Man hurt after homemade rocket explodes during party stunt
February 4, 2010 4:39 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Makeshift rocket sled stunt goes awry for Michigan man, authorities say
Authorities: Man was sledding downhill when homemade rocket exploded
Victim had reputation for doing "crazy things" at his parties, authorities say
(CNN) -- A 62-year-old Michigan man was severely burned when a homemade rocket strapped on his back exploded while he slid down a snowy hill on a sled, authorities said this week.
The rocket stunt was the grand finale on Saturday during the man's annual sledding party at his Oakland County, Michigan, home, the sheriff's department said.
"He is known for doing 'crazy things' at his parties," an Oakland County sheriff's department statement said. "On this date, after consuming an unknown quantity of alcohol, he constructed a device out of a motorcycle muffler and pipe."
Inside the makeshift rocket, the victim placed gunpowder, heads from matches and gasoline. He donned a helmet and took a sled to the top of a snowy embankment.
"He asked another person to light a wick and then began to sled down a hill. At some point during the ride downhill, the device exploded. The results of the explosion were second-degree burns to the victim's face," the sheriff's department statement said.
No one else was injured during the incident.
The man, whose identity is not yet known, was hospitalized with significant damage to one of his eyes and could face criminal charges, authorities said.
Drunken Rocket Scientist Blasts Off
Faux News Feeds said
4:34 PM, 03/16/10
Armed robber who tried to claim back getaway car jailed
Knife thug went to police after they seized getaway car.
An armed robber who was caught after he tried to claim back a getaway car from police has been jailed for almost four years at the High Court in Glasgow.
Kenneth Johnstone and an accomplice held up a worker at a B&Q shop in Bishopbriggs near Glasgow at knifepoint before making off with £750.
A brave witness followed the pair and gave police details about Johnstone's Peugeot. It was was found outside Johnstone's mum's home and seized the following day.
The dim ex-soldier later called police to get it back, leading to him being identified from CCTV footage of the raid.
The 35-year-old was in after admitting the assault and robbery.
The court heard Johnstone had no recollection of the incident and that when he was initially quizzed by police he broke down and claimed he wanted to "turn the clock back".
Johnstone had previously been jailed for a charge of assault with intent to rob in 1995.
The Judge, Lord Bonomy, jailed him for three years and nine months for a crime that he called "ham fisted".
The judge also ordered that Johnstone be the subject of testing for drink and drugs when he is freed as part of a supervised release programme.
Last updated: 15 March 2010, 12:28
Cy Valley said
1:50 PM, 03/30/10
Busy Bank Robbers Call Ahead, Place Order to Go
Much criminal stupidity (on the part of criminals, or otherwise) has graced the pages of this blog, and I am really not one to pick a single favorite or rank anything number one in any category, but I am pretty sure that if I put together a top-ten list of stupid criminal acts, this would be on it.
Police in Fairfield, Connecticut, reported yesterday that two men were arrested for attempting to rob a bank there. This was likely one of their easier cases to crack, because the men had called ahead to ask that employees have a bag of money ready for them because they were on their way over for a robbery. Albert Bailey and an unidentified 16-year-old friend asked for $100,000 to go, and specifically asked to have "no dye packs in the bag." (Special orders probably take longer.) The employees got a bag ready, and threw in a call to the authorities for no extra charge.
True to their word, the two showed up about ten minutes later, unknowingly under the gaze of the local constables. Bailey apparently sent the boy in to pick up the cash, and when he came out and tried to get back into the car, police made the arrest.
The Connecticut Post provided a quote from Sgt. James Perez, who unnecessarily described the suspects as "not too bright." He also said that while the robbers got what they ordered, they "didn't expect police to be in the take-out line."
Troll said
5:38 PM, 03/30/10
The dumb ass of the month finally rears it's ugly head at the ned of March.
Freddie Krueger said
10:30 AM, 03/31/10
I am speechless. Stunned. Dumbfounded.
