Wednesday, January 07, 2015
Reptile store owner accused of hitting employees with bearded dragon
Benjamin Siegel, owner of Ben Siegel Reptiles Inc. located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, is accused of abusing a bearded dragon in multiple ways on January 2nd.
According to the arrest form, 40-year-old Siegel first put the bearded dragon in his mouth.
Witnesses said Siegel proceeded to toss the reptile up into the air and swing it around several times. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said Siegel also hit people inside the store with the pet, before squirting them with Gatorade. Siegel appeared in court on Monday where he was held on $4,500 bond.
He is facing two charges of touch or strike battery and one count of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to an animal. Authorities did not say if the animal died. 40-year-old Siegel has made headlines before. In 2012, a 32-year-old man died after a roach eating contesting at his store.
YouTube link.
The winner was to receive an expensive python, but instead Edward Archbold died. Siegel has three other battery charges since October and also a possession of cocaine charge from Christmas Day, according to the Broward Clerk of Courts. He was arrested at the store on Friday.
Witnesses said Siegel proceeded to toss the reptile up into the air and swing it around several times. Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies said Siegel also hit people inside the store with the pet, before squirting them with Gatorade. Siegel appeared in court on Monday where he was held on $4,500 bond.
He is facing two charges of touch or strike battery and one count of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to an animal. Authorities did not say if the animal died. 40-year-old Siegel has made headlines before. In 2012, a 32-year-old man died after a roach eating contesting at his store.
YouTube link.
The winner was to receive an expensive python, but instead Edward Archbold died. Siegel has three other battery charges since October and also a possession of cocaine charge from Christmas Day, according to the Broward Clerk of Courts. He was arrested at the store on Friday.
Lycra suits are designed to give racing camels the edge
A company has unveiled a dashing new sportswear line for racing camels, designed to make them train better and recover faster.
The fetching lycra-style outfits have been introduced by Al Shibla Middle East.
The company, based in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, say they believe the range will catch on in the highly-competitive world of camel racing.
“The full body suit can help racing camels run faster, while the cream of the species entered into camel beauty contests will have the ability to stand taller after using the suit,” the firm says. Anne Wolter, a partner at the firm and also head of research, said her company has already received interest from representatives of major stables.
Camel breeder Sultan Al Ketbi, 34, who is already using the suits, said: “In such a competitive sport it can give you the edge you need.” Al Shibla chairwoman Birgit Maria Kemphues said stables from across the GCC have been impressed and are already sitting down with the firm to arrange orders.
YouTube link.
She said: “The suits help to activate blood flow and thus improve performance.” The outfits are primarily designed for wearing during transport – when camels typically lose a lot of weight due to stress hormones working overtime. Some stables intend to use them in training too. And while at present customs dictate that the animals do not race in any outfit, Al Shibla said that may soon change.
“The full body suit can help racing camels run faster, while the cream of the species entered into camel beauty contests will have the ability to stand taller after using the suit,” the firm says. Anne Wolter, a partner at the firm and also head of research, said her company has already received interest from representatives of major stables.
Camel breeder Sultan Al Ketbi, 34, who is already using the suits, said: “In such a competitive sport it can give you the edge you need.” Al Shibla chairwoman Birgit Maria Kemphues said stables from across the GCC have been impressed and are already sitting down with the firm to arrange orders.
YouTube link.
She said: “The suits help to activate blood flow and thus improve performance.” The outfits are primarily designed for wearing during transport – when camels typically lose a lot of weight due to stress hormones working overtime. Some stables intend to use them in training too. And while at present customs dictate that the animals do not race in any outfit, Al Shibla said that may soon change.
Mysterious plant resembling severed finger found on beach baffles police
A man from Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory thought he had made a grisly find when he came across what appeared to be a severed human finger on a beach, but it turned out to be a mysterious plant instead.
The man was walking his dog along the beach at Lee Point, north of Darwin, when the animal took an interest in the object.
The man feared he had discovered the remains of a murder victim and quickly called police. Watch Commander Brendan Lindner said officers were initially unsure about what the man had found. "They played it safe and treated it as though it were human remains," he said. The finger was sent for forensic examination, but preliminary testing proved inconclusive and it was sent to pathology for analysis.
