Month: July 2023

Bad Time to Capsize Kayak: When Fleeing From Police Ala. theft suspect had to swim to shore, where police were waiting: report

“He didn’t get far,” the Gadsden Times reports. (Getty Images/Merrimon)

An alleged thief in Alabama tried to evade police by hopping in a river kayak, only to capsize shortly after, authorities say. Numerous people had called Hokes Bluff Police on Friday to report the man, who was allegedly seen wandering through backyards and stealing a lawn mower and leaf blower, reports the Gadsden Times. Some residents had confronted the man by early afternoon, prompting him to flee to the Coosa River, according to Police Chief Tyler Roe. Officers arrived soon after and tracked the suspect down the river. “They’d have eyes on him, then lose him, then catch sight of him again,” Roe said. They didn’t have to watch long.

“He didn’t get far before the kayak flipped, and he started swimming to the bank, where officers were waiting for him,” per the Times, which adds the suspect was “tackled” and arrested. The Attalla man—now charged with burglary, theft of property, attempt to elude, and resisting arrest—told police he was stealing items to sell so he could get his girlfriend’s vehicle out of impound, Roe told the Times, adding police had towed the vehicle from the area on Friday morning. The chief also thanked Glencoe police and the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office for assistance, noting the sheriff’s office had prepared to send a boat to meet the man “head on.”

Cops: Burglar Returned to Crime Scene for His Keys Man broke into doughnut company’s corporate offices in California

A Northern California burglar returned to the scene of the crime this weekend after he forgot his keys inside a doughnut company’s corporate office. The thief stole some petty cash from Johnny Doughnuts’ office in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday night, police said. In another twist, he also grabbed the keys to a bakery vehicle, but didn’t steal the vehicle itself, the AP reports. San Rafael police are seeking the public’s help to identify the burglar, who used an unknown tool to “manipulate” the office’s doorknob and get inside around 10pm, according to Lt. Dan Fink.

The crime was reported to police on Monday. Surveillance video shows the man moving between the office and a back storage area, where he pried open a filing cabinet, Fink said. The lieutenant said the thief took a bank bag with an unknown amount of cash. “Part of the investigating is finding out why this specific business was targeted,” he said. No doughnuts were stolen.

Revenge-Seeking Arsonist Set Fire to Wrong House: Cops Christie Louise Jones thought she was at an ex-boyfriend’s, police say

Christie Louise Jones (Rowan County Sheriff’s Office)

A woman who intended to burn down her ex-lover’s home failed to confirm the address and ended up setting fire to a stranger’s abode, according to police in North Carolina. The result is that the alleged arsonist can’t even claim the sweet taste of revenge as she sits in a jail cell. Alerted to flames on his front porch around 7am Friday, a Gold Hill homeowner discovered a woman standing next to a car that was blocking his driveway, according to an incident report from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. She mumbled something and, after brushing the armed homeowner with her vehicle, drove away, investigators say, per the Charlotte Observer.

The man didn’t know the woman, per WBTV. But the license plate number he recorded allegedly led to Christie Louise Jones, 49, of Richfield, who is believed to have mistaken the home for that of a former boyfriend living in the same area, investigators say. She allegedly set two fires—one on the porch and another around a propane tank—used Flex Seal to obstruct the homeowner’s garden hose, and cut into his above-ground pool, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage. She’s charged with felony first-degree arson, assault with a deadly weapon, and larceny of an animal, as she was allegedly holding one of the homeowner’s dogs on a leash when he confronted her. Her bond is set at $101,500.

Cops: Robbery Suspect Fled, Home Alone Moment Ensued Gainesville police say slipped on a patch of ice as he was trying to flee a botched robbery

Luis Sajbocho-Ordonez. (Gainesville Police Department)

An alleged armed robber was foiled in the early hours of Christmas Day in what police say was like a scene from Home Alone. Police say Luis Sajbocho-Ordonez concealed himself behind a business in Gainesville, Georgia, which has been experiencing unusually low temperatures, and demanded cash from an employee who left the building around 1am Sunday, Fox 5 reports. Police say a physical altercation followed and when a second employee left the business, Sajbocho-Ordonez was startled and fired a shot that didn’t hit anybody. He then tried to run off, but slipped on a patch of ice and hit his head, police say.

Police say witnesses took two guns from Sajbocho-Ordonez while he was on the ground. He was taken to the county jail and charged with armed robbery and aggravated assault, WJBF reports. Gainesville Police Lt. Kevin Holbrook tells the Gainesville Times that it’s not clear whether facial injuries seen in the suspect’s mugshot happened from the fall or an altercation at the scene. “We know that is how officers found him when they arrived,” Holbrook says.

When Your Getaway Car Is an EV, Charge It First Georgia police say they busted thieves not far from the crime scene—charging their Tesla

Tesla vehicles charge at a station in Emeryville, Calif., Aug. 10, 2022. In the commission of a crime, be sure to have your Tesla fully charged. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V?squez)

When endeavoring to avoid headlines for criminal idiocy with a green flair, you’d best remember one simple rule: Charge the EV in which you are attempting to flee the scene of your crime. As Fox5 reports, police say two would-be criminal masterminds robbed gaming systems from an unnamed store in in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Responding officers were told that they fled in a Tesla, put out a description to fellow cops … and wouldn’t you know it, the devious twosome were located not far away from the crime scene—charging the aforementioned Tesla.