Troll said
9:36 AM, 04/10/10
Inmate Breaks Out, Returns After Stealing Smokes
WOODBINE, Ga. (AP)
Scott Olson/Getty Images
1 of 1
Authorities say an inmate who broke out of jail, then returned after stealing 14 packs of cigarettes, has been sentenced to 20 years.
Prosecutors told The Florida Times-Union inmate Harry Jackson, 26, escaped his cell at the Camden County Jail last year and went to the exercise yard to retrieve cigarettes he had expected would be tossed over a fence.
They say that when the contraband wasn't there, Jackson scaled the fence, broke a window at a convenience store and grabbed cigarette packs only to be arrested upon his return.
Jackson pleaded guilty to burglary and escape charges Monday. Prosecutors say he had been jailed on charges including driving with a suspended license. His lawyer, William Ashe, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
Union Pacific train hits car driving on tracks in Calif.
(The following appeared on the San Gabriel Valley Tribune website on April 19, 2010.)
EL MONTE, Calif. A Union Pacific freight train hit a car that was driving on the tracks on Sunday.
The car became stuck in the gravel around 10:30 p.m. near the 3200 block of Durfee Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Frederick Stowers said.
The passengers and driver got out of the car before the train hit it, Stowers said.
No one was injured in the crash, but officials closed the tracks as they worked to clear wreckage, Stowers said.
Police did not cite the driver, but Union Pacific could seek to recoup monetary damages for the railway closure, Union Pacific Police Officer Jorge Villaescusa said.
Officials could not immediately say why the car was driving on the tracks.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Faux News Feeds said
6:07 PM, 06/04/10
Man Arrested After Putting Pot in Courthouse Security Tray
Posted: Jun 03, 2010 3:20 PM EDT Updated: Jun 04, 2010 8:19 AM EDT
Enlarge this picture
Vaughn Ray Jones Jr.
Enlarge this picture
Cleveland County Deputies Steve Lucas and Jacob Wheeler working the courthouse security checkpoint.
By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A man was arrested after placing pot in the security tray at a courthouse checkpoint.
Cleveland County Deputies Steve Lucas and Jacob Wheeler said when Vaughn Ray Jones Jr. first went through the courthouse security checkpoint on Tuesday he put his belongings in a tray, including a bag of marijuana. When the deputies tried to arrest the 28-year-old, he ran off and got away.
But on Wednesday, Jones returned at almost the same time to the checkpoint. This time Jones was wearing a hat in an apparent attempt at disguise. Deputies handcuffed Jones and took him into custody.
"You gotta wonder about somebody that's gonna bring marijuana in a courthouse, put it in a bowl--that's gotta be a mistake," Lucas said. "I guess he thought there would be different people here. It wasn't a very good disguise, to put a hat on."
Jones has several felony convictions in his past.
Faux News Feeds said
7:15 AM, 06/20/10
Tippler Stowaway Carried Across County NBC4i | Submitted by: depoussiereur "He and a buddy were drinking and he was dared to jump on the back of a semi. However, Farmer was unaware that the traffic signals in the downtown area were in sequence to remain green during the evening hours. A dozen miles later: "It was my own dumbass fault but honestly I've been tryi- *click*
Police said Allen Dawes broke into the First St. John's Church at 140 W. King St. on May 11. Conveniently for them, police said Dawes left his birth certificate at the scene of the crime. Police haven't commented on why he brought it with him in the first place.
"Most people, if they are going to break in, don't want to leave a birth certificate so police can find him ... It doesn't appear like he was too bright," said Dick Sindlinger of the First St. John's Church.
Sindlinger also said that Allen sat in the church making phone calls and smoking, throwing the cigarette butts on the floor where they burned a couple holes.
Several days after the break-in, police obtained a warrant for Dawes' arrest and traced his last known address to Gaithersburg, Md. But Dawes wasn't there.
