Dude. Of all people to stalk, the police? That’s what Thomas C. Massey of Traverse City, Michigan is accused of, per the Traverse City Record-Eagle:
Massey spent a good portion of Monday shouting at officers and making a profane gesture at them as he paced around the building, police said.
It wasn’t an isolated incident. Police contend Massey heckled and harassed local officers since at least March, and he’s often spotted around the law enforcement center.
If you are one of those folks who refuses to carry a cell phone, I seriously doubt that this story will change your mind. But for those who carry them religiously (me?), and feel strange if we don’t have them, vindication! Check out this story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
The robber came in the door of the Beverage Mart liquor store in Roswell, waving a big, black hunting knife.
He wanted the money in the knapsack. Now!
Perhaps you might feel otherwise, but despite receiving 77 parking tickets this year – all “unearned” – Illinois resident Tom Feddor would not dream of giving up his “0” license plate. His grandfather got it in 1971, and it’s been in the family ever since. So why has Mr. Feddor been receiving so many tickets that he has to go to court about once every three weeks? Here’s why, as reported by the Chicago Tribune:
It turned out that some city parking-enforcement aides punched in 0 when testing their electronic ticket-issuing devices, Revenue Department spokesman Ed Walsh said. Officials weren’t aware there was a 0 plate or that Feddor was receiving tickets, Walsh said in response to the Tribune inquiry.
Doh! But that’s not all …
Adding to Feddor’s headaches, the letter “O” Illinois license plates registered to convicted felon Lawrence Warner, a co-defendant in the corruption trial of former Gov. George Ryan, sometimes resulted in Feddor receiving ticket notices from the city that belonged to Warner, he said.
Turns out the “0” is much more trouble than the “O” ever was:
“Mr. Warner was always very nice about helping to straighten out the problem,” Feddor said.
Warner is serving a prison sentence for his role in sweetheart deals when Ryan was secretary of state.
How can a judge’s clerk make himself immortal? By cleverly inserting his name in an opinion. Props to the Southeast Texas Record’s John Browning for sharing this story. And speaking of the story, here’s how law clerk Bob Bragalone put his name in Judge Belew’s published opinion: He started each paragraph of the opinion with a letter in his name. From Meridian Savings Assocation v. Sadler, et al., 759 F. Supp. 336 (USDC ND Tex 1990):
Before the Court is Defendant Sadler’s Motion to Reconsider …
On November 2, 1989, Intervenor, Resolution Trust Corporation …
By this Court’s Order entered February 20, 1990 …
Before the RTC filed its Motion …
Realizing the importance of the judgment …
Arguing that the Court’s February 20, 1990 Order …
Given these facts, it is this Court’s responsibility …
As stated by the Fifth Circuit …
Like many other areas of the law …
Of these eight factors …
No suggestion has been made that …
Essentially, the Court’s new order …
Well done sir. Here’s the source.
Pubic Hair! As reported by cbs4denver.com:
“According to the [police] complaint, a second kitchen worker told police [the cook] put a slit in the steak and pushed something inside, then stated, “These are my pubes,” referring to pubic hair.” [The cook said they were facial hairs. Huh?]
Why would a cook do this? He was pissed that the customer said the first steak was “medium,” not “rare” per his order. What happened to Ryan Kropp, the cook?
Kropp, 24, of West Bend, was charged Wednesday with a felony of placing foreign objects in edibles, carrying up to 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He was released on a signature bond.
Damn! A felony? Up to 3 1/2 years?
Since this is a “best of” post, I can tell you what the sentence was: 6 months in jail! And the victim said that wasn’t enough! You can read a fair amount more here.
[Sorry if this disappoints anyone, but that there is a costume.]
So wet t-shirt contests might not be your thing, but really, is it something you want to spend time prosecuting? In Mason City, Iowa, that would be a “yes,” as reported by RadioIowa.com.
A magistrate court jury in Cerro Gordo County has found the owner of a Clear Lake tavern not guilty of violating that community’s adult entertainment ordinance. The six-member panel returned the verdict after Alan Slater was charged last June after allegedly holding a wet t-shirt contest at The Marina.
