Sunday, August 17, 2014
Thirsty moose guzzles water from sprinkler
This thirsty bull moose was recently spotted refreshing itself by dropping to his knees and drinking water from a sprinkler in Bear Lake, Utah.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Man charged after allegedly pointing gun at other man's head in dispute over guinea pig
Officials have filed a felony charge against a 32-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man who authorities say pulled a gun during an argument about a guinea pig.
Thomas G. Lacomb Jr. is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety.
If convicted of the charges, Lacomb faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 3, Lacomb was at a Saratoga residence when he became angry because two young children wanted to take a guinea pig to Lacomb’s home and he did not want the animal there.
Another man decided to intervene in the situation and Lacomb started yelling at the man. The man tried to calm down and reason with Lacomb, but Lacomb reached into his vehicle and took out a handgun.
Lacomb put a bullet in the handgun and pointed it at the other man’s head. The two young children were inside the vehicle. Lacomb told deputies he took out the handgun because Lacomb felt threatened by the other man. Lacomb currently is free on a $150 cash bond.
If convicted of the charges, Lacomb faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. According to the criminal complaint, on Aug. 3, Lacomb was at a Saratoga residence when he became angry because two young children wanted to take a guinea pig to Lacomb’s home and he did not want the animal there.
Another man decided to intervene in the situation and Lacomb started yelling at the man. The man tried to calm down and reason with Lacomb, but Lacomb reached into his vehicle and took out a handgun.
Lacomb put a bullet in the handgun and pointed it at the other man’s head. The two young children were inside the vehicle. Lacomb told deputies he took out the handgun because Lacomb felt threatened by the other man. Lacomb currently is free on a $150 cash bond.
Man allowed to keep 5-foot-long pet alligator despite complaint from neighbour
Randy Thomas from Smith Township near Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, has looked after Jackie the pet alligator for 10 years.
“(We) went to exotic pet show in Pittsburgh. We thought it was small black caiman,” said Thomas.
“She likes being rubbed underneath her head,” he adds.
Thomas brings Jackie out of her cage a couple times a week and said the majority of the neighbours embrace the animal. “All the neighbourhood kids come and feed the alligator,” said Thomas. One neighbour made an anonymous call to the Washington Area Humane Society and complained.
Thomas said police, humane officers and the game commission have been to the house and approved. “I told them, ‘I’m not breaking any laws or ordinances, but I’ll show you she is well taken care of,’” said Thomas. Thomas said Jackie could never escape her secure cage and aside from some tail whipping, it is no threat.
YouTube link.
“If I was going to get bit, she would have bit me a long time ago,” he said. Thomas said he knows alligator owners who keep their pets’ mouths taped shut, but he said there is no need to do that with Jackie. Thomas said Jackie lives in his basement in the winter and if given a bigger baby pool than she has, she would grow much larger.
Thomas brings Jackie out of her cage a couple times a week and said the majority of the neighbours embrace the animal. “All the neighbourhood kids come and feed the alligator,” said Thomas. One neighbour made an anonymous call to the Washington Area Humane Society and complained.
Thomas said police, humane officers and the game commission have been to the house and approved. “I told them, ‘I’m not breaking any laws or ordinances, but I’ll show you she is well taken care of,’” said Thomas. Thomas said Jackie could never escape her secure cage and aside from some tail whipping, it is no threat.
YouTube link.
“If I was going to get bit, she would have bit me a long time ago,” he said. Thomas said he knows alligator owners who keep their pets’ mouths taped shut, but he said there is no need to do that with Jackie. Thomas said Jackie lives in his basement in the winter and if given a bigger baby pool than she has, she would grow much larger.
Rare birds scared off by nudists at wildlife refuge
Passage Key in Florida is a popular hotspot for nudists located between Anna Maria Island and Egmont Key.
For 50 years, the small island has been a federally protected habitat for nesting birds. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says there are a number of rare species there ranging from royal terns, to black skimmers, to oystercatchers.
A spokesman for the FWS says in 2006, the island became completely submerged because of Hurricane Alberto.
But in the past few months, the sandbar returned - along with birds, and nudists. The island has been popular for nudists recently, with reports of more than 200 nudists on the small island. The FWS claims this is disrupting rare birds and scaring them off. A FWS spokesperson says it is a federal crime to walk on the island, saying nudists are allowed to wade in the water off-shore, but are prohibited by law from being on the island.
Federal officials monitor Passage Key on the weekends, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helps with monitoring during the week. However, the island is remote and it's impossible to patrol the island seven days a week. Federal officials urge tourists and nudists to stay off the island. Signs have been posted urging nudists to follow the law and stay off the beach, but officials say more needs to be done to stop the nudists from bothering these nesting birds.
