Young Teen, 16, Tries to Robb a Bank

A stakeout at an east-end bank ended dramatically yesterday when a lone youthful robber was wrestled to the ground as he walked out with a reported $150,000 stuffed in a backpack.
The 16-year-old suspect apparently had no idea as he methodically collected the cash that two Emergency Task Force teams with 20 officers, police dogs and an armoured vehicle were waiting outside. The 50 minutes it took him to collect his money gave the police plenty of time to get their ducks in order.
The teen bank robber was tackled as he left the bank by an off-duty officer who happened to be inside the bank during the robbery.
Police were called at 10:15 a.m. to the CIBC branch, located in a strip mall on Lawrence Ave. E. near Victoria Park Ave. Bank employees sounded the silent alarm after the robber walked into an office demanding money, claiming he had a gun. Crouching behind parked cars in the mall, the EFT teams kept a close eye on the bank, where some 20 customers remained inside.
They sprung into action shortly after 11 a.m., swarming the youth after he was pinned by the off-duty officer. The teen, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged with robbery and forcible confinement. He was scheduled to appear in Toronto court today.

This is quite the funny article, a 16 year old kid, goes into a CIBC demanding money and claiming that he has a gun. Not to mention that it took him 50 minutes to gather up the money, like comeon did he not think that 50 minutes in waiting for the money, that someone wouldnt have contacted the police? This young kid is probably a little confused and trying to make a name for himself. Its funny because this kid is about the same age as me, and trying to rob a bank, i just cant picture it. Advice for the kid, if your ever going to rob a bank dont take over 20 minutes to get the money, and at least wait till your a little older.

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/307314

Gay Jamaica Comes to Canada To Speak on Behalf of Homosexuals

A Jamaican police officer says he's living in fear after coming out as a gay man and hopes to come to Canada where he can safely speak up on behalf of other gay Jamaicans.
Michael Hayden, who has been on the police force for four years, said other officers routinely attacked and abused him after becoming suspicious of his sexual orientation.
But after speaking out publicly about the problem in The Jamaica Star newspaper this month, the 24-year-old Hayden said he began receiving death threats. "The situation for gays and lesbians in Jamaica is getting worse," Henry said in a telephone interview in Toronto, where he's now living. Henry said he feels for Hayden. "He's unsafe. They're hunting him daily. It's one of those very sad cases. For him coming out, he didn't want to be another person who died before he got to tell his story." Hayden is now on a leave of absence from his job and is in hiding while his allegations against his fellow officers are being investigated. Violence against men who have sex with men, ranging from verbal harassment to beatings, armed attacks, and murder, is pervasive in Jamaica, according to Schleifer's report for Human Rights Watch.

This is a very serious news article, i personally do not care that people are atrracted to other men(as long as there not attracted to me). But for this Jamaican Officer to come out and say that he is gay and then to recieve death threats and always has to keep a head on a swiffle is very serious. Its just plain disrespectful, last year an Officer beat Officer Hayden in a drugstore in Kingston, Jamaica, but the police force denied this. I just think that if someone is gay, you should just leave him be, people are born that way and they cannot help it.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/306606

2 men charged in Toronto's $15,000 dog-napping

A Toronto man who collected a hefty reward for returning a chocolate Labrador dog to its banker owner now faces multiple charges. Police arrested Richard Cassibo, 54, and Andrew Footit, 31, on Tuesday. Police arrested Richard Cassibo, 54, and Andrew Footit, 31, on Tuesday. Officers announced Wednesday that the pair faces a total of nine charges following the alleged theft of a dog in downtown Toronto on Saturday. Dog owner Bert Clark, a 36-year-old Toronto banker, offered a $15,000 reward for his beloved pet, Huckleberry, after a dog walker left the chocolate Lab tied up outside a bakery. Clark gave a $10,000 cheque to Richard Cassibo when he returned the dog. Although CanWest News Services said that Cassibo said he found the dog tied up on a park bench. Bert Clark also donated $5,000 to an animal hospital at Cassibo's request. Both Cassibo and Footit are charged with conspiracy, corruptly taking a reward, fraud and possession of property obtained by crime.
Cassibo is also charged with public mischief. Both suspects are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

This is a very serious case, I think that what these to criminals did was just plan stupid. I hope that these to Guys get sentenced for a long time. They were charged with nine charges. $15,000 Dollars they got for "Returning the dog" is alot of money to most people, and when your lying about it to gain money, its just not write.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/02/20/dog.html

