Should OP girl be suspended over toy gun incident?

An Overland Park girl has been suspended until January because she reportedly shot a boy with an Airsoft gun while they were playing on a school playground, though it was on a Sunday. (The incident led to a police report, though the boy's parents let the matter drop.) The school district isn't saying much beyond noting that its no-weapons-on-school-grounds is very clear.

Fight over 'Madden NFL' ends in death, police say

A Wichita man was killed during a fight that started over "Madden NFL," a video game, and allegations of cheating, the Eagle reports.

KCK man accused of $7.2 million in Petro America securities fraud

Federal prosecutors have accused a local man of committing $7.2 million in securities fraud, Mark Davis reports. So far, Petro America CEO Owen Hawkins is the only person facing charges, though U.S. Attorney Beth Phillips said others might be prosecuted. The affidavit from an IRS agent who investigated the case lays everything out.

Since 2008, investors have pumped over $5 million into the company. But federal agents have discovered that only a small fraction was actually invested in Petro America.

Instead, Hawkins and his associates withdrew the money in cash and spent it on houses, luxury cars, a $5700 fur coat, a $37,000 boat, a $5200 piece of Louis Vuitton luggage, expensive jewelry, and travel.

Petro America is the cover story in the Pitch this week. A lot of the people who invested in Petro America are blue-collar or middle-class, the paper says, and some of them were encouraged by their pastors to do so.

Disturbing find in Zahra Clare Baker case

Some of you have been following the Zahra Clare Baker case in North Carolina. Baker, 10, is a young cancer survivor who lost a leg to the disease. She's been missing since Oct. 9, and investigators believe that she's dead. They've just made an unsettling discovery at a home where Baker's stepmom used to live: a prosthetic leg. No word yet if it belongs to Baker.

(AP Photo/The Hickory Daily Record, Robert C. Reed)

KC cops to help with Halloween activities for kids

KCPD is part of two Halloween events this weekend, one at Metro North Mall and another at Central High, if you're looking for kid-safe activities. Chief Corwin's blog has the details.

You know you're a bad baby sitter if you have to tie up the kids

A Pennsylvania man was arrested after he allegedly tied a 2-year-old to a park bench while he tried to track down two other children he was watching, police say.

Thursday'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!

Man sought for questioning in Mo. triple homicide

From AP: Police were scouring central Missouri on Wednesday for a man they called a person of interest in overnight shootings that left three people dead and one wounded. (Note from James: I believe this happened near Holts Summit, which is close to Jeff City.)

Police said they were seeking Joshua William Maylee, who was believed to be armed, possibly with a high-powered rifle. Authorities warned that anyone who has had "negative" contact with Maylee to call police. Authorities did not have an age for Maylee.

Sgt. Robert Bruchsaler, a spokesman for the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad, said Wednesday that the gunman used a high-powered rifle and a handgun. He said authorities believe the gunman acted alone.

Australian charged after tattooing picture of genitals on friend's back, police say

An Australian man was tattooed with assault after he allegedly tattooed a 16-inch penis on his friend's back. The friend had reportedly wanted the yin-yang symbol.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Elrond of Johannesburg!

Who killed LeDion Brown?

Saturday marks the first anniversary of LeDion Brown's murder in Kansas City, Kan. Brown, 19, was fatally shot in the 1300 block of North 4th Street, near the Gateway Townhomes, the TIPS Hotline reports. There's a $2,500 reward for information in his case. And there's a prayer vigil scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at 1430 N. 4th, hosted by the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime.

If you have information about his case, call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Sleepwalkers have the worst aim

A man in Boulder, Colo., apparently shot himself while sleepwalking, police say.

Not remotely crime-related

There's a news report out of Russia about bears going to graveyards and eating the dead. I can't tell if this would be good or bad for tourism.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Skippy Sanchez!

Should KCPD keep policy forcing cops to retire after 30 years?

From Christine Vendel:

Police board members on Tuesday voted to temporarily halt the department’s mandatory 30-year retirement policy while analyzing whether to permanently abolish the policy that dates to 1956.

