Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Elephants entertain themselves with tyres
Elephants at the Elephant Nature Park rescue and rehabilitation centre in northern Thailand enjoy their new enrichment toys.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
House party host faces kidnapping and riot charges after party-goers held against their will
Police say all the man inside had to do was open the door and the majority of what happened next could have been avoided.
Instead, officers forced their way into a house in West Valley, Utah, where people were allegedly being held against their will and a riot ensued when angry party-goers started attacking them.
A total of 10 people were arrested and more than 60 citations issued, mostly for minors in possession of alcohol. More than 50 officers were called to help control the more than 150 party-goers in the house.
The incident began just after 1am on Sunday when West Valley police were called to a loud party. Eight officers went to the door but no one answered, said West Valley Police Lt. Dalan Taylor, even though the officers could clearly see and hear people inside. While the officers were at the door, police dispatchers started receiving calls. "We received several calls from inside that residence that they were trying to leave that residence but the homeowner would not allow them to do so," Taylor said. Witnesses later told investigators that the person who organized the party had a gun in his hand and was "threatening people, telling them not to leave the house or they would be killed," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
"Witnesses were so fearful for their lives that they called 911 from inside the residence." After the initial officers entered the house, some of the people inside started harassing them when they tried to arrest people, Taylor said. "They tried to take a few into custody, they started to fight, some of their friends started to join in, and it just kind of exploded from there," he said. West Valley police called 22 officers from their own department as backup and 25 to 30 more from Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Murray and Unified police. The officers received some "bumps and bruises" but no one was threatened with a weapon, Taylor said.
A total of four people were fighting inside the house and the rest were fairly cooperative, according to West Valley police. He said it appeared the home owner simply didn't want officers seeing that there were a bunch of underage people drinking in the house. Taylor said the man may have received a citation, but he could have avoided potential felony charges if he had just co-operated in the beginning. "This could have been a whole lot different if they had just opened the door," he said. Edgar Reynoso, 20, of West Valley, was arrested for investigation of a number of charges including aggravated kidnapping, inciting a riot, possession of a weapon by a restricted person and providing alcohol to minors. Reynoso's parents own the house. They were out of town for the weekend.
With two news videos. Many thanks Zhoen!
The incident began just after 1am on Sunday when West Valley police were called to a loud party. Eight officers went to the door but no one answered, said West Valley Police Lt. Dalan Taylor, even though the officers could clearly see and hear people inside. While the officers were at the door, police dispatchers started receiving calls. "We received several calls from inside that residence that they were trying to leave that residence but the homeowner would not allow them to do so," Taylor said. Witnesses later told investigators that the person who organized the party had a gun in his hand and was "threatening people, telling them not to leave the house or they would be killed," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
"Witnesses were so fearful for their lives that they called 911 from inside the residence." After the initial officers entered the house, some of the people inside started harassing them when they tried to arrest people, Taylor said. "They tried to take a few into custody, they started to fight, some of their friends started to join in, and it just kind of exploded from there," he said. West Valley police called 22 officers from their own department as backup and 25 to 30 more from Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Murray and Unified police. The officers received some "bumps and bruises" but no one was threatened with a weapon, Taylor said.
A total of four people were fighting inside the house and the rest were fairly cooperative, according to West Valley police. He said it appeared the home owner simply didn't want officers seeing that there were a bunch of underage people drinking in the house. Taylor said the man may have received a citation, but he could have avoided potential felony charges if he had just co-operated in the beginning. "This could have been a whole lot different if they had just opened the door," he said. Edgar Reynoso, 20, of West Valley, was arrested for investigation of a number of charges including aggravated kidnapping, inciting a riot, possession of a weapon by a restricted person and providing alcohol to minors. Reynoso's parents own the house. They were out of town for the weekend.
With two news videos. Many thanks Zhoen!
Man rescued after getting stuck in chimney
It took a team of firefighters more than two hours to free a 32-year-old man trapped in a chimney in Lake Forest, California, just after 3am on Monday morning.
Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi said the man got stuck up to his shoulders about 10 feet down the chimney – and every time the man exhaled, he slid further down.
YouTube link. Original video.
