Watercooler Stories

Police: Wedding ring pawned to pay hooker

GREENWOOD, S.C., April 4 (UPI) -- Police in South Carolina said they arrested a man who allegedly admitted to pawning his wedding ring to pay a prostitute.

The Greenwood Police Department said an officer pulled over a vehicle in an area known to be frequented by prostitutes and drug dealers and the female passenger Rhonda Kelley, 41, was recognized from previous prostitution arrests, WYFF-TV, Greenville, S.C., reported Thursday.

The driver, Marvin Holmes II, 33, allegedly told the officer he decided to pick up a prostitute because he was having problems with his wife. The police report said he told the officer he and Kelley had gone to Apache Pawn, where they pawned his wedding ring for $20.

Holmes was charged with solicitation of prostitution and driving under suspension.

Kelley was charged with solicitation of prostitution and possession of marijuana.

Man charged with falsely claiming tortoise

PHOENIX, April 4 (UPI) -- Phoenix police said they arrested a man on a theft charge after he allegedly falsely claimed ownership of a lost tortoise.

Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department said Trisha Walker returned home about noon Friday to find her 16-year-old tortoise, Jeeps, missing from the house, The Arizona Republic reported Thursday.

The 100-pound reptile had been found walking in the neighborhood by a nearby resident who brought Jeeps into her home for food and water. Holmes said the neighbor put up flyers around the neighborhood and received a response from Derek McKnight, 24, who claimed the animal was his escaped pet.

Holmes said McKnight was leaving the neighbor's home with the tortoise just as Walker approached the home to ask about her missing pet.

Police were able to locate McKnight's van about 7 hours later and return Jeeps to Walker.

McKnight was arrested on a theft charge.

Stroller used in LensCrafters burglary

LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 4 (UPI) -- Police in Colorado said a pair of burglars who stole multiple items from a LensCrafters store used a baby stroller to carry their loot.

Lakewood Police said the thieves were seen on surveillance cameras loading optometry equipment, eyeglass frames and eyeglass lenses in the baby stroller before fleeing the scene in a black vehicle, KCNC-TV, Denver, reported Thursday.

The exact location of the store was withheld at the request of detectives, KCNC reported.

Petition to get 'Duke' off ballot rejected

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., April 4 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania judge rejected a petition to have a county sheriff removed from an election ballot for including his nickname, "Duke."

Bucks County Judge Gary Gilman rejected the petition Tuesday from challenger Tom Lingenfelter to have Bucks County Sheriff Edward "Duke" Donnelly removed from the May primary ballot for using a nickname that indicates a "hereditary distinction or nobility title" without being his given, legal name, Phillyburbs.com reported Thursday.

Bucks County Elections Director Deena Dean told the judge at least 20 candidates for various offices are expected to appear on the ballot this year using chosen nicknames.

Gilman said in his ruling it did not appear Thomas had intended to mislead voters.

"It strikes me that if George Herman Ruth was running for office, then there would be no objection to him appearing on the ballot as Babe Ruth," Gilman said.