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Category: crime news

  • Police Officers Accused of Using Excessive Force on 92-Year-Old Amputee Who Later Died, Court Hears

    Police Officers Accused of Using Excessive Force on 92-Year-Old Amputee Who Later Died, Court Hears

    A court has heard that two police officers used pepper spray and a Taser on a 92-year-old amputee at a care home in East Sussex. The man, Donald Burgess, died three weeks later in hospital.

    PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto are facing charges of assault following the incident at Park Beck Residential Care Home in St Leonards-on-Sea.

    Jurors were told that officers were called to the care home on June 21, 2022, after Mr. Burgess allegedly poked a care worker in the stomach with a butter knife and flicked food at her. Staff members had wheeled him back to his room and spent around 30 minutes trying to calm him before contacting emergency services. The call was treated as a Grade 1 emergency, the highest response level.

    Upon entering the room, body-worn camera footage showed Mr. Burgess sitting in a wheelchair, still holding the serrated knife. PC Smith is heard saying, “Put it down mate. Come on, Donald, don’t be silly,” and, “We can solve it without having to resort to this… Do as you’re told.”

    Donald Burgess was pepper sprayed and tasered at a care home, jurors heard. Picture: Independent Office for Police Conduct

    According to prosecutors, Smith then emptied “all or almost all” of his pepper spray canister directly into Mr. Burgess’s face. Footage also showed him approaching the elderly man with an extended baton and striking him. Moments later, PC Comotto deployed her Taser as Mr. Burgess cried out in pain. The knife was taken from him soon after.

    Prosecutor Paul Jarvis KC told Southwark Crown Court that the officers used “unjustified and unlawful” force, stating that just one minute and 23 seconds passed between their arrival and the use of the Taser.

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    “It ought to have been obvious by the fact he had one leg that this was a man who wasn’t going to be mobile,” Mr. Jarvis said. “This was an elderly, vulnerable man who may not have understood what was going on. Rather than being met with understanding and sympathy, he was confronted by irritation and annoyance on the part of the defendants.”

    Jurors were informed that Mr. Burgess, who suffered from dementia, diabetes, and carotid artery disease, was taken to hospital after the incident. He died 22 days later after contracting Covid-19. However, the prosecutor clarified that the officers were not being held responsible for his death.

    Mr. Jarvis emphasized: “He was an elderly gentleman who was unwell… but the force used was unnecessary and excessive in the circumstances. The defendants assaulted Mr. Burgess, causing actual bodily harm.”

    The trial continues.

  • Victorian Mum on Trial for Alleged Mushroom Poisoning That Killed Three

    Victorian Mum on Trial for Alleged Mushroom Poisoning That Killed Three

    A suburban Victorian mum is standing trial over allegations she poisoned several of her estranged husband’s relatives with death cap mushrooms during a home-cooked lunch — an incident that resulted in three deaths and has drawn international attention.

    The case against 50-year-old Erin Patterson commenced this week in the Supreme Court of Victoria and is expected to run for approximately six weeks.

    Patterson is accused of serving a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms — among the most toxic in the world — at a lunch held in July 2023 at her home in Leongatha, a small town of fewer than 6,000 residents located roughly 135 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.

    Prosecutors allege that Patterson, who was separated from her husband Simon Patterson but reportedly on civil terms with him, invited his parents, as well as his aunt and uncle, to an adults-only lunch under the pretence of discussing her medical issues. Simon declined the invitation.

    All four guests reportedly began showing signs of gastrointestinal distress the day after the meal. Three of them died within a week, with autopsies revealing liver failure and multiple organ failure caused by Amanita phalloides — commonly known as the death cap mushroom.

    Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers told the jury that Patterson fabricated a cancer diagnosis to justify the gathering, intentionally poisoned her guests, refrained from eating the same meal, and later faked similar symptoms in an effort to mislead authorities.

    “You do not have to be satisfied as to the motive or even that there was one,” Rogers told jurors on Wednesday. “The prosecution is not alleging a specific motive behind her actions.”

    Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. She has consistently denied any deliberate wrongdoing, with her legal team stating she also consumed the meal and fell ill, though not as severely as the others.

    “The defence case is that she didn’t intend to cause harm to anyone that day,” her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, said during opening remarks. “This was a tragedy — a terrible accident.”

    Mandy told the court that Patterson had lied to police in the aftermath of the lunch — once about owning a food dehydrator and again about foraging for mushrooms. He said she admits to foraging, but denies knowingly collecting death caps.

    He argued that Patterson panicked not out of guilt, as the prosecution claims, but due to the horror of seeing her guests fall gravely ill from food she had prepared.

    “Is it possible someone might act irrationally and say things that make them look bad, not because they’re guilty, but because they’re overwhelmed?” Mandy asked. “Is it possible someone might lie out of fear when they realise the food they served has made people seriously ill? Those are the questions at the heart of this case.”

    Due to the high-profile nature of the trial, Justice Christopher Beale ordered the 15-member jury — which includes three alternates — to be sequestered during deliberations to protect them from outside influence and preserve the integrity of their verdicts.

    Justice Beale also reminded jurors that the case would continue to attract significant media coverage and urged them to assess only the evidence presented in court, “using your head, not your heart.”

  • Domestic Violence Suspect Shot by Police During Attempted Carjacking on California Freeway

    Domestic Violence Suspect Shot by Police During Attempted Carjacking on California Freeway

    A domestic violence suspect was shot by police after attempting to carjack a vehicle on a busy California interstate, according to body camera footage released by the Lathrop Police Department.

    The incident began on January 27, when officers responded to a 911 call reporting that Juan Miguel Valdez, 40, had allegedly threatened to kill a woman he had nearly killed the night before. The audio recording of the call revealed the severity of the threat and prompted an immediate police response.

    Upon arrival, officers encountered Valdez, who fled the scene in a vehicle, leading authorities on a high-speed pursuit from a residential neighborhood onto Interstate 5. During the chase, one of the tires on Valdez’s vehicle failed, forcing him to abandon it and attempt to hijack another car.

    Body camera footage shows Valdez clinging to the side of a moving vehicle, grasping the driver’s side door in a desperate effort to stop the car. As the vehicle slowed and pulled over to the shoulder, Valdez ran to the passenger side and tried to force his way inside.

    Multiple police units quickly surrounded the scene. One officer discharged his firearm, striking Valdez several times and bringing him to the ground.

    As officers provided medical aid, Valdez could be heard saying, “Ah, bro, why’d you shoot me?” while one officer cut away his shirt to assess gunshot wounds on his chest and arm. A responding officer noted a through-and-through bullet wound in Valdez’s forearm.

    While receiving treatment, Valdez told officers, “My son’s a f—g Marine, bro. I have respect, I was just trying to get away.”

    Valdez was later hospitalized, treated for his injuries, and subsequently booked on five felony charges: carjacking, false imprisonment, felony evasion, resisting arrest, and committing a felony while on release or parole for a previous conviction.

     

  • Ohio Woman Arrested After Pet Raccoon Found Holding Meth Pipe During Traffic Stop

    Ohio Woman Arrested After Pet Raccoon Found Holding Meth Pipe During Traffic Stop

     An Ohio woman was arrested after police discovered her pet raccoon holding a meth pipe in the driver’s seat during a routine traffic stop — an incident authorities are calling a “strange encounter on patrol.”

    The bizarre event unfolded around 7:15 p.m. Monday when Officer Austin Branham of the Springfield Township Police Department pulled over a vehicle on South Arlington Road. The car’s registered owner, later identified as 55-year-old Victoria Vidal of Akron, had a suspended license and an active warrant.

    According to a police statement, Vidal was detained without incident. But things quickly took an unusual turn.

    “As Officer Branham returned to the vehicle, he observed a raccoon named Chewy sitting in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in its mouth,” the department said. “Chewy had somehow gotten hold of a glass methamphetamine pipe, prompting a more thorough search of the vehicle.”

