Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Police say woman ate dog treats in store and left without paying for them
Police officers say a Florida woman drank Red Bull and ate dog treats at Walmart then left without paying for them.
Shawn Michelle Warden, 49, of North Naples was arrested on Sunday. She faces a petty theft charge.
Warden was shopping in the school supply aisle of the store at about 7:15pm. Employees watched Warden open several items in the aisle and place them inside a binder which she placed inside her purse.
She then chose two Red Bull energy drinks, spilling one on the floor before consuming a second one. Employees say Warden then grabbed a bag of rawhide dog treats off a shelf, opened the package and began eating the rawhide chips.
She placed the bag back on the shelf but kept a few in her purse. At the registers, Warden paid for a few items and left before loss prevention officers stopped her. When questioned by deputies, Warden said “I was just putting together the binder for my granddaughter.” The stolen items totalled $75.78.
Warden was shopping in the school supply aisle of the store at about 7:15pm. Employees watched Warden open several items in the aisle and place them inside a binder which she placed inside her purse.
She then chose two Red Bull energy drinks, spilling one on the floor before consuming a second one. Employees say Warden then grabbed a bag of rawhide dog treats off a shelf, opened the package and began eating the rawhide chips.
She placed the bag back on the shelf but kept a few in her purse. At the registers, Warden paid for a few items and left before loss prevention officers stopped her. When questioned by deputies, Warden said “I was just putting together the binder for my granddaughter.” The stolen items totalled $75.78.
Man in trouble for pulling fire alarm after he'd clogged his toilet with potatoes
Looking to unclog his potato-stuffed toilet, a man from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, decided to try and get help by pulling his apartment building's fire alarm.
The man, who has not yet been identified, pulled the alarm at 7:48am on Sunday at the apartment block in Upper Darby, police say. According to authorities, for an unknown reason, the man shoved potatoes down the toilet causing it to clog.
He called the apartment building's maintenance department several times for help, but they didn't immediately respond. So he tried to get their attention by pulling the fire alarm, police said.
The three-story building was evacuated and police and fire officials came to the scene to investigate. Realising there was not a real emergency, they questioned the man who explained what happened. Police placed him under arrest for ringing the false alarm. He will be charged in the case, police said.
The man, who has not yet been identified, pulled the alarm at 7:48am on Sunday at the apartment block in Upper Darby, police say. According to authorities, for an unknown reason, the man shoved potatoes down the toilet causing it to clog.
He called the apartment building's maintenance department several times for help, but they didn't immediately respond. So he tried to get their attention by pulling the fire alarm, police said.
The three-story building was evacuated and police and fire officials came to the scene to investigate. Realising there was not a real emergency, they questioned the man who explained what happened. Police placed him under arrest for ringing the false alarm. He will be charged in the case, police said.
Vegetarian restaurant owner did not want to kill cockroaches on moral grounds
The owner of a popular vegetarian restaurant in the Dickson suburb of Canberra, Australia. was morally opposed to wiping out a cockroach infestation because it would have involved "killing little insects".
Kingsland Vegetarian Restaurant was on Thursday fined $16,000 for eight food safety breaches.
ACT Health inspectors discovered the live and dead cockroaches in the kitchen of the eatery in April 2013.
The threat to public health through contaminated food meant the inspectors shut the "unhygienic" restaurant the next day.
But on Thursday the ACT Magistrates Court was told that the restaurant, which is still trading, has since fixed the problems and won awards for its vegetarian and vegan fare.
Kingsland Vegetarian Restaurant owner Khanh Hoang was originally charged with 12 breaches of the Food Act. He pleaded guilty to eight offences and appeared for sentence in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon. Court documents said the eatery, which specialises in vegetarian cuisine, had been granted an operation certificate in December 2012. Inspectors raided the restaurant four months later after a public tip-off to discover the breaches, which included a cockroach infestation, incorrect food storage, a dirty kitchen and equipment and obstructed and faulty handwashing facilities.
