CT mom arrested after breastfeeding at the bar, police say

Did we mention that Mom herself was allegedly three sheets?

Hat Tip: Many thanks, You're A Mean Drunk R2D2!

Charges filed in late December homicide

Kirk Fincher, 18, has been charged in Jackson County with first-degree murder Murder in the death of Ryan Onckelet, who was fatally shot on Dec. 30 in an apartment parking lot in the 100 block of North Belmont. Fincher, in the probable cause, denies the shooting. Witnesses told police that Fincher had wanted to kill someone named Jeremy -- and even went so far as to write the name on a hollowpoint bullet. (Police found a casing with "JEREM" at the crime scene.)

UPDATE: Blackwater guards accused of manslaughter

They've pleaded not guilty.

UPDATE: AZ boy, 9, accused of killing Dad, roommate

As it happens, the prosecutors will NOT use that interview where the kid reportedly admitted that he shot his dad. (Sounds like that was pretty iffy evidence anyway, since he didn't have an attorney with him.)

Not remotely crime-related

There, but for the grace of God, go I ...

The end of Richard Sharpe

Sharpe was a dermatologist and millionaire who was convicted in 2001 of shooting his wife as several guests watched. (Sharpe became especially well-known in the press for his cross-dressing habit.) He apparently hanged himself in his prison cell yesterday, authorities say.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

MO Highway Patrol releases stats from December saturation patrols

From the patrol:

On December 6, 2008, four officers focused their attention on all major routes in Jackson County. As a result of the eight-hour operation, one person was arrested for felony driving while intoxicated, one person was arrested for misdemeanor drug possession, one person was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant, and 13 citations were issued. In addition, 28 warnings were issued.

On December 12, 2008, three officers focused their attention on all major routes in Cass County. As a result of the eight-hour operation, three people were arrested for driving while intoxicated, and nine citations and 27 warnings were issued.

On December 31, 2008, four officers focused their attention on all major routes in Jackson County. As a result of the eight-hour operation, three people were arrested for driving while intoxicated, one person was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant, and one person was issued a citation for minor in possession of alcohol. In addition 19 citations and 31 warnings were issued.

On December 31, 2008, three officers focused their attention on all major routes in Clay County. As a result of the eight-hour operation, a total of 15 citations and 18 warnings were issued.

Boy, 6, misses school bus ... decides to drive himself

The good news -- he got about 10 miles. The bad new is that he lives 11.5 miles from school.

Human remains found near Eldon, MO

Not many details yet, but the News Tribune of Jeff City has a report here.

Aussie judge threatens teen ne'er-do-well with jailhouse sodomy

Snip:

"You'll find big, ugly, hairy strong men (in jail) who've got faces only a mother could love that will pay a lot of attention to you -- and your anatomy," said Magistrate Brian Maloney.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, You're A Mean Drunk R2D2!

On the run

From The AP: Robert Sylvester brandishes a gun as he moves across an interstate highway near Normal, Ill. Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. Sylvester, suspected of robbing four banks, led police on a high-speed chase before leaping from his vehicle and being shot by police. Sylvester, was pronounced dead at a hospital. (AP Photo/The Pantagraph, David Proeber)

Teen died after drinking, posing with gun, police say

What a waste. From Christine Vendel:

A 16-year-old boy shot in the head last week in Kansas City by a friend in an apparent accident has died, police said today.

Police gave this account: Freddy H. Medina and three friends were drinking in his bedroom in the 3700 block of Bales Avenue about 1:35 a.m. Jan. 2. Freddy had bought a rifle off the street earlier and the friends began posing with the gun for cell phone photos.

One friend began feeling a little woozy and loosened his grip on the rifle. When the gun began to fall, he tightened his grip to regain control, causing the gun to fire.

The friends ran out of the house. ...Freddy underwent surgery but died in a hospital Monday.

