Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Man Arrested For Weapons, DUI at Starbucks Drive Through

A 40-year-old Florida man is facing charges after allegedly driving under the influence through a Starbucks Drive Through and trying to hide a knife from officers. Delaware State Police troopers found the man at the Starbucks’ drive through. A caller told officers that he had a flat tire and bicycle hanging off his car and he appeared under the influence. When officers stopped the man, they say they noticed immediately he was trying to hide something under his shirt. Officers say that turned out to be a 10 inch fixed blade knife. They say a machete was also in the car. According to Delaware State Police, the man was  slurring his words too. Officers found three grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia inside as well. He is now facing the charges for Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony – 2 counts), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Marijuana, Driving Under the Influence, Failure to Have Insurance Card in Possession, & Failure to Have Registration Card in Possession. (WBOC)

Man Tries To Buy Rolex Watches With Check Printed From Home Computer

A 42-year-old man walked into a car dealership in Okaloosa County in the panhandle and left in a Porsche after paying with a check printed from his home computer, officials reported recently. Officials arrested the man for grand theft of a motor vehicle and uttering a false banknote after it was reported to Walton County Sheriff’s Office that he attempted to purchase Rolex watches with a bad check. During the investigation, it was determined he had purchased a Porsche 911 Turbo from a Porsche dealership in Destin, Florida by using a fraudulent check written for $139,203.05 on July 27th. The Porsche was reported stolen to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say the next day, he presented a check in the amount of $61,521 dollars to the jeweler in Miramar Beach, Florida attempting to purchase three Rolex watches. However, the jeweler kept the watches until they could determine if the check would cash. Thankfully the check was a fake. When arrested, he told investigators he printed out the cashier’s checks from his home computer and did not get the cashier’s check from his bank. He was transported and booked into the Walton County Jail without incident. (WALA)

Man admits he’s a junkie after officer finds crack pipe in his pocket

A Naples, Florida man is facing a drug paraphernalia charge after he was stopped by an officer, police said. A Police Officer stopped the 46-year-old man because he was riding a bike at night without proper lighting. During the stop, the Officer asked to search the man for anything illegal and he agreed. The officer found “a pipe with brown residue,” in the man’s left pocket, according to an arrest report. At first, the man denied knowing anything about it when the officer asked. When instructed by the officer to place his hands behind his back, the man instantly darted from the officer and ran into a wooded area of the Naples Preserve, the report said. The officer chased after the man and told him to stop or else he would be tased, but the officer eventually lost sight of the man. The officer notified dispatch and NPD units set up a perimeter in the area. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Units and Air-1 responded to the area to help search for the man. Once CCSO K-9 Units arrived to the scene, using the in-car PA system, they informed the man that he would get bit if he did not come out. That’s when he quickly emerged from the bushes with his hands up. When Officers asked why he decided to run, he said, “I’m a junkie”. He was taken to the Naples Jail center where he was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia, person in actual or constructive possession of cocaine (powder or crack), and resisting an officer without violence to his person, the report said. Officers tested the brown substance inside the pipe with a Narcotics Analysis Reagent Kit, which was positive for cocaine. (NBC 2)

Man Charged With COVID Relief Fraud, Health Care Fraud And Money Laundering

A 63-year-old male chiropractor in Miami, Florida has been charged regarding allegations that he fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and that he orchestrated a conspiracy to submit false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement to Medicare and CareCredit, and to defraud his own patients by charging them thousands of dollars for chiropractic services under false pretenses. He was charged by criminal complaint in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud; health care fraud; conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; making false statements to a financial institution; money laundering; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The complaint alleges that he orchestrated a scheme to exploit his patients for financial gain through a credit card program intended to help patients pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. To conceal his role in the scheme, he paid bribes to other physicians to open credit card merchant accounts in their names. He then encouraged patients at his chiropractic business, Dynamic Medical Services Inc., many of whom were low-income and did not speak English, to apply for the credit cards. This allowed him to charge thousands of dollars to these credit cards for services that he never, or only partially, rendered, leaving patients saddled with debt. In addition, he also bribed a physician to submit claims to Medicare on his behalf because hem as a chiropractor, was ineligible to submit the claims himself, and would not have been able to receive reimbursement for the claimed services. He and other physicians also allegedly conspired to launder the proceeds from these schemes. The complaint further alleges that he obtained over $200,000 in PPP and EIDL loans intended to provide COVID relief, and that he transferred portions of the proceeds to shell companies under his control and to pay personal expenses. (CBS Atlanta)

Clorox, Amazon most trusted brands

Which brands have earned your trust during the pandemic? A recent poll asked 34,000 Americans and found that some well-known brands are deepening their connections with consumers during the pandemic. In fact, 72% of those surveyed said they “trust companies more than the Federal government to find solutions on Covid-19 and racial equality.” Clorox tops their list of 100 “most visible companies,” based on trust, products and their decisive response, followed by Hershey and Amazon. (The Harris Poll)

Airlines warn of deeper layoffs

Airlines are bracing for deeper job cuts as the pandemic keeps travel demand from taking off. United Airlines says it may have to furlough more pilots over the next year than originally planned, with new estimates putting up to 3,900 at risk. Meanwhile, Spirit Airlines is warning up to a third of its roughly 9,000 employees about potential job cuts. The pandemic has been a quagmire for the industry, and the International Air Transport Association now predicts it will take until 2024 for global air travel to return to pre-pandemic levels. (CNBC)