"In the meantime, the photo did the rounds amongst Casuarina Police Station officers attached to Patrol Group 5 (PG5), with officers evenly split during debate at the end of shift as to whether the finger was real or not," Watch Commander Lindner said. Those who argued it was fake won the day, with the pathologist determining the finger was actually plant material. Police have now been left wondering what the doppelganger digit really is.
"None of us on PG5 are botanists or marine biologists, so the best we can come up with is Alcyonium digitatum, otherwise known as 'dead man's fingers'," Watch Commander Lindner said. That species is a type of coral, but according to the World Register of Marine Species it is only found in the northern hemisphere. For now no-one is sure what the plant is, but Watch Commander Lindner said the investigation was now finalised and the suspicious pinky would be disposed of.
The man feared he had discovered the remains of a murder victim and quickly called police. Watch Commander Brendan Lindner said officers were initially unsure about what the man had found. "They played it safe and treated it as though it were human remains," he said. The finger was sent for forensic examination, but preliminary testing proved inconclusive and it was sent to pathology for analysis.
"In the meantime, the photo did the rounds amongst Casuarina Police Station officers attached to Patrol Group 5 (PG5), with officers evenly split during debate at the end of shift as to whether the finger was real or not," Watch Commander Lindner said. Those who argued it was fake won the day, with the pathologist determining the finger was actually plant material. Police have now been left wondering what the doppelganger digit really is.
"None of us on PG5 are botanists or marine biologists, so the best we can come up with is Alcyonium digitatum, otherwise known as 'dead man's fingers'," Watch Commander Lindner said. That species is a type of coral, but according to the World Register of Marine Species it is only found in the northern hemisphere. For now no-one is sure what the plant is, but Watch Commander Lindner said the investigation was now finalised and the suspicious pinky would be disposed of.
Man to face court over driving unlicensed, unregistered motorised esky
A man from Adelaide, Australia, spotted riding a motorised Esky has been reported for driving without a licence, police say.
An officer saw the Esky being driven through a shopping centre car park on Monday at 6:45pm.
The officer spoke to the driver and warned him the Esky could not be legally driven on roads, but the man was seen a short time later driving the Esky in Para Hills.
Police said the Esky was a novelty import and could not be legally registered in South Australia or driven on roads. The Esky was impounded and the man was reported for driving unlicensed, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle. He will appear in court at a later date.
"Police would like to remind the public that these novelty motor vehicles which includes the likes of pit bikes, motorised eskies and the likes cannot be registered and therefore cannot be legally driven or ridden on the road," Senior Sergeant Nils Uellendahl said. "They are for private property novelty use only and can be a danger to the drivers and other road users."
The officer spoke to the driver and warned him the Esky could not be legally driven on roads, but the man was seen a short time later driving the Esky in Para Hills.
Police said the Esky was a novelty import and could not be legally registered in South Australia or driven on roads. The Esky was impounded and the man was reported for driving unlicensed, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle. He will appear in court at a later date.
"Police would like to remind the public that these novelty motor vehicles which includes the likes of pit bikes, motorised eskies and the likes cannot be registered and therefore cannot be legally driven or ridden on the road," Senior Sergeant Nils Uellendahl said. "They are for private property novelty use only and can be a danger to the drivers and other road users."
Puddle-soaked pedestrians no laughing matter as police reveal incident numbers
Scores of sopping-wet pedestrians have complained to police after being splashed when motorists drove through puddles, figures show.
Police forces across England and Wales show upset walkers contacted officers accusing drivers of swerving deliberately into standing water.
Some said they were deliberately targeted, while others said police officers were among the perpetrators.
Several motorists were tracked down and given driving advice, while a handful of others could not be traced.
Splashing falls under section three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and can often be punished through a fixed penalty notice. Details of those investigated for splashing were released by police forces under the Freedom of Information Act.
They showed there were 63 reported incidents of motorists driving through a puddle and causing pedestrians to be splashed during a five-year period from January 2009, according to the six police forces with details on splashing. South Wales police said there were 38 cases of splashing reported, with victims as young as 10. One complainant said a bus driver accelerated to soak pedestrians, while a police officer was forced to apologise after driving a 4x4 through standing water. The force said a van driver was handed a ticket for a public order offence after driving “back and forth through a large puddle to intentionally splash pedestrians”, while another was spoken to by officers after deliberately driving through a puddle to splash a walker before laughing with a passenger. Two motorists found themselves on the receiving end when they were involved in altercations after being accused of splashing.
