Friday, June 20, 2014
Mother accused of branding her children for identification purposes
A woman from Port Charlotte, Florida, has been charged with child abuse, after police say she intentionally burned her two young children with a hot stick so she would know they were hers.
Kayla R. Oxenham, 23, has bonded out of jail. According to a police report, the children are 5-years-old and 7-years-old. They told authorities that Oxenham told them she "forgot how much she loved fire."
The children told police that Oxenham proceeded to use a lighter to burn a stick and injured the children's arms by touching the hot stick to them. Then, Oxenham told the kids she burned them for two reasons: the first is so the kids could have ice cream, and the second was to identify the children as being hers.
Medical exams for the children showed at least one of them had injuries indicative of the burning. Prior to the burning incident, Oxenham is accused of grabbing her 5-year-old by the hair and hitting her head into a wall repeatedly. She declined to talk to police about the alleged burns, and denied beating her children. Oxenham's occupation listed on the Charlotte County Jail Web site is medical assistant.
With news video.
Kayla R. Oxenham, 23, has bonded out of jail. According to a police report, the children are 5-years-old and 7-years-old. They told authorities that Oxenham told them she "forgot how much she loved fire."
The children told police that Oxenham proceeded to use a lighter to burn a stick and injured the children's arms by touching the hot stick to them. Then, Oxenham told the kids she burned them for two reasons: the first is so the kids could have ice cream, and the second was to identify the children as being hers.
Medical exams for the children showed at least one of them had injuries indicative of the burning. Prior to the burning incident, Oxenham is accused of grabbing her 5-year-old by the hair and hitting her head into a wall repeatedly. She declined to talk to police about the alleged burns, and denied beating her children. Oxenham's occupation listed on the Charlotte County Jail Web site is medical assistant.
With news video.
Man allegedly mowed his lawn while naked
A 61-year-old man from Bay City, Michigan, is facing a criminal charge after neighbours complained to police that they saw him mowing his lawn while completely naked.
At about 6:51pm on Wednesday, May 21, police responded to Bobby O. Blodgett's home in the city's Banks District after someone called 911 to report he was mowing his lawn naked. The caller, 40-year-old Jason S. Linton, told dispatchers he yelled at Blodgett to put some clothes on, and that Blodgett had done so.
Linton told a responding officer that he and his teenage son were visiting his mother-in-law in the neighbourhood and that they were in her back yard when they heard a lawnmower start up. "Then the guy came walking out and started cutting his lawn in the nude," Linton said. "I yelled at him and told him that he needed to put some clothing on." Linton said that though there is a privacy fence separating the yards, there are gaps in it that one can see through. Linton's mother-in-law, Nancy M. Mercier, told the officer that a similar incident happened the week beforehand when Blodgett mowed his lawn wearing only lady's stockings.
"I don't need to see that," Mercier said. "I know he has a privacy fence but I can see through it." The officer spoke with Blodgett, who maintained Linton and Mercier were mistaken regarding what they claimed to have seen. "I was out in the back yard today mowing my lawn in my bikini briefs," he said, according to police reports. "I had on my underwear. I made a mistake. I was not naked. It won't happen again. I was never naked." The officer did not arrest Blodgett, but told him a report would be sent to the Bay County Prosecutor's Office for review.
The officer also advised him to dress appropriately when in his yard. Police reports did not specify whether Blodgett's mower was of the push or riding variety. Authorities issued a warrant for Blodgett's arrest on Wednesday, June 11. Two days later, Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer arraigned him on one count of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Janer granted Blodgett a personal recognizance bond and ordered that he have no contact with Linton, Mercier or Linton's son. Blodgett is to next appear in court to accept or reject a plea offer on Thursday, July 17.
