Monday, August 04, 2014
Two members of the Stoner family charged with cultivating marijuana
Two members of the Stoner family were charged with growing marijuana at their family home in Corvallis, Montana, this week. Rodney Ray Stoner, 57 and his son, Adam Lee Stoner, 24, appeared this week before Ravalli County Justice of the Peace Robin Clute on felony drug charges after Ravalli County sheriff’s deputies allegedly discovered a grow operation at the elder Stoner’s home.
The charging affidavit in the case said a former Baltimore law enforcement officer and a relative of the Stoners tipped off law enforcement to the alleged grow operation.The man told deputies that Rodney Stoner had shown his wife and children the plants growing in a home-built room in an unattached garage. A deputy asked the children – ages 12 and 14 – what they had seen, and they confirmed the plants were marijuana. They told the deputy they had taken a DARE class and had seen photos of the plant.
A search of the elder Stoner’s home allegedly recovered five marijuana plants, processed marijuana, marijuana pipes and grinders. Four clonazepam tablets were also allegedly found in the bedroom of the son. He did not have a prescription for the drug. The younger Stoner told officers the marijuana belonged to him and that his father allowed him to grow it in the home.
Adam Stoner was charged with criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies. He also faces misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rodney Stoner was charged with felony accountability for criminal production of dangerous drugs. He’s charged with the same misdemeanor counts as his son. Clute released both men on their own recognizance.
The charging affidavit in the case said a former Baltimore law enforcement officer and a relative of the Stoners tipped off law enforcement to the alleged grow operation.The man told deputies that Rodney Stoner had shown his wife and children the plants growing in a home-built room in an unattached garage. A deputy asked the children – ages 12 and 14 – what they had seen, and they confirmed the plants were marijuana. They told the deputy they had taken a DARE class and had seen photos of the plant.
A search of the elder Stoner’s home allegedly recovered five marijuana plants, processed marijuana, marijuana pipes and grinders. Four clonazepam tablets were also allegedly found in the bedroom of the son. He did not have a prescription for the drug. The younger Stoner told officers the marijuana belonged to him and that his father allowed him to grow it in the home.
Adam Stoner was charged with criminal production or manufacture of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, both felonies. He also faces misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rodney Stoner was charged with felony accountability for criminal production of dangerous drugs. He’s charged with the same misdemeanor counts as his son. Clute released both men on their own recognizance.
Man faces attempted murder charge after roommate ate three of his Chips Ahoy cookies
A central Illinois man is accused of trying to kill his female roommate for allegedly eating three of his Chips Ahoy cookies.
When Allen M. Hall, 23, threatened to kill his 49-year-old roommate after discovering she had eaten the cookies for breakfast, at first she thought he was joking.
But after repeating the threats Hall attacked her, said an affidavit by Decatur patrol officer Joseph Kish.
The incident occurred at about 10:15am on Wednesday in a house, where Hall and the roommate had separate bedrooms.
The victim said she was dressing in a bathroom when Hall started pounding on the door, threatening to kill her. Because she didn't take the threat seriously she opened the door and told him: “If you are going to kill me then go ahead,” the victim later told police. Hall shocked her with his violent response. “Allen grabbed her around the throat with both of his hands and threw her down into the tub,” she told police, said the affidavit. “She hit the back of her head on the tub and this caused a knot on her head.”
Hall then got on top of her “and strangled her to the point she could not speak and was having difficulty breathing.” The victim's husband and landlady both arrived on the scene and “had to pull Allen off of her.” She later told police she believed “Allen would have killed her if (her husband and landlady) had not been there.” The landlady told police she was in the dining room when she heard “commotion coming from the bathroom.”
When she arrived on the scene, Hall was on top of her in the tub, with his hands around her neck “and appeared to be squeezing as hard as he could.” When the landlady yelled for him to stop, he did not relent, so she grabbed one of his arms. Then she and the victim's husband pulled Hall off of her. “If she had not been there she believed Allen would have killed (the victim),” the landlady told police. During a police interview, Hall explained, “(The victim) told him to kill her, so he charged.” Hall is being held on $75,000 bond in the Macon County Jail on charges of attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery. He is due in circuit court for his arraignment by Thursday.
