ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Naked violinist sues over arrest in Portland last year

PORTLAND, Ore.

A Hillsboro, Ore., man arrested after playing a violin while naked outside the federal courthouse in Portland last year is suing police.

The Oregonian reported that 25-year-old Matthew T. Mglej claims authorities used excessive force and violated his First Amendment rights. He named the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and Portland Police Bureau as defendants in a lawsuit filed recently, and he’s seeking $1.1 million in damages.

Police showed up after receiving complaints about the demonstration, during which the man played violin, meditated and quoted former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. They said they arrested him on a charge of indecent exposure and carried him to a patrol car when he refused to walk.

Mglej claims jail deputies cut his wrists by jerking on his handcuffs and called him names when he cried from the pain and for his service dog. He has a hearing on the indecent-exposure charge this month.

Firefighters rescue cows that took icy dip in Colorado pond

FOUNTAIN, Colo.

Firefighters in Colorado have rescued two cows that plunged through the ice on a pond.

Fountain Fire Chief Darin Anstine says someone driving by the pond south of Colorado Springs spotted the cows’ heads sticking out of the water about 30 feet from shore Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters wearing protective suits used saws to cut through 6 to 8 inches of ice and clear a channel to the shore.

Anstine says the cows were able to walk out of the pond about an hour after they were spotted. It’s unclear how long they were in the water, but they’re doing fine.

Anstine says he’s seen a lot of dogs rescued from icy ponds in his 28 years with the department, but never a cow.

Suspected burglar falls through the ceiling, lands near police

HOUSTON

Authorities say a man’s plans to break into a Houston store fell through, after he crashed through the ceiling and landed in front of police.

Houston police say the man climbed a tree and onto the roof of a Family Dollar store early Jan. 25, then managed to break a hole in the roof and enter the building.

But after making his way into the store, the man fell through the ceiling just as a police officer arrived in response to a call about a potential burglary.

KHOU-TV reported that the officer ordered the unidentified man to stay on the floor. The man was later arrested.

Authorities believe the man was trying to steal cigarettes.

Associated Press