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Dennis Brownstein's Extreme Court News Blog
The Most Imperfect Crime: Criminal Films Video of Himself With Stolen Camera
Crime doesn't pay is a cliche. "Crime doesn't pay when you get caught" is an ironclad fact. Apparently at least one would-be thief missed both these lessons.
The criminal involved "Houaka Yang from La Crosse, Wisconsin" breaks all records for poor impulse control. Yang, who apparently was passing by a parking lot where a local campaign worker had left his camcorder, decided to steal the camcorder for no apparent reason other than just wanting a camcorder.
Fortunately for the owner, the object was eventually recovered, but for the time being, Yang was not apprehended. That is, until the original owner went to use the camcorder to film an event, and discovered a charming home movie when trying to play back the footage.
This is where things get stupid. Not only did Yang film himself talking to a friend, but he actually looked directly into the camera and introduced himself, all while being confident that the police wouldn't find out what he'd done.
"This is my house, yes, and a stolen camera that I stole. But it's OK, the cop won't figure it out," Yang says.
"Oh yeah, to introduce you, my name is Houaka Yang. So yeah, how do you do? And this is me. Hi."
Working Hours Cut - Now No Working Hours
A Salt Lake City man has been charged by prosecutors for setting fire to the roof of the convenience store where he was an employee after his hours had been cut.
Talk about dumb!
Provo Police: Stupidity Eruption
Unless there's been a recent change in Provo police uniforms, green speedos are not regulation attire.
And when an officer removes his pants and jokingly approaches staff members at a local high school while on duty, he is not acting in accordance with the professional standards of behavior expected of a member of the force.
Those two things seem obvious to most people. Why they wouldn't be obvious to a Provo police officer last week is a mystery. Cody Harris, who was assigned to Provo High School as a resource officer, is under investigation for what has been reported as inappropriate actions in connection with a birthday party for a female staff member.
The party had a "Princess and the Frog" theme, and Harris is said to have been the frog. The birthday girl was ushered into a room where Harris's pants came off, revealing skimpy green underwear. If reports are true, the woman screamed and turned away from faux advances by the frog.
And then adolescent office staffers "students" joined the party. The pants apparently went back on until the principal, who was late for the party, entered the room. But then they came down again and the frog went for hugs, according to a source.
The incident recalls other another "joke" by Provo officers equally inappropriate. In 2010, two officers answering a bank alarm approached a female college student sitting in a car and pretended to treat her as a robbery suspect or terrorist, as a straight-faced practical joke. Not surprisingly, the woman was frightened.
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