Man dumps girlfriend; she reacts by secretly marrying him without his consent or knowledge — then she lands in jail



After a Texas man dumped his girlfriend, the breakup reportedly didn't stop her from going behind her ex-boyfriend's back to marry him without his knowledge. However, the ex-girlfriend ended up going to jail for allegedly stalking her former lover.

Beverly Hills Chief of Police Kory Martin said a 42-year-old man contacted the police department on June 13 to report that he returned home and found a package from his ex-girlfriend on his property, Law & Crime reported.

Chief Martin said the alleged victim was 'going through a significant process to try to fix this at this point, so that's a whole [different] situation.'

The package was a "gift bag from Bath & Body Works," which contained products from the personal care and home fragrance retail chain, the outlet added.

The package also had some surprising contents.

One item was a photo of his ex-girlfriend — 36-year-old Kristin Marie Spearman — "holding what appears to be a marriage license showing them married and officiated by a local reverend," People magazine reported.

The package also had a copy of the marriage certificate filed with the McLennan County Clerk’s Office, Law & Crime added.

RELATED: Florida woman, who doused herself in Diet Mountain Dew to tamper with evidence, learns her fate in murder of elderly roommate

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The anonymous victim told police that he never got married to Spearman.

He told police he went with Spearman to get a marriage license on June 2. However, the couple reportedly got into an argument, they allegedly broke up, and their marriage never happened.

According to police, the man told Spearman that "he did not want to be in a relationship" with her any longer.

Investigators suspect that Spearman convinced a reverend to certify her marriage, even though the groom wasn't in attendance or even aware that he was getting married.

"It was found during a follow-up investigation with the reverend that Kristin Spearman pursuant to the scheme of obtaining a marriage certificate convinced the reverend to certify the victim and Kristin in the Holy Union of Matrimony without the knowledge of the victim and his required presence," police said, according to Law & Crime.

According to McLennan County’s website, both parties “must appear in person” and have valid identification to apply for a marriage license.

RELATED: Man once tried to outrun police on a mule — now he's in jail for allegedly weaponizing a raccoon

Chief Martin told KWKT-TV, "At first, we were really considering that it may be some forged documents. However, once we made contact with the reverend who ended up signing the actual ceremony, showing that they were unified, he basically, you know, solidified the fact that, yeah, the groom was not present when that occurred."

He added to the station that "I don't think in 23 years I've never heard of anybody who managed somehow to get married to someone who wasn't present for a ceremony."

The Beverly Hills Police Department did not release the identity of the marriage officiant.

Chief Martin said the alleged victim was "going through a significant process to try to fix this at this point, so that's a whole [different] situation."

Police took Spearman to the McLennan County Jail after obtaining an arrest warrant for third-degree felony stalking, KWKT said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Second suspect arrested after suburban Chicago couple obediently handed over valuables to armed males in front of their home



A second suspect has been arrested in the wake of a viral video showing a suburban Chicago couple in front of their home obediently handing over valuables to three armed males back in April.

Police in Glenview, Illinois, said Chicago police on Monday arrested 21-year-old Amarion Ray-Williams and took him to the Glenview Police Department, WFLD-TV reported, adding that he was charged with armed robbery with a firearm.

'It's just the way of the world.'

Ray-Williams was then placed in the custody of the Cook County Sheriff's Department for a conditions hearing Tuesday, WFLD said, adding that police have not identified the last individual involved in the headline-grabbing heist.

The sheriff's department on Thursday told Blaze News that Ray-Williams remained in custody "with no bail/bond amount currently listed."

Earlier this month, Blaze News reported that the first suspect connected to the case was arrested and charged with armed robbery with a firearm.

Angelo Hatter — a 26-year-old from Chicago — was being held in custody by the Cook County Sheriff's Department, WFLD reported in a separate story. Jail records showed no bail for Hatter; his next court date is July 2.

RELATED: Road rage suspect opens fire on fellow motorist in Chicago, cops say. But victim is a concealed carrier — and wins shootout.

Angelo Hatter. Image source: Cook County (Ill.) Sheriff's Office

Authorities shared no details about how they linked Hatter and Ray-Williams to the case, the station said.

