Only in Florida 9/23/2013

     No one knows for sure what kind of legacy they will have after they are gone. Millions have been spent by those who either want to whitewash the actions of the past, or to try to make up for ones that were never done. One Green Cove Springs man left an unexpected legacy that was uncovered only yesterday.

     The property of the unnamed man had fallen into foreclosure after his death, and whoever now owned the land was trying to clean it up, presumably in an effort to sell it. However, work stopped not long after cleaners opened a semi truck trailor that had been converted into a shed. While they sifted through the contents, the cleaners came across what appeared to be some relatively ancient looking explosives and some explosive devices
   
     Police seized the explosives, and started asking the neighbors if they knew anything about the former owner of the property. All that could be gathered from neighbors was that the man had been deceased for quite some time, and before his death, the former owner liked to peruse local army surplus shops. In the trailer, officers found construction explosives they estimated to be about 50 years old, as well as some rocket powered line throwers from World War II. These devices were used to pass lines between boats or across gaps to big to get across any other way.


Other news in brief:

Florida woman on meth decapitated rabbit as horrified children watched - They say there is nothing like a mothers love... (roll eyes)

One-armed homeless man accused of pawning chainsaw - It was the one armed man, I swear!

Woman accused of car incident, hiding cocaine in her privates - Well, she had to store it somewhere.

   

Only in Florida 8/5/2013

     This one falls deep into WTF territory. 

     In the early morning of Saturday, August 3rd, Jose Trinidad Sanches-Uriostegui, 29, drove over a sidewalk and struck a golf cart that was traveling near the road, according to a Florida Highway Patrol incident report. No reason for the crash was given, and both Sanchez-Uriostegui and the driver and passenger of the golf cart had to be treated at area hospitals.

     What started out as a man's car hits golf cart story took a turn for the weird when police received a call from an anonymous caller that claimed that Sanchez-Uriostegui's car had a bomb in it. Taking the threat seriously, officers closed down the nearby road, and called out the bomb squad and the K-9 unit. After a through search of the car, the only thing that was found was a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.

     Officers eventually traced the phone that made the 9-1-1 call to Sanchez-Uriostegui's cell. Why he made the call is anyone's guess. Also, apparently not content to face just the bomb threat charge, Sanchez-Uriostegui also faces an assault charge. Sanchez-Uriostegui allegedly punched one of the paramedics that was treating him on the scene.


Other news in brief:

‘Best’ meth cook goes to prison - Well, I guess somebody has to be the best at it.

Police: Amanda Greenwood ties child to urine soaked bed - Mother knows best (facepalm).

Hernando woman crushed by homemade elevator - Just because you can DIY, doesn't mean you should.

Only in Florida 7/23/2013

     There are very few places in the United States that allow public nudity. Mostly, these places are either secluded beaches, campgrounds, or resorts. Outside of those areas, people tend to keep their clothes on, unless they are in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and are very intoxicated. Because of this, when an unidentified man decided to take a naked jaunt down the median of the Caloosahatchee Bridge near Fort Myers, he attracted no small amount of attention.

      Early in the morning of July 16th, the Lee County Sheriff's Office started receiving reports of a naked man walking southbound on the Caloosahatchee Bridge. Witnesses on the scene described the man as, "not wearing clothes and waving his hands with raised arms as he walked." When the deputies arrived, wrapped him  apprehended him, the man, with apparently nothing to hide, told the deputies that he had parked his car near the foot of the bridge, and it was rigged with explosives.

     Generally, law enforcement officers tend to not take bomb threats lightly, even if they are given by a naked, arm waving man. To keep everyone safe, the deputies closed off the bridge and called in the bomb squad to disarm the man's car. Using their specialized robots, the bomb techs carefully searched the car from a distance, eventually clearing the car to be approached. The car did have some suspicious items in it, but there was no bomb and the bridge was reopened later in the day.

     Normally, the man who made the threat would be charged and placed in jail. However, in this case, the man was Baker Acted, and was taken to a local mental health facility for evaluation. Most native Floridians know what the Baker Act is, but to those unaware, the Baker Act is a law in Florida where a person can be involuntarily detained for a psychological evaluation if they clearly have a mental illness, or they are a harm to themselves, a harm to others, or they are self neglectful. The act was named for a Florida state representative, Maxine Baker, who was deeply interested in mental health issues.


Other news in brief:

Angry homeowner threatens tree-trimming crew with shotgun - You can take my tree limbs from my cold, dead hands!

Man just out of prison for 1995 murder accused of beating woman to point of unconsciousness in West Palm Beach - Some people just don't learn their lesson.

Police: DeLand man sits on baby's head because child would not fall asleep - ....seriously, WTF. Father of the year material right here.

Man arrested for performing dentistry at his Boca home without license, deputies say - Nothing says professionalism like a laundry room dentists office.

This kids, is why you don't do drugs

Doll mutilator pleads guilty to gun charge

Edward Victor Williams

By Chris Olwell / The News Herald

Published: Monday, June 24, 2013 at 19:56 PM.

PANAMA CITY — A thrice-convicted felon who federal agents found with a bomb recipe, satanic writings and bizarre shrines on his Jackson County property pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to possessing an illegal gun.

Edward Victor Williams was involved in February in an armed standoff with a game warden who saw a high-powered deer rifle in Williams’ truck before Williams allegedly threatened to kill the game warden and retreated back from the road onto his property. After he surrendered, investigators searched his property and found the rifle submerged in a pond, along with ammunition, marijuana plants and several altars or shrines.

Those shrines, which featured several baby dolls painted and mutilated to give the appearance they had been raped, burned and impaled, featured prominently in Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle Littleton’s argument in support of an ultimately successful petition to hold Williams until trial at a hearing in April.

Williams was high on methamphetamine when he was arrested again in April. When federal agents searched his house, they found a letter addressed to the devil in which Williams apologized for acts of kindness and promised to do more evil. 

Read the rest here.