Time For the NHL to wheel and deal

Peter Forsberg announced toaday that he will not be returning to the NHL this season. With this being announced today this really brings the trade value up for Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin. Sundin, of course, says he won't waive his no-trade clause. But most in the industry expect Toronto interim general manager Cliff Fletcher to present one final trade option to No. 13 before next Tuesday's trade deadline as the temporary Leaf hockey boss tries to add draft picks and prospects to the team's depth chart. Brian Burke wsa one of those GMs yesterday suggesting deals for so-called "rentals" like Sundin or Atlanta's Marian Hossa aren't usually good business. Why acquire a guy like Sundin Hossa for no more than 3 months for Rental? In return youll be giving up probably 2 Young Prospects, and most likely 2 Top Draft Picks. In other cases some other GM's think acquiring a guy like Sundin or Hossa, would really be helpful, if you are a Stanley Cup condendor like Ottawa, Minnisota, Philidelphia and San Jose than sure youd be looking to pick up guys like these, to give you that extra push into the playoffs and a Stanley Cup Condendor.

I think that this is going to be a very exciting draft deadline. There are alot of Big Names out there, and therfore there are going to be many big deals going through come draft deadline.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/304773

5 students killed by Gunman at U of IIlnois

5 people died thursday afternoon as a heavily armed man entered a lecture Hall at Northern Illinois University. The University said that the Gunman who shot and killed himself was a graduate student in sociology who last enrolled in the spring of 2007. The man killed 4 women and a man in a brief rapid fire. In total there were 21 victims. The Gunman was armed with a shotgun and 2 handguns and opened fire in the lecture hall around 3pm. Students told the press that someone dressed in black came out from behind a screen at the front of the classroom and opened fire with a shotgun. People were crawling on eachother, and trampling eachother in attempt to get to the back of the hall.

To me this is just brutal, this is the 4th school shooting in the past week in the states. Gun violence is becoming a real issue and definetly has to be addressed. There has to be better security on school campuses. Schools arent becoming the safe and fun learning environment, but is becoming much more violence filled and dangerous.

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/02/14/shooting-university.html

Girls Body Found in Bridge Water

The discovery of a body outside Bridgewater has shocked residents reeling from the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl. Bridgewater police could not confirm if the body of the young girl is that of Karissa Boudreau, who dissapeared 2 weeks ago in a Parking Lot in Bridgewater. The body was discovered late Saturday morning, in LaHave River, not far from the parking lot where she was last seen. Karissa was last seen in the small Nova Scotia town 100 kilometres southwest of Halifax on Jan. 27. Karissa's mother said she got into a fight with her daughter in the Sobeys Parking Lot, when she returned from the store her daughter was missing. Two days later at a news conference, she made a public plea asking her daughter to return home or even make a phone call. An autopsy will be performed on wednesday.

To me this story is quite sad, but some things just dont make sense. The mother says that she got into an argument with her daughter, and then when she returns from the store her daughter is missing. To me i dont think that the mother had anything to do with it, but maybe they fought and the mother did something to the daughter, and told police that when she came back she was gone. Also why would you leave a 12 year old alone in a parking lot, there are a lot of sick people in the world and this is what happens. You cannot leave a child alone, when they become a little older, maturer and stronger than you can leave tham alone. I just hope that they find out whatever happening to this girl, and find however did this.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2008/02/11/body-bridgewater.html

2 Girls Sentenced for Beating Senior

2 Teenage girls were sentenced Monday to 12 months in custody for beating a 66 year old women with metal legs from a table last summer in Halifax. Judge Says that the girls attacked the innocent Senior who was walking through the park. She says that the girls wore bandanas implementing that this was all premeditated. The 2 girls appeared in court, but sat quietly most of the time staring at the floor and listening to the judge hand out the consequences. The women suffered a broken rib and severe bruising. Williams said that one of the teens commited the act so that she could spend time in prison, because she felt save and she gets food and a bed to sleep in. The teenagers pleaded guilty to aggrevated assault and possesion of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

To me this is a very sad story, its just so crule these teenagers girls beating a 66 year old senior with a metal shaft. Obviously these girls are troubled and grew up in rough families, one girl said she commited the crime to go to jail and get food and a good bed to sleep in. I just dont get how they could do something so stupid, the 66 year old senior has no way of defending herself, there is 2 teens and they are much stronger and bigger.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2008/02/04/beating-sentence.html