In April, Blaze News reported about a helpless suburban Chicago couple recorded by Ring camera in front of their own home obediently handing over their valuables — and even their clothing — to three armed robbers who rushed them.

Greg Poulos and Angie Beltsos were walking to their front porch in Glenview around 10 p.m. April 21 after dinner in Chicago when a car pulled up, WBBM-TV reported.

Police said three males approached them, pulled out guns, and demanded their belongings, WBBM said, adding that Beltsos said she saw one male "running at us pointing a gun, screaming at us to give him everything."

The couple did just that.

Video shows one of the robbers telling them to "give me all that s**t," and Poulos and Beltsos immediately tossed their cell phones and keys to the ground; Beltsos also gave up her purse, the station said.

"You got it. You got it. Here, take it. Take it. Take everything. Take everything. Take everything. Take everything. Take everything. Here, you can have it. Honest to God, guys," Poulos was heard on the clip telling the robbers, WBBM reported.

"I started throwing shoes and coats," Beltsos noted to the station in the aftermath. Video shows them both removing their jackets for the crooks.

Poulos told WBBM, "I was always taught by my father just give whatever they want, give what they want, and your life is far more valuable."

The nightmare didn't end there, however.

RELATED: 'Chunk of hair' allegedly found on smashed windshield; cops say it resembles fatal hit-and-run victim's hair — and case turns

Video doesn't show that the crooks soon "had us lie down on our stomachs, and pointing guns at us, and I thought, 'Oh my gosh, is this how it's going to end today?'" Beltsos recounted to WBBM, adding that "for a moment, they were standing there, and they ran off."

Police told WBBM the robbers sped out of the neighborhood in a Jaguar SUV, which was later found abandoned and empty in Chicago.

The village of Glenview is about 40 minutes northwest of Chicago and is "one of the best places to live in Illinois," according to Niche. It's also a haven for retirees and boasts "a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks" as well as "highly rated" public schools, Niche adds.

Poulos added to WBBM that people nowadays have "to be vigilant and keep their head on a swivel."

Blaze News spoke to employees of two businesses located less than a mile from where the robbery took place, and both workers strangely used the same word in the aftermath of the harrowing encounter: "numb."

One employee confessed to Blaze News, "I'm numb to it."

The worker from the second business — even upon hearing that a suspect had been arrested — told Blaze News that "you just kind of become numb to the situation."

"It's unfortunate," she added to Blaze News about the robbery itself. "It's just the way of the world."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'My heart and soul broken': Parents of 8-month-old boy fatally shot at Utah community festival grieve 'unimaginable loss'



Anderson Garcia told KSTU-TV that taking his family to the local WestFest celebration Sunday night was not in his plans.

"I didn't even know the fair was going to be there," Garcia recounted to the station about the annual four-day event, which took place at Centennial Park in West Valley City, Utah. "I was going to the Walmart, and my baby started crying. ... I looked to my right side, and I see the fair. All I wanted was for my babies to be happy there, to have fun."

'For three years, I struggled with infertility, and I was finally blessed with two boys. My baby was such a happy baby.'

Sunday was the final day of WestFest, which featured "food, fun, and festivities" such as music and carnival rides about 20 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City.

Garcia added to KUTV-TV that his family was just about to leave WestFest but stopped to look at a ride — and that's when gunfire broke out.

“I said to my wife, 'Run, that’s gunfire, run.' I pushed her out of the way, and all I did was use my body to cover the boys," he recounted to KUTV. "I thought I rather the gunfire hit me than my children."

Garcia on this Father's Day also tried to use his body to cover the stroller, KUTV said.

Tragically, Garcia's 8-month-old son — Anderson Garcia Cabrera Jr. — was hit by gunfire and died, KSTU reported.

RELATED: Former reality TV contestant shot and killed at No Kings protest by 'peacekeeper,' police say

A 16-year-old male opened fire amid an argument between two groups at the festival, police said, and two others also were fatally shot: 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi of West Valley City — a male from one of the arguing groups — and 41-year-old Fnu Reena, a female bystander from West Jordan.