Linton told a responding officer that he and his teenage son were visiting his mother-in-law in the neighbourhood and that they were in her back yard when they heard a lawnmower start up. "Then the guy came walking out and started cutting his lawn in the nude," Linton said. "I yelled at him and told him that he needed to put some clothing on." Linton said that though there is a privacy fence separating the yards, there are gaps in it that one can see through. Linton's mother-in-law, Nancy M. Mercier, told the officer that a similar incident happened the week beforehand when Blodgett mowed his lawn wearing only lady's stockings.
"I don't need to see that," Mercier said. "I know he has a privacy fence but I can see through it." The officer spoke with Blodgett, who maintained Linton and Mercier were mistaken regarding what they claimed to have seen. "I was out in the back yard today mowing my lawn in my bikini briefs," he said, according to police reports. "I had on my underwear. I made a mistake. I was not naked. It won't happen again. I was never naked." The officer did not arrest Blodgett, but told him a report would be sent to the Bay County Prosecutor's Office for review.
The officer also advised him to dress appropriately when in his yard. Police reports did not specify whether Blodgett's mower was of the push or riding variety. Authorities issued a warrant for Blodgett's arrest on Wednesday, June 11. Two days later, Bay County District Judge Mark E. Janer arraigned him on one count of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Janer granted Blodgett a personal recognizance bond and ordered that he have no contact with Linton, Mercier or Linton's son. Blodgett is to next appear in court to accept or reject a plea offer on Thursday, July 17.
Men stole 7,095 pennies from one of their mother-in-law's piggy banks to buy heroin
Two men from Middletown, Connecticut, who carried more than 7,000 pennies into a grocery store to be cashed in are accused of stealing most of them from a family member.
Police arrested 46-year-old Ramon Rivera and 43-year-old Hector Sampel, saying the pennies were reportedly stolen from Sampel's mother-in-law.
Sampel's mother-in-law said when she returned home her back door was broken and the only thing missing were two large piggy banks full of change.
The men reportedly put 7,095 pennies, a $1 bill, $0.60 in dimes and five nickels into the machine. Police said they cashed in the change for about $65. The 7,095 pennies weighed nearly 40 pounds. Police said after the two men cashed in the coins, they went straight to a drug dealer to buy heroin.
With news video.
Police arrested 46-year-old Ramon Rivera and 43-year-old Hector Sampel, saying the pennies were reportedly stolen from Sampel's mother-in-law.
Sampel's mother-in-law said when she returned home her back door was broken and the only thing missing were two large piggy banks full of change.
The men reportedly put 7,095 pennies, a $1 bill, $0.60 in dimes and five nickels into the machine. Police said they cashed in the change for about $65. The 7,095 pennies weighed nearly 40 pounds. Police said after the two men cashed in the coins, they went straight to a drug dealer to buy heroin.
With news video.
Man attempting to hold down mattress in back of pick-up truck went airborne along with it
A man is recovering in a Shreveport, Louisiana, hospital after flying out of the back of a pick-up truck along with the mattress he was trying to hold down.
Police say that at around 12:30pm on Thursday a man was riding in the back of pick-up truck on top of a mattress and box spring on I-49. The mattress went airborne, and the man flew out of the truck with it. He landed in the highway and rolled into a concrete barrier wall on the shoulder.
The man was trying to hold the mattress and box spring down because they were not tied down. The man, who has not been identified by police, was taken to University Health with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe he sustained road rash and a possible fracture or two.
Officers are still investigating this incident, and it is not yet known if citations will be issued. This incident slowed traffic for a while. Police remind residents that items in the back of a truck should be properly secured. Officers also pointed out that a human being isn't going to be able to hold down a mattress if it goes airborne.
Police say that at around 12:30pm on Thursday a man was riding in the back of pick-up truck on top of a mattress and box spring on I-49. The mattress went airborne, and the man flew out of the truck with it. He landed in the highway and rolled into a concrete barrier wall on the shoulder.
The man was trying to hold the mattress and box spring down because they were not tied down. The man, who has not been identified by police, was taken to University Health with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe he sustained road rash and a possible fracture or two.
