Missing Tourist In Iceland Joins Search For Herself

A foreign tourist was reported missing in the volcanic canyon Eldgjá in the southern highlands on Saturday afternoon after she failed to return to her tour bus. The driver waited for about one hour before notifying the police and continuing the tour.

Search and rescue were sent to the area shortly afterwards. However, the search was called off at 3 am when it turned out that the missing woman had been on the bus all along and even participated in the search for herself, mbl.is reports.

Before reentering the bus after the stop at Eldgjá, the woman had changed her clothes and freshened up, resulting in the other passengers not recognizing her.

According to information from the Coast Guard, a helicopter was ready to be sent to the area to assist with the search but the plans were put off due to foggy conditions. Around 50 people participated in the search on vehicles and by foot.

Chief of police in Hvolsvöllur Sveinn K. Rúnarsson told mbl.is that the woman was innocent of the mistake; the people on the bus hadn’t been counted correctly. She didn’t recognize the description of herself and “had no idea that she was missing.”

It isn’t often that people who are safe and sound are reported missing in Iceland but a similar incident occurred in 1954 when an extensive search was carried out for a young girl in a red coat who had been berry picking with a group of people but didn’t return with them. Or so they thought.

People searched for the girl for hours until it turned out that she wasn’t missing at all but had participated in the search herself. The misunderstanding was based on a false description of the girl’s clothing.

Iceland Review: Lost Woman Looks for Herself in Iceland’s Highlands

Texas Mayor Killed By His Own Ass

A South Texas mayor has been found dead after apparently being attacked by a 500-pound donkey on his ranch.

The Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that the death of Hollywood Park Mayor William “Bill” Bohlke appears to be an accident. Bohlke was 65.

Chief Deputy David Soward says Bohlke apparently was attacked Monday morning by a male, aggressive donkey he kept on the ranch.

Investigators say the donkey and several others are still on the property with other livestock.

"He loved his animals. He loved ranching," said Sandra Wilson.

According to the neighbor, Bohlke's wife was concerned when he didn't return to Hollywood Park after checking on his animals.

After dark, Wilson said several neighbors, jumped on all terrain vehicles and went looking for the Air Force veteran.

They found his truck still running hours after he was attacked.

Soward says it’s up to the family to decide what to do with the donkey.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Phillips will serve as acting mayor of Hollywood Park, a town of about 3,000 just north of San Antonio.

A memorial service is scheduled for next Tuesday at Saint Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church with a burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

News 5 WOIA: Mayor dead after apparent donkey attack

Drunk Man Severed Foot While Driving

Police say a man severed his foot in a California parking lot after sticking his leg out the door of his moving BMW. Authorities then arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving.

The Contra Costa Times reports 31-year-old John Buna severed his foot at the ankle Wednesday after hitting it on a cinder block during a reckless drive in a Livermore parking lot.

Police say a woman with Buna reported she exited his two-door BMW because she was frightened of his driving.

Authorities say Buna stuck his foot out the driver’s side door as if he was exiting the car, but instead accelerated suddenly, crushing the foot between the car and the cinder block.

Police say Buna parked his car, and the woman called for help.

Stupid K News: Drunk Man Severed Foot While Driving

Texas Woman Aims For Skunk, Shoots Husband Instead

A Texas woman aiming for a pesky skunk that was feeding off cat food bowls outside her home wound up accidentally shooting her husband when the bullet ricocheted off the porch and struck him in the abdomen, a sheriff said.

The accident happened Sunday night at the family’s home in a subdivision south of College Station, Texas, Brazos County Sheriff Christopher Kirk said.

“Apparently they feed their cats out of bowls outside the back of the porch. They had a skunk that had been coming up there feeding. They decided they wanted to dispatch that skunk,” Kirk told NBC News on Tuesday.

The wife went out to retrieve her .45-caliber handgun, which was legally permitted, from her purse in an office in an attached garage. The husband stayed inside the home.

The wife shot at the skunk but missed. The bullet ricocheted off the porch, penetrated the back door of the home and struck her husband in the abdomen. The bullet did not damage any vital organs and wound up lodged in the hip area, the sheriff said.

The husband was airlifted to a hospital in Houston, where he was treated and released on Monday.

Kirk said investigators interviewed the husband and wife separately and their stories were consistent that the shooting was an unfortunate accident.

“She was very concerned about her husband and certainly having created that situation,” the sheriff said of the wife.

The couple’s names were not released. Kirk said they were in their early 50s.

The couple’s seven children were also in the home at the time but none witnessed the accident and none were hurt, the sheriff said.

Kirk said investigators will present their findings to the prosecutor to see if any laws were broken.

“Discharging a firearm in that situation was probably not good judgment,” Kirk said. “It certainly was reckless but I don’t know if anyone would be served if any charges were to be filed.”

Kirk said even the skunk cooperated with the investigation.

“He actually came back while our investigators were at the scene and tried to feed again off the cat bowls. We chased it off,” he said.

MSNBC: Stinky shot: Texas woman aims for skunk, accidentally shoots husband

Man Steals Cell Phone From Ebola Patient, Gets Ebola

Don't do the crime if you can't contract the virus.

According to a report from the Sunday Monitor, a man stole a mobile phone from a patient in an isolation ward at Kagadi Hospital, in Western Uganda.

As it turns out, the patient was suffering from Ebola, one of numerous cases in a recent outbreak in Uganda. The patient later died from the hemorrhagic fever. But before dying, he reported the theft of his phone to hospital security, who began investigating.

Police detectives traced the suspected thief, age 40, after he began communicating with friends using the stolen phone.

The Monitor reported that "as police zeroed in on him, he developed symptoms similar to those of Ebola and sought medication at the hospital."

“The suspect is admitted at Kagadi Hospital with clinical signs of Ebola," Dr. Dan Kyamanywa, the Kibaale District Health Officer, told the Monitor.