On June 8, deputies with the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office arrested Dawes. Investigators have not said what led to that arrest.
Dawes waived extradition and was transported back to York County. He is now being held at the York County Prison.
Sindlinger said Dawes stole money in the burglary. It was supposed to be given to the needy.
Copyright 2010 by WGAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Faux News Feeds said
6:54 AM, 07/11/10
MSNBC | Submitted by: Poostain "A federal inmate who escaped from a downtown El Paso jail by hiding in a trash bin was found crushed to death Friday in a nearby landfill."
Freon Huff: Wrong Way To Beat Heat WPLG Local 10 | Submitted by: gargoyle1 "15-year-old Gray, was found slumped over the air conditioning compressor outside their home. He died after huffing or inhaling the refrigerant right out of the AC compressor, investigators said. The refrigerant had displaced the air in his lungs, and Gray suffocated."
When the devil told Jeanne Jones to rob a Burlington County Walmart on Monday night, she should have questioned his motives or at least asked for bail money if she got caught.
Jones, 22, of Palmyra, told police that the "devil got into her" when she fled a Cinnaminson Walmart on Monday, after walking out with $266.19 worth of shoplifted goods and a gift card for exchanged items she had never bought.
The devil really got into Jones when she assaulted a female loss-prevention officer who witnessed the incident on the store's security cameras and tried to stop her as she left, police said.
As Jones took off in her car, however, the downfall to her devilish scheme was sitting in the parking lot. Police said that she dropped her pocketbook while roughing it up with Walmart security. In it was her driver's license.
"People like that keep me employed," said Detective Sgt. William Covert, of the Cinnaminson Police Department.
Shortly after fleeing, police said, Jones began calling the Walmart, making vague inquiries into the lost pocketbook.
"First she was saying something happened to her sister at the store; then she admitted it was her but apologized," Covert said. "She said the devil got into her."
Police eventually spoke with Jones over the phone and said that she was very matter- of-fact about her predicament and agreed to surrender.
"She said, 'What am I going to be charged with and what's my bail going to be?' " Covert said.
She was charged with robbery, theft and shoplifting, and her bail was set at $5,000.
During processing at the police station, police said that Jones told them that "the devil must be in the air and that she does not want to do bad things."
Covert said Jones had taken her filled shopping cart to customer service instead of the checkout line and returned items she hadn't paid for yet. The store gave her a gift card, and she walked out with the cart.
"We're not talking rocket science here," he said.
Last month, a man who used counterfeit bills to post bail in Cinnaminson was re-arrested when he returned to the police station asking for a refund.
Suspect Arrested After Stolen Police Cruiser Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3)
CBS
A suspect is in custody after crashing a stolen unmarked police car in the Hunting Park section of the city Tuesday.
Shortly after the theft, police said the suspect crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of 5th Street and Hunting Park Avenue.
Four people were hurt during the crash, including a female with a broken foot. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The suspect was apprehended a short time after the accident. Police said he was recently ordered to do 30 hours of supervised work released while waiting a court appearance on drug charges.
Leafblower Amplifies House Fire Ottawa Citizen | Submitted by: Graeme "According to fire officials, Browning was using a leaf blower in the garage to dry the seats of his Porsche -- which had been left out in the rain -- when the blaze started. Neighbours said the fire spread quickly to the attic and within minutes, the trail which the house backs onto was filled with smoke. There was no word on what type of Porsche."
Drunken Rocket Scientist Blasts Off
Armed robber who tried to claim back getaway car jailed
Knife thug went to police after they seized getaway car.
15 March 2010 12:25 GMT
Jailed: Four year sentence at the High Court in Glasgow. Pic: © STV
An armed robber who was caught after he tried to claim back a getaway car from police has been jailed for almost four years at the High Court in Glasgow.
Kenneth Johnstone and an accomplice held up a worker at a B&Q shop in Bishopbriggs near Glasgow at knifepoint before making off with £750.