The victim said she was dressing in a bathroom when Hall started pounding on the door, threatening to kill her. Because she didn't take the threat seriously she opened the door and told him: “If you are going to kill me then go ahead,” the victim later told police. Hall shocked her with his violent response. “Allen grabbed her around the throat with both of his hands and threw her down into the tub,” she told police, said the affidavit. “She hit the back of her head on the tub and this caused a knot on her head.”
Hall then got on top of her “and strangled her to the point she could not speak and was having difficulty breathing.” The victim's husband and landlady both arrived on the scene and “had to pull Allen off of her.” She later told police she believed “Allen would have killed her if (her husband and landlady) had not been there.” The landlady told police she was in the dining room when she heard “commotion coming from the bathroom.”
When she arrived on the scene, Hall was on top of her in the tub, with his hands around her neck “and appeared to be squeezing as hard as he could.” When the landlady yelled for him to stop, he did not relent, so she grabbed one of his arms. Then she and the victim's husband pulled Hall off of her. “If she had not been there she believed Allen would have killed (the victim),” the landlady told police. During a police interview, Hall explained, “(The victim) told him to kill her, so he charged.” Hall is being held on $75,000 bond in the Macon County Jail on charges of attempted murder and aggravated domestic battery. He is due in circuit court for his arraignment by Thursday.
Cafe burglar found preparing himself crab cakes
A hungry burglar who broke into a cafe in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, early on Thursday was found by police in the kitchen of the restaurant preparing himself some crab cakes, police said.
Stephen L. Quinn, 41, of Millsboro was charges with burglary, theft under $1,500, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, said Police Chief Keith Banks.
The incident unfolded at about 1:30am at Planet X Cafe, where officers were called to investigate a person breaking the glass front door. When officers arrived at the location, they found Quinn preparing crab cakes and he had a stolen bottle of alcohol, also taken from the cafe, to accompany his meal.
Upon seeing the officers, Quinn tried to make a run for it, broke through the rear door and was promptly captured in the back alley behind the restaurant, Banks said. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution after failing to post $2,000 secured bail. He faces an Aug. 8 preliminary hearing.
Stephen L. Quinn, 41, of Millsboro was charges with burglary, theft under $1,500, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, said Police Chief Keith Banks.
The incident unfolded at about 1:30am at Planet X Cafe, where officers were called to investigate a person breaking the glass front door. When officers arrived at the location, they found Quinn preparing crab cakes and he had a stolen bottle of alcohol, also taken from the cafe, to accompany his meal.
Upon seeing the officers, Quinn tried to make a run for it, broke through the rear door and was promptly captured in the back alley behind the restaurant, Banks said. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution after failing to post $2,000 secured bail. He faces an Aug. 8 preliminary hearing.
Wandering tortoise detained by police
A tortoise found in Alhambra, California, couldn't outrun the police on Saturday.
It took two officers to take a 150-pound tortoise into custody, the Alhambra Police Department said. "The tortoise did try to make a run for it; but, our officers are pretty fast. Almost had a pursuit!"
Officials said they received a call about the animal when someone found it wandering on the road. The tortoise has distinct markings, police said, and was picked up by animal control.
The animal's owner can contact the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control centre.
It took two officers to take a 150-pound tortoise into custody, the Alhambra Police Department said. "The tortoise did try to make a run for it; but, our officers are pretty fast. Almost had a pursuit!"
Officials said they received a call about the animal when someone found it wandering on the road. The tortoise has distinct markings, police said, and was picked up by animal control.
The animal's owner can contact the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control centre.
Man is sabotaging efforts to rescue cat with head stuck in bird feeder - Update
Searchers who have been trying to rescue a cat with a bird feeder stuck on its head in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, say their efforts to trap the hapless animal are being sabotaged.
The Brandon and Area Lost Animals group began setting out traps over a week ago after the cat, nicknamed Butterscotch, was spotted with the feeder on its head in a Brandon neighbourhood.