Ebola virus, which causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is considered one of the world's most terrifying viruses: victims tend to die bloody and painful deaths, bleeding from every orifice.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned in a televised broadcast that people should refrain from physical contact like shaking hands, casual sex and do-it-yourself burials to reduce the chance of contracting Ebola.

And from stealing cell phones, evidently.

Global Post: Man steals phone from Ebola patient at Uganda hospital, gets Ebola

Man Calls 911, Requests Female Deputies For Sex

On Wednesday through Friday deputies say Joshua Basso dialed the 911 system seven times to request female deputies to respond to his place to have some sex with him, according to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

When deputies confronted Basso at his home he 'fessed up to making the calls to 911.

The deputies threw the 'cuffs on him -- though probably not in the way he wanted -- on Thursday and charged him with seven counts of making phony 911 calls. Basso allegedly confessed to misusing the system.

No word on whether the arresting deputies were male or female.

And here's the kicker — he had done this before in 2009.

This latest arrest marks Basso's 14th booking at the Hillsborough County jail, according to inmate records.

Sun Sentinal FloriDUH: 911: Man requested female deputies for sex, deputies say

Ohio Nurse Accidentally Throws Kidney In Trash

A nurse accidentally disposed of a kidney from a living donor this month at an Ohio hospital, and doctors tried unsuccessfully for at least two hours to resuscitate the organ in what medical experts describe as a rare accident, health officials said.

"Human error rendered the kidney unusable," University of Toledo Medical Center spokesman Toby Klinger said Saturday, but he declined to give more details, citing the hospital's investigation into what happened and its respect for the privacy of the patients involved.

But one of the doctors involved told Dr. David Grossman, a Toledo-Lucas County health commissioner, that a nurse disposed of the kidney improperly. Two nurses have been placed on paid administrative leave while the hospital reviews what happened, Klinger said.

Grossman told the Blade newspaper in Toledo that a man had donated the kidney to his older sister. Both the donor and the intended recipient have been released from the hospital, Klinger said.

The hospital has voluntarily suspended the live kidney donor program while they review what happened and determine how to prevent errors in the future, according to Dr. Jeffrey Gold, the medical center's chancellor and vice president for biosciences and health affairs.

He said that doctors tried to save the kidney, but "the physician in consultation with the family decided to not take the risk knowing there was a good chance for another highly compatible donor."

Grossman's office is not involved in the investigation or connected to the medical center, Klinger said. Grossman could not be reached for comment Saturday. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department was closed, and Grossman's home telephone number was not available.

This kind of accident is unheard of in organ transplant centers and it was a good decision not to use the kidney, Dr. William Harmon, director of kidney transplantation at Boston Children's Hospital, told the Blade.

"This is unfortunately what medicine is like – it is not perfect, and there have been far worse cases where the donor has died," Harmon said.

Huffington Post: Kidney Thrown In Trash, University of Toledo Medical Center Suspends Transplant Program

Woman Punches 70-Year-Old Walmart Cashier

You may want to skip the last 30 seconds

A western New York woman has been convicted of punching a 70-year-old Walmart cashier during a dispute over a receipt on Christmas Eve.

Jacquetta Simmons was found guilty of felony assault by a Genesee (jehn-eh-SEE') County Court jury Friday.

The 27-year-old faces from 2 1/3 to seven years in prison under New York's Granny Law, which makes it a felony to intentionally injure someone 65 or older if the defendant is at least 10 years younger than the victim.

Prosecutors say Simmons knocked Grace Suozzi down with a blow to the face while Suozzi was checking her receipt. Simmons' lawyer argued she swung her arm but didn't intend to hit Suozzi.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 14 in Batavia.

Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says employee safety is a "top priority" and its focus is on supporting Suozzi.

Huffington Post: Jacquetta Simmons Convicted Of Punching Walmart Cashier Grace Suozzi, 70

Woman Claims Her Twin Stole Hotel Items

A former Daugherty Township woman blamed her twin sister for recently taking several non-complimentary items from a Big Beaver hotel room, but state police said the sister does not exist.

Trooper Joshua Thomas reported Jennifer Brown, 31, whose last known address was 364 Route 68, used a check to rent a room at the Holiday Inn, 7195 Eastwood Road, on Aug. 5 and checked out at 10:03 p.m.

But when employees went into the room the following morning they discovered two comforters, two throw blankets, four pillows, an alarm clock, a coffeepot, a basket and a hair dryer, valued at a total of $206, missing, Thomas said.

Thomas found Brown at the nearby Alpine Inn, and she denied taking the items. He said she blamed a twin sister, Lisa Brown, who she said had taken the items and left some time before the trooper arrived.

When Thomas could not find a record of a Lisa Brown with the same birth date as Jennifer Brown, he went back to her and she told him her sister had contacted her and was bringing the items back.

Thomas said he accompanied Jennifer Brown back to the Alpine Inn to check her room for the items, which she denied were there. But upon entering the room, Thomas said he found the items in a clear garbage bag behind the door.

Brown responded that her sister must have brought the items back while she and Thomas were talking, according to the police report. But Thomas was not buying it. “We were not speaking long enough for anyone to have brought the items back to the room,” he said.

The items were returned to the Holiday Inn, and Thomas filed theft and making false report charges on Friday against Brown. Thomas said he confirmed with Janice Hortung, who is Brown’s aunt and lives at the address listed for Brown, that Brown does not have a twin.

TimesOnline: Former Daugherty Twp. woman blames fake twin sister for hotel theft

I Can Fix That! Wait, No I Can't! Amateur Artist Messes Up Century-Old Artwork

An elderly parishioner has stunned Spanish cultural officials with an alarming and unauthorised attempt to restore a prized Jesus Christ fresco.

Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) by Elias Garcia Martinez has held pride of place in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza for more than 100 years.

The woman took her brush to it after years of deterioration due to moisture.

Cultural officials said she had the best intentions and hoped it could be properly restored.

The woman, in her 80s, was reportedly upset at the way the fresco had deteriorated and took it on herself to "restore" the image.

