Thursday, May 29, 2014
Absolutely charming 89-year-old lady fought off sword-wielding robber with a golf club
An 89-year-old store owner in Washington state used a golf club to beat off a suspected robber who wielded a sword, prompting the suspect to drop the stolen cash register as he made away on a bicycle, according to police.
Police in the 21,000-population city of Moses Lake say owner Miyo Koba was inside Frank's Superette on Sunday morning when a tall, slender male wearing a ski mask and dark glasses swooped in.
Koba has owned the store in this community between Seattle and Spokane for 60 years, and kept it up even after her husband died, police said. When Koba found the suspect standing behind the cash register, she set about a campaign of aggression. Police describe Koba as a small woman who weighs no more than 125 pounds. "I had the scissors in my hand like this, and he was trying to open the till, and he said, 'Open the till!' " Koba said. "I said, 'No, I'm not going to open the till for you,' and I said, 'If you don't get your hands off the till, I'm going to stab you with my scissors.' But I didn't. I didn't have the nerve to stab him,"
However, her tactics apparently had an effect. The suspect became unnerved when Koba would not open the register. "He started pounding on the register trying to open it," Koba said. "He pulled out his little sword out of his little jacket, and he just kind of waved it a little bit," she said, making reference to the man's 3-foot weapon. “I didn't feel threatened. It just probably made me a little bit more brave,” said Koba. She said the man pushed her slightly to get away. “I fell down here and so I got into a sitting position.
YouTube link. Original news video.
“I got into a sitting position and I found the club so I went tried to swing this club at him and I tried to hit his head a couple times but I couldn't reach it,” said Koba. So she went for his legs, swinging and hitting them. The man escaped on a bicycle, cash register and sword in tow, but police said Koba later recovered the register nearby with the money still in it. The man apparently stripped after he left the store because police found his clothing after the incident. “He must have been running around in his underwear and no shoes because that's what they said, they found all his clothes,” said Koba. Police are still searching for the man.
Koba has owned the store in this community between Seattle and Spokane for 60 years, and kept it up even after her husband died, police said. When Koba found the suspect standing behind the cash register, she set about a campaign of aggression. Police describe Koba as a small woman who weighs no more than 125 pounds. "I had the scissors in my hand like this, and he was trying to open the till, and he said, 'Open the till!' " Koba said. "I said, 'No, I'm not going to open the till for you,' and I said, 'If you don't get your hands off the till, I'm going to stab you with my scissors.' But I didn't. I didn't have the nerve to stab him,"
However, her tactics apparently had an effect. The suspect became unnerved when Koba would not open the register. "He started pounding on the register trying to open it," Koba said. "He pulled out his little sword out of his little jacket, and he just kind of waved it a little bit," she said, making reference to the man's 3-foot weapon. “I didn't feel threatened. It just probably made me a little bit more brave,” said Koba. She said the man pushed her slightly to get away. “I fell down here and so I got into a sitting position.
YouTube link. Original news video.
“I got into a sitting position and I found the club so I went tried to swing this club at him and I tried to hit his head a couple times but I couldn't reach it,” said Koba. So she went for his legs, swinging and hitting them. The man escaped on a bicycle, cash register and sword in tow, but police said Koba later recovered the register nearby with the money still in it. The man apparently stripped after he left the store because police found his clothing after the incident. “He must have been running around in his underwear and no shoes because that's what they said, they found all his clothes,” said Koba. Police are still searching for the man.
Snake lunging at tyres caused traffic delays
A rat snake slowed traffic down at Mayde Creek in Katy, Texas, on Tuesday morning.
Mayde Creek had burst its banks due to heavy rain the previous couple of days, sending the snake looking for higher ground.
As vehicles passed by, the snake would lunge at their tyres. Crews shut down one lane as they tried to corral it.
The story didn't end well for the snake, as multiple vehicles ran over it. The snake didn't survive its injuries.
With news video.
Mayde Creek had burst its banks due to heavy rain the previous couple of days, sending the snake looking for higher ground.
As vehicles passed by, the snake would lunge at their tyres. Crews shut down one lane as they tried to corral it.
The story didn't end well for the snake, as multiple vehicles ran over it. The snake didn't survive its injuries.
With news video.
Shoppers surprised by wandering alligator
Shoppers in North Charleston, South Carolina, were shocked to see an alligator in a parking lot at Tanger Outlets on Tuesday evening.
Danielle McAdory said she was coming out of the Verizon store at around 7:15pm when she noticed a gator at the Hardees parking lot.