Police say they recovered the gaming systems, along with several guns, and what they believe is 2 pounds of marijuana. The suspects were not identified in a tweet applauding the work of officers from the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Elusive goat gives Alabama police the slip

July 19 (UPI) — Authorities in Alabama are trying to track down an elusive goat that jumped out of its owner’s car window and has been spotted in locations including a ledge outside a hospital.

Police in Mountain Brook and Birmingham said they first learned of the goat on the loose when the animal was spotted running loose on Montclair Road on Monday.

Trevor Turnbough, a project engineer at Sterling Highlands, said he was working at the company’s construction site on Montclair Road when he spotted the animal.

Turnbough said a man who identified himself as the animal’s owner said the goat had jumped out of his car window nearby.

The goat gave police and civilian pursuers the slip, but Turnbough said the animal made repeat appearances near the construction site on Tuesday.

The animal was also spotted in the Beech Court area of Mountain Brook and perched on the ledge of the old Montclair Hospital.

Police said they have yet to ensnare the elusive goat.

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National Weather Service bakes cookies in hot car in Texas

July 20 (UPI) — National Weather Service personnel in Texas put the record heat wave to good use by baking a batch of cookies on the dashboard of a hot car.

The NWS’ office in Midland said in a Facebook post it was about 105 degrees F outside and 190 degrees inside the car when the cookie dough was placed on the dashboard.

The cookies were left to cook for about 4 1/2 hours.

The NWS said the cookies weren’t quite “golden brown,” but they were fully cooked.

“Can confirm they are done and delicious,” NWS employees wrote.

Officials said the project highlights the dangers of hot cars.

“This heat is still incredibly dangerous to anyone left in a hot car. Look before you lock,” they wrote.

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Stuck squirrel rescued from toilet paper tube

An RSPCA officer and firefighters in Leeds, England, came to the rescue of a squirrel spotted with its head stuck inside a discarded toilet paper tube. Photo courtesy of the RSPCA

July 20 (UPI) — Animal rescuers and firefighters in Britain came to the assistance of a squirrel found 30 feet up in a tree with a discarded toilet paper tube stuck around its head.

The RSPCA said Animal Rescue Officer Dave Holgate responded to a call about a squirrel in distress in Meanwood, Leeds, England, and he arrived to find the rodent on a tree branch about 30 feet up with the cardboard tube stuck around its head.

Holgate called the local fire brigade for assistance and they were able to use specialist poles to bring the squirrel down to the ground.

Holgate said he was able to remove the tube and release the squirrel back into the wild.

“It was a good job the squirrel was spotted as he would have been unable to feed and was obviously terrified,” Holgate said in an RSPCA news release. “Litter is one of the biggest hazards our wildlife faces today — and it’s something that’s very easy to resolve.”

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Reported burglary at Indiana home turns into baby deer rescue

July 20 (UPI) — Indiana police responding to a report of a burglary at a residence went down to the basement of the home and discovered the suspect was a baby deer.

The Indianapolis Metro Police Department said in a Facebook post that officers responded to a report of a burglary in the Northwest District and the story took “an adorable turn” once they arrived at the scene.

“Picture this: Our brave officers went down to investigate, only to discover a baby deer, affectionately known as Bambi, seeking shelter,” the post said.

The department shared a video of the officers using a blanket to carefully capture the fawn and bring it to the home’s back yard.

The deer did not appear to be injured and was released at the scene.

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‘Aggressive’ sea otter caught on camera stealing surfboards in California Wildlife officials are trying to capture a sea otter that has been terrorising surfers in California.

A serial surfboard thief has been plaguing a stretch of Californian coastline – and the unlikely culprit is a sea otter.

In at least four separate incidents, the otter has climbed onto surfboards, biting and scratching them.

In some cases, the mammal’s behaviour was so aggressive the surfers had to abandon their boards and swim to shore.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has posted signs along the Santa Cruz coastline warning of an “aggressive sea otter in this area”.

“Enter the water at your own risk,” the sign reads.

Mark Woodward, a photographer who goes by Native Santa Cruz on Twitter and Instagram, has been sharing videos and photos of the sea otter snatching and riding boards.

“This may seem cute and funny, but it’s getting to be dangerous,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I’m afraid that the sea otter, which was born in captivity and released when it was old enough, will have to be captured and live at a rescue sanctuary.”

The otter, known as 841, was born five years ago to an otter who was also known to approach people on kayaks.

But 841 was raised in captivity, so could not have copied the behaviour from its mother.

Experts don’t have a clear explanation for the behaviour, but the otter may be going through hormonal surges or being fed by humans, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife officials are working with sea otter experts from Monterey Bay Aquarium to attempt to capture and rehome the otter.

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