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Squatters Grenade Pig

February 9, 2012 by · Comments Off on Squatters Grenade Pig 

Squatters Grenade Pig, Police have arrested two people on various charges following a grenade scare that ended with many surprising finds, including a loose, wild pig.

Police received a call at around 6 p.m. Tuesday about a dispute between the owner of a home, located at 2021 SW 37 Ave., and two people who had been allegedly staying at the home over unpaid rent. “The actual owners of this home are from New York, and they came down, and it’s possible that these individuals aren’t legally renting here and can be squatters,” said Miami Police Sgt. Freddie Cruz.

When police arrived at the home, they found cocaine, marijuana, a handgun, a shotgun, about 10 grenades and exotic animals, including a tortoise, two prairie dogs, several scorpions and a boar that got loose. Police arrested 37-year-old Darin Febus and 32-year-old Miriam Bailey.

Neighbors shrugged it off the pig running loose, noting that it was not the first time the large animal escaped from the home’s backyard. “It’s only a chain-link fence,” said Ann Sanchez, “so their head’s are strong, so all he did was butt his nose up under the chain-link and then he was going.”

Tony Cabrera, an FPL employee helped police and neighbors catch the boar with a lasso. “It was a little difficult,” he said. “We had to chase her around and try to get her pinned down.”

Cabrera said he used a time-tested technique to get close to the pig. “Dog biscuits that I carry with me,” he said holding a box of Milk-Bone treats. “In case you ever get in trouble out there in backyards where you have dogs and all that good stuff, so you treat ’em with a treat and they’ll calm down a little bit.”

The pig escaped just hours after police arrested the two people inside the home. The bomb squad diffused the grenades and transported them for testing after having to lock down the neighborhood as a precaution.

Florida Fraternity Hazing

February 9, 2012 by · Comments Off on Florida Fraternity Hazing 

Florida Fraternity Hazing, The University of Florida has temporarily suspended its chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity after learning about a hazing incident involving fraternity members, a university spokeswoman said.

University President Bernie Machen, in an e-mail to students, called it a “serious physical hazing incident.” University authorities learned about the incident on Saturday, school spokeswoman Janine Sikes said Tuesday.

“We believe the incident took place several weeks prior,” she said. “The hazing incident is currently under investigation with the University of Florida police.”

Dave Kratzer, Florida’s vice president for student affairs, said, “This was not a case that we know of that anyone went to the hospital — thank goodness.”

“It’s not in the realm of seriousness on the far end of things, when you think about what could have occurred with hazing, and we want to stop it now,” Kratzer told CNN.

When contacted by CNN, Alpha Phi Alpha referred all questions to the university.

Later Wednesday, a statement released by the executive director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. said it issued a cease-and-desist order against the local chapter and will investigate the incident cited by the university and cooperate with police on any criminal investigation that may occur.

“We recognize that hazing is a persistent social scourge that has proven time and time again to be difficult to eradicate and too dangerous to tolerate,” the statement said. “Alpha Phi Alpha does not condone hazing! Alpha Phi Alpha has embraced programs, which provide leadership tools to recognize, prevent and address hazing.”

The statement concluded with declarations in capital letters: “We cannot say this enough: HAZING IS DANGEROUS and ILLEGAL and must STOP! Alpha Phi Alpha has no place in its membership for the violence and brutality that accompanies hazing. HAZING IS ILLEGAL!”

The historically black fraternity dates back to 1906, when it was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. According to its website, Alpha Phi Alpha “has a zero tolerance level in regards to hazing/pledging and strongly prohibits these illegal activities in any form.”

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