According to North Wales police, one motorist in Wrexham was injured during an argument, while another in Rhyl was challenged over their driving some days earlier. Both matters were reported to officers in 2012. A group of pedestrians contacted Cumbrian police in November 2012 after they were deliberately soaked by a car in Cockermouth. Police said the driver was given advice, and was one of nine incidents reported to the force. One unlucky resident of the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, said they were soaked “at least five times” by drivers speeding through puddles in Rissington Road. Another complained that a police officer “swerved into a puddle on purpose” to soak him. And one concerned witness reported how a “young male driver was swerving all along” The Knapp in Stroud, “driving into puddles on purpose to splash school children walking home”.
It was one of 11 incidents reported to police, while two incidents were reported to Avon and Somerset police, and one was mentioned to Kent. Mike Frisby, the Driving Instructors Association chief examiner, said: “Motorists have a duty of care not to splash pedestrians. Normally the maximum penalty would be to get somebody’s clothes dry cleaned – it’s not imprisonable – but splashing can be easily avoided. It’s probably not widely known by pedestrians that they can report incidents if they’re splashed, but we don’t really want to engage in a culture where people are going to report every little incident. The driver has an obligation to plan well, as there is always a danger when driving through a puddle because even in shallow water drivers won’t know what lurks beneath.” A spokesman for campaigners Pedestrian Liberation said: “We frequently hear stories from pedestrians who have been splashed, from pedestrians who have to take avoiding action so as not be splashed, and also of councils that show precious little interest in sorting out the dips in the road and blocked drains that are the source of the puddles in the first place.”
They showed there were 63 reported incidents of motorists driving through a puddle and causing pedestrians to be splashed during a five-year period from January 2009, according to the six police forces with details on splashing. South Wales police said there were 38 cases of splashing reported, with victims as young as 10. One complainant said a bus driver accelerated to soak pedestrians, while a police officer was forced to apologise after driving a 4x4 through standing water. The force said a van driver was handed a ticket for a public order offence after driving “back and forth through a large puddle to intentionally splash pedestrians”, while another was spoken to by officers after deliberately driving through a puddle to splash a walker before laughing with a passenger. Two motorists found themselves on the receiving end when they were involved in altercations after being accused of splashing.
According to North Wales police, one motorist in Wrexham was injured during an argument, while another in Rhyl was challenged over their driving some days earlier. Both matters were reported to officers in 2012. A group of pedestrians contacted Cumbrian police in November 2012 after they were deliberately soaked by a car in Cockermouth. Police said the driver was given advice, and was one of nine incidents reported to the force. One unlucky resident of the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, said they were soaked “at least five times” by drivers speeding through puddles in Rissington Road. Another complained that a police officer “swerved into a puddle on purpose” to soak him. And one concerned witness reported how a “young male driver was swerving all along” The Knapp in Stroud, “driving into puddles on purpose to splash school children walking home”.
It was one of 11 incidents reported to police, while two incidents were reported to Avon and Somerset police, and one was mentioned to Kent. Mike Frisby, the Driving Instructors Association chief examiner, said: “Motorists have a duty of care not to splash pedestrians. Normally the maximum penalty would be to get somebody’s clothes dry cleaned – it’s not imprisonable – but splashing can be easily avoided. It’s probably not widely known by pedestrians that they can report incidents if they’re splashed, but we don’t really want to engage in a culture where people are going to report every little incident. The driver has an obligation to plan well, as there is always a danger when driving through a puddle because even in shallow water drivers won’t know what lurks beneath.” A spokesman for campaigners Pedestrian Liberation said: “We frequently hear stories from pedestrians who have been splashed, from pedestrians who have to take avoiding action so as not be splashed, and also of councils that show precious little interest in sorting out the dips in the road and blocked drains that are the source of the puddles in the first place.”
Woman prosecuted after putting rubbish out on the wrong day
A Northampton woman who put her rubbish out on the wrong day must pay a court bill of almost £600 after she failed to pay a penalty charge.
Northampton Borough Council is reminding people to make sure they put out their household refuse and recycling correctly, after a woman who lives in the Briar Hill area was prosecuted for failing to ensure her waste was “presented” correctly.
