Uber driver charged with raping female passenger
An Uber driver accused by prosecutors of having sexually assaulted a female passenger after she sought a ride home from a gathering in the upscale seaside city of Newport Beach, California, was charged with rape on Wednesday.
Angel Sanchez, 36, was arrested a day after the March 30 attack, which took place on a street near the woman’s home in Santa Ana, California. The victim in the case was not identified by authorities.
Sanchez, who is scheduled for an initial court appearance in the case next week, faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison if convicted.
Representatives for Uber could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Prosecutors say the woman had been attending a company gathering in Newport Beach and her colleagues requested an Uber ride to take her home. They added Sanchez drove the victim to Santa Ana before sexually assaulting her.
Man arrested for holding neighbor captive in backyard pit
A man in Ohio with a history of mental illness was arrested early Wednesday after a woman was found trapped in a pit in a shed in his back yard, police said.
Dennis Dunn, 45, of Blanchester, was arrested after police responded to his home following a neighbor’s report of cries and screams from the backyard shed. The woman, a neighbor, who was found inside the hole — more than 3 feet deep and 2 feet wide — was unable to speak when she was pulled out, WLWT reports.
The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment and later released. Her mother reported her missing just hours before she was found in the hole, which was covered with wood and other heavy objects, WLWT reports.
The pit also was covered by a heavy wooden board, making it impossible for the victim to escape, WXIX reports.
Dunn, who was charged with one count of kidnapping, eventually came out of the home after four hours, walking out the front door “like he was going for a stroll,” investigators told WLWT.
Dunn was arrested earlier this month on charges of disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana after he called police four times to claim he was hearing voices and that people were trying to break into his home. Police Chief Scott Reinbolt said the incident highlighted the flaws in the state’s mental health system, the Wilmington Journal News reports.
“Each time an officer checked the home and surrounding area and found no one about,” Reinbolt told the newspaper.
On the fourth call to police on April 6, a responding officer reported smelling marijuana inside the home.
“Dunn told the officer that he smokes marijuana to help calm his nerves, then volunteered that he also grows it inside the house for his personal use, asserting his belief that growing marijuana under such circumstances is legal in Ohio,” Reinbolt said. “In a bedroom of the residence the officer found several small, potted marijuana plants. The plants were seized … Contrary to Dunn’s assertion, growing marijuana, even for personal use, remains illegal in Ohio.”
Reinbolt said it was unfortunate that Dunn was released from a mental health hospital within 24 hours.
“It would appear to me that Mr. Dunn is in need of some sort of psychiatric treatment,” Reinbolt said.
Reinbolt noted that Ohio has closed most of its inpatient mental health facilities during the past few decades, leaving few options for those who need help.
“Unfortunately, I am convinced that doing so has left individuals like Mr. Dunn without the care and treatment they need and deserve,” he said.
via: http://nypost.com/2017/04/26/man-arrested-for-holding-neighbor-captive-in-backyard-pit/
Ex-Teacher in Texas Accused of Having Sex With 4 Students, one time was a 3-way
A former Texas kindergarten teacher is accused of having sex with four high school students, two of them at the same time, according to an arrest warrant released Monday. Heather Lee Robertson, 38, was arrested Saturday on four counts of an improper relationship, KTRE reports.
On April 20, police began investigating after receiving information about Robertson and several teenage students.
One student told police that he and Robertson started talking and “sexting” on Snapchat, the station said. Sometime after spring break, she asked him to come to her apartment to have sex, according to police — and that’s when he asked if a friend could come and join them.
Once at the apartment, they all talked for a few minutes before Robertson allegedly asked them to have sex with her.
Both students admitted to the incident.
In addition, two other students admitted to having a sexual relationship with Robertson on multiple occasions.
In an interview with investigators, Robertson said that she didn’t make the boys use protection because she couldn’t have children anymore, according to the Lufkin Daily News. She also said she wasn’t able to remember details about the encounters because she had recently started drinking heavily, the warrant stated.
