Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Church turns to effigy to scare vultures JACKSONVILLE, N.C., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The vultures were circling a North Carolina church -- literally -- prompting members to commission a vulture effigy to scare the real birds away. Advertisement The strange tactic worked and the birds, which had been destroying the Bethlehem Baptist Church roof, now roost and eat elsewhere, The Daily News of Jacksonville, N.C. said Saturday. "They were actually breaking pieces off the roof and eating it," church secretary Susie McBarn said. "That couldn't have been good for them." The effigy, prepared by a taxidermist and installed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hangs upside down from the church's steeple. Polar Plunge raises $2.8M for charity BALTIMORE, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- An estimated 12,000 people showed up at the Chesapeake Bay to raise money for Special Olympics Maryland by jumping in the frigid water, officials said. About 8,000 participants in the 17th annual Polar Bear Plunge ran into the water at Chesapeake Bay at 1 p.m. Saturday, The Baltimore Sun reported. A smaller plunge was also held at 4 p.m., for which about 4,000 participants showed up, said Special Olympics Maryland spokeswoman Linda Ellingsworth. Advertisement The event likely brought in about $2.8 million for Special Olympics Maryland, Ellingsworth said. DUI suspect drives into cop parking lot BARNSTABLE, Md., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Police in Maryland say a drunk driving suspect essentially turned himself in when he drove into the back parking lot of a police station. Michael Sheehan, 57, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence and trespassing by motor vehicle after he allegedly failed a sobriety test in the parking lot, the Boston Herald reported. The parking lot was marked "Do Not Enter" and "Police Personnel Only." "We didn't even have to transport him," Barnstable Sgt. Michael Riley said. Sheehan was walked from his car to a holding cell inside the station, Riley said. The suspect has posted bail and was scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Police called to apartment over video game STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Police in Sweden raided an apartment after receiving a report of gunfire and cries of help only to find several teenagers playing a computer game. The teenagers were playing the game "Call of Duty Saturday" night when one of the boy's characters was killed after being shot several times and was left laying on the floor, screaming "help, help, help," Swedish news agency TT reported. Advertisement Passersby heard the game and thought it was real and called police. A 10-person police unit was dispatched to the apartment and carried out a raid there, forcing the boys outside. After the teenagers were out of the apartment, they were able to explain to the police that they were just playing a game. Police left the apartment without taking anyone into custody or writing any citations.