The prosecution was brought after the woman ignored “repeated requests” by the council to pay a fixed penalty notice that she had been issued with for putting out her rubbish on the wrong day. Northampton Magistrates’ Court were satisfied the woman was guilty as she had been given ample opportunity to pay the penalty.
She was ordered to pay a fine of £175, costs of £400 and a £20 victim surcharge. Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Mike Hallam, urged residents to dispose of their refuse and recycling correctly in light of the court case. He said: “We take waste offences very seriously and will take action against those who do not present their waste and recycling correctly.
“Fines and court action are a last resort, and I just hope that our enforcement work over the last year and this latest prosecution will at the very least serve as a warning to people to behave responsibly and put out their refuse and recycling correctly.” The prosecution was the third prosecution brought by the council in 2014 for environmental crime offences relating to waste disposal.
The prosecution was brought after the woman ignored “repeated requests” by the council to pay a fixed penalty notice that she had been issued with for putting out her rubbish on the wrong day. Northampton Magistrates’ Court were satisfied the woman was guilty as she had been given ample opportunity to pay the penalty.
She was ordered to pay a fine of £175, costs of £400 and a £20 victim surcharge. Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Mike Hallam, urged residents to dispose of their refuse and recycling correctly in light of the court case. He said: “We take waste offences very seriously and will take action against those who do not present their waste and recycling correctly.
“Fines and court action are a last resort, and I just hope that our enforcement work over the last year and this latest prosecution will at the very least serve as a warning to people to behave responsibly and put out their refuse and recycling correctly.” The prosecution was the third prosecution brought by the council in 2014 for environmental crime offences relating to waste disposal.
Police investigate after swastika was drawn in snow on bonnet of car
Police are investigating a hate crime in a Derbyshire town after a swastika was drawn in snow.
Overnight between December 26 and 27 a racially offensive word and a swastika were drawn in the snow on the bonnet of a car parked in New Mills.
Someone living on the street was extremely upset by what was written and police are appealing for witnesses or information.
Anyone who can help the police investigation should contact officers.
Overnight between December 26 and 27 a racially offensive word and a swastika were drawn in the snow on the bonnet of a car parked in New Mills.
Someone living on the street was extremely upset by what was written and police are appealing for witnesses or information.
Anyone who can help the police investigation should contact officers.
Dog abandoned at railway station with his belongings in a suitcase
The Scottish SPCA is attempting to trace the owner of a dog that was abandoned at a railway station with its belongings in a suitcase.
The male Shar-Pei crossbreed was discovered tied to a railing outside Ayr station on 2 January.
The suitcase included the dog's pillow, toy, food bowl and food.
The charity traced a previous owner through the dog's microchip but were told it was sold in 2013 to someone they did not have details for. Inspector Stewart Taylor said: "The dog is micro-chipped and we were able to find out his name is Kai. We contacted the owner registered to the microchip, who stated they had sold Kai on Gumtree in 2013.
"Unfortunately they could not tell us the address of the person who bought him." Insp Taylor said the case highlighted the potential consequences of selling an animal online. He said buyers often included people acting on impulse who knew very little about animals. He added: "Regardless of the fact Kai was left with his belongings, this was still a cruel incident and we are keen to identify the person responsible.
"If anyone can help we would ask them to get in touch as soon as possible. Kai is around two to three years old and is a lovely dog with a nice nature. We will look after him until we can find him a permanent and loving home." The charity reminded pet owners that abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
The charity traced a previous owner through the dog's microchip but were told it was sold in 2013 to someone they did not have details for. Inspector Stewart Taylor said: "The dog is micro-chipped and we were able to find out his name is Kai. We contacted the owner registered to the microchip, who stated they had sold Kai on Gumtree in 2013.
"Unfortunately they could not tell us the address of the person who bought him." Insp Taylor said the case highlighted the potential consequences of selling an animal online. He said buyers often included people acting on impulse who knew very little about animals. He added: "Regardless of the fact Kai was left with his belongings, this was still a cruel incident and we are keen to identify the person responsible.
"If anyone can help we would ask them to get in touch as soon as possible. Kai is around two to three years old and is a lovely dog with a nice nature. We will look after him until we can find him a permanent and loving home." The charity reminded pet owners that abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.
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