YouTube link.
Dozens of different kinds of species nest there this time of year. Bird nesting season lasts from April to late August. The spokesman for the federal agency says in the spring, FWS officials will discuss what changes need to be made to better protect the nesting birds. Punishments for disrupting the habitats vary depending on the rarity of the bird species. Some offenders could be issued fines or given jail time.
But in the past few months, the sandbar returned - along with birds, and nudists. The island has been popular for nudists recently, with reports of more than 200 nudists on the small island. The FWS claims this is disrupting rare birds and scaring them off. A FWS spokesperson says it is a federal crime to walk on the island, saying nudists are allowed to wade in the water off-shore, but are prohibited by law from being on the island.
Federal officials monitor Passage Key on the weekends, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helps with monitoring during the week. However, the island is remote and it's impossible to patrol the island seven days a week. Federal officials urge tourists and nudists to stay off the island. Signs have been posted urging nudists to follow the law and stay off the beach, but officials say more needs to be done to stop the nudists from bothering these nesting birds.
YouTube link.
Dozens of different kinds of species nest there this time of year. Bird nesting season lasts from April to late August. The spokesman for the federal agency says in the spring, FWS officials will discuss what changes need to be made to better protect the nesting birds. Punishments for disrupting the habitats vary depending on the rarity of the bird species. Some offenders could be issued fines or given jail time.
'Suspicious man' who'd followed children turned out to be their dad
A case of two children being followed by “a suspicious person” in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, was resolved after a man matching the description of the person identified himself to the police - as the children's father.
Brantford police issued a public advisory last week after a witness noticed an unfamiliar car approach two children on their bikes and reported the incident to police. The driver pulled up alongside the two children and asked for directions, according to the public advisory.
One of the children responded and pointed in a certain direction, and the car 'followed beside them slowly for a distance.' “This is concerning to our service as well because the citizen who observed this was close by and the citizen could have been asked for direction from this man, however the unknown man chose to ask the young children instead,” police said in the public advisory at the time.
The mystery was solved when a man contacted the child abuse and sexual assault unit on Thursday after reading media reports about the incident. In a new release issued on Friday, police said the man provided details of the incident and descriptions of the person and the car.
“The citizen admitted approaching the children on bicycles, have conversation with them and then follow behind. The citizen is the father of these children,” police said. Police thanked the witness for reporting a suspicious event to the police. They also thanked the father for coming forward. “We continuously ask that citizens act on the side of caution in the interest of the safety of our children than to hesitate,” police said.
One of the children responded and pointed in a certain direction, and the car 'followed beside them slowly for a distance.' “This is concerning to our service as well because the citizen who observed this was close by and the citizen could have been asked for direction from this man, however the unknown man chose to ask the young children instead,” police said in the public advisory at the time.
The mystery was solved when a man contacted the child abuse and sexual assault unit on Thursday after reading media reports about the incident. In a new release issued on Friday, police said the man provided details of the incident and descriptions of the person and the car.
“The citizen admitted approaching the children on bicycles, have conversation with them and then follow behind. The citizen is the father of these children,” police said. Police thanked the witness for reporting a suspicious event to the police. They also thanked the father for coming forward. “We continuously ask that citizens act on the side of caution in the interest of the safety of our children than to hesitate,” police said.
Would-be smuggler had swallowed more than 80 plastic packages containing over $100,000
A 40-year-old Venezuelan man was sentenced to three months behind bars in Jamaica on Wednesday for attempting to smuggle US$103,500 concealed in 80 cylindrical pellets he had swallowed.
According to a statement from the police, Eddy Alberio Mancipe Ortega’s behaviour raised the suspicion of the law enforcement officers who stopped him as he attempted to board a Caribbean Airlines flight from Sangster International Airport to Trinidad on Monday, January 20. Ortega reportedly complained about feeling ill and was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was admitted.
During a two day period, police say he excreted 80 cylindrical plastic packages which were found to contain approximately US$1200 each. A total of US$103,500 was recovered. The Financial Investigation Division (FID) was informed and a team despatched to investigate the matter. At the conclusion of the investigation Ortega was charged with four breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and placed before the courts.
On sentencing, Resident Magistrate, Carolin Tie ordered that the money be forfeited under the cash seizure provisions of the POCA 2007. A deportation order was granted with immediate effect, since Ortega had been in custody for eight months. “This is the first instance that we have found cash being smuggled from Jamaica in such a fashion, it is indicative of how far persons will go in an effort to evade detection by Law Enforcement tasked with combating money laundering”, Justin Felice the Chief Technical Director at FID said.
