And they keep getting weirder (is that a word?)
June 05. 2009 6:59AM Elkhart police probe 'bizarre' trunk case
Officers find man handcuffed in car.
By ED ERNSTES
WSBT-TV Reporter
ELKHART - City police were investigating car break-ins Thursday when they stumbled upon a man handcuffed in the trunk of a car.
"Very much out of the ordinary," said Elkhart Police Lt. Ed Windbigler of what officers found.
About 1 a.m. Thursday, officers were on patrol near Lane Street, following up on reports of car break-ins in the area, when they began following a suspicious car.
The car pulled into Studebaker Park and turned its headlights off, Windbigler said. When the officer pulled behind the car, five people jumped out and ran.
Police called for backup and then began chasing the five. After setting up a perimeter near a wooded area, police caught three adults and two juveniles.
When they were returning to the suspicious car, officers heard a noise in the car and it appeared someone was in the trunk, Windbigler said.
Police couldn't find the keys for the trunk, he said.
"So they called the fire department out, pop the trunk, and a 50-year-old guy is handcuffed in the trunk of the car," Windbigler noted.
"The detectives are trying to put this thing together to figure out exactly what happened, why this guy was in the trunk, why these people decided to run from the police," Windbigler said.
"Bizarre is the word I would use," said Elkhart Assistant Police Chief Tim Balyeat.
(Wonder what the guy in the truck had to say as to "why" he was there?-Nothing mentioned in the article about that)
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June 06. 2009 6:59AM South Bend man arrested in sword attack on son
Police: Attacks with 'weapon of convenience' do happen.
By MADELINE BUCKLEY
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND - A 43-year-old man has been arrested for attacking his son with a sword.
The man was reportedly arguing with his 21-year-old son at about 4 p.m. Thursday when he took a metal sword from under the sofa at their home in the 1300 block of South 31st Street and sliced the son in the back.
The father also struck the son in the back of the head with the sword.
Police said the victim had minor lacerations on his face and back, but did not require medical treatment.
The sword was made with silver metal and had a brown and gold wooden handle.
The father reportedly was intoxicated and trying to throw the son out of the house, police said.
He was arrested on suspicion of battery.
Contrary to what one might think, attacks with swords are not unheard of, said Capt. Phil Trent, South Bend police spokesman.
Although swords are not a commonly used weapon, Trent said sword attacks have happened before.
"It's not outside of the realm of possibility that someone would have a sword," he said. "Some people just have a bizarre fascination."
He said sword attacks generally happen when people collect swords and put them on display.
They then use them as weapons when they get angry.
"It's a weapon of convenience if you have it around," he said.
Trent said there are no laws about owning swords.
"With swords and knives, there's really no regulation," he said. "But you're likely to get stopped by police if you are walking down the street in blue jeans with a sword in your belt." (Really ya think?!!?)