Stupid people of the week

Apparently not everybody loves the basement savers.

He deserves to be run over. pic.twitter.com/yHnB5JDWO6

— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) November 4, 2021

Florida social media star arrested after provoking high-speed chase for fun, police say

Social media personality Damaury Mikula, 18, was arrested Friday after allegedly running a red light and leading Florida Highway Patrol troopers on a high-speed chase of more than 100 miles per hour.

Mikula started doing a “burnout” and smoking the tires of a Dodge Challenger next to a patrol car stopped at the intersection of State Road 54 at Sunlake Boulevard, in Pasco County around 10:30 a.m., according to FHP. Troopers say Mikula then ran a red light and sped off.

According to FHP, Mikula, who claims to make $400,000-$500,000 via social media, did not pull over when the trooper activated his lights and siren and continued speeding as he pulled into a residential area off Ballantrae Boulevard near State Road 54.

The trooper identified Mikula as the car’s driver and went to his house. Mikula answered the door and was arrested. Mikula told troopers the Dodge Challenger was parked in the garage and gave permission for the vehicle to be towed, according to FHP.

While en route to jail, and after being read his Miranda rights, troopers say Mikula told them he was the only person in the car and knew the trooper was trying to pull him over but thought it would be okay to speed away if he got away with it.

Mikula told troopers in his mind he is young, makes a lot of money, has a fast car and he can do whatever he wants. Troopers say he later admitted that was a foolish way of thinking and not a good way to live. Mikula added that he wanted to do something fun for three seconds and it cost him.

Troopers say Mikula also told them that his plan was to get onto the expressway to outrun the patrol vehicle, but thought he may get in more trouble.

Mikula was taken to the Pasco County Jail without incident.

Booking records show Mikula was charged with fleeing/eluding police with disregard of safety to persons or property, reckless driving and racing on a highway. He bonded out and was released Saturday morning.

Source; Fox News 

Woman Jumps From Car, Convinced Deaf Lyft Driver Was Kidnapping Her

It’s an older article, but I’ll allow it.

After using ride-share service Lyft to catch a lift back to her home in a San Fransisco suburb, a 28-year-old woman became convinced, when the driver detoured from the usual route and refused to acknowledge her increasingly strained pleas to stop the car, that she was being kidnapped. The woman proceeded to jump out of the (unlocked) passenger door, at a stoplight, breaking her ankle as she ran off to alert the police, SFGate reports.

The alleged kidnapper, turns out, was deaf. Lyft, which cultivates a more friendly, down-home reputation than Uber, is known for being a place for hearing-impaired people to find work, since they don’t have to talk on the phone.

This Reddit AMA with a deaf Lyft driver should provide future passengers with a quick primer on what to expect should they come into contact with a hearing-impaired driver. Apparently, fear of deaf Lyft drivers has prompted the “fight or flight” urge once before:

“Well, there was the guy who, when I told him I was deaf, his eyes went super wide and he sat back completely frozen. Me: “I’ll get you there as soon as I can. I see we’re going XXX address, right?” Him: Frozen. Me: “Ok, here we go.” Then he wanted to be dropped off at a Denny’s and he BOLTED from my car, around the corner never to be seen again.”

Many deaf drivers provide some means of communication for their passengers. A shared keyboard to input directions, texting via the Lyft app, or the time-tested pen and a pad of paper allow passengers to convey directions or special instructions that, more importantly, reduce the impulse to jump out of a perfectly safe vehicle, something extremely beneficial for clumsy runners.

Another pet peeve of hearing-impaired drivers: Don’t sign every upcoming turn. GPS still does the job, even if the user can’t hear.

Source; NY Mag

Sterling Heights police arrest man who attempted to rob gas station with toy handgun

Sterling Heights [Michigan] police have arrested a man after an attempted robbery at a gas station when the suspect used a replica handgun during the crime.

Around 6 a.m. on Oct. 31, police were dispatched to a BP gas station on 18 Mile Road after getting a report of a hold-up alarm being initiated.

When police arrived at the gas station, they observed a white male dressed in all dark clothing walking away from the business.

When officers approached the man, he fled.

Two officers quickly gave chase before apprehending the suspect near a liquor store. While taking the suspect into custody, they found a black toy replica handgun.

Police circled back around to the gas station clerk who told them the suspect had entered the store and attempted to rob him at gunpoint. The clerk pressed the holdup alarm button to notify the police of the robbery.

Sterling Heights police arrived shortly after.

“I’m very proud of the quick response and the bravery of our officers to locate and to get this dangerous suspect into custody so quickly,” said Chief Dale Dwojakowski. “This is just another example of the outstanding job the officers do at this department to keep our community safe!”

