Florida man accused of stealing 9 bottles of liquor from Hooters restaurant

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Carson Zorn

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    PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida (WBBH ) — A man was arrested on Wednesday after being accused of stealing nine bottles of alcohol from a Port Charlotte Hooters restaurant.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the Hooters restaurant on Tamiami Trail at around 11:22 a.m. after reports of a theft.

At the scene, deputies spoke to the manager of the restaurant, who told deputies that a man, who had been asked several times to leave the business, had stolen liquor from the business.

Deputies located Paul Duxbury, 67, of Port Charlotte, sitting in a grassy area behind the Hooters. According to CCSO, deputies spoke with Duxbury, and while making contact with him, they noticed three sealed liquor bottles in an open backpack sitting next to Duxbury, as well as a nearby white box with four additional sealed liquor bottles and another sealed bottle placed on a nearby tree branch.

Interviews with restaurant staff revealed that Duxbury had arrived at the business and was messing with its propane tanks. Byron told employees he had been hired by the business to conduct repairs on the propane tanks. The manager of the business told Duxbury no such service was requested and asked him to leave, CCSO said.

After being asked multiple times to leave, Duxbury made his way to a container unit next to the business where the restaurant kept its liquor. The container was an employee-only area, but was unlocked at the time due to a delivery, CCSO said.

Deputies then searched Duxbury and recovered nine bottles of alcohol, which totaled $459 in value. During the search, deputies also found a hunting knife, which Duxbury was not allowed to own due to his felon status, a bag of methamphetamine and a glass pipe which contained residue of methamphetamine.

Duxbury was arrested and charged with armed burglary, possession of a weapon as a felon, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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Man with lighter fluid threatens to set Pennsylvania store employees on fire, police say

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Rachael Lardani

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    MIDDLESEX TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A man was arrested after threatening to set people on fire in Cumberland County, according to the Middlesex Township Police Department.

Investigators said it happened at a store in the 1000 block of Harrisburg Pike on Thursday, Feb. 12.

According to police, Ronald Hockenberry, 58, was in an argument with store employees when he told them that he had set people on fire in the past.

Hockenberry left the store to buy lighter fluid, then returned with it and threatened to set employees on fire, investigators said.

Police noted that he made other alarming statements.

Hockenberry was taken into custody and transported to Cumberland County Prison.

He was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, public drunkenness and similar misconduct.

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Woman seen trying to set fire to Kansas City warehouse tied to previous ICE detention proposal

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Nick Sloan

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A woman was seen trying to set fire to a south Kansas City warehouse on Thursday, the same site that had been proposed as a possible immigration detention center.

Video from our crew shows the woman igniting window areas at the building and flames briefly flaring up.

KMBC 9 reporter Andy Alcock said he witnessed the woman throw what appeared to be a liquid onto the windows before the fire started.

Grandview firefighters responded to the scene. No injuries were reported.

The warehouse has been the focus of protests and public concern after reports surfaced that it could be sold to the federal government for use as an ICE detention facility.

Platform Ventures says it is not moving forward with sale of I-49 property rumored to be ICE detention site The property’s owner, Platform Ventures, said Thursday it is no longer moving forward with any sale of the site to the U.S. government.

Kansas City police, as of Thursday night, said no arrests have been made. The Bomb and Arson Team were also on scene investigating.

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Sex offender accused of raping women after offering them rides

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Margaret Kavanagh

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    NORFOLK, Virginia (WTKR) — A man who spent more than two decades in prison for forcible sodomy is now facing new rape charges after allegedly targeting women by offering them rides in Norfolk, according to police records.

Christopher Custis, a registered sex offender, was arrested in September 2025 following two separate alleged attacks in Norfolk.

The first incident occurred in July 2024 when a woman told police she was at a BP gas station near Five Points in Norfolk.

According to a search warrant, a man approached her and offered her a ride to Park Place.

The warrant states that as they crossed Chesapeake Boulevard toward a bus stop, he allegedly put her in a chokehold and dragged her to a fenced area where she passed out and woke up to being raped.

DNA evidence was sent to a lab, and Custis was identified in a police lineup in January 2025.

In June 2025, another rape was reported with similar circumstances.

Records state a woman was walking away from school near Ruffin Street and Rugby Street when a man offered her a ride home due to the rain. After she got in the car, she allegedly felt the “cold point of a knife on her left temple.”

The warrant states he told her he would kill her if she screamed, then raped her before releasing her after she begged to be let go.

Additional DNA testing led to Custis’ arrest.

Crime analyst Richard Jame said the allegations in both cases show a similar pattern.

“This particular suspect has a similar MO, where he’s looking for a single woman, or a woman that’s by herself, that is not necessarily driving, but maybe a pedestrian. And then he offered them a ride, that’s his MO, and then once he gets them to the vehicle, that’s when the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde change. He has this explosive behavior, and then he starts the assault,” Jame said.

