Apologies for missing this article last weekend. I got waylaid to help my mom go buy a new car. Which took far, far longer than it should have. She got a nice brand new Explorer ST. She insisted on the sport model. Doesn’t want to look like a grandma. \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n
The former Alexandria [Minnesota] police chief will serve four days in jail and pay $65,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of misconduct by a public official.<\/p>\n
Rick Wyffels was originally charged with felony theft by swindle in April of 2022 after being accused of using his position as police chief to make unauthorized purchases with a city-issued credit card. During a year-long investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), sparked by the discovery of irregular financial records by the city, agents discovered that between Dec. 16, 2014, and July 7, 2020, Wyffels had used his city credit card to purchase computers, cell phones, televisions, security cameras, lawn care items and other merchandise not in use by the department.<\/p>\n
In total, prosecutors said the items allegedly purchased by Wyffels during that period totaled nearly $66,000.<\/p>\n
The plea agreement negotiated with Stearns County prosecutors calls for Wyffels to pay $65,000 to the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (which covered the losses), serve a 120-day jail sentence (with 116 of those stayed), and be on unsupervised probation for a year while maintaining a clean record.<\/p>\n
Stearns County took over the case from Douglas County prosecutors to avoid a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n
In a news release announcing the plea agreement, city officials made clear that since the discovery of wrongdoing and Wyffels’ retirement in 2020, Alexandria has implemented new policies and procedures for purchasing and credit card usage while emphasizing the importance of high ethical standards for its public employees.<\/p>\n
“Although the city of Alexandria was subjected to an egregious abuse of power during Mr. Wyffels\u2019 time of employment, our community can move on from this experience with honor and dignity,” reflected current Mayor Bobie Osterberg. “Alexandria is strong. We learn from experiences, and we grow together.”<\/p>\n
Rick Wyffels served as Alexandria’s police chief from 2006 to 2020.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Four days in jail will really teach him a lesson!<\/p>\n
Source; KARE 11<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2018Vindicating\u2019: County commissioner\u2019s arrest violated her constitutional rights, judge rules<\/h3>\n
A U.S. district judge has ruled a Trumbull County commissioner\u2019s constitutional rights were violated when her colleagues had her arrested during a public meeting after she criticized the sheriff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw the decision, it was absolutely vindicating,\u201d Commissioner Niki Frenchko said.<\/p>\n
The 81-page opinion was issued Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge J. Philip Calabrese.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere in America, we do not arrest our political opponents,\u201d Judge Calabrese wrote. \u201cThis case tests that longstanding norm as well as our Constitution\u2019s robust protections for free speech that allow us to criticize our representatives and public officials. Plaintiff Niki Frenchko won election to the three-member Board of County Commissioners of Trumbull County, Ohio. She was an outsider, and the only member of County government from her political party. As a public official, she used her position to needle the incumbents and, in her view, hold them accountable for their decisions. For their part, they viewed her as ignorant of the basic workings of county government and a nuisance, to put it mildly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frenchko was arrested by two sheriff\u2019s deputies during a July 2022 commissioners meeting, after she was critical of Sheriff Paul Monroe.<\/p>\n
The deputies told Frenchko she was disrupting the public meeting. She was removed from the meeting and handcuffed.<\/p>\n
The charge was later dismissed. Frenchko filed the federal lawsuit last March. She is represented by attorneys David Betras and Matt Miller-Novak.<\/p>\n
Betras said the federal judge found that former Trumbull County commissioner Frank Fuda and current commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa, the sheriff and the two deputies \u201cwillfully violated Commissioner Niki Frenchko\u2019s rights under the First and Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution when they repeatedly attempted to silence her and prevent her from representing the interests of her constituents.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe judge also stripped them of their sovereign immunity, which means they can be held individually liable for monetary damages,\u201d Betras told the FOX 8 I-Team.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Source; Fox 8<\/a><\/p>\n