    Authorities confirmed that Chewy is a domesticated pet raccoon and that Vidal possessed the required documentation to legally own him. However, a subsequent vehicle search uncovered a bulk quantity of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass pipes.

    Vidal now faces multiple charges, including third-degree felony drug possession, three counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, and driving under suspension. She was also handed over to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department on her outstanding warrant, where additional charges for crack cocaine possession are pending lab results.

    Police assured the public that Chewy was unharmed and that proper animal control authorities were notified to verify Vidal’s documentation for owning the raccoon.

    “While our officers are trained to expect the unexpected, finding a raccoon holding a meth pipe is a first!” police said. “No raccoons were hurt or injured in this incident. As always, we remain committed to keeping our community safe — no matter what surprises come our way.”

  • Pennsylvania Woman Caught on Camera Defecating on Car in Bizarre Road Rage Incident

    Pennsylvania Woman Caught on Camera Defecating on Car in Bizarre Road Rage Incident

    A road rage dispute in Pennsylvania took an unexpected and disturbing turn when a woman was filmed defecating on another driver’s car, according to local authorities and reports.

    Christina Solometo, 44, was identified as the woman captured in the viral video, which was recorded by a bystander and shared on Instagram. The footage shows her exiting her vehicle, approaching another car, pulling down her pants, and appearing to relieve herself on the hood.

    The incident reportedly followed a traffic altercation in which one of the drivers cut the other off. Although the targeted driver did not file a report, police were alerted after the video surfaced online.

    Following an investigation, Solometo was charged with multiple offenses, including disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, harassment, criminal mischief, and depositing waste on a highway.

    According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Solometo allegedly told police, “It was a clean poop, I didn’t even have to wipe.” She also claimed the other driver had insulted her and said she chose the act as an alternative to physical confrontation.

    Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna commented on the incident, saying, “We are treating it seriously. It can’t happen in this community. No town wants this to happen in their town.”

    While the viral nature of the road rage incident has prompted jokes and online commentary, local officials emphasized the seriousness of the charges. Solometo’s family told reporters there is more to the situation than what is seen in the video.

  • Deadly Crash Ends High-Speed Police Pursuit on 210 Freeway

    Deadly Crash Ends High-Speed Police Pursuit on 210 Freeway

    A grand theft suspect died Friday morning after crashing into a dump truck during a high-speed police chase on the 210 Freeway in La Crescenta.

    The pursuit began shortly before 11 a.m. when Ventura County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an ongoing theft at a Target store in Camarillo. The suspect, driving a black hatchback, fled the scene, leading authorities on a dangerous pursuit that spanned the San Fernando Valley.

    According to officials, the suspect reached speeds exceeding 100 mph, weaving through surface streets and freeways before heading eastbound on the 210 Freeway.

    Witnesses described the vehicle’s speed as “insanely fast,” with one onlooker stating, “I knew something bad was going to happen if he didn’t ease off the gas.”

    The chase ended near the Ocean View Boulevard onramp when the suspect’s vehicle slammed into the rear of a moving dump truck. The collision mangled the car and brought the pursuit to a violent stop in the middle lanes.

    “It sounded like a sonic boom,” said a witness. “You didn’t even need to see the crash to know it was going to be bad.”

    California Highway Patrol officers immediately stopped all eastbound traffic and approached the wreckage on foot. Paramedics arrived shortly after, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities reported a significant amount of blood on the roadway. The driver of the dump truck was shaken but uninjured.

    CHP Sgt. Dan Keene confirmed, “The suspect vehicle struck the rear of a dump truck, causing the driver to lose control. Fortunately, this was only a two-vehicle crash—considering the speeds involved, it could have been much worse.”

    The crash prompted a lengthy investigation and cleanup effort, snarling traffic in the Montrose area for most of the day. All eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway reopened around 7:30 p.m.

  • Former My Kitchen Rules Contestants Named After Guilty Plea to Assault Charges

    Former My Kitchen Rules Contestants Named After Guilty Plea to Assault Charges

    Two former contestants from My Kitchen Rules can now be publicly identified after one of them pleaded guilty to multiple assaults involving children.

