Gary Coleman continues to attract attention

Gary Coleman continues to attract attention

SANTAQUIN, Utah — Gary Coleman, who makes it no secret that he likes his privacy and wants to be left alone, chose to settle in small-town Utah — far away from the paparazzi and autograph seekers of his former life as a TV star.

But a rocky romance, a prescription pill overdose and sometimes contentious interactions with the public have brought him unwanted attention here, where public records show a pattern of Coleman involving police in his personal life.

Officers have been called to assist or intervene with Coleman 21 times since he moved to Utah in fall 2005, according to police reports — including a July 2007 call where Coleman told authorities he had taken dozens of Oxycontin pills, was suicidal and “wanted to die.”

“Gary ... was upset that his girlfriend was breaking up with him. He calmed down and was cooperative and acknowledged he took approx(imately) 30-40 Oxycontin pills. He said he is suicidal and ‘wanted to die,’” according to a police report.

Atheists target inaugural

WASHINGTON — A group of atheists, led by a California man known for challenging the use of the words “under God” in recitals of the Pledge of Allegiance at public schools, filed a lawsuit Tuesday to bar prayer and references to God at the swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama.

Michael A. Newdow, 17 other individuals and 10 groups representing atheists sued Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, several officials in charge of inaugural festivities, the Rev. Joseph Lowery and megachurch pastor Rick Warren. They filed the complaint in U.S. District Court.

Newdow failed in similar lawsuits to remove prayer from President George W. Bush’s swearing-in ceremonies in 2001 and 2005.

Roberts will administer the oath of office to Obama at the Jan. 20 ceremony.

Dad charged with murder

WIN FALLS, Idaho — The father of an 11-year-old girl who died, likely of hypothermia, after trying to walk 10 miles in the snow on Christmas Day has been charged with second-degree murder and felony injury to a child.

Robert Aragon, 55, of Jerome, made an initial appearance Monday in 5th District Court, where Judge Mark Ingram appointed a public defender for him. The judge denied Aragon’s request to lower his $500,000 bond. He was being held in the Blaine County Jail.

Aragon was emotional during the short hearing. He banged his head on the defendant’s table as Ingram read the charges against him.

Iran adds to U.S. tension

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration on Tuesday expressed grave concern about the detention and interrogation in Iran of a prominent American academic, an incident that has led the National Academies of Science to suspend educational exchanges with Iranian institutions.

Amid growing tension with Iran over its nuclear program and alleged support for extremists, the State Department said Iran’s treatment of Glenn Schweitzer, head of the academies’ Eurasia program, earlier this month was “yet another example of the Iranian government’s refusal to abide by international norms.”

“We are particularly concerned about this incident,” said Nicole Thompson, a department spokeswoman. “We take events such as these very seriously.”

Journalist’s trial delayed

BAGHDAD — A court on Tuesday postponed the trial of a journalist who hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush in anger over the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, an act of protest that made him an international celebrity.

The court’s decision to review the charges against Muntadhar al-Zeidi comes as Iraq prepares after nearly six years to end America’s costly grip over the country and give U.S. troops three years to pack up and leave.

Thursday will also see the official handover of the most potent symbol of U.S. occupation, when Iraq takes formal control of the Green Zone — a heavily fortified enclave surrounded by cement walls that extends over 4 square miles of downtown Baghdad and encompasses the U.S. Embassy and the seat of the Iraqi government.

Vindicator wire services