...  The temporary halt will end Dec. 31, or when the board makes a final decision on the mandatory retirement rule, whichever comes first. The Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police has scheduled an informational meeting Nov. 4 to educate officers about how proposed rule changes could affect them and their pensions.

Prosecutor: Plan to rob transvestite hooker goes awry

If you only read one story today about a 280-pound alleged transvestite prostitute named Mr. Bumpus, let it be this one.

'Like the fella once said ...'

In Louisville, police have investigated an incident where a Rand Paul volunteer reportedly stepped on the head of a MoveOn activist, though as I write this, nobody's been charged. Rand Paul's campaign was NOT amused; they've banned the gentleman from future events, and he's lost his spot as a campaign coordinator.

For his part, he has apologized. He says the video of the incident makes it look worse than it was. (There was stepping, though it looks more like the shoulder /neck area. I'm not an expert.) And he argues that police should have gotten involved earlier -- the MoveOn activist was trying to give Paul a fake award.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, aqua, Keith G and Anonymooses!

NY cop shoots gun from suspect's hands during beauty salon robbery

When a gunman held up a beauty salon the other day, a New York City policewoman -- who just happened to be there for a hair appointment -- reportedly shot the gun from the man's hand. Even better? One of her shots hit the door, breaking the lock. The suspect had to break a window to escape, police say. The officer, Feris Jones, has just been promoted for achievements in the field of badassery.

One of the perils of going on vacation / furlough: All the good stuff seems to happen while I'm out. (Case in point.) Sorry if I'm rehashing old news ...

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and police officer Feris Jones, pose for a photograph Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Should MU fans be charged for rushing field after homecoming win?

If you watched the Mizzou-Oklahoma game on Saturday, you saw the tide of Missouri fans rush onto the field after the Tigers won. The authorities ended up arresting 30 of those folks for trespassing, and now a state senator is trying to get the charges dropped, the Columbia Tribune reports.

So, what say you: Should the charges be dropped? Especially since there were waaaaay more than 30 people on that field.

Calling shenanigans on 'most dangerous neighborhood' listings

Jeremy Kohler, a Post-Dispatch reporter, has a good piece here questioning one website's rankings of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America. You might remember that Kansas City had one area land on the list a while back.

$3K reward in grocery-store robberies

A local grocers group is putting up $2,000 in reward money after three robberies in Odessa, Raytown and Kansas City, which might be linked, the TIPS Hotline reports. (Add in TIPS' standard $1,000 reward, and the "grand prize" is $3K.)

The affected stores were ...

Patricia Foods, 1212 W. 40 Hwy., Odessa, Missouri on October 22; Apple Market, 7506 Raytown Road, Raytown, Missouri on October 3; and Metro Thriftway, 1616 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, Missouri on September 13, 2010.

The photos above are from the Raytown holdup. If you feel like dropping a dime on the guilty parties, the TIPS Hotline is 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Police investigate after Mom allegedly attempts circumcision at home.

A 3-month-old suffered critical injuries after his mom allegedly tried to circumcise him at home, police in Portland, Ore., say. (Authorities were called around 2 a.m. but it's not clear from the story when the "procedure" was performed.) At this point, nobody has been charged or arrested.

OPPD: 'Bloody foot' was only a Halloween decoration

There's a pretty funny story at Overland Park Police Chief John Douglass' blog ...

Wednesday'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!

Now, THAT is a lovely mugshot

This one comes from the wilds of Portland, Ore. ...

Attorney: 'Hiccup Girl' might use Tourette's defense in murder trial

Earlier today, we linked to a report that "Hiccup Girl" -- Jennifer Mee, a Floridian who made national news for having the hiccups for five weeks -- is now charged in a murder case. Now? Her attorney says they may argue that Mee has Tourette's Syndrome and that somehow played a part.

The best defense is a good offensea BB gun and a knife

A mother in Connecticut allegedly gave her son a BB pistol and a knife so he could protect himself from bullies at school, the AP reports. (If the charges are true, she sounds like a different kind of "helicopter parent" -- a Blackhawk helicopter parent, maybe?)

Hat Tip: Many thanks, cripjak!