Queens residents arm themselves in the post-storm blackout from looters

“Ever since Sandy strafed the Queens peninsula and tore up the boardwalk, it’s become an often lawless place where cops are even scarcer than electrical power and food. Locals say they are arming themselves with guns, baseball bats, booby traps — even a bow and arrow — to defend against looters. Thugs have been masquerading as Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) workers, knocking on doors in the dead of night. But locals say the real workers have been nowhere in sight, causing at least one elected official to call for the city to investigate the utility.” Continue reading

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Texas Supreme Court reinstates judge who beat disabled daughter

“The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday lifted the suspension of an Aransas County judge who was caught on video beating his 16-year-old disabled daughter. In September, the commission issued a public warning, stating that Adams conduct discredited the judiciary because he had regularly presided over child custody, child abuse, and family violence cases. He will no longer preside over some cases brought by the Texas Department of Family and Protective services.” Continue reading

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U.S. soldier could face death over Afghan massacre

[Should have been a drone pilot instead.] “Bales faces 16 counts of murder, six of attempted murder, seven of assault, two of using drugs and one of drinking alcohol. Seventeen of the 22 victims were women or children and almost all were shot in the head. The 39-year-old allegedly left his base in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province on the night of March 11 to commit the killings, which included nine children. He allegedly set several of their bodies on fire. Prosecutors at the pre-trial hearing have alleged that Bales left the base twice to carry out the killings, returning in between and even telling a colleague what he had done.” Continue reading

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Ex-Michigan cop gets life in girlfriend’s death

“A disgraced, former Michigan police officer was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole for the strangulation death of his pregnant girlfriend that was intended to appear as a suicide. Kenneth Bluew also received 65 to 100 years in prison for the death of Jennifer Webb’s unborn son as Saginaw County Circuit Court Judge Darnell Jackson exceeded sentencing guidelines on an assault charge related to the fetus.” Continue reading

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Sarasota officer fired in wake of beating video

“Sarasota Police Officer Scott Patrick is out a job after he was caught three months ago on video beating and choking a man outside a Sarasota nightclub. The video, released by a Sarasota judge Wednesday, shows Officer Patrick throwing punch after punch after punch. Then he appears to choke the man being held down by a number of officers. According to Sarasota Police detectives, Officer Patrick admitted hitting Jason Dragash ten times in the face and choking him unconscious during his arrest for disorderly intoxication. The video was taken August 4th by security cameras outside Club Ivory on Main Street in Sarasota.” Continue reading

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Witness: Interior Secretary Salazar threatened Colorado reporter

“Interior Secretary Ken Salazar threatened to punch a reporter on a recent trip to Colorado, according to witnesses. Salazar took two questions from Dave Philipps, a reporter from the Colorado Springs Gazette, before disagreeing with his line of questioning. ‘Don’t you ever … You know what, you do that again… I’ll punch you out,’ Salazar reportedly told Philipps before ending the interview and walking off. The alleged incident took place when Salazar was in Colorado on Election Day, on behalf of the Obama campaign. ‘The secretary regrets the exchange,’ Interior spokesman Blake Androff told POLITICO.” Continue reading

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Judge nixes ‘possum drop’ New Year’s party in North Carolina

“A popular New Year’s celebration that draws thousands of tourists to the tiny North Carolina town of Brasstown for a party that ends in a ‘possum drop’ may no longer be held there, a judge ruled. The 18-year tradition in the town of 240 consisted of lowering the animal to the ground at midnight in a see-through cage decked out in Christmas garlands, like the ball that is dropped in New York’s Times Square — except the possum is alive.
The judge ruled that a sportsman’s license held by Clay Logan, who hosts the event, allowed him to take the animal from the wild, but not to possess and exhibit it.” Continue reading

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Former police chief gets probation for multiple drug charges

“Fisher, 49, was handed a 10-year suspended sentence Oct. 22 and will have to report to a probation officer. He also will have to register with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control because he was caught with 20 grams of methamphetamine. Court documents show that Fisher — who was charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute — had all but one count against him dismissed.” Continue reading

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