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.