BBC Europe correspondent Christian Fraser says the delicate brush strokes of Elias Garcia Martinez have been buried under a haphazard splattering of paint.

The once-dignified portrait now resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic, he says.

The woman appears to have realised she was out of her depth and contacted Juan Maria Ojeda, the city councillor in charge of cultural affairs.

Art historians are expected to meet at the church soon to discuss how to proceed.

Mr Ojeda said: "I think she had good intentions. Next week she will meet with a repairer and explain what kind of materials she used.

"If we can't fix it, we will probably cover the wall with a photo of the painting."

The fresco is not thought to be very valuable, but has a high sentimental value for local people.

Our correspondent says that to make matters worse, the local centre that works to preserve artworks had just received a donation from the painter's granddaughter which they had planned to use to restore the original fresco.

BBC News: Spanish fresco restoration botched by amateur

Justin Bieber Facing Six Months In Jail

The 18 year-old was involved in a scuffle during a trip to the cinema with girlfriend Selena Gomez, which resulted in the photographer ending up going to hospital and the ‘Boyfriend’ star wanted for questioning by the police. He left the scene before the authorities arrived and spoke to the photographer.

According to TMZ police have decided to refer the case to prosecutors and the star could face up to six months in jail.

Former New York prosecutor Raoul Fedler has told HollywoodLife that the only way the singer can avoid arrest is if his legal team can prove the incident never happened.

“Anytime the police say you need to come in for questioning they usually arrest you when you come in and then you get bailed out,” he revealed.

“They want to hear your side of the story. But very frequently, they arrest you right on the spot.” Currently the teen idol is in Norway for a scheduled performance and will most likely turn himself into authorities on his return.

“He’ll show up with his lawyer when he’s back and they might arrest him,” Raoul explained. “But it’s a misdemeanour, it’s not a felony. He is working with his legal team, publicist, personal manager and writing a lot of checks out right now.”

Despite his clean-cut image, the former prosecutor claims the best move for the teenager could be to plead guilty even though his team claim the assault didn’t happen.

“He’ll most likely go before the judge and plead guilty because he doesn’t want a jury trial like a Lindsay Lohan situation,” he added. “He’ll apologize and say he’s sorry and didn’t mean to hurt anyone. The judge will probably give him 30 days community service.”

Selena stepped out the day after the incident and showed her support for Justin with her ‘J’ themed jewelry. She joined other celebrities at Hollywood producer Joel Silver’s annual Memorial Day barbecue.

Justin Bieber allegedly seen in a heated debate with paparazzi

As you can see, Justin lost his shoe in the battle!
Must’ve been some big brawl, right?

Justin Bieber fleeing the scene after the brawl with a photographer,
while Selena is picking up his hat

Paparazzi talk to police after he was allegedly attacked by the pop star


OMG! from Yahoo: Justin Bieber Facing Six Months In Jail

Texas Woman Suing Dallas Cowboys Over "Burned Buttocks"

A Texas woman is suing the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones, saying her buttocks was severely burned when she sat on a bench outside Cowboys Stadium.

In a lawsuit filed last week in Tarrant Count, Jennelle Carrillo said the black marble bench was in direct sunlight on a hot August afternoon before a Cowboys scrimmage last year. A weather official says the high temperature on that day was 101 degrees.

Carrillo's lawyer, Michael Wash, said his client didn't know the extent of the burns until after receiving medical attention. The lawsuit claims she was hospitalized and underwent skin grafts.

The lawsuit claims there were no warnings about sitting on the benches in hot weather.

Fox News: Texas woman suing Dallas Cowboys over 'burned buttocks'

Man, 83, Says He Murdered Roommate, 94, Over His Singing

An 83-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to murdering his 94-year-old former roommate at a short-term care facility two years ago.

Prosecutors alleged that William Leo McDougall fatally clubbed Manh Van Nguyen on Oct. 1, 2010, because the victim was singing in Vietnamese and he was annoyed.

The two shared a room as they recovered from hip surgery at the Palm Terrace Health Care Center in Laguna Woods.

McDougall allegedly grabbed a metal rod from their closet and hit Nguyen over the head.

The defendant’s attorney Rudolph Loewenstein disputed that Nguyen’s singing motivated the assault.

“I think the evidence is unclear whether the other man was even singing or not,” the attorney said.

Loewenstein suggested his client may have been affected by his medical condition and the medication administered to him at the time.

“Mr. McDougall, having undergone a medical procedure, was certainly not his normal self,” Loewenstein said. “Further investigation revealed it was a tragic scenario that unfolded that was completely out of character for the man.”

Before the murder, McDougall lived a crime-free life, his attorney said.

“There was nothing on his record, zero,” Loewenstein said.

Lawyers negotiated a plea bargain for McDougall, but it was unclear what sentence will be recommended. Loewenstein declined to say what sentence his client may receive.

McDougall has apologized to the victim’s family through correspondence passed on by prosecutors, Loewenstein said.

“My client and his family have made it clear through the District Attorney’s Office that there is a great deal of remorse from everyone,” Loewenstein said.

McDougall was scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 26, Loewenstein said.

CBS Los Angeles: Man, 83, Says He Murdered Roommate, 94, Over His Singing

Air France Asks Passengers For Gas Money

An emergency layover in Syria's war-torn capital was bad enough. Then passengers on Air France Flight 562 were asked to open their wallets to check if they had enough cash to pay for more fuel.

The plane, heading from Paris to Lebanon's capital, diverted amid clashes near the Beirut airport on Wednesday. Low on fuel, it instead landed in Damascus, the capital of neighboring Syria, where a civil war is raging.

An Air France spokesman explained Friday that the crew inquired about passenger cash only as a "precautionary measure" because of the "very unusual circumstances."

Sanctions against Syria complicated payment for extra fuel.

He said Air France found a way to pay for the fill-up without tapping customer pockets — and apologized for the inconvenience.

