Roommates duel with machete, cinder blocks, police allege

The story just happens to be from Florida ...

Police: Woman's family takes action after purse-snatchers strike

Two men allegedly tried to steal a 47-year-old woman's nurse, but they didn't realize that more than 15 of her relatives -- her angry, angry relatives -- were within earshot, the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer reported.

Fayetteville police officers arrived at the scene of the melee in the Cambridge Arms apartments about 12:45 a.m. and found two men lying on the pavement of the parking lot with multiple stab and gunshot wounds. Police found a group of the woman's relatives walking in the parking lot covered in blood.

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!

Suspect Loughner not competent to stand trial for Tucson shooting spree

Jared Lee Loughner, the man charged in January's Tucson, Ariz., massacre, has been ruled incompetent to stand trial, at least for the next four months. The judge's ruling was based off examinations at a federal hospital in Springfield.

NYT: John Edwards will be charged

The New York Times quotes a source close to the former senator. That person says there will be charges and the case is heading toward a "conclusion," though it's not clear if the source meant an indictment or some sort of plea deal.

Lawyer: Buxom lady is unfair distraction

To the jurors, he says.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, JUNGLE JIM!

Getaway driver cooperates with prosecutors, gets probation in murder case

From Mark Morris:

A Kansas City, Kan., man who cooperated in the prosecution of three others in the 2008 car wash slaying of a Missouri National Guardsman was sentenced Tuesday to probation.

Investigators determined that Carlos Pizarro, 20, was the getaway driver for three men who attempted to steal a black Cadillac Escalade from Erick Gandarilla, 27, on Aug. 10, 2008, at a Southwest Boulevard car wash.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Mad Keith!

 

Abuse-survivor group says KC diocese broke its promise

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is raising more objections to how the Kansas City diocese has handled the case against Shawn Ratigan. From Alan Bavley:

Walsh said a 2008 legal settlement the diocese reached with 47 sexual abuse plaintiffs includes a promise by the diocese to report suspected cases of child abuse to law enforcement and child protection authorities. “We feel the diocese is in direct violation (of that agreement),” he said.

Diocese spokeswoman Rebecca Summers responded Tuesday.

“The diocese has always and will continue to comply with Missouri law,” Summers said. “In December 2010, the diocese could not determine the identity of the persons depicted in any of the images on Shawn Ratigan’s computer, nor did we know if he took the photos or downloaded them.”

Prosecutors: Pa. mom made child eat raw chicken heart during ritual

The next time your kids complain about eating liver, be sure to tell them about this case.

Arizona deputies accused of smuggling drugs, people

In Maricopa County, Ariz., three deputies are accused of cooperating with a ring that smuggled heroin and illegal immigrants into the United States, the Arizona Republic reports.

Arpaio said he's angry by what the investigation revealed but said he's earned the public's trust by the way he's dealt with it. "This sheriff, if something comes to his attention, he doesn't sit on it, he takes action," he said. "I clean up my own shop, top to bottom."

Hat Tip: Many thanks, eephus!

L.A. cops interview suspects to see how standoffs could be resolved faster

Two Los Angeles police officers have been interviewing suspects arrested after standoffs to see how authorities could have handled the situation differently, the New York Times reports. They hope their research helps police end standoffs more quickly with less trouble.

The article includes an anecdote from a woman who was told to release her girlfriend during a standoff:

The use of the word “hostage” by the first officers who arrived, she told them, stunned her — her ex-girlfriend had insisted on staying and could have left at any time, she said — and it made her feel that she had no options left.

“At this point I’m thinking, there’s no going back,” Ms. Baxendale said.

Former president Mubarak, sons will stand trial, Egyptian officials say

Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's former president, was charged yesterday with corruption and playing a part in the shooting deaths of several protesters this spring. His sons also face corruption charges. It's not clear when -- or even if -- Mubarak will actually be forced to stand trial. (Some folks are skeptical about that point.) He's still technically in custody at a hospital.

