the, er, chase. Eventually, the guy stopped dead in the middle of the road - and then continued to drive again.

Police were ready for him the next time he stopped - an officer just walked up to the car and took the keys from the ignition.

Of course, it was David Vanhousin of the earlier hit and run (or should that be hit and stroll?).

Police found crack cocaine in the vehicle, which had been stolen from the motor repair shop where Vanhousin worked.

Vanhousin faces charges for failing to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, driving while impaired and vehicle theft.

Tennessean.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:21 AM | Permalink

Now here's a story about a big, brave man.


Paul Vickers had wife problems - it happens in the best and the worst of marriages and it just happened to be the state of play in the Vickers' marriage. Apparently there was some sort of long running dispute, and Mr Vickers was angry with Mrs Vickers.

So, big brave Paul Vickers shot the cat. Well, you would wouldn't you - the Mrs upsets you, you shoot the bloody cat.

Mr Vickers is being held at the Boulder County Jail on $25,000 bond. He faces charges of felony animal abuse, domestic violence and harassment.

Mrs Vickers will never forgive him.

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:12 AM | Permalink

There was excitement of a very non-British kind at an old people's home in Staffordshire, England, yesterday. Seventy-five year old, Eugene Hide, just had to do something to bring attention to the fact that the home, where he has lived for the three years since his wife died, is closing down. Cue Gunfight at the Rosenheath Rest Home.

The old boy whizzed up and down corridors of the home on his trusty stead, er motorized scooter, brandishing a plastic gun. The emergency services were called and they arrived as a fully tooled up response unit, evacuating all 25 residents of the home.

Eugene was questioned and released without charge. Afterwards he told other residents that he was sorry for "getting a bit excited."

Currently, all is okay at the Corral.

The Sun

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:48 AM | Permalink

In Missouri, a man accidentally killed his wife when he was installing a satellite system. He had tried without success to punch a hole into the wall that would take the cable from the outside dish. In desperation, he used his .22 caliber handgun to make the hole by shooting two rounds into the wall. Unfortunately, his wife was standing on the other side of the wall. She died from her injuries later, and he is looking at a charge of manslaughter.

Bloody men. How many times had she told him to use logic rather than brute force, I wonder.

Daily Mail

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:27 AM | Permalink

An orchard worker who telephoned police to report that he had been raped by a wombat has been sentenced to 75 hours community service.

In the telephone call, Arthur Craddock, aged 48, told police he was being raped by a wombat at his Motueka address, and sought their immediate help. Earlier on the same day, he had telephoned the police communications center threatening that he would 'smash the filth' if they arrived at his home that night.

In a follow up to the rape call, Craddock called police to say, "I'll retract the rape complaint from the wombat, because he's pulled out." He then went on to tell the operator, "Apart from speaking Australian now, I'm pretty all right you know, I didn't hurt my bum at all."

Police prosecutor, Chris Stringer, said that alcohol had played a big part in Craddock's life.

No, really!

Stuff.co.nz

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:13 AM | Permalink

In Scotland, police were called to investigate reports of a man in the street who was wearing underwear that partly exposed his genitals. Turned out he had his thong on back to front. Adults were concerned because it was school-chucking-out time and youngsters were passing the partially clad man.

Police later said that there was no sexual element involved in the display - the guy was just drunk. He is reported to have said, "I was just feeding the birds and if I was wanting to do that I would just go down town and get a whore."

Easy as that eh?

BBC

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:59 AM | Permalink

Even after all these years, the surviving members of The Doors are squabbling. Having split up after Jim Morrison's death; they are still involved in legal wrangling.

Drummer John Densmore has been involved in legal battle with guitarist Robby Krieger and keyboardist Ray Manzarek over their use of the name "The Doors of the 21st Century." A judge eventually told them to stop using that name.

According to court papers, the Densmore lawsuit cost Manzarek and Doors Touring, Inc. more than $3 million in legal fees. Amid that fight, Manzarek filed a commercial liability insurance policy that includes a clause protecting against advertising injury, which refers to losses from things such as slander, libel and privacy infringement.

Manzarek notified his insurers of the Densmore suite, but they refused coverage. However, this decision was overruled in the court of appeals, with the advice that the lower court should review the previous ruling.

Morrison will be turning in his grave. The phrase "Doors of the 21st Century" is a contradiction in terms.

Reuters

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:10 AM | Permalink

When 18 year old Ruben Zarate went to rob a store at gunpoint, he was told by the staff that only the manager had access to the safe and he wasn't in the store.