The plane landed safely in Beirut.

NBC News: Plane diverts to Syria, passengers asked if they could pay for fuel

Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Pink! Best Prank Ever!

When Tobias Mathijsen's younger brother hacked his Facebook page, the filmmaker decided to respond creatively.

Rather than trying to hack his brother back, Mathijsen recruited some friends to transform his brother's 'guy' room into a pink paradise suitable for the girliest of girly-girls.

The level of effort Mathijsen put into his prank is remarkable. Not only did his crew paint his brother's walls pink, they put up posters of teen heartthrobs like Justin Bieber, painted elaborate flower decorations, and left behind pink rollerblades, a vibrator and even birth control pills.

The cherry on top? When the younger Mathijsen saw his new digs, he admitted, "I think I'm too lazy to change this back to normal. That is the real issue."

Bravo, Tobias. Bravo.

Huffington Post: Pink Bedroom Prank: Man Transforms Brother's Bedroom Into Teenage Girl's Pink Palace

Woman Sues City For Billions Because Parking Meters Make Her Sick

What is the value of human health?

Denise Barton has a number: $1.7 billion, plus another $1.7 million every month thereafter.

Barton, known amongst City Council regulars for her detailed reports during public comment periods, filed a claim against City Hall for that hefty sum alleging that new “smart” parking meters were impacting her health.

In the claim, Barton asserts that radiation from the wireless signals emanating from the meters, which is similar to Wi-Fi Internet or cellular waves, is causing ringing in her ears, ear infections and tightness on the back, left side of her neck.

“I know it seems a little big,” Barton said, “but they can’t do things that affect people’s health without their consent. I think that’s wrong.”

Barton’s problems began in April, not long after the meters began rolling out throughout the city.

She went to the doctor in late May with an ear infection, which required antibiotics to cure.

Barton is concerned because there is some evidence, including a flag raised by the World Health Organization, that the low-level radiation may cause cancer and other illnesses in humans.

This claim is the only time that anyone has raised the issue about the meters, wrote Assistant Finance Director Don Patterson in an e-mail.

“The Wi-Fi is very low level and only communicates between the meter and the sensor, about 5 to 8 feet,” Patterson wrote.

Furthermore, the cellular communication only occurs when the meter is in use, like when a person uses a credit card to put time on the meter or when a car arrives or departs.

“It’s the same as someone using a cell phone walking on the sidewalk,” Patterson wrote. “The meters comply with all necessary regulations related to wireless communication.”

A very vocal minority of people have begun raising the issue of whether or not that is enough.

Liz Barris, who founded the nonprofit People’s Initiative Foundation, is among those concerned about the damage that wireless transmissions have on the human body.

The medical community has not uniformly embraced the concept that cell phones, wireless networks or other low-level emitters cause any kind of adverse health effects.

However, Barris stood before the City Council over a year ago to ask that they take a look into cell phone towers that had proliferated around the city as well as another kind of smart meter — this one put forward by Southern California Edison — that tracks energy use in homes and apartments in real time.

All of those devices use wireless technology that Barris and others believe causes everything from headaches to cancer to genetic damage.

“Smart technology needs to be halted because it poses a huge public health hazard,” Barris said.

She and 40 other southern California residents are suing Southern California Edison over the $75 fee that they have to pay to opt out of the wireless meters.

“They’re trying to charge people to not give them cancer and invade their homes,” Barris said.

This isn’t the first complaint about the new meters, although it is the most expensive.

The City Council approved a $4.5 million contract with IPS Group for 6,100 of the meters with ground sensors in October 2011.

The devices first grabbed headlines across the country when it was revealed that sensors installed in parking spaces zeroed out meters after a car exits its spot, ending the friendly practice of leaving time on a meter for the next parker.

City Hall defends them, saying that the new technology will help make parking easier and more convenient by providing real-time information about which spots are open and which are taken.

That prevents people from circling around in search of parking, which causes traffic and pollution.

The meters also open up spots on the street by preventing “meter-feeding,” the practice of staying in a spot longer than the allotted time by putting more money in the meter.

Convenience isn’t a good enough response for Cai Dixon, a Santa Monica resident who worries about the proliferation of wireless technologies.

“So few people even have the slightest inkling that wireless devices pose health risks,” she wrote in an e-mail. “No one would dream of lighting up a cigarette in the line at a grocery store.”

She is hoping to move out of Santa Monica within the year to escape the wireless soup.

Santa Monica Daily Press: Resident files $1.7B claim with City Hall

Video: Bike Thief Gets Owned; Portland Man Travels To Confront Alleged Bike Thief

Jake Gillum, a 28-year-old graduate student and self-described “blue-collar guy” from Portland, Oregon, recently used Burner to set up a “home-made sting” operation to get back his stolen bicycle.

Less than a week after Gillum’s 2009 Fuji Team road bike — which is worth about $2,500, including upgraded components — went missing, Gillum found the bike for sale on the Seattle, Washington, section of Craigslist. Gillum then used a disposable Burner number to contact the thief, and set up the sting at a shopping center in Seattle.

“I was afraid the thief would notice if I had Portland’s 503 area code,” Gillum told Digital Trends in an email. “I was planning on buying a pre-paid cell phone, registering it with a Seattle zip code. Phone companies assign area codes according to the address you register it with. I actually was on my way to buy a phone, and my friend texted me to tell me I could do it for $1.99 on my iPhone. It was my friend’s idea to use Burner.

“Burner lets the user pick any area code. I chose Seattle’s 206, and it assigned me the rest of the numbers. From that point, all of my texts and phone calls appeared to come from Seattle. The guy had no clue what was coming down.”

Gillum says that Burner was “very intuitive to use” and “worked very well,” but he does have one complaint: “I saved the thief’s phone number as ‘bike thief,’” he says. “My friends and I were testing the app, and they were calling me. Every single phone number that called me through the app also popped up with ‘bike thief’ as the same name. It was a little confusing, but we figured it out.”