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File

Now, THAT is a lovely mugshot

Former KISS guitarist accused of aggravated assault. Now I understand why they wear makeup.

A not-so-brilliant disguise: Teen shooting suspect tried to pass as girl

In Washington state, a 16-year-old accused in a fatal shooting reportedly to sneak past police, who were staking out the home of a relative, by wearing a wig, dress and high heels, KIRO-TV reports.

Mills was immediately taken into custody.

KCPD to hold drivers license checkpoint

Kansas City police will hold a drivers-license checkpoint from 9 p.m. to midnight somewhere in the city's South Patrol area, the department said. (Here's a map showing South Patrol's boundaries.)

Suspect: 'I'll try my best but I'm drunk'

Will Greenlee has a story about a Florida woman who allegedly fired her estranged husband's AR-15 at a target in his closet. The shot ended up hitting the washing machine, causing a flood in the house, police say. But you really need to read the article -- there's a whole twisted back story.

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!

Riverside officer still critical after lightning strike near Joplin

Just a quick update on the Riverside officer hurt by lightning yesterday in Joplin. That officer is Jeff Taylor, 31, and he's being treated for critical injuries at a Springfield hospital, Brian Burnes reports. Taylor has been with Riverside since 2005 and used to work in their K-9 unit.

Defense: Caylee Anthony died in accidental drowning

The Casey Anthony murder trial is under way, MSNBC reports:

The attorney for a Florida woman charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter outlined a bombshell defense Tuesday, contending the toddler accidentally drowned in a swimming pool and her grandparents covered it up.

AP Photo/Orange County Sheriff's Office, File

Prosecutors: A pimp named Jell-O kept prostitutes, dirt bikes, serval

The Denver Post has a story about an alleged pimp named "Jell-O" who's now facing criminal charges. I was fascinated by how Jell-O reportedly lives -- in a mansion filled with prostitutes, exotic animals and dirt bikes:

There, police say he and a cadre of prostitutes lived on 35 acres of land where they rode dirt bikes and four-wheelers, affidavits say. He kept exotic pets — a now-deceased serval (an African wild cat) named Goldie and a small mammal from the rainforest called a kinkajou, affidavits show.

Police say Wallace also kept a collection of guns, including an assault rifle and a pink handgun that were seized from a Parker storage shed.

His half-dozen vehicles included a leased Bentley and an orange Pontiac Fiero that was made to look like a Lamborghini.

One car — a blue-silver minivan — showed a logo of Bugs Bunny grabbing Jessica Rabbit with the words "choose up" written on the side, street slang encouraging prostitutes to pick a better pimp, according to police reports.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Barry!

'The garbage probably saved that baby's life'

In New York, an 18-year-old girl is accused of throwing her newborn baby down an apartment building's garbage chute -- a fall that did not kill the child. He apparently landed on a pile of garbage. Plus, the trash compactor was jammed. The AP says the baby was apparently unharmed.

Police: KC teen allegedly stabbed sis during fight over computer use

From Christine Vendel's report:

The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. in the 2900 block of the Paseo. Police said the sisters were arguing about who was going to use the computer when the older sister allegedly broke a third-floor window and used a glass shard to stab the victim.

Mom tried to sell 11-year-old's virginity for $10K, Salt Lake police allege

Authorities say the mother's boyfriend learned about the deal and alerted them.

KC driver accused of murder after passenger dies in crash

A Kansas City man, Keevon U. Mitchell, is facing several charges, including second-degree murder, after an alleged DUI-involved crash that left one of his passengers dead, Christine Vendel reports.

Police found a handgun and an assault-type rifle in the SUV. Mitchell told police he had five drinks and smoked marijuana at the club. He didn’t remember if he was driving “because he was just so drunk,” according to court records.

Argument over naked lady leads to stabbing, Florida police allege

A Florida woman is accused of stabbing her boyfriend during an argument over his penchant for "spending time in the public community restroom around a woman who was nude," the Naples News reports.