Court documents included pictures that show a number of live and dead cockroaches around the kitchen, including close to cooking equipment. At the time, no action had been taken to fix the insects' access points or eradicate the infestation. The restaurant was banned from selling food, but cleared to open six days later when the breaches had been corrected. Mr Hoang attended an interview with the Health Protection Service in June 2013, where he admitted he had been aware of the cockroach infestation but did not carry out pest control measures as it involved "killing".
But pictures tendered in court by defence lawyer Adrian McKenna on Thursday showed the kitchen now in a pristine state. Mr McKenna said the restaurant has not breached any food standards since 2013. The lawyer said his client had passionate vegan values but accepted, in hindsight, that his morals had been misguided. Mr Hoang now brought in a pest control team on a regular basis, has since won awards, and appointed a food safety supervisor. Magistrate Maria Doogan described the restaurant in the new pictures as immaculate. She found the offences to be mid-range and convicted and fined Mr Hoang $2,000 on each count. Ms Doogan said she took into account his limited capacity to pay the fine and loss of reputation. She gave Mr Hoang one year to pay the total of $16,000 in fines.
Kingsland Vegetarian Restaurant owner Khanh Hoang was originally charged with 12 breaches of the Food Act. He pleaded guilty to eight offences and appeared for sentence in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon. Court documents said the eatery, which specialises in vegetarian cuisine, had been granted an operation certificate in December 2012. Inspectors raided the restaurant four months later after a public tip-off to discover the breaches, which included a cockroach infestation, incorrect food storage, a dirty kitchen and equipment and obstructed and faulty handwashing facilities.
Court documents included pictures that show a number of live and dead cockroaches around the kitchen, including close to cooking equipment. At the time, no action had been taken to fix the insects' access points or eradicate the infestation. The restaurant was banned from selling food, but cleared to open six days later when the breaches had been corrected. Mr Hoang attended an interview with the Health Protection Service in June 2013, where he admitted he had been aware of the cockroach infestation but did not carry out pest control measures as it involved "killing".
But pictures tendered in court by defence lawyer Adrian McKenna on Thursday showed the kitchen now in a pristine state. Mr McKenna said the restaurant has not breached any food standards since 2013. The lawyer said his client had passionate vegan values but accepted, in hindsight, that his morals had been misguided. Mr Hoang now brought in a pest control team on a regular basis, has since won awards, and appointed a food safety supervisor. Magistrate Maria Doogan described the restaurant in the new pictures as immaculate. She found the offences to be mid-range and convicted and fined Mr Hoang $2,000 on each count. Ms Doogan said she took into account his limited capacity to pay the fine and loss of reputation. She gave Mr Hoang one year to pay the total of $16,000 in fines.
Police officer rescued hedgehog and snail
A hedgehog and a snail have been saved by a police offiicer in New Zealand.
Police Sergeant Andrew Russ came to the rescue of a hedgehog staggering along in Hawera with a plastic cup on its head at 4am on Monday.
"Once I pulled the hedgehog free it then became apparent that it may not have been after the contents of the cup, as there was a snail inside who may have consumed some of the shake and was now being hunted for its shake flavoured aroma," Sergeant Russ said.
After separating the hedgehog and snail Sergeant Russ sent the pair safely on their way.
Police Sergeant Andrew Russ came to the rescue of a hedgehog staggering along in Hawera with a plastic cup on its head at 4am on Monday.
"Once I pulled the hedgehog free it then became apparent that it may not have been after the contents of the cup, as there was a snail inside who may have consumed some of the shake and was now being hunted for its shake flavoured aroma," Sergeant Russ said.
After separating the hedgehog and snail Sergeant Russ sent the pair safely on their way.
RNLI volunteers helped rescue young seal found huddled in sheltered seating area on promenade
A volunteer lifeboat crew, training on a Teesside beach, ended up offering a helping hand to a stranded baby seal.
The animal was spotted under a seat in a promenade shelter, in Redcar, on Sunday, where it was thought to have taken refuge from rough seas.
