Monday, October 19, 2015
Snoozing otter wants just five more minutes
Ryer, a North American River Otter at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, isn't ready to get out of bed yet.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Wife in love triangle allegedly recruited daughter and boyfriend to help kill her husband and lover
Like something out of a soap opera, a twisted love affair has turned into double murder in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Three people are charged with the crime, including two teenagers.
Family members say it’s been an extremely difficult time. They’re trying to wrap their heads around what was staged as a murder-suicide, but is really a love triangle gone wrong.
Ann Marie Anastasi, 42, her 13-year-old daughter, and the girl’s 18-year-old boyfriend, Gabriel Struss have been arrested in connection with the double murder. Last Monday, police found 40-year-old Anthony Anastasi Jr. gunned down in his home in the quiet Lothian community and 25-year-old Jacqueline Riggers stabbed to death. “Once our homicide detectives were on scene, they immediately knew something was off, something wasn’t right,” said Anne Arundel County police said.
Investigators say Anastasi Jr., his wife, Ann Marie, and Jacqueline all lived in the house together. Charging documents show the three, historically, were all sexual partners. Documents add the husband and wife’s marriage was fraught with conflict and domestic abuse and that Anastasi Jr. and Riggs were still in a relationship, but he and his wife were not. Ann Anastasi told police her husband committed suicide, but a gun near his body didn’t match evidence on scene.
YouTube link.
“Mrs. Anastasi provided the initial false report,” said Wes Adams, Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney. Police say Mrs. Anastasi and her daughter plotted the killing and had the teen’s boyfriend carry it out. “He’s never done nothing, as I know of. Never. He’s been manipulated into doing this,” said Struss’ grandfather. Struss’ family is now speaking out. “I know he hung out with that girl a couple of times. He’s a teenager. He did what kids do,” his brother said. All three suspects are being charged with first-degree murder and other charges. Ann Marie Anastasi was denied bail on Friday. Her 13-year-old daughter remains in a juvenile facility.
Ann Marie Anastasi, 42, her 13-year-old daughter, and the girl’s 18-year-old boyfriend, Gabriel Struss have been arrested in connection with the double murder. Last Monday, police found 40-year-old Anthony Anastasi Jr. gunned down in his home in the quiet Lothian community and 25-year-old Jacqueline Riggers stabbed to death. “Once our homicide detectives were on scene, they immediately knew something was off, something wasn’t right,” said Anne Arundel County police said.
Investigators say Anastasi Jr., his wife, Ann Marie, and Jacqueline all lived in the house together. Charging documents show the three, historically, were all sexual partners. Documents add the husband and wife’s marriage was fraught with conflict and domestic abuse and that Anastasi Jr. and Riggs were still in a relationship, but he and his wife were not. Ann Anastasi told police her husband committed suicide, but a gun near his body didn’t match evidence on scene.
YouTube link.
“Mrs. Anastasi provided the initial false report,” said Wes Adams, Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney. Police say Mrs. Anastasi and her daughter plotted the killing and had the teen’s boyfriend carry it out. “He’s never done nothing, as I know of. Never. He’s been manipulated into doing this,” said Struss’ grandfather. Struss’ family is now speaking out. “I know he hung out with that girl a couple of times. He’s a teenager. He did what kids do,” his brother said. All three suspects are being charged with first-degree murder and other charges. Ann Marie Anastasi was denied bail on Friday. Her 13-year-old daughter remains in a juvenile facility.
Teenager fighting for life in hospital after 'Eraser Challenge' game
A 13-year-old student from Chico Junior High in California is fighting for his life after participating in the “Eraser Challenge,” a game that has become popular with teenagers across the US.
The game is a dare in which students take an eraser and rub it back and forth across their arm while reciting the alphabet and coming up with a word for each letter. Once they reach the letter Z they stop and compare their burns with their friend’s eraser burns.
The teenager had played the eraser challenge at school last Tuesday and is now fighting for his life at Sutter Women's and Children Center in Sacramento. According to a one of the student's relatives, he contracted Strep A Toxic Shock, likely from the germs on the dirty eraser he rubbed against his arm.
He was taken to Enloe Medical Center where doctors found he was unable to maintain oxygen or proper blood pressure, so they placed him into a coma and had him flown to Sacramento for more advanced treatment. Relatives say he is still in critical condition, but is improving. Family members are asking parents to use his situation as a reason to talk with their children about the dangers of the “Eraser Challenge.” Chico Junior High did not send a notice to parents about the incident, or the game, but say administrators spoke with each student involved.