Adding to the heartache, Garcia's wife — Mehili Cabrera — told KUTV that baby Anderson was a twin born after lengthy infertility obstacles.

"I have my heart and soul broken," Cabrera said to KUTV. "For three years, I struggled with infertility, and I was finally blessed with two boys. My baby was such a happy baby."

The devastated mother also said baby Anderson was just learning to crawl, KUTV noted, and that so many people loved him.

Indeed, the family wrote in a GoFundMe message that "what was meant to be a joyful Father's Day celebration ... became the most heartbreaking night of our lives. We are devastated and struggling to process this unimaginable loss."

Baby Anderson's family hope to lay him to rest in their home country of Guatemala, KSTU noted, "so he can rest in peace surrounded by our family and loved ones."

"He was a happy baby. I've never seen one like him," his father added to KSTU. "What I want: He goes where I come from."

The family's GoFundMe campaign can be found here; as of late Tuesday afternoon, nearly $54,000 has been raised as part of a $100,000 goal.

Anything else?

Police said gunfire at the festival also wounded two teens — a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male — in their arms. Police added that it's not clear if the two wounded teens were connected to the arguing groups.

The 16-year-old male suspect was taken into custody, police said, adding that an officer fired but didn't hit the suspect. Police also said the suspect was taken to the police station for questioning.

RELATED: 'No brainer': Utah becomes first state to ban rainbow flags in both schools and government buildings

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told KSTU-TV in a previous story that it's too early to determine if the teen suspect will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult.

“We have not yet screened the case. Whether a case is filed in a juvenile or district court is a decision that is made at time of filing," Gill said in a statement, according to KSTU. "It would be premature for us to talk about these matters at this time."

A shocked employee of a business located next to the park told Blaze News that he feels "bad for what happened" and added that it was completely out of the ordinary for the area.

"I'd definitely say it was a one-off," the worker noted to Blaze News before acknowledging the "dark" nature of the crime.

A pregnant woman also was injured while trying to climb a fence to flee the scene, KUTV-TV reported in a previous story.

RELATED: LGBT activists find devious way to hoist their colors despite flag bans in Salt Lake City, Boise

Roxeanne Vainuku, public information officer for West Valley City police, told KUTV that "it's heartbreaking, I think for all of us, to see something like this happen at something that is just a real treasure, something that we really enjoy in our community."

Vainuku added to the station that it's not clear if the shooting was gang-related. KUTV also said police won't release the name of the suspect since he's a juvenile.

"I don't even know how to explain this night," one witness told KSTU. "I am traumatized. I don't think I would ever go to a fair, especially if they're not checking the people that walk in."

Another witness added to KSTU: "I was very scared because I'm not used to hearing gunshots, and I almost had a panic attack because that was scary."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

NYC comptroller locks arms with man to prevent ICE arrest: 'Show me your warrant!'



New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents after locking arms with a man who was in court for potential deportation.

Lander is also a candidate for New York City mayor in the upcoming primary election. His policy proposals include ending homelessness for the mentally ill, standing up to Donald Trump, preparing for the "climate crisis," and standing up for "our immigrant neighbors."

Lander was apparently attempting to do just that when he was filmed near a courtroom at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan following immigration hearings.

'You don’t have the authority to arrest US citizens!'

In the hallway outside of the courtroom, Lander latched onto a man as federal agents approached him. The agents represented ICE, the FBI, and the Treasury Department, according to amNY.

As video of the confrontation shows, Lander refused to let go of the alleged illegal immigrant who was reportedly just seen by a judge for possible deportation. AmNY claimed the man's case was dismissed but provided no specifics.

Agents attempted to separate Lander from the man, as the comptroller yelled, "Show me your warrant! Show me your badge!"

RELATED: Trump’s immigration crackdown works: 1 million illegal aliens reportedly self-deport

— (@)

Still holding on, Lander took a calmer approach and said, "I will let go if you show me a judicial warrant," and, "I would like to see the warrant, and then I will let go."

The agents forcibly separated the two men and took both into custody as Lander yelled, "You don't have the authority to arrest U.S. citizens!"

