Massachusetts
Ex-chief in Uzi death wants gun charges tossed
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) - A former Massachusetts police chief acquitted of charges connected to the 2008 death of an 8-year-old boy at a gun show wants unrelated firearms charges dismissed.
Former Pelham Chief Edward Fleury has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and improper storage of firearms for allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at a friend outside a Belchertown bar in September and improperly storing 22 guns in his home.
Fleury's lawyer told a judge Tuesday that he plans to file motions to dismiss the case and suppress evidence. Attorney Patrick Melnik Jr. did not comment after court.
The trial is scheduled for September.
Fleury was acquitted of manslaughter in the death of the Connecticut boy who accidentally shot himself with an Uzi at a gun show sponsored by Fleury's firearms training company.
Pennsylvania
McDonald's bans minors after assault on owner
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) - A McDonald's restaurant in central Pennsylvania has stopped serving minors after police say a group of unruly teenagers attacked the owner.
Police say Gerald Harrington was assaulted last Thursday after he refused entrance to as many as 40 teenagers who showed up outside his Altoona restaurant.
A sign on the door Tuesday says the restaurant won't allow anyone under 18 inside unless they're accompanied by an adult.
It says the temporary policy is in place to ensure the safety of customers and employees and avoid further damage or injury.
Police say Harrington was trying to take pictures of the crowd when someone smacked the phone out of his hand and four or five other teens assaulted Harrington.
Four juvenile males are charged with simple assault, defiant trespass and other offenses.
Mississippi
Man arrested for stealing Elton John's glasses
SOUTHHAVEN, Miss. (AP) - The man who police say stole Elton John's iconic heart-shaped glasses from a Memphis museum is behind bars.
WMC-TV reports 26-year-old Matthew Colvin was arrested Tuesday in Southhaven, Mississippi, and he will be extradited back to Memphis on Wednesday.
The Rock 'n' Soul Museum reported April 21 that an employee discovered the glasses, valued at more than $2,000, had been taken out of a display case during business hours. An investigator lifted prints and matched them to Colvin.
Police said Tuesday investigators called Colvin on Monday and he told them where the glasses were. They were able to retrieve them from a mailbox.
The glasses are to be back on display Wednesday. Flamboyant glasses and outfits have been part of Elton John's signature look.
Alaska
Three arrested in stabbing death of moose in park
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Police say they arrested three suspects after a moose was stabbed to death in an Alaska park.
Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro says that three males were apprehended Tuesday night after the animal was killed near a bike trail in Russian Jack Springs Park.
A bicyclist called police around 7:30 p.m. reporting that the three were harassing and then stabbing the animal.
The moose was described by police in a news release as "smaller in size."
Castro says officers located the three suspects near the scene. The animal was found dead.
No other details were immediately available, including information about the suspects.
Moose are a fairly common sight in Anchorage.
California
AT&T dismisses president over racist text
LOS ANGELES (AP) - AT&T Inc. on Tuesday confirmed that it has fired Aaron Slator, a president who became the subject of a $100 million discrimination lawsuit for using his work phone to send racially offensive images.
"There is no place for demeaning behavior within AT&T and we regret the action was not taken earlier," the company said.
The images in question were found on Slator's phone by an assistant who was asked to transfer data to a new phone, according to the lawsuit filed Monday by Knoyme King, a 50-year-old black woman who worked for Slator.
One of the images, apparently of an African child dancing with the caption "It's Friday ..." followed by a term offensive to African Americans, had been sent in a text describing it as an "oldie but a goodie," the lawsuit said.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, names as defendants Slator, the company, CEO Randall Stephenson, other executives and board member Joyce Roche.
Slator was president of content and advertising sales, managing its multibillion-dollar budget for content acquisition that is consumed by subscribers of Dallas-based AT&T's U-verse TV service.
King's lawyer, Skip Miller, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the lawsuit will continue. He said the company failed to take action earlier, despite the issue being brought to the attention of its board of directors and human resources department.
"This is an AT&T problem, it's not just an Aaron Slator problem," he said.
The lawsuit alleges that King was passed over for promotions and given inferior raises because of her race, that she was mistreated and that attempts were made to have her leave the company. King has worked 30 years for AT&T and is still employed there, Miller said.
Pennsylvania
Sergeant defends officers in case of racketeering
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Philadelphia police sergeant is defending six of his former drug unit officers on trial in a sweeping federal racketeering case.
The veteran undercover officers are accused of stealing money and drugs from suspects, planting evidence and lying in court to win convictions.
The defense testimony Wednesday from Sergeant Joseph McCloskey is designed to attack the government's key witness, former squad member Jeffrey Walker.
McCloskey insists he took part in many of the raids and would have put a stop to any wrongdoing.
One drug dealer has told the jury he was lifted over a balcony and threatened. But McCloskey says he was there - and it didn't happen.
Walker is cooperating after pleading guilty in the case.
The jury is expected to begin deliberations next week.
Published: Thu, Apr 30, 2015