With news video.
The game is a dare in which students take an eraser and rub it back and forth across their arm while reciting the alphabet and coming up with a word for each letter. Once they reach the letter Z they stop and compare their burns with their friend’s eraser burns.
The teenager had played the eraser challenge at school last Tuesday and is now fighting for his life at Sutter Women's and Children Center in Sacramento. According to a one of the student's relatives, he contracted Strep A Toxic Shock, likely from the germs on the dirty eraser he rubbed against his arm.
He was taken to Enloe Medical Center where doctors found he was unable to maintain oxygen or proper blood pressure, so they placed him into a coma and had him flown to Sacramento for more advanced treatment. Relatives say he is still in critical condition, but is improving. Family members are asking parents to use his situation as a reason to talk with their children about the dangers of the “Eraser Challenge.” Chico Junior High did not send a notice to parents about the incident, or the game, but say administrators spoke with each student involved.
With news video.
Kangaroo captured after hopping around New York neighbourhood
A runaway kangaroo enjoyed a few minutes of fun in a New York neighbourhood on Saturday morning.
The marsupial named Buster was spotted at around 8am after slipping through an unlocked gate in a 6-foot-high fence and happily hopping through Staten Island.
“It was jumping around, enjoying the freedom and the fun," said Urim Osmani, 34, owner of the nearby Alb’s Auto Repair.
“We didn’t know what it was. We thought it was a deer,” he said. “When it came closer, we saw it was a kangaroo. We thought it disappeared from a zoo or something.” Police sources confirmed that the 4-foot-tall kangaroo belongs to John Schirripa. Schirripa told police officers that the ‘roo belonged to his brother, who he said brought Buster with him from upstate New York to his sibling’s home.
YouTube link.
Buster was hopping around in the backyard on Saturday morning when he found the unsecured gate and made his move. Local residents then called 911. When police arrived, they found Buster bouncing up and down in a neighbour’s yard. The officers surrounded the kangaroo, but the owner quickly showed up, subdued the animal and returned him to the backyard. Buster’s adventure in the big city lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, according to a police source. No charges were filed and Buster remains in his owner’s custody.
The ASPCA was notified, per procedure, but it doesn’t look like they will get involved, according to police. “It looks like it’s legal to possess a kangaroo where this man is from,” a police source said. “Since he was visiting the area and was returning home today, there was no violation.” Buster wasn’t injured, and neither were the police who responded. “We were trying to keep it calm. We didn’t want to scare him,” Osmani said. “We were scared it was going to hurt somebody. It jumped a couple of times and then it disappeared.”
“We didn’t know what it was. We thought it was a deer,” he said. “When it came closer, we saw it was a kangaroo. We thought it disappeared from a zoo or something.” Police sources confirmed that the 4-foot-tall kangaroo belongs to John Schirripa. Schirripa told police officers that the ‘roo belonged to his brother, who he said brought Buster with him from upstate New York to his sibling’s home.
YouTube link.
Buster was hopping around in the backyard on Saturday morning when he found the unsecured gate and made his move. Local residents then called 911. When police arrived, they found Buster bouncing up and down in a neighbour’s yard. The officers surrounded the kangaroo, but the owner quickly showed up, subdued the animal and returned him to the backyard. Buster’s adventure in the big city lasted about 10 to 15 minutes, according to a police source. No charges were filed and Buster remains in his owner’s custody.
The ASPCA was notified, per procedure, but it doesn’t look like they will get involved, according to police. “It looks like it’s legal to possess a kangaroo where this man is from,” a police source said. “Since he was visiting the area and was returning home today, there was no violation.” Buster wasn’t injured, and neither were the police who responded. “We were trying to keep it calm. We didn’t want to scare him,” Osmani said. “We were scared it was going to hurt somebody. It jumped a couple of times and then it disappeared.”
Man wearing stolen chef’s apron demanded to be let into police station before removing pants
A 25-year-old man wearing an allegedly stolen chef’s apron demanded to be let into the Springfield Police Station in Oregon early on Wednesday morning, only to take off his pants once inside, according to police.
Travis Jeffrey Hodges of Springfield arrived at the station just after 3am, pulling at the locked doors and slamming a public phone before officers arrived to see what was going on, police said.