Dad rages over probation for California audiologist who stabbed son 108 times: \u2018A license to kill\u2019<\/h3>\n
I’ve been told (repeatedly) that weed is a harmless drug…<\/p>\n
A heartbroken dad warned a lenient California judge established a de facto \u201clicense to kill\u201d by sentencing his son\u2019s killer to probation this week after she stabbed him 108 times in a pot-induced frenzy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no respect and no responsibility for anything anymore,\u201d Sean O\u2019Melia told The Post Wednesday. \u201cIf you can stab someone 108 times and get probation, we\u2019re going to have nothing but anarchy and chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bryn Spejcher, now 33, had taken a hit of marijuana from a bong while at victim Chad O\u2019Melia\u2019s Thousand Oaks apartment in 2018 when she suddenly began attacking him with a knife.<\/p>\n
Despite ingesting a single toke of a standard pot leaf, Spejcher was launched into an extended rage, stabbing the 26-year-old accountant 108 times.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for Spejcher, an audiologist, argued that she wasn\u2019t responsible for the bloody slaying because of her intoxicated state.<\/p>\n
The Ventura County District Attorney initially charged Spejcher with manslaughter, before a new DA downgraded the rap to involuntary manslaughter.<\/p>\n
The lesser charge carried a maximum term of five years.<\/p>\n
But Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Worley declined to impose any jail time, instead opting for two years of probation and community service.<\/p>\n
The wrist slap astounded O\u2019Melia\u2019s father, who said his son had only known his killer for a few weeks, after they met at a local dog park.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was given a free pass for murder,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll say this without reservation. The judge was biased the whole time, during the whole case. And he proved it with this sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The parent said the weed had been purchased at a local dispensary, and that there were no other reports of it inducing psychotic episodes in others.<\/p>\n
He said he believes that Spejcher had a predisposition that made her susceptible to marijuana-induced psychosis, but said she was deserving of jail time.<\/p>\n
The father ripped Spejcher\u2019s defense for shifting blame to his son, who had purchased the marijuana.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son did nothing to that girl,\u201d he said. \u201cHe showed her nothing but kindness. She is the one that asked for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Melia recalled getting a knock at his door after the incident and seeing two sheriff\u2019s deputies standing in front of him.<\/p>\n
The officers told him his son was dead, and that the scene was too gory for him to view.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just so angry, so disappointed,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was no justice here.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Melia said he was also concerned Spejcher \u2014 or someone else \u2014 could hurt somebody in the future, blame it on mind-altering substances, and receive little punishment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat judge just gave everyone in this state the license to kill,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Source; NY Post<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2018Colorado Springs to Denver in 20 minutes\u2019 video leads to YouTuber\u2019s arrest warrant<\/h3>\n
A YouTuber known for his motorcycle videos that typically depict him riding at speeds far above the posted limit on public roadways has a warrant for his arrest by the Colorado State Patrol.<\/p>\n
On Sept. 28, 2023, the YouTuber Gixxer Brah posted a video showing his ride from Colorado Springs to Denver, which took him about 20 minutes, and bragged about his high speed online. CSP said numerous drivers contacted the agency out of concern for the high speeds.<\/p>\n
The Dallas Police Department, El Paso County District Attorney\u2019s Office and Colorado State Patrol worked together and identified the rider as Rendon Dietzmann, 32, of Texas.<\/p>\n
Dietzmann showed himself driving on Interstate 25 from Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs to the Denver metro area, reaching speeds over 150 mph and exhibiting what police say are dangerous tactics to fast-gate traffic, including squeezing through gaps between vehicles and riding on the shoulder.<\/p>\n
The video does not appear to be publicly posted anymore, but other videos on his channel highlight his speed in other dangerous situations.<\/p>\n
The Colorado State Patrol said the video demonstrates a \u201ccomplete disregard for safety\u201d for himself and other motorists.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, this YouTuber\u2019s driving behavior is not unusual or out of the ordinary,\u201d CSP said in a release. \u201cMr. Dietzmann has posted multiple videos from different parts of the country on his channel exhibiting similar driving actions.\u201d<\/p>\n