A brave witness followed the pair and gave police details about Johnstone's Peugeot. It was was found outside Johnstone's mum's home and seized the following day.
The dim ex-soldier later called police to get it back, leading to him being identified from CCTV footage of the raid.
The 35-year-old was in after admitting the assault and robbery.
The court heard Johnstone had no recollection of the incident and that when he was initially quizzed by police he broke down and claimed he wanted to "turn the clock back".
Johnstone had previously been jailed for a charge of assault with intent to rob in 1995.
The Judge, Lord Bonomy, jailed him for three years and nine months for a crime that he called "ham fisted".
The judge also ordered that Johnstone be the subject of testing for drink and drugs when he is freed as part of a supervised release programme.
Last updated: 15 March 2010, 12:28
Inmate Breaks Out, Returns After Stealing Smokes
WOODBINE, Ga. (AP)Scott Olson/Getty Images
Prosecutors told The Florida Times-Union inmate Harry Jackson, 26, escaped his cell at the Camden County Jail last year and went to the exercise yard to retrieve cigarettes he had expected would be tossed over a fence.
They say that when the contraband wasn't there, Jackson scaled the fence, broke a window at a convenience store and grabbed cigarette packs only to be arrested upon his return.
Jackson pleaded guilty to burglary and escape charges Monday. Prosecutors say he had been jailed on charges including driving with a suspended license. His lawyer, William Ashe, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
(The following appeared on the San Gabriel Valley Tribune website on April 19, 2010.)
EL MONTE, Calif. A Union Pacific freight train hit a car that was driving on the tracks on Sunday.
The car became stuck in the gravel around 10:30 p.m. near the 3200 block of Durfee Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Frederick Stowers said.
The passengers and driver got out of the car before the train hit it, Stowers said.
No one was injured in the crash, but officials closed the tracks as they worked to clear wreckage, Stowers said.
Police did not cite the driver, but Union Pacific could seek to recoup monetary damages for the railway closure, Union Pacific Police Officer Jorge Villaescusa said.
Officials could not immediately say why the car was driving on the tracks.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Man Arrested After Putting Pot in Courthouse Security Tray
Posted: Jun 03, 2010 3:20 PM EDT Updated: Jun 04, 2010 8:19 AM EDTEnlarge this picture
Vaughn Ray Jones Jr.Enlarge this picture
Cleveland County Deputies Steve Lucas and Jacob Wheeler working the courthouse security checkpoint.By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A man was arrested after placing pot in the security tray at a courthouse checkpoint.
Cleveland County Deputies Steve Lucas and Jacob Wheeler said when Vaughn Ray Jones Jr. first went through the courthouse security checkpoint on Tuesday he put his belongings in a tray, including a bag of marijuana. When the deputies tried to arrest the 28-year-old, he ran off and got away.
But on Wednesday, Jones returned at almost the same time to the checkpoint. This time Jones was wearing a hat in an apparent attempt at disguise. Deputies handcuffed Jones and took him into custody.
"You gotta wonder about somebody that's gonna bring marijuana in a courthouse, put it in a bowl--that's gotta be a mistake," Lucas said. "I guess he thought there would be different people here. It wasn't a very good disguise, to put a hat on."
Jones has several felony convictions in his past.
NBC4i | Submitted by: depoussiereur
"He and a buddy were drinking and he was dared to jump on the back of a semi. However, Farmer was unaware that the traffic signals in the downtown area were in sequence to remain green during the evening hours. A dozen miles later: "It was my own dumbass fault but honestly I've been tryi- *click*
Read article...
Police: Burglar Left Behind Birth Certificate
POSTED: 11:48 am EDT June 18, 2010
UPDATED: 4:33 pm EDT June 18, 2010
Police said Allen Dawes broke into the First St. John's Church at 140 W. King St. on May 11. Conveniently for them, police said Dawes left his birth certificate at the scene of the crime. Police haven't commented on why he brought it with him in the first place.