As people arrived, it began to move away, leading to fears it could end up on a nearby road. The crew moved it to safety and called a marine expert, who released it at the grey seal colony on the River Tees.
Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said: "We guess the seal had decided to get itself out of the sea, sometime during the night, to avoid the rough waves, with winds gusting at nearly 60mph. To start with, it was quite happy to stay snuggled up out of the weather in a corner of a shelter.
"But as more people came along, it tried to get out of the way and we were concerned it might even end up on the road outside the boathouse. Two RNLI volunteers used one of the lifeboat's survivor's blankets to swaddle the seal so it could be carried into a quiet corner of the lifeboat station."
As people arrived, it began to move away, leading to fears it could end up on a nearby road. The crew moved it to safety and called a marine expert, who released it at the grey seal colony on the River Tees.
Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI, said: "We guess the seal had decided to get itself out of the sea, sometime during the night, to avoid the rough waves, with winds gusting at nearly 60mph. To start with, it was quite happy to stay snuggled up out of the weather in a corner of a shelter.
"But as more people came along, it tried to get out of the way and we were concerned it might even end up on the road outside the boathouse. Two RNLI volunteers used one of the lifeboat's survivor's blankets to swaddle the seal so it could be carried into a quiet corner of the lifeboat station."
Couple wearing dinosaur and insect onesies refused entry to Natural History Museum
A teenage couple were refused entry to the Natural History Museum for wearing onesies.
Beth Garvey, 17, and boyfriend Alex Croth, 18, visited the London attraction dressed in the animal suits.
Alex was dressed in a dinosaur onesie, while Beth donned one based on an insect.
They had planned to spend the day at the famous venue looking at the exhibits - including Dippy the Dinosaur.
But even though they had been told to 'wear something comfortable' for the college trip security refused them entry.
Despite selling Natural History Museum branded onesies in their shop, staff were adamant the couple were dressed in costumes and insisted they needed to change before being allowed in.
Beth and Alex were then forced to undress to their clothes beneath before handing over the garment to security. "We got pulled aside in front of everyone first, then they told us we had to take them off," Beth, from Swindon, Wiltshire, said. "Luckily we had clothes on underneath but a lot of people don't. They said it was classed as a costume and we couldn't wear that in the museum. We said, no it was pyjamas, you sell them yourselves. They were insistent it was a costume and asked if we were celebrating someone's birthday which was why we were wearing them. I was gobsmacked." They had travelled to London, by train, without any questions and made their way to the museum, in South Kensington.
As they tried to enter the building however they were stopped, and told to remove the outfits. Beth added: "We were told to put them in our bag which thankfully we had, as long as we didn't wear them or even take them out in the museum. But once we got inside to the bag check they made us take them out so they could check them and make sure we weren't hiding anything in them. They made us stand there, in front of everyone, we felt like we have done something really, really wrong. Then they took our onesies from us and put them behind the desk, giving us this ticket we could use to collect them when we were done at the museum at the end of the day. All for an item of clothing which they sell in their own shop.
"It was very strange, they didn't have any signs, I checked the website when I got back to see if I'd missed something. There was nothing about any other forms of clothing on, it just said you could take anything as long as it was not threatening." A spokesman for the museum said: ''We're sorry that Ms Garvey and her partner felt uncomfortable removing their onesies for their visit. While we don't have a particular dress code, the duty manager is responsible for deciding whether people can enter the museum. We have in the past had visitors in costumes cause disturbances in the building, which affected other people's experience at the museum. After their onesies were put in the cloakroom Ms Garvey and her partner continued their visit and we offered complimentary tickets in recompense for the inconvenience and embarrassment they felt."
