Yard Sale Rage

A 70-year-old California man is facing charges after things got out of hand at a yard sale. Tuolumne County authorities said Jon Joslin was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he hit another man over the head with a cornbread pan on Friday. Police said Joslin hit the fellow shopper with a five-pound, cast iron pan to prevent him from getting to the sale first. Apparently, the two men arrived early at the yard sale and were walking up a long driveway when police said Joslin first attempted to trip 64-year-old Joseph Brown. Brown suffered a cut on his head but refused medical treatment.

‘Brownie Bandit’ Busted

Police in Gonzales, Louisiana, have arrested the suspected “Brownie Bandit,” a man accused of repeatedly breaking into a bakery, stealing freshly baked brownies and leaving behind crumbs and broken windows. Police said Jamon Simoneaux, 18, had a bag full of brownies when he was busted Thursday inside Jumonville’s Bakery. Bakery owner Lynn Jumonville called police after the cost of broken windows and screens began to grow. He said the burglar would break in about 8:30 or 9 p.m. Police booked Simoneaux on six counts of simple burglary and four for simple criminal damage to property. Lynn estimates Simoneaux took about 12 dozen brownies and about two dozen sugar cookies.

Baloney Drug Shipment

A hunk of bologna mailed to a home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, delivered cocaine instead of cold cuts. Authorities confiscated $100,000 worth of coke hidden inside hollowed-out meat mailed from Puerto Rico. Narcotics detectives, FBI agents and a U.S. Postal Service inspector executed a federal warrant and raided the home on Thursday. Juan Rodriguez was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine.

Injury Faker Busted

A New York City woman has been arrested for allegedly faking an injury after a light pole knocked down by a truck missed whacking her. Sherin Brown, 23, was walking on a Brooklyn street Friday when an out-of-control truck hit the pole. The poll fell but did not hit Brown. As police responded to the scene, a surveillance camera caught Brown, unharmed, lying down on the ground near the light fixture. She told officials she was injured after being hit by the pole. She was taken to a hospital for an examination, and then arrested after police viewed the surveillance tape.

Pranksters Put TARDIS On MIT Roof

Pranksters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology placed a replica of a famous time machine on the roof of a campus building. The prank involved the TARDIS, an old-style British police call box used for time travel on the long-running sci-fi program “Doctor Who,” being placed atop Building 7 on campus late Wednesday or early Thursday. The prank was part of a campus tradition known as “hacking,” which hacks.mit.edu defines as perpetrating a “clever, benign and ‘ethical’ prank or practical joke, which is both challenging for the perpetrators and amusing to the MIT community.”

Buy The White House

Federal regulators are selling a 13,000-square-foot replica of the White House in Lawrenceville, Georgia, that includes a drive-thru window. The southern White House, formerly a bank, is being sold by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which takes over failed banks. It’s a step down from the actual White House, however. “There’s no bowling alley or Lincoln bedroom,” real estate agent David Walmsley said. The former bank sits in a commercial district, which means it will likely attract a business that “wants to project a patriotic image,” Walmsley added.

Shakespeare In Klingon

An acting troupe plans to perform Shakespeare in Klingon. During its annual benefit set for September 25th, the Washington Shakespeare Company in Arlington, Virginia, will perform selections from “Hamlet” and “Much Ado About Nothing” in both English and the language invented for Klingon characters of the “Star Trek” films. The effort was inspired by a line spoken by English actor David Warner in “Star Trek VI,” in which his Klingon character declares, “You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon.” A group in Pennsylvania calling itself the Klingon Language Institute is responsible for the translation.

No Show Worker Canned

City officials in Norfolk, Virginia, have fired a worker who’s been collecting a paycheck and benefits for 12 years without ever working. The employee, who had been on the payroll of the community services board, wasn’t named. The board provides medication, counseling and psychiatric services to about 6,000 people. The agency’s 300 employees have an average salary of about $35,000. The board is an independent agency, receiving funding from the city, state and federal governments.

Kangaroo Testicles? YUMMY!

In a remote Serbian mountain village, they’re cooking up delicious, mouth-watering kangaroo testicles at the seventh annual World Testicle Cooking Championships. The food – politely called “White kidneys” in Serbian – is believed to be rich in testosterone. In the Balkans, it is considered to help men’s libido. Organizers say bull testicles are the best, but they think kangaroo testicles have the potential to be a top seller. The festival includes dishes like testicle pizza and testicle sandwiches.

Man Nabbed With Fake $1 Million Bills

Talk about an idiot. A man from the Ivory Coast is in jail in Abu Dhabi after allegedly persuading a woman to try to exchange two phone $1 million bills at a bank. Police say the suspect promised the woman a 30% cut after the bills were traded – presumably for U.S. bills. The suspect was identified in press reports Sunday only by the initials A.B. The phony notes features the $1 portrait of George Washington and are mostly black and white on the front.

Couple Picks Up Car That Mysteriously Had An Additional 724 Miles On It

A couple who left their car parked in a long-term lot near Kennedy Airport during a trip to California are trying to figure out what their car has been doing without them. Mimi and Ulrich Gurhart said their car odometer reading jumped 724 miles while they were out of town. Another surprise: when they returned to the car and started it up, a music CD came on full volume. Airport authorities have no idea what happened.

Pastor Jailed Over Mistaken ID

A series of unfortunate coincidences led to a case of mistaken identity that put a Louisiana pastor behind bars for nearly eight hours. Gregory Jones, pastor at Eden Worship Center, was pulled over for speeding and arrested as a man wanted for violating parole in Texas. The minister not only had the same name as the wanted man, but the same date of birth – and a Texas driver’s license. So he wound up cuffed and taken to a Shreveport jail. He was released after officials did a more thorough check.

Trashed Backpack Sets Off Bomb Scare

Police in Pittsburgh said a bomb scare was set off by a harmless backpack left behind by a homeless man who pulled it from the trash. The bomb squad was called in August 18th to investigate a pink backpack hanging from a sign outside The Pennsylvanian building. Several downtown streets were closed amid rush hour traffic until George Morris, 62, approached officers and told them he had taken the backpack from a trash can and left it on the sign in case anyone wanted it or its contents – a doll and some business cards. Officers cited Morris for disorderly conduct.

Tongue Twisting Horse Race

A pair of dueling horses left an announcer at a New Jersey racetrack sounding more like a confused idiot. Track announcer Larry Collmus noticed “Mywifenosevrything” and “Thewifedoesntknow” on the card for Sunday’s seventh race at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, but he didn’t realize what he was in for. Collmus found himself in the middle of a spousal argument and described the action this way: “Mywifenosevrything. Thewifedoesntknow. They’re one-two. Of course they are!” At the finish he exclaimed: “Mywifenosevrything more than Thewifedoesntknow. Whew!” Larry’s call of the race has since gone viral on YouTube. Mywifenosevrything is trained by a woman, while a man trains Thewifedoesntknow.