"I thought it was strange that a gator could make it that far inland and I was hoping animal control wasn't going to shoot it," McAdory said.
YouTube link.
The gator attempted to crawl to the main road, but police managed to block the animal. Officers with the North Charleston Police Department were able to capture the gator at around 8:30pm. The gator was then placed in the back of a truck before being transported to the Goose Creek reservoir where it was released.
Danielle McAdory said she was coming out of the Verizon store at around 7:15pm when she noticed a gator at the Hardees parking lot.
"I thought it was strange that a gator could make it that far inland and I was hoping animal control wasn't going to shoot it," McAdory said.
YouTube link.
The gator attempted to crawl to the main road, but police managed to block the animal. Officers with the North Charleston Police Department were able to capture the gator at around 8:30pm. The gator was then placed in the back of a truck before being transported to the Goose Creek reservoir where it was released.
Deer that fell from the sky crashed though windscreen of vehicle travelling at 70 mph
An Illinois woman had an unusual encounter with a deer as the animal leapt from an overpass and crashed through her windscreen.
Heidi Conner says she was driving a minivan with her four children at about noon on Sunday.
“I’m driving, everything was fine. Boom, and I have a deer lying next to me in my car,” she says. A full-sized female deer slammed through the front of Heidi’s windscreen as she cruised at more than 70 mph on westbound Interstate 90 near Barrington. It’s as if the animal fell from the sky, she says - which apparently is not too far off.
Illinois Police State Trooper Justin Novarro was first on scene and says a witness told him the deer jumped or fell off the Illinois 72 overpass onto I-90. “Never in my career have I seen anything like this,” he says. Despite the impact, Conner steered the van through three lanes of traffic to get to safety.
YouTube link.
“If it had been one inch to the left, it would have been dead centre. I wouldn’t have been able to control the car. And one inch to the right, it would have killed my son,” she says. The children weren’t hurt at all, and doctors say Conner only has a sore shoulder and a few bumps and bruises. “I believe God was with me the whole time - he protected me, he preserved me for a reason,” she says. Conner says the family only had liability insurance on the car, meaning she’ll get no money from her insurance company. The car is totalled.
With longer news video.
“I’m driving, everything was fine. Boom, and I have a deer lying next to me in my car,” she says. A full-sized female deer slammed through the front of Heidi’s windscreen as she cruised at more than 70 mph on westbound Interstate 90 near Barrington. It’s as if the animal fell from the sky, she says - which apparently is not too far off.
Illinois Police State Trooper Justin Novarro was first on scene and says a witness told him the deer jumped or fell off the Illinois 72 overpass onto I-90. “Never in my career have I seen anything like this,” he says. Despite the impact, Conner steered the van through three lanes of traffic to get to safety.
YouTube link.
“If it had been one inch to the left, it would have been dead centre. I wouldn’t have been able to control the car. And one inch to the right, it would have killed my son,” she says. The children weren’t hurt at all, and doctors say Conner only has a sore shoulder and a few bumps and bruises. “I believe God was with me the whole time - he protected me, he preserved me for a reason,” she says. Conner says the family only had liability insurance on the car, meaning she’ll get no money from her insurance company. The car is totalled.
With longer news video.
Serial feet tickler on the loose at college
A man has been breaking into the homes of students who live near Boston College in Massachusetts and watching them sleep or tickling their feet, police and several alleged victims have confirmed.
Police report at least 10 sightings of the so-called Tickler, who some in the neighbourhood had long believed to be a myth. At least three students report having encountered him on the same night.
“This is no myth,” said Sergeant Michael O’Hara, community service officer for the Boston Police district that covers Allston and Brighton. “It’s happening.” Victims have described him as a 5-foot-8-inch black male of unknown age in dark clothing and a hoodie, he said. Some reported that the man watched them through their windows as he committed a sex act.
Teddy Raddell, a BC junior, said he was jolted from a sound sleep at 5am on a Sunday by the sound of someone running down the stairs of the house he shares with several fellow Boston College students. “I thought my roommate had fallen down the steps,” Raddell said, “but then he started yelling. I got up and he said that he had woken up to someone touching his feet.” Like other students, he said no valuables were stolen. “The guy didn’t take anything and there were laptops and wallets out in the main room,” said Raddell. BC junior Daniel Marenzi said he woke up late, also on a Sunday, to his feet being tickled.
