Curses, foiled again
Police said two men making their getaway after an armed robbery in Orange County, Fla., tried to distract authorities from pursuing them by reporting a carjacking. The vehicle they described, however, was the same white Honda Accord they were driving. Law enforcement officers spotted it and arrested the suspects, charging them with filing a false report in addition to the armed robbery charge. (Orlando’s WFTV-TV) During a traffic stop in Great Falls, Mont., Jonothan Ray Gonsalez, who had three outstanding warrants for his arrest, told police his name was Timothy Michael Koop Jr. The officer learned that Timothy Michael Koop Jr. was also wanted and arrested Gonsalez. When he told authorities his real name, they added a charge of issuing a false report. (Great Falls Tribune)
Smoking-class heroes
Mark Moody, 40, was taking a cigarette break on the window ledge of his second-floor apartment and talking on his cell phone when two New York City police officers stopped and asked if he intended to commit suicide. He explained the ledge was his regular smoking spot and pointed out that he was only 12 feet off the ground and would probably just sprain his ankle if he jumped. The officers insisted he come down anyway. When he refused, they summoned three ambulances and four other patrol cars, broke down Moody’s door and took him to a hospital psychiatric ward for observation. The on-duty psychiatrist interviewed him briefly, concluded he was sane, apologized and released him. Moody, who happens to be a lawyer, filed a $400,000 lawsuit against the city and the officers. (New York Post)
Silver lining
New York City authorities credit a post-Christmas blizzard with saving the life of Vangelis “Angelos” Kapatos, 26, who tried to commit suicide on Jan. 2 by jumping from his ninth-floor apartment window. Police said he landed on top of a mountain of trash bags that had been piling up since nearly 2.5 feet of snow fell on Dec. 26. (New York Post)
No-rest room
Jacqueline Cutright, 70, told police she was in the bathroom of her Akron, Ohio, home around 2 a.m. when a man wearing a clown mask threw open the bathroom door and threatened her with a knife. “I was on the commode,” she said, “so it was kind of a surprise.” The intruder demanded money, took some cash and costume jewelry, then fled in Cutright’s 1991 Ford Escort. He made it to the end of the street before rolling the car twice, according to police responding to Cutright’s 911 call. Officers detained Cory Buckey, 22, who confessed after a knife fell from his pants pocket. (Akron’s WJW-TV)
Compiled from the nation’s press by Roland Sweet. Authentication on demand.