Saturday, December 27, 2014
Suspected mail thief attempted to make getaway in stolen kayak without a paddle
A suspected mail thief in Sammamish, Washington, chose an unusual getaway vehicle, then got caught in the middle of a lake.
"I just thought it was a kayak theft, a kayak hijacking,” said Brian Conway.
Little did he know that the man who hijacked his kayak, then became involved in what was described as a low-speed pursuit, was wanted for mail theft.
Kerek Edwards had confronted the alleged thieves earlier, and police said they ditched a stolen car full of stolen mail in a driveway in Sammamish early on Christmas Eve morning. Neighbours called police, then another neighbour used her car to block theirs and the pair ran through Edwards' backyard.
Jail records confirm it was Jeremy Webb and Desiree Segar who ran into the woods behind Edwards' house. Police caught her, but he made it down a hill to Brian Conway's dock, where he hopped in a kayak without a paddle. Brian's son, Nolan, grabbed another kayak from the garage and gave chase. “And we got a paddle,” Brian Conway said. “I think what this poor fellow is going to have a lot of time to think about is if you take the kayak, you've got to take the paddle, too."
“I think he thought I was a sheriff, initially,” Nolan Conway said. “He was very apologetic. It was a little sad to be out there. He was so wet and so cold; he was so miserable." Webb has nearly 50 charges against him from possessing stolen property to drugs and resisting arrest. Segar has a handful of theft and drug charges from 2007. Both suspects are now in King County Jail for investigation of mail theft.
With news video.
Kerek Edwards had confronted the alleged thieves earlier, and police said they ditched a stolen car full of stolen mail in a driveway in Sammamish early on Christmas Eve morning. Neighbours called police, then another neighbour used her car to block theirs and the pair ran through Edwards' backyard.
Jail records confirm it was Jeremy Webb and Desiree Segar who ran into the woods behind Edwards' house. Police caught her, but he made it down a hill to Brian Conway's dock, where he hopped in a kayak without a paddle. Brian's son, Nolan, grabbed another kayak from the garage and gave chase. “And we got a paddle,” Brian Conway said. “I think what this poor fellow is going to have a lot of time to think about is if you take the kayak, you've got to take the paddle, too."
“I think he thought I was a sheriff, initially,” Nolan Conway said. “He was very apologetic. It was a little sad to be out there. He was so wet and so cold; he was so miserable." Webb has nearly 50 charges against him from possessing stolen property to drugs and resisting arrest. Segar has a handful of theft and drug charges from 2007. Both suspects are now in King County Jail for investigation of mail theft.
With news video.
Rescued kayaker may have been trying to install Charlie Brown cutout on Christmas tree raft
A kayaker rescued from Nashawannuck Pond by firefighters in Easthampton, Massachusetts, on Monday may have been trying to install a Charlie Brown cutout on the raft that holds a Christmas tree in the middle of the pond, according to Fire Chief David Mottor.
Firefighters rescued the man, found clinging to the raft, at around 8pm on Monday. They later returned to the raft to retrieve the man’s boat. Inside, they found a 3-foot-tall cutout depicting the likeness of cartoon character Charlie Brown, according to Mottor. Mottor said he believes the unidentified man was attempting to install the homage to the Peanuts character.
The man was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for treatment of possible hypothermia. Police Capt. Robert Alberti said that he does not believe the man will be charged with a crime because it does not appear any laws were broken. He said the kayaker was in his mid-40s.
Some communities have threatened to make people pay for the cost of their rescues if reckless behaviour led to an emergency rescue. But Alberti said that has never happened in Easthampton in the 16 years he has worked there. “We’re going to help whoever needs it,” he said. It also did not require any extra costs, such as overtime, because officers and firefighters who responded were already on duty.
Firefighters rescued the man, found clinging to the raft, at around 8pm on Monday. They later returned to the raft to retrieve the man’s boat. Inside, they found a 3-foot-tall cutout depicting the likeness of cartoon character Charlie Brown, according to Mottor. Mottor said he believes the unidentified man was attempting to install the homage to the Peanuts character.