Officers are still investigating this incident, and it is not yet known if citations will be issued. This incident slowed traffic for a while. Police remind residents that items in the back of a truck should be properly secured. Officers also pointed out that a human being isn't going to be able to hold down a mattress if it goes airborne.
Raccoon with head stuck in peanut butter jar rescued from top of power pole
A search for a tasty treat ended in an overnight stay on top of a power pole and a three-hour rescue on Wednesday for a raccoon with a peanut butter jar stuck on its head near the foot of the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada.
"We have a very happy raccoon," Fort Erie SPCA manager Wendy Trombley said after setting the animal free.
"We think she is a mom, so there are some babies that are very happy as well. She was sitting at the top of pole. She tried to come down, but was scared. She went back up to the very top and just sat. She didn't know what to do with herself." It took about three hours to rescue the raccoon from the pole and release it. One witness said the raccoon had been up the pole most of the night.
"It is kind of comical, but it's hard for the animal to see and it's very hot in that little space in the jar," Trombley said. "I'm not sure how she ended up the pole. Somebody may have tried to help her and scared her, or a dog may have frightened her." The SPCA, fire department and Canadian Niagara Power workers all assisted in the raccoon rescue.
Hydro staff did a quick canvass of the the neighbourhood before shutting off the power to protect animal control officer Mark Dickson and the raccoon during the rescue. "He (Dickson) looped the racoon,” Trembley said. “We got her in the cage, and I was able to get my hand in. I grabbed the jar and I got Mark to pull down on the raccoon's body a bit and the jar slipped off.”
There's a short news video here.
"We think she is a mom, so there are some babies that are very happy as well. She was sitting at the top of pole. She tried to come down, but was scared. She went back up to the very top and just sat. She didn't know what to do with herself." It took about three hours to rescue the raccoon from the pole and release it. One witness said the raccoon had been up the pole most of the night.
"It is kind of comical, but it's hard for the animal to see and it's very hot in that little space in the jar," Trombley said. "I'm not sure how she ended up the pole. Somebody may have tried to help her and scared her, or a dog may have frightened her." The SPCA, fire department and Canadian Niagara Power workers all assisted in the raccoon rescue.
Hydro staff did a quick canvass of the the neighbourhood before shutting off the power to protect animal control officer Mark Dickson and the raccoon during the rescue. "He (Dickson) looped the racoon,” Trembley said. “We got her in the cage, and I was able to get my hand in. I grabbed the jar and I got Mark to pull down on the raccoon's body a bit and the jar slipped off.”
There's a short news video here.
Bear stealing honey caught on camera in China
A black bear has recently destroyed more than 70 beehives while stealing honey at a bee breeding base at a nature reserve in northeast China.
The base started reporting beehive missing cases towards the end of May and suspected that it was done by wild animals.
The monitoring video shows the bear first opening a beehive with its mouth, then running away very quickly, which the staff analyzed as a move to avoid being stung by bees.
YouTube link.
The bear came back later and carried away honey from the the beehives after the bees inside had flown away.
There's an additional news video here.
The base started reporting beehive missing cases towards the end of May and suspected that it was done by wild animals.
The monitoring video shows the bear first opening a beehive with its mouth, then running away very quickly, which the staff analyzed as a move to avoid being stung by bees.
YouTube link.
The bear came back later and carried away honey from the the beehives after the bees inside had flown away.
There's an additional news video here.
Antipodean colander on head licence news
A South Australian atheist who successfully had his gun licence printed with a photo of him wearing a colander on his head has been forced to undertake a psychological test to prove he is fit to own firearms.
Guy Albon, a 30-year-old disability support worker in Adelaide, said he had his four guns and his licence confiscated after police became suspicious of his strange photo.
He is believed to be the first Australian to successfully have a licence printed with a colander on their head.
It wasn't until six months later when he submitted paperwork to have his licence classification changed that police became nervous about allowing a man with a colander on his head access to firearms. He said two uniformed officers visited his home and seized his licence and four firearms - two rifles and two handguns worth about $2000 in total - until a psychiatrist confirmed he was safe to own weapons. "I passed," Mr Albon said. "I was laughing ... I had to go and tell (a psychiatrist) what I was doing.