Fighting Cyber Addiction In The Crapper

A New York comedian said he’s spending five days barricaded in his bathroom to kick his addiction to the Internet. Mark Malkoff said he is filming his quest to spend five days offline in the potty and the video will be available to watch September 12th at www.MyDamnChannel.com. Malkoff said his attempt is proving to be difficult on his wife. “Initially she went to Starbucks to go to the bathroom, because we only have one in our apartment,” he said. “But today she came in and used the toilet while I wore earplugs and hid behind the shower curtain.”

Man Shoots Computer Server

Police in Salt Lake City arrested a mortgage company employee who drunkenly opened fire on his company’s computer server. Investigators said RANLife Home Loans employee Joshua Lee Campbell used his .45-caliber automatic to open fire on the company’s $100,000 computer server while drunk on August 12th. Campbell called police and told officers the damage was done by someone who stole his gun. However, police said co-workers of Campbell told investigators he had been talking earlier in the evening about wanting to shoot the server. Campbell was charged with a felony count of criminal mischief and misdemeanor counts of carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence, providing false information to police and public intoxication.

Man Gets $172 Million Tax Bill

The Internal Revenue Service sent a $172 million tax bill to a man who worked as a day trader in New York for less than a year. Friends said Marcos Esparza Bofill, who has since returned to his native Spain, received a $172,101,056.48 bill for his unfiled 2006 tax return. Friends said Bofill was shocked because he wasn’t even making any money as a trader. A tax expert said the number was likely from the total amount of trades he made instead of the amount of profit he make from the trades, which is common for unfiled returns.

Stuck Ranger Skydiver

A U.S. Army skydiver found himself high and outside in at the Rangers Ballpark Tuesday. The soldier’s parachutist got tangled in a flagpole during a pregame jump in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers say the soldier was able to unbuckle himself from the chute and dropped a few feet to the scoreboard. The rest of the Golden Knights diving team landed on the field as planned.

Shooting Prank

Police in Roswell, New Mexico, have charged a group of people in an elaborate shooting prank. According to authorities, four people staged a fight outside of a grocery store. As the supposed fight escalated, Nevada Smith fired blanks from a real gun. Ketchup was used as fake blood and the “victim’s” limp body was loaded into the back of a pickup. Police say some hysterical witnesses thought the shooting was real and called 911. Police say three of the four pranksters involved in the Saturday incident have been arrested and the fourth, reportedly out of town, is expected to turn himself in when he returns.

Settlement Reached In Condom Soup Case

A California man who says he ordered French onion soup and bit into a condom instead of melted cheese has settle his lawsuit against the Claim Jumper restaurant chain. The terms of yesterday’s settlement were not disclosed. Both sides say in a statement the deal indicates no admission of liability by either party.

‘Shop With A Cop’ Ends With 2 Arrested

Two men arrested in Portland, Oregon, for shoplifting did it during a “Shop With A Cop” promotion for school children. The two morons at first thought it might be a bad idea to shoplift items while 60 uniformed officers were helping out at the event. But stupidity gave way to greed and the men gave into their desire to steal. Store security officers at the Fred Meyer store weren’t caught off guard yesterday. They watched the two men packing their own backpacks with blenders, shoes, clothes and tools.

Man Shot In The Head Finds Bullet 4 Years Later

The cliché “Stranger things have happened” doesn’t apply to this next story. A 35-year-old man who walked around for five years with a bullet lodged in his brain says he spent about a year scratching his head because he just knew something was wrong. Robert Chojecki was partying on New Year’s Eve five years ago in Berlin, Germany, when he was hit with a 22-caliber bullet. Doctors removed the bullet this week from between his skin and skull. Bob said he kept getting some nasty headaches, and discovered the bullet while scratching the back of his head. Doctor say he should have no problems now that the bullet has been removed.

Trunked Goat

A driver has been convicted of animal cruelty and fined $100 after Virginia authorities found a goat stuffed in the trunk of her car. Bedford County deputies discovered the goat bound and in the trunk during a drunken driving checkpoint in June. Fiona Ann Enderby, of Washington, D.C., told police she bought the goat from a farmer to give to four passengers in her car, who are from Kenya but reside in Lynchburg, Virginia. The goat was panting heavily and animal control officers say the temperature in the trunk was 94 degrees. The goat is now living at a Bedford County farm.

Woman Blames Gin-Soaked Raisins For Probation Violation

A Pennsylvania woman is blaming the raisins. Fifty-nine-year-old Judy Russo is accused of violating her probation by drinking. She blames gin-soaked raisins she used to treat her arthritis. A Northampton County judge sentenced Russo this month to time behind bars after she failed a urine test. Her attorney filed papers Monday saying she turned to the ginny raisins berries because conventional medication doesn’t work. Attorney Jason Jenkins said his client has learned her lesson and asked that her sentence be reduced to probation or time served. Jenkins says Russo also has lung cancer. She had been on probation after pleading no contest to a stalking charge.

Family Finds Fake Bomb In Their New Home

Police in Millinocket, Maine, have no idea why the town’s late police chief had a realistic looking fake bomb in his home. The device was found by the new owners of the home, which had remained empty for several years. They called police, who in turn called the Maine State Police bomb squad. The neighborhood was evacuated for four hours. The house had been owned by Millinocket Police Chief Wayne Scarano, who died in 2007. Officials said the device had seven sticks of what appeared to be dynamite, a timer or clock, an alarm and wiring.

Vacationing Family’s Photo Captures Thief

The camera of a vacationing New Jersey family who posed for a picture in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol also caught a thief in the act. John Myers, of Bloomfield, New Jersey, set the self-timer on his camera and then jumped into the frame with his wife and two children last Saturday. While their backs were turned, someone grabbed their bag, which held Myers’ wallet and other items. After Myers discovered the bag missing, he checked his camera. Sure enough, the image showed a man picking up the bag. Myers showed the photo to officers, who recognized the man. When officers found him, he was still carrying the bag. The suspect pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor theft.

Walmart Greeter Turns 100

A Wisconsin Walmart threw a party to celebrate the birthday of its oldest employee, a 100-year-old woman. Lois Speelman, who works as a greeter at the Franklin store in Milwaukee County, was the guest of honor at the store Monday during a party with cake and balloons. Her birthday is actually today. Speelman, who works about 35 hours per week and still drives herself to work, first came to work for the store in 2000 and retired six years later. She said she returned to work as a greeter the following year because she missed her coworkers.

Sketch Reveals Rare Composition

A Kenduskeag, Maine, man who bought a sketch of an early 19th century streetscape at a bank auction said the piece turned out to be part of an 1835 composition. David Slagger said he bought the print, which depicted downtown Bangor, from a TD Banknorth branch silent auction as a gift for his wife. However, Slagger said he took the item home and removed it from its frame to discover it was only part of a much larger document centered around the piece for an 1835 piano composition called “Bangor March,” written by blind composer Oliver J. Shaw. Bangor Museum and History Museum curator Dana Lippitt said the museum has only one intact copy of the march and several partial copies.