Beth and Alex were then forced to undress to their clothes beneath before handing over the garment to security. "We got pulled aside in front of everyone first, then they told us we had to take them off," Beth, from Swindon, Wiltshire, said. "Luckily we had clothes on underneath but a lot of people don't. They said it was classed as a costume and we couldn't wear that in the museum. We said, no it was pyjamas, you sell them yourselves. They were insistent it was a costume and asked if we were celebrating someone's birthday which was why we were wearing them. I was gobsmacked." They had travelled to London, by train, without any questions and made their way to the museum, in South Kensington.
As they tried to enter the building however they were stopped, and told to remove the outfits. Beth added: "We were told to put them in our bag which thankfully we had, as long as we didn't wear them or even take them out in the museum. But once we got inside to the bag check they made us take them out so they could check them and make sure we weren't hiding anything in them. They made us stand there, in front of everyone, we felt like we have done something really, really wrong. Then they took our onesies from us and put them behind the desk, giving us this ticket we could use to collect them when we were done at the museum at the end of the day. All for an item of clothing which they sell in their own shop.
"It was very strange, they didn't have any signs, I checked the website when I got back to see if I'd missed something. There was nothing about any other forms of clothing on, it just said you could take anything as long as it was not threatening." A spokesman for the museum said: ''We're sorry that Ms Garvey and her partner felt uncomfortable removing their onesies for their visit. While we don't have a particular dress code, the duty manager is responsible for deciding whether people can enter the museum. We have in the past had visitors in costumes cause disturbances in the building, which affected other people's experience at the museum. After their onesies were put in the cloakroom Ms Garvey and her partner continued their visit and we offered complimentary tickets in recompense for the inconvenience and embarrassment they felt."
Professional clowns condemn costumed criminals for giving their occupation a bad name
Disguised with colourful wigs and white face paint, crooks dressed as clowns have been carrying out bogus charity collections, vandalising property and even armed robberies.
Police on Merseyside dealt with 14 incidents involving people posing as clowns in the past two years – and most were no laughing matter.
One of the red-nosed crimes was caught on camera, when a robber dressed as a clown walked into a Walton shop in July to demand cash.
The thief strolled into a currency exchange shop wearing a yellow wig, white face paint and a pink prosthetic nose and forced a terrified worker to hand over bundles of notes. Other reports were made to police by victims of an armed robbery at a city business premises, telling how the perpetrator was dressed as a clown, and an attempted armed robbery at a shop where a man was wearing a “clown mask”. There were several calls from people suspicious of men in clown outfits collecting for charity, while one victim suffered racial abuse from a group of people – one of whom was dressed as a clown.
Another victim had an egg thrown at his car by a yob wearing a clown mask. During 2014, officers investigated four crimes committed by the costumed crooks. In St Helens in May, a man dressed as a clown followed a child who ran away in terror before telling an adult. In July, police investigated the horror ordeal at the Cheque Centre in Walton, before dealing the following month with a clown conning cash through a bogus charity collection. And in October, police were called out after a clown was seen knocking on windows of homes in St Helens.
Professional clowns have condemned the more sinister incidents, which they fear are giving their occupation a bad name. Tony Eldridge, secretary of Clowns International, said: “The clowning profession can do without stupid people who don’t understand the profession and appreciate it is a performing art and not a spontaneous jolly jape.” And Dave Tawney, European director of the World Clown Association, added: “Professional clowns and children’s entertainers seek only to create fun and enjoyment for their audiences and it is regrettable when persons dressed as clowns carry out anti-social behaviour.”
The thief strolled into a currency exchange shop wearing a yellow wig, white face paint and a pink prosthetic nose and forced a terrified worker to hand over bundles of notes. Other reports were made to police by victims of an armed robbery at a city business premises, telling how the perpetrator was dressed as a clown, and an attempted armed robbery at a shop where a man was wearing a “clown mask”. There were several calls from people suspicious of men in clown outfits collecting for charity, while one victim suffered racial abuse from a group of people – one of whom was dressed as a clown.
