UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Indiana teens take down alligator

RENSSELAER, Ind., July 14 (UPI) -- A pair of Indiana teenagers spending the day fishing along the Iroquois River brought home an unexpected catch -- a 6-foot-long alligator.

Zach Ramsey, 17, and Casey Sonaty, 14, of rural Newton County said they were fishing and frog spearing near Rensselaer in Jasper County when they spotted the 150-pound reptile under the water, the Rensselaer Republican reported Tuesday.

The boys said they shot the gator with a fishing arrow, but the arrow broke and the alligator fled back under the water. They said they tried a frog spear on the reptile when it resurfaced, but the tool was unable to penetrate the alligator's thick skin.

The teenagers said they left the scene and returned with a 12-gauge shotgun, which gave them the needed firepower to bring down the 150-pound gator.

"It is pretty sure to say that this animal was raised by someone and got too big and was released," Indiana Conservation Officer Allan Clark said.

"Being a cold-blooded animal, it is very unlikely an alligator could survive an Indiana winter in the wild," Clark said.

Clark said there were no violations in taking the animal because alligators are not listed as a game species in Indiana.

Police: Alleged kidnapper left ATM card

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo., July 14 (UPI) -- Authorities in Wyoming said an alleged kidnapper was found with his victim after he dropped his ATM card at the scene of the crime.

Bradley Chrisman told Sweetwater County Sheriff's Deputies that he was sleeping in bed with his girlfriend, Emily Trujillo, at a Rock Springs residence when Martin Joseph Adams, 20, attacked them, Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune reported Tuesday.

Crisman said he fought with Adams until the home invader grabbed Trujillo and fled with her slung over his shoulder.

Deputies said Adams had apparently used the ATM card to shimmy the door open and left the crucial piece of evidence behind. Authorities followed the card to Adams' address, where he and Trujillo were found.

Adams was arrested and charged with burglary, kidnapping and battery.

Trujillo sustained some severe bruises, but was otherwise unharmed, deputies said.

Adams was previously arrested June 30 and charged with domestic battery against Trujillo and two other women. He had allegedly followed the women to one of their homes, broke in and attacked the trio.

Police: Man took 40 pairs of panties

ATHENS, Tenn., July 14 (UPI) -- Authorities in Tennessee said a man arrested for public intoxication had taken about 40 pairs of women's undergarments from a pool party.

McMinn County Deputy Todd Levi said he spotted Jason Johnson, 31, trying to flag a vehicle down for a ride while walking along Highway 11 early Saturday morning and, upon closer inspection, the deputy found Johnson smelled of alcohol, was unsteady on his feet and had a pair of panties hanging from the unzipped fly of his pants, The Daily Post-Athenian, Athens, Tenn., reported Tuesday.

Johnson told the deputy he had taken the underwear along with dozens of other women's undergarments, that he had thrown to the ground when he saw the deputy approaching, from a pool party he had been attending. Levi took Johnson back to the house to return the underwear and the victim declined to press charges.

Levi arrested Johnson on a public intoxication charge.

Porn spliced into library 'Powers' VHS

NEW YORK, July 14 (UPI) -- A New York assemblyman is calling for the removal of VHS tapes from libraries after a woman found pornography had been spliced into a copy of "Austin Powers."

Esther Klein, who checked the tape out of the Borough Park library branch in New York's Brooklyn borough, said she let her three grandchildren, aged 7 to 15, watch the tape, which had pornographic footage spliced into the end of the film during the rolling credits, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

Assemblyman Dov Hikind said he now wants all VHS tapes removed from local libraries.

"This is unbelievable," Hikind said. "The bottom line is that the local library can be unsafe for young children. It's pretty sick stuff."

The Brooklyn Public Library said the tape has been removed and the problem is under control.