• UTAH MAN SENT TO JAIL FOR FIGHT OVER CHURCH SEATS: OGDEN, Utah (AP) — A 52-year-old man accused of punching another man and hitting him with his car in a dispute over pew space in Utah has been ordered to spend 30 days in jail.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports Wayne Dodge was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. He was also ordered to complete an anger management class and pay a fine.
Weber County deputies say the fight happened last June at a Mormon meetinghouse during a crowded service that included a baby blessing and a missionary farewell.
Authorities say Dodge sat in a section that another family had saved in hopes of getting a good view of the baby blessing.
Dodge is accused of punching the man after the service, and striking him with his vehicle in the parking lot.
• NC MAN CAPTURED ON VIDEO RIDING ON BACK OF CAR: CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Police in North Carolina say a man clung to the back of a moving car as it drove down an interstate highway.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police spokesman Keith Trietley said Monday that the man was trying to stop a woman who drove off after the man assaulted her inside a store. A police report said the man grabbed the woman’s arm and pulled her down during an argument.
Trietley said the man was not injured from riding on the car Saturday. He said the woman does not want to press charges against the man. He did not release their names.
Trietley said he could not say how long the man rode on the back of the car on Interstate 77 or how fast the vehicle was moving. He said police were contacted by motorists, one of whom recorded the ride on video.
• MAN ARRESTED IN DELAWARE FROZEN CHICKEN CAPER: WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Police in Delaware arrested a man they say was trying to retrieve 72 pounds of whole frozen chickens he stole from a delivery truck and stashed at a day care.
Police say a man stole the frozen chickens from a truck making a grocery delivery in Wilmington Friday. Officers say the man hid the chickens at a day care behind the grocery and fled.
Authorities say 49-year-old Ronald Johnson of Wilmington returned to the day care, but was confronted by an employee. Police say he cut the employee on the back and hand with a knife. The man was arrested after a foot chase.
Johnson is charged with assault and theft.
Police gave the chickens back to the delivery driver.
• DRIVER SEVERELY BURNED WHEN CIGARETTE IGNITES CAR: ELSMERE, Del. (AP) — Fire officials say a Delaware driver was severely burned when the lighted cigarette he threw out his car window was blown back in by the wind and ignited the interior of the vehicle.
It happened about 6:45 p.m. Sunday in Elsmere. Chief Deputy State Fire Marshall Robert Cox says in a news release that 49-year-old Travis Paul Smith of Elsmere suffered second- and third-degree burns to his lower body.
Fox says the vehicle came to rest in a ravine and several motorists stopped and pulled Smith to safety.
• FLA. JUDGE INVOLVED IN FRACAS RETURNS TO BENCH: VIERA, Fla. (AP) — A central Florida judge accused of punching an assistant public defender during an altercation outside the courtroom has issued a public apology as he prepares to return to the bench after a leave of absence.
Florida Today reports that Brevard County Judge John C. Murphy wrote a letter of apology to the county’s residents Sunday. He wrote that his actions on June 2 may have “tarnished the reputation of the entire judiciary.”
Following the incident with Andrew Weinstock, Murphy took a paid leave of absence and received anger management counseling. He’s expected to return to the bench Monday morning.
A court spokeswoman says Murphy will now handle civil cases. He’ll work mainly in his chambers at the Titusville Courthouse unless there’s a trial or hearing involving multiple parties.
