Nude Burglar

Authorities in Westminster, California, are searching for a burglary suspect found nude under a bed by a homeowner. Police said the suspect repeatedly apologized and put on his pants after he was discovered early Saturday. The man told the homeowner he was on drugs and ran from the house shirtless and wearing khaki pants. The homeowner told police he discovered the stranger when he heard “rustling sounds” coming from under the bed. Police determined the suspect got into the house by using a ladder found in a yard to climb through a second-story window.

Shoplifter Inspired By TV

Police in Skokie, Illinois, said a Nordstrom employee accused of stealing more than $30,000 in merchandise from the upscale store told them TV helped him hatch the plot. Police said Carlo Settecase was working as an overnight switchboard operator at the department store when he was caught on camera September 5th putting $30,000 worth of items into a mail tote and placing it in the mail room. He then took the tote home the following day. Police said Settecase told officers his crimes were inspired by the “The Sopranos,” “Dexter” and “Breaking Bad,” because the characters on those shows evaded capture.

 

R2-D2 Phone

Motorola and Verizon Wireless say features of the upcoming “Star Wars” themed version of the Droid 2 phone include an R2-D2 inspired design. Verizon said the R2-D2 Droid phone features a graphic design on the back of the phone featuring the “Star Wars” robot and comes pre-loaded with content, including notification sounds and ring tones of R2-D2’s famous robot language. Other pre-loaded features include “Star Wars” wallpapers, an R2-D2 clock widget and “The Best of R2-D2” video. The phone goes on sale today for $249, with an available $100 rebate for signing a two-year service agreement.

 

Police Dog Gets Laid Off

The financial situation is so bad in one western Pennsylvania city that even its police dog has been laid off. Jeannette City Council has voted to lay off nine workers of the city’s 47 workers effective October 5th. They include three of the city’s 12 police officers, including Officer Justin Scalzo, who handles the city’s drug-sniffing dog, Wando. The department is also losing its two meter maids and a secretary. Other layoffs involved trash collectors and public works employees. The city has a projected $440,000 budget shortfall.

 

Denver Firefighters Battle Flames, Fleeing Bedbugs

Denver firefighters ran into more than the normal hazards at a house fire. Crews responding to the blaze Wednesday also had to battle bedbugs. Lt. Phil Champagne of the Denver Fire Department said firefighters had to be decontaminated after going into an attic where items were infested with bedbugs. The bugs scurried away from the flames and latched on to firefighters’ equipment and gear. Some of the gear had to be bagged so the bugs wouldn’t get a free ride to the firehouse. There were no injuries, but the home was declared uninhabitable.

Couple Arrested For Sex At Good To Go

A couple was caught having sex outside a convenience store called Good To Go in Fort Meyers, Florida. George Pomfret, 49, and Brenda Prothero, 48, were arrested Sunday and charged with indecent exposure. Deputies said they found a naked Pomfret and half-naked Prothero having sex in plain view underneath a tree near the store. When a deputy told them to stop and get dressed, neither listened. Once the deputy announced who she was, the couple stopped and put on their clothes. The store manager told authorities the activity had gone on for more than an hour, within view of customers and their children.

Judge Hands Out Nutty Condoms

A district judge from Intercourse, Pennsylvania, hid condoms inside acorns and handed them out to women in the state Capitol complex last week. A summary charge of disorderly conduct was filed Tuesday against Isaac H. Stoltzfus, who presides over low-level cases as a district judge in Lancaster County. The citation from Capitol Police said the judge gave the acorns to unsuspecting women, who were offended when they discovered the contents.

Jailed For Christmas

A Montana judge running for the state Supreme Court has given a man accused of assaulting a woman a sentence with an unusual twist. District Court Judge Nels Swandal gave Daniel Martz a 10-year suspended sentence on Monday for a May 2009 attack in which Martz allegedly choked and hit a woman, and then tried to have her change her story. Swandal also ordered Martz to report to jail each December 15th through January 1st for the next five years. The judge said incarcerating Martz around the holidays will keep him out of trouble.

Courtroom Egg Thrower Sentenced

A suburban Chicago man who threw an egg at a judge in a courtroom has been sentenced to jail. Agim Demiri was sentenced Monday to 90 days behind bars. Demiri threw the egg on March 24th in a Wheaton courtroom. The raw egg missed the judge and hit a wall. The incident happened during a hearing over child support he owes his ex-wife and their two teenage children. He pleaded guilty last month to a felony charge of criminal damage to state supported property.