Lander claimed he was "not obstructing" and was simply "standing right here in the hallway," before again telling agents they did not have the authority to arrest him.

RELATED: Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass to California: 'Look what you made us do!'

— (@)

In a statement to Blaze News, Dept. of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Lander was arrested for "impeding a federal officer."

"Our heroic ICE law enforcement officers face a 413% increase in assaults against them — it is wrong that politicians seeking higher office undermine law enforcement safety to get a viral moment," McLaughlin continued. "No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences."

A spokesperson for Lander told amNY that the comptroller was "taken by masked agents and detained by ICE."

Meanwhile, Lander's wife, Meg Barnette, posted on his X page on his behalf, saying, "Brad is still in ICE custody."

"We are grateful to the many friends, supporters, and allies who have gathered in Federal Plaza," Barnette wrote. "Together we are standing up for those with no voice."

DHS did not confirm the name or status of the man Lander latched himself to.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'I'll blow your head off': Carjacking victim threatened crook after turning the tables on him. Now carjacker learns his fate.



Early one morning last year — around 6:28 a.m. Jan. 2, 2024, to be exact — a Chicago motorist told police he was sitting in his car in the 9400 block of South Laflin Street when Darrius Berry approached him, CWB Chicago reported.

The 39-year-old victim said Berry walked up to the driver's window of his 2021 Mazda CX-9 and pointed a gun at his head, the outlet reported.

'Who’s with you?'

“Please give me the keys,” Berry allegedly told the victim, according to the outlet. “I need your car. I’m sorry, sir. ... Go in the house.”

The victim did just that, handing Berry his keys and heading into his house, the outlet continued.

But what Berry likely didn't count on was the victim reappearing soon after.

It turns out that the victim grabbed his own gun, went back outside, and confronted Berry, who was sitting behind the steering wheel of the victim's car with a gun on the passenger seat, CWB Chicago said, citing a report.

“If you reach for it, I’ll blow your head off,” the victim recalled telling Berry, according to the outlet.

RELATED: Helpless suburban couple obediently hand over valuables — even clothing — to armed males in front of their home: Doorbell cam

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

It gets even better.

The victim opened the car door, grabbed Berry by the collar, and pulled him to the ground, CWB Chicago said, citing officials.

“Who’s with you?” the victim asked Berry, according to the outlet, presumably out of concern that Berry may have accomplices to help him carry out the crime.

“He’s around the corner,” Berry reportedly answered, CWB Chicago said, adding that the victim said he never saw anyone.

Soon after, Chicago police responded to a call of a "citizen holding an offender" and found the victim holding Berry at gunpoint, the outlet said.

RELATED: Road rage suspect opens fire on fellow motorist in Chicago, cops say. But victim is a concealed carrier — and wins shootout.

Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

Police recovered the gun Berry allegedly left on the Mazda’s passenger seat, the outlet reported, adding that a police report indicated the firearm had been stolen from a vehicle in the 1400 block of West 90th Street about a month prior to the ill-fated January 2024 carjacking.

Judge Thomas Hennelly on Monday sentenced Berry — now 19 years old — to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular hijacking, CWB Chicago said, citing court records.

The outlet added that Berry will be eligible for release in just over three years due to Illinois' "standard 50% sentence reduction and credits earned while in jail."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

8-month-old boy among 3 shot to death after teen pulls gun, opens fire at community festival near Salt Lake City: Police



Police officers on duty at the annual WestFest carnival in West Valley City, Utah — which is about 20 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City — noticed two groups of people arguing around 9:20 p.m. Sunday, police said.

As officers approached the groups to break things up, police said a 16-year-old male from one of the groups pulled a gun and opened fire.

'I don't even know how to explain this night.'

Police said the following victims were fatally shot: 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi of West Valley City — a male from one of the arguing groups; 41-year-old Fnu Reena — a female bystander from West Jordan; and an 8-month-old boy whose name authorities won't release.

According to KSTU-TV, the 41-year-old female victim and the infant victim were not connected to each other.

Police said gunfire struck two teens — a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male — in their arms. Police added that it's not clear if the two wounded teens were connected to the arguing groups.

