Weird News: Redneck Chronicles

Scrooge Lives

On Nov. 22 (which, arguably, is a tad early for Christmas carolers), Paul Brian Susie, 58, was taken into custody in Annapolis, Maryland, after he allegedly pointed a firearm at three 12-year-old girls who arrived at his house to sing Christmas carols. WMAR2-TV reported that the incident happened around 8:30 p.m.; police recovered a loaded .40-caliber Glock handgun from Susie’s home. Exhibiting “loud and belligerent” behavior as he was questioned, Susie admitted to pointing the gun at the girls. He was charged with first- and second-degree assault.

Redneck Chronicles

Around 1 a.m. on Nov. 19, Hancock County (West Virginia) Sheriff’s officers responded to a call about a man suffering a gunshot wound while a rifle was being cleaned. WKRC-TV reported that when officers arrived, two men at the home revealed the real story: They had been shooting out the second-story window of the home at rats, they said, and the gun went off when one man tried to take it from the other. The victim was transported to the hospital; homeowner Mark Fuller was charged with wanton endangerment involving a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling.

Consequences of Getting High

Fifteen-year-olds aren’t known for their excellent judgment, but this kid’s antics were on another level. On Nov. 24 in Jerusalem, firefighters were called to a 36-story skyscraper with a crane on top -- and a 15-year-old atop the crane. The teenager was trapped on a small platform above the building. The kid told rescue teams he had scaled the crane around midnight to “see the view,” the Associated Press reported. Fire official Eyal Cohen said they’ve responded to a number of cases of young people scaling large buildings. “This is a serious incident that ended in a miracle,” Cohen said.

Probably Not Amazon

Authorities in Flagler County, Florida, are trying to solve the mystery behind some “suspicious incidents,” Click Orlando reported. Between Nov. 12 and 17, in seven separate circumstances, a masked man was captured on surveillance video leaving a piece of wood and a $1 bill on front porches of homes. One family, who received two different deliveries, said the second one had writing on the wood: “The Midnight Stalker is coming for Palm Coast.” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly called the incidents “unnerving” and said the person could face charges of trespassing, loitering and prowling, and littering.