Growing-Season
Off-beat news stories about crime and such...
Criminal Cow Jammies
Steven Hall; Dreamstudio.ai
A grown man traveling with a cow pajama onesie could be considered odd. Federal prosecutors say the situation was actually criminal. Raj Matharu of Northridge, California, was arrested at LAX on Nov. 7 as he attempted to fly to Sydney, Australia, with two checked bags. X-ray screening of those bags turned up an "anomaly" that spurred a secondary inspection.
Per a DOJ press release, inside were "white or light-colored clothing items"—including that onesie, as well as towels, a sweater, and eight pairs of women's underwear, among other things—"that were dried stiff and covered in a white residue" that testing showed to be meth. NBC News reports the meth-soaked clothing weighed 71.5 pounds.
Matharu was intercepted on the jet bridge and later arrested. Homeland Security Investigations agent Megan Palmer wrote in an affidavit, "I believe in this instance the white methamphetamine was 'washed' into the white clothing and left to dry. Based on my training and experience, I know that over time in a room temperature or cold environment, the solution would evaporate and then the powdered methamphetamine would separate from the shirt, forming a white residue." Matharu, 31, has been charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life. newser
Extra Toppings
Steven Hall; Dreamstudio.ai
Who knew pizza could be this addicting?
Suspicious food inspectors first alerted cops to the unidentified pizza joint in Düsseldorf after noting the buzz drawing lines for its special item number 40 on the menu.
German cops raided a pizzeria after learning its most popular pizza was served up with a side of cocaine. “That was one of the best-selling pizzas,” criminal director Michael Graf von Moltke told reporters, without revealing how much the coke-on-the-side special cost.
Food inspectors first flagged the suspicious order in March, and when cops went to confront the pizzeria’s 36-year-old manager, he threw a bag of drugs out of his apartment window, which “fell right into the arms of the police officers,” police said.
The stash contained 3.5 pounds of cocaine, 14.1 ounces of cannabis and $290,378 in cash, police said.
The pizzeria manager was released several days later — where he reopened his slice shop and started selling the number 40 with a side order of cocaine again, cops said.
Investigators then looked at the supply chain — and ultimately busted an entire drug ring in western Germany, arresting three suspects including the operation’s alleged 22-year-old mastermind.
Authorities also raided the homes and businesses of 12 suspects and uncovered two cannabis plantations with more than 350 plants.
Their investigation also found knives and other weapons, as well as cash and expensive watches. The pizzeria manager tried to flee the country, but was arrested and remains in custody. nypost
Dali and Me… kinda'
A museum employee fulfilled his wish of seeing his own art hanging among celebrated works from world-famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, though it meant he lost his job—which might not be the end of it. The German man, formerly employed in technical service at Munich's modern art museum Pinakothek der Moderne.
Steven Hall; Dreamstudio.ai
The museum worker and aspiring artist hoping for a big break got the sack after he smuggled in one of his own paintings and hung it up in the gallery — home to famous pieces by renowned artists like Leonardo Da Vinci and Henri Mattise.
The 51-year-old employee had drilled two holes into a wall to mount his painting in Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne, hoping for an “artistic breakthrough” authorities told the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
But guards quickly realized something was amiss, according to a spokesperson for the museum: “Supervisors notice something like this immediately."
He mounted his piece, which was 23 by 47 inches, in an empty passageway on Feb. 23, however, the incident was not made public until Monday. The painting was hung during the early morning hours and spotted by staff soon after the museum opened for the day.
“The decision was made to keep the picture on display while the gallery was open and take it down after its closing time at 6 p.m.,” the spokesperson said
In addition to losing his job, the artwork was returned to the man, who was banned from the museum.
The museum would not comment on the painting’s subject or style as to avoid encouraging “copycat pranksters.” “All I can say is that we did not receive any positive feedback on the addition from visitors to the gallery,” the spokesperson said. That being said, he still had a museuem display for one day. nypost