 

Man Loses Fight With Elmo

Police in Winter Park, Florida, said a man dressed as the “Sesame Street” character Elmo was physically attacked during a children’s event, but Elmo fought back. The Muppet-suited man, Jeramie Trespalacios, was performing Sunday at The Guitar Center when the attacker began throwing punches at him. Trespalacios, who was not injured, broke two of the attacker’s fingers, threw a few punches, and then tossed the man into a glass display case, head first. Officers were able to break up the fight before the kids saw what was going on. The attacker is undergoing a mental evaluation at a local hospital. Elmo was last seen headed down “Sesame Street.”

75 People Brawl At Tot’s Birthday

Elmwood Place, Ohio, police said it took officers from several agencies to bring a massive brawl at a tot’s birthday party under control early yesterday. Police said the 1 a.m. melee at Elmwood Eagles Hall resulted in five of the 75 people involved being hospitalized. About 30 children witnessed the brawl. None of the youngsters were injured. Punches and beer bottles were thrown after a dispute that began early Monday between a woman’s boyfriend and her ex-husband came to a head. Ramon Marcelo-Hernandez, the father of the 3-year-old birthday girl, was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct while intoxicated. Police said more arrests were expected.

Bedbug Lawsuit

In case you have noticed, we’re hearing an awful lot about bedbugs lately. Case in point: An Ellicott City, Maryland, couple has filed suit against their apartment complex’s owners for $500,000 for “significant emotional distress” resulting from one very wicked bedbug infestation. Orville Brown Jr. and Rebecca Brown say they and their toddler daughter were forced to move out of their apartment and throw out most of their belongings because the bedbug infestation was so severe. The lawsuit says the Browns were told that bedbugs had been found in an adjacent apartment and that their apartment would be treated as a precaution. They claim that treatment never occurred. All three suffered red, itchy welts and Rebecca is undergoing psychological therapy to deal with the trauma of the infestation.

Teen Takes Down Black Bear With Arrow

A 17-year-old Battle Creek, Michigan, girl began her big game hunting career by killing a 448-pound black bear with a bow and arrow from 16 yards away. High school senior Jessica Olmstead shot the bear during a hunting trip last month in Oba, Ontario. She said the bear was the first animal she’s killed with the new bow. Her father, Tim Olmstead, said his daughter eats the animals she hunts, including bear, and does not kill just for fun.

Bad Escape Plan

It’s not a good idea to go back to your drug stash if the cops are in hot pursuit of you. Deputies in Mendocino County, California, say three men spotted in a suspected stolen truck took off on foot and ran into a pot warehouse. Authorities seized 700 pounds of pot and arrested 19 people. The industrial building was full of drying plants and processed pot.

Man In Deep Doo Doo

A Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, man is recovering after being dumped into a 15-foot-deep manure pit. He was operating a skid loader that apparently tumbled over a chain-link fence. The equipment operator was rescued after about an hour. He climbed on top of the loader and waited for help. Authorities say the loader might have dumped him into the pit because of being too top heavy.

‘Where’s Waldo’ Arrest

The FBI arrested a man suspected of robbing an Oregon bank after the dummy posted a message on Facebook saying he did it. Ryan Homsley was busted last Friday and charged with robbing a Key Bank branch in suburban Tualatin, Oregon, on Tuesday. He’ll head to court after he’s released from the hospital. Homsley’s Facebook page said “I’m doing this to pay for my medical expenses… live for today!” His brother said Homsley has a serious drug problem and is a diabetic. He was dubbed the “Where’s Waldo” bandit, based on his appearance in surveillance photos.

Snack Wrapper Thieves

Here’s a story that takes the cake – snake cake. Wichita, Kansas, police say whoever stole a Little Debbie delivery truck left a trail of empty boxes and snack cake wrappers after abandoning the vehicle. The truck was taken around 4 a.m. yesterday morning from outside a Walmart store. The truck was driven into a shallow canal, but not before the thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of snacks, eating some of them and leaving a trail of wrappers. Police are still looking for the snack wrapper bandits.

Bart Simpson Kidnapped

A Bart Simpson statue has been stolen from outside a Massachusetts restaurant. The three-foot tall, 75-pound ceramic statue sitting on a park bench outside Leggos in Holbrook disappeared on September 19th. Owner Astrit Gorezi said the statue, which was chained down, was a popular topic of conversation with customers, and he wants it back. Gorezi bought the statue a few months ago for a few hundred bucks. Police are investigating, but so far have no suspects.