Court records show Custis was sentenced to 36 years for forcible sodomy in 1998, which put him on the sex offender registry. The Department of Corrections confirmed he was released from their custody in July 2021. It is unclear why he was let out early.

One man who lives near where one of the alleged assaults happened, expressed horror and anger about the incidents.

“I just really think it’s like mind blowing. I have nieces and I don’t want anything to happen to my nieces. I’m just sorry to hear this,” said the man, who only wanted to be identified by his first name, Curtis.

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Police officers injured by detonated explosive during evidence collection at bomb range

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Ashleigh Quintana

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    PUEBLO, Colorado (KOAA) — Two officers with the Pueblo Police Department’s (PPD) Pueblo Metro Bomb Squad (PMBS) Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) have been injured during an ongoing criminal investigation.

According to the city, around 10:35 a.m. on Thursday, PMBS EOD technicians and para-technicians were in the evidence-processing phase of an ongoing criminal investigation in PPD’s bomb range.

During this investigation, an explosive that was seized by police for the criminal investigation detonated while the technicians were attempting to make the device safe and collect evidence for the case.

One officer suffered first and second-degree burns, and the second officer suffered first, second, and third-degree burns. They were immediately transported to receive medical care.

While the injuries are non-life-threatening, the officer with third-degree burns was transported to a Denver burn unit and remains in the hospital.

The other officer has been treated and released, and there were no additional injuries.

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3 daycare workers indicted for alleged child abuse and strangulation

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Erin Rosas

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    FRANKLIN COUNTY, Kentucky (WLEX) — A Franklin County grand jury has indicted three daycare workers on 30 criminal counts involving the abuse and strangulation of multiple children in their care, according to court documents filed February 10.

The indictment revealed that 48-year-old Constance Perry of Lawrenceburg faces the most serious charges, including seven counts of first-degree strangulation and 13 counts of first-degree criminal abuse of children 12 and under.

In addition, 62-year-old Jenny Weeks of Frankfort, and 38-year-old Lauren Owens of Frankfort are charged with facilitating strangulation and failing to report child abuse, the indictment reported.

On Friday Feb. 13, Perry entered a not guilty plea during an arraignment. Both Owens and Weeks are set to be arraigned next week.

LEX 18 News found that Weeks was listed as the registered agent for Great Beginnings Child Care, LLC in Frankfort on the Secretary of State’s website until Jan. 1.

The charges reportedly span incidents from June 2019 through January 2026, involving at least seven children identified by initials in the indictment. Perry is accused of strangling children by applying pressure to their throats or necks, or blocking their noses or mouths. All three defendants are charged with criminal abuse that allegedly caused serious physical injury or placed children in situations that could cause serious harm.

Weeks and Owens face additional charges for failing to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement or state authorities, despite having reasonable cause to believe children were being abused.

The indictment noted the alleged abuse occurred “in a continuing course of conduct, two or more times” within the specified time periods for each count.

Each defendant was assigned a $10,000 bail, and have now bonded out. Perry faces Class B and Class C felony charges, while Weeks and Owens face a combination of felony and misdemeanor charges.

LEX 18 News also discovered from the state’s childcare provider database that Great Beginnings Child Care, LLC is listed as being “monitored by the Division of Regulated Child Care (DRCC) for regulatory compliance. DRCC has initiated action against the license/certificate (Denial, Suspension, Revocation).”

In addition, LEX 18 obtained a Directed Plan of Correction Agreement from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services issued to Great Beginnings Child Care, following two complaint investigations.

The facility, the document read, must implement immediate corrective measures or face license revocation.

“The licensee, director, and/or staff in charge will assure the health, safety, and comfort of each child within care of the child care center,” the state order states.

Great Beginnings Child Care must create written policies regarding appropriate behavior management by Feb. 13. All staff members must receive copies of these policies, and newly hired employees will receive training upon hire, according to the document.

Further, the facility must also establish abuse and neglect reporting procedures. All staff working directly with children must complete three additional hours of training in health, safety, appropriate discipline techniques, and abuse reporting by March 9. The state will conduct more frequent inspections for at least three months to monitor compliance, the cabinet reported. Parents of children in care have been notified that the facility is operating under a directed plan of correction.

The agreement remains in effect until the facility satisfactorily fulfills all requirements or receives written notice from state regulators that the plan has been lifted. Failure to comply could result in license revocation.

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Woman ‘most wanted’ for stealing $8K from employer, charging $10K on stolen credit card in Pennsylvania, police say

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Rachael Lardani

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    CHAMBERSBURG, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A woman is “most wanted” out of Franklin County for stealing from her employer, according to the Chambersburg Police Department.

Investigators said September Lewandoski, 52, stole more than $8,000 from her employer.

