In The News

True items from the news. Truth really is stranger than fiction.


GULLIBILITY 101.
At the start of his anatomy and physiology class at Polk Community College, Bradley Neil Slosberg asked his students to write their names and Social Security numbers on a sign-in sheet. "We all signed it," student Amanda Bracewell said. "We figured, "He's a teacher, what is he going to do with it?' "Glad you asked. Police said Slosberg and his girlfriend stole the identities of at least three students and filled out credit card applications in their names.

BUT I'VE GOT REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE!
For weeks, state troopers and Broward County police had spotted the same motorcycle rider cutting through traffic at speeds of up to 140 mph. He managed to flee at least twice and almost caused wrecks involving troopers. Finally they caught him. The culprit: a man set to take an exam to join the Florida Highway Patrol. "We told him (not to) bother showing up," an FHP spokesman said of David Carpenter, 24. "Getting arrested is an automatic
disqualifier."

WAY BETTER THAN PLAYING PUNCH BUGGY.
Among the hundreds of arrests in Jacksonville last year were these: a driver and his passenger were charged with showing obscene material to minors after authorities determined children in surrounding vehicles could see their porn playing on a TV screen in their vehicle. Then there was the woman who kept calling 911 to reach the handsome police officer she had seen. "I just didn't know of any other way to get in touch with (him)," she explained. "I think he's hot and I wanted to hit on him."

RETURN OF THE SOUP NAZI.
An employee of a Tamarac Walgreens allegedly stabbed a co-worker during an argument over who could microwave her soup first.

THAT'S A MISDEMEANOR?
Daniel Andrew Wolcott, 22, was charged with felony theft and misdemeanor reckless conduct after police say he stole a 10-passenger, $7-million jet and took it on a 350-mile joy ride from Florida to Georgia.

RUNNING ON EMPTY.
If you're going to steal a gas station employee's car, don't come back an hour later to get a fill-up. Investigators say that bit of logic escaped Artemio Castillo and Ernesto Garcia. Pam Pease was sweeping the parking area of the Pensacola gas station where she worked when she noticed a familiar car pull up to pump No. 7. It was her blue 1994 Ford Escort with a missing hubcap. She had reported it stolen less than an hour earlier. Pease called police, and Castillo and Garcia were arrested a short time later.

NOW IF THE POT HAD BEEN WRAPPED . . .
As he was leaving a Jacksonville Starbucks, Delshawn Prejean told the server, "I left your tip on the counter." When the server looked down, she saw a small amount of unwrapped marijuana. But Prejean was gone. Of course, Prejean returned the very next day, the server recognized him, and police were called.

AND HE GOT IT THERE IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES.
A robbery attempt and a gunshot wound to the leg didn't stop a Tampa pizza delivery man from making his scheduled stops. Thomas Stefanelli, 37, said dedication to his job at Hungry Howie's Pizza kept him going after a struggle with a robber left him bleeding from a bullet hole in his left thigh. His first stop turned out to be a setup: a vacant house where the robbery attempt occurred. Then he drove to his next delivery address, dropped off the pie and called his boss to ask him to call the police while he made three more deliveries.

CONLAMINATIONS, YOU AM GRADUATED!
Hundreds of Lee County high school seniors did not receive their diplomas because their names were misspelled.

LAWYER JOKE.
A Monroe County prosecutor who had been drinking thought it would be funny to run naked across a parking lot and hop into a friend's car. He jumped into the wrong car and was arrested.

SPECIAL DELIVERY.
A Fort Lauderdale police officer stopped a doctor for speeding on his way to deliver a baby and took him to the maternity ward in handcuffs.