The man was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for treatment of possible hypothermia. Police Capt. Robert Alberti said that he does not believe the man will be charged with a crime because it does not appear any laws were broken. He said the kayaker was in his mid-40s.
Some communities have threatened to make people pay for the cost of their rescues if reckless behaviour led to an emergency rescue. But Alberti said that has never happened in Easthampton in the 16 years he has worked there. “We’re going to help whoever needs it,” he said. It also did not require any extra costs, such as overtime, because officers and firefighters who responded were already on duty.
Man found safe after spending Christmas night floating on broken-down jet ski
A jet skier who was reported missing at Lake Hume on the Victoria-New South Wales border in Australia has been found safe and well.
Police said 28-year-old Sean Devlin from Albury was located at about 6:30am on Friday along with his broken-down jet ski.
A search had resumed on Friday morning after he was reported missing by friends on Thursday about 8:00pm.
Acting Sergeant Matt Henderson from Victorian Water Police said the man spent the night alone on the lake. "Overnight this guy has been floating out in the middle of Lake Hume off Kookaburra Point, he stayed with his ski and as a result he was spotted by searchers on and collected by the coast guard," he said.
Sergeant Henderson said apart from being "a little bit cold from a long night out in the water", the man was in good spirits. Police and rescue crews had searched the lake until midnight. Sergeant Henderson said the rescue was aided by the man staying with his jet ski.
"Your actual vessel is the biggest object available for us to look for," he said. "It's so much easier to find than a person in the water so anyone is advised to stay with their vessel if they have this happen. It was obviously very easy, once the sun came up, to see this chap sitting on his jet ski, and that just made it so quick and easy to find him and get him warm again."
Acting Sergeant Matt Henderson from Victorian Water Police said the man spent the night alone on the lake. "Overnight this guy has been floating out in the middle of Lake Hume off Kookaburra Point, he stayed with his ski and as a result he was spotted by searchers on and collected by the coast guard," he said.
Sergeant Henderson said apart from being "a little bit cold from a long night out in the water", the man was in good spirits. Police and rescue crews had searched the lake until midnight. Sergeant Henderson said the rescue was aided by the man staying with his jet ski.
"Your actual vessel is the biggest object available for us to look for," he said. "It's so much easier to find than a person in the water so anyone is advised to stay with their vessel if they have this happen. It was obviously very easy, once the sun came up, to see this chap sitting on his jet ski, and that just made it so quick and easy to find him and get him warm again."
Siege man charged with attempted murder and being in possession of a rabbit
A man who allegedly sparked a Christmas Day siege on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. has appeared in court on charges of attempted murder and keeping a rabbit.
Anthony Shane Randall, 36, was arrested on Christmas morning after a lengthy stand-off with police during which he allegedly fired gunshots in Southport. Randall came to the attention of police on Christmas Eve when he was involved in a dispute and allegedly ordered another man into a car against his will.
During the argument a first gunshot was allegedly fired. He then fled to a nearby unit complex on White Street and allegedly fired another shot when police negotiators and specialist officers surrounded the building. The siege came to a head about 11am local time on Thursday when Randall surrendered.
He appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday morning, charged with attempted murder, assault occasioning bodily harm, unlawful possession of a weapon and deprivation of liberty. Randall also had more charges added to his list prior to the appearance, including going armed so as to cause fear, possessing explosives, and keeping a declared pest (a rabbit). He did not seek bail and his case was adjourned until January 9.
Anthony Shane Randall, 36, was arrested on Christmas morning after a lengthy stand-off with police during which he allegedly fired gunshots in Southport. Randall came to the attention of police on Christmas Eve when he was involved in a dispute and allegedly ordered another man into a car against his will.
During the argument a first gunshot was allegedly fired. He then fled to a nearby unit complex on White Street and allegedly fired another shot when police negotiators and specialist officers surrounded the building. The siege came to a head about 11am local time on Thursday when Randall surrendered.
He appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday morning, charged with attempted murder, assault occasioning bodily harm, unlawful possession of a weapon and deprivation of liberty. Randall also had more charges added to his list prior to the appearance, including going armed so as to cause fear, possessing explosives, and keeping a declared pest (a rabbit). He did not seek bail and his case was adjourned until January 9.
