Police: Man tracks down, beats up priest accused of abusing him years ago

I'm curious to see, even if the suspect is found guilty, whether he gets much punishment.

It's come to this: 4-year-olds can be sued for negligence

Details from the New York Times. A judge is allowing the lawsuit to proceed, though there's no guarantee that the defendant, who reportedly hit an elderly woman while riding a bicycle with training wheels, will actually be found negligent.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Aradia Silvermoon and Keith G in PV!

Open Thread, Weekend Edition

Welcome back to 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, please email jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Image via icanhascheezburger.com!

Anna Nicole's boyfriend, psychiatrist found guilty

From AP:

A jury on Thursday convicted Anna Nicole Smith's psychiatrist and boyfriend of conspiring to use false names to obtain prescription drugs for the former Playboy model and reality TV star but acquitted the doctor who prescribed a plethora of drugs for her

Who is shooting at military buildings near D.C.?

For the second time in a month, someone has shot at the Marine Corps' museum last night near Washington, D.C. Investigators say they're looking into similar incidents at the Pentagon and an empty recruiting station there. Nobody's been hurt.

Calif. officer accused of jumping naked into pool while on duty

A California police officer is facing criminal charges for allegedly jumping naked into a pool while he was on a call. The officer was dispatched on a noise complaint about 3:45 a.m. and encountered three women in a backyard pool, police say. They invited him in, but didn't think he would really do it.

How did Brian Euston die?

Christine Vendel has a longer interview this morning with the parents of Brian Euston, whose death is being investigated by police.

Brian Euston, 24, was found unconscious on a Westport sidewalk in the early hours of Oct. 10 with a devastating skull fracture, a split lip and scrapes on his shin.

Kansas City police are investigating whether he fell or whether someone “sucker-punched” him or pushed him down. His head apparently hit the concrete.

KCPD plans DUI checkpoint

Next weekend!

Guilty plea in Platte County rest-stop murder

John Hughes has pleaded guilty to killing a trucker at a Platte County rest stop in 2008, Glenn Rice reports. The murder happened during a robbery attempt: Hughes' girlfriend reportedly lured the victim, Valentin G. Kirilchuk, into a bathroom, where Hughes tried to rob Kirilchuk.

According to court records, when authorities asked Hughes why he killed Kirilchuk, he said: “I don’t mean to be smart-ass about it, but you shouldn’t try to fight with somebody with a gun.”

Report: Suspect in south KC gas-station shooting has fled country

KMBC reports that Akbar Rana, the gas-station clerk charged in the shooting death of Frederick Jones, has left the country. I reached Vanessa Boykin, Jones' mother, who confirmed this; she said that prosecutors told her on Thursday. The news comes just a few days after Jackson County accused Jones of voluntary manslaughter.

UPDATE: As Tony's Kansas City notes, Alonzo Washington had this a day or so ago.

From Christine Vendel's report on Wednesday:

KCPD breaks ground on new police station

Kansas City police plan to break ground this morning on the new South Patrol building, a 25-acre complex that will include space for Special Operations, vehicle storage and other facilities. The new South Patrol will be located at 9701 Marion Park Drive, behind the old Home Depot on Bannister.

Were the Club Oasis arrests an 'immigration raid' or a 'tavern check'?

The Catholic Key's blog argues that last weekend's arrests at Club Oasis were more accurately an "immigration raid" than a "tavern check," as the police called it.

Hat Tip: Saw this via Tony's Kansas City!

Friday's Open Thread

Welcome back to 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, please email jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Independence Hy-Vee robbery: Have you seen this man?

Independence police have released photos of a man who tried to rob a Hy-Vee store near Noland and 40 Highway overnight. If you know who he is, call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

No charges against 'Faurot 30'

You remember how authorities arrested 30 Mizzou fans for rushing the field after last week's game? In the words of Emily Litella ...

Caption: It's Picture Puzzle time! Can you find the 30 criminals in this crowd? The police could ...

Should Ariz. deputy be fired after allegedly Tasering frog?

In Pinal County, Ariz., a county board has oveturned the dismissal of a deputy who allegedly Tasered a frog and painted it with Wite-Out because he was bored at work, the Arizona Republic reports. The sheriff is fighting the order, saying the deputy lied about the incident and misused county property.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, eephus!

Wichita thief steals wallet, leaves car behind at crime scene

For his sake, I hope there's a lot of cash in that wallet.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Mike!

Fired Mo. cop marries girlfriend, forcing prosecutors to drop nude-pix charges

Earlier this year, a Joplin policeman was charged with possessing naked photos of his 17-year-old girlfriend. But the charges are going away because the two of them have gotten married, and the new wife has spousal privilege in court, the Joplin Globe reports. (The officer did end up losing his job, though.)

The case pointed out an apparent glitch in Missouri law: It was OK for the two of them to have sex, but it was against the law for him to have those images.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Keith G in PV!

Fla. mom killed crying infant for interrupting FarmVille

A Jacksonville mother -- Alexandra V. Tobias, 22 -- has pleaded guilty to murdering her 3-month-old son, Dylan, because he kept crying while she tried to play FarmVille, a game on Facebook.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Pat!

Not remotely crime-related

In Brazil, McDonald's has been ordered to pay $17,500 to a former manager, who gained 65 pounds while working there. He says he was owed the compensation because he felt pressured to eat the restaurant's food.

Independence grocery store robbed overnight

A gunman fired several shots in a Hy-Vee near 40 Highway and Noland in Independence, but he didn't get any money, Fox 4 reports.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

Hello, 911? I've locked myself INSIDE my van

There is a reasonable explanation here: The Gladstone man was in the back of the van when the wind blew the door shut. There's a divider between the back of the van and the front, and apparently, there's no door handle on the inside of the back door. Still, that probably wasn't an easy call to make ...

DARPA wants to scan email to predict crime

The defense-research agency has put out a request for proposals and has tagged the project for an initial $35 million outlay, CNN reports.

Christian school sues Mo. officials over 2001 raid

Heartland Christian Academy, a school for troubled youths in north Missouri, is suing several state officials over a 2001 raid, when 115 students were removed over abuse allegations. Charges were filed against five school employees, but three were acquitted and the charges were dropped against the other two. The school claims the raid was part of a harassment campaign, the Post-Dispatch reports.

Most Missouri sex offenders won't have to stay home on Halloween

This will be the first Halloween since the Missouri Supreme Court put limits on a state law designed to keep convicted sex offenders at home on the holiday. The rules are still in effect, but they apply only to people convicted after Aug. 28, 2008. (Something something ex post facto something something.) Among other things, they have to put up a sign saying they aren't handing out candy.