You Thought Your Commute Was Bad

China worked Tuesday to unclog the world’s longest traffic jam, stretching from Beijing to the northern province of Inner Mongolia. The 60-mile backup on the country’s main north-south highway was being shifted to a parallel road, but that road was also experiencing a slowdown. The backup was caused by thousands of trucks bringing coal and perishable goods into Beijing. As a result of the overload, trucks were crawling along at approximately 2 miles per day. The massive traffic jam sent entrepreneurs onto the highway to sell fruit, nuts, water and instant noodles to stranded truck drivers who passed the time playing cards.

Catching Burglars? There’s An App For That

A Dallas man said he was able to catch burglars on camera from 1,400 miles away with the help of a $4.99 iPhone application. Vincent Hunter said he was in Connecticut Friday afternoon when the iPhone app, iCam, alerted him to movement on the Web cams set up inside his home. Hunter said the application allowed him to view a live feed of two men shattering his patio door with a brick. He called 911 and watched as Dallas police entered the home seeking the two men, who fled the house. Police said they’re searching for the two men who are believed to be behind a number of burglaries.  

Baby With A Bong Lands Mom In Hot Water

A central Florida mom who thought it would be funny to post a picture of her baby with a bong on her Facebook page has been arrested. Nineteen-year-old Rachel Stieringer was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. A Texas resident called Florida’s abuse hotline after seeing the picture online of the baby posing with his face in the bong. Stieringer turned herself in July 29th and was released on $502 bond. A spokesman for the Department of Children and Families said drug tests on the baby came back negative.

Stripping Driver

A Wisconsin driver who tried to change his sweaty clothes while driving through a Milwaukee suburb was pulled over by cops, but was let off with only a warning. When officers pulled the 54-year-old man over on August 13th he complained he was uncomfortable in his clothes because he had spent a day at the Wisconsin State Fair in the sweltering heat. Officers warned him against indecent exposure and advised him to finish changing at home.

Video Game Thieves A Family Affair

Police in Salem, New Hampshire, have charged a mother-and-son with theft of more than $1,600 worth of video games from a Best Buy store. Police said 64-year-old Louise LaQuerre and her 20-year-old son, Christopher Andrukaitis, were charged with felony theft after store security officers spotted the son stuffing video games into a bag carried by his mother on Monday. They were stopped as they tried to leave the store. Officers found another haul of video games in their car believed to have been stolen earlier in the day from the same store.

Carpenters Cause Bomb Scare

Police in California said a suspicious package delivered to the Cypress Police Department turned out to contain a record by the 1970s duo The Carpenters. The bomb squad was called in to examine the package, which arrived Monday morning in unusual packaging with no return address and no postmark. Investigators said the package was taken to the police department parking lot for examination and was found to contain a 45 rpm single by The Carpenters with an attached note asking police to locate the record’s original owner.

 

The Clunker Was A Dud

A Boston University film student’s beat-up car prompted a bomb scare Monday at Boston’s Logan International Airport. “I’m just a random college student who left his car at the economy lot,” said Lawrence “Alex” Reed. Reed, who lives in Los Angeles, said he got early-morning calls from his mother and sister after police contacted them at home about his vehicle. He said police may have been suspicious of his 2004 Grand Marquis due to a broken window, a wire running into the vehicle to power the cigarette lighter, Oklahoma license plate, damage to the rear from a collision with a semi truck and other less-than-mint-condition features. Reed, who parked the car in the lot on August 6th, didn’t have a parking ticket because the machine was broken. “My car is a piece of junk,” he admits. The bomb squad used a pair of robots to search the vehicle and blasted open the trunk with a water cannon. Several streets and a nearby elderly housing complex were evacuated prior to the search.

Wandering Pig

Residents of a Florida neighborhood spotted a pig wandering through traffic. Locals in the Bunker’s Cove neighborhood of Panama City said the pig, which has been spotted taking daily walks and was blamed for a traffic jam last Saturday, doesn’t appear to be the “Cove Pig” that was spotted several times over the last year. The owner of Baileys Service Station said she spotted the pig during the Saturday traffic jam outside of her business. She said the pig appeared feral and she estimated it weighed 15 pounds. The original Cove Pig is believed to have left the area after animal control officers shot it with a stun gun and tranquilizer darts. Witnesses believe the pig may have traveled to nearby Millville.

Restaurant Streaker Pleads Guilty

A Milton Mills, New Hampshire, man who admitted to streaking at a restaurant and then leading police on a nude chase said he was protesting the eatery. Sheehan Lygren, 22, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and resisting arrest on Monday, said he was protesting the working conditions at the restaurant, where he was employed until the streaking incident. Prosecutors said Lygren walked into the restaurant nude on July 12th and then fled through the mall. Police took off after him and caught him. Lygren was fined $1,000, with half suspended pending a year of good behavior. He also received a 30-day jail sentence, which was suspended for a year, and was ordered to write letters of apology to the restaurant and the police officer.

Seafood Freak

Police in Greensboro, North Carolina, arrested a 22-year-old man after he allegedly broke into a Red Lobster early Monday morning and loaded up on a shrimp pizza and cake before destroying $30,000 worth of computers, benches and liquor bottles. As far as we know, he’s still in jail on $50,000 bond.

Reward For Missing Mailbox

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of thieves who stole one of those iconic blue mail collection boxes. Officials say the box was stolen late Monday or early Tuesday in north Phoenix. It was recovered – empty – early Tuesday near Interstate 17.

High-Flyin’ Pastor

A South Florida pastor who spent nearly three days living on a mechanical lift 50 feet in the air has come down from his lofty perch. Pastor T.J. McCormick, of Coastal Community Church, had pledged to stay on the lift until 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies were donated for kids in Collier City. McCormick braved summer heat and rain storms from the time his mission began Tuesday until he stepped down from the lift Thursday night, after the 1,000 backpacks were collected.

Dog Eats School Board Petition

A South Carolina man won’t be able to run for school board in November because his dog ate his homework. Terry Thomas of Ladys Island said he had a petition with almost 200 signatures when he went out to check the mail. But when he returned from the mail box, Spencer, his 8-month-old Labrador and bull mastiff mix, had chewed up the petition. Now Thomas won’t be able to run in November for a spot on the Beaufort County School Board. The retiree is a substitute teacher and an assistant football coach at Beaufort High. He says when students use the old “the dog ate my homework” excuse in class he just might believe them now.

Salon Customer Loses Hair After Power Cutoff

A beauty salon owner in Bruce, Mississippi, blamed an unexpected power cutoff for a customer’s partial baldness. Tessa Mingo, owner of People’s Choice Hair Salon, said she paid her electric bill July 19th. But when a customer came in to get her hair colored, the electricity was shut off. Mingo said there was no way to wash the chemicals off the woman’s hair because the salon’s electric water heater wasn’t working. The customer was left mostly bald on the top half of her head. Mingo said she believes the power company mistakenly credited her home account rather than her business account.

Jarhead Bear Rescued

A bear cub that spent 10 days running around with a plastic jar stuck on its head has been rescued in Florida. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologists said Friday that the 6-month-old cub was days away from death because the jar made it impossible for it to eat or drink. Biologists dubbed the bear “Jarhead” and set traps to catch it in a neighborhood near Ocala National Forest. The team finally cornered the mother and shot her with a tranquilizer dart. They subdued the cub, removed the jar and returned the sleeping mother to a trap where her cubs joined her. Officials observed the family overnight to make sure the cub was able to nurse before moving the family to a less populated area.

