Oddities for the Month of August of 2022

This is a list of weird, wacky, and other unusual stories that we found around the web. It is for August, 2022.

Need a distraction from all those weather disasters (and non weather related disasters)? Why not give these stories a spin?

He Surrendered to Police. There Was Just One Problem…

… apparently, police weren’t around to go ahead and arrest him:

Authorities pursued a suspected stolen vehicle Thursday night, and though officers pulled off and abandoned the chase, the driver of the car eventually stopped at a Ralphs and attempted to surrender, even though no police were there.

The pursuit began after Los Angeles Police Department spotted a suspected stolen vehicle, a white Kia, in downtown Los Angeles just before 10 p.m., according to Officer Cruz.

The California Highway Patrol then picked up the pursuit, which traveled to the San Fernando Valley, then back toward downtown Los Angeles on the 5 Freeway before exiting onto the 110 Freeway.

The Kia exited near the campus of USC and began to run red lights, so the CHP ended its pursuit. The LAPD tracked the car for a bit, then pulled off as well.

By 11 p.m., the driver seemed to be going in circles in a residential area of Jefferson Park, with no police vehicles nearby. A passenger ran from the vehicle near Adams-Normandie, while the driver continued on.

At about 11:25 p.m., the driver stopped his car in a Ralphs parking lot, got out and put his hands above his head, despite the lack of law enforcement officers near him.

On an unrelated note, why would they name a restaurant “Ralphs”?

Actual Headline: Police: Hollsopple woman used pages from “spell book” to set car on fire

Apparently, people are still casting magic spells these days:

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — Police say a Somerset County woman is accused of using pages from a spell book to set a vehicle on fire.

According to a criminal complaint, 47-year-old Kristy Malzi, of Hollsopple, is facing charges related to reckless burning, terroristic threats and simple assault.

[…]

Witnesses say they then noticed a Ford Focus on the lot was on fire.

According to the complaint, an employee used a fire extinguisher to put the fire out and noticed several burnt pages from a book inside the engine compartment of the vehicle.

During their investigation, police say they found some of the burnt pages lying in the parking lot and the name of the book was “Wicca Book of Spells.”

Police noted that witnesses had told investigators that Malzi was believed to be practicing witchcraft.

They say she ignited the pages from the book before placing them on the driver side front seat of the car through an open window.

I wonder what the fire resistance rating is on a Ford Focus. 20%?

The Wheelbarrow Throwing Competition Got Off to a Rough Start This Year

At least they took the wheel off, so that’s reduced weight. Still painful to watch, though:

In other news, there’s a wheelbarrow throwing competition.

Drunk: ✓ Punching an Automated Parking Machine: ✓ A Police Sargent: ✓ Friend and Non Officer Driving Your Unmarked Cruiser: ✓ Florida: ✓

You know, I’m sure there are lots of drunk stories, but I don’t know if very many involve beating up an automated parking machine:

MIAMI – Surveillance video from inside of a Brickell hotel showed the moment a Miami police sergeant caused more than $1,400 worth of damage to an automated parking machine in a drunken moment of rage while off-duty.

Another piece of video, from the same night in August 2021, shows Sgt. Thomas Murray, who has worked for the Miami Police department since 2005, allowing his friend to drive his unmarked police cruiser.

Murray faced possible criminal charges, but instead, got an 80-hour suspension after the police union stepped in. But the internal disciplinary case may not be over.

Internal Affairs documents say Murray had gone out with a friend that night. When they came back to pay for parking, Murray got frustrated with the machine and punched it, causing $1,432 worth of damage.

Then, moments later, cameras show his friend driving his unmarked department-issued police vehicle, because, as Murray admitted to investigators, he was in no condition to drive having had several drinks that night.

Huh, I guess the parking machine didn’t press assault charges.

There Was One Problem With That IT Guy Running The Police Website for Free

Apparently, the arrangement came to an end:

NEWTON, Mass. — Officials in the city of Newton are investigating the former longtime technology director after they say he shut down the police website.

It turns out, the former tech director owned and had sole control over the domain and not the city of Newton.

A screenshot captured by the Boston Globe shows what users saw when entering the website URL for about a week in late June.

The website showed a grey screen with red text that said, “This site is not experiencing technical difficulties.”

The message went on to say, “NewtonPolice.com has provided the residents of Newton information for the past 20 years at no cost to the city. Please ask Mayor Fuller to have this site restored.”