Runaway Poodle Delays Commuter Trains

A runaway poodle is to blame for a morning delay on some commuter trains in Oakland, California, last week. A Bay Area Rapid Transit agency spokesman said traffic heading in and out of the Lake Merritt station was halted for five to 10 minutes Thursday morning when the poodle pooch got out of a train, jumped onto the tracks and ran into a tunnel. The spokesman said the dog appeared to be traveling on its own. No passengers were spotted pursuing it. Transit police and BART station operators mounted an unsuccessful search for the pooch. It was last seen exiting the tracks above ground near West Oakland.

Horny Gator Tries To Make Love To Man

Even gators need a little love. Glenn Berger just wishes it wasn’t him. He says one of his worst days as the Golf Ball Man came when an amorous alligator climbed onto his back. Berger collects golf balls from the ponds on Florida courses. He says gators are one of the hazards of his profession. He said he scrambled out of a water trap, leaving the love-sick gator behind. The incident left Berger with a great story and about 4,000 golf balls. Some were worth only a few cents, but about 600 were Titleist Pro V1s and worth about $2 each, even though they were used.

Dumpster Diver Picked Up By Trash Truck

A suspected shoplifter in Alliance, Ohio, chose a pretty bad hiding spot – a dumpster. Police say they saw a man exiting through a side door of a Walmart with a shopping cart full of merchandise early Wednesday morning. The suspect, identified as James Brienzo, saw the cops and jumped into a dumpster to hide. When a garbage truck picked up the dumpster, Brienzo was inside. He called a friend for help using his cell phone. Meanwhile, police used the phone’s GPS system to track him and locate the garbage truck. Officers were unable to get him out of the dumpster, so the truck was taken to the Alliance Recycling Center and emptied there. Brienzo fell out of the truck with the garbage. “He was in a lot of pain,” according to one of the officers who witnessed the criminal dump. “He had been compacted several times. He was just begging us to empty the truck,” the officer added. Brienzo has been hospitalized and is in critical condition.

Man Allegedly Fathers 23 Kids

A Muskegon, Michigan, man who allegedly fathered 23 children with 14 women has been sent to prison for failing to pay child support. State prosecutors said Howard Veal owes more than $500,000. Kent County Circuit Judge Dennis Leiber said he was “stunned and amazed” by the case. The judge told Veal, “Animals procreate. Human beings are supposed to nurture their children.” Veal was sentenced to two-to-four years in prison last week, well above guidelines that called for six months in jail. The 44-year-old said he’s been out of work and pays what he can. He pleaded guilty in July to owing more than $60,000 to a woman in Grand Rapids. There are 14 child-support cases pending against Veal.

Man Gets 1 Million Dumplings For Karaoke Win

U.S. telephone engineer Edward Pimentel won 1 million dumplings for his performance at the World Karaoke Championships in Moscow. The Albuquerque resident won the dumplings for singing R&B standards, but he didn’t win the contest outright; he was named “audience favorite.” Assuming he can cram down 100 dumplings a day, every day, which is highly unlikely, Pimentel has enough to last him 27 years! Winners of the Karaoke World Championship are Sam Moudden in the men’s division and Maria Saarimaa-Ylitalo in the women’s division. Both are Finns.

Hearse Fans Happy In Hell

There weren’t enough hearses in Hell, Michigan, to set a world record for the largest procession of hearses, but participants had a blast anyway. The annual Just Hearse’N Around festival for hearse enthusiasts took place in Hell on Saturday with 43 of the vehicles taking part in the run from Hell to the Terrified Forest in Pinckney, Michigan. Organizers were hoping for 50 hearses, the minimum needed to set a new Guinness World Record. Rain was blamed for the smaller-than-hoped for turnout.

Parking Space Rage

Police in Athens, Georgia, said a man hit a father and his 3-year-old son with his car because they refused to move out of a parking space. Richard Junkins pulled up to the parking spot Sunday in a Ford Mustang and got into an argument with Ross Campbell, who was standing in the parking spot with his 3-year-old son. "Campbell refused to move and Junkins – after an exchange of words – continued pulling into the space," a police spokesman said. Campbell and his son were both struck by the vehicle, causing them to land on the hood of the car. The man and boy were not injured. Junkins was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and released after posting $22,020 bond.