She is also accused of spending more than $10,000 at multiple businesses with a credit card that was not issued to her.

Lewandoski is wanted for access device fraud and theft by unlawful taking.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chambersburg Police Department or submit a tip online.

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Amazon driver calls 911, helps save 84-year-old woman from burning home

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Hannah Hoffman

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    PYLESVILLE, Maryland (WBAL) — An Amazon driver helped save a woman from a burning home in Harford County on Wednesday.

The driver was making a delivery near Creek View Court in Whiteford when she saw a home on fire and called 911.

An 84-year-old woman inside the home tried to escape through a side door. The driver saw her and pulled the woman to safety.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office learned the fire began as a result of improperly thrown out woodstove ashes, according to a news release.

Three adults were displaced due to the fire.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Brother, sister found dead in murder-suicide at Florida general store

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Madilyn Destefano

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    APOPKA, Florida (WESH) — Two people found dead in an Apopka general store on Friday were part of a murder-suicide, police confirmed on Monday afternoon.

It was a brother and a sister.

The Apopka Police Department conducted a death investigation after responding to Griffin General Store at 262 W. Michael Gladden Boulevard at around 8:55 p.m., and finding the siblings deceased.

According to investigators, the suspect fatally shot his sister before he died by suicide.

The victims were later identified as Schneita and Ezra Swift.

“Evidence collected at the scene, witness statements and forensic findings confirm that this was an isolated domestic violence incident between family members,” Apopka police said in a news release Monday.

The Apopka Police Department encourages anyone experiencing domestic violence or family conflict to seek support via the following resources:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

‘They were just lovable people’

People who live and work in the area say the victims were well known in the community.

The owner of the store said one of the victims, Schneita Swift, previously worked at the business.

A small memorial has grown outside the store as friends and neighbors try to process the loss.

“She was a sweet girl. Her brother was a sweet dude. They didn’t bother anyone,” said Kizzy Ward, a longtime friend of the family. “They were just lovable people.”

Ward said she has known the siblings for years and is hoping their family finds peace.

“It’s hurtful,” Ward said. “You’re here today, gone tomorrow. I just saw him walking the other day.”

The daughter of one of the victims told WESH 2 she was too emotional to speak on camera but shared photos of her mother and uncle.

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Family fights cemetery’s demand to remove headstone with middle finger images after five years

CNN Newsource on February 13, 2026

By Liv Wood

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    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KOAA) — A Colorado Springs family is battling Evergreen Cemetery over a headstone that has stood for five years, after the cemetery manager deemed images on the monument inappropriate and demanded its removal.

The Geschke family contacted News5 after discovering black tape covering parts of their brothers’ headstone at Evergreen Cemetery. The cemetery’s manager said the headstone contains “inappropriate images” that violate cemetery rules.

“This is a symbol of love and Geschke blood through and through,” said Holly Geschke.

In video provided by the family, the Geschkes are shown removing black tape from the headstone, which features images of middle fingers. The monument has been in place for five years without previous complaints.

“But to have a family come in after so many years and tell them that we have to redo this. Over again. Nobody wants to do it in the first place,” said Holly Geschke.

Cemetery Manager Cheryl Godbout said the headstone must be removed because cemetery rules prohibit monuments that are profane or offensive to the general public.

No words or images may be engraved on a memorial that would be considered profane or offensive to the general public.

Evergreen Cemetery Regulations When News5 asked how many people complained about the headstone, Godbout said the number of complaints was irrelevant.

“Once I was made aware of it, then I had to do something. It would not have been right of me to know about it, knowing it violates our rules and to ignore our rules,” said Godbout.

The Geschke sisters disagree with the cemetery’s assessment, arguing the images are not inappropriate given their context and meaning.

“This was created with so much love, respect, and loyalty to our brothers. This is speaking to the character of not who they were but who we are as a family,” said Holly Geschke.

Godbout told News5 the cemetery will remove the headstone for the family but will keep it intact. However, the family finds the situation deeply troubling.

“They’re in a resting place and now here we are being asked to disturb their resting place. It’s mind boggling,” said Holly Geschke.

Evergreen Cemetery Regulations When News5 asked how many people complained about the headstone, Godbout said the number of complaints was irrelevant.

“Once I was made aware of it, then I had to do something. It would not have been right of me to know about it, knowing it violates our rules and to ignore our rules,” said Godbout.

The Geschke sisters disagree with the cemetery’s assessment, arguing the images are not inappropriate given their context and meaning.

“This was created with so much love, respect, and loyalty to our brothers. This is speaking to the character of not who they were but who we are as a family,” said Holly Geschke.

Godbout told News5 the cemetery will remove the headstone for the family but will keep it intact. However, the family finds the situation deeply troubling.

“They’re in a resting place and now here we are being asked to disturb their resting place. It’s mind boggling,” said Holly Geschke.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.