As you can see in the video (below), Gillum and his friends successfully connected with “Craig,” the alleged bike thief. Sure enough, Craig showed up, girlfriend in tow, with Gillum’s bicycle. When Gillum accused Craig of stealing the bike, Craig quickly denied the allegations — and then the chase began.

Gillum says he and his friends decided to confront Craig alone after the police told him they might not show up. Instead, they met up with Craig first, then asked him “stupid questions” for about 40 minutes while they waited for the police to arrive. When officers failed to show, Gillum says he simply changed his plan.

“I thought, ‘I can beat him up. F**k it,’” says Gillum. He then went to a nearby bank — Gillum told Craig he needed to get the cash — and asked a teller to call mall security. Finally, Gillum and crew went out to confront the alleged thief. Luckily, says Gillum, the standoff didn’t result in violence.

“I’m glad it didn’t come down to it, but we were ready for a fight,” he says. “I had running shoes on. I had thick Carhartt pants on. I wore a sweatshirt to look bigger. I even grew out my beard to look tougher/older. Again, we had no plans to break the law, but we were prepared for the worst.”

Though Craig never admitted to actually stealing the bike — just to selling property he knew was stolen, a crime for which he was arrested — Gillum says he believes Craig was the real thief.

“While the guy is claiming that he bought it on Craigslist, I am almost certain he is the original thief,” says Gillum. “I have no hard evidence of this, which is why he’s being charged for ‘Involuntary Trafficking of Stolen Property’ up in Seattle. He’s not being charged in Portland…

“However, let’s face the facts: he lives a few blocks away from where it was stolen. We passed his car on the freeway on the way to the meet-up. He had a $2,500 bike that was stolen on 8/3/12, and he posted this bike on 8/7/12 (first post I saw, but he may have done one earlier… he put one up on the 10th as well). He is claiming that in a four-day period, he bought a bike on Craigslist for dirt cheap. He then decides to drive his new bike to Seattle and sell it?”

In the end, Gillum just hopes that his experience will help dissuade others from stealing bicycles.

“I want thieves to be afraid of people like me,” he says. “I’m not a victim, and that’s because I stood up for myself. Don’t mess with cyclists.”

Digital Trends: Pants on fire: Alleged bike thief burned by Burner iPhone app

Florida Mom Claims Cop Forcibly Removed Tampon During Traffic Stop

A Florida sheriff’s department is denying a woman's claim that she was strip-searched in public and had her tampon “forcibly” removed by a female officer during a 2011 traffic stop with her children in the car.

Leila Tarantino filed a lawsuit on Aug. 3 in U.S. District Court in Florida's Ocala County against the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. She alleges she was not only frisked but that a female officer removed her tampon during a roadside search on July 17.

The lawsuit names Citrus County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Dawsey and six officers, referred to as “John Doe Officers 1-5” and “Jane Doe Officer,” as defendants.

View Tarantino’s federal lawsuit (Pdf.)

The sheriff's office denied claims.

“The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office wants to go on record as saying the allegations made in this lawsuit are not only ludicrous, but completely untrue,” it said in a statement released to NBC News on Monday. “No strip search was conducted, and the plaintiff’s tampon was never forcibly removed by any deputy.”

Tarantino alleges that she was pulled over by an officer in Beverly Hills, Fla., after she had stopped at a stop sign on South Columbus Street. She said her two children were passengers in the vehicle at the time of the alleged 4 p.m. incident.

She accuses the officer of pulling her over, pointing a gun at her, yanking her out of her vehicle, handcuffing her behind her back, then throwing her in the back of his squad car, according to the lawsuit. Tarantino claims she asked why she had been pulled over and the officer didn’t respond.

She claims she waited in the police cruiser for two hours and when other officers arrived, she was frisked and strip-searched at the side of a busy road, the lawsuit alleges. She said her children had been waiting in the woman's vehicle the entire time. The lawsuit's account:

“During her detention, PLAINTIFF was frisked and strip searched twice at the side of the busy road, in plain view of passers by. During one of the strip searches, PLAINTIFF had a tampon forcibly removed by JANE DOE OFFICER.

"At no point was a drug sniffing dog used to search for contraband,” the lawsuit stated, adding “None of the officers ever found any weapons, drugs, contraband or anything illegal during plaintiff’s detention.”

According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Tarantino was issued a criminal citation for violation of restrictions on her driver’s license. She also was issued a written warning for rolling through a stop sign.

Tarantino's lawyer, Matthew W. Birk emailed to NBC News the following statement: "This case is currently in litigation and will be tried in a courtroom, not the press. The allegations made by Ms. Tarantino are set forth in the Complaint, which is a public record. Because of the sensitive nature of this matter, Ms. Tarantino will not be available for comment until after her lawsuit concludes.

NBC News: Florida mom claims cop 'forcibly' removed her tampon during traffic stop

Drunk Man Survives Being Crushed By Recycling Compactor Truck Twice

A man who decided he was too drunk to drive early Friday morning chose instead to crawl into a recycling dumpster near a Southeast Portland bar, only to be picked up by a hauler and twice compacted.

Justin Gilpatrick, 27, had been drinking near Club 205, at Southeast Stark Street and 99th Avenue, when he chose the container to spend the night instead of a drunken drive home, according Lt. Robert King.

A manager told KGW Friday morning the man had not been inside Club 205.

The trash hauler showed up sometime after 1 a.m. The truck emptied the recycling container and continued on its route, twice compacting the load, King said.

When the truck reached Mall 205, the Waste Management worker discovered the man in the truck, King said. He had suffered minor injuries and was taken the hospital by ambulance at about 2:45 a.m.

Waste Management spokeswoman Jackie Lang said the driver did everything he could to help the man, including initial treatment. The driver had to convince the man not to walk away as he wished, but to stay and get proper medical attention.

Lang said the driver was shaken up by the incident.