With a flash of brilliance, Zarate came up with a solution to the problem. He gave shop staff his cellphone number and asked them to phone him when the manager arrived. He then left and waited for the staff to call him.

The staff, quite understandably, decided to call 911 instead. Then the police called the robber back on his cellphone to tell him that the manager had arrived with the key to the safe.

Zarate returned to the shop, gun at the ready, only to be shot in the leg by the police. He was charged with three counts of attempted armed robbery and one count of aggravated assault to a police officer, the latter for allegedly pointing a gun at the officer.

WBBM

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:02 AM | Permalink

Actually, the characters in this one may well be too young to be called criminals, but they sure are well on their way!

In South Florida, a grandmother is recovering from injuries after one of the five children she was baby-sitting put two aerosol spray cans into the oven and blew up part of the kitchen.

The explosion blew off the oven door and sent flames across the woman's legs, arms and chest. The fire then spread to other parts of the kitchen.

It's not yet clear which child put the cans into the oven or who turned the oven on. The children will be sent to the Broward County's Juvenile Firesetter Prevention and Intervention program to teach them about the dangers of fires and explosives. (I don't think they need any lessons, do you?)

The woman was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Fox news

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 01:12 PM | Permalink

Glenn Irvin Sparling, 65, drove a vehicle into the post office on Sunday but the engine stopped running, so he went home to get another vehicle, this time a red vintage sports care, and drove that vehicle into the post office as well.

A deputy started to give chase when Starling made his first drive thru, and the chase finally ended after his second drive thru.

The wall of the post office now has a hole 8 foot by 8 foot - so if it wasn't a drive thru before, it sure is now!

Apparently, Sparling has a history of damaging post office buildings. He now faces numerous counts, including felony charges of vehicular fleeing, criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage. He is also charged with DWI, and authorities said federal charges are possible.

Yes - but Ravenden Springs now has a drive thru post office - whether they wanted one or not.

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 12:59 PM | Permalink

In Crewe, England, a juror has been discharged from a rape case after visiting the john. He was caught smoking cannabis in crown court toilets. A policeman who was visiting the court became suspicious about the smell of dope coming from the public toilets. Upon investigation, a 46 year old male juror was found smoking a joint and was immediately arrested.

High Times

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:08 AM | Permalink

WELL, IT CAN BE IF YOU DRINK IT BY THE BOX FULL!
A hotel employee called the emergency services Saturday afternoon to report she'd just helped a man who was passed out in the hallway to his room. The woman said the 42-year-old Bremerton man was unconscious in the hallway and smelled "fruity." He had a bag with liquid in it and told her not to call police.

However, the woman did call the police and the attending officer found the man lying on the bed. The man didn't respond to the officer at first and his eyes were half open; by his side was an empty 3 liter box of wine.

Now, get this bit: Medics were called to the room and took the man to the hospital for intoxication.

Why did they take him to the hospital for intoxication, when he was so obviously able to intoxicate himself!

Kitsap Sun

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:01 AM | Permalink

In Sydney, Australia, a man has been caught with more than 800 ecstasy tablets stuffed down the front of his pants. The value of his pant contents was estimated as being Australian $35,000 (about US$ 31,500) - maybe that's one guy whose pants I wouldn't mind getting into. Just for the resale value, you understand.

He was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. I want to know how big his underpants were!

Sidney Morning Herald

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:51 AM | Permalink

BUT COULD YOU COME BACK AND SERVE ANOTHER YEAR IN PRISON PLEASE?

Sara Jane Olson, a former member of the Symbionese Liberation Army, was released on parole from prison last week.
This week she has been asked to return to serve another year! The reason? A 2004 miscalculation had resulted in the militant being released a year too early.

Olson, 61, was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday night and told her right to leave the state had been rescinded. She will be returned to the same prison in central California that she walked out of Monday and will not be eligible for release until March 17, 2009

If this had happened two weeks later it would have made a wonderful April Fools trick.

MSNBC

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:42 AM | Permalink

Apparently, Gianna Didiana, aged 17, was extremely upset when Judge Dana McReynolds imposed a $2,000 speeding fine on her. I'd have thought that if she could get to 17 years of age with a name like that, she could deal with anything. Gianna Didiana - it makes me think of the Clapping Song, you remember the one:

3, 6, 9 The goose drank wine
The monkey chew tobacco on the streetcar line
The line broke, the monkey got choked
And they all went to heaven in a little rowboat

It sure is a day for digressing today, back to the speeding fine:

An Illinois State Police trooper was coming off the Geneseo exit onto Interstate 80 eastbound on Jan. 21 when Ms. Didiana drove past the state trooper in a Mercedes Benz at 120mph!