Authorities find dead infant in 60 tons of garbage

Story is from the Tacoma, Wash., paper, where authorities have arrested a 16-year-old girl for allegedly drowning her newborn in a toilet and setting his body out with the trash. Her dad is also facing charges now.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

Investigators from the Port Angeles police, Pierce County Sheriff's Dept. , Tacoma Police and the Washington State Patrol's Crime lab watch as Pierce County coroners retrieve the body of a baby from 60 tons of garbage at LRI landfill in Graham, Wash. Monday Jan. 5, 2009. Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher said it could take weeks to get the DNA test results that will show whether the baby is that of the teenager arrested Friday for investigation of first- or second-degree murder. (AP Photo/The News Tribune, Dean J. Koepfler)

Open Thread ... Tuesday

Thanks for spending some time on the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just email jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

FBI plans to hire 850 new agents, plus 2,100 support staffers

It's one of their biggest hiring efforts in years -- since 2001, to be exact. It's not because they're getting a lot of new money, though. Actually, the FBI is trying to fill spots after a surge in retirements.

Boy, 9, stops pit bull with jiu-jitsu hold until authorities arrive

Story is from California. The little guy was able to save a female friend and her little dog from more serious injuries.

Officer Of The Year faked his disappearance, ran off to Vegas, police say

In Decatur, Ala., police were sure that something bad had happened to Sgt. Faron White, who led their organized crime unit. His office was a mess -- it looked like there had been a struggle, and his family reported that he hadn't come home. Now? Police are pretty sure he was trying to cover up $2,500 that was missing from department coffers.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Mikeybackwards!

The last time anybody saw Adam Herrman ...

"the 11-year-old (was) chained to a bathtub faucet at his Towanda mobile home," the Eagle reports. The paper has more about that weird missing-perons case from Butler County, Kan., where it took about 10 years for anybody to report the kid missing.

Olathe PD investigate purse-snatching

Olathe police are looking for two, maybe three suspects in a mugging about 10:20 p.m. last night in the 11600 block of S. Shannan St. The victim -- a woman, age 32 -- was walking from a parking lot to her apartment when a gunman grabbed her purse and ran off. A second suspect -- who might have had a gun -- ran off, too.

Suspect 1 is described as a black male wearing a black stocking hat, a gray coat and dark blue or black jeans. She further advised that he was approximatley 6' tall and weighed 200 pounds.

Suspect 2 is described as a black male about 6' tall weighing 200 pounds. The victim thought that the second suspect was also armed with a dark colored handgun.

It is believed that there may have been a third suspect but no physical description was available for this individual.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Olathe Police Department at 913-971-7455 or the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

   

KCPD investigates driveby shooting

Happened about 11:40 last night in the 7800 block of East 48th, KSHB reports. Victim got hit in the hand and should be OK.

Second time's the charm

Christine has a great story about a KCPD officer who tracks down a Johnson County driver who allegedly tried to run him over.

Aussie woman killed hubby by setting his penis on fire, authorities say

As it turns out, there's a perfectly logical explanation:

"I just wanted to burn his penis so it belongs to me and no one else, I didn't mean this to happen," Ms Boord quoted Mrs Narayan as saying.

See? She only wanted to burn off his babymaker, not kill him.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Goshel!

Man beaten to death after playing "Margaritaville" on bar's jukebox

Story is from Steamboat Springs, Colo., where an Army sergeant got into a fatal fight after he played the Buffett standard on the jukebox.

UPDATED: The Rocky has more details here. Apparently, the sergeant slipped on ice before he got beat up.

Wes Mottlau told her that the trouble started when Lopez and the Mottlaus played a Jimmy Buffett song on the jukebox.

"These other two guys didn't like the song and were giving them a hard time," Boahn said. "They put on a Kanye West song, and Richard, Wes and Tim were razzing them about the Kanye West song."

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Goshel!

Where is Renee Pernice?

Glenn Rice has more information about the missing Kansas City woman, who disappeared last week.

How to make a bad situation worse

A Springfield teen -- after he was pulled over, arrested and handcuffed -- managed to get his hands in front of himself and take off in a police vehicle.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Golfer!