"Most people, if they are going to break in, don't want to leave a birth certificate so police can find him ... It doesn't appear like he was too bright," said Dick Sindlinger of the First St. John's Church.
Sindlinger also said that Allen sat in the church making phone calls and smoking, throwing the cigarette butts on the floor where they burned a couple holes.
Several days after the break-in, police obtained a warrant for Dawes' arrest and traced his last known address to Gaithersburg, Md. But Dawes wasn't there.
On June 8, deputies with the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office arrested Dawes. Investigators have not said what led to that arrest.
Dawes waived extradition and was transported back to York County. He is now being held at the York County Prison.
Sindlinger said Dawes stole money in the burglary. It was supposed to be given to the needy.
You May Also Be Interested In: 44-Year-Old Man Accused In Months-Long Vandalism SpreeCopyright 2010 by WGAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
"A federal inmate who escaped from a downtown El Paso jail by hiding in a trash bin was found crushed to death Friday in a nearby landfill."
Read article...
WPLG Local 10 | Submitted by: gargoyle1
"15-year-old Gray, was found slumped over the air conditioning compressor outside their home. He died after huffing or inhaling the refrigerant right out of the AC compressor, investigators said. The refrigerant had displaced the air in his lungs, and Gray suffocated."
Read article...
Accused shoplifter left purse in Wal-Mart parking lot
By JASON NARK
Philadelphia Daily News
narkj@phillynews.com 856-779-3231
Jones, 22, of Palmyra, told police that the "devil got into her" when she fled a Cinnaminson Walmart on Monday, after walking out with $266.19 worth of shoplifted goods and a gift card for exchanged items she had never bought.
The devil really got into Jones when she assaulted a female loss-prevention officer who witnessed the incident on the store's security cameras and tried to stop her as she left, police said.
As Jones took off in her car, however, the downfall to her devilish scheme was sitting in the parking lot. Police said that she dropped her pocketbook while roughing it up with Walmart security. In it was her driver's license.
"People like that keep me employed," said Detective Sgt. William Covert, of the Cinnaminson Police Department.
Shortly after fleeing, police said, Jones began calling the Walmart, making vague inquiries into the lost pocketbook.
"First she was saying something happened to her sister at the store; then she admitted it was her but apologized," Covert said. "She said the devil got into her."
Police eventually spoke with Jones over the phone and said that she was very matter- of-fact about her predicament and agreed to surrender.
"She said, 'What am I going to be charged with and what's my bail going to be?' " Covert said.
She was charged with robbery, theft and shoplifting, and her bail was set at $5,000.
During processing at the police station, police said that Jones told them that "the devil must be in the air and that she does not want to do bad things."
Covert said Jones had taken her filled shopping cart to customer service instead of the checkout line and returned items she hadn't paid for yet. The store gave her a gift card, and she walked out with the cart.
"We're not talking rocket science here," he said.
Last month, a man who used counterfeit bills to post bail in Cinnaminson was re-arrested when he returned to the police station asking for a refund.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20100806_Accused_shoplifter_left_purse_in_Wal-Mart_parking_lot.html#ixzz0vpe14JPD
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else
Suspect Arrested After Stolen Police Cruiser Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3)CBS
Shortly after the theft, police said the suspect crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of 5th Street and Hunting Park Avenue.
Four people were hurt during the crash, including a female with a broken foot. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The suspect was apprehended a short time after the accident. Police said he was recently ordered to do 30 hours of supervised work released while waiting a court appearance on drug charges.
The incident remains under investigation.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Ottawa Citizen | Submitted by: Graeme
"According to fire officials, Browning was using a leaf blower in the garage to dry the seats of his Porsche -- which had been left out in the rain -- when the blaze started. Neighbours said the fire spread quickly to the attic and within minutes, the trail which the house backs onto was filled with smoke. There was no word on what type of Porsche."
Read article...