For doing 55mph over the speed limit, Gianna Didiana was fined $2,000, sentenced to 240 hours community service and, get this, had to go to jail for 6 hours.

That's why this is also filed under Dumb Justice - 6 hours, what on earth will that achieve! Should have sent her to heaven in a little rowboat...

Quad Cities Online

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:51 AM | Permalink

To Eric Clapton, BB King, and other guitar heroes of my generation, Gibson guitars are certainly celebrities - so I think I can just about get away with this one!

Gibson Guitar announced yesterday that it had filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Viacom Inc's MTV networks and Harmonix, as well as Electronic Arts, about the "Guitar Hero" video games. These stunningly popular games allow, nay encourage, those air guitarists among us. You are provided with a plastic guitar shaped thingie, which you play in time to the notes on the television screen. Just in case you're interested, my rendition of the old Bon Jovi number, Sweet Child of Mine has to be seen to be believed.

I digress.

Gibson said the games violate a 1999 patent for technology to simulate a musical performance. Harmonix developed the first "Guitar Hero" game and was later bought by MTV. Electronic Arts and another company, Activision Inc, as well as several retailers, either develop, distribute or sell one or several of the games in the "Guitar Hero" series.

Harmonix have given a metaphorical finger to Gibson by saying, 'This lawsuit is completely without merit and we intend to defend it vigorously.' EA have declined to comment.

Activision licensed the rights to model its video controllers on Gibson guitar models and to use their likenesses in the game. The company has said that by waiting three years to raise its claim, Gibson had granted an implied license for any technology.

Reuters

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:25 AM | Permalink

The owners of a tarot card fortune telling business decided they wanted to maximize their profits, so they convinced folk who bought readings from them that they were under a dreadful curse.

Of course, that curse could only be lifted by submitting themselves to some very expensive counseling - like thousands of dollars-worth.

Maybe they should have read their own future in the cards, perhaps then they would have seen that they were about to be charged with allegedly defrauding their customers.

Tracy Tan is charged with eight felony counts, including theft, forgery and possession of fraudulent identification. Eric Tan is charged with felony possession of fraudulent ID. They were being held at the county jail Monday in lieu of $750,000 bail each. They're scheduled to appear in court April 7.

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:27 AM | Permalink

Some folk have some very strange priorities. Take the shoplifter from Holland, who got away with his swag but left his son behind!

Having stolen a packet of meat, the man made a quick getaway - alone - his poor 12 year old son was left behind in the rush. Rather a large and unmissable piece of evidence, don't you think?

The police managed to contact the thief from information given by the boy, but the father refused to return to collect his son; he told officers to call the boy's mother instead.

Maybe his conscience pricked him - he gave himself up later on the same day.

News.com.au

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:20 AM | Permalink

23-year-old Tony Pelayo is accused of eating marijuana to hide it from the cops.

When officers arrived at Pelayo's home in response to complaints about a loud party, they say they found two marijuana joints, which Pelayo quickly took. When asked by officers to hand them over, Pelayo said he couldn't because he ate the evidence. He then proceeded to show police a leafy green smile.

Pelayo was arrested for destroying evidence. Well, they made a hash of that one, didn't they!

First Twelve News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 12:33 PM | Permalink

British author Sebastian Horsley was denied entry into the US yesterday on the grounds of 'moral turpitude.' The author of Dandy in the Underworld, his autobiography that details his sex and drug addictions, said he thought that the problem might have been his flamboyant dress and top hat.

I don't suppose for one minute that his exclusion could have anything to do with his admissions about sleeping with more than 1,000 prostitutes, working as a male escort, or being in and out of rehab to treat drug addiction. Or his staged self-crucifixion in the Philippines in 2000.

Horsley's parting shot, as he was loaded on a plane bound for the UK was, "God bless America, land of the free, but sadly not the home of the depraved."

You read it here first folks!

Reuters

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 12:24 PM | Permalink

Heather Mills yesterday professed herself to be happy with her divorce settlement from ex Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney. Okay, she gave out mixed messages, I mean, if she was so happy why did she throw a jug of water over Sir Paul's lawyer's head? Never mind, I thought, let's give her the benefit of the doubt.

Then today, details of the trial were published and poor (sorry, rich) old Heather doesn't come out of it too well.

The Judge in the trial said that Heather Mills gave "inconsistent and inaccurate" evidence, and said that she was a less than impressive witness.

Still, if being less than impressive gets you $34,000 for each day of a four-year marriage, perhaps she's not as stupid as she looks.