    Claudean Bernadette Uamaki-Mu, 54, and Anthony Michael Mu, who both appeared on the Channel 7 reality cooking show in 2023, were previously shielded by a non-publication order issued by Richlands Magistrates Court. That order has now been lifted following Uamaki-Mu’s guilty plea on Wednesday.

    Uamaki-Mu admitted to six counts of common assault and received a 12-month good behaviour bond with a $1,000 recognisance. No conviction was recorded.

    Court proceedings began at 9 a.m., though a delay followed while police attempted to amend the charges. After a prolonged case conference that continued through the lunch break, prosecutors chose to proceed with six charges and withdrew the rest.

    Acting Magistrate Michael Quinn described the assaults as “extremely serious,” detailing several disturbing incidents. These included pulling a child’s hair, striking a child with a hairbrush, spitting, and hitting a child with a plastic container. One child was reportedly kicked in the stomach and dragged by the hair; in another incident, a child was thrown into a wall, and in yet another, a child was poked in the face after being pulled to the ground.

    “The protection of children is paramount,” Mr Quinn said during sentencing.

    The court heard that Uamaki-Mu had no prior criminal history. Police prosecutor Sergeant Tom Wirawan acknowledged the seriousness of the offences but took into account Uamaki-Mu’s early guilty plea and the fact it spared the victims from having to testify in court. He suggested a significant fine, although he said a suspended prison sentence would normally be appropriate.

    Defence barrister Simon Lewis stated that Uamaki-Mu suffers from depression, anxiety, and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

  • Two Dead, One Critical After Car and Truck Collision in South-West Sydney

    Two Dead, One Critical After Car and Truck Collision in South-West Sydney

    Two young men have lost their lives and another is in critical condition following a serious crash involving a BMW sedan and a truck in south-west Sydney on Monday night.

    Emergency services responded to the incident on King Georges Road in Wiley Park around 8:45pm. Upon arrival, they found three men trapped inside the BMW.

    Tragically, two passengers, aged 22 and 23, were pronounced dead at the scene. The 20-year-old driver sustained severe injuries and was rushed to hospital in critical condition.

    The truck driver, a 24-year-old man, was also taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

    A crime scene has been established, and specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision. Investigators are expected to consider whether wet weather conditions contributed to the crash.

    A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

  • ATSB Report Reveals Critical Flaws Behind Deadly 2023 Sea World Helicopter Crash

    A series of serious safety shortcomings by tourism operator Sea World Helicopters contributed to the devastating Gold Coast helicopter crash that killed four people, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

    In its final report into the January 2, 2023 crash, the ATSB found that changes Sea World Helicopters made to its location, facilities, and fleet—intended to enhance its services—had unintended and dangerous consequences.

    One major flaw identified was in the system designed to alert pilots to the presence of nearby helicopters. The report revealed that the system failed, leading to a tragic miscommunication: neither pilot had an accurate understanding of the other’s position.

    On that clear and sunny afternoon, 11 tourists boarded two Eurocopter EC130 helicopters for a scenic flight. The two choppers, operating from separate but nearby helipads, collided — one ascending while the other was landing. Four people aboard the ascending helicopter died when its tail and main rotor were severed, causing it to plummet onto a sandbank.

    Those killed included pilot Ashley Jenkinson, Sydney mother Vanessa Tadros, and British couple Diane and Ronald Hughes. Ms. Tadros’s son Nicholas was among those seriously injured, along with Victorian mother Winnie De Silva and her son Leon.

    The pilot of the returning helicopter, Michael James, despite serious injuries and severe damage to his aircraft, managed to land on the sandbank. Five of his passengers were injured, two critically.

    The ATSB found that having two helipads so close together created a “conflict point.” Limitations in visibility and flawed assumptions that the airspace was clear led to both helicopters occupying the same airspace at the same time.