The 16-year-old male suspect was taken into custody, police said, adding that an officer fired but didn't hit the suspect. Police also said the suspect was taken to the police station for questioning.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told KSTU it's too early to determine if the teen suspect will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult.

“We have not yet screened the case. Whether a case is filed in a juvenile or district court is a decision that is made at time of filing," Gill said in a statement, according to KSTU. "It would be premature for us to talk about these matters at this time."

RELATED: Former reality TV contestant shot and killed at No Kings protest by 'peacekeeper,' police say

Sunday was the final day of the four-day event, which took place at Centennial Park and featured "food, fun, and festivities" such as music and carnival rides.

A shocked employee of a business located next to the park told Blaze News on Monday afternoon that he feels "bad for what happened" and added that it was completely out of the ordinary for the area.

"I'd definitely say it was a one-off," the worker noted to Blaze News before acknowledging the "dark" nature of the crime.

RELATED: 'No brainer': Utah becomes first state to ban rainbow flags in both schools and government buildings

A pregnant woman also was injured while trying to climb a fence to flee the scene, KUTV-TV reported.

Roxeanne Vainuku — public information officer for West Valley City police — told KUTV that "it's heartbreaking, I think for all of us, to see something like this happen at something that is just a real treasure, something that we really enjoy in our community."

Vainuku added to the station that it's not clear if the shooting was gang-related. KUTV also said police won't release the name of the suspect since he's a juvenile.

"I don't even know how to explain this night," one witness told KSTU. "I am traumatized. I don't think I would ever go to a fair, especially if they're not checking the people that walk in."

Another witness added to KSTU: "I was very scared because I'm not used to hearing gunshots, and I almost had a panic attack because that was scary."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida male points gun at 4 in Mexican eatery amid bill dispute — including worker's son, 16. Technology assists in arrest.



Police in Ormond Beach, Florida, said a party of four had been dining at the Fresh Guacamole Tequila & Bar Mexican Grill on West Granada Boulevard on May 6 and were displeased with the bill, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported.

Soon an argument erupted with the restaurant staff, the paper said, adding that an arrest report states that one of the employees actually tried to de-escalate the tense situation by telling the customers they could leave without paying the bill.

The suspect 'brandished a firearm toward restaurant staff, including a juvenile, during an altercation.'

Apparently, that wasn't good enough.

Amid the dustup, a woman with the dissatisfied group started banging on the plexiglass that protects the cashier, the News-Journal said.

What's more, she managed to get past the plexiglass and pushed toward four employees — one of them being the 16-year-old son of one of the workers, police told the paper.

Soon, the irate female started yelling in the face of one of the employees, and the 16-year-old boy stepped up to defend his dad, police told the News-Journal.

It was at that moment that a male was seen on surveillance video reaching into a bag, pulling out a silver handgun, and pointing it at the four employees — including the 16-year-old boy — police added to the paper.

With that, the woman pushed the male who pointed the gun out of the restaurant, and they departed, police told the News-Journal.

Then, cops got to work over the next month, the paper said, and police said they verified through photo lineups and facial recognition technology from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office that 25-year-old Anthony Rodriguez of Daytona Beach was the male seen pulling the gun on the restaurant's employees.

Police on June 3 posted a wanted notice on Facebook asking for the public's help in locating Rodriguez.

RELATED: Good guy with a gun isn't about to let accused carjacker get away with stealing 74-year-old's vehicle

Image source: Ormond Beach (Fla.) Police Department

Police said in its public notice that an investigation determined Rodriguez "brandished a firearm toward restaurant staff, including a juvenile, during an altercation. No injuries were reported." Police asked for help and tips in order to locate Rodriguez, who had a felony arrest warrant for four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police told Blaze News that in their above notice, the right-hand photo is a surveillance image while the left-hand photo is a previous mug shot of Rodriquez.

By the afternoon of June 5, police issued an update saying Rodriguez turned himself in and was taken into custody. Jail records indicate Rodriguez was booked on the evening of June 5 and released the next day. Jail records showed his cash bond amount for each count was $7,500 — or $30,000 total.