Big Apple Sued Over Lost High-Priced Belt Buckle

An insurance company is suing New York City over a $187,000 belt buckle one of their clients claimed was lost while he was locked up in jail last year. The bejeweled gold buckle belonged to businessman George Bardwill, who said it was not returned to him after he was released from custody following his arrest on charges he assaulted his housekeeper. Chubb Indemnity Insurance paid off Bardwill and now wants to be reimbursed by the city for allegedly failing to return Bardwill’s property. Bardwil, CEO of Bardwil Home linen company, received probation in the assault case.

Antarctic Whisky Unpacked

A crate of Scotch whisky that was frozen in Antarctic ice for a century has been opened. The crate was recovered from the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. It’s been thawing gradually at a museum in New Zealand. Researchers found 11 carefully wrapped bottles of Mackinlay’s Scotch whisky inside. But after being trapped in ice, the booze won’t be served on the rocks. Master blenders will examine small samples of the Scotch to try to reconstruct the original recipe. The bottles will eventually be returned to the Antarctic where they were found. Shackleton brought the whiskey, about 10 years old at the time, to Antarctica with his 1907-1909 Nimrod expedition. He and three companions came within 112 miles of the South Pole.

Man Jailed For Laughing In Courtroom

A 47-year-old North Carolina man who was waiting for his case to be heard Friday upset the judge after he started to laugh in a Cumberland County courtroom and then refused to say why. Johnny Montgomery was ordered jailed on a misdemeanor charge. Deputies preparing to take Montgomery to jail searched him and found more than 3 grams of crack cocaine.

Donald Duck Accused Of Groping

A Pennsylvania woman claims she was groped by an actor dressed as Donald Duck while visiting Florida’s Walt Disney World. April Magolon said the performer grabbed her chest and made lewd gestures while she was holding one of her children during a May 2008 visit to the Orlando theme park’s Epcot area. Magolon is suing for more than $50,000 in damages, claiming the incident left her traumatized and suffering from flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, headaches, nausea, cold sweats, insomnia and digestive problems. The suit accuses Disney of negligence, battery, and infliction of emotional distress.

Woman Calls 911 To Report Her Own Arrest

Police in Eaton, Ohio, said an intoxicated woman being arrested for aggravated disorderly conduct called 911 to report the officers Andrea Elliot, 44, called 911 while officers were trying to put handcuffs on her Tuesday night and said she needed help because she was being arrested. Elliot was charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and making a false 911 call.

Cashless Exec Gives Credit Card To Homeless Man

Merrie Harris, global business director at ad agency JWT, was chatting with her cigarette-smoking friend outside a restaurant in New York the other night when a panhandler approached, asking for money to buy a bottle of Vitaminwater. When she said all she had was a credit card, the man asked to borrow it. Harris said, “Sure,” and the man asked if he could buy a pack of cigarettes as well. She said it was fine. The man then disappeared down the block. Harris said everyone who saw her give the card to him “said they thought that was the dumbest thing, that there’s a fine line between charity and stupidity.” She then went back inside the restaurant. After waiting 10 minutes, she started having doubts herself. But the man soon showed up, card in hand. Harris gave him a hug and told him, “I knew you were coming back.” He replied, Of course. I’m an honest person.”

Air Bag Evidence

It didn’t take long for a Tennessee police officer to catch a hit-and-run suspect. The man was stopped even before the accident was reported. Capt. Greg Workman of the Elizabethton Police Department says he stopped 24-year-old Adam Liebers because the air bags in his car had deployed. Workman said Liebers admitted he was drunk and had just hit another car. While the captain was questioning the suspect, the 911 center reported a nearby hit-and-run. Liebers now faces a number of charges, including driving under the influence.

Senior Stops Robbery With Cane

Police in Tampa, Florida, say a bandit attempting to rob a Walgreens was thwarted by a cane-swinging 69-year-old customer. Authorities say the would-be robber walked into the Walgreens Wednesday morning with a paper bag over his right hand. He pointed the bag at the clerk demanding money, but customer Clifford Bisek chased him out of the store with a cane. Police are still looking for the suspect.

Restaurant Toad-Licker

An Iowa restaurant owner has to pay a fine for toad-licking. The head chef at Osaka Japanese Steak House in Davenport was videotaped kissing and licking toads in the kitchen. Inspectors from the Scott County Health Department reviewed the tape and issued a $335 ticket. Chef Christopher Turla says it was supposed to be a joke. But his brother posted the video on YouTube. The restaurant owner says he’ll pay the fine and give his chef training on kitchen sanitation.

Drunken Bike Riding Ex-Con

He got out of prison and got smashed and crashed. Police in Hammond, Indiana, say a drunk man crashed his bicycle into a railroad crossing gate. The man’s brother told officers he had been drinking all day to celebrate his freedom. The engineer stopped the commuter train to make sure the bike rider was OK. He suffered some cuts and bruises but he’ll live. The man told officers he was trying to beat the train, but couldn’t remember how he ended up on the ground.

Stinky Bills

Paying bills usually stinks, but gas bills from a utility in Washington State will include something really smelly this month: the stench of rotten eggs. As part of a safety campaign, Puget Sound Energy is including a scratch-and-sniff pamphlet with its billing statements to remind customers of what leaking gas smells like. Natural gas is odorless, but providers add a chemical to the gas that has a distinctive, sulfur-like aroma similar to rotten eggs so leaks can be detected.

 

Spectacle Swallower

An inmate in North Dakota’s Burleigh County Detention Center made a spectacle of himself when he didn’t get to speak to a chaplain. William Demery could face a charge of criminal mischief for allegedly snatching another inmate’s glasses and eating them less than five hours after being booked into the detention center on August 1st. He swallowed both lenses and a piece of the metal frame. Demery was taken to the emergency room but was returned to jail after doctors determined he was OK. The glasses were worth $250.

Greeting Cards Drugs

Jailers in Maryland say there was more than good wishes in greeting cards a woman sent to an inmate. St. Mary’s County authorities say the cards had crushed prescription pills in them. Stephanie Lynn Thomas and prisoner Jacob Steven Traas face conspiracy and delivery of contraband charges. Detectives say after they learned about the first card, they intercepted a second laced greeting card.

Man Threatens Nurse Over Name Giggle

A Washington man allegedly threatened to kill a nurse who laughed at his plan to name his newborn after John Gotti. John Keinath, a 39-year-old ex-con with felony convictions for a drive-by shooting and beating someone with a pipe, allegedly warned the nurse, “I’m going to put a cord around your neck, strangle you until you die, throw you in a ditch, and no one will ever know who did it.” Prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant last month after an informant tipped them off that Keinath had learned the nurse’s name and was allegedly threatening to harm her. Police and U.S. marshals arrested him at gunpoint last week. Keinath has been free since the March incident but on Monday he was in court, where a judge ordered him jailed in lieu of $1 million bail. Prosecutors said Keinath is also being investigated for a “softball-sized” amount of methamphetamine.