Gilpatrick, for his part, does not plan to make this mistake again. "I have not had a drink in years," he writes in a Facebook post quoted by the Daily Mail, "and the one time I do this is what happens. I will never drink again."

KGW: Drunk man hurt after picked up by garbage truck

Sleeping Swimmer Mistaken For Drowning Victim

It started out as what could have been a drowning in the river in Williamsport, but this particular story has a happy ending.

Just before noon a body was discovered in the Susquehanna River in the Williamsport area.

Sometimes, things are not quite what they seem, and in this case that is a good thing.

The body was discovered floating face-up in the river just below a spill-dam, an area that has seen drownings before.

Police and the coroner were on scene, fully prepared to investigate a drowning. Sue Hubbard was under that impression, she first spotted the man’s body in shallow water.

“I saw him down there all by myself, second thought was oh my gosh,” said Hubbard. It was not long, though and the man sat up. He was okay, just floating in the river on a hot summer’s day.

People who witnessed it could not believe it.

“We were standing here talking to you, all of a sudden he sat up, and apparently wasn’t dead,” said Matthew Kranz of Williamsport.

“I said it’s a miracle. It’s great!” said Williamsport Police Captain Michael Orwig.

One of the strangest parts about the whole thing was that the onlookers noticed the man in the river was wearing a life vest, and so if he was a drowning victim, they wondered how he got there. It turns out he was out for an afternoon nap in the Susquehanna River.

“I was out like a light, it was comfortable,” said Joseph DeAngelo.

DeAngelo fell asleep in the river and was oblivious to what was going on around him until a dragonfly landed on his nose.

“It was like laying on a cloud. I looked up at the clouds and I was laying on a cloud, and it was a wonderful thing,” he said.

A wonderful thing for sure for all those who thought DeAngelo was gone. He said he was sorry for wasting everyone’s time, but that he was just living the best way he knew how.

“Enjoy life as you have it, that’s what I was doing. Sorry I hindered anybody, I’m going to enjoy it,” said DeAngelo.

DeAngelo has been going to that part of the river for years to relax and cool off.

Maybe he appeared a bit too relaxed this time around.

WNEP: Sleeping Swimmer Causes Scare

Man Desperate For Beer Calls 911 For A Ride

A drunk Tennessee man went to great lengths to try and buy beer — calling 911 for help making a much-needed beer run, police said.

In a 12-hour span, Allen Troy Brooks of Columbia, Tenn., dialed the emergency service line nine times, according to police, the Columbia Daily Herald reported.

He hung up most of those times, but on at least one of them, he managed to ask the dispatcher if he could get a ride to buy beer, police said.

"I want to go to the store to get me a beer. I'll pay you," Brooks said, according to the 911 call recording.

"Sir. I can't take you to the store and get you a beer," the dispatcher replied.

Police were eventually dispatched to his residence — but not to drive him to the store.

"I tried to tell him that if he cooperated, he would have just been issued a citation. But we knew if he wasn’t arrested, he wasn’t going to stop,” Officer Seneca Shield told the Daily Herald.

Brooks was charged with aggravated 911 calls in a non-emergency situation. He has been released on $1,500 bond.

NBC New York: Man Desperate for Beer Calls 911 for a Ride

You've Never Heard A Judge Scream Like This In A Courtroom: Judge Screams At West Virginia Pastor

Viewer Discretion Is Advised Warning: You May Want To Turn Down Your Speakers!

Judges are expected to maintain dignity in their courtroom. They are expected to be objective. They are not expected to scream at people.

Putnam County Family Court Judge William M. "Chip" Watkins, III, apparently didn't get that memo. In a tirade caught on camera, May 23rd, 2012, Watkins screams at Hurricane Bible Church Pastor Arthur Hage, because Watkins says his home was vandalized after PutnamLIVE.com published an article where Watkins threatened freelance reporter Lawrence J. Smith. This was because Smith was attempting to question Watkins about a letter from his homeowner's association listing him as "Not in good standing."

Near the beginning of the video, Watkins says, "Mr. Hage if you say one word out of turn, you're going to jail." Then Watkins starts screaming. However, Watkins did not send himself to jail even though he threatened Hage with jail time.

Watkins then rants and rages about the picture of his house. "A picture of my home, on the front page, SHUT UP! DON'T EVEN SPEAK," Watkins screams. "My wife is disabled and you.. you disgusting piece of ..."

Watkins claims his home's windows were broken and that it was vandalized after the picture was posted on PutnamLIVE.com. He holds Hage personally responsible.

"You put a picture of my house ... because of you, because of you, my house has been vandalized four times. Do you realize that? I'm sure you're probably in on that laughing about it," Watkins rants.

However, Pastor Hage had nothing to do with that article, and did not take the picture of Watkins' home.

Watkins also ordered Hage's chauffer Paul D. Bentley out of the building. After a court bailiff gives Watkins a description of Bentley, Watkins is heard sarcastically asking, "Did you bring along a comedian, Mr. Hage?" Pastor Hage quietly replies "He's my chauffer, sir," Watkins snidely replied "He's your chauffer."

At that point, Watkins asked the bailiff, "Did you put him out of the building?" When the bailiff said "Not yet judge," Watkins said, "Out of the building. I want him out of the building right now. If he smiles, I want him in here to answer what's so damn funny."

Bentley filed a complaint with the West Virginia Judicial Investigative Commission against Watkins.

As far as responsibility goes, had Watkins paid his homeowner's association dues, and, had he not threatened reporter Lawrence J. Smith, PutnamLIVE.com would not have published any article with a photo of Watkins' home. He has lived in his subdivision for more than a decade, so PutnamLIVE.com wonders how he forgot when the payment was due.

Putnam Live: Watkins Screams At Hage In Court

Cop Allegedly Grows Marijuana At His Unlicensed Daycare

This police officer's career may have gone up in smoke.

Two Orleans County residents have been accused of growing cannabis in the same home that houses an in-home day care.

