LRPSD SCHOOL BUS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT - DRIVER WAS FRIGHTENED BY CREEPY CLOWN

SCREENSHOT FROM BUS DASHCAM VIDEO MOMENTS BEFORE CRASH (IMAGE COURTESY OF LRPSD)

A bus from the Little Rock Public School District was involved in an accident Friday morning near the I-630/I-30 interchange when the driver was frightened by a creepy clown standing in the median.

LRPSD bus driver Lucious Washington told reporters,  "I saw him jump over the concrete divider and he looked like he was going to run right at me.

LUCIOUS WASHINGTON

"It was the most nerve-racking thing that has happened in my 13 years of driving these childrens.  The way he was holding that knife and looking at me all crazy-eyed, like he wanted to stick it in my windpipe just like in that Notorious B.I.G. song," said a clearly frazzled Washington.

According to the accident report, after seeing the scary clown Washington slammed on the brakes causing a SUV to smash into the rear of the bus.

No children were seriously injured, but several were transported to nearby Children's Hospital for treatment of minor cuts and bruises.

Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said that reports of scary clown sightings are spreading across the United States and an investigation is underway to catch the clown that caused the accident.

Just last week Dustin Summers, a Whitehall Police Officer, was suspended for two days without pay after dressing up as a clown and posting a photo on his Facebook page.

This was on the heels of reports in Arkansas of sightings of clowns with weapons.

"To have that going on, numerous sightings of a clown with a weapon, then our officer dresses up as a clown with a weapon, that in itself was just a bad decision on his part," said Mickey Buffkin, an investigator with the White Hall Police Department.

Little Rock Police Chief Kenton Bucker urged the public to remain vigilant and to call 911 “if you see anything suspicious, anyone dressed up in a clown costume.” He also urged anyone who may spot creepy clowns in the future to take photos or record video footage and then turn them over to the police.

“The clowning around needs to stop,” said Buckner during a television news interview. “It’s illegal, it’s dangerous, it’s inappropriate, it’s creating community concern and I'm scared shitless of clowns.”

Bucker has asked the city board of directors to pass an emergency ordinance to ban the sale of clown costumes in Little Rock.

The Arkansas State Police and the Little Rock Police Department are asking if anyone has information that would assist them in their investigation into this matter to come forward.

COMCAST WORKER WRECKS WHILE PLAYING POKEMON GO

WRECKED COMCAST VAN AT 11600 MARA LYNN ROAD

According to reports, a Little Rock Comcast worker was driving on Mara Lynn Road this morning and flipped his van on its side while playing Pokemon Go.

Tommy Gassman, an installer for Comcast, had just finished one job and was on his way to another when he decided he would play a quick game of Pokemon Go.

 

PHOTO OF GASSMAN FROM HIS FACEBOOK PAGE

As Gassman was approaching That French Salon on Mara Lynn Road, a Zapdos appeared on his game screen.

 

LRPD WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM GASSMAN'S CLAIM OF A ZAPDOS APPEARING OUT OF NOWHERE

Gassman was so excited that he lost control of the vehicle, hit the curb and flipped the van he was driving on its side. 

A spokesman for Comcast told us that it is against company policy for employees to text, Snapchat, or play games on phones while driving. 

LRPD chief of police Kenton Bucker told us that Pokemon Go is "a tool of the devil and is a leading cause of crime, other than the heat, in Little Rock." 

Gassman was unavailable for comment as witnesses advised after he crawled out of the van he ran down the street towards Bowman Road yelling, "a Zapados, a Zapdos!"

LRPD found Gassman running in circles in the Goodwill parking lot and took him to the Northwest station for questioning.

No word on the Zapados at the time of publishing.

LRPD SHUTS DOWN 5TH GRADE GANG AT FULBRIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LRPD HAD FULBRIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNDER LOCKDOWN DURING RAID

The Little Rock Police Department, after conducting a three month undercover operation, executed a raid at Fulbright Elementary School on Pleasant Valley Drive today.