On Friday, Hudson Independent School District Superintendent Mary Ann Whiteker released a statement to the paper:
“We acted immediately and began our investigation,” Whiteker said. “We pursued with the correct protocol we have to follow. I accepted the resignation (Thursday) afternoon, and it has been submitted through the appropriate legal channels. Our investigation has been finalized.”
If convicted, Robertson could face up to 20 years in prison, police said.
via: http://ktla.com/2017/04/24/ex-teacher-accused-of-having-sex-with-4-students-2-at-the-same-time/
Woman busted for pepper-spraying, robbing Uber driver
A Florida woman was taken into custody Friday for an Uber ride that ended in robbery.
Police said Lontaisha Sharquay Durham, 21, and another woman pepper-sprayed and robbed an Uber driver during an April 4 ride in Delray Beach, Florida.
When the two women reached their destination, one of them allegedly used the pepper spray on the driver, Hermionne Belfort, temporarily blinding her, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Belfort said when she was able to see again, the passengers had vanished and her wallet, which was in the center car’s console, was missing.
The 29-year-old Uber driver reported the incident and was treated for exposure to pepper spray.
Police found Durham three days later with a nearly-empty bottle of pepper spray in her purse a few blocks from the scene of the robbery.
Durham was identified by the Uber driver in a police lineup and arrested, the Palm Beach Post reported.
She was booked Friday at Palm Beach County Jail, where she is being held on $3,000 bail. The arrest report does not indicate if the other suspect is at-large.
via: http://nypost.com/2017/04/25/woman-busted-for-pepper-spraying-robbing-uber-driver/
Army vet tied service dog to tree, shot it 5 times at close range
An Army veteran was thrown behind bars Tuesday for allegedly tying her PTSD therapy dog to a tree and shooting him five times at close range — killing the poor pup for no apparent reason while a soldier filmed it.
Marinna Rollins, 23, was arrested by police in Fayetteville, N.C. and charged with animal cruelty and conspiracy after footage of the deranged incident reportedly surfaced on Facebook.
Court documents obtained by the Fayetteville Observer describe how she teamed up with her boyfriend, Jarren Heng, 25, for the seemingly random killing earlier this month.
The couple allegedly led the white-and-gray pit bull to a wooded area before tying him to a tree and taking his life. The canine — dubbed Camboui, but referred to as “Cam” or “Cammy” — was ultimately shot five times with a rifle as Rollins and Heng, who is still enlisted and stationed at Fort Bragg, took turns filming him.
“Let me hit him once,” Heng can be heard saying in the video.
Throughout the disturbing clip, he and Rollins both laugh and joke about the dog’s brutal death before they eventually dump him in a shallow grave.
“That’s his nerves going,” Rollins says, as Camboui’s body begins to convulse.
She and Heng can also be seen drinking alcohol in several pictures that they took before allegedly killing him.
“It’s been real Cammy,” Rollins says while burying him. “I love you, you’re my puppy, you’re a good puppy. But…”
It’s unclear if the pair had been putting Cambouiout of its misery or whether he was suffering from sort of illness at the time of his death — which took place on either April 16 or 17, according to WTVD.
Camboui was reportedly given to Rollins as an emotional support dog after she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.
In April, the Army vet began writing posts on Facebook in the apparent attempt to find the dog a new home.
According to the Observer, she wrote on April 17 that Camboui would be heading to his new owner soon.
“Sad he has to go, but he will be much happier where he is heading off to,” Rollins reportedly said.
“He’s going to have such a great new life,” Heng replied, adding a smiley face emoji to his post.
A Facebook page, titled “Justice For Cam,” has posted the graphic footage of Camboui being killed, in the attempt to bring more attention to the incident.
“A lot of people are getting upset that this video is posted here,” the moderator wrote Monday.
“You do not have to click play and watch it but let me clarify something. Marinna Rollins is trying to claim that the dog was sick and suffering and that she did this out of Mercy. The video has been shared, to prove otherwise, because we don’t want her to get off easy for the crime she committed. This was clearly not mercy.”
An investigation by Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and Cumberland County Animal Control ultimately found that Rollins and Heng had both broken the law when they took Cam’s life. It not only turned up the video, but also several text messages of theirs in which they allegedly discussed the shooting.