Jamie L. Fanton, 29, and Jasmine Almeter, 25, both of Clarendon, were charged with four counts of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, a misdemeanor, said investigator Joseph Sacco of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers executed a search warrant Friday on the pair’s home, 17030 Taylor Road, after state Department of Environmental Conservation police found several discarded garbage bags that contained marijuana and evidence of an indoor growing operation, Sacco said.

At the residence, police seized the contents of an indoor grow room, including several plants, dried marijuana and other equipment and drug paraphernalia, Sacco said.

Four children, ages two to five, were also in the home Friday, Sacco said. It appeared that an unlicensed daycare was run out of the same house, Sacco said. Child Protective Services are also investigating.

Fanton, a peace officer for the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Service Office for seven years, was also charged with two counts of unlawfully growing the plant known as cannabis and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana, both misdemeanors, Sacco said. Almeter received an additional ticket for unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.

Fanton and Almeter were both issued appearance tickets and are expected to be arraigned in Clarendon Town Court on Aug. 27.

Additional charges are pending.

Democrat And Chronicle: Unlicensed day care operators accused of growing pot in house

Buck Naked Randy Travis Busted for Drunk Driving

Country crooner Randy Travis is having a bad year: He was arrested last night on suspicion of drunk driving, and it's his second arrest since February (when he was busted for allegedly getting drunk in front of a Baptist church after a fight with his girlfriend). This time around, Travis was busted in Texas after crashing his car ... and he was totally naked when cops arrived, TMZ reports. He then refused a breathalyzer and allegedly threatened to shoot and kill the officers, which got him a second charge of felony retaliation and obstruction.

Cops were called to the scene after reports of a man lying in the road; they found Travis' car off the road, where it had hit construction zone barricades. Travis was placed in the police car, still naked, and that's when he allegedly made his threats. No word yet on why he was sans clothes, but he rode to the jail that way and was then given a shirt and a paper suit for his bottom half.

Newser: Travis Nude in DWI Arrest, Threatened to Shoot Cops

US Olympic Rower Henrik Rummel Stands "Erect" After Winning Bronze Medal

To all those who say 'There's no shame in winning a bronze medal', we say: you're right. Unless you're collecting one while wearing a pair of extremely revealing shorts.

Yes, spare a thought for the proud and quite literally upstanding member of the US Olympic rowing team, Henrik Rummel. He's the one second in on the left, in case you hadn't noticed.

The moment was captured by Getty, posted on Reddit with the caption "One US rower was particularly excited by his Bronze medal", and went all over the interwebs, of course (heck, there's even a video of it). And it's finally led to Rummel himself trying to clear things up.

Posting on Reddit under the name Rummelator (we see what he did there), he wrote: "This is me and I swear it's not erect! I don't know why it ended up in that position but there you go."

There you go, indeed. Don't worry, Henrik. We're proud of you, your country's proud of you and from the looks of it, Little Henrik's proud of you, too. Hurrah!

Huffington Post: Henrik Rummel Erection? U.S. Rower Raises Questions And Eyebrows During Medal Ceremony

Man Sets Home On Fire By Microwaving Socks & Underwear

Note to self: A microwave is for leftovers, not your boxers.

British firefighters say they saved an apartment from destruction after its domestically challenged resident tried to dry his wet socks and underwear in a microwave oven.

The Dorset Fire and Rescue Service says firefighters rescued the man from his home and extinguished the kitchen blaze Monday.

The fire destroyed the appliance along with the two pairs of underwear and socks inside it, and caused smoke damage to the apartment in Weymouth, a town on England's southwest coast.

"The fire safety message here is to never put clothing of any kind in the microwave or an oven to attempt to dry them," the Dorset firefighters said in a statement.

Road Runner: Man sets fire to home by microwaving socks, undies

Pastor Todd Bentley Claims His Violence Can Cure Cancer

An evangelist who kicks followers in the face, claiming his violence will cure them of cancer, is to tour Britain this month – but his proposed visit has provoked outrage and demands that he be banned from entering the country.

Tattooed preacher Todd Bentley, who as a 15-year-old was convicted of a sex attack on a boy aged seven, claims God uses him as an instrument to heal the sick, and is urging the frail to attend his shows.

The former drug user, who is Canadian but based in the United States, even laughs about his ‘healing’ techniques. In one show he treated a man claiming to be suffering from colon cancer by planting his knee hard into the victim’s stomach. The man fell to the floor in agony.

On another occasion, a man was pushed over so forcefully that he lost a tooth.

Burly Mr Bentley, 36, said in one YouTube clip: ‘And I’m thinking why is the power of God not moving? And He said, “Because you haven’t kicked that woman in the face.”

‘And there is this older lady worshipping right in front of the platform and the Holy Spirit spoke to me. The gift of faith comes on me. He said, “Kick her in the face with your biker boot.” I inched closer and I went bam! And just as my boot made contact with her nose, she fell under the power of God.’

Labour MP for Croydon North Malcolm Wicks has urged Home Secretary Theresa May to ban Mr Bentley from the UK. He told her: ‘His visit can do nothing but harm and I would be grateful for any measures you can take.’

Mr Bentley launches his tour at the 400-capacity Croydon Conference Centre in South London with three shows from August 30, before visiting Liverpool, Cwmbran and Co Armagh in September.

Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Bishop of Rochester who now runs a church education charity, said: ‘I think the Home Secretary should make enquiries and see if there is any threat to public order. If the police have any indication that violence will be used against people who may be ill or vulnerable, it will be for her to decide if police should attend.’

Peter May, a prominent Christian GP who served for 25 years on the Church of England’s ruling General Synod, and has investigated spurious faith healers for more than 20 years, said: ‘I’m concerned by Todd Bentley’s methods because a physical injury on any sick person could be very serious.

'I’ve looked at the video clips on his forum and it requires significant impact for someone to lose a tooth. There may be people who are Christians who believe their health has been transformed, but I believe Todd Bentley should produce the medical evidence. I would urge people to keep away from him.’