The employee, who has since taken a new job, contends that the city owes him about $137,000 in pay for accumulated comp time over the past 20 years.

Ooooops!

“And the Lord Said, ‘The Congregation Shall Buy Thy Pastor a Luxury Watch'”

A Missouri pastor is in a bit of hot water after he called his congregation “poor” for not buying him a luxury watch. You’ll probably not be surprised that some people had a problem with that:

A Kansas City, Missouri, pastor who said his congregation was “poor, broke busted and disgusted” for not buying him the luxury watch he wanted has issued an apology after his remarks caused a stir on social media.

Carlton Funderburke, the senior pastor at Church at the Well, issued an apology video Tuesday for the “inexcusable” remarks he made in an Aug. 7 sermon.

“Though there is context behind the content of the clip, no context will suffice to explain the hurt and anguish caused by my words. I’ve spoken to those I am accountable to and have received their correction and instruction,” he said. “I have also privately apologized to our church, who has extended their love and support to me.”

In a video clip of his sermon posted on TikTok, Funderburke berates his church members for not “honoring” him with a Movado watch.

“This is how I know you’re still poor, broke, busted and disgusted, because of how you been honoring me. I’m not worth your McDonald’s money? I’m not worth your Red Lobster money? I ain’t worth your St. John Knits — y’all can’t afford nohow. I ain’t worth y’all Louis Vuitton? I ain’t worth your Prada? I’m not worth your Gucci?” he said in the nearly minutelong clip.

Huh… I don’t remember “Thou shalt buy thy pastor luxury items” being one of the ten commandments. Where in the Bible does it talk about that again?

Cow Tipping is So Last Decade. Shipping Container Tipping is Where It’s At Now

Not sure I’m really strong enough for that kind of activity:

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Two of the cargo containers placed to plug a gap in the border wall were tipped over this weekend.

Friday Governor Ducey’s office announced it would place about 60 cargo containers to close a gap in the border wall near Yuma.

Gov. Ducey’s spokesperson C.J. Karamargin said around midnight Sunday, Border Patrol found two containers that had been stacked on top of each other, tipped over and out of position. Each one weighs about 8800 pounds.

He says it’s assumed people moved the containers.

Even if they are empty, I think I’ll pass on that sport.

Lawyer Advice: There Can be a Downside to Bragging About Winning Your Case on Video

Especially when it results in the court case being vacated and a judge ordering a new trial:

When his medical malpractice trial concluded in April, Dr. Essam Quraishi left an Orange County civil courtroom in victory. Swiftly and unanimously, 12 jurors had decided that the gastroenterologist had not been responsible for the death of a patient.

That was before his lawyer, Robert McKenna III, appeared in an online celebration video, bragging of his work and saying the case involved “a guy that was probably negligently killed, but we kind of made it look like other people did it.”

Citing McKenna’s remarks, the judge who presided over the trial has vacated the verdict, ordering the case back to court. “I think I have to protect the system and say plaintiffs deserve a new trial,” Orange County Superior Court Judge James Crandall said at an Aug. 4 hearing.

D’oh!

Advice: Don’t Bring Drugs to Your Court Hearing About Another Drug Offence

It’s probably a better idea to leave the drugs at home when going to court:

LAGRANGE – A 46-year-old Hyde Park woman suspected of dealing drugs from her residence was arrested on August 16 in the Town of LaGrange Justice Court. Tami Halloran was arraigned on drug charges and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail.

The Dutchess County Drug Task Force investigated alleged drug sales by Halloran and executed a search warrant at her Madison Avenue Ext. home on August 5, 2022. Officers from the Hyde Park Police Department, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force raided the home but did not disclose what, if any, evidence was recovered.

Halloran was arrested while she was appearing in the Town of LaGrange Justice Court while answering an unrelated drug offense. During Tuesday’s arrest, Halloran was found in possession of a quantity of Fentanyl and other narcotics.

Halloran was charged with felony criminal sale of a controlled substance, arraigned, and remanded in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.

Heh heh heh… no one will ever suspect a thi- sonofa…

That Awkward Moment When You Find Out That the Pastor Used Your Offerings and Blew €150,000 of It on Porn Sites

Apparently, some people consider this “misappropriation“:

Marsaxlokk parish priest Luke Seguna is believed to have spent nearly €150,000 of parishioners’ money on pornographic websites as he faces accusations of money laundering in court.