“As graphic as the videos are, they tell Camboui’s story, that he was unable to do,” the moderators of the “Justice For Cam” page said. “Many people thought he was going to a new home, and family. These videos prove otherwise, that he was brought out to a wooded area, shot multiple times, and then beaten and dragged to a shallow grave. Like a piece of trash, not a well taken care of ESA. His body is still out there, somewhere in those NC woods.”
Rollins’ bail was initially set at $10,000 Tuesday, while Heng’s was set at $5,000 after his arrest on Monday night. But they were both raised to $25,000 following requests from prosecutors.
“They can be heard on the tape laughing and giggling as the dog was being killed,” Cumberland County District Attorney Clark Reaves said Tuesday night during the couple’s first court appearance.
“It was a therapy dog.”
Rollins and Heng have each been charged with animal cruelty and conspiracy. It’s unclear when their next court date is.
via: http://nypost.com/2017/04/26/army-vet-tied-service-dog-to-tree-shot-it-5-times-at-close-range-cops/
Father Hangs Baby Daughter on Facebook Live, Then Commits Suicide
A Thai man videotaped himself killing his 11-month-old daughter and posted it to Facebook, then took his own life, police said Tuesday.
WOMAN CLAIMS FITBIT EXPLODED ON HER WRIST ” I got pieces of plastic burned into my arm”
Diana Mitchell had only owned her Fitbit Flex 2 for two weeks when the alleged incident occurred as she was reading a book. She said there was no indication that there was anything wrong with the device.
“The Fitbit itself is totally melted. The bracelet melted, and I got pieces of plastic burned into my arm,” she told WTMJ-TV.
Mitchell said her doctor had to pick pieces of plastic out of her wound. A local emergency care provider confirmed that Mitchell was treated the day after she said the explosion occurred.
The Fitbit does come with a warning, cautioning consumers that “the device contains electrical equipment that could cause injury if not handled properly.”
Fitbit officials have issued a statement saying that they are investigating the incident. They said they are not aware of any similar complaints.
Kim Zolciak’s son undergoes surgery after dog attack
Kim Zolciak’s 4-year-old son, Kash Biermann, was attacked by a dog on Saturday.
“I don’t know where to start,” the reality star shared in a lengthy Instagram note posted Sunday afternoon. “The last 14hrs of our lives has been a living nightmare.”
“My sweet @kashbiermann was bit by a dog and had very traumatic injuries,” the star explained. “I’ve never prayed so hard, or been so scared in my life. My husband, our daughters, Kj, Tracey, his nanny, Michael Beck and everyone close to us all pulled together and held each other up.”
Zolciak, 38, says Kash underwent a long surgery and the family is now praying for a speedy recovery. She also posted a snap of Kash resting in a hospital bed covered with an animal-print blanket while his father, Kroy Biermann, holds his hand and strokes his head.
Because of the circumstances, the former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” fixture will not attend Sunday night’s taping of “Watch What Happens Live” in New York City.
“Will do my best to make it up very soon! Thank you for all your prayers and most importantly thank you God for your protection,” she added. “A very special thank you to my incredible medical team! A few days in the hospital and we will be back home.”
It’s unclear what type of dog attacked Kash or where the incident took place.
A request for comment from Zolciak’s team wasn’t immediately returned.
10 year old autistic boy in FL arrested for felony battery against a teacher
When John Haygood, a 10-year-old boy with autism, was arrested last week at a school in Florida, he kept repeating that he didn’t know what was happening, as seen in shaky cellphone video taken by his mother.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t understand,” he cried out. In the video, his hands are cuffed as two officers escort him to the back seat of a police car.
His mother, Luanne Haygood, followed behind them while recording the incident on her phone. In the video, John appears distraught, and yells some profanities.
Luanne is heard in the video speaking to the officers, “Excuse me, do you have any paperwork or anything you can say to me?”
