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Clown caper no laughing matter

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 13, 2006

One clown found, another still missing: Sarasota police have recovered a clown statue, one of 50 around the circus city, and are searching for a second. The theft is part of a rash of vandalism against the public art series, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. When Pigs Fly, reported missing last week, was found Saturday across the street from the studio where other clown statues have been repaired. Another fiberglass clown statue, Ra Ra Shish Boom Ba, is still MIA. When Pigs Fly will return to the streets after a bit of fixup. At least it didn't meet the fate of one statue. Pigs still has its head.

If he'd only worn shoes and socks

A man whose tattooed toes tipped off police that he was selling stolen motorcycle parts on eBay was sentenced to four years in prison Monday. Clearwater police arrested Richard R. Costello, 29, after posted photos of the parts on eBay showed toes painted with tattoos that spelled "White Trash." Police searched jail records and learned Costello, who has a police record, had such tattoos. He was arrested this spring and on Monday pleaded no contest to a felony charge of dealing in stolen property.

One lost package no one will claim

Ah, Florida, land of sun, surf, sand and cocaine along the shore. A cop on Hollywood beach Tuesday morning found a half-million dollars worth of cocaine, wrapped tightly in cellophane and covered in barnacles, the Miami Herald reports. The 81 pounds likely were at sea for a month, a police spokesman said. Police are looking into the matter but speculate the drugs were tossed overboard by smugglers during a chase at sea.

[Last modified December 13, 2006, 00:32:55]