Anything else?

Just last weekend, Blaze News reported about another Florida restaurant dispute that turned into a dangerous encounter.

Police in Orlando said a male standing 6'2'' and weighing 280 pounds choked a cop after refusing to pay a $50.50 restaurant tab.

RELATED: It's easy to see why a photo of a store employee's act of kindness toward an elderly man has gone viral

Image source: Orange County (Fla.) Jail

After being asked to pay up, 22-year-old Daniel Robinson allegedly shoved the female owner of the pizza joint and departed, WOFL-TV reported. Officers tracked down Robinson and tried to arrest him — and then one officer stared hollering, “He’s choking me," WFTV-TV reported.

Another officer said he punched Robinson in the face until the choking stopped, WFTV said, adding that police also maced the suspect. Police said when medical personnel arrived, Robinson spat in an officer’s face amid an attempt to restrain him on a stretcher, WOFL reported. Robinson was booked into jail and was facing multiple charges, including attempted homicide of a law enforcement officer, WOFL said.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Suspect arrested almost 2 months after suburban couple obediently handed over valuables to armed males in front of their home



In April, Blaze News reported about a helpless suburban Chicago couple recorded by Ring camera in front of their own home obediently handing over their valuables — and even their clothing — to three armed robbers who rushed them.

Well, almost two months later, one suspect connected to the incident has been arrested and charged with armed robbery with a firearm, WFLD-TV reported.

'You just kind of become numb to the situation.'

Angelo Hatter — a 26-year-old from Chicago — was being held in custody by the Cook County Sheriff's Department, the station said, adding that police haven't identified the other two individuals involved in the headline-grabbing heist or how they linked Hatter to the case. Jail records show no bail for Hatter; his next court date is July 2.

RELATED: Road rage suspect opens fire on fellow motorist in Chicago, cops say. But victim is a concealed carrier — and wins shootout.

Greg Poulos and Angie Beltsos were walking to their front porch in Glenview around 10 p.m. April 21 after dinner in Chicago when a car pulled up, WBBM-TV reported.

Police said three males approached them, pulled out guns, and demanded their belongings, WBBM said, adding that Beltsos said she saw one male "running at us pointing a gun, screaming at us to give him everything."

The couple did just that.

Video shows one of the robbers telling them to "give me all that s**t," and Poulos and Beltsos immediately tossed their cell phones and keys to the ground; Beltsos also gave up her purse, the station said.

"You got it. You got it. Here, take it. Take it. Take everything. Take everything. Take everything. Take everything. Take everything. Here, you can have it. Honest to God, guys," Poulos was heard on the clip telling the robbers, WBBM reported.

"I started throwing shoes and coats," Beltsos noted to the station in the aftermath. Video shows them both removing their jackets for the crooks.

Poulos told WBBM, "I was always taught by my father just give whatever they want, give what they want, and your life is far more valuable."

The nightmare didn't end there, however.

RELATED: 'Chunk of hair' allegedly found on smashed windshield; cops say it resembles fatal hit-and-run victim's hair — and case turns

Video doesn't show that the crooks soon "had us lie down on our stomachs, and pointing guns at us, and I thought, 'Oh my gosh, is this how it's going to end today?'" Beltsos recounted to WBBM, adding that "for a moment, they were standing there, and they ran off."

Police told WBBM the robbers sped out of the neighborhood in a Jaguar SUV, which was later found abandoned and empty in Chicago.

The village of Glenview is about 40 minutes northwest of Chicago and is "one of the best places to live in Illinois," according to Niche. It's also a haven for retirees and boasts "a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks" as well as "highly rated" public schools, Niche adds.

Poulos added to WBBM that people nowadays have "to be vigilant and keep their head on a swivel."

Blaze News on Friday spoke to employees of two businesses located less than a mile from where the robbery took place, and strangely, both workers used the same word in the aftermath of the harrowing encounter: "numb."

One employee confessed to Blaze News, "I'm numb to it."

The worker from the second business — even upon hearing that a suspect had been arrested — told Blaze News that "you just kind of become numb to the situation."

