The Odd Truth, July 19, 2004

The Odd Truth is a collection of strange but factual news stories from around the world compiled by CBSNews.com's Brian Bernbaum.

Fried Bull Testicle, Anyone?

MADISON, Neb. - Are Nebraskans ready for bull fries?

Jackie Williams, of Valentine, is the proprietor of the portable Potato Hut at this year's Madison County Fair and Rodeo. She says even when people find out what the fries really are - bull's testicles - nine out of 10 fair-goers still want to do a taste test.

True bull fry lovers can go for a whopping half-pound, 10-piece serving of bull fries included on the menu of the Potato Hut, which Williams co-owns and runs with her husband, Dustin.

And there's more than just novelty to the fries, according to Williams.

"Bull fries are all beef and one of the leanest meats on the market," Williams said. "They're 100 percent cholesterol-free."

The bull fries come to the Williams eatery already sliced, breaded and seasoned from a food distributor, Jackie Williams said.

"We also add our own, secret, special spices," she said.

Toe-Sucking Freak

GREENSBURG, Pa. - A man sucked the toes or kissed the feet of two women and a girl in surprise assaults, police said.

A 12-year-old told police that she was reading at the library when James M. Kilpatrick, 21, of Greensburg, started kissing her feet, then offered her 22-year-old sister a dollar to let him do the same to her.

At a nearby park, one woman told police she dozed off while sunbathing and woke up to find Kilpatrick sucking her toes. Another woman had her toes sucked when she stopped to read a memorial plaque in the park, police said.

Kilpatrick remained jailed unable to post $10,000 bond Friday, a day after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing on indecent assault and other charges including stalking, corruption of minors and harassment.

All the incidents occurred between July 3 and July 9. All the victims picked out Kilpatrick from a photo lineup, police said.

It wasn't immediately clear if Kilpatrick has an attorney.

88 Bags Of Heroin Left In Rental Car

LANGHORNE, Pa. - Police charge Robert Laguerre forgot some stuff in his rental car - his wallet and 88 bags of heroin. The stash was discovered by workers at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who called the cops in Middletown, Pennsylvania. Detective Daniel Baranoski and his colleagues hatched a sting operation to catch the suspect. Baranoski says he called Laguerre and offered to return the dope for a $300 reward. Laguerre was busted at the meet, set up at a local mall. Police say he had nearly $2,000 in cash on him. Enterprise spokesman Lee Broughton says people often leave bizarre things in their rentals. One customer even left a sink in the trunk. But Broughton says this is the first time anyone has left heroin behind.

Woman Hit With Alligator

PORT ORANGE, Fla. - A man hit his girlfriend with a 3-foot alligator and threw beer bottles at her during an argument in the couple's mobile home, authorities said.

David Havenner, 41, was ordered held without bond Saturday on misdemeanor charges of battery and possession of an alligator.

The alligator, which Havenner had been keeping in his bathtub, was turned over to Florida wildlife officials.

Nancy Monico, 39, told investigators that Havenner beat her with his fists, then grabbed the alligator and swung it at her as she tried to escape, sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said. She said the animal hit her at least once. She also told authorities that Havenner threw empty beer bottles at her, Davidson said.

Havenner's version of the story differed. He told investigators that Monico bit his hand because she was upset that they had run out of alcohol.

Motorcyclist Plastic-Wrapped!

TOWN OF WAUKESHA, Wis. - A prankster tightly wound plastic wrap around traffic poles across a two-lane road, causing a motorcycle accident that injured two people.

Daniel Buckel, and his girlfriend, Theresa Brzykcy, were riding south of Waukesha on Tuesday when their motorcycle crashed into the plastic wrap set up about 3 feet above the road - wound thickly from traffic poles on opposite sides.

Buckel, 22, was within 10 feet when he saw the makeshift barricade, and hit the brakes.

"It's appalling, and it's really frightening," Brzykcy, 19, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "What was their intention? This should make people more aware that pranks like that are not as harmless as they seem."

Buckel was cut above his eye and broke his finger. Brzykcy also suffered scrapes and bruises.

Buckel is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.

Last year several parked cars were found bound in plastic wrap to prevent drivers from getting inside, Detective Steve Pederson said.

Wooly And Wild

BUCHAREST, Romania - It was a woolly, if not wild, report from the traffic police: Authorities stopped a convoy of three cars after they heard the "passengers" bleating — and found the vehicles stuffed with sheep.

Three Turkish men were transporting 94 sheep in three small pickup trucks on Thursday, the Libertatea newspaper reported Friday.

Thirty-four of the animals were crammed into a single vehicle.

County veterinary authorities in the eastern village of Rediu fined the three men $555 each for mistreating the animals and for not having the proper documents for them.

Police and local authorities could not be reached for comment.
The men intended to sell the sheep, the newspaper reported.

Library Book Thief Leads Cops On High-Speed Chase

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A 36-year-old man led police on a brief car chase, driving on sidewalks, through parking lots and even against traffic on a busy boulevard, so he wouldn't get caught with stolen library books.

"The officers were a little taken back when they found out what the deal was. They couldn't believe it," said Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Tom Connellan, who added police broke off pursuit because the situation Sunday became too dangerous.

"It was stupid and reckless," said Connellan.

Byron Haynes of Syracuse was to be arraigned Monday in Syracuse City Court on misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, petit larceny and reckless driving, as well as numerous traffic infractions.

Haynes offered no explanation to police when he was arrested, Connellan said.

Connellan did not have the titles or authors of the five stolen books but said they all dealt with Jewish religion. The books were swiped from Syracuse University's Bird Library, which has substantial holdings of rare books, manuscripts and collections.

An officer spotted Haynes running a stop sign about 4:30 p.m. Sunday near the library. Moments earlier, a suspect had fled the building with the stolen books, setting off the building's alarms as he ran out the doors.

Possibly The World's Dumbest Criminal

BRISTOL, Conn. - A Southington man who had told police he should appear on "World's Dumbest Criminals" has been sentenced to prison for robbing a bank where he was a regular customer.

Thomas Dorsey, 36, pleaded guilty Thursday to third-degree robbery. Dorsey admitted robbing a Southington bank Jan. 20 by handing a teller a note that read, "Count out $1,200. Hand it to me. You are being robbed. Stay calm."

Dorsey's lawyer noted that the bank was a branch that his client did business at on a regular basis.

"He didn't try to hide his identity," Assistant Public Defender James Sward said. "In fact, it's the bank he goes to every day; that's his bank. That shows how desperate he was."

Dorsey had told investigators he should probably should appear on a show titled, "World's Dumbest Criminals" for the crime.

Supervisory Assistant Stephen Preleski said the fact there was no weapon or threats involved made it a less-serious incident.

Judge Mark H. Taylor sentenced Dorsey to 2 1/2 years in prison.