John, a student at Okeechobee Achievement Academy in Okeechobee, Florida, was arrested at the school last week for felony battery against a teacher in an October incident, allegedly punching and kicking his teacher, which left scratches and marks, according to an incident report from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred after John was being disruptive in class, throwing paper balls around the classroom and hitting other students, the report said. His teacher asked him to go to time out. When John refused, the teacher attempted to remove him, and that’s when John attacked, the report said.
The report also noted that John had allegedly made threats to kill the teacher in a previous incident. On November 1, the teacher requested to pursue criminal charges since John “had been given plenty of opportunities to change his behavior and has not,” the report said.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how a person behaves and interacts with others, communicates, and learns. Many people with autism, for instance, are hypersensitive to and dislike being touched, as well as might be upset by a slight change in a routine.
In October, John was expelled from the Academy and has been completing his schoolwork from home since then, according to CNN affiliate WPBF. Last Wednesday, he returned to the Academy to take a standardized test, but was handcuffed and transported to a juvenile detention center, where he spent the night.
The next day, John appeared in court on charges of assaulting his teacher, was then released, and is now scheduled to appear in court again on May 11, WPBF reported.
CNN contacted Luanne Haygood about the incident and subsequent arrest, but has not heard back at time of publication.
“I know what happened six months ago,” Luanne told WPBF when her son was released, admitting that she knew her son had an incident with a school staff member. But she added that she was never warned of any warrants for his arrest or imminent problems with law enforcement.
“I never seen an arrest report, I never saw the charges I just know what was told that he may or may not press charges,” she said.
On Tuesday, Luanne posted to her Facebook page that she obtained copies of police records for John.
The school district sent the following statement to CNN in response to John’s arrest:
“It has been district procedure to invite students in to take the Florida Standards Assessment. The district would not invite someone to one of our campuses for the sole purpose to arrest. The district routinely assists students by providing services from our board certified behavioral analyst, licensed mental health counselors, school social workers, and psychologists.
“As a team, these individuals develop interventions, conduct assessments, and offer support both at school and in the home in order to assist students and families.
“The district is unable to provide specific information as to both current and past incidents regarding this or any other student due to educational laws and rules. It is our hope that we can continue to work with all families to help their students improve both behaviorally and academically.”
Ann Abramowitz, a professor of psychology at Emory University in Atlanta, with no firsthand knowledge of the situation, said the sequence of events didn’t provide her with enough information to comment on John’s incident. However, various students with autism tend to benefit from certain types of carefully planned disciplinary strategies, compared to other types of discipline.
Those strategies include maintaining a calm and orderly environment, maintaining a schedule for the student, and preventing any outbursts of distress, anger or aggression, she said.
“Keep kids engaged to prevent outbursts, because once outbursts occur, they can be very challenging to manage and can lead to situations where it exceeds the school’s capacity to manage the behavior,” Abramowitz said, adding that “I can’t really think where being put in handcuffs would be helpful to a child, and of course it just seems intuitively obvious that it could be traumatic.”
American Airlines flight attendant accused of whacking mom with stroller
A woman was thrown off a plane Friday night — after a flight attendant allegedly whacked her with her baby’s stroller.
The American Airlines plane was at the gate in San Francisco’s airport when the encounter took place. The woman is seen on the video crying afterward.
Fellow passenger, Surain Adyanthaya, posted it online with the caption:
“OMG. Flight attendant violently took a stroller from a lady with a baby on my flight, hitting her and just missing the baby. Then he tried to fight a passenger who stood up for her.’’
“Then he tried to fight a passenger who stood up for her.’’
An airline employee boards and talk to the man who stood up for her. Her defender says, “you do that to me and I’ll knock you flat. You almost hurt a baby.’’ The employee replies, “stay out of it.’’
The woman and her kids are escorted off the plane, but the flight attendant is allowed to board.
American issued a press release saying, “What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers.’’
The airline upgraded the woman to first class and put her on another flight. It added the employee was “removed from duty.’’
This incident followed a similar confrontation Apr. 9 on a United Airlines plane in Chicago, when airline employes physically manhandled a doctor off the plane after he refused to give up his seat. He was left bloody with several injuries.