Swiffer Swatter

A 71-year-old Spartanburg, South Carolina, man used a power Swiffer WetJet mop to chase off a masked intruder who ordered him to get down on the floor. Phillip Graham was cleaning the kitchen floor Wednesday night after he and his wife finished cutting each other’s hair. A man in a ski mask walked in the back door and appeared to be carrying a handgun. Graham said he used the WetJet like "a cattle prod" to chase the intruder from his property. Deputies said a K-9 dog traced the intruder’s scent to a nearby apartment complex. No suspect has been identified.

Woman Charged For Dropping Cat In Trash

British animal authorities said a woman who was videotaped throwing a cat into a trash bin was charged with two animal cruelty-related counts. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Mary Bale, 45, of Coventry, England, was videotaped stroking Lola, a 4-year-old cat, before grabbing her by the neck and dropping her in a trash bin. The RSPCA said the cat spent about 15 hours in the trash bin but was not injured. Bale was charged with causing unnecessary suffering and not providing her with a suitable environment. Officials became aware of the incident after a video was posted online and went viral.

 

Free Building – With A Catch

A South Carolina city is giving away a 1930s-era office building for free, but there’s a catch. The buyer has to relocate the structure. The city of Columbia said the two-story, 3,784-square-foot building, which contains three office suites, needs to be moved to make room for parking. Officials would rather not see the structure demolished and hope they get a buyer soon so they can start work on the parking lot in May or June.

Darth Vader Robber

Police in Michigan say a would-be Darth Vader goofed when robbing a convenience store. Officers in Ferndale say suspect Jamie C. Hernandez put on his Darth Vader mask in range of a store surveillance camera. Hernandez was armed with a butcher knife and demanded all the cash in the register.

Typewriter Repairman

Al Stuckey admits he’s "absolutely a dinosaur" in his line of work, but that hasn’t stopped him from doing what he loves. Stuckey comes from an era when phones had cords and dials, and TV’s were black-and-white. Stuckey is a typewriter repairman in Indiana. He also works on other office equipment, like computer printers and fax machines, but says he still gets a couple of manual typewriters a year, usually from elderly customers.

 

90-Year-Old Bra Fitter

After decades of fitting bras, Earlene Moore knows everyone isn’t a 34B. The 90-year-old is still helping customers find the right fit at Saks Fifth Avenue in Austin, Texas. Moore doesn’t even need a tape measure. She says she sizes up her customers by “eyeballing” them. Moore says the biggest bra she’s ever fitted was a 44-DDD.

Man’s Stolen Guitar Shows Up On eBay 8 Years Later

Doug Duncan, owner of a vintage Gibson Les Paul Special guitar that was stolen eight years ago has found it after it surfaced on eBay. Duncan says he never gave up looking for his 1957 guitar after it was stolen in rural Minnesota. The 57-year-old signed up years ago to get e-mail notifications from eBay whenever similar guitars went on sale. He was sent an e-mail last month saying a similar guitar had been listed by a seller in Mill Valley, California. Duncan realized from the serial number that it was his guitar. Even the duct tape he’d put on the case was still there. Investigators reached the seller, who was a collector and had no idea it was stolen.

Mascot Mayhem

You’ve likely heard about the mascot fight between the Bobcat and the Buckeye, but there’s more to the story. Brandon Hanning, formerly known as Ohio University’s Rufus Bobcat, said “It was actually my whole plan to tackle Brutus when I tried out to be mascot. I tried out about a year ago, and the whole reason I tried out was so I could come up here to Ohio State and tackle Brutus.” And that’s exactly what he did Saturday, wrestling Brutus to the ground in front of 105,075 college football fans at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State got even in the end, trampling the Bobcats 43-7.

Georgia Man Wants To Be A Saint

Shelby Marwan Heggs of Macon, Georgia, admits he’s sinned many times, but he hopes his past won’t keep a judge from allowing him to change his name to Saint Jody Almighty Bedrock. Heggs, who is facing an aggravated battery charge next month, said he’s rededicated his life to God and wants the world to know. He figures changing his name to Saint Jody is a good way to do it. The Bibb County District Attorney’s Office is opposing Heggs’ request on grounds he may be using it to try to hide his criminal record. A name change can be denied on that basis. However, Heggs said he isn’t trying to hide from anyone. Meanwhile, the aggravated battery charge stems from a fight with his neighbor.