“He started screaming and yelling, and inside there was a mom, her daughter, and the daughter’s two kids inside, so they called 911,” Concialdi said. About 25 firefighters, including two urban search and rescue teams, were called to the scene.
The man was finally lifted out in a harness just before 5am and taken to a hospital suffering from mild, non-life-threatening injuries. Sheriff’s officials say he was trying to get into his uncle’s home and didn’t break any laws.
With short additional news video.
Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi said the man got stuck up to his shoulders about 10 feet down the chimney – and every time the man exhaled, he slid further down.
YouTube link. Original video.
“He started screaming and yelling, and inside there was a mom, her daughter, and the daughter’s two kids inside, so they called 911,” Concialdi said. About 25 firefighters, including two urban search and rescue teams, were called to the scene.
The man was finally lifted out in a harness just before 5am and taken to a hospital suffering from mild, non-life-threatening injuries. Sheriff’s officials say he was trying to get into his uncle’s home and didn’t break any laws.
With short additional news video.
Man holding breath in tunnel caused crash
Police have arrested a 19-year-old Washington state man who held his breath while driving through a tunnel in Oregon and fainted, causing a three-vehicle crash that injured four people on Sunday afternoon.
The crash in a tunnel on U.S. 26 west of Manning happened at about 4:45pm. Oregon State Police said that Daniel J. Calhon, 19, of Snohomish, was driving a Toyota Camry when he told police he decided to hold his breath entering a tunnel. He fainted, causing the Camry to cross the centre-line.
The Camry collided head-on with a Ford Explorer. Both vehicles then smashed into the interior tunnel walls and a third vehicle, a GMC pick-up, hit the Camry. Calhon and his passenger, Bradley Meyring, 19, of Edmonds, Washington, were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Portland.
The Ford Explorer's driver and his passenger, both of Astoria, were also hospitalised. The two people in the pick-up were not injured. Police cited Calhon for fourth-degree assault, reckless driving and three counts of reckless endangering. The accident closed the tunnel for two hours.
The crash in a tunnel on U.S. 26 west of Manning happened at about 4:45pm. Oregon State Police said that Daniel J. Calhon, 19, of Snohomish, was driving a Toyota Camry when he told police he decided to hold his breath entering a tunnel. He fainted, causing the Camry to cross the centre-line.
The Camry collided head-on with a Ford Explorer. Both vehicles then smashed into the interior tunnel walls and a third vehicle, a GMC pick-up, hit the Camry. Calhon and his passenger, Bradley Meyring, 19, of Edmonds, Washington, were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Portland.
The Ford Explorer's driver and his passenger, both of Astoria, were also hospitalised. The two people in the pick-up were not injured. Police cited Calhon for fourth-degree assault, reckless driving and three counts of reckless endangering. The accident closed the tunnel for two hours.
White peacock devoured by zoo's polar bear
One of two polar bears at Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, stunned onlookers over the weekend by devouring a white peacock which flew into its enclosure.
The pair of polar bears only arrived at the world's oldest zoo a fortnight ago to take up residence in the newly completed compound. Both are two years old. Female, Lynn, had come from Holland, the male, Ranzo, from Finland.
Visitors were shocked to witness Lynn demolish the hapless bird, leaving nothing but a couple of feathers, before retiring for an afternoon nap. Peacocks are free to roam throughout the grounds of the former imperial menagerie.
It appears the unfortunate bird had taken a shine to the bear's new enclosure during the two and a half year construction period, and clearly had no idea its new residents weren't vegetarians.
The pair of polar bears only arrived at the world's oldest zoo a fortnight ago to take up residence in the newly completed compound. Both are two years old. Female, Lynn, had come from Holland, the male, Ranzo, from Finland.
Visitors were shocked to witness Lynn demolish the hapless bird, leaving nothing but a couple of feathers, before retiring for an afternoon nap. Peacocks are free to roam throughout the grounds of the former imperial menagerie.
It appears the unfortunate bird had taken a shine to the bear's new enclosure during the two and a half year construction period, and clearly had no idea its new residents weren't vegetarians.
Controversy after store caught selling wolfskin rugs
An upmarket furniture shop in Norway has outraged animal rights activists after it was caught selling wolfskin rugs - despite the fact that the wolf is an endangered animal in the country.
The rugs were on sale for 27,800 Norwegian kroner (£2,800, $4,700) each.