Walmart and Dunkin’ cut jobs

Walmart is said to be laying off hundreds of workers, even though the world’s biggest retailer has seen a sales surge during the pandemic. A report says the cuts are happening in store planning, logistics and real estate units. Meanwhile, coffee giant Dunkin’ announced it will permanently close about 800 U.S. stores — roughly 8% of its locations — over “low-volume sales,” mostly in Speedway convenience stores. Dunkin’ also says it “may permanently close” 350 more stores outside the U.S. (Bloomberg)

Firing for speech becomes easier

A ruling by the National Labor Relations Board has made it easier for employers to fire employees for using derogatory speech, including comments on social media. A “sweeping” ruling by the board will allow companies to terminate workers who speak up about misconduct at work using “derogatory” speech. The report notes that employers already have a lot of leeway to justify firing an employee without complaint from the NLRB and, while some business advocates applaud the ruling’s clarity, it is seen by critics as further widening that scope. (About Law)

Gardeners claim they planted mysterious seeds from China

At least three gardeners in three states said they not only received the mysterious seeds that appear to have been sent from China, but they also planted them. A woman in Kentucky said she received a packet of seeds in June and she planted them. She thought they were from her planting club and gift-giving Facebook group that she belongs to, so she planted them in a pot near her house and they spouted. A Texas woman said she also planted the seeds she had received in the mail in April that said they were rose stud earrings, but instead there were seeds inside. She is also part of a gift-exchange group. Despite having a strange feeling about the seeds, she planted five of the seeds in a pot. They never started so she forgot about it until she saw reports of others unexpectedly receiving seeds in the mail. A woman in Louisiana also received the seeds and she also planted them. She didn’t think anything of the seeds she planted. She received a pack in May and planted them in a pot. Then she got another mailing this month with two more packs of seeds, then she saw the warnings to not plant them. But she said she isn’t worried about planting the seeds. If you receive the seeds, the USDA instructs you to contact your state plant regulatory official or the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service state plant health director. Officials also said to keep everything, including the label until you get further instructions from either the state or federal government. (KOKI)

Urinating man causes uproar after onlookers tell him to stop

Two men were arrested after what Monroe County, Florida Deputies said was a ruckus that started after a firefighter chose a very public place and in plain sight to relieve himself. Deputies said they responded to Gilbert’s Resort where about 15 people were involved in a melee. Witnesses told deputies that that a man exposed himself on the dock and began urinating into the water in public view of women and children. Then another 42-year-old male firefighter/EMT then pushed someone several times who attempted to intervene, according to police. When deputies caught up with the man, he was boarding a boat with another 36-year-old-man. One of the deputies told the men to stay on the boat at the dock, but instead they took off. Deputies caught up with up with both men nearby at the boat ramp at the Caribbean Club bar. One was charged with battery, while the other was charged with fleeing and eluding. Both were taken to jail. (Local 10)

Drunk naked man ‘waving his bits’ on beach

Beachgoers have reported a drunk naked man on the beach. A witness said the intoxicated man dropped his trousers and “waved his bits about” on Brighton beach. He said police were called to the scene, where they told him to behave. But, to the despair of horrified beachgoers, they claim the man soon returned. A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We can confirm we responded to a report of a naked man on Brighton beach. The man was escorted from the beach and given words of advice.” (The Argus)

Plane overloaded with cocaine crashes in PNG, unravels alleged Melbourne syndicate

A light plane overloaded with cocaine and bound for Australia crashed soon after taking off in Papua New Guinea, exposing a Melbourne-based criminal syndicate with alleged links to Italian organized crime. The Australian Federal Police have charged five men with conspiring to import more than 500 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of $80 million, from PNG into Australia. Police allege the syndicate arranged for a Cessna light plane to fly from Mareeba, near Cairns in north Queensland, to PNG to collect the drugs. The pilot went out of his way to avoid detection, flying at around 3000 feet so the plane would not show up on radars, police said. The plane made it to PNG, but the Cessna, said to be bursting with cocaine, crashed while attempting to take-off from a remote airstrip at Papa Lea Lea, north of Port Moresby. Authorities in PNG found the plane empty when they were alerted to the crash, but two days later, the Australian pilot turned up at the Australian consulate in PNG and he was arrested. The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the AFP found 28 bags containing what investigators believe is 500 kilograms of cocaine. But a wave of arrests had already occurred back in Australia, with police revealing they have been investigating the alleged syndicate, which they claim has links to Italian organized crime, for two years. Property and financial assets, including three homes, shares, account funds, and a motor vehicle, with a combined value of $3.5 million have been seized. AFP Deputy Commissioner Ian McCartney said the arrests were the resolution of an almost two-year operation. (The Age)

Washington state has trapped its first ‘murder hornet’

Washington state has trapped its first Asian giant hornet — or, what we’ve come to know as the “murder hornet.” Scientists have been trying to trap the invasive insects and prevent an infestation since they were first spotted in the state last year. More than two inches long, the hornets get their nickname from their propensity to attack and kill honeybees and potentially, people. Up until now, five giant hornets had officially been sighted in the state. This is the first one found in a trap, according to a news release. Officials announced that they had identified the Asian giant hornet earlier from a trap collected near Birch Bay on July 14. The hope is to find the nest by mid-September before the colony begins creating new reproducing queens and drones, the statement said. Scientists aren’t sure how these giant hornets native to Asia ended up in Washington state. Among the possibilities are international container ships, purchases shipped into the US, travelers visiting the US or returning from another country. Washington state agricultural officials are asking beekeepers and residents to report any sightings of the giant hornets. August and September are when they’re most likely to be spotted, according to the news release. (CNN)

Wednesday Blasts Off With:

• Fresh Breath Day
• International Albarino Day (First Wednesday)
• IPA Day
• Oyster Day
• Root Beer Float Day
• Underwear Day
• Wiggle Your Toes Day