Academia, International, Society

Heroes Rush In Where Police Fear To Tread

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

We’ve read several times on this blog about police reluctance to help drowning victims and even to prohibit family members from leaping into the water to save their loved ones (here) when authorities refuse to help. Seems the policy is now international. Scottish police stood idly by, keeping back onlookers, as a 37 year-old woman thrashed about in the water near Glasgow’s  Albert Bridge  and repeatedly called for help.

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Politics, Society

The Bieber Boycott

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Construction worker and Brooklyn native Andy Sullivan is one of the most vocal opponents of Park51, the mosque and cultural center near ground zero. Sullivan has appeared on the Fox Business channel touting his efforts to enlist other construction workers to sign a petition that states they won’t work on the Park51 site. Now, Sullivan has set his sights on Justin Bieber, the Canadian pop sensation. Sullivan is encouraging a boycott of all things Bieber.

Sullivan cites a Bieber interview from Tiger Beat.

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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Pa. Man Steals Video Game From Teenager’s Coffin

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Pittsburgh area police have arrested 37-year-old Jody Lynn Bennett on suspicion that he stole a hand-held video gaming system  from the coffin of 17-year-old Bradley McCombs, who died in a Christmas Day SUV crash. Seems the respectful, but sticky fingered mourner, attended the viewing to pay his respects. In exchange for his “payment,” he stole the electronic device and three games  from the decedent’s coffin. Bennett fled the funeral home after being confronted by family members.

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Constitutional Law, Supreme Court

Herrera v Oregon

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger.

Herrera v Oregon is a pending case before the Supreme Court, where Alonso Herrera, an Oregon man, was convicted by 10-2 jury vote of unauthorized use of a vehicle. At issue is whether the Sixth Amendment, as incorporated against the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, requires a unanimous jury verdict to convict a person of a crime. Also at issue is whether the Bill of Rights, as incorporated against the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, should apply equally to the states as to the federal government, jot-for-jot incorporation. It is long overdue that these issues be resolved.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Torts

Kentucky Officers Sued After Man Is Beaten At Horse Show

There is a disturbing case out of Kentucky this morning. State police and the FBI are reportedly investigating Owsley County deputy Sheriff Michael Havicus and Booneville Officer Timothy Marshall in the beating of John Adkins at a horse-riding event called the Fall Trail Ride. He was allegedly assaulted after he asked the officers if a band could continue to play at the event.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Society

Double Cheese and Pepperoni; Hold The Formaldehyde

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Diners in Naples, Italy  may be unwittingly getting a new ingredient on their traditional Mozzarella cheese and tomato pizzas. Police are investigating reports that several “lower-end” bakeries and pizza shops are using wood from coffins to fire the ancient stone ovens.  Neapolitan graveyards are hunting grounds for thieves with over 5000 flower pots being stolen last year, and the Carabinieri theorize that a gang may be desecrating graves to obtain the traditional oak wood tender for pizza ovens.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International

Israeli Rabbi Accused of Child Abuse

We have seen in recent months how the Jewish community has been dealing with an abuse scandal similar to the one in the Catholic Church.  This week, such allegations were leveled at an unnamed Rabbi in Israel, who is accused of at least three counts of child molestation.  What is interesting is that the government is refusing to release his name, even though such information often leads other victims to come forward.

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Congress, Constitutional Law, Justice, Military, Politics

Resolutions and Dreams for 2011

SUBMITTED BY LAWRENCE RAFFERTY, GUEST BLOGGER

Now that the end of the year is just hours away, I thought it would be nice to put into writing some of the New Years resolutions that I have for 2011. This year has been a year of highs and lows for myself and for the country. These resolutions are my hopes and dreams for myself, the country and the world in the coming year.

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Uncategorized

Beware of Boys with Magic Beans!

Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger

I decided to dust off another old case that I found in my Fairy Tale Crimebusters File. You may remember my previous post about a wolf, a hunter, and a little lass who wore a red riding hood–Crime & Punishment: Cross-Dressing Criminal Meets His Maker!

Today, I have a tale in verse of a poor fatherless boy who disobeyed his mother and later robbed a man of gigantic proportions…three times!

 

About the thief who robbed the sleeping giant:
It was Jack, a boy who’s self-reliant.
He climbed the beanstalk near his shack
And stole some gold coins in a sack.
He raced back home and spent the money
On chocolate cookies, milk, and honey.

 

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Lincoln Nebraska Police Shown Arresting Man For Firing Crossbow at Target in Backyard

I saw this story on Reddit and it raises a lot of unanswered questions. The Examiner below reports that the video was taken by the wife of Gary Grana, 33, who was arrested for firing a crossbow in his yard at a target. Grana ends up under a pile of officers after a rather large number of officers respond to the call.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Florida Officer Arrested After Video Shows Him Punching Inmate

The video below has resulted in the arrest of a Brooksville Florida police officer, Detention Sgt. David Dixon, after he was shown punching an inmate in the face for no apparent reason. The sheriff said that man was just “running his mouth” and did not deserve to be punched at the Hernando County Jail.

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