The cat couldn’t be easily captured because it could see out of one eye and was still able to run, and even jump, to evade the rescuers.
The group set traps, but says a man in the neighbourhood has shone lights, clapped his hands and used other techniques to scare Butterscotch away. They say they’ve moved their traps onto private property, but their traps have been found and purposely damaged. They say volunteers have spotted a man at night moving around the traps and shining bright lights, but that he moves back onto his own property by the time police arrive. “Police have advised us to call them when we need to. Police officers on duty have been supportive and assisted however they could,” said Toni Gramiak, an organizer with the group.
“Police have suggested we move the trap away from the man’s sights, which we did. The man searched for, and found the new location each time.” While the cat can move, searchers fear it cannot eat or drink with the feeder on its head. Butterscotch, who was given the name because of his ginger-and-white colouring, is believed to be a stray and is frightened of people. For that reason, the rescue group has asked that people keep away from the traps.
They’ve also asked anyone who spots the cat to stay clear and report the location to them. The traps have been baited with tuna, sardines and cat food, but Butterscotch has so far avoided them. The rescue group said it had to use larger traps to enable the cat to enter with the feeder on its head. It said volunteers were devastated to return to the traps and find they had been toppled over and damaged. It said its most expensive trap will need to be repaired before it can be used again. Anyone who spots the cat is asked to refrain from posting the location on social media sites or other public forums.
The group set traps, but says a man in the neighbourhood has shone lights, clapped his hands and used other techniques to scare Butterscotch away. They say they’ve moved their traps onto private property, but their traps have been found and purposely damaged. They say volunteers have spotted a man at night moving around the traps and shining bright lights, but that he moves back onto his own property by the time police arrive. “Police have advised us to call them when we need to. Police officers on duty have been supportive and assisted however they could,” said Toni Gramiak, an organizer with the group.
“Police have suggested we move the trap away from the man’s sights, which we did. The man searched for, and found the new location each time.” While the cat can move, searchers fear it cannot eat or drink with the feeder on its head. Butterscotch, who was given the name because of his ginger-and-white colouring, is believed to be a stray and is frightened of people. For that reason, the rescue group has asked that people keep away from the traps.
They’ve also asked anyone who spots the cat to stay clear and report the location to them. The traps have been baited with tuna, sardines and cat food, but Butterscotch has so far avoided them. The rescue group said it had to use larger traps to enable the cat to enter with the feeder on its head. It said volunteers were devastated to return to the traps and find they had been toppled over and damaged. It said its most expensive trap will need to be repaired before it can be used again. Anyone who spots the cat is asked to refrain from posting the location on social media sites or other public forums.
Tuvalu climate change family granted New Zealand residency following appeal
A family from the Polynesian island of Tuvalu have been granted New Zealand residency after claiming they would be affected by climate change if they returned home.
It is the first successful application for residency on humanitarian grounds in which climate change has featured, but the Immigration and Protection Tribunal said the family had strong ties to New Zealand.
Environmental law expert Vernon Rive said the tribunal would be keen to avoid opening the floodgates to other climate change refugee claims.
The international Refugee Convention does not recognise victims of climate change as refugees. "I do see the decision as being quite significant," Rive said. "But it doesn't provide an open ticket for people from all the places that are impacted by climate change. It's still a very stringent test and it requires exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature." The Tuvalu family moved to New Zealand in 2007, but has had no legal status in the country since 2009. Their two children, aged 3 and 5, were born in New Zealand. The family has three generations of relatives living in New Zealand.
The father is a qualified teacher but has been a maintenance worker at a fast-food chain because he couldn't register as a teacher. His several applications for work visas were refused. In November 2012, the family lodged claims for refugee and protected persons status. In March last year, their claims were dismissed and last month the tribunal turned down their appeals because they did not meet the refugee convention. They successfully appealed against that decision on humanitarian grounds. In a decision issued last month, the tribunal found "exceptional circumstances ... which would make it unjust and unduly harsh" for the family to return to Tuvalu.