“I thought my friend was just trying to annoy me, but I soon realized it wasn’t anyone I knew,” Marenzi says. “I freaked out and sat up but he was already on the way out.” He said he and his housemates now lock all their doors. O’Hara said many students living off campus leave their doors unlocked, however. “Absolutely students should be concerned,” he said. “You don’t know what this guy is going to do or if he has a weapon. You need to lock your doors. It’s not as safe as you think.” There is no hard evidence in the cases, O’Hara said, and no photos or video of the alleged Tickler. “If we had something to go on,” he said, “we would.”
“This is no myth,” said Sergeant Michael O’Hara, community service officer for the Boston Police district that covers Allston and Brighton. “It’s happening.” Victims have described him as a 5-foot-8-inch black male of unknown age in dark clothing and a hoodie, he said. Some reported that the man watched them through their windows as he committed a sex act.
Teddy Raddell, a BC junior, said he was jolted from a sound sleep at 5am on a Sunday by the sound of someone running down the stairs of the house he shares with several fellow Boston College students. “I thought my roommate had fallen down the steps,” Raddell said, “but then he started yelling. I got up and he said that he had woken up to someone touching his feet.” Like other students, he said no valuables were stolen. “The guy didn’t take anything and there were laptops and wallets out in the main room,” said Raddell. BC junior Daniel Marenzi said he woke up late, also on a Sunday, to his feet being tickled.
“I thought my friend was just trying to annoy me, but I soon realized it wasn’t anyone I knew,” Marenzi says. “I freaked out and sat up but he was already on the way out.” He said he and his housemates now lock all their doors. O’Hara said many students living off campus leave their doors unlocked, however. “Absolutely students should be concerned,” he said. “You don’t know what this guy is going to do or if he has a weapon. You need to lock your doors. It’s not as safe as you think.” There is no hard evidence in the cases, O’Hara said, and no photos or video of the alleged Tickler. “If we had something to go on,” he said, “we would.”
'Put the iceblock in the car and your hands on your head'
A man apprehended by police in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday was told via megaphone to put his iceblock down before he did anything else.
At around midday, witness Hayden Eastmond-Mein saw police cars rushing to the scene in Mt Eden. They were following a green sedan, which pulled over at the side of the road.
A police officer then called out using a loud hailer: "Put the iceblock in the car and put your hands on your head." The driver got out of the car and was handcuffed while police searched his car. One officer was pointing what appeared to be a taser at the man, Mr Eastmond-Mein says. Several other officers were present. "They were all standing off quite far and sheltering behind doors."
A police spokeswoman confirmed a taser was drawn but not fired, and that police armed with guns were also present. Officers were responding to a report from a member of the public, who said she had seen somebody in the sedan with a firearm. The vehicle was empty when police arrived, but they executed a standard procedure known as an "armed stop" on it after seeing a man get in and drive off.
YouTube link. Original Instagram video. LiveLeak link.
He pulled over after several hundred metres but his description did not match the one the woman had provided. He was released without charge after he and the vehicle had been searched. No firearm was found. Police could not confirm whether the car had been speeding, and say the iceblock appeared unrelated to the firearm report. The description of the man alleged to have a firearm has been provided to local police staff.
A police officer then called out using a loud hailer: "Put the iceblock in the car and put your hands on your head." The driver got out of the car and was handcuffed while police searched his car. One officer was pointing what appeared to be a taser at the man, Mr Eastmond-Mein says. Several other officers were present. "They were all standing off quite far and sheltering behind doors."
A police spokeswoman confirmed a taser was drawn but not fired, and that police armed with guns were also present. Officers were responding to a report from a member of the public, who said she had seen somebody in the sedan with a firearm. The vehicle was empty when police arrived, but they executed a standard procedure known as an "armed stop" on it after seeing a man get in and drive off.
YouTube link. Original Instagram video. LiveLeak link.
He pulled over after several hundred metres but his description did not match the one the woman had provided. He was released without charge after he and the vehicle had been searched. No firearm was found. Police could not confirm whether the car had been speeding, and say the iceblock appeared unrelated to the firearm report. The description of the man alleged to have a firearm has been provided to local police staff.
Suspicious package at council offices was paperwork
Police say a suspicious package found at West Norfolk council’s offices last Friday turned out to be harmless paperwork.
Officers were called to reports of a suspicious package at around 9am.
But at noon, a spokesman said: “The package has now been examined and it’s not being treated as suspicious - it just contained paperwork.”
The building was not evacuated. A number of police units were sent to the scene.
Officers were called to reports of a suspicious package at around 9am.
But at noon, a spokesman said: “The package has now been examined and it’s not being treated as suspicious - it just contained paperwork.”
The building was not evacuated. A number of police units were sent to the scene.
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