Sources close to the investigation told Times of Malta that Seguna was accused of misappropriating parishioners’ donations and used large volumes on the sites that provide live sex shows by performing artists against a fee.

It is understood that this went on for several years.

Seguna is believed to have told investigators he was struggling with a “sexual crisis” triggered by a major health problem at the time.

When contacted, his lawyers José Herrera and Matthew Xuereb, said their client denies any wrongdoing.

Cue people asking “people pay for porn?”

Bad: Asking a Woman Her Age. Worse: During the Job Interview

Probably destined to not end well:

A woman who was asked her age during an interview for a job as a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver has received an apology and a financial settlement.

Janice Walsh believed she was later turned down for the role at the branch in Strabane, County Tyrone, because of her age and sex.

She took a discrimination case against the Strabane franchise and its owner at the time, Justin Quirk.

Mr Quirk paid Ms Walsh £4,250 and apologised for the incident.

BBC News NI has contacted Mr Quirk for a response but has yet to receive a reply.

Ms Walsh said the first question she was asked in her interview was about her age.

She said the interviewer wrote her answer before circling it and saying: “You don’t look it.”

Surprised a slap wasn’t involved as well.

Determination is Good… Unless it Involves Getting Hit By Vehicles

Apparently, the high score is now getting hit twice:

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Police say a suspect is in the hospital after he was hit by a car and a semi.

Police say they were called to a fight on Ohio Street Friday night.

They say a man tried to take someone’s truck and then jumped on his trailer.

When officers arrived, they say the suspect proceeded to run out onto eastbound Lloyd traffic and was hit by a car.

Police say they tried to help him, but he got up and ran away again, running through traffic and trying to take other cars passing by.

Officers say he jumped in front of a semi-truck and was hit, but got up and ran from officers again.

Well someone was clearly drinking milk. Not one bone crunched after all of that.

90 Minutes, 11 Pilots, 16 Aborted Landings

Apparently, it was rather windy that day:

Pilots of flights scheduled to reach Kolkata between 5pm and 6.30pm on Friday and again for a half-hour period after 8pm had a trying time as they faced strong crosswinds while descending to land with 11 captains being unable to stabilise the approach in multiple attempts and opting to abort touchdown and pull out full throttle rather than risk being driven off the runway and endanger the lives on board.

[…]

Some of the pilots told TOI that despite the warning of strong winds from the airport meteorological office, they were surprised at the intensity of the wind shear and cross winds they encountered while attempting to land at Kolkata airport on Friday evening.

“The winds striking the aircraft from the left caused it to veer away, causing a 20° difference between the axis of the plane and that of the runway. We had to abort landing and hover till fuel distresses forced flights to divert,” a pilot said.

[…]

Also, when there is a nor’wester warning, pilots rarely attempt to land and opt to hover till conditions improve. But on Friday, attempts by flights to land during the 90-minute period were repeatedly foiled with some like a Vistara Airlines flight nearly touching runway before pulling out of the landing sequence.

“An Airbus A320 aircraft or a Boeing B737 plane can withstand crosswinds up to 40 kmph and gusting up to 75kmph. But on Friday evening, the winds were far more severe with pilots experiencing crosswinds of 93kmph at 1,600ft and 83kmph at 900ft. It wasn’t possible to stabilise the approach and alight the aircraft with the runway. The problem was not just aligning with the localiser but also maintaining the vertical profile of the aircraft,” a captain said.

Invest in brown pants futures.

News Addiction May Be Bad for Your Mental Health. Please Read This News Article for More Information

Everything is an addiction eventually:

People with an obsessive urge to constantly check the news are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, as well as physical ill health, finds a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Communication.

During the last two years we have lived through a series of worrying global events, from the COVID pandemic to Russia invading Ukraine, large-scale protests, mass shootings and devastating wildfires. For many people, reading bad news can make us feel temporarily powerless and distressed.

For others, being exposed to a 24-hour news cycle of continually evolving events can have serious impacts on mental and physical wellbeing – as these new findings, out today, show, with those who have a high-levels of news addiction reporting “significantly greater physical ill-being”.

“Witnessing these events unfold in the news can bring about a constant state of high alert in some people, kicking their surveillance motives into overdrive and making the world seem like a dark and dangerous place,” says Bryan McLaughlin, associate professor of advertising at the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University.

Wow… that’s interesting. *clicks onto the next news article*

Drew Wilson on Twitter: @icecube85 and Facebook.

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