Immigration lawyer Trevor Zohs, who represented the family with Carole Curtis, said the effects of climate change should be recognised. "A lot of people are affected by illness when they go back, they get sick from drinking polluted water. The island is porous so even when the water is not flooding, it penetrates the rocks under the land." Appealing the decision on humanitarian grounds allowed discretion to be widened so the tribunal could consider whether it would be unjust to send a person back to their country. "Obviously their character, the fact they're going to contribute to New Zealand and that they have a connection to New Zealand is also taken into account," Zohs said.
The international Refugee Convention does not recognise victims of climate change as refugees. "I do see the decision as being quite significant," Rive said. "But it doesn't provide an open ticket for people from all the places that are impacted by climate change. It's still a very stringent test and it requires exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature." The Tuvalu family moved to New Zealand in 2007, but has had no legal status in the country since 2009. Their two children, aged 3 and 5, were born in New Zealand. The family has three generations of relatives living in New Zealand.
The father is a qualified teacher but has been a maintenance worker at a fast-food chain because he couldn't register as a teacher. His several applications for work visas were refused. In November 2012, the family lodged claims for refugee and protected persons status. In March last year, their claims were dismissed and last month the tribunal turned down their appeals because they did not meet the refugee convention. They successfully appealed against that decision on humanitarian grounds. In a decision issued last month, the tribunal found "exceptional circumstances ... which would make it unjust and unduly harsh" for the family to return to Tuvalu.
Immigration lawyer Trevor Zohs, who represented the family with Carole Curtis, said the effects of climate change should be recognised. "A lot of people are affected by illness when they go back, they get sick from drinking polluted water. The island is porous so even when the water is not flooding, it penetrates the rocks under the land." Appealing the decision on humanitarian grounds allowed discretion to be widened so the tribunal could consider whether it would be unjust to send a person back to their country. "Obviously their character, the fact they're going to contribute to New Zealand and that they have a connection to New Zealand is also taken into account," Zohs said.
Plans to open funeral parlour opposite block of retirement flats described as insensitive
Plans to open up a funeral parlour opposite a block of retirement flats have been described as "insensitive".
Proposals have been put forward by Adam & Greenwood funeral directors for a parlour on High Street in Maldon, Essex.
Elderly people who live at the back of the building said they were distressed by the thought of having to see hearses and bodies coming and going.
The company said it would not be seeking alternative premises. Brian Stewart lives on the top floor of the retirement block. "When I look out of my windows, I look directly at this proposed funeral parlour," he said. "To think about it is so depressing. My wife died in January and I'm having to get over that. But then to be faced with looking at a funeral home... it's just not on."
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "To me, it's just totally insensitive. The people who live here, they don't need to see this. We're just hoping and praying something will be done to make sure this doesn't actually go ahead." Ray Ward, from Adam & Greenwood funeral directors, said he wished those concerned had spoken to him before he signed up to buy the premises.
"The strength of feeling has come as a surprise," he said. But he is adamant the parlour will go ahead, because the company has a new contract to provide out-of-hours funeral services in the Chelmsford and Maldon district areas. "My contract says I have to pick people up within an hour and the base in Maldon will allow us to do that," he said. "If the planners turn me down, I will go to appeal."
The company said it would not be seeking alternative premises. Brian Stewart lives on the top floor of the retirement block. "When I look out of my windows, I look directly at this proposed funeral parlour," he said. "To think about it is so depressing. My wife died in January and I'm having to get over that. But then to be faced with looking at a funeral home... it's just not on."
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: "To me, it's just totally insensitive. The people who live here, they don't need to see this. We're just hoping and praying something will be done to make sure this doesn't actually go ahead." Ray Ward, from Adam & Greenwood funeral directors, said he wished those concerned had spoken to him before he signed up to buy the premises.
"The strength of feeling has come as a surprise," he said. But he is adamant the parlour will go ahead, because the company has a new contract to provide out-of-hours funeral services in the Chelmsford and Maldon district areas. "My contract says I have to pick people up within an hour and the base in Maldon will allow us to do that," he said. "If the planners turn me down, I will go to appeal."
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