Buzz
When you turn on the news, you often expect to hear about global events, politics, sports, weather, and entertainment. But every now and then, a story comes along that doesn’t fit into these usual categories. These news stories break all the traditional molds and remind us that sometimes, reality is more bizarre than fiction.
From legal experts throwing poo to a convenience store restroom turned into a nightclub with a single button press, to a massive Watusi bull riding in a tricked-out car, these reports redefine ordinary news and prepare you for the unexpected.
Here are ten strange news stories that will leave you in utter disbelief.
10. Lawyer's Poo-Laden Pringles 'Prank' Results in Suspension
On November 29, 2023, Jack A. Blakeslee, a criminal defense lawyer from Caldwell, Ohio, was handed a one-year suspension from practicing law by the Supreme Court of Ohio, with six months of the suspension stayed. His offense? Throwing a Pringles can filled with his own excrement in the parking lot of a victim advocacy center, and 'failing to control his bizarre impulses.'
On the morning of November 30, 2021, Blakeslee defecated into an empty Pringles can before heading out to attend a pretrial hearing for a client accused in a capital murder case. As he drove by the Haven of Hope victim advocacy center in Cambridge, Ohio—an organization due to oppose him in court—Blakeslee tossed the can into the parking lot and continued on his way to the courthouse. Carpenter Wilkinson, an employee of the advocacy center, witnessed the incident and alerted the police. Surveillance footage confirmed Blakeslee’s actions at the center.
Blakeslee argued that he wasn’t targeting anyone in particular, claiming instead that he threw the feces-filled can to 'blow off steam.' He admitted to pulling off the 'Pringles prank' at least ten times that year, delighting in the 'look of surprise' on the faces of those who stumbled upon the cans.
Despite Blakeslee's defense of his actions as a prank, the court determined that his behavior warranted a suspension. The ruling stated, 'His aberrant conduct has negatively impacted his fitness to practice law and tarnished the profession's reputation through extensive media coverage.' Blakeslee pled guilty to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and littering.
9. Dishonest Diner Pretends to Have a Heart Attack to Escape Paying for Twenty Restaurant Bills
In September 2023, a 50-year-old Lithuanian man, known only as Aidas J., ordered a seafood paella and two whiskeys at El Buen Comer restaurant in Alicante, Spain. However, after his meal, the restaurant manager, Moisés Domènech, was informed that Aidas was attempting to skip out on his bill of $36.75 (€34.85).
When Domènech confronted Aidas, he claimed he needed to go to his hotel room to get cash. Despite his plea, the restaurant staff refused to let him leave. At that moment, Aidas dramatically clutched his chest and collapsed to the floor, pretending to have a heart attack. Despite his theatrical performance, the staff didn’t buy it and instead called the police, not an ambulance.
This wasn’t Aidas’s first time trying to dodge a restaurant bill. In fact, this was the 20th such occurrence in a year, making him infamous with the local police. Aidas often posed as a Russian tourist, wearing designer clothes, and visited high-end restaurants around Alicante.
Once seated, Aidas would start with a Russian salad, followed by several glasses of whiskey, a filling main course like entrecote or lobster, and then more whiskey for dessert. Each time, he would fake a heart attack to escape paying the bill. However, this time, Aidas was caught and sentenced to 42 days in jail.
8. Unconventional Quest to Satisfy Hot Pockets Craving
At around 3:30 am on May 27, 2020, police were called to a Wells Fargo bank in Chollas View, a neighborhood in southeastern San Diego, California, after a burglary alarm went off. However, this wasn’t your usual break-in. Instead of someone trying to steal cash, the alarm company reported that surveillance cameras had captured a man inside the bank’s break room using the microwave.
Upon arrival, officers noticed a broken window near the drive-thru ATM. The security company confirmed that the suspect was still inside, so the officers drew their weapons and used a megaphone to instruct the man to surrender and come out with his hands up. They warned that a K-9 would be sent in if he didn’t comply. After receiving no reply, the officers knocked down the front door of the bank and sent in a K-9 before entering to apprehend the suspect.
A short while later, officers escorted the man out of the bank with his hands behind his back. The unnamed man later explained to the police that he was homeless and had broken into the bank just to use the microwave, where he ate two Hot Pockets. When asked if it was worth the trouble, he replied, 'Hell yeah, it was worth it.'
7. Airplane Forced to Turn Around Due to Diarrhea Incident
On the evening of September 1, 2023, Delta Airlines Flight 194, an Airbus A350, took off from Atlanta, Georgia, heading for Barcelona, Spain. However, just over two hours into the flight, the plane had to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with 336 passengers aboard. While one might expect this return due to bad weather, fuel issues, or mechanical problems, the real reason was far more unexpected.
Sadly, the flight was delayed due to an 'onboard medical emergency,' which involved a passenger experiencing severe diarrhea, leaving a messy trail behind and creating a 'biohazard' situation. Maintenance crews spent the following five hours cleaning the aircraft and had to replace the aisle carpet that was ruined by the incident.