The LRPD Vice Squad acting on information from the school principal, Sherkeyer Jackson, inserted an undercover operative into the school to investigate suspected gang activity.

The investigation was given the code name Operation Wild Boys.

Jackson had relayed concerns to LRPD about a group of 5th grade boys that had formed a "club" named The Senators. The boys began dressing in suits and at first she thought it was cute and that they were just trying to set a good example.

MEMBERS OF THE SENATORS (FACES MASKED DUE TO JUVENILE STATUS)

After a few weeks, Jackson noticed that the "club" and other students were gathering together on the playground in a circle. When she or other teachers walked over to see was was going on, the group would disperse. Members of The Senators became more aggressive towards staff and other students seemed to be afraid of them. The club took over a stall in one of the boys restrooms and appeared to be using it as an office.  That's when Jackson realized the club had transformed into a gang.

So the Vice Squad enrolled a special LRPD officer in the 5th grade to try and find out what was going on.

LRPD SPECIAL OFFICER "X" AND HIS HANDLER

At first Officer "X" just observed the group from a distance.  Then he would try and get closer to them when they were on the playground.  One day he was invited by a member to play a game with them at recess. 

Officer "X" discovered that the game the group was playing was craps.  The gang would let an unsuspecting student win a roll or two then the fix was in. At first the stakes were only small change then increasing to a few dollars.  As the game progressed, students would bet their bicycles, iPhones and other valuables as they ran out of money.

After several weeks of careful planning with the school and the Little Rock School District, LRPD was ready to catch the gang in the act.

At today's lunch recess, when the gang had their craps game going, LRPD locked down the school and sent the SWAT team in to make arrests.

Parents were notified and asked to come pick up their children after the gang members had been placed into custody and hauled off to the Pulaski County Juvenile Detention Center.

LRPD conducted a brief press conference after the raid and gave the details of the investigation and arrest to reporters. 

LRPD SPOKESMAN LT.STEVE MCCLANAHAN BRIEFS THE PRESS ON OPERATION WILD BOYS

LRPD advises parents of the children that lost crap games and had to give the gang their bicycles, iPhones and other valuables to contact the LRPD Property Division and make a claim for the items return.

LRPD CONFISCATED A TRUCKLOAD OF BICYCLES THE GANG OBTAINED IN PLAYGROUND CRAP GAMES 

Requests for comments from the Little Rock School District were unanswered and the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney's Office indicated that they would have a press conference tomorrow and would answer questions at that time.  

ARKANSAS TRAVELERS LOSE GAME AND PLAYER IN SINKHOLE

SINKHOLE IN CENTERFIELD

The Monday night game for the Arkansas Travelers was a sad one as they not only lost the game but they lost right fielder Brandon Bayardi in a sinkhole.

BAYARDI IS STILL MISSING AFTER FALLING INTO SINKHOLE

Bayardi was backing up centerfielder Bo Way when he suddenly disappeared into the ground.

Fans thought that the Travs had a fake sinkhole open up and have Bayardi fall into it as a publicity stunt. That notion was short-lived when the game was halted and emergency responders filled the outfield looking for Bayardi.

Travs manager Mark Parent told reporters "you know we had problems with sinkholes in the winter and we thought we had them fixed, we ain't giving up hope that we can find that ginger bastard Bayardi."

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office Water Patrol unit searched the Arkansas River for several hours.

PCSO WATER PATROL UNIT WITH DICKEY-STEPHENS PARK IN THE BACKGROUND

Unfortunately, the PCSO Water Unit only found Bayardi's glove.

The Travs are expected to continue the series with Friso and fans will be given a yellow armband as they enter the stadium.

Parent also stated "the team will not give up hope that Bayardi will be found safe and sound and a little pissed off."

UALR SHUTS DOWN CAMPUS AFTER SHARK SIGHTED IN FLOOD WATERS

UALR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS CAUTIOUSLY APPROACH SHARK IN DITCH

The University of Arkansas-Little Rock shut down its campus at around 4:00 p.m. today due to a large shark being discovered in a drainage ditch.