Ingunn Lund-Vang, from the animal rights organization Country People for Wild Animals (Bygdefolk for Rovdyr) attacked the shop as 'completely unethical and abusive'. "There are no fur farms for wolves so either the wolf was shot somewhere, or it may be from abroad, where it is permitted to hunt wolves with a foot trap," she said.
"This is a barbaric trapping method that involves hours of pain for the animals. If so, it's even worse." Ruben Amundsen, Mobelringen's general manager, on Sunday moved rapidly to diffuse the scandal, apologizing immediately. "We have now removed the skin, and it will never be for sale in the shop again," he said.
He said that he had bought the wolf skins, which had been imported from Canada, at a design fair in Oslo. The skins' importer, Erik Garthus, said that the trade was "perfectly legal", stressing that the animal had been shot, not trapped. According to Norway's wildlife research organization Rovdata, the country's wolf population is now down to less than 37 animals, leading some to fear that the animal could soon be extinct.
Ingunn Lund-Vang, from the animal rights organization Country People for Wild Animals (Bygdefolk for Rovdyr) attacked the shop as 'completely unethical and abusive'. "There are no fur farms for wolves so either the wolf was shot somewhere, or it may be from abroad, where it is permitted to hunt wolves with a foot trap," she said.
"This is a barbaric trapping method that involves hours of pain for the animals. If so, it's even worse." Ruben Amundsen, Mobelringen's general manager, on Sunday moved rapidly to diffuse the scandal, apologizing immediately. "We have now removed the skin, and it will never be for sale in the shop again," he said.
He said that he had bought the wolf skins, which had been imported from Canada, at a design fair in Oslo. The skins' importer, Erik Garthus, said that the trade was "perfectly legal", stressing that the animal had been shot, not trapped. According to Norway's wildlife research organization Rovdata, the country's wolf population is now down to less than 37 animals, leading some to fear that the animal could soon be extinct.
Men jailed for £500,000 plastic bread tray scam
Three Lancashire men have been jailed over the theft of more than
90,000 plastic bread trays estimated to be worth £500,000.
Bakery staff Robert Cooper, 61, of Bolton, and Paul Rogers, 35, of Rochdale, were jailed for four years and three-and-a half years at Burnley Crown Court.
The jury heard how the pair had sold the trays to Paul Mathews for recycling. Matthews, 46, received a three year sentence. Cooper and Rogers were convicted of theft, while Matthews admitted conspiracy to steal.
Cooper and Rogers worked for Warburton's Bakery in Bolton and stole the trays between January 2011 and May 2012. They then passed them on to Matthews, who owned PM Plastics in Darwen.
Bakery staff Robert Cooper, 61, of Bolton, and Paul Rogers, 35, of Rochdale, were jailed for four years and three-and-a half years at Burnley Crown Court.
The jury heard how the pair had sold the trays to Paul Mathews for recycling. Matthews, 46, received a three year sentence. Cooper and Rogers were convicted of theft, while Matthews admitted conspiracy to steal.
Cooper and Rogers worked for Warburton's Bakery in Bolton and stole the trays between January 2011 and May 2012. They then passed them on to Matthews, who owned PM Plastics in Darwen.
Bride went to Asda in her wedding dress to buy booze for guests
Shoppers at Asda in Cwmbran, south Wales, had a surprise on Saturday when they spotted an elated bride in full white wedding dress picking up drinks for her own party.
Anna Savery, 39, had tied the knot with James, 26, her partner of four years, just hours earlier, followed by a meal at the Irie Shack in Cwmbran where everyone paid their way. “After that we decided that we didn’t want to just go home,” the new Mrs Savery said.
“My mum said we could go to her house but we had to get our own booze, which was fair enough. She wanted to quickly tidy the house before we arrived.” So the new Mrs Savery decided to pop into the local supermarket, but wasn’t expecting the deluge of well-wishes from fellow shoppers.
YouTube link.
“People were coming up and asking me for photos,” she said. “People were telling me I looked beautiful, asking me if I’d got married that day. A little girl said I looked like a princess. I have been in there in my pyjamas and nobody blinked an eye. I did not expect the reaction that I got. It’s something I’m never, ever going to forget.”