Reuters

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:52 AM | Permalink

A 36 year old man from Adelaide in Australia called police to complain that six men had smashed a window and were breaking into his home. It was 3.30 in the morning. He went on to say that the men were "stealing portions of the plants" that were growing inside the house.

By the time the police attended the scene, the intruders were nowhere to be seen.

Police later returned with a drug warrant and found six cannabis plants growing hydroponically in two rooms of the house.

The house-owner was charged with growing cannabis for sale.

Now, that's what you call a dope!

News.com.au

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:45 AM | Permalink

NONETHELESS, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE HE'S NUTS TOO!

Police in Pennsylvania said that they've arrested a naked man who ran amok on Friday, attacking businesses near a resort area.

A supermarket and the nearby Willow Valley Resort hotel are assessing the damage. Authorities said some office space at the hotel was trashed, a forklift was driven into an interior wall, and an overhead sewer pipe was damaged.

Police said the man then entered a nearby market, and threw a 300-pound pizza oven to the floor. Among other equipment damaged in the incident -- which was captured on surveillance cameras -- was a $90,000 meat-wrapping machine.

The 28-year-old suspect had reportedly been a guest at the resort.

He's now charged with risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, open lewdness and other counts. He's been held in Lancaster County Prison on $200,000 bail. And I hope his nuts are no longer visible.

Local6.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:00 PM | Permalink

David John Campbell, 41, of Fort Pierce was seen walking completely naked on northbound U.S. 1 and was apprehended by a deputy at 6 in the morning, just as the school buses were taking to the road. When questioned, Campbell said that he was under the instructions of Jesus, who had told him to take a stroll.

The police, of course, weren't fooled - they could clearly see he's nuts.

TC Palm

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 02:24 PM | Permalink

Legal eagle readers of this blog might find the following story a little to close to home... if you have a sensitive character, you should move swiftly on.

A root vegetable was at the root of a bomb scare at a law office that lasted for hours. An employee at the office (name withheld to protect the not so innocent) called 911 last week after opening a U.S. Postal Service box and finding a suspicious gift bag inside.

The bomb squad were called, and they brought in a robot to carry the package outside to the parking lot. X-rays showed no signs of an explosive, but bomb technicians decided to detonate the package with a water cannon just to be safe.

After that, they opened the box.

They found a turnip, wrapped in lettuce-green tissue paper inside a sandwich bag.

The intended recipient of the turnip bomb has not come forward for identification. Well he (or she) wouldn't would they.

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:57 AM | Permalink

The lady in this story is not a criminal, just criminally stupid!

The woman, who is unidentified, was clearing out a relatives belongings when she found what appeared to be a hand grenade. In the interests of safety, she took the grenade to the local police station, where she handed it in.

The police station was evacuated while officers waited for the bomb squad to come and take it away. Apparently, the grenade was live. Bomb Squad Supervisor, Lt. James Brandon, reports that, "when we countercharged it, it went boom."

I assume that 'boom' is a technical term.

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:45 AM | Permalink

Matthew Alexander Furness worked as a postman for Britain's Royal Mail before he was found guilty of stealing their postal packages.

When his bosses found an opened package in the postman's work van they became suspicious and set a trap. They planted a wrongly addressed DVD in his bag, which he should have dealt with as a 'mis sort' and sent to another office to deal with. The DVD never reappeared. Then, two months later, they planted wrongly addressed ladies lingerie and waited to see what would happen. A CCTV recording showed Furness turning items over to hide the address before keeping them for himself.

Okay, so the guy nicked a DVD, a bra, and some panties. So what?

Well, when he denied the charges, he was searched for evidence, and found to be wearing the panties - a racy little thong by all accounts.

He is, apparently, receiving counseling for matters in his past.

Dorset Echo

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 12:48 PM | Permalink

Christopher Allen Koch went to the Citizens & Northern Bank in Liberty with the intention of making a withdrawal. He didn't bank with Citizens and Northern - he just wanted to rob them. He arrived in the car park at about 11.40 a.m. and sat in his car in the bank's parking lot for a while. Then, at one minute past twelve exactly, he attempted his robbery. What a pity that the bank closed for the day at noon! Even more of a pity that the employees inside the bank had seen him in his car and taken down the license number.

Police found the vehicle at Koch's home, along with the gun used in the attempt, the ski mask and gloves; theycharged him with criminal attempted robbery and possessing instruments of a crime.

Sorry - can't resist it: what a Koch up!

Star Gazette

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 12:39 PM | Permalink

A Portland teenager has been charged with stealing a pet bunny and trying to extort money from the bunny's owner.