"It's unfortunate," she added to Blaze News about the robbery itself. "It's just the way of the world."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Here's what makes 16-year-old Florida convicted felon feel 'like Superman': Sheriff



Jonathan Granados — a 16-year-old from Lakeland, Florida — is not an unfamiliar face to law enforcement in the area.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said the youngster has a carjacking conviction under his belt and was on a conditional release when he recently perpetrated a number of new felonies.

'If he’s Superman, then my detectives are his kryptonite.'

The sheriff's office said it got a call on April 2 from a roofing business indicating that employees found spent shell casings on the ground.

Officials said a review of the company's security video showed a silver Chevrolet Malibu arriving and parking, after which an unidentified male approached the car on foot and shot at it multiple times until the driver fled in the vehicle. The suspect then ran away, officials said.

Detectives were able to identify the driver of the Malibu as a 19-year-old from Lakeland, officials said.

On April 9, deputies stopped the Malibu, and detectives responded to the traffic stop to interview the 19-year-old, who lied and said his car was shot when it was parked at his home while he was sleeping, authorities said.

The 19-year-old made several inconsistent statements regarding why his car was hit with so many gunshots, until he was told about the roofing business' security video, officials said, adding that he admitted to being at the roofing business when the shooting occurred.

He told detectives that he arrived in the area to fight with someone but wouldn't divulge the name of the individual, officials said.

RELATED: Thug with long rap sheet attacks 64-year-old ex-girlfriend in convenience store; when good Samaritan tries to intervene, attacker beats him unconscious: Authorities

Image source: Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

Investigating detectives obtained search warrants for the Malibu and the 19-year-old’s cell phone and social media accounts, officials said, adding that authorities determined that on the date of the shooting, the victim was headed to Granados' house before diverting due to a law enforcement presence. Instead, the victim went to the roofing company and told Granados to meet him there, officials said.

Granados also was identified as being part of an Instagram chat that law enforcement said was related to meeting up for the fight.

The sheriff's office said an affidavit indicates Granados used "ambush tactics" while approaching the victim's car and firing a gun "in an attempt to kill" the victim; in addition, the affidavit adds that Granados' shots hit the silver Chevrolet Malibu which the victim "occupied," according to authorities.

With that, detectives went to Granados' home to take him into custody on a warrant and during a search found a loaded Glock model 19 9mm handgun with an extended magazine containing 28 rounds — and modified with a "switch" that illegally gives it a fully automatic firing capability, officials said.

Granados admitted to owning the gun, ordering the switch online, and installing it himself, authorities noted, adding that the affidavit also says Granados told detectives he "felt like Superman" when he fired the gun.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd had the following to say about the teen's "Superman" reference: "If he’s Superman, then my detectives are his kryptonite."

RELATED: Florida Sheriff Grady Judd blasts squatters as 'dopers and freeloaders,' warns they're in for a 'one-way ride to the county jail'

Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff Grady JuddImage source: Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office

Officials said Granados was charged with the following felonies:

  • Attempted first-degree murder
  • Shooting into an occupied vehicle
  • Shooting into a building
  • Possession of a machine gun
  • Possession of a firearm/ammunition by an adjudicated juvenile
  • Giving false information to law enforcement

Authorities added that Granados also was charged with two misdemeanors: discharging a firearm in public and violation of probation.

The sheriff's office on Friday told Blaze News that Granados is being housed in a section of Polk County Jail reserved for juveniles — or "pre-adjudicated youth."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Viral video: Thug punches 3 Fargo cops in their faces amid arrest attempt, escapes on foot. But there's more to the story.



One of the more viral moments of the last several days comes from a cellphone video showing three police officers in downtown Fargo, North Dakota, attempting to arrest a male — and somehow the guy wrangles out of their collective grasp, punches all three of them in their faces in quick succession, and then runs off.

The incident occurred around 4:35 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Roberts Street North after a report about suspicious activity, KVRR-TV reported. According to KFGO-AM, a suspect allegedly was seen smoking meth.

'I mean, police officers need to be tougher, stronger, than these three! What the hell?!'

