POLICE: FLA. MAN ARRESTED AFTER POCKET-DIALING 911: ORANGE CITY, Fla. (AP) — A conversation with two passengers landed a Florida tow truck driver in jail after his cellphone pocket-dialed 911 and dispatchers listened in.
Authorities say 19-year-old Matthew Dollarhide of Orange City was surprised when a Volusia County Sheriff's deputy pulled him over on Tuesday and asked why they had been talking about selling drugs.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports deputies were alerted at 9:42 p.m. Tuesday and sent to a location where dispatchers said the phone signal was coming from. From the conversation, dispatchers learned that they were driving a tow truck and heard the name Harry. Deputies pulled over a Harry's Towing truck moments later.
Authorities said deputies found a crack pipe on Dollarhide, who was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
'TIMEBOMB' LABEL A STORE, NOT A THREAT IN PA.: PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh police say an abandoned backpack with the word "timebomb" on it prompted a bomb scare, though it appears the alarming label was a bumper sticker from a nearby store called Timebomb Clothing.
Shop owner Brian Brick tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his store sells merchandise, including bumper stickers bearing the shop's name. A bomb squad official says the "timebomb" label appeared to be a bumper sticker.
The bag was found on the front steps of an apartment building Thursday, prompting the bomb squad response before the bag was found to be harmless about 10 a.m.
Brick says this isn't the first time the store's name has alarmed authorities. He says postal officials asked him to stop mailing items in plain brown wrappers because the "Timebomb" label caused such parcels to be inspected for threats.
W. PA. WOMAN FORGETS TO SET BEAR TRAP: NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania woman says a bear trap didn't prevent a burglar from entering her home.
The New Castle News reports that the woman told police that she usually keeps a large bear trap at the bottom of her basement steps, but forgot to set it on Sunday, when a burglar stole tools from the home.
Police say they suggested the woman find a different way of protecting her home from intruders.