The 17 year old allegedly broke into the apartment of another teen, who apparently owed him $100, and stole his gray pygmy rabbit. The robber then telephoned the rabbit's owner, telling him that unless the debt was paid the bunny would get hurt.

Officers recovered the rabbit in good condition and the young robber faces charges of burglary and theft in connection with the break-in.

However, it appears that they're dealing with more than just a bunny terrorist here; the juvenile also faces charges of robbery, assault and terrorizing following a confrontation in which he allegedly stole another teen's skateboard, backpack and pocket money.

wmtw.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:44 AM | Permalink

Virgine Ujlaky is an Olympic fencer and she was practicing her swordplay when she saw burglar, Pal Nagy clambering in through a window of her house in a posh suburb of Budapest. Obviously, as he didn't stop to ring the doorbell, he was up to no good.

But he chose the wrong house! Just like Zorro, Ujlaky flashed her sword and had the crook pinned against the wall. Then, with the blade against his throat, the swordswoman reached for the phone and called police.

The burglar was arrested 20 minutes later, but he had to be treated for shock.

That's Zorro with a Z (well Ujlaky with a U doesn't have quite the same ring to it, does it).

Ananova

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:34 AM | Permalink

To be honest, I'm not sure if this falls under the heading of dumb criminal or not - although the police are involved and charges are possible. See what you think...

A 35-year-old woman sat on her boyfriend's toilet for so long that her skin grew around the seat! She apparently sat on the loo for two years!

Her boyfriend, who eventually called for assistance, said "She is an adult; she made her own decision. I should have gotten help for her sooner; I admit that. But after a while, you kind of get used to it."

Well, excuse me for being indelicate, but was there no sexual side to this relationship - or did that happen on the toilet too; and what about meal times? I'm afraid I find this all a bit beyond my comprehension.

Boyfriend, Kory McFarren, went on to say "It just kind of happened one day; she went in and had been in there a little while, the next time it was a little longer. Then she got it in her head she was going to stay — like it was a safe place for her." Apparently, the woman moved around in the bathroom during that time; she bathed and changed into the clothes he brought her, and he brought food and water to her. They had conversations and had an otherwise normal relationship — except it all happened in the bathroom.

Nah! I really don't get this!

The county attorney is to decide if any charges should be brought against McFarren. What charges are there, though, that would cover such an event? Okay, he should have gotten help sooner, but imagine a guy standing by you when you refuse to get off the pot or shit!

chron.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 03:01 PM | Permalink

On Monday last, Tauris Maurice Hart was supposed to stand trial for a robbery he committed last November, but he didn't turn up. That was because he was busy robbing a check-cashing business. He was caught a short time after escaping the scene of the crime in a taxi and his trial has been rescheduled.

This is double booking taken to extreme lengths, although I don't suppose you can fault Hart's work ethic.

GreenvileOnline.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:16 AM | Permalink

OR REPEAT CUSTOMER BENEFITS?

New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer, has resigned following the national humiliation of being exposed as the customer of a high-priced prostitution ring.

Spitzer made the announcement with his wife by his side, in body if not in spirit. During the interview the couple did not exchange glances or touch each other, even briefly.

Investigators said Tuesday that Spitzer was a repeat customer who spent tens of thousands of dollars — perhaps as much as $80,000 — with the prostitution service over an extended period of time.

It is supposed that Spitzer's own personal wealth went towards the cost of the prostitutes - well, that's okay then, as long as he wasn't spending public money!

An anonymous source tells us that the Governor had been caught spending $4,300 with the Emperors Club VIP call-girl service, with some of the money going toward a night with a prostitute named Kristen, and the rest being put aside for future services rendered.

Isn't it somewhat ironic that Spitzer was known as "Mr Clean" and the "Wall Street Sheriff" - and labeled as a sanctimonious bully.

Don't you just love it when hypocrites get their come uppance?

MSNBC

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:57 AM | Permalink

It was an ordinary Sunday night in Sydney, Australia, when two police officers saw a stolen silver Toyota driving erratically along the highway. As the car had allegedly been used in a nearby armed robbery, the two officers gave chase.

The woman driver and her male passenger had two collisions before smashing into a sign at a petrol station, at this point the driver made a run for it but she was caught by one of the officers. However, the male passenger managed to escape, before doubling back to the petrol station. Where he got into the empty police car and drove away.