"The psychiatrist just laughed, he said 'you're kidding right'. He asked if I had heard any voices, if I'd used drugs, and just other stuff to clarify where I was with my mental status." Despite passing the test, he was told the licence with the colander photo had been destroyed and he would have to be photographed again, this time without the headpiece. A frustrated Mr Albon maintains he is legally allowed to wear the colander in his licence photo. But, at the risk of losing his licence again, he conceded to having a normal photo taken for the renewal.
Meanwhile, a New Zealand man has a blue colander on his head on his driver's licence photo. Despite the photo, it is completely legitimate. The man, known only as Russell said: "I am complying in every respect to the New Zealand law, specifically concerning driver licences," he said. "And I am simply claiming the same privileges awarded to those who claim to believe in a magic man in the sky. They can wear religious headwear." Both Mr Albon and Russell claim to be part of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, otherwise known as Pastafarians.
There's a video interview with Russell here.
It wasn't until six months later when he submitted paperwork to have his licence classification changed that police became nervous about allowing a man with a colander on his head access to firearms. He said two uniformed officers visited his home and seized his licence and four firearms - two rifles and two handguns worth about $2000 in total - until a psychiatrist confirmed he was safe to own weapons. "I passed," Mr Albon said. "I was laughing ... I had to go and tell (a psychiatrist) what I was doing.
"The psychiatrist just laughed, he said 'you're kidding right'. He asked if I had heard any voices, if I'd used drugs, and just other stuff to clarify where I was with my mental status." Despite passing the test, he was told the licence with the colander photo had been destroyed and he would have to be photographed again, this time without the headpiece. A frustrated Mr Albon maintains he is legally allowed to wear the colander in his licence photo. But, at the risk of losing his licence again, he conceded to having a normal photo taken for the renewal.
Meanwhile, a New Zealand man has a blue colander on his head on his driver's licence photo. Despite the photo, it is completely legitimate. The man, known only as Russell said: "I am complying in every respect to the New Zealand law, specifically concerning driver licences," he said. "And I am simply claiming the same privileges awarded to those who claim to believe in a magic man in the sky. They can wear religious headwear." Both Mr Albon and Russell claim to be part of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, otherwise known as Pastafarians.
There's a video interview with Russell here.
Thief wearing Homer Simpson onesie part of gang that raided supermarket
A thief dressed in a Homer Simpson onesie was among gang members who stole cash from a Sainsbury's Local supermarket in Newhall, Derbyshire.
Four men targeted the store in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Three members of the gang forced their way into the store where they destroyed a self-service till before failing in a bid to steal hundreds of packets of cigarettes. Now, police chiefs are pleading with witnesses to come forward.
Eileen Banton, crime reduction officer, said: “We hope that the distinctive attire of one of the thieves will help someone come forward with information that will help us catch those responsible. The gang was made up of four males. One was wearing a blue hooded top, one a grey hooded top and the third is described as wearing a Homer Simpson onesie.
“The fourth member of the gang did not enter the premises and is believed to have stayed with a getaway vehicle. We are appealing for people to come forward with any information. Did they see the gang beforehand, did they see where they went or what vehicle they were in?”
Three members of the gang forced their way into the store where they destroyed a self-service till before failing in a bid to steal hundreds of packets of cigarettes. Now, police chiefs are pleading with witnesses to come forward.
Eileen Banton, crime reduction officer, said: “We hope that the distinctive attire of one of the thieves will help someone come forward with information that will help us catch those responsible. The gang was made up of four males. One was wearing a blue hooded top, one a grey hooded top and the third is described as wearing a Homer Simpson onesie.
“The fourth member of the gang did not enter the premises and is believed to have stayed with a getaway vehicle. We are appealing for people to come forward with any information. Did they see the gang beforehand, did they see where they went or what vehicle they were in?”
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