Meanwhile, police responded to an alarm at the Sprout! Regional Food Hub, located across the street from the police station. The nonprofit group’s glass door was shattered, and police said several similar chef’s aprons were inside.
Police believe Hodges broke into the Sprout! facility, stole the apron and then walked directly to the police station. He was found pantless but still wearing the apron. He was arrested on charges of third-degree theft, second-degree criminal trespass and third-degree criminal mischief. He was taken to the Springfield Municipal Jail. Hodges allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine, police said.
Travis Jeffrey Hodges of Springfield arrived at the station just after 3am, pulling at the locked doors and slamming a public phone before officers arrived to see what was going on, police said.
Meanwhile, police responded to an alarm at the Sprout! Regional Food Hub, located across the street from the police station. The nonprofit group’s glass door was shattered, and police said several similar chef’s aprons were inside.
Police believe Hodges broke into the Sprout! facility, stole the apron and then walked directly to the police station. He was found pantless but still wearing the apron. He was arrested on charges of third-degree theft, second-degree criminal trespass and third-degree criminal mischief. He was taken to the Springfield Municipal Jail. Hodges allegedly admitted to using methamphetamine, police said.
Farmers in Uzbekistan were told to glue cotton back on to bushes for official visit
When word came that the Uzbek prime minister would be driving past their village, local officials wanted to impress him with roads lined by snowy white fields of cotton.
The only problem was that the cotton had already been picked.
So, locals say, farmers were told to glue cotton balls back on the bushes to give an impression of a bountiful harvest of the country’s most important crop.
Ahead of the expected visit by the prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyaev, at the end of September, some 400 men and women in the village of Shaharteppa in Ferghana province were reportedly pressed into service along the main road where the official convoy was expected to pass.
“Some of them were applying glue inside the bolls and others were putting cotton on the bolls, while another group was attaching cotton capsules onto stalks in the front rows of the cotton field,” a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. “When I asked them why they were gluing cotton, they told me, ‘Apparently the prime minister is coming and we’re told everything should look good here,’” the resident said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of others swept the area along the main road to keep it clean for the prime minister. A farmer appeared to confirm the claim. “People were put through so much trouble,” he said. “More than 500 people had to leave their work and come and glue cotton here. They said it was being done at the provincial governor’s order.” Fearing reprisals from the authorities, the farmer did not want to give his name. Yet it seems they had laboured in vain as the prime minister changed his route at the last minute and didn't pass by the village after all.
Ahead of the expected visit by the prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyaev, at the end of September, some 400 men and women in the village of Shaharteppa in Ferghana province were reportedly pressed into service along the main road where the official convoy was expected to pass.
“Some of them were applying glue inside the bolls and others were putting cotton on the bolls, while another group was attaching cotton capsules onto stalks in the front rows of the cotton field,” a resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. “When I asked them why they were gluing cotton, they told me, ‘Apparently the prime minister is coming and we’re told everything should look good here,’” the resident said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of others swept the area along the main road to keep it clean for the prime minister. A farmer appeared to confirm the claim. “People were put through so much trouble,” he said. “More than 500 people had to leave their work and come and glue cotton here. They said it was being done at the provincial governor’s order.” Fearing reprisals from the authorities, the farmer did not want to give his name. Yet it seems they had laboured in vain as the prime minister changed his route at the last minute and didn't pass by the village after all.
Council deemed pranksters' comedy bench plaques offensive
Council officials have removed a series of comedy plaques put on a street benches - aimed at bringing a smile to shopper's faces.
Pranksters made up the plaques to screw onto the shopping benches to liven up a city centre.
But council officials removed the plaques after saying some people could be "offended" by them.
The plaques were rigged up in Chester city centre by the mystery artists "in good grace and with no malice or thought of financial gain."
But the seemingly random and light-hearted messages do have a serious undertone.
The pranksters aim to raise awareness about a proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which the council want to use to ban homeless people from hanging around in the city centre. One plaque says: "If you shut your eyes for more than 10 seconds whilst on this bench you may be deemed asleep, and risk facing an ASBO. By Order of Public Space Protection Orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014." And another says: "This bench is reserved for the young, beautiful and affluent. If you are old, ugly or poor please sit elsewhere."