Surprisingly, police chief Arthur Katsogiannis denied the force had been left red-faced by the theft, commenting that we need to put things into context put things in context and say what a good job the police officers did. He did, however, concede that police officer training stipulates the importance of removing the keys from the ignition.

smh.com.au

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:21 AM | Permalink

Marie Robinson, aged 77 from Delaware, was sure that the thief who broke into her house and menacingly demanded her purse knew full well that she had just won the jackpot at the local casino. What he didn't know though, was that Robinson used to be a deputy sheriff - and she fought back good and hard. It is evident that she still knows how to pack a punch because she reports that, after she had taken a swing at the robber, he was bleeding through his mask.

The crook did get away with Robinson's purse - but something else he didn't know was that it had nothing in it. Robinson had become suspicious about three men who followed her home from the casino and hidden her winnings.

That's two jackpots she won in a single day.

6abc

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:12 AM | Permalink

THEN TRIES TO SUE CASINO FOR $20 MILLION BECAUSE THEY BREACHED THEIR DUTY OF CARE!

Arelia Margarita Taveras was ambitious - a high flying lawyer and a television presenter who destressed by going to Atlantic Casinos. Eventually though, the gambling became a source of stress as it spun out of control, and the only way she could finance her addiction was by rifling her clients' accounts.

As the grip of gambling worsened, Taveras would go days at a time at the tables, not eating or sleeping, brushing her teeth with disposable wipes so she didn't have to leave. She says that her losses total about $1 million.

Now she's gambling in a different league - playing with the big boys. She is mounting a $20 million racketeering lawsuit in federal court against six Atlantic City casinos and one in Las Vegas, claiming they had a duty to notice her compulsive gambling problem and cut her off.

Having lost her law practice, her apartment, her parents' home, and got in debt to the IRS to the tune of $58,000, I suppose she feels there is nothing less to lose; she even considered swerving into oncoming traffic to kill herself.

I think it would be far less selfish if she was to jump from a tall building - swerving into oncoming traffic might kill other people too.

CB13

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:08 AM | Permalink

In Glasgow, Scotland, James Thomson wanted to inflate his rapidly reducing funds by robbing a bookies, but a bungled performance took the shine off the experience for him.

Thomson robbed the betting shop by hiding a can of furniture polish in a bag and pretending it was a gun. He cleaned up too, getting away with a fair amount of cash. Sadly though, as he fled the scene of the crime, he spilled money from his bags, attracting attention unwanted as he tried to make a getaway in his girlfriend's car.

When police eventually caught up with him, Thomson came clean immediately, confessing "I went into the bookies with a can of Pledge and chanced my arm." He went on to explain, "It wasn't armed robbery. I wasn't aggressive. I'm bankrupt. I needed the cash."

The police weren't moved by his plight though, not even when they discovered that he had already blown £674 of the proceeds at another bookies. Thomson ended up in court, where he admitted assault and robbery at a Ladbroke's shop; he was put on probation for three years and ordered to have therapy for his depression.

Just another shining example of Scottish manhood.

Daily Record

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:51 AM | Permalink

A 37 year old woman, known only as Mrs Wang, has set fire to more than 400 cell phones that were owned by her and her husband. Wang's fury erupted after her husband walked out on their marriage.

The couple had a successful mobile phone outlet and, in despair at her husband's desertion of her, Wang set fire to their entire stock of more than 400 new mobile phones before walking out of the house. The estimated value of the destroyed stock was $42,000.

Wang has been arrested for arson. There's a joke here somewhere about Wang winging the wong number - I'll let you work it out for yourself!

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:38 AM | Permalink

Thalia Logas, aged 80, apparently still likes to get behind the wheel of her automobile. Whether that is a wise move is up for debate!

On Wednesday last, Officer Daniel Snyder responded to a traffic accident at U.S. Highway 441 and Huffstetler Drive in Tavares and, when he got there, he found that Logas had 'improperly changed lanes, striking another car.' Snyder tried to issue Logas a citation for the improper lane change but, after she had refused seven times to sign it, he placed her under arrest.

According to an arrest affidavit, when Snyder tried to place the cuffs on Logas, she punched him several times in the chest and stomach. When the handcuffs were eventually in place, the elderly woman wriggled out of them and threw them from the car window.

Logas was taken to the Lake County Jail on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and refusing to sign a traffic citation.

Snyder was unharmed.

As Bette Davis memorably said, old age is no place for sissies!

Orlando Sentinel

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:25 AM | Permalink

Aron Pritchard told a detective he put his girlfriend's children in a clothes dryer because he wanted to show them they could have a good time without much money.

