smoke

Published on: October 22, 2024

Florida Man Pointed Flamethrower at Police Officer

A man in Southeastern Florida is facing charges after allegedly approaching police officers with a flamethrower and trying to hide in his residence to avoid arrest.

On the evening of October 14, a Port St. Lucie neighborhood experienced an unusual disturbance. A loud bang was heard, followed by a plume of black smoke pouring out of the yard at one of the residents’ homes.

The authorities were notified, and officers from the Port St. Lucie Police Department headed to the address to see what was going on. When they got there they reportedly heard a man yelling from the yard. When the 39-year-old saw the officers, he began to walk over to where they were standing in the street. According to reports, the man was carrying a flamethrower, and the police believed he intentionally pointed it at one of the officers at the scene. They drew their guns and told him to put them down, but the man did not stop walking in their direction until one of the officers was able to snatch the device out of his hands. He reportedly turned around and ran inside the house.

Continue reading →

Published on: November 9, 2022

Apartment Caught Fire with Kids Locked in Room

by Staycie R. Sena

A Southern California couple was arrested when they reportedly locked their three children in a room in their apartment, and the dwelling caught on fire while they were out for a walk.

Around 2:00 AM on November 3, the authorities received a report informing them that an apartment in a multi-unit complex in Burbank was on fire.

When officers from the Burbank Police Department arrived, they were informed that the neighbors believed there were young children alone and trapped in the burning apartment.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 7, 2021

Florida Man Busted for “Medicinal” Methamphetamine

by Staycie R. Sena

A man in Madeira Beach was reportedly found with a substance purported to be methamphetamine, and he allegedly told the authorities that it was his medicine.

According to records, 46-year-old Matthew Cusumano is a transient staying in the Clearwater area in Florida.

Just before 3:00 am on September 1, Cusumano was reportedly riding a bicycle in Madeira Beach.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 12, 2017

Airbnb Host Accused of Recording Guests with Hidden Camera

by Staycie R. Sena

Derek Starnes and his wife rented a condominium on Longboat Key, FL through Airbnb based partly on over 40 positive reviews posted on the site regarding the property. A day after checking into the rental Starnes who has a career in IT saw something amiss with one of the smoke detectors. Upon inspection he discovered it was a hidden security camera with a microphone pointed directly at their bed in the master bedroom.

Starnes called the police and they seized all computer equipment capable of storing data. A second camera was discovered in the living room.

The owner of the property, 56-year-old Wayne Natt, was taken into custody and charged with one count of video voyeurism. Natt’s Airbnb listing has been active for two years and police are investigating the possibility of others affected by the alleged breach of privacy. “We don’t know if there are local victims, someone who may have been dating him or a companion that doesn’t realize they are being videotaped, and then we have the other side of who he rented to through Airbnb,” said Lt. Bob Bourque.

Continue reading →