It can be honestly said that the apple did not fall far from the tree in the case of father and son team Paul M. Crowell, 22, and his father, Paul J. Dupey, 41. Both demonstrated a room temperature IQ when they first stole allegedly stole a police taser gun and then took turns stunning each other for a YouTube video. They are now facing criminal charges. Continue reading “Why Subintelligence and High Voltage Do Not Mix: Wisconsin Father and Son Arrested After Police View YouTube Video of Them Stunning Each Other with Stolen Police Taser”
Category: Bizarre
Karl Rove has been accused by Republican operative in Alabama of asking her to procure sexually compromising pictures of Alabama’s Democratic governor Don Siegelman. Jill Simpson’s allegations are particularly interesting because Siegelman was eventually convicted for bribery in a case that has drawn considerable criticism that it was politically motivated. However, the case against Siegelman was based on some very damaging testimony of a pay-to-play culture in his office. The new allegations are likely to increase calls for a renewed investigation. Continue reading “Karl Rove Accused of Trying to Solicit Sexually Compromising Pictures of Democrat”
I cannot find any reason to post this video of an African lion greeting his rescuer in Columbia. There is not a single legal, social, policy or political element. It is just pretty darn cute. Continue reading “Video: Lion Embraces Rescuer”
Another taser abuse allegation has surfaced in an incident outside of a Maryland gym. A small altercation broke out after a basketball game — a not uncommon occurrence. Parents and officers were separating the youths when Deputy Anthony Lenzi allegedly shot Brandon Bennett in the chest –against direct orders by a superior. Continue reading “Maryland Police Officer Tasers High School Student After Allegedly Being Ordered Twice Not to Do So”
Saudi Arabia’s legal system has long been a nightmare for civil libertarians and anyone on this side of the dark ages. However, in the face of the arrest and coerced confession of an American businesswoman for sitting next to man at Starbucks (who was not a relative), the religious police is defending its action in the case. It appears that it was the woman’s fault entirely for committing the offense to Islam — a helpful clarification from those who bring us weekly examples of why the separation of church and state is so essential for liberty. Continue reading “Lattes and Lashes: Saudi Religious Police Defend Their Arrest of American Woman Who Sat Next to a Man at a Starbucks”
Belarus has long been a dangerous place for both free speech and a free press. However, many gasped when a court sentenced journalist Aleksandr Sdvizhkov to three years hard labor for publishing the cartoons of Muhammad that led to worldwide protests. This follows an equally abusive decision of the government to shutdown his newspaper, Zgoda (Consensus), over the incident. Continue reading “Free Press: Journalist Sentenced to Three Years Hard Labor for Publishing Cartoons of Muhammad”
A Bush appointed federal bankruptcy judge was arrested for driving drunk and has resigned. A torrent of coverage followed the arrest after it was disclosed that Judge Robert Somma, 63, was dressed as a woman at the time of the accident. The case raises some questions over the treatment of judges who follow alternative lifestyles. Continue reading “Federal Judge Resigns After Arrest for DUI”
Two Army Colonels at the Army War College are facing criminal charges in a perfectly bizarre effort to allegedly switch identities to avoid paternity payments. Col. Scott Carlson, 51, allegedly wanted to avoid paying additional paternity payments for a child with a Virginia woman. So, Bruce Adkins allegedly showed up at a paternity test center, claimed to be Carlson, and asked to take the test. They now face charges of tampering with public records, tampering with evidence, forgery, theft and obstruction of justice. Continue reading “Two Army Colonels Accused of Identity Switch to Avoid Paternity Case”
Wen Louis Porreco married his ex-wife Susan Porreco, the Erie, Pa. auto dealer insisted that she sign a prenuptial agreement that guaranteed her only $3,500 for each year that they were married — a total of $50,000 (for ten years of marriage plus some other marital value). She claims, however, that she was counting on the fact that Louis had given her a fat a 4-carat marquis-cut diamond worth at least $21,000. It turns out worth pennies. It was cubic zirconia. After winning in the an action to set aside the agreement due to fraud (and potentially claim more than $1 million), Susan lost before the Superior Court that held that it was her duty to confirm the value of the ring. Continue reading “Cubic Zirconias are a Boy’s Best Friend: Husband Wins Prenup Challenge After Disclosure that Engagement Ring is a Fake Diamond”
A case in Central Florida could present an interesting tort claim. Natasha Hall, 17, repeatedly called the local police about her violent ex-boyfriend and her fears that he was going to harm her. The police allegedly told her that if she called again about the boyfriend, they would arrest her. She didn’t call again. Clay Coffner killed her and then himself. Continue reading “Police Allegedly Warned Victim Not to Call Again About Violent Boyfriend — Before She Was Killed”
Emails and text-messages have now brought down one of the most powerful prosecutors in the country and may soon lead to criminal charges against the Mayor of Detroit. Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal resigned this week after his emails were revealed in a police abuse case. In the meantime, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has appealed the release of his text messages in a case involving police whistleblowers. He has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to protect what remains of his privacy and political future. It is death by blackberry and plenty are politicians across the country are watching and wincing at the scandals. Continue reading “You’ve Got Mail — and a Subpoena — Emails and Text Messaging At the Center of Scandals in Michigan and Texas”
Steven G. Bradbury, the acting chief of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, offered one of the most detailed defenses of waterboarding by the Administration to date. In a bizarre twist, he insisted that the Administration was less like the Spanish Inquisition and more like the Khmer Rouge in its particularly version of the torture technique. Of course, his distinction would be lost on all but torture affectionados and, of course, Democrat and Republican members desperately trying to avoid a criminal investigation. Continue reading “Latest Defense of Bush Torture Program: Not As Bad as Spanish Inquisition; More Like Khmer Rouge”
In West Virginia, coal is king and many are suggesting that its reach extends into the very chambers of the state’s highest court. An interesting fight is brewing in state and federal courts over allegations of bias for and against a leading coal company, Massey Coal. Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher has already recused himself under demands from Massey while he has accused other justices of having far greater bias in favor of the company and its executives. Continue reading “Mining for Justice(s): West Virginia Scandal Erupts Over Mining Company Influence”
A recent survey in Chicago shows that only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms contained in the first amendment. Only one in a thousand could name all of the freedoms. However, more than half can name at least two members of the Simpson family. Doh! Of course, Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and the rest of the characters are not devoid of constitutional significance, as discussed below. Continue reading “Freedom of Speech . . . and Freedom from Knowledge: Only One in 1000 Americans Polled Could Name the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment”
Officer Todd Greeves appears to take traffic very seriously. so, when fire fighters were trying to move an injured driver, he demanded that they move their truck. When they refused, he arrested the fire captain. He will now have to pay $18,000 for the incident on in May of 2003. For the video, click here