You might call it the opposite of the great escape.
Police say they arrested a pair of carpenters — Errol Anderson, 60, and John Gardner, 39 — trying to break into a Brooklyn jail, according to the New York Daily News.
Prosecutors say they think the duo knew expensive computer equipment and tools were being kept in a ground-floor cellblock in a federal courthouse still under construction.
Deputy marshal Daniel Benson told prosecutors that on Monday afternoon he watched on a video monitor as Anderson tried to drill off the padlock securing a cellblock door after the two had disabled the electronic lock, the Daily News reported.
"When Anderson's effort proved unsuccessful, Gardner used what appears to be a lock-picking kit," Benson said in a criminal complaint.
The twosome was charged with attempted burglary.
— Thanks to Out There reader Tony L.
A bunch of young jailbirds in Scotland, all under 21, tried to delay their sentencing last week at Edinburgh Sheriff Court by jamming the lock on their cell with sausages and chips, according to the BBC.
Guards used water to dissolve the food and foil the delicious plot.
"They were mucking about, but it will backfire on them because the next time they are here we will put them in a high security cell used to segregate prisoners," a court insider told the BBC. "It has no bars and steel walls.
"And although I know the boys were just having a laugh, there is a serious side to it as well," the source told the BBC. "We had to free the lock as quickly as possible for health and safety reasons to protect their own safety in case there was a fire or one had a health problem."
— Thanks to Out There reader Tyler W.
CHUBBUCK, Idaho (AP) — Skeeter the poodle can do one thing really well: play dead.
That's because the 11-pound pooch has narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder that is extremely rare in dogs.
"He has no personality right now," his owner, Shari Henderson, said. "It is scary. I don't want him turning into a couch pillow."
Henderson took the dog to the veterinarian after Skeeter started falling fast asleep at the oddest times.
Skeeter would be doing the things that dogs love, like chasing a squirrel, going for a walk or sniffing a four-legged friend. All of a sudden, the dog would be out cold.
Skeeter's veterinarian, Walter Rowntree of Bannock Animal Medical Center in Pocatello, said there are no statistics available on narcolepsy's prevalence in dogs because the condition is so rare in canines.
"I called four or five colleagues to brag that I'd diagnosed a narcoleptic dog," Rowntree said.
Skeeter is being treated with some human medicines — Ritalin and an antidepressant — in hopes he'll be barking back to normal.
— Thanks to Out There readers Tanya W. and Sharon F.
My Six-Shooter Beats Your Five-Iron
CHINO, Calif. (AP) — An Orange County sheriff's reserve deputy was ordered to trial for allegedly pulling a gun on two slow-playing golfers and threatening them at Los Serranos Golf & Country Club.
Witnesses said Raymond Yi, 44, pointed a gun at the golfers and flashed his sheriff's badge during the July incident.
"When I saw him cock his gun, something fell out and my mouth dropped. I couldn't believe this was happening on a golf course," said golfer Marcelo Bautista, 35, a Los Angeles teacher who was playing on the course with his uncle Gustavo Resendiz.
Bautista said Yi had hit two balls toward the men and at the 14th hole Bautista hit Yi's ball back toward him. According to Bautista, Yi confronted him, left the fairway and returned with a badge and pointed a gun to his head.
Bautista and Resendiz continued playing but Yi followed them, pushed Resendiz and then cocked his gun.
"I really thought I was gonna be killed right then and there," said Resendiz, 61.
At the end of Monday's preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Raymond Youngquist said there was enough evidence to order trial. Yi is charged with two counts of assault with a firearm and two counts of making criminal threats. He will be arraigned Nov. 1.
— Thanks to Out There reader Don W.
'Mr. Floatie' Drops Out of Mayoral Race
VICTORIA, British Columbia (AP) — Mr. Floatie, a community activist who dresses up in a feces costume to decry the pumping of raw sewage into the waters off British Columbia's capital, has withdrawn his name as a candidate for mayor.
The city had planned to challenge Mr. Floatie's candidacy in court.
James Skwarok, the man inside the costume, said the city apparently took issue with his candidacy because only real people can run for municipal office.
"Of course, I'm not a real person," Skwarok said earlier this week. "I'm a big piece of poop."
Skwarok was not available for further comment.
Mr. Floatie has become a regular sight at public gatherings.
He passes out pamphlets drawing attention to Victoria's practice of pumping sewage directly into the Juan de Fuca after only a screening to remove solids.
— Thanks to Out There reader Susan A.
FRANKFORT, Ind. (AP) — A stay-at-home mom is on strike — giving up her daily chores until her family gives her more help around the house.
Regina Stevenson, 41, sat on a lawn chair Tuesday on the sidewalk outside her home in Frankfort, 20 miles southeast of Lafayette, with a sign saying "Mom on Strike."
Stevenson has four children, ranging in age from 7 to 19. The youngest three live at home with her and her husband, Dennis, along with their daughter-in-law and grandson.
Stevenson says the large household means doing a lot of laundry, cooking, cleaning and gardening.
"I do everything except bring home the paycheck," she said, crediting her husband for that contribution.
Stevenson said her children are good kids and that her husband keeps odd hours and can't always pitch in.
But she said she wants more help around the house and that she won't be cleaning, cooking or doing other chores until they clean and learn to appreciate her.
"[Stay-at-home moms] are not paid with money, and I think that you should show a little courtesy and respect for what we do," she said.
Larry Bird's '33' Jersey Inspires Longer Jail Term
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A man got a prison term longer than prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed to — all because of NBA great Larry Bird.
The lawyers reached a plea agreement Tuesday for a 30-year term for a man accused of shooting with an intent to kill and robbery. But Eric James Torpy wanted his prison term to match Bird's jersey number, 33.
"He said if he was going to go down, he was going to go down in Larry Bird's jersey," Oklahoma County District Judge Ray Elliott said Wednesday. "We accommodated his request and he was just as happy as he could be.
"I've never seen anything like this in 26 years in the courthouse. But, I know the DA is happy about it."
Compiled by FOXNews.com's Andrew Hard.
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