Chester City Council say the plans would tackle anti-social behaviour in the city, but critics argue its an attempt to hide vulnerable people out of sight from shoppers and tourists. The pranksters called the plans "draconian" and said they would even prevent buskers from playing around the city. One of them, who did not want to be identified, said: "The PSPO aims to tackle anti-social behaviour in the City, but so far over 10,000 people have signed various online petitions against the proposals. "There are fears that such draconian plans would be used to target the homeless and socially vulnerable. For example the PSPO would make it a criminal offence to lie down in a public place or feed the swans on the canal.
"The plaque attack was all done in good grace and with no malice or thought of financial gain. We just hope the residents and visitors of Chester enjoy them while they can." But the council have not found the plaques as amusing as locals have, and have already taken them down. Maria Byrne, head of place operations for Chester Council, said removing the "offensive" pranks have put pressure on vital funds. Mrs Byrne said: "We have removed the plaques from the benches and although they may appear humorous, some people may find them offensive and it has cost the Council taxpayer money for officers to locate and remove them. If anyone knows who is responsible we would like to hear from them."
The pranksters aim to raise awareness about a proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which the council want to use to ban homeless people from hanging around in the city centre. One plaque says: "If you shut your eyes for more than 10 seconds whilst on this bench you may be deemed asleep, and risk facing an ASBO. By Order of Public Space Protection Orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014." And another says: "This bench is reserved for the young, beautiful and affluent. If you are old, ugly or poor please sit elsewhere."
Chester City Council say the plans would tackle anti-social behaviour in the city, but critics argue its an attempt to hide vulnerable people out of sight from shoppers and tourists. The pranksters called the plans "draconian" and said they would even prevent buskers from playing around the city. One of them, who did not want to be identified, said: "The PSPO aims to tackle anti-social behaviour in the City, but so far over 10,000 people have signed various online petitions against the proposals. "There are fears that such draconian plans would be used to target the homeless and socially vulnerable. For example the PSPO would make it a criminal offence to lie down in a public place or feed the swans on the canal.
"The plaque attack was all done in good grace and with no malice or thought of financial gain. We just hope the residents and visitors of Chester enjoy them while they can." But the council have not found the plaques as amusing as locals have, and have already taken them down. Maria Byrne, head of place operations for Chester Council, said removing the "offensive" pranks have put pressure on vital funds. Mrs Byrne said: "We have removed the plaques from the benches and although they may appear humorous, some people may find them offensive and it has cost the Council taxpayer money for officers to locate and remove them. If anyone knows who is responsible we would like to hear from them."
Man claims he had pose as drug addict to get needle bin so he could clear up his street
A furious dad says he had to pose as a drug addict in order to get something done about a needle left outside his Dorset home.
Paul Morgan says his Bournemouth street has been "taken over" by addicts.
And when the council failed to collect a needle from outside his gate he said he resorted to posing as a drug user himself to access a needle exchange and take home a sharps disposal kit.
Mr Morgan, who lives in Southcote Road, stormed out of a Springbourne Residents' Association meeting after telling residents about the episode.
The family's garden backs directly onto Knyveton Gardens, with a gate connecting the two.
He said that despite progress made to deter prostitution in the public gardens, drug dealing was commonplace, and he has discovered needles, other drug parapahalia and condom wrappers just outside his gate. He fears that the area is becoming a "social dumping ground", and warned: "Addicts have taken over in Knyveton Gardens." Mr Morgan wrote to the council in July to say he couldn't allow his young son out into the gardens and asked for the bushes around the site to be cleared. Another letter six weeks later failed to prompt any action, he said. Mr Morgan, who has caught addicts in the act of injecting themselves with heroin, told councillors at the meeting he had reported finding a needle outside of his back gate three weeks before.
He said: "I found the syringe and I reported that to the council and told them where it was. They said, 'Yes, we'll go pick it up', and I said I'd send them a map so they'd know exactly where it is." However, the needle was never collected, so Paul eventually posed as an addict to get a sharps box. He produced the needle at the meeting, saying: "I had to pick it up and deal with it myself." Paul then walked out of the meeting, telling officials: "I am not going to take any further part in proceedings until this issue is resolved." Mr Morgan said he has even pinned up posters warning of syringes on the ground. "It's a direct health threat but the people who should be doing something about it at the council haven't done anything at all," he said.