Please Do Not Pee On The Police Station

Authorities in Royal Oak, Michigan said a man urinated on the side of the police station and then went inside to file a police report on an undisclosed matter. Witnesses informed officers of the incident and he was issued a citation. It’s doubtful he’ll serve any jail time, but he will likely face court costs and a $250 fine.

Eye Worm Removed With Laser

Doctors in Iowa rushed a Cedar Rapids man into surgery after they found a worm had taken up residence in his eye. John Matthews said he sought medical help after he noticed two spots obscuring his vision in his left eye. He was sent to the ophthalmology department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where doctors found the worm and removed it with two rounds of laser blasts. Doctors think he got the worm either when he was in Mexico or while turkey hunting. An Animal Planet crew filmed the incident after Matthews called them and told them what was going on.

Library Gets Book Back After 35 Years

Minnesota Librarians at the Winona Public Library couldn’t believe it when a book that had been checked out 35 years ago was returned. “Small Voices: A Grownup’s Treasury of Selections from the Diaries, Journals and Notebooks of Young Children” is a collection of journal entries that public figures had written as children. Someone left it in the library’s drop-box as part of the Amnesty Week for overdue books. Records suggest it was checked out in the early 1970s. But because the circulation system has since changed, it’s not clear who last checked it out. The fine would have been more than $1,400.

Man Nabbed For DUI Steals Squad Car

A Greeley, Colorado, man was arrested twice for DUI on Thursday – once while driving his own car and a second time for stealing the police car he was in while waiting to be taken to jail. Adam Segura was handcuffed and placed inside a police car after a DUI arrest. He managed to slip off the cuffs and take off in the car while police officers interviewed a witness outside. Officers chased him for about a mile before he was caught.

Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut Takes Burrito-Eating Crown

Competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut is king of the burrito. Chestnut downed 47 burritos in 10 minutes at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque on Saturday, beating the previous record of 33 1/2. Chestnut won $1,500 for the feat.

Man Says Funny Money Was Protest

A St. Lucie, Florida, man said the fake $20 bills officials found in his house were for a music video he was making to protest Andrew Jackson’s image on the real bills. But the judge didn’t buy it and sentenced Ronald Jensen to 18 months in prison, followed by five years of probation. Jensen will get credit for the 406 days he’s already spent behind bars. Detectives who raided Jensen’s apartment in June 2009 found a total of $1,680 in counterfeit bills, including burnt $20 bills in the toilet. Jensen, who said he is of Cherokee descent, was making a video to show the bill bearing Jackson’s portrait being burned and flushed to protest his signing of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The law allowed the government to remove Cherokees and other Indian tribes from the southeastern U.S. to Oklahoma on what became known as the “Trail of Tears.”

Nastiest Bowl Of Cereal EVER

A Georgia man is suing a grocery store chain and cereal company, claiming he found a used tampon in his cereal bowl after he began eating. Thomas and Lynn Roddenberry said they bought a box of Chocolate Chip Crunch cereal from the Save-A-Lot store in Thomaston, Georgia, in October 2008. Roddenberry found the used feminine hygiene product while eating a bowl of cereal the next day. Roddenberry said he became nauseated and went to the emergency room. Thomas claims he sustained physical injuries “from the adulterated food.” Thomas and his wife are seeking unspecified damages and court costs.

Baltimore Toilet Race

The winner of a race using a vehicle made out of a toilet in Baltimore last weekend was flush over the victory. Saturday’s Hampdenfest Toilet Races were easily the No. 1 attraction at the neighborhood’s festival. Most entries – with names like Porcelain Pirate and Toilet Trainer – were crafted from ordinary toilets, but everything from port-a-potties to bedpans and diapers qualified, as long as it included a “human defecation device,” said Steve Baker, a metal artist who thought up the event. The winner was Golden Throne, which was built around a 1970s toilet.

A Fish Story

A fishing trip brought a South Carolina man an unexpected 40th birthday present – a fish with “teeth like a human.” Frank Yarborough caught the pacu in Lake Wylie. The pacu is an exotic South American species related to the piranha. “It’s definitely the strangest thing I ever caught,” Yarborough said. “We had all kinds of people looking at it and taking pictures of it,” Yarborough said. South Carolina state biologists said the fish weighed 4.98 pounds and was 19.5 inches long. “That’s the biggest one we’ve seen out of Lake Wylie,” said Wes Stewart of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Biologists want to take a sample of the fish’s brain to find out how old it is and how it got so big.