He said that he had been playing with the then 2-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy by rolling them around in a large cardboard barrel that served as a toy box. However, the strain of rolling the barrel made an old injury in his shoulder hurt and he was no longer able to play. Then he noticed that the dryer door was opened, which made him remember playing in an old dryer when he was a child. He said that he stayed at the opening with his hand on the kill switch while the children took turns riding in the machine. But,after about an hour of playing, the dryer heated up and gave the boy second-degree burns.

Apparently, hospital records showed that the boy had suffered repeated broken bones and was noticed to have poor hygiene.

Apparently,on the high settings, the dryer could reach between 240 and 260 degrees with the door closed. Any volunteers to take Pritchard for a bit of a spin? You know, just to show him how to have a good time without spending too much money.

Hutchinson

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:39 AM | Permalink

Back in December, when PGA tour golfer Tripp Isenhour, was filming a video segment for his television show "Shoot Like A Pro" he apparently killed a protected bird.

The bird, a red-shouldered hawk, was making such a noise that the crew had to do a second take. Isenhour tried to hit the bird, supposedly in an effort to silence it, from 300 yards away but he was unsuccessful. When the bird moved to another tree, just 75 yards away, Isenhour was heard to say "I'll get him now." And after taking about ten shots, he did just that - knocking the hawk out of the tree and causing it to fall 30' to the ground, where it lay bleeding from both nostrils. At this point, the golfer apparently said "I didn't think I would hit it." That's how you shoot like a pro, then.

The golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, was charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'target golf.'

Local6.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:22 AM | Permalink

Heidi Wisniewski, for making the punishment fit the crime.

Adam Clark, the son of Heidi Wisniewski, was pulled over for driving at 107 mph in a 55-mph zone. The police were not happy but it took a mom to really punish the boy.

For the next month, morning and evening, Clark will be standing outside of school carrying a sign that reads:

I was STUPID. I drove over 100 mph and got caught. Thank God! I could have killed me and my friends

The police couldn't have done any better.

11Alive.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:12 AM | Permalink

Officers investigating a burglary from a convenience store in Roseburg, Oregon, didn't have to work too hard to solve the crime; in fact, the crime sort of solved itself.

Earlier on the day of the robbery, two guys in cowboy garb offered the sheriff's deputies doughnuts, which (as all good officers would) they declined. However, when they went to investigate the burglary, theyfound that the missing items were cigarettes, candy, chewing gum, and doughnuts. To make their crime detecting even easier, there were cowboy boot footprints on the floor of the store.

Adam Hancock and his cousin, Vincent Whitely, were sentenced on theft and burglary charges. Hancock's attorney reported that his client had mental disabilities and was "easily led." Hancock told the judge he'd been drinking whiskey before the burglary and vowed to make restitution of $895.

My Way News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:35 AM | Permalink

Richard Schmidt, who has served on the Chicago police force for two years, now faces felony aggravated battery charges for allegedly striking two Forest Park officers as well as a paramedic. A $10,000 bond has been set.

Forest Park police responded to a call on Saturday night and were confronted by the sight of Schmidt jumping in the air and landing on tables with his back, purposely breaking them in the process. The officers arrested Schmidt for criminal damage to property. However, when the table-crusher arrived at the station he resisted instructions, elbowed an officer in the face, and attacked a sergeant. He then spat blood at a paramedic, before hitting him. At some stage in all of this activity, police used a taser to subdue the young officer.

Schmidt has been relieved of his police powers, and an investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority is pending,

Whatever happened to the philosophy behind the saying an officer and a gentleman?

Chicago Sun Times

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:17 AM | Permalink

Michael Hurst, from Birmingham (England, not Alabama!) is accused of breach of the peace under the Harassment Act of 1997. His crime? Allegedly using Facebook to harass ex-girlfriend Sophie Sladden. Hurst has pleaded not guilty and was granted conditional bail to stand charge later this month.

Hurst and Sladden's Facebook accounts have been deleted from the site.

In my day, to poke somebody had a totally different connotation!

The Register

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 10:04 AM | Permalink

Two Boston-area moms are being summoned to court after they got into a fistfight at Chuck E. Cheese when one woman's son "hogged" an arcade game from the other's 9-year-old birthday boy. Both women will be charged with simple assault and battery after they started shouting and scuffling at the birthday celebrations.

Apparently, things were so violent that police got a number of 911 calls and, when they responded, found one of the women with red marks on her upper chest.

More Chuck E. Punch than Chuck E. Cheese

MetroWest Daily News

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:28 AM | Permalink

Whatever you do, if you live in Beloit always return your library books on time!

Keely Givhan had the temerity to hang on to her books longer than she should have done and it cost her six days in jail!