Another victim had an egg thrown at his car by a yob wearing a clown mask. During 2014, officers investigated four crimes committed by the costumed crooks. In St Helens in May, a man dressed as a clown followed a child who ran away in terror before telling an adult. In July, police investigated the horror ordeal at the Cheque Centre in Walton, before dealing the following month with a clown conning cash through a bogus charity collection. And in October, police were called out after a clown was seen knocking on windows of homes in St Helens.
Professional clowns have condemned the more sinister incidents, which they fear are giving their occupation a bad name. Tony Eldridge, secretary of Clowns International, said: “The clowning profession can do without stupid people who don’t understand the profession and appreciate it is a performing art and not a spontaneous jolly jape.” And Dave Tawney, European director of the World Clown Association, added: “Professional clowns and children’s entertainers seek only to create fun and enjoyment for their audiences and it is regrettable when persons dressed as clowns carry out anti-social behaviour.”
Primary school head apologises after Michael Jackson's Thriller video gave pupils nightmares
It was supposed to be part of their education but young children at a Hampshire school have been left with nightmares.
Angry parents have complained after teachers at the primary school showed the youngsters part of the Michael Jackson 'Thriller' music video in a lesson.
But when they went home the children, aged between seven and eight, at Berrywood Primary School in Hedge End, Southampton, started having nightmares.
Now the headteacher has written a letter of apology after complaints from parents of the children in the two Year Three classes. One mother, who asked not to be named, said: “Lots of children had night terrors as a result of watching the video. I think it was a very bad judgement call by the teacher.” The head Chris Reilly told parents the school showed part of the famous video from 1983. It features Jackson turning into a zombie and dancing with a number of 'undead' performing in macabre make-up. Now Mr Reilly has sent a letter of apology to the parents at the 630-pupil school.
It said: “It is with considerable regret that I am writing to you to apologise that the children in classes KP/3 and CF/3 were yesterday shown the Michael Jackson Thriller music video without parental consent being sought. With hindsight it is also regrettable that more careful consideration of the content and potential impact on the children was not applied before they watched it.” Mr Reilly said the issue has been “addressed internally” and teachers will keep a close eye on the children who saw the film. His letter added: “For the purposes of clarification, music videos are not subject to an age classification (although a pilot scheme was introduced on 1st October 2014), however, films are.
“The longer version of the Thriller video is classified by the British Board of Film Classification to be a short film. The children did not watch all of this version and the vast majority of the content shown was the dance sequence. I have sought advice from the Hampshire legal team prior to writing this letter and have provided them with a copy to keep on record. I fully understand the concern and anger felt by parents as a result of this error. I am confident that lessons have been learnt and the right steps have been taken as a result. I am now hopeful that we can work together to put the matter behind us.”
Now the headteacher has written a letter of apology after complaints from parents of the children in the two Year Three classes. One mother, who asked not to be named, said: “Lots of children had night terrors as a result of watching the video. I think it was a very bad judgement call by the teacher.” The head Chris Reilly told parents the school showed part of the famous video from 1983. It features Jackson turning into a zombie and dancing with a number of 'undead' performing in macabre make-up. Now Mr Reilly has sent a letter of apology to the parents at the 630-pupil school.
It said: “It is with considerable regret that I am writing to you to apologise that the children in classes KP/3 and CF/3 were yesterday shown the Michael Jackson Thriller music video without parental consent being sought. With hindsight it is also regrettable that more careful consideration of the content and potential impact on the children was not applied before they watched it.” Mr Reilly said the issue has been “addressed internally” and teachers will keep a close eye on the children who saw the film. His letter added: “For the purposes of clarification, music videos are not subject to an age classification (although a pilot scheme was introduced on 1st October 2014), however, films are.
“The longer version of the Thriller video is classified by the British Board of Film Classification to be a short film. The children did not watch all of this version and the vast majority of the content shown was the dance sequence. I have sought advice from the Hampshire legal team prior to writing this letter and have provided them with a copy to keep on record. I fully understand the concern and anger felt by parents as a result of this error. I am confident that lessons have been learnt and the right steps have been taken as a result. I am now hopeful that we can work together to put the matter behind us.”
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