"I suspect that this whole area is being deliberately ignored and is now considered to be a social wasteland." At the meeting, Councillor David Kelsey said the bushes around the site cannot be further trimmed as the parks department "point blank refuse to cut back any further". Kelly Ansell, senior strategic housing manager for Bournemouth council, said: “We are aware of the concerns raised regarding Knyveton Gardens. the parks team have attended the site regularly throughout the summer to undertake necessary works. We are now about to enter the pruning season and this site will be prioritised over the next fortnight. The issues raised at the meeting were wide ranging and as a result a multi agency meeting is being arranged in order to respond with robust action where required.”
He said that despite progress made to deter prostitution in the public gardens, drug dealing was commonplace, and he has discovered needles, other drug parapahalia and condom wrappers just outside his gate. He fears that the area is becoming a "social dumping ground", and warned: "Addicts have taken over in Knyveton Gardens." Mr Morgan wrote to the council in July to say he couldn't allow his young son out into the gardens and asked for the bushes around the site to be cleared. Another letter six weeks later failed to prompt any action, he said. Mr Morgan, who has caught addicts in the act of injecting themselves with heroin, told councillors at the meeting he had reported finding a needle outside of his back gate three weeks before.
He said: "I found the syringe and I reported that to the council and told them where it was. They said, 'Yes, we'll go pick it up', and I said I'd send them a map so they'd know exactly where it is." However, the needle was never collected, so Paul eventually posed as an addict to get a sharps box. He produced the needle at the meeting, saying: "I had to pick it up and deal with it myself." Paul then walked out of the meeting, telling officials: "I am not going to take any further part in proceedings until this issue is resolved." Mr Morgan said he has even pinned up posters warning of syringes on the ground. "It's a direct health threat but the people who should be doing something about it at the council haven't done anything at all," he said.
"I suspect that this whole area is being deliberately ignored and is now considered to be a social wasteland." At the meeting, Councillor David Kelsey said the bushes around the site cannot be further trimmed as the parks department "point blank refuse to cut back any further". Kelly Ansell, senior strategic housing manager for Bournemouth council, said: “We are aware of the concerns raised regarding Knyveton Gardens. the parks team have attended the site regularly throughout the summer to undertake necessary works. We are now about to enter the pruning season and this site will be prioritised over the next fortnight. The issues raised at the meeting were wide ranging and as a result a multi agency meeting is being arranged in order to respond with robust action where required.”
Police hunt for thief caught on CCTV stealing knickers and bras from charity display
Police in Lancashire are on the hunt for an underwear thief who stole a charity display of pink bras and knickers.
The hooded culprit was caught on CCTV shimmying up a pole to reach the washing line of lingerie at the Pristine Car Wash in Penwortham, Preston, which had been put up in aid of "Paint Penwortham Pink" to highlight Breast Cancer Now.
When Pristine Car Wash owner Louise Pratt, 35, arrived at work last Friday, she was shocked when she saw the display had vanished. She checked the CCTV and spotted the thief at 2.24am brazenly leap over a gate to get into the premises before scaling a pole to steal the undergarments. Miss Pratt said she wanted the offender publicly exposed for stealing from a charitable cause.
LiveLeak link.
"It really is crazy. He came on the premises and didn't even look around. As you can see it would take some skill to freestyle up a tall pole. It's quite a tall structure. He was on a mission to get it. I don't think he was drunk because he wouldn't have been able to climb it," she said. The missing underwear is yet to be found but a replacement display has since been put up.
The hooded culprit was caught on CCTV shimmying up a pole to reach the washing line of lingerie at the Pristine Car Wash in Penwortham, Preston, which had been put up in aid of "Paint Penwortham Pink" to highlight Breast Cancer Now.
When Pristine Car Wash owner Louise Pratt, 35, arrived at work last Friday, she was shocked when she saw the display had vanished. She checked the CCTV and spotted the thief at 2.24am brazenly leap over a gate to get into the premises before scaling a pole to steal the undergarments. Miss Pratt said she wanted the offender publicly exposed for stealing from a charitable cause.
LiveLeak link.
"It really is crazy. He came on the premises and didn't even look around. As you can see it would take some skill to freestyle up a tall pole. It's quite a tall structure. He was on a mission to get it. I don't think he was drunk because he wouldn't have been able to climb it," she said. The missing underwear is yet to be found but a replacement display has since been put up.