Minnesota Speeders In Overdrive

Police in Minnesota said a Corvette traveling 178 mph on a county road was the fastest vehicle pulled over during a statewide speeding sweep. Wadena County sheriff’s deputies said the red Corvette was stopped July 9th in the town of Menahga. Police said the driver wasn’t actually clocked – but the “freaked out” female passenger told police how fast he was going. The motorist was one of 26 ticketed during the month-long sweep for driving faster than 100 mph. Another 227 were ticketed for driving between 90 mph and 100 mph. A total of 27,639 speeding tickets were issued in Minnesota during the month of July.

Go-Cart Leads Police On Low-Speed Chase

A low-speed chase in Minnesota involving four police cruisers and a go-cart ended when officers used a Taser to zap the driver three times. St. Paul police said the chase began Tuesday evening when an officer spotted the man driving what appeared to be a homemade go-cart with a lawnmower-sized engine and attempted to pull the vehicle over. The driver refused to stop and three more police cruisers joined the chase, which reached top speeds of 20 mph. The officers eventually cornered the go-cart in a parking lot, where it took two more hits from the Taser to subdue the driver. The man, who refused to give his name, was booked under the name John Doe on suspicion of fleeing police in a motor vehicle.

Demolition Delayed Due To Cats

Neighbors of an abandoned Florida condo building said yesterday’s demolition was postponed due to cats living inside the facility. Danielle Crocker, who led the effort to delay the demolition of the South Beach building, said she and other volunteers contacted the building’s owner, but they didn’t make any headway until Miami-Dade County got involved. Contractors were clearing cats from the property yesterday and said a professional trapper will likely be brought in over the weekend to round up the remaining felines. The demolition was tentatively rescheduled for August 16th.

Wheelin’ Kitty

A kitten somehow crawled into the wheel well of a Kansas City area family’s Toyota and successfully made a two-hour road trip in triple-digit temperatures. The Sandbothe family said they didn’t know the kitten was there until they heard it meowing when they pulled into their driveway. “We couldn’t find him. He was in the car somewhere when we heard the meow. So we ripped the lining out of the wheel well and finally we found him,” Teri Sandbothe said. Sandbothe said the cat, which they named Yota after their car, appears to be in good health and they are trying to find it a new home.

Man Denied Name Change To Boomer The Dog

A judge has denied a Green Tree, Pennsylvania, man’s petition to legally change his name to Boomer The Dog, saying it would cause confusion and have unintended consequences, such as “putting the public welfare at risk.” Gary Guy Mathews – a 44-year-old fan of anthropomorphism, the lifestyle that celebrates giving human characteristics to animals – is also a fan of the 1980s NBC series “Here’s Boomer,” which featured a dog who rescued people. Mathews says his friends already call him Boomer, as did his late parents, though that took some persuading.

Burqa Bank Robber

Police in Maryland said a man wearing a burqa robbed a bank in Silver Spring. The man who robbed the TD Bank branch on Tuesday was wearing a “long black burqa over his face.” He also wore jeans and tan boots. Authorities said the man showed a gun and demanded money. He took an undetermined amount of cash and fled. Police said the man spoke with what they described as “a Middle Eastern accent.”

Man Sentenced For Faking Seizures At Restaurants

A Baltimore man has been sentenced to 18 months in jail faking seizures to get out of paying restaurant bills. Andrew Palmer pleaded guilty last week to one count of theft scheme, and the judge agreed to impose an 18-month sentence, the maximum Palmer could receive. Prosecutors said Palmer ate and drank at several restaurants between April and July, and when he couldn’t pay, he would fake a seizure that required medical personnel to respond.

4 Sisters, 4 Babies, 4 Days

Four sisters from one family have each given birth within four days. The same obstetrician delivered the babies of three of the sisters – 27-year-old Lilian Sepulveda, 29-year-old Saby Pazos and 24-year-old Leslie Pazos – in the same suburban Chicago hospital on Friday and Saturday. A fourth sister, Heidi Lopez, gave birth on Monday in California. Family members swear the women didn’t plan the timing.

No Politicos Wanted

The Illinois State Fair has a message for politicians – stay away. Most politicos are being told to stay away from this evening’s Twilight Parade. Gov. Pat Quinn, statewide officers and their opponents in the November election are still allowed to sign up. Parade organizers say keeping the lower-level politicians out should cut the parade time in half. Fair spokesman Jeff Squibb says people would rather see a marching band than marching politicians. The Twilight Parade kicks off the fair each year. This year’s Illinois State Fair runs Friday through August 22nd.

Puppy Patrol

An Arizona police officer who picked up a pit bull to be impounded got a shock when the dog named Dutchess gave birth to a puppy in the back of the patrol car. Prescott Valley police say the dog was being watched by a woman who complained its owners hadn’t returned. The officer took Dutchess and her new puppy to a kennel, where she gave birth to another pup. Dutchess was later turned over to the local Humane Society. It’s believed she gave birth to some more puppies, but just how many isn’t clear. Authorities are now looking for the owners.

McNugget Rage Caught On Tape

Security video from a McDonald’s in Toledo, Ohio, shows a woman punching two restaurant employees and smashing a drive-thru window because she couldn’t get her Chicken McNuggets. The tantrum caught on tape early on New Year’s Day shows the customer reaching through the drive-thru window, slugging one worker and then another. She then grabs a bottle out of her car and throws it through the glass window before speeding off. Police say Melodi Dushane was angry that McNuggets weren’t being served. Dushane says she was drunk at the time. She was sentenced to 60 days in jail last month and ordered to pay McDonald’s for the broken window. The video was released this week when it became public record.

Ice Cream Man Does ‘The Right Thing’

The owner of a Detroit ice cream truck said giving $1,000 and free ice cream to a 9-year-old whose bike was stolen was the right thing to do. Police said someone stole Zachary Long’s bike while he was buying ice cream from the truck in front of his house. Police said they suspect someone from the truck was behind the bike theft. The boy’s father said the family pooled money to replace the bike. However, the family soon heard from Greg Wier, a co-owner of the Pot O’ Gold Ice Cream truck, who gave the family $1,000 and two cases of ice cream in the boy’s favorite flavors, Two-Ball Screwball Blue Raspberry cups and Sour Wower bars.

Man Pees In Cups At Bar

Authorities in Orlando, Florida, arrested a 24-year-old Brazilian man who allegedly urinated into two cups and placing them on the bar at the House of Blues. Adolfo Mosmann bonded out of jail Monday night. Police said Mosmann, who is in the U.S. on a student visa, urinated in the cups and set them on the bar next to where other people were drinking. Security threw him out, but he was arrested later on trespassing charges for coming back to the bar.

Tree Trimmer Has A Really Bad Week

A Florida tree trimmer who was attacked by Africanized honeybees said he returned to finish the “nightmare” job and accidentally took down a live power pole. Ralph St. Peter was stung up to 150 times by Africanized honeybees while trimming a tree Saturday in Safety Harbor. St. Peter and co-worker Michael Foster, who used his bare hands to swat the bees swarming around St. Peter, were taken to a hospital for treatment. St. Peter said he returned to finish the job Monday, despite his wife’s pleas not to. The trimmer said he wished he had listened to his wife after a limb being pulled by the truck, which Foster was driving, took down a power pole with live power lines. No one was injured and there were no reports of outages.