Burglary Suspect Falls Into Cops’ Hands

California police found a burglar they were hunting when he literally fell through a ceiling and into their arms. Jose Parada, 23, was jailed on suspicion of burglary Saturday after he allegedly broke into three businesses in Pico Rivera. Parada was hiding in the attic of one of the buildings as deputies searched it. Officers heard a noise in the attic and ordered him to come out. After they sprayed pepper spray into the attic, Parada fell through the ceiling and into the arms of a cop.

Busker Rage

A Madison, Wisconsin, street musician responded to criticism of his guitar playing by hitting one complainer on the head with his instrument. Police said he then tackled the man, threw another man into a wall and wrestled with an officer before a stun gun brought him down. Brandin Hochstrasser, better known as “Bongo Jesus,” was charged with battery, battery to a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

How Hot Is It?

It’s sooooo hot outside that a Hardin County, Kentucky, farmer said some ears among his feed corn rows popped on the stalk in what ag experts believe is associated with irregular rainfall and high heat. Star Mills farmer Patrick Preston sent a photo of the burst kennels that look like partially popped popcorn to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Hardin County Extension agent Doug Shepherd said he’s never seen anything quite like it.

‘Low Pants, No Chance’

A Baton Rouge Metro Council member wants the parish to support a public awareness campaign against men who wear their pants so low that their boxer shorts show. Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle wants to call the campaign “Low pants, no chance.” Her resolution will be on the agenda for tonight’s discussion.

 

Couple Breaks Into Home To ‘Make Out’

A Florida couple, arrested for allegedly breaking into a home, told officers they were looking for a place to “make out.” A spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said a neighbor of the vacant Key Largo home called 911 Sunday night to report two people breaking into the house. Deputies arrived to find a broken window, an unlocked door, and Adrian Alonso and Iliu Gonzalez lying on the floor. The couple told police they broke in to “make out.” They were arrested and charged with criminal mischief.

Man Arrested After Climbing San Francisco Tower

San Francisco police arrested veteran skyscraper climber Dan Goodwin, who scaled the exterior of a 58-story downtown skyscraper and unfurled an American flag at the top. Goodwin used suction cups but no ropes to scale Millennium Tower, a 645-foot residential building overlooking San Francisco Bay. Police say Goodwin was too high to reach by the time firefighters got to the building. Goodwin reached the top just before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, about three hours after he began. He affixed an American flag to the building before surrendering to waiting authorities.

‘Drying My Car’ Excuse Doesn’t Hold Water

Police in Naperville, Illinois, said a man pulled over for speeding told an officer he was trying to dry off his car after getting it washed. Naperville police said Lucas Wright, 24, was pulled over last Wednesday after an officer clocked him driving 100 mph in a 50 mph zone. Police Sgt. Lee Martin said Wright told him “he’d just gotten his car washed and he was trying to dry it off.” Wright was charged with a misdemeanor count of speeding 40 mph or more over the posted limit. The car, which was still wet from its recent washing, was towed and temporarily impounded.

Bobcat Causes 5-Acre Fire

A bobcat climbing a power pole was electrocuted and sparked a five-acre brush fire in California’s Ventura County. Officials said the bobcat was apparently chasing a bird when it touched the power lines, caught fire and fell to the ground in flames near Piru. The fire was reported at 3:36 a.m. Monday atop Torrey Peak. More than 40 firefighters extinguished the blaze about five hours later. No homes were threatened and no one was hurt. The bobcat’s charred body was found beneath the power lines.

Flushed Ring

A cat is blamed for a missing $40,000 diamond engagement ring. Newlyweds Diane and Carl Buckalew left their rings in the bathroom. Diane says she felt sick when she realized their cat, Jinxe, batted the rings into the toilet. Carl called Mr. Rooter, which has a drain camera. Technicians dug a 3-foot hole near the front door of the couple’s Southaven, Mississippi, home and asked Carl to flush. Both rings were found. The job cost nearly $900, but the couple says they were glad to pay.

College Offers Zombie Course

A University of Baltimore professor is basing his English 333 curriculum around zombies. Arnold Blumberg said his class will involve screening 16 zombie film classics, zombie comic books as required reading, and the option for students to write a screenplay or draw storyboards for their ideal zombie movie as final projects. “Zombies are one of the most potent, direct reflections of what we’re thinking moment to moment in our culture,” Blumberg said.