UALR biology professor Dr. Marco Polo told us that finding a shark after flooding is not so unusual.  Dr. Polo stated that during heavy rains, water floods from the Arkansas River and sometimes sharks are whisked out of the river into nearby streams and creeks.

The UALR Department of Public Safety responded with some tranquilizer darts in an attempt to capture the shark so it could be put on display in a large tank in front of the Donaghey Student Center.

UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson, who is retiring in June,  released a statement shortly after closing the campus and cancelling evening classes. "Hopefully the shark can be safely and humanely captured and not be injured.  Having it on display will complete my legacy." 

PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE COWBOY UP'S WITH NEW GEAR

PULASKI COUNTY SHERIFF DOC HOLLADAY SHOWS OFF NEW WESTERN GEAR FOR DEPUTIES

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office is changing up it's uniforms at an estimated cost of $215,000. They are spending $24,633.58 for cowboys hats (120 Stetson black felt hats at $155 each) and 142 Resistol straw hats (at $42.49 each); $6,043.20 for 120 hat covers (at $50.36 each); $10,199 for 120 black Roper boots with spurs (at $84.99 each) and $179,800 for 120 Colt Peacemaker pistols (at $1,499 each).

Sheriff Doc Holladay said "the money was available and we needed to improve our image."  It's the third image revamp Holladay has instituted since he was elected in 2006. He changed the uniform color from dark blue to tan, the vehicle colors from white with blue stripes to black and gold.

"I wanted our uniforms to resemble those from the Andy Griffith Show to make folks feel more comfortable with us," said Holladay. "The black and gold for the cars is from a tiger. Tigers are bad ass animals and we wanted to project that we are bad asses too," quipped Holladay.

Deputies say the new gear makes they feel better about themselves and more like real lawmen.

DEPUTIES CONGRATULATE EACH OTHER ON THEIR NEW LOOK 

CITY OF LITTLE ROCK TO ISSUE ID CARDS TO UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, in his annual State of the City address on Thursday,  stated that the city of Little Rock would begin issuing ID cards to undocumented residents.

 

STODOLA TAKES A BREAK AFTER DELIVERING A TIRESOME SPEECH

The idea was proposed by Little Rock Board of Director Joan Adcock and her

Working Together in the Community group.
 

DIRECTOR AT-LARGE ADCOCK

The identification would include a picture, name, address, birth date. The service would benefit the homeless and those without legal U.S. documentation, Adcock said.

“The people we’ve talked to said, ‘This would give us an identity, show we belong, that we are a part of the city,’” she said.

The ID card could not be used to purchase tobacco or alcohol products.

A homeless man we spoke to about the city issued ID cards had this to say about usefulness of the cards. "That damn card would not be worth nuthin' if I couldn't get some smokes or a pint", quipped a familiar street-corner panhandler that goes by the name "Dirty Dan".

"DIRTY DAN" THINKS THE ID CARDS ARE WORTHLESS

 

GOV. HUTCHINSON WEIGHS IN ON TRUMPS TALLYWHACKER

 

HUTCHINSON INDICATES THE SIZE OF TRUMP'S TOOL

Gov. Hutchinson is backing up Marco Rubio, his choice for the President, regarding remarks Rubio made about the size of Trump's love muscle.

Hutchinson, in a press briefing told reporters that when he was head of the DEA, he met Trump at a sporting event and they ended up in the men's room at the same time. "I glanced over at Trump while he were standing at one of those long urinals, I saw that he didn't have much to work with", Hutchinson remarked.

Hutchinson then stated that he had seen Rubio's willy as well and "it is much larger than Trump's."

Reports asked Hutchinson if penis size was a factor in choosing a president.  Hutchinson responding by saying "size matters".

When contacted for a comment, Trump stated "my penis, which by the way is named The Zamboni Baloney, is more than adequate. Ask Rubio's wife and she will tell you."