 

Hero Dog

A Florida sheriff’s deputy has a hero dog. The lawman says his boxer woke him up early Saturday morning as flames were spreading up a wall into the attic of his Crestview-area home. The deputy ran to his 4-year-old daughter’s room and got her out of the house. He then went back for the dog, and the two made it out through a window. Fire officials say the blaze started outside the house, which is a total loss. They’re investigating possible arson.

Marijuana Ministry Founder Staying In Jail

The founder of the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry will have to stay in the joint. Roger Christie claims pot is a sacrament. He’s being held pending trial on federal marijuana charges. Christie is trying to get out on bail, but a federal appeals court has refused to hear his case. His trial is due to start in about a month. Federal prosecutors say Christie’s pot ministry is actually a major growing, processing and distribution ring.

Gold Sale

The Carson Nugget casino is putting its unique gold collection up for sale. The Carson City, Nevada, collection could be worth as much as $5 million. There are 170 specimens of gold in both nugget and crystalline form. Resort president Steve Neighbors says the casino is doing very well but visitors to the Nugget aren’t really interested in seeing the gold. One of the highlights is a crystalline sample of natural leaf gold that’s shaped like a large rose. The timing couldn’t be better. Gold is now selling for around $1,200 an ounce.

Krispy Kreme Patron Gets Extra $5,000 In Dough With Donuts‎

A Krispy Kreme customer in Fayetteville, North Carolina, got more than donuts at a drive-thru window when an employee accidentally handed the person a box filled with deposits from the business – a cool $5,000. The manager had a system of putting the deposit in a donut box and then placed the box near the window. She would then drive to the drive-thru window and get the deposit to take to the bank. However, the drive-thru clerk didn’t know about the routine and inadvertently gave the box to a customer, who drove off with donuts and the $5,000. Police are investigating and say no one has come forward to return the money.

Father, Son Face Off At Scrabble

A father-son pair of Scrabble enthusiasts from California found themselves facing one another at the National Scrabble Championship in Texas. Tristan Vanech, 14, and dad Bob Vanech of Venice, California, said their rankings led to a father-son match Sunday, the second day of the tournament at the Hotel InterContinental in Addison. Tristan lost to his father, who played “defeated” as his final word. The tournament is scheduled to crown its $10,000 winner tomorrow.

Burglar Uses ‘Thank You Note’ Excuse

Police in Sarasota, Florida, said a burglar who returned to the same home he was convicted of stealing from three years ago told officers he was leaving a “thank you note.” Officers responded to the home last Tuesday night after an alarm was triggered and found Gerald Maxwell inside with a stack of jewelry he had gathered and a crack pipe. “I was going back in there to leave a thank you note because I’m the guy who burglarized this place last year. I just got out of jail,” Maxwell told cops at the time of his arrest. Maxwell burglarized the same house in December 2007 and has had a total of eight arrests on burglary charges since November 2006, police said.

Corn Maze

The corn is not high enough yet but the maze will be ready. A handful of people with surveying gear are marking off this year’s Mesilla Valley Maze in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The nine-acre corn field will feature the silhouette of a man, a telescope and Pluto. It’s meant as a tribute to the discovery of the dwarf planet. Pluto was first spotted by a Las Cruces astronomer 80 years ago. The corn should be 10-feet-tall when the maze opens on September 25th. Organizers say 50,000 people are expected to attend this year.

License Plate Lottery

It’s a license plate lottery. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is putting nearly 180 low-number plates up for grabs. More than 6,000 people applied last year, and more are expected to enter this year. The coveted plates used to be given to politicians and the well-connected. But in 1997, the process was opened to all in the form of a lottery.

Godzilla Trademark Fight

It’s Godzilla versus Grill Zilla. A barbecue stand in Maine is in a trademark fight with the Japanese entertainment conglomerate that owns the rights to the famous movie monster. Sarah Burnham and Jay Swett operate Grill Zilla out of a converted Frito-Lay truck. They say they were told they could keep the Grill Zilla name or their green creature logo, but not both. They ignored the warning. The next move is now up to Godzilla’s lawyers.

Naked Spiritual Experience

Police in Lincoln, Nebraska, busted a man who was spotted walking naked near two churches and a parochial high school. Police said a passer-by called police Sunday after seeing the man near Pius X High School. The 35-year-old man told officers that he was naked for the spiritual experience. He was cited on suspicion of public indecency, among other misdemeanors.

Man Sentenced In Feces Assault On Police

A Fargo, North Dakota, man who tried to kick his own feces at officers who responded to a party at his home has been sentenced to a year in jail. Dennis Fike, 66, must also complete alcohol treatment or face another year in jail. Fike was accused of defecating on a rug and attempting to kick it at the officers last August 28th. His attorney argued that a handcuffed Fike had asked to use the bathroom and been denied. Fike was convicted in June of attempting to attack a law enforcement official by bodily fluids or excrement and preventing arrest.

Strippers Protest At Church

The owner of an Ohio strip club and some of his dancers have been protesting at a church that has done the same to them for four years. Women in bikinis sat in camp chairs Sunday outside the New Beginnings Ministries church in Warsaw. Tommy George owns the Foxhole strip club in nearby Newcastle. He says he and his employees decided to start attending the church because they were fed up with the church’s pastor, Bill Dunfee, and his congregation bothering the club’s weekend patrons. Church members come armed with bullhorns, signs and video cameras for posting customers’ license plate numbers online. Dunfee calls George a “parasite” and says seeing the protesters outside their church have just strengthened the resolve of his flock.

Hero Dog

A small dog helped rescue her owner after he collapsed at home following heart surgery. Charles Mitchell said he was working in his yard last week in Yamhill, Oregon, when Missy, an 11-year-old dachshund, scampered up. Mitchell told the dog to go home, but she refused. Mitchell decided to follow her across the street to investigate and found his neighbor, Charlie Burdon, on the floor inside his home. Burdon had suffered an attack of vertigo. He is recovering.

Diaper Assault

Pennsylvania State Police said a woman wiped a dirty diaper on the window of another woman’s vehicle during a dispute in a traffic jam as both were leaving the Fayette County Fair. Jessica Hollis, 23, has been charged with harassment in the incident that happened Saturday night. Hollis allegedly smeared the diaper on the rear window of a vehicle driven by 36-year-old Melanie Campbell. Police said the women began arguing while they were stuck in traffic leaving the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.

Parasailing Donkey Putting Down His Chute

The parasailing donkey will never fly again and now looks toward a life of luxury. The female donkey Anapka arrived in Moscow on Wednesday after her brays of terror over a southern Russian beach last month prompted a British newspaper to step in and buy her. A recreation company had sent Anapka up into the sky for about 30 minutes for a promotional stunt and the YouTube video of her trip made headlines around the world. Her new owners are reviewing different options for a new home.