After an extended delay of eight hours, passengers (including the one with the unfortunate condition) were finally allowed to re-board. They eventually landed in Barcelona around 5:16 pm local time on September 2, 2023, without any further problems.
6. Man Pulled Over with 2,200-Pound Bull Riding Shotgun
At about 10:05 am on August 30, 2023, police in Norfolk, Nebraska, were dispatched to respond to a report of a 'vehicle with a cow inside' driving through town. Expecting to find a small calf in the vehicle, officers were instead shocked by what they discovered.
Officers found Lee Meyers cruising down US-257 with a massive 2,200-pound (997-kilogram) half-Longhorn, half-Watusi African bull sitting shotgun in a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria. To accommodate the animal, the roof on the passenger side of the car had been removed, and a yellow barrier was placed on the side to keep the bull inside.
The bull, named Howdy Doody, is a popular fixture at parades and fairs across the state. On the day of the incident, the pair were en route to another small-town parade when they were stopped in Norfolk.
Norfolk Police Captain Chad Reiman mentioned that despite the obvious issues with the situation, the officer decided to issue Meyers some warnings rather than a citation and instructed him to return Howdy Doody to his home in the city of Neligh.
5. U.S. Open Delayed After Protester Glued Bare Feet to Floor
On September 7, 2023, Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova were about to play the first match of the evening during the women’s singles semifinals of the U.S. Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Gauff was leading 1-0 in the second set when play was interrupted by a group of environmental protesters in the stands.
Security guards, followed by more than six police officers, moved to confront the four protestors, all wearing 'End Fossil Fuels' shirts. Three of the protestors were escorted out, but the fourth had glued his bare feet to the concrete floor, making it harder to remove him. The Emergency Services Unit of the police department finally freed the protestor, allowing his removal from the stadium.
Extinction Rebellion (XR), a group known for carrying out civil disobedience protests on environmental issues, took responsibility for the demonstration. All four activists were arrested, and after a delay of nearly 50 minutes in the tennis match, play resumed. Gauff eventually triumphed 6-4, 7-5.
4. Unsuspecting Thief Steals Vacuum Full of Hundreds of Hornets
Don Shump, owner of Philadelphia Bee Co., specializes in relocating honeybees and bumblebees, often producing honey to sell in the Philadelphia area. In addition to relocating bees, his company also freezes and studies hornets and wasps.
On September 21, 2023, Shump had a job to remove a large group of European hornets from a home in Malvern, Pennsylvania. During the job, Shump transferred around 400 hornets (half of which were queens) into a shop vac, planning to freeze them the next day. He then drove home but left the vacuum in the truck bed because the bees were trying to escape.
3. Burglar Pauses Mid Theft to Pet Family Dog
Around 10:40 pm on July 15, 2023, a man entered an open garage in San Diego, California, with the intention of stealing a 2019 Electra 3-speed bicycle worth $1,300. Just as he was about to make off with the bike, the family’s golden retriever appeared and greeted him.
Instead of fleeing the scene, the thief returned the bike to the garage, taking a break from his robbery to give the dog some affection with pets and belly rubs, all caught on security camera. After the impromptu playtime, he finally took the bike and made his escape.
2. Woman Sues Hershey’s for $5 Million Over Faceless Reese’s Pumpkins
Many candy companies release seasonal products during the holidays, and Reese’s is no exception, offering Halloween-themed treats like pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and skeletons. However, one woman in Florida was displeased with Reese’s holiday edition peanut butter pumpkins, leading her to file a $5 million lawsuit against their parent company, Hershey.
Cynthia Kelly from Tampa, Florida, bought a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins from an Aldi store in October 2023, expecting them to resemble the cute, carved pumpkin faces shown on the packaging. To her disappointment, she found no pumpkin faces on the candies when she opened the package at home.
On December 28, 2023, Kelly filed a substantial class-action lawsuit against The Hershey Company, seeking $5 million for ‘false and deceptive advertising’ not just for the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkins, but also for other holiday-themed candies from the company. Kelly argued that if she had known the candies lacked the detailed carvings shown on the packaging, she would not have bought the $4.49 bag.
1. Convenience Store Bathroom Button Activates Disco Dance Party
Convenience store restrooms are typically not considered luxury spots for relaxation. However, the HOP Shops in Northern Kentucky have turned their bathrooms into a fun and unique experience where people can break out into a dance party.
At six HOP Shop locations, a large red button is installed in the bathroom with a sign reading: 'Do Not Push This Button.' Beneath the warning is a picture of Hoppe the Frog, the store’s mascot, winking, subtly encouraging people to press it. One press of the button activates a disco ball and spins colored lights across the room while a catchy disco tune plays, transforming the bathroom into a mini nightclub.
The concept of turning a simple bathroom into a dance space was conceived by Damon Bail, the chain’s vice president of retail marketing, with the goal of making the store more of a ‘destination.’ The first disco bathroom was installed at the HOP Shop in Verona, Kentucky, in February 2023. The overwhelmingly positive response led to the idea being expanded to five other locations in Northern Kentucky and one in Maineville, Ohio.