TRUMP GESTURES TO SHOW THE APPROXIMATE SIZE OF HIS CHICKSICLE

NINJAS ATTACK ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY - NE AR LAW ENFORCEMENT UNPREPARED & UNEQUIPPED FOR MARTIAL ARTS ARMY

NATIONAL NEWS MEDIA REPORTS ASU CAMPUS ON LOCKDOWN

Reports of active shooters at Arkansas State University put the campus on lockdown on Valentine's Day.

Hundred's of area law enforcement and the Arkansas National Guard mobilized to respond to the threat.

Early reports of the incident had law enforcement unable to locate the gunmen,
then a post on social media provided a clue.

RADICAL NINJAS POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA THEY ARE ATTACKING ASU

A group of radical ninjas posted on several social media sites that they had invaded the NE Arkansas campus and were attacking the Red Wolves.  There was no reason given as to why they were attacking.

ASU Campus Police Department spokesman, Lt. Dan Taylor told reporters that discovering that it was ninjas and not shooters explained why they could not find anyone on the campus. "Ninjas are trained to be sneaky and stealthy." Lt. Dan added. "we are not equipped or have any training to deal with this kind of threat."

ASUPD OFFICER LT. DAN DECKED OUT IN FULL RIOT GEAR

After about an hour or so when no trace of the ninjas could be found the lockdown was lifted.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson is seeking federal funds to prepare state law enforcement agencies to be able to properly respond to future ninja attacks. 

LITTLE ROCK PLANS TO TRAP AND RELEASE STERILIZED DOGS AND CATS TO REDUCE SHELTER POPULATION

LR ANIMAL SERVICE MANAGER TRACY ROARK WANTS TO GET ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER AND BACK ON THE STREETS

Tracy Roark, manager at Little Rock Animal Village, believes cat colonies and dog villages are the next step for Little Rock.

“I’m looking for an answer…I've been doing this for 11 years and we have not put a dent in this problem.”

Roark is hoping to help people understand what exactly cat colonies and dog villages are.

“Feral cat colonies and dog villages allow people to feed and take care of sterilized kitties and doggies within an area to reduce them breeding and stop the overpopulation.”

But some, like the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, worry the colonies will cause more problems than they solve, and fear the effects on other wildlife.

“It’s not really getting rid of the problem, the problem is the cats and dogs being there in the first place. They're not domesticated anymore they're feral."

They're going to go out and they're really going to work on our bird population and small critters like squirrels . They can eat up to 50 birds a year, and about 20 squirrels” said Keith Stephens with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Stephens added, "these colonies and villages will provide a food source for predators, such as coyotes, which are growing nuisance in Little Rock." 

Some Little Rock Board of Director's have expressed concerns about where these cat colonies and dog villages will be placed.

Director Doris Wright, of Ward 6 told us" my constituents are concerned that these animals will lower property values and poop everywhere. They are also concerned about barking and cat fights". Wright added, "if you think more apartments being built right next to nice neighborhoods in west Little Rock upset people, wait until Animal Services starts dumping dogs and cats out there."

WRIGHT HAS CONCERNS ABOUT NOISE AND POOP

Little Rock has an ordinance requiring animal poop be scooped or fines can be assessed.

Roark hopes to work with other organizations to trap, fix and let the feral cats and dogs back into localized colonies and villages, that don't grow.

"It does not get bigger because everyone is sterilized, plus the food source is there and you create a zone where you have sterilized cats and dogs," Roark claims.

He says other cities across the county have done this, and he hopes Little Rock will be the next in line.

"That would be the whole program, that they would have a place to go," Roark said.

Roark will soon hold a public meeting to get input on his idea.

We ran a story back in 2014 when Mayor Mark Stodola announced the Little Rock Zoo was replacing the elephant exhibit with an adopt-a-dog village to help reduce the number of dogs the city had in the shelter. That idea resulted in a public outcry and a three month long protest by PETA in from of the mayor's residence.