Man Arrested after Running into Burning Home to Save his Beer

A South Dakota man was arrested after he allegedly pushed past firefighters to reenter a burning apartment to retrieve his beer. And it wasn’t even good beer, it was just a couple of cans of Bud Ice Premium. Michael Anthony Casteel is facing charges for obstructing law enforcement and and for obstructing  a firefighter for his little stunt. The naysayers will point out that it’s his life, why can’t he risk it if the beer is so important, but it’s a risk to the emergency crew that might have to follow him in if he gets in trouble in the fire. And no was is it worth risking your life for some beers, especially for a couple cans of Bud Ice!

TSG reports he’s had two DUI arrests in the last 13 months, plus a a domestic charge that was dismissed: no doubt alcohol related. And it’s not the first time reporters have covered something like this happening:

 

An Article About Remedies When You Don’t Answer the Cops and They Retaliate

It’s quite clear that you do not have an obligation to answer an officer’s questions, especially if it could tend to incriminate you. But what happens when they use force when you don’t? The answer is not clear, but this article from the Volokh Conspiracy blog takes a great in-depth look at the different rights bestowed by the fifth amendment:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/04/19/can-the-police-retaliate-against-a-citizen-for-refusing-to-answer-police-questions/?utm_term=.662771eb0e60&wpisrc=nl_most&wpmm=1

New Amanda Knox Biopic is Out

Amanda Knox

Reelz has produced a new Amanda Knox biopic, as part of their show “Scandals Made Me Famous.” It aired for the first time over the weekend, but I just saw the ad. They claim to have some new reveals on the Kercher case, so it may be worth a watch, even if the show is on the tabloid end of the spectrum. They appear to be very critical of the police investigation that lead to her wrongful arrest and conviction, which was overturned. I’m sure it will air again.

And as a reminded, there is a documentary on Netflix that includes conversations with not only Knox, but the prosecutor and other important players.

Aaron Hernandz Found Dead in his Cell

Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez was found in his prison cell this morning, deceased after apparently hanging himself with a bedsheet. Although Hernandez was acquitted in his double murder trial this week, he was still facing life in prison without parole for his earlier conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd. That case was still pending appeal.

Remember When the Mall Easter Bunny Got Arrested?

The scene, Edison Mall, 2006. They have an Easter Bunny area where families could come and get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny. 27 parents were lined up when the Bunny-manager decided to shut down for the day, 15 minutes early. One of the parents approached the manager and asked why, to which the manager replied, “because I felt like it”, and punched the mom in the face. When the bunny saw the manager involved in a fight, he jumped in and started punching the mom in the back of the head.

Arthur McClure, the Rogue Rabbit

The Bunny, Art McClure, claims that he and the manager, his girlfriend, were acting in self-defense when the “mob of angry soccer moms” came after them. Ultimately, McClure was charged with misdemeanor battery and breach of the peace, and pled out  to time served on the charges a couple weeks later. The responding officer got statements from half a dozen of the parents, who all indicated McClure and his girlfriend were the aggressors. It’s like Bad Santa for another season!

It’s too bad that cell phone cameras were not as common then, and even the snapshots that were taken don’t seem to have made it to the internet. McClure’s listed occupation on the arrest report is “Easter Bunny”, though this was his last day on the job.

Holy Cow: Aaron Hernandez Acquitted in Double Murder Trial

Aaron Hernandez

A jury today found former Gator and Patriot football player not guilty on two counts of murder, along with the attempted murders of the other passengers and the intimidation charge against the State’s key witness. He was found guilty of illegal firearms possession, and sentenced to four to five years in prison, most of which he has already served. Now, this acquittal may be all for naught, as Hernandez is already sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Odin Lloyd, for whom he was convicted of killing in 2013.

Keep in mind, a criminal acquittal is not proof that he did not do it (cough cough – OJ – cough cough). It merely means that the state did not convince the jurors beyond and to the exclusion of any reasonable doubt.  The state’s case was based on the testimony of Alexander Bradley, a convicted violent drug dealer who says he was there and Hernandez did it. Hernandez’s attorney Jose Baez (who famously defended Casey Anthony) did a great job of casting doubt on Bradley, his motivations, and suggesting that it may have been Bradley who did the shooting. Without corroborating evidence, accepting Bradley’s testimony to convict was presumably to hard for the jury to swallow.

Hernandez’s other conviction is being appealed and will be heard by the Massachusetts Supreme Court, probably later this year.

Man Arrested for DUI Wearing ‘Hold My Beer’ Shirt

 

Harrison Wootton

We can add another ridiculous shirt to the ones people have been wearing when they got arrested. Harrison Wootton, a 25-year old from Connecticut, was arrested for a DUI while wearing a shirt that reads “Hold My Beer and Watch This”. “This” apparently entailed getting behind the wheel of an unregistered motor vehicle, losing control and crashing into the stone wall surrounding a cemetery. He then proceeded to try to flee the scene as officers arrived, but was apprehended and charged.

Geez, man, how do you hit a cemetery?

That’s the second incriminating DUI shirt mug shot in just a few weeks, after our friend from St. Patrick’s Day.

Or this guy…

Closing Arguments in the Aaron Hernandez Murder Trial

Aaron Hernandez

The prosecution and Defense concluded their closing arguments this afternoon. The jury is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow. The Defense attacked the state’s star witness, himself a violent drug dealer with reason to blame Hernandez instead of himself. Jose Baez made some colorful arguments that the state did not prove their case.

Hernandez’ arm, with possibly incriminating tats

The State argues their witness was credible, and that the evidence supports his claim. They say Hernandez had motive, opportunity, and they allege that a tattoo he later got equates to a confession. This is not the first time tattoos have allegedly documented a crime. A verdict is expected in the coming days.

Man Arrested for Drunk Driving in “Drunk Lives Matter” T-Shirt

Ooops.

Elwood “Drunk Lives Matter” Gutshall

Elwood Gutshall III was pulled over and arrested for drunk driving, wearing a St. Patrick’s Day t-shirt, even though it was a couples days past the holiday. His oh-so-clever shirt read “Drunk Lives Matter”. He blew .217, more than two and a half times the limit in Pennsylvania, and will go to court next month to answer his charge.

Ironically, it’s the three-year anniversary of a similar story we ran, where an alleged drunk driver was busted while wearing a shirt that says, “Drunk as Sh**”.

Believe it or not, neither of these busts occurred in Florida!