Stripper Gig Leads To Fraud Charges

A Pennsylvania woman is accused of illegally accepting worker’s compensation payments while working as a stripper. Christina Gamble, 43, waived a preliminary hearing set for Tuesday and will face trial next month. Prosecutors say the woman claimed she hurt her back at her waitressing job and couldn’t work. A judge granted her $360 per week in benefits in October 2008. But private investigators working for the restaurant’s insurance company taped her dancing at C.R. Fanny’s Gentlemen’s Club and Sports Bar in Wilson later that year.

Arkansas Governor Race ‘All Shook Up’

Elvis Presley is running for Arkansas governor. No, not THAT Elvis. Elvis D. Presley of Star City filed papers with the secretary of state’s office yesterday to run as a write-in candidate for governor. Presley indicated in the paperwork that he wants to “supply the people with a broader array of employment and newer chain of state government. He declined to say how he got his name but says he is an Elvis impersonator.  

Penny Pub

The owners of an Illinois pub famous for the pennies adorning its oak bar have replaced the decades-old relic with a new bar top covered in 10,250 pennies. Tom and Diana Sutton, owners of the Price Street Pub in Springfield, said the first penny bar was installed by the former owners in 1977. They decided it was time to replace it after three decades of wear and tear. The Suttons began work on the new bar in 2008 by ordering 10,250 new pennies from the U.S. Treasury. It was a long and complicated process, but when the shiny new 2008 pennies finally arrived, they were laid out on the new bar top in a uniform style with the help of employees, customers and friends. It took three days and lots of Elmer’s glue. The bar top was then covered in a coat of polyurethane. Tom snuck in three 1977 pennies, a tribute to a deceased friend. The old coin-lined surface was broken up; most of it was given away to customers.

Road Warrior Kitty

Animal authorities in Pennsylvania said a 5-week-old kitten rode to the state from New York behind the grill of a car. Jenna Arsenault, community coordinator for the Bradford County Humane Society, said the people inside the car did not hear or see the kitten until after their 130-mile drive from Rochester, New York, to Ulster, Pennsylvania. It took more than 45 minutes just to get the grill off the car before they could reach the kitten. After removing the grill, the couple warmed the kitten with a heat lamp before contacting the Humane Society. Arsenault said the kitten, named Mazda in honor of the vehicle he hitched a ride with, is recovering from his ordeal at the shelter.

Women Charged In Kindergarten Grad Fight

Authorities in California said charges have been filed against two women accused of sparking a brawl during a kindergarten graduation ceremony. Prosecutors said Queiona Burt, 31, and Marina Ruth Vargas, 29, argued during the June 23rd ceremony at Victorville’s Puesta del Sol Elementary about a Facebook comment regarding the Los Angeles Lakers. The women started physically fighting and the situation escalated when several men joined the brawl. Burt and Vargas were charged with interference with peaceful conduct on campus and unlawful acts committed at school grounds.

Wrong Translation

The Washington state town of Sequim isn’t so “quiet” after all. For the past century people have assumed that Sequim translated to “quiet waters.” But tribal linguist Timothy Montler says a more accurate translation is a “place for going to shoot,” a reference to the area’s once great hunting. Montler is an expert in dying American Indian languages. He says the “quiet waters” translation is probably something someone just made up.

Lotto Lucky Granny

Martha Brown is one lucky granny. Georgia Lottery officials say Brown has hit a big lottery jackpot for the second time. She won $250,000 last week in a Mega Million’s drawing. In 1996, the 66-year-old great-grandmother won $150,000 playing Powerball. Brown says she wants to buy a new home with plenty of room for her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Pharmacy Thief Stopped By His Own Gun

Police in Pensacola, Florida, say 19-year-old Caleb Smith walked into a CVS, threatened the pharmacist and demanded drugs. According to officers, Smith put his gun on the counter when he looked into the bag with the drugs. That’s when the pharmacist grabbed what turned out to be a starter pistol. Smith ran for the front doors, but was tripped by another employee. He was held until police arrived. Smith’s now charged with armed robbery and grand theft.

Hot Dog Eating Champ Joey Chestnut Hits The Road

Pepto-Bismol is hosting eating competitions between 2010 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Champion Joey Chestnut and a team of five challengers who think they have the skills to out-eat the reigning champion on the main stages of local food festivals around the country, including Bite of Oregon (August 6-7), Austin Ice Cream Festival (August 14th), San Francisco Street Food Festival (August 21st) and the Buffalo Wing Festival (September 4-5). Not only will the team of challengers walk away with bragging rights if they’re able to conquer Chestnut, they’ll also win the “Pepto Cup” trophy, a year’s supply of Pepto-Bismol and $100 each.

Superman Saves The Day For Foreclosed Family

A New York auction house says bankers have agreed to allow a family to remain in their home until their rare copy of the first Superman comic book is sold. The anonymous family was in the process of moving from their foreclosed home somewhere in the southern United States when they came upon Action Comics No. 1, which the auctioneers said could fetch as much as $250,000. The comic will go on the block in New York on August 27th.

Yucky Homes Could End Up On The Internet

Property owners neglecting their homes in Reading, Pennsylvania, are getting shamed online. Mayor Tom McMahon announced Monday a new online “Wall of Shame” featuring nasty-looking properties. McMahon says the property owners’ names will be posted along with pictures and addresses. He says he’s serving notice to property owners who fail to clean up their property. Ten properties are already facing designation as “blighted,” which could lead to them being torn down. Fifty other properties are on the website, and McMahan says they’re being targeted for blighted status by the city.

Woman Uses Toes To Type ‘HELP’

An Atlanta woman, tied to her bed by an armed robber, used her toes to send an instant message to her boyfriend. Cops rushed to Amy Windom’s home after getting a 911 call from her boyfriend. They found her tied to her bed, her laptop next to her feet. Windom’s ordeal began just after midnight Tuesday, when the robber broke into her house while she was in bed. She said the thief pistol whipped her and then tied her wrists to the headboard. The burglar swiped her cell phone, iPod and digital camera, but Windom convinced him to leave her laptop, saying it was equipped with a tracing devise. After the thief fled in Windom’s car, she remained tied to the bed for nearly five hours before coming up with her toe-typing idea. She used her toes to type “HELP” and “CALL 911” to her boyfriend.

Krispy Kreme Burger?

A restaurant made famous for chocolate-covered bacon at last year’s Wisconsin State Fair said this year they’ll include a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger. The Machine Shed of Pewaukee said the Krispy Kreme cheeseburger, which is centered around a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut, will be available at the restaurant’s booth at the fair in West Allis, which starts tomorrow. The company said the burger will also be available at the Pewaukee restaurant during the fair’s run, which ends August 15th.

30-Year-Old Gravestone Prank

A Hyde Park, Utah, woman renovating her basement found a surprise when she tore down a shower wall in her home – a gravestone dated from 1900. Miriam Gunn said the gravestone says it is that of 13-year-old Earl Stephen Balls. Curious how it got into the home, Gunn’s husband called the previous owners of the house. Turns out the previous owner’s 15-year-old son was finishing construction on the basement in the 1970s when he remembered a broken gravestone that was near an old cabin in the backyard. He decided it might be funny to seal up the stone inside the wall for someone to find later. Earl Balls is buried at the nearby Hyde Park Cemetery and his grave bears a newer, more modern stone.