Man Survives Suicide Leap From 400 Feet

A New York man miraculously is still alive – although badly injured – after making a 39-story leap from a Manhattan high rise. Thomas Magill, 22, underwent surgery for two broken legs Tuesday night after he landed on the roof of a Dodge parked on the street below. The jump was an apparent suicide attempt. Witnesses said Magill was upset about his injured legs after he landed on the vehicle, the impact sending his sneakers flying off his feet. Guy McCormack, a construction worker from New Jersey and the owner of the vehicle, found rosary beads at the wreckage that belonged to Magill. McCormack said he believed the beads are what saved Magill Jr.’s life.

Ding Dong Burglar Leaves Cell Phone Behind

Police investigating a home burglary in Russellville, Alabama, found a cell phone that got left behind. Officials said the phone was left near where a computer was taken in the weekend burglary. Investigators began calling some of the phone numbers and determined the phone belonged to a 19-year-old who was on probation for a previous burglary. Police also got surveillance video from a Walmart in that shows the suspect cashing in coins believed to have been taken during the burglary. District Attorney Joey Rushing, “It helps when you’ve got stupid criminals.” The cell phone’s owner, Tyler Blake Garrison, was charged with burglary.

Dump Truck Chase

Police in Syracuse, New York, said a 37-year-old man driving a dump truck led them on an hour-long chase over roads, rails and yards that ended with the suspect being shot. Officials said Lostumbo jumped into a dump truck Tuesday night after being accused of stealing from vending machines at a mall. Police pursued the truck on a highway, through backyards and school grounds and down railroad tracks at speeds up to 65 mph before stopping it at a barricade. Lostumbo reversed the truck and hit a sheriff’s vehicle and officers fired, apparently striking Lostumbo in the shoulder. He was briefly hospitalized for minor injuries.

Drunken Courier Loses $1.3 Million Painting

The owner of Jean Baptiste Camille Corot’s “Portrait of a Girl” is suing a courier after the man lost the painting during an alleged drunken night in New York. Kristyn Trudgeon, the majority owner of the 19th century painting, said art courier James Carl Haggerty told co-owner Tom Doyle he lost the $1.3 million artwork July 28th while showing it to a prospective buyer at The Mark Hotel. Haggerty blamed his level of intoxication for his inability to remember what became of the painting. The lawsuit, which claims an August 9th polygraph test found indications of “deception” on the part of Haggerty, is seeking the estimated worth of the painting.

Bus Thief Arrested For 27th Time

A New York man with a history of impersonating transit workers and joyriding in subway trains allegedly stole a bus in New Jersey. Investigators said Darius McCollum, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and has extensive knowledge of Metropolitan Transportation Authority procedures, entered an unsecured bus depot in Hoboken early Tuesday and stole a Trailways coach that had been parked with the keys still inside. Police tracked the bus using its GPS and pulled it over at 9 a.m. in New York. A police report said the suspect acted “like a gentleman” toward officers. McCollum was charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property. He has previously been arrested 27 times during the past three decades, often for stealing subway trains.

 

Model T’s Trip Home

A 1925 Model T is heading home. The classic car is being transported to Ford’s world headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, for a picture with company CEO Alan Mulally. The Model T was owned by Phillip and Helen Nicholoff, Lansing natives who now live in an area retirement center. They gave the car to their son, Kris, about 10 years ago. The Model T isn’t being driven to Dearborn. It’s being carried on a flatbed truck. The Nicholoffs bought the Model T in 1950.

Marijuana Mistake

Authorities in California can thank pot growers for giving them the evidence. State game wardens were looking for deer poachers Monday night. The pot growers apparently thought the wardens’ pickup truck was one of their own and started tossing duffel bags full of marijuana into the truck. The wardens managed to arrest two men and seize a shotgun. Three other men escaped back into a Northern California national forest.

Man Survives Fall From Car

Connecticut State Police say a man fell out of his car onto Interstate 95 and watched his vehicle drive on for about two-tenths of a mile before it crashed into a pole. Troopers said they’re not sure why 51-year-old Robert Craig fell out of his 2006 Dodge Charger late Tuesday morning in Darien. Police said Craig fell onto the highway but wasn’t struck by any vehicles. Other motorists stopped to help him and get him to safety. Troopers said the car continued down the highway before striking a light pole and metal guardrail on the right shoulder. Craig was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

Man Nabs Roaming Goat With Facebook Following

A wandering Missouri goat whose exploits have been chronicled on a popular Facebook page has been captured. Mervin Beechy noticed the goat yesterday afternoon while he was driving around the eastern Missouri town of Mexico. Beechy said he only had to chase the goat on horseback for about a quarter-mile before roping him. The goat had been eluding capture since August 21st. Animal control officers had been calling him Billy Goat Gruff. The Facebook fan page that someone started for the goat has more than 8,000 fans. A post yesterday, written from the goat’s perspective, says he’s been kept out of traffic until he can “bust back out” or “figure out what’s next.”