According to a statement from the police, Eddy Alberio Mancipe Ortega’s behaviour raised the suspicion of the law enforcement officers who stopped him as he attempted to board a Caribbean Airlines flight from Sangster International Airport to Trinidad on Monday, January 20. Ortega reportedly complained about feeling ill and was taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital where he was admitted.
During a two day period, police say he excreted 80 cylindrical plastic packages which were found to contain approximately US$1200 each. A total of US$103,500 was recovered. The Financial Investigation Division (FID) was informed and a team despatched to investigate the matter. At the conclusion of the investigation Ortega was charged with four breaches of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and placed before the courts.
On sentencing, Resident Magistrate, Carolin Tie ordered that the money be forfeited under the cash seizure provisions of the POCA 2007. A deportation order was granted with immediate effect, since Ortega had been in custody for eight months. “This is the first instance that we have found cash being smuggled from Jamaica in such a fashion, it is indicative of how far persons will go in an effort to evade detection by Law Enforcement tasked with combating money laundering”, Justin Felice the Chief Technical Director at FID said.
Open-air courthouse 'human zoo' holding cage described as 'barbaric' and 'positively Victorian'
The open-air holding pen dubbed "a human zoo" outside the courthouse is just part and parcel of living in the King Country town of Te Kuiti on New Zealand's North Island.
But the sight of it has shocked justice advocates around the country who have described the outside holding area as "barbaric" and "positively Victorian".
Retired defence lawyer Peter Williams QC called the practice 'humiliating' and 'absolutely barbaric'. "How the justice department can justify a holding pen is just unbelievable, it's beyond imagination ... just absolutely wrong," the lawyer of 60 years experience said. "Whoever is responsible for it should be dealt some type of discipline and the thing should be dismantled and the proper remand rooms or accommodation put up to civilised standards."
Wellington human rights lawyer and member of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties Michael Bott said the cage 'almost has an element of theatre about it'. "In many ways the cage on a street sounds like it's barely a step removed from the stocks a couple of hundred years ago which were used to shame people ... it's positively Victorian." Bott said not all the people in the cage were convicted of a crime either which would appear to breach people's privacy. He said it was a clear breach of S23(5) of the Bill of Rights Act which states 'everyone deprived of liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the person'.
"Not everyone who is bailed is convicted ... it just seems bizarre." Roger Brooking, who has 15 years experience working in the justice arena, was gobsmacked. "It's totally weird. I have never seen anything like that before. I had no idea there was a human zoo for offenders in Te Kuiti. I think it's disgusting, quite frankly. This is something you would see in a third world country, or something out of the middle ages." Tony Fisher, general manager of district courts, said the Ministry of Justice had received no negative feedback about the "secure entranceway".
Retired defence lawyer Peter Williams QC called the practice 'humiliating' and 'absolutely barbaric'. "How the justice department can justify a holding pen is just unbelievable, it's beyond imagination ... just absolutely wrong," the lawyer of 60 years experience said. "Whoever is responsible for it should be dealt some type of discipline and the thing should be dismantled and the proper remand rooms or accommodation put up to civilised standards."
Wellington human rights lawyer and member of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties Michael Bott said the cage 'almost has an element of theatre about it'. "In many ways the cage on a street sounds like it's barely a step removed from the stocks a couple of hundred years ago which were used to shame people ... it's positively Victorian." Bott said not all the people in the cage were convicted of a crime either which would appear to breach people's privacy. He said it was a clear breach of S23(5) of the Bill of Rights Act which states 'everyone deprived of liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the person'.
"Not everyone who is bailed is convicted ... it just seems bizarre." Roger Brooking, who has 15 years experience working in the justice arena, was gobsmacked. "It's totally weird. I have never seen anything like that before. I had no idea there was a human zoo for offenders in Te Kuiti. I think it's disgusting, quite frankly. This is something you would see in a third world country, or something out of the middle ages." Tony Fisher, general manager of district courts, said the Ministry of Justice had received no negative feedback about the "secure entranceway".
Mystery of man without trousers who wanders around south east London
A semi-naked man was spotted taking a casual stroll through the high street in Catford last week.
He was completely naked from the waist down and wearing a blonde wig, odd socks and carrying a pink bag.
The unknown man was also spotted earlier this year carrying shopping and wearing an afro wig, but again, forgetting his trousers.
Nathalie Mitchell, who saw him, said: "This man was walking up Brownhill Road with no bottoms on in front of children!"
He was completely naked from the waist down and wearing a blonde wig, odd socks and carrying a pink bag.
The unknown man was also spotted earlier this year carrying shopping and wearing an afro wig, but again, forgetting his trousers.
Nathalie Mitchell, who saw him, said: "This man was walking up Brownhill Road with no bottoms on in front of children!"
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