    The report also identified multiple procedural failures:

    • Ground crew protocols: Staff were not required to continuously monitor airspace up to departure, meaning helicopters could lift off without updated hazard information.

    • Communication breakdowns: Changes in ownership at Sea World Helicopters had led to the erosion of safety protocols, including enhanced communication and cockpit traffic displays.

    • Equipment deficiencies: The newer helicopters lacked internal radios, real-time mapping tools, and high-visibility paint on all rotor blades.

    About two minutes before the collision, the landing helicopter made an inbound radio call that went unnoticed by the departing pilot, who was preoccupied loading passengers. After loading, a ground crew member cleared the pilot for takeoff—but by that point, the information was outdated, and the inbound helicopter was dangerously close.

    Further investigation found that faults in the departing helicopter’s radio antenna likely caused the missed communication.

    ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said that, critically, the addition of the second helipad in March 2022 had introduced a permanent conflict zone between ascending and descending aircraft—an area where, tragically, the two helicopters collided.

    Sea World Helicopters, in a statement, thanked the ATSB and emphasized its commitment to improving safety protocols, noting that it already exceeded the regulatory requirements of the general aviation sector.

    Meanwhile, Shine Lawyers has filed claims in the Queensland Supreme Court on behalf of injured passengers and traumatised witnesses, citing Sea World Helicopters under the Civil Aviation Act, which caps damages at $925,000 per claimant. The firm is also investigating the possibility of additional defendants.

    The ATSB report also uncovered that passenger seat belts were improperly fitted, although it was not conclusively determined how much this contributed to injuries.

    Mr. Mitchell used the “Swiss cheese model” analogy to explain the crash: multiple small failures aligned simultaneously to cause the disaster. While Sea World Helicopters has addressed many issues identified in the investigation, the ATSB emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance when operational changes are made across the aviation industry.

    A coronial inquest will now follow to further examine the circumstances of the tragedy.

  • Florida Sheriff Confronts Suspect in $35,000 Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly Woman

    Florida Sheriff Confronts Suspect in $35,000 Lottery Scam Targeting Elderly Woman

    A Florida sheriff personally greeted one of the suspects in a lottery scam at Daytona Beach International Airport, confronting her over a scheme that stole $35,000 from an 85-year-old woman.

    Shania Baptiste was extradited from New York to Florida in connection with the fraud, which drained an elderly Daytona Beach resident of her life savings, according to reports from Fox 35 Orlando and WFTV Channel 9.

    Media captured the moment as Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood met Baptiste at the airport.

    “Shania, I am Sheriff Chitwood, and I want to let you know that we protect our seniors in this community. That’s why you’re here,” Chitwood told her before she was handcuffed and taken to jail. “I hope you enjoy your stay here. Welcome to Florida.”

    Baptiste responded by claiming innocence, saying, “I’m sorry for the crime that was committed, but it was not me.”

    Baptiste and her alleged accomplice, Neilson Brooks, face charges of Organized Scheme to Defraud and Grand Theft over $20,000. Brooks was also booked into the Volusia County Jail but posted bond and was released within three hours.

    The scam began when con artists told the elderly victim she had won $1 million through a Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. To claim her prize, they said, she needed to wire $20,000 to cover taxes and fees.

    When she attempted to transfer the money at her local bank, tellers warned her it could be a scam. Undeterred, the fraudsters persuaded her to visit another bank and provide a cover story—that the funds were intended for a family member’s home repairs. After successfully wiring the money, the scammers demanded even more, ultimately stealing $35,000 in total.

    This method fits a common pattern: scammers build trust with elderly victims, claim they’ve won prizes, then pressure them into paying upfront fees. Victims are often coached on how to lie to bank employees to avoid detection.

    The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has recovered $20,000 so far and returned it to the victim. Officials hope the remaining amount can also be recovered, depending on the outcome of the trial.

    Sheriff Chitwood emphasized the need for vigilance: wiring money to unknown parties is risky, as funds are nearly impossible to retrieve once sent. Seniors and their families are urged to stay alert for common fraud tactics and report suspicious activity immediately.