Family DUIs

Police in Maryville, Tennessee, charged a mother and her son with drunken driving after they spotted a speeding Chevy El Camino followed closely by a Mazda. They pulled them both over at a convenience store. Officers say the mother, Genevieve Hurst Alvarado, smelled heavily of alcohol and admitted she had been drinking. She was in the Mazda. Her 24-year-old son, Benjamin Forster, was driving the El Camino. Officers said he fell over backwards after being stopped. Both mother and son failed field sobriety tests and were arrested.

Drive-Thru Snake

A North Dakota man faces charges after he allegedly tossed a live snake into the drive-thru window of a fast-food restaurant. According to officers, 21-year-old Redford Turner turned himself in after the incident. Police received a call from a Taco John’s restaurant reporting that a snake nearly three feet long was thrown into the window of the drive-thru. Turner turned himself in later that day and was charged with disorderly conduct.

Butt Busters Hotline

Deputies in Raleigh County, West Virginia, are cracking down on people who toss cigarette butts out of their car windows. People who see a flying butt can call the Butt Busters hotline to report a butthead. Officials then send letters to the car owner notifying them that they were spotted littering. They also receive a pocket ash tray and educational material. The hotline is sponsored by the Raleigh County Make It Shine Committee. Co-chair Sherrie Hunter says they’re getting about 35 calls a month.

911 Caller Seeks Ride To Liquor Store

Police in St. Augustine, Florida, say a man who called 911 to ask for a ride to the liquor store got a ride to jail instead. He was charged with possession of marijuana and misuse of 911. George McMurrian, 57, allegedly called 911 twice Saturday from his room at the Budget Inn and asked for a ride to the liquor store. Officers went to McMurrian’s room after the second call and told him he would be arrested if he continued to call 911 for non-emergencies. Police returned to his room after dispatchers received a third call from the same location. Officers saw marijuana in his room and arrested him.

Robber Comes Up Short

Police in Wichita, Kansas, are looking for a guy who came up a little short while trying to steal a cash machine from a Walgreens. The crook apparently planned to wrap a chain around the ATM and drag it out with his truck, but the chain wasn’t long enough. Surveillance video shows him breaking glass and bringing the chain into the store. An alarm sounded and police were alerted, but he left without taking anything by the time officers arrived.

Country’s Oldest Mail Carrier Retires At 91

A 91-year-old mail carrier who has the honor of being the country’s oldest mail carrier is finally hanging up his mailbag and retiring. Mancel Prince drove more than 1.1 million miles delivering mail in Tennessee. Prince earned a Million-Mile Safe Driving award for 35 years of accident-free driving.

Polite Lawbreaker Stops At Red Lights

Cincinnati police say a speeding driver tried to escape while obeying red lights. A 26-year-old woman was going 78 mph in a 55 mph zone early Friday on I-75 when an officer tried to pull her over. She exited the highway and was apparently headed home, but once off the Interstate she drove the speed limit and stopped at every red light. She was eventually apprehended and taken to jail.

Man Passes Out While Trying To Break Into Home

Livingston parish police in Louisiana arrested a man who passed out while allegedly trying to break into a mobile home where an 82-year-old woman was calling 911. Deputies said 24-year-old Derrick Gauthreaux of Denham Springs was checked at a hospital Thursday, then booked into the parish jail on one count of attempted burglary. Police said the woman reported an attempted break-in about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, and said she was recovering from a broken leg but had a crowbar for protection and was ready to lay into the punk if he got in. Perry Rushing had just been released from the New Orleans jail 10 hours earlier. He’s back in jail on $50,000 bond.

Cheeseburger Found In Woman’s Gas Tank

A Rock Hill, South Carolina, woman found out that fast food doesn’t work well as a fuel for a vehicle. The 30-year-old woman made a complaint to police after she took her car to a mechanic because it suddenly stopped running. Police said a mechanic found a cheeseburger and pickle inside the gas tank. The woman told officers she had no idea how it got there. Investigators said the cost to fix the vehicle was about $1,000.

Jesus Couldn’t Stop Robber Twice

A repentant would-be robber, who left a Pompano Beach, Florida, cell phone store on July 23rd empty-handed after the clerk told him Jesus wouldn’t approve, apparently had a very limited religious experience. Several hours after the clerk told him “I’m just going to talk to you about Jesus, my God.” The stunned burglar apologized and left, but then strolled into a Payless shoe store a few miles away and robbed it at gunpoint. The robber, identified as Israel Camacho, was arrested two days later.

Robber Complains About Skimpy Haul

A Georgia man who robbed a Wendy’s was so mad about the amount of loot that he called back to complain – twice! The man walked up to the drive-thru window of an Atlanta Wendy’s late Saturday night, wearing a ski mask and holding a gun. He demanded the cash in the drawer, grabbed it and ran away. He later called the restaurant to complain about the tiny amount of cash. Police said in his first call he told the manager that the “next time there better be more than $586.” He called again a few minutes later with a similar complaint.

Helluva Hailstone

NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a giant hailstone that fell in central South Dakota has broken U.S. records, even though the man who found it says it melted a little before he could get it into the freezer. NOAA’s National Climate Extreme Committee says the ice stone discovered in the town of Vivian on July 23rd measures 8 inches in diameter and weights 1 pound, 15 ounces. The committee says the South Dakota ice chunk breaks records set by hailstones discovered in Nebraska and Kansas. Ranch hand Leslie Scott says the hailstone was about 3 inches larger when he first found it. Scott says he put it in the freezer but that it did melt a little.

Waitress Bags Dine-n-Dasher

A waitress who works at the Ale House in Ocala, Florida, was furious after three men walked out on a $23.19 bill. She was so angry that she ran after the men and nabbed one of them. Crystal Wynn said Jerry Stanage and two friends ordered two pitchers of beer, french fries, cheese sauce and a couple of shots of liquor Wednesday night, then left without paying. Wynn initially offered to cover the tab, but the manager told her she couldn’t do that and that she would be reprimanded. That’s when Crystal went gonzo. After she got off work, she drove to the Cloud Nine nightclub, where she knew the men would be, and enlisted the help from a bouncer to catch the crooks. Two of the men jumped into a truck and drove off, leaving Stanage to face the wrath of Wynn alone. He agreed to go with her back to the Ale House, where police arrested him.

Lost Kayak Found After Floating 600 Miles

Florida authorities have found the owner of an abandoned kayak discovered floating off Key Largo. A man says he lost the kayak six weeks ago almost 600 miles away. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search after the kayak was spotted Tuesday, but didn’t find anyone. An Internet search led authorities to the only two U.S. distributors of the South African-manufactured kayak and eventually to the kayak’s owner, lawyer San Dawson of the Cayman Islands, who was knocked off the kayak by a wave six weeks ago. Dawson’s kayak followed the currents for six weeks. It likely drifted northwest, past Cuba, through the Yucatan Channel to the Florida Straits and then flowed with the Gulf Stream north to Key Largo, authorities said.