With anxiety that could go up in smoke, a Bakersfield mother voiced her concern after spotting what looked like a medical marijuana dispensary in close proximity to some school bus stops by claiming that “they’re making it too easy for our children to come in contact with these stores.” The alleged dispensary was set up in an office-type trailer on a vacant lot, which is behind a locked gate, and there’s a fence around three sides of the space.
Also, there were two signs with green crosses, which often signify a medical marijuana dispensary. “We’ve got kindergarteners being picked up here on Kentucky Street all day long. Why should that parent have to explain to their kindergartener what’s that cross?” the mother said.
She’s worried about the impression on little kids. “I’m not just one parent, I’m every parent,” the mother said.” She refused to be identified.
In what was probably the worst way to start the day, a mother and daughter headed to the school bus stop stumbled upon the 34th homicide for Columbus, Ohio, in 2016. The mother called 911 soon after discovering the body. The gruesome discovery rattled the duo.
“She was taking my sister to the bus stop and she saw the body like laying in the field, she went to call 911 and she was shaking so bad she dialed 9-1-9, or something,” said an older sister, who was interviewed after the 17-year-old witness went to school. “I think it was sad she had to see something like that. She is young, no one should have to see it, a dead body in the yard. But on the way to school, that wasn’t OK.”
Police identified the victim as 47-year-old Frank Thornton III, who died of multiple gunshot wounds. He had been dead for several hours when he was found. No suspect had been named at this report.
A school bus in Washington state assisted in the capture of an armed robber after the suspect slammed into the empty bus during a high-speed chase with police. The chase started when the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance in catching an armed robbery suspect who headed into Puyallup and drove into the South Hill Mall parking lot.
After speeding around the mall and getting onto an area street, the fleeing driver lost control and hit a school bus. No children were on board. The driver ran away and was later captured by a deputy. The suspect caused two crashes and hit a pedestrian in what police described as a “very high speed” chase. The pedestrian was treated at the police station and is reported in good condition. “We were very, very fortunate no citizen or officer was hurt,” an officer said. The pursuit lasted 10 to 20 minutes and covered at least 10 miles.
A former Seattle judge started crying because she was so happy after a jury declared her not guilty of fourth-degree assault for slapping a 6-year-old boy with autism while she worked as an area school bus driver. The jury had deliberated for about a half-hour before reaching the verdict. A video of the incident was played several times during the trial.
The former judge’s attorney told jurors during closing arguments that 63-year-old judge was so traumatized by being smacked in the face by the 6 year old that she struck back in a “reflexive reaction” because she was defending herself from a violent, aggressive child. The prosecutor argued that claiming self-defense means the act was intentional and calls into question the former judge’s claim she didn’t remember what happened.