The preacher came to prominence four years ago through his church, Fresh Fire Ministries, which launched a Christian ‘revival’ in Lakeland, Florida. The event, which attracted 400,000 people, was also on international channel God TV. Mr Bentley claims he cured viewers at home.

Shanee Lemos, who is organising the UK tour, denied the preacher used violence. He said: ‘I’ve worked with Todd for a long time and I’ve never seen him kick someone.’

He added: ‘Even the terminally ill or people with a few days left to live are encouraged to come along and Todd will attempt to cure them.’

A Croydon Conference Centre spokesman would not be drawn on Mr Bentley’s methods. Mr Bentley said: ‘Kicking people in the face is not a practice of our ministry and I do not see this happening in the UK.’

Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2183860/Todd-Bentley-MP-calls-ban-tattooed-preacher-cures-cancer-kicking-people-face.html

Teacher Tries To Skip Work By Claiming He Killed A Girl

Derek McGlone, 42, claimed he could feel his car wheels running over the girl’s body in a ploy to stay at home.

The teacher, who described himself as a “respected” head of music, art and design at Calderhead High School in North Lanarkshire, also told the school’s deputy head that he had been caught up in the Icelandic ash cloud when he was at home in Glasgow.

McGlone admitted making false statements about his absence between June 2008 and May 2011 at a General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) hearing.

Representing himself, he said he was “embarrassed and sorry” for his actions” and told the panel he still had a “passion” for teaching.

“I can give no reasonable explanation for my actions,” he said.

In a statement read by the council’s solicitor, Neil McLean, Calderhead High head Joyce Kilmartin said there were a “number of occasions” when McGlone had lied to take time off.

Her statement added: "He started off telling a few silly lies. He then lied about knocking a girl over and killing her – he said he felt his car wheels running over her body."

McGlone received a 12-month reprimand against his name on the teaching register.

The Telegraph: Music teacher invented fatal car crash to avoid work

Taco Bell Employee Brags on Twitter About Urinating on Food

Cameron Jankowski allegedly posted a photo of himself taking a leak on a Taco Bell order.

Hacktivist collective Anonymous tweeted a link to a YouTube video that reportedly lists Janowski’s personal details. He was identified as an employee at a Taco Bell restaurant in Fort Wayne, Ind. The video also includes screenshots of tweets that Jankowski posted and retweeted.

Though his account appears to have been deleted, Topsy archived Jankowski’s tweeted photo, which appears to have been posted early Thursday. He directed the tweet to Hunter Moore, the man behind shuttered revenge porn site Is Anyone Up?

Jankowski claimed that the order he urinated on was one that was already messed up. It was thrown away and not served to customers. But some Twitter users suggested his action was a felony.

Janowski apparently claimed he didn’t care that other users were directing his tweet to Taco Bell, claiming he had a new job lined up anyway.

In response, Taco Bell provided the following statement to the Daily Dot:

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and team members. We have strict food handling procedures and zero tolerance for any violations. As soon as we learned of the situation, we immediately investigated and found the photo was an ill-conceived prank and the food was never served to customers. We find this prank absolutely unacceptable, and we plan to terminate anyone involved and work with authorities to pursue legal action.”

Mashable: Taco Bell Employee Brags on Twitter About Urinating on Food

Man Threatens Elderly Neighbor With Sword Over Mistreated Book

She lent her St. Paul neighbor a book, and how did he repay her? He thrust a Samurai sword inches from her face, alleges a criminal complaint filed Tuesday, July 31.

Christopher James Meusburger, 29, was charged with terroristic threats.

The criminal complaint told it this way:

Police were called to an apartment building in the 1600 block of Sherburne Avenue on Monday at 8:10 p.m. A 62-year-old woman said she lent Meusburger a book, then saw it on the floor outside her door. (The reports didn't list the book's title.)

The woman asked Meusburger why he didn't just throw the book away instead of throwing it on the floor. She told police this question "enraged" Meusburger and he confronted her, his nose touching hers.

"He told her, 'If you weren't so weak I would seriously hurt you,' " the complaint said. "He pushed her back a few steps with his chest puffed up like he was getting ready to fight her."

She could tell he was intoxicated and told him she would call police if he continued to push her. Meusburger sprinted inside his apartment and came out with a long sword in his hand.

"He was in a fighting stance like he was ready to sword-fight with somebody," the complaint said. "She said she has never been that scared for her life before."

After waving the sword, Meusburger went back in his apartment, and she called police.

Officers found the man in his apartment. He told police he'd consumed at least a 12-pack of beer. His blood-alcohol concentration was 0.185. A driver is considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher.

Police found the sword in Meusburger's apartment, along with "numerous additional swords, Ninja stars, daggers, knives" and nunchucks, the complaint said. Officers arrested Meusburger.

At the Ramsey County jail, an investigator asked Meusburger why he was in jail. "Because I'm an idiot," he said, according to the complaint.

Meusburger said his neighbor across the hall was yelling at him. He said he unsheathed the sword but never left his apartment with it. He stood in his apartment with the door open and shook the sword, he said.

"He said it was not a threat but then he said, 'But I unsheathed it. Hard to think of it as not a threat," the complaint said.

Meusburger is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday.

Twin Cities: Book dispute allegedly led to sword threat

Man Accused Of Drinking A Beer While Driving Through Sobriety Checkpoint

Drinking and driving is against the law, but driving through a security checkpoint with a beer in your hand is just plain stupid.

That's what David Caruso, 51, of Vernon, Conn., is accused of doing on July 23.

On Saturday at 8:08 p.m., a vehicle driven by David Caruso, 51 approached a checkpoint, according to an arrest report. Police immediately noticed that Caruso was drinking a beer while operating the vehicle and he was pulled over, according to an arrest report.

Police said his driver's license was under suspension for a previous driving under the influence charge.

He was charged with drinking while driving, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under suspension and operating an unregistered motor vehicle

Vernon Patch: Three Charged as Part of Sobriety Checkpoint