Three officers tried to detain the suspect — 37-year-old Joseph Manitowabi — and he slugged all three of them and ran away. Officers did manage to wrangle the assailant after a short pursuit, KFGO said, adding that Manitowabi was charged with three counts of assault on a police officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, preventing arrest, and refusal to halt.

Manitowabi — who has no permanent address, KVRR said — has been held in the Cass County Jail on $25,000 bail, KFGO noted. Jail records indicate he was still behind bars as of Wednesday morning.

What's more, he has a criminal history that includes disorderly conduct, fighting, and possession of marijuana, KFGO added.

RELATED: North Dakota school district will conceal students' gender identities from parents despite state law prohibiting it

Joseph Manitowabi after a previous arrest.Image source: Cass County (N.D.) Jail

But what's been on many minds is the short video that KVRR news reporter Alex Bertsch recorded of Manitowabi dishing out haymakers to the officers. Bertsch noted on X that it was a "really crazy thing to witness."

KFGO reported that the controversial clip — which you can watch here — has been viewed over 6 million times online.

The three officers — who were treated for minor injuries in the aftermath, KVRR said — have come under heavy criticism. Two of the officers immediately turned away and disengaged from Manitowabi after he punched them. While the third officer held on to Manitowabi's wrist after getting punched once, he let go after a second sock to the head.

Check out some of these comments on X:

  • "Those cops are never living this one down…" one user said.
  • "I mean, police officers need to be tougher, stronger, than these three!" another commenter declared. "What the hell?!"
  • "LMAO — seriously??" another user noted. "They need to put hand-to-hand combat training in the academy... This dude [the officer wearing a helmet] got punched once and nope'd the f**k out. I understand the chick — but the dude didn't even circle back to tase or anything. PATHETIC."
  • "Why are those police so f**king soft!?" another commenter wondered.
  • "Once again, I'm not favorably impressed with cops' grappling skills," another user wrote. "They need remedial martial arts training, pronto."

Jay Thomas — who hosts "The Jay Thomas Show" in the afternoons on 970 WDAY AM/93.1 FM in Fargo — told Blaze News he generally was of the same mind after he first got a gander at the beatdown video.

"What the hell's going on here?" Thomas said he initially wondered, adding that the clip looked like something out of the "Keystone Cops."

"Holy smokes," Thomas exclaimed to Blaze News, adding that viral video contributes to the prevailing narrative that "your cops are not trained" and "it looks bad."

Well, Thomas on his Tuesday show (47:40 mark) spoke to Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski about the video, asking him how and why the attempted arrest went down the way it did.

RELATED: Target apologizes after employee was allegedly fired for signaling her Christian faith

Police Chief David ZibolskiImage source: City of Fargo, N.D.

Zibolski told Thomas there's police bodycam video the public hasn't seen that gives a fuller picture of what happened. The chief added that the suspect — a "large man" — was observed "smoking meth," and the officers confronted him.

Zibolski told Thomas police were able to get Manitowabi's left wrist handcuffed, but when they tried to get his right wrist handcuffed, "that's when he explodes and punches each officer individually."

The chief said the suspect was "methed up," which presented a "superhuman strength issue" — and that Manitowabi is a "former boxer, so when you hit someone in the head without a pad, that's a pretty good hit."

"They all got their bell rung," Zibolski added to Thomas.

In addition, Zibolski said one officer was busy trying to hold Manitowabi's one handcuffed wrist "so he doesn't swing the cuff around, and that could cause significant injury to the other officers."

The chief also told Thomas that what the short clip doesn't show is that the three officers, after they recovered, chased down the suspect and successfully arrested him behind a Salvation Army.

Zibolski was not happy that the public jumped to negative conclusions based on the short viral video that didn't tell the full story.

He added to Thomas that the involved officers "really deserve that respect and trust" and "should not be placed in a position where they are subject to denigration" based on video viewers only getting "a little piece of the story."

"I take issue with that," the chief added to Thomas.

Thomas told Blaze News that he hopes Fargo police release the full bodycam video as soon as possible, because "whether you like it or not, it's about perception" — and in the world of news driven by social media "it's about getting clicks and views."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!