Beloit Public Library director Dan Zack said when books aren't returned, the library sends three overdue notices. After the third notice, a citation is sent that could include a court date.

Givhan said she was in the process of moving so she never got the notices. She then had the misfortune to be pulled over for a traffic violation - the officer discovered her outstanding warrant and took her to jail.

Givhan said she and her family were unable to afford the fine imposed for the overdue books, so she was kept in jail for a total of six days.

Captain Bill Tyler said he realized that this might seem like an overreaction but insisted that, "a municipal fine is a municipal fine, and failure to pay for any reason can result in an arrest warrant being issued."

In England we call people like that 'Jobsworths' and Captain Bill Tyler is certainly in line for the Jobsworth of the Year Award!

Channel3000

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:14 AM | Permalink

After being caught in a compromising act with a vacuum cleaner, a building contractor came up with a novel excuse - he was, he says, just cleaning his underpants.

The man, who worked at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London, was supposed to be locking up the the building site where his firm is refurbishing administration offices. A stunned security guard stumbled upon him, finding him in the middle of a compromising act with the cleaner, Henry, which has a large smiley face painted on its front and a hose protruding from its "nose".

When later questioned by his employers, the man, who is Polish, said he was vacuuming his underpants, which is, apparently, "a common practice in Poland". In his defense, the blurb on Henry the Hoover's website does say that he's ready to go time and time again.

The Telegraph

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:26 AM | Permalink

Charles Morrison came home drunk and belligerent so, quite understandably, his teenage stepdaughter tried to eject him from the house. Morrison was not going to go easily: he cut telephone wires, punched holes in the wall, and manhandled the young girl. Eventually though, the girl succeeded in pushing her stepfather through the back door. Morrison wasn't done yet, however - he threw a garden gnome back in through the window.

The gnome hit the stepdaughter and caused a cut above her eye. Morrison was jailed on $25,000 bond, charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment.

I wouldn't be surprised if Morrison now has gnome home to go to.

thepittsburghchannel.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:16 AM | Permalink

WHEN INVESTIGATING A SUSPECTED DRUGS LAB...

It all started when a security firm responded to a burglar alarm at a house in Hamilton, New Zealand. On arrival at the site, they discovered a still , which they believed was being used for the manufacture of illegal drugs.

Acting on their tip-off, police arrived at the house mob handed. They descended on the site of the alleged factory in several marked and unmarked cars and cordoned off a section of the road, They were accompanied by firefighters.

This large accumulated group of public service workers must have been mightily embarrassed when the 'lady of the house' told them. "it's my husband's bloody ginger beer set-up."

Just another small beer day in Hamilton, New Zealand where, apparently, life is all pop and no fizz.

Stuff.co.nz

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:44 AM | Permalink

The 59 year old women was waiting patiently at a bus stop when she was assaulted by Justin John Boudin. He apparently yelled at the woman to show him some respect then, when she got out her mobile phone to call the police, he hit her around the face. An elderly gentleman tried to help the woman but Boudin hit him with a blue folder. Possibly realizing that he was in trouble, Boudin dropped the folder and ran from the scene.

Police found him because his name was in the folder - along with homework that he had completed for his anger management class.

Kentuck.com

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:03 AM | Permalink

Forget fake Cartier watches and designer perfumes, the latest fake designer accessory is a fake sports car - a Ferrari sports car. It only comes in one color, of course, Ferrari Red. Well it did, until the fifteen-person ring building them were rumbled.

The fake Ferrari team were, according to the police, very able, cobbling together their bargain basement merchandise using body parts from other makes of automobiles, such as chassis, roofs, hoods, trunks and doors. The parts were modified to look like out of production Ferrari classics and were sold for a fraction of the cost of the real thing. There's no question of 'dodgy dealing' - punters knew they were buying fake merchandise.

Police confiscated 21 cars, 14 of which had already been sold, and seven in production in Sicilian garages.

Hell - I want one!

Reuters

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:54 AM | Permalink

Scots teenager, Steve Marshall, has narrowly escaped being put on the sex offenders list after having simulated sex with the sidewalk.

Apparently, Marshall's arthritis medication is not totally compatible with drinking alcohol - as he graphically found out. Not only did he take down his pants and thrust at the sidewalk, he also performed what is described as 'a vile sex act' in front of a female taxi driver.

At Selkirk Sheriff's Court, Sheriff Drummond decided that Marshall's display was not sexually motivated and, therefore, he was not put on the sex offenders register; instead the sidewalk-thruster admitted a charge of public indecency for which he got 12 months probation.

The Sun

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:36 AM | Permalink