Hiker Accidentally Shoots Self In Buttocks

Police in Wenatchee, Washington, say a hiker on Blewett Pass shot himself in the butt when he put a handgun in his back pocket. Officials said the 52-year-old man had moved his .40-caliber handgun from its holster and put it in his back pocket Saturday to see if it would be more comfortable. The gun went off and the bullet flew down his left butt cheek and leg, coming to rest just above the knee. He was treated at a local hospital and released.

‘Bed Intruder’ Song Gaining Fame

A man’s angry, head-shaking TV interview about an attempted rape against his younger sister in her bed has turned into a chart-topping iTunes song and YouTube hit, making the 24-year-old Alabama college student an Internet sensation. The refrain to Antoine Dodson’s song goes: “So y’all need to hide your kids, hide your wife and hide your husband, ‘cause they raping everybody out here.” Dodson plans to use the money from the “Bed Intruder Song,” which is selling for $1.29 per download, to move his family out of the Lincoln Park housing project where the attack happened. You can check out Dodson’s video on iTunes or at www.youtube.com/antoinedodson24.

Man Glad $20,000 Bid Fails Short For Blago’s Elvis

An Orland Park, Illinois, man who bid $20,000 for ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s Elvis statue said he was relieved to lose when he found an identical statue for $550. J.R. Bramlett, 67, said he bid $20,000 for the statue in the August 19th auction in Arlington Heights, which was held after Blagojevich’s campaign organization failed to pay back rent on a storage space, but he was outbid by $500. Bramlett said he was relieved to lose when he discovered he could buy an identical statue for $550 from a Texas seller and similar statues with different poses for the same price.

Bike Stolen During Arrest

Police in Santa Cruz, California, said a teenager’s bike was stolen while he was being arrested for allegedly trying to sell a stolen violin. When a pair of 17-year-olds allegedly tried to sell the violin, which was reported stolen in a car burglary last Thursday, at a Mission Street music store on Friday, employees called police. The boys left their bikes outside and one bike was stolen while the teens were being arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property. Investigators said the violin was returned to its owner. The stolen bike was not located.

Bad Cigarette Toss Destroys Car

Police in New Jersey said a woman’s car was engulfed in flames when she tried and failed to flick a still-burning cigarette out her window. South Brunswick police said the 19-year-old woman was driving Monday morning when the inside of her 1998 Honda Civic was ignited by the cigarette. The woman was able to escape the vehicle without injury but the car was destroyed. The fire was put out by the fire department.

Men Survive Driving Under A Semi

A South Dakota sheriff said two Minnesota men are lucky to be alive after they drove underneath a stalled semi truck towing a flatbed. Potter County Sheriff Alan McClain said he’s amazed the men were not decapitated. The crash happened about five miles west of Gettysburg on U.S. Highway 212, about 6:15 a.m. Saturday, when it was still dark. The semi had missed its turn and attempted a U-turn. The tractor wheels went off the road and the semi got stuck. A pickup truck carrying Shane Hanson and Chad Fobbe came down the highway and went under the trailer. Both men walked away from the incident. They were treated at a hospital and released the same day.

One Hot Golfer

Officials say a golfer’s off-target swing sparked a 12-acre blaze in Southern California. The golfer at the Shady Canyon Golf Course in Irvine landed a shot in the rough Saturday. On his next swing, his club snagged a rock, causing a spark that started a fire and eventually attracted 150 firefighters to the scene. Fire officials say the fire burned through the rough, into vegetation next to the course and over two dry, brushy hillsides. No charges were filed against the golfer.

Flower Fire Causes $20,000 In Damage

A fire that did $20,000 in damages to a northeast Arkansas home wasn’t caused by an electrical problem or burning food or arson. An insurance investigator concluded dead plants caused the blaze at Brian Duncan’s home. A letter from State Farm said: “The fire was caused by self-heating through decomposition or organic materials contained within a plastic flowerpot.” Translation: spontaneous combustion. A fire marshal said such an occurrence was rare, but believable.