Source; Fox 2 Detroit

Carjacking attempt stalls when 3 teens couldn’t drive stick shift, cops say

Three 15-year-olds were thwarted in their attempt to carjack a food delivery worker in Pleasantville [New Jersey] on Monday because none of the teens knew how to drive a vehicle with a stick shift, authorities said.

The driver stopped to make a delivery on the 300 block of West Washington Avenue around 8 p.m., leaving the car’s engine running, Pleasantville police Lt. Stacey Schlachter said Tuesday.

Moments later, one teen entered the 2006 Honda Civic on the driver’s side and the other on the passenger’s side. The pair couldn’t drive off though, because neither could figure out how to drive a car with a manual transmission, according to police.

As the deliveryman returned to his car, the two would-be carjackers and a third teen began punching and kicking the worker, knocking him to the ground, officials said. The deliveryman, who is in his late 40s, was not seriously injured.

Police arrested the teens and charged them with carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault. Two of the teens are from Pleasantville while the other lives in Atlantic City.

All were brought to the Atlantic County Juvenile Detention Center.

Source; NJ.com

Suspects Allegedly Trying to Steal Furnace Caught After Passing Out From Gas Fumes

Furnaces aren’t typically the subjects of robberies, and a recent heist-gone-wrong highlights one good reason why.

According to a press release from the Winnipeg Police Department, two individuals were caught after breaking and entering an abandoned house on October 30—after accidentally knocking themselves out. The duo was reportedly in the process of stealing the building’s furnace, but in doing so, they spurred a natural gas leak, which caused them to fall unconscious at the scene.

Natural gas is used to provide hot water and heat in many homes, and it is also required for the use of some appliances. However, it can be dangerous if not properly controlled.

On its own, natural gas is odorless, explains Healthline, which means that gas leaks alone are undetectable to humans—and thus very dangerous. Gas and utility companies add mercaptan (a harmless but awful-smelling compound) to the natural gas supply, giving it that distinctly sulfuric, rotten-egg odor. The smell provides people with an olfactory warning, should there be a leak.

Exposure to natural gas can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, irritation of the eyes and throat, suffocation, and breathing issues. At higher levels, natural gas exposure can cause people to fall unconscious—and even die.

Natural gas is also highly flammable, and a buildup of it in one’s home increases the risk of an explosion or fire.

Winnipeg police arrived at the scene about 5:30 PM Saturday, following reports of a break-in at an abandoned residence by two unknown suspects. According to the police press release, neighbors reportedly began smelling the odor of natural gas emanating from the home, as did police upon their arrival.

From outside, authorities were able to spot the two suspects—but they appeared unconscious. Officers rushed into the building, retrieved the two individuals, and took them back outside. Soon, the suspects regained consciousness and were examined by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

Police believe that a gas feed became dislodged as the suspects attempted to take the furnace. This, in turn, caused the natural gas leak, and the two fell unconscious.

The suspects, a man and a woman, are in their 40s. They were detained but soon released without charges, said police.

Global News Canada spoke with Sgt. Dani McKinnon of the Winnipeg Police, who described the situation: “Without any consideration for their own safety, as there is a lot of gas emanating, [officers] rush in and they drag the two people out of the residence,” she said.

“They made a snap decision,” added McKinnon.

However, it remains unknown why the pair was on the hunt for a furnace in particular. “We don’t have an answer to that specific question,” explained the officer to Global News. “I don’t know if they wanted to take it [to] another location, I’m not sure what their goal was.”

Source; Newsweek

San Francisco Police Sergeant Arrested For Robbery In San Mateo Rite Aid Incident

An SFPD sergeant with 28 years on the force was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of robbery in an odd incident at a San Mateo Rite Aid that appears to have involved stealing painkillers.

San Francisco Police Sergeant Davin Cole was booked on second-degree robbery charges Wednesday evening and has since been released on bail, as KTVU reports.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. at the Rite Aid at 666 Concar Drive in San Mateo, and a source tells KTVU that Cole had been demanding painkillers at the store’s pharmacy.

San Mateo police have not confirmed what was stolen or if anyone was hurt in the incident, but Cole was also charged with resisting arrest after he attempted to run away from the scene.

KTVU reporter Henry K. Lee says, according to his source regarding the painkiller demand, “the implication is obvious.”

Sgt. Cole has nearly 28 years in the SFPD, having joined the department in January 1994.

KTVU reporter Evan Sernoffsky lamented on Twitter that Cole’s arrest feels especially sad because Cole “spent much of his career working to get people into drug treatment and housing.”

Below is some video from a ride-along Sernoffsky did with Sgt. Cole and his partner two years ago.

Source; SFIST

Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Stupid Criminals