Pets staged great escape from cattery
Several pet owners in South Canterbury, New Zealand, have had a dampener put on their seasonal festivities after nine cats escaped from a cattery on Christmas Eve.
Carol Seaton, owner of the Seaton Cattery in Woodbury, said it looked as though the escapees had made a hole through the double chicken-wire fence of their enclosure.
"This has never happened before in the 35 years [of the cattery]. I'm really upset."
Seaton said she was really sorry for the owners. She was unsure what had led to the cats running away. "Maybe they were frightened by dogs barking in the neighbourhood, or maybe the cats had a confrontation," she said. Geraldine woman Rae Hughes is devastated that her cat, Tigger, a regular visitor to the cattery, has disappeared. Tigger, 7, has been lodged there about 15 times, for vacations or when the family has people staying over as it does not cope well with lots of people.
After opening presents on Christmas morning, she was informed Tigger had run away. "Carol rang, crying. I said: 'There's no time for crying' and got in the truck and went to look for him," Hughes said. She said Tigger should have been put in in a cage overnight, not left in the enclosure, as it was known to be feisty. Hughes will keep looking but is hoping Tigger may just turn up at home, though it could take a few days to cover the 8 kilometres.
She is also offering a $100 reward for her pet's return. SPCA manager Barry Fairbrother said if a cat was determined it could claw or chew wire, pulling and weakening it over time. "They don't need much of a gap, they are pretty slinky." He said it was amazing what some cats could do, though the SPCA facility had not had such an issue with cats. "They have all day to think about how to get out," he said.
Seaton said she was really sorry for the owners. She was unsure what had led to the cats running away. "Maybe they were frightened by dogs barking in the neighbourhood, or maybe the cats had a confrontation," she said. Geraldine woman Rae Hughes is devastated that her cat, Tigger, a regular visitor to the cattery, has disappeared. Tigger, 7, has been lodged there about 15 times, for vacations or when the family has people staying over as it does not cope well with lots of people.
After opening presents on Christmas morning, she was informed Tigger had run away. "Carol rang, crying. I said: 'There's no time for crying' and got in the truck and went to look for him," Hughes said. She said Tigger should have been put in in a cage overnight, not left in the enclosure, as it was known to be feisty. Hughes will keep looking but is hoping Tigger may just turn up at home, though it could take a few days to cover the 8 kilometres.
She is also offering a $100 reward for her pet's return. SPCA manager Barry Fairbrother said if a cat was determined it could claw or chew wire, pulling and weakening it over time. "They don't need much of a gap, they are pretty slinky." He said it was amazing what some cats could do, though the SPCA facility had not had such an issue with cats. "They have all day to think about how to get out," he said.
Snow globe caused Christmas charity shop fire
A fire in the window of a Bournemouth charity shop on Christmas morning was caused by sunlight refracting through a snow globe, the fire service have said.
Crews were sent to the shop in Winton, Dorset, at around 11.30am.
Occupants of neighbouring properties were advised to evacuate and firefighters put the flames out within 10 minutes of arriving on the scene.
A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: "At the risk of sounding like a Christmas tale, the cause of the fire was believed to be sun refracting through a snow globe in the shop window, which then ignited 'reindeer food' and fake snow material in their window display.
"There was severe fire damage to the shop window display, heat damage to the window and severe smoke damage to the entire shop." Fire investigator Stu Jeneson said that these types of incidents were rare, but were possible, especially with the sun lower in the sky.
Occupants of neighbouring properties were advised to evacuate and firefighters put the flames out within 10 minutes of arriving on the scene.
A spokesman for Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: "At the risk of sounding like a Christmas tale, the cause of the fire was believed to be sun refracting through a snow globe in the shop window, which then ignited 'reindeer food' and fake snow material in their window display.
"There was severe fire damage to the shop window display, heat damage to the window and severe smoke damage to the entire shop." Fire investigator Stu Jeneson said that these types of incidents were rare, but were possible, especially with the sun lower in the sky.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)