Dateline: TexasA state trooper has been reprimanded and ordered to undergo counseling after posing for a photo with rapper Snoop Dogg at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin. According to the Dallas Morning News, Billy Spears was working security at the event in March when Snoop Dogg asked to take a picture with him. The artist posted the image to his Instagram account. Department of Public Safety and Transportation officials saw the post, which they say “reflects poorly on the agency.” Spears was cited for deficiencies that require counseling by a superior. His supervisors said the disciplinary actions were necessary since Snoop, also known as Calvin Broadus, is a “known criminal” with prior convictions for drug possession. Spears’ attorney, Ty Clevenger, said his client was unaware of the rapper’s criminal record. Clevenger has drafted a letter asking DPS director Steven McCraw to intervene and remove Spears’ reprimand.Dateline: OhioPolice in Akron say 50-year-old Phyllis Jefferson stabbed her boyfriend in the groin area because he ate all the salsa. The incident began around 4pm on March 29 when Jefferson complained to her 61-year-old boyfriend that he was eating all of their salsa. Unwilling to go without salsa, Jefferson allegedly yelled and jammed a pen into the left side of the man’s pelvis. She then knocked over his television. He jumped up and caught the TV before it hit the ground. While he was busy holding the TV up, police reports say Jefferson grabbed a small kitchen knife and stabbed her boyfriend in the left side of his stomach. The man was taken to Akron General Medical Center for treatment. Jefferson is now charged with felonious assault and a misdemeanor count of criminal damaging. Dateline: KentuckyEven though he died in 2012, perennial political candidate Gatewood Galbraith could end up on the 2015 ballot for Kentucky governor. Galbraith was a Lexington lawyer who famously ran for governor five times and was known for his longtime stance on legalizing marijuana. A Pulaski County man is honoring his memory by changing his name and running for governor. Terrill Wayne Newman, 68, of Eubank had his name legally changed to Gatewood Galbraith late last month in Pulaski District Court. Now he intends to file as an independent candidate for governor. The newly minted Mr. Galbraith must now get 5,000 Kentucky registered voters’ signatures by Aug. 11 in order to get on the November general election ballot. “I don’t expect to be elected governor of Kentucky,” Galbraith said in an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader. “But I sure do hope this warms Gatewood’s grave.”Dateline KentuckyPolice in Lexington say a woman who was being strangled with a bra fended off her attacker by beating her with a ceramic chicken. Patricia Leece, 61, said she opened her door early Monday morning because she thought the person banging and shouting was her granddaughter. Instead, she came face to face with 31-year-old Ashley Sies. Leece told police Sies forced her way into the house and wrapped a bra around her neck. “She choked me down, and we fought for a good 15 to 20 minutes,” Leece told WKYT-TV. “Finally, I saw one of my [ceramic] chickens on the floor, so I picked it up and started bashing her on the head with it.” After knocking Sies unconscious, Leece called 911. Police say Sies was evidently on drugs and believed she was being followed when she attacked Leece. Sies was charged with first degree burglary and is being held on a $10,000 bond.Dateline: IdahoPolice in northern Idaho say a man who called 911 a dozen times to complain about his bar bill now faces a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. Post Falls police say an officer gave Phillip Poissonnier a ride home after he was kicked out of Club Tequila just after 1am on Monday, March 30. KXLY in Spokane/Coeur d’Alene reports that, shortly after being dropped off, Poissonnier started calling 911 because he “wanted officers to come back to his residence on E Park Ridge Loop to discuss his bar tab.” Police were busy responding to other emergencies and ignored Poissonnier as best they could. “We were responding to a prowler call, and while we’re on the prowler call, he’s calling 911 making sure he’s not overcharged,” a police spokesperson told the television station. Eventually, police showed up at Poissonnier’s house to investigate. A bartender at Club Tequila showed police Poissonnier’s receipts for the night, which showed he was charged $30 for the 10 beers he ordered. Poissonnier was issued a misdemeanor citation for misusing 911.
Compiled by Devin D. O'Leary. Email your weird news to devin@alibi.com.