Anna Savery, 39, had tied the knot with James, 26, her partner of four years, just hours earlier, followed by a meal at the Irie Shack in Cwmbran where everyone paid their way. “After that we decided that we didn’t want to just go home,” the new Mrs Savery said.
“My mum said we could go to her house but we had to get our own booze, which was fair enough. She wanted to quickly tidy the house before we arrived.” So the new Mrs Savery decided to pop into the local supermarket, but wasn’t expecting the deluge of well-wishes from fellow shoppers.
YouTube link.
“People were coming up and asking me for photos,” she said. “People were telling me I looked beautiful, asking me if I’d got married that day. A little girl said I looked like a princess. I have been in there in my pyjamas and nobody blinked an eye. I did not expect the reaction that I got. It’s something I’m never, ever going to forget.”
Premier League footballer's love rival 'tried to have sex with a car'
A love rival of Premier League footballer Andy Carroll “tried to have sex with a car”, a court heard.
Rob Curran, 36, was caught in broad daylight on a busy street with his genitals out, “gyrating and thrusting” his groin against the bonnet of a black BMW.
He was spotted by a horrified female witness as she drove down Station Road, in Backworth, North Tyneside.
Curran was arrested and pleaded guilty to one count of exposure at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where he claimed he couldn’t remember anything because he was “paralytic”. The former Royal Marine was once arrested but never charged over an arson attack on Andy Carroll's car in 2010. Rebecca Gibson, prosecuting, told the court the indecent exposure happened at 5.30pm on April 28. She said: “The witness was driving through Station Road, which is a busy main road. She noticed a man and thought he looked like he was stretching against a car bonnet, as if he was about to go for a run.
“She looked again and noticed the car was a black BMW, which was parked up. The male was in front of the bonnet.” In a statement from the witness, she said: “I then saw the male had his genitals hanging out the front of his shorts ... he was gyrating and thrusting against the car bonnet. I thought, ‘The dirty bastard, he’s having sex with the car’. I couldn’t believe a man would stand in public, fully thrusting against the bonnet of a vehicle.” The court heard the witness drove on and saw an unsuspecting mother and young child walking towards Curran.
After returning home to get her mum and brother, she went back to Station Road but found the car gone and Curran, previously of Jesmond, Newcastle, but now living in Whitley Bay, sitting fully clothed on a nearby wall. Mark Harrison, defending, said Curran was deeply remorseful for what he’d done. He said: “The police didn’t consider this sinister behaviour. They described it more as drunk stupidity. I don’t ever recall a more embarrassed, ashamed and remorseful individual. He hasn’t stopped apologising. He can’t put an explanation to it because he can’t remember it.” Magistrates’ adjourned sentencing for the preparation of reports.
Curran was arrested and pleaded guilty to one count of exposure at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court, where he claimed he couldn’t remember anything because he was “paralytic”. The former Royal Marine was once arrested but never charged over an arson attack on Andy Carroll's car in 2010. Rebecca Gibson, prosecuting, told the court the indecent exposure happened at 5.30pm on April 28. She said: “The witness was driving through Station Road, which is a busy main road. She noticed a man and thought he looked like he was stretching against a car bonnet, as if he was about to go for a run.
“She looked again and noticed the car was a black BMW, which was parked up. The male was in front of the bonnet.” In a statement from the witness, she said: “I then saw the male had his genitals hanging out the front of his shorts ... he was gyrating and thrusting against the car bonnet. I thought, ‘The dirty bastard, he’s having sex with the car’. I couldn’t believe a man would stand in public, fully thrusting against the bonnet of a vehicle.” The court heard the witness drove on and saw an unsuspecting mother and young child walking towards Curran.
After returning home to get her mum and brother, she went back to Station Road but found the car gone and Curran, previously of Jesmond, Newcastle, but now living in Whitley Bay, sitting fully clothed on a nearby wall. Mark Harrison, defending, said Curran was deeply remorseful for what he’d done. He said: “The police didn’t consider this sinister behaviour. They described it more as drunk stupidity. I don’t ever recall a more embarrassed, ashamed and remorseful individual. He hasn’t stopped apologising. He can’t put an explanation to it because he can’t remember it.” Magistrates’ adjourned sentencing for the preparation of reports.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)