Slater testified that he was planning to hold a wet t-shirt contest at the bar, but then backed out after thinking that he’d receive a citation from the city. He said he then let the public host the contest at the bar and directed his staff to keep things within the law.
Clever man, that Mr. Slater.
Texas Inmate George Morgan filed a habeas petition, which the state moved to dismiss. This didn’t sit well with Mr. Morgan. So he wrote a note to assistant U.S. attorney Susan San Miguel on toilet paper. What did the note say? As reported by Courthouse News Service:
“Dear Susan, Please use this to wipe your ass, that argument was a bunch of shit! You[rs] Truly, George Morgan.”
Ba da bing. Ba da boom.
One of Miguel’s co-workers returned the note to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where Morgan is incarcerated.
And?
Morgan was charged with using vulgar language and was punished with a loss of 15 days of credit earned for good behavior.
Morgan appealed, arguing that the punishment violated his right to free speech. And he … lost.
Judge Jolly acknowledged that prisoners have certain First Amendment rights, but said those rights are restricted by the state’s interest in rehabilitating the prisoner.
“Morgan’s note demonstrated a completely unjustified disrespect for authority, expressed in the most unacceptably vulgar form, which would be offensive in mainstream society,” Jolly wrote.
“It would not be tolerated from a peer member of the bar, and would not be tolerated from a pro se litigant in the free setting.”
Here’s the source.
So this man and his son (the Estays) were cruising down an Idaho highway when they saw their car … being driven by someone else. They say they thought it was stolen. Nope. Turns out it was being repossessed (by the Lyles). A car chase ensued. Per kpvi.com:
When the cars pulled over, Estay admits to slashing the tires so it couldn’t get away. His son is said to have attacked Landon Lyle. Estay is said to have stabbed Amy Lyle, but today any actual “stabbing” was disputed. Estay says it was an accident when he was approached from behind while slashing the tires. And both parties today did agree the injury was more of a slight laceration.
The younger Estay got 5 days in jail and 2 days probation. His dad “will serve 20 days in jail, pay a $1,000 fine, go to anger management, and write a letter of apology.” But wait. There’s more – and it’s not good for Mr. Lyle.
Peter Estay today called himself a victim, and in many ways, he now is. Because after a bizarre twist of revenge two months ago, Landon Lyle was arrested for shooting his gun into Estay’s home, with Estay’s wife inside.
So while this two-year saga could’ve drawn to a close with Monday’s sentencing, it is still far from over. Lyle is now charged with second degree attempted murder.
Honestly, I’m not a Kohl’s guy either. But some people get really excited about shopping there …
A man from Oconomowoc, accused of fondling himself in a department store, was charged Monday with one count of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior.
According to the criminal complaint, Daniel Wagner, 38, was seen masturbating in a Kohl’s Department store on St. Paul Ave. in April.
Wagner was also charged with Disorderly Conduct. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison.
(The above is from a report by Wisconsin station TMJ4 at todaystmj4.com.)
There are folks who garden in more traditional garb (clothes), and then there are the Pierces of Boulder, Colorado. They were spotted gardening in front of their rental unit with very little on – Ms. Pierce was sporting pasties and a thong; Mr. Pierce was was just wearing a thong. Some uptight neighbors called the cops. As reported by the Daily Camera:
… the officers who responded confirmed what the Pierces already believed to be true: Their dress, though scanty, was legal.
As long as a person’s genitalia are covered, no law has been broken, Boulder police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley said.
Yeah! Take that, you uptight, puritanical … What’s that? You say there’s a nuisance clause in my lease? And I’m going to get kick out anyway?
… the Pierces received a letter form Annie Mount at Boulder Housing Partners, their landlord, warning that the behavior was a “nuisance” to the community and needed to be changed. A clause in the Pierces’ lease prohibits “nuisance” behavior, and violating the lease agreement can be grounds for eviction.
Kind of a vague term, no? Yes.
Betsy Martens, executive director of the Boulder Housing Partners, which administers Boulder’s affordable housing program, acknowledged that defining the word nuisance is one of the “most difficult concepts in the law.”
If Boulder tries the nuclear option, the Pierce’s won’t go down without a fight.
“We want our freedom,” Robert Pierce said. “We want exactly what the law gives you, and we don’t want to be harassed about it.”
