Eideard

Arrested for chemical warfare in WalMart

A woman poured bleach and Pine-Sol on a Walmart customer in southern Baltimore County, police said, in an incident that closed down the store for several hours Saturday and sent 19 to area hospitals.

The suspect, Theresa Monique Jefferson, 33, followed another woman into the store and assaulted her, county police spokesman Shawn Vinson said in an email. She later turned herself in and was arrested. The two women knew each other and were involved in a continuing dispute, Vinson said.

The victim’s boyfriend has a child with Jefferson…Jefferson has been charged with first- and second-degree assault, theft of items worth less than $100 and malicious destruction of property, police said. She is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $350,000 bail…

The Baltimore County Fire Department’s fire and medic units, who arrived on the scene just after 11 a.m., requested the hazardous materials team a short time later because of complaints about watery eyes and other injuries, said spokesman Glenn Blackwell.

One person was taken to the Wilmer Eye Institute for a potentially serious injury, while 18 others were taken to area hospitals, including Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Harbor Hospital, Northwest Hospital Center and St. Agnes Hospital, Blackwell said.

The store at the Lansdowne Station shopping center was evacuated and closed. The store reopened at 2 p.m. after employees cleaned up and ventilated the area, said Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee. Three employees suffered minor respiratory problems, she said…

Baltimore County officials said ammonia had been thrown as well. Mixing ammonia and bleach can create a toxic gas that could lead to choking or other breathing problems.

Ms. Jefferson may find herself on trial for some violation of Homeland Security regulations involving chemical weapons of mass destruction.

A suspicious white substance in an airplane bathroom?

It could be anthrax, could be explosive residue or — as authorities in California learned Friday — it could be toilet paper.

The white dust appeared in the back lavatory of Alaska Airline’s Flight 508 soon after it took off Friday afternoon from Seattle, said Bobbie Eagan, a spokeswoman for the carrier. Sometime during the 1,000-mile flight, the flight’s crew notified authorities about the unknown substance and asked for help.

Fire department crews, law enforcement officers and hazardous materials experts circled the plane soon after it touched down shortly after 4 p.m. at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus.

The aircraft’s 151 passengers and six crew members deplaned, and authorities climbed on board. They included members of the Orange County Fire Authority, who along with members of the county’s sheriff department tested the suspicious substance.

Capt. Greg McKeown, the fire department’s spokesman, said that authorities eventually determined that white dust actually was a “cellulose paper material” — or, in other words, what appeared to be toilet paper.

Phew. Another critical incident for Homeland Security successfully resolved. Probably only cost how much? $10,000? $20,000? Good thing we can afford all this security, eh?

Firemen responding to an emergency call watched a house burn down because its owners had not paid a $75 local fire subscription fee.

Gene and Paulette Cranick, of South Fulton, Tennessee, lost their home after officers were ordered by bosses not to extinguish it.

Fire fighters only arrived when the flames spread to the property of a neighbour, who had paid the fee. However, they continued to refuse to help the Cranicks.

Later the same day, the couple’s 44-year-old son was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, after allegedly punching the local fire chief.

Jeff Vowell, the city manager of South Fulton, said: “It’s a regrettable situation any time something like this happens.” Mr Vowell explained that there was no county-wide fire service and it was too expensive for the city’s officers to serve surrounding rural areas like the Cranicks’ as well.

Rural residents can gain access to the service by paying the annual fee. But “if they choose not to,” Mr Vowell said, “we can’t make them”…

About three hours after the fire began, Mr Cranick’s son Timothy allegedly arrived at the South Fulton fire station and asked for Mr Wilds, the fire chief.

It is alleged that when Mr Wilds came forward and asked if he could help, Mr Cranick punched him. “He just cold-cocked him,” Mr Crocker said…

The Cranicks are temporarily staying in a mobile home.

Whether you like it or not, this is essentially a “Republican” solution. Don’t try to work out something equitable and serviceable for all. Leave it to the beancounters.

The Detroit Police Department will make its new headquarters at the site of the old MGM Grand Detroit casino, Mayor Dave Bing’s office announced this morning.

The city is in the process of purchasing the 400,000-square-foot building near the Lodge Freeway downtown for the Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire Department and the crime lab.

The decision will move the police department out of its aging longtime headquarters…

The city will pay $6.32 million for the property on a land contract, Bing’s office said.

“I am glad to finally be able to move our officers into a safe, sound and functional structure that is also citizen friendly and accessible,” Bing said in a statement. “This represents an important step in making our city more operationally efficient … and safe.”

There must be something apt and witty to say about cops and a casino.

All I remember is the cop on the beat in the neighborhood where I grew up getting his cut from the guy who ran numbers.