CSP issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of:<\/p>\n
\n
- Menacing \u2014 placed another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury<\/li>\n
- Engaged in a speed contest<\/li>\n
- Reckless endangerment<\/li>\n
- Reckless driving<\/li>\n
- Speeding 40 mph over prima facie limit<\/li>\n
- Engaged in an exhibition of speed<\/li>\n
- Vehicle had no number plates attached<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cIllegal and reckless driving behavior will not be tolerated in Colorado,\u201d Sgt. Troy Kessler, of the Colorado State Patrol\u2019s Public Affairs Office, said in a release. \u201cWe care too much for those traveling on our roadways to ignore the blatant disregard for the safety of others.\u201d<\/p>\n
This quarter, CSP is focusing its education efforts on its Keep Your Cool campaign to remind drivers to stay within the speed limit and not be aggressive drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an extreme example, but sadly a real one,\u201d Kessler said in the release. \u201cIf you drive like this, you can expect to be arrested when you are located. This is the best outcome for a person who drives violently since the smallest mistake could result in his death or that of an innocent person in the area. We simply have \u2018no tolerance\u2019 towards someone who so blatantly disregards the well-being of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the department shared that speeding was the leading causal factor of fatal and injury crashes in 2023.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Source; KDVR<\/a><\/p>\n
Fish eater dies after cooking deadly pufferfish given to him as present<\/h3>\n
A Brazilian man named Magno Sergio Gomes tragically died after ingesting a poisonous pufferfish that packs enough venom to kill 30 humans.<\/p>\n
\u201cMagno had never cleaned pufferfish before,\u201d the deceased\u2019s sister Myrian Gomes Lopes told Newsflash of the tragic accident, which occurred over the weekend in Aracruz, Espirito Santa, Newsflash reported.<\/p>\n
An unnamed friend had reportedly given Magno, 46, the deadly seafood as a gift, although its exact provenance remains unclear.<\/p>\n
Brazil is reportedly home to 20 species of pufferfish \u2014 also known as blowfish \u2014 a dozen of which live in Espirito Santa.<\/p>\n
Despite never having handled the species before, the Brazilian and his buddy gutted the fish, removed its liver and then boiled and ate it with lemon juice.<\/p>\n
Less than an hour later, both Magno and his friend fell seriously ill. \u201cMagno started to feel numb in his mouth,\u201d his distraught sister described.<\/p>\n
Alarmed, the patient drove himself to the hospital, whereupon the numbness spread and he went into cardiac arrest for 8 minutes.<\/p>\n
Magno was specifically suffering from the effects of tetrodotoxin, an extremely potent poison that originates in the liver and gonads of pufferfish and other marine species, the US Centers for Disease Control reported.<\/p>\n
Used by the blowfish to deter predators, the toxin is over 1,000 times deadlier than cyanide with no known antidote.<\/p>\n
When ingested in large quantities, it interferes with the \u201ctransmission of signals from nerves to muscles\u201d and paralyzes the muscles, potentially leading to death.<\/p>\n
Myrian revealed that her brother was intubated and put on life support but to no avail. Magno passed away on January 27 after spending 35 days in the hospital, during which his system was paralyzed by the toxin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe doctors told our family that he died from poisoning, which had quickly traveled to his head,\u201d the bereaved relative described. \u201cThree days after being admitted, he had several seizures, which greatly affected his brain, leaving little chance of recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miraculously, Magno\u2019s buddy survived, but is having trouble with his legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not walking very well,\u201d Myrian said. \u201cHe was neurologically impacted, but he is recovering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Interestingly, raw pufferfish is considered a delicacy in Japan, where it is locally known as fugu.<\/p>\n
Gourmands reportedly enjoy the slight buzz that comes with ingesting trace amounts of the toxin.<\/p>\n
Due to the dish\u2019s dangerous nature, only licensed fugu chefs are allowed to prepare it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe take pride in preparing blowfish safely,\u201d declared Ueno Ken\u2019ichir?, owner of the fugu restaurant Fuku no Seki in the Yamaguchi Prefecture.<\/p>\n
While Japan reportedly sees around 50 poisoning incidents per year, the majority occur when amateurs try and take a stab at it, as was the case with Magno.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Source; NY Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"