If you can't do the time, don't be an idiot. We've got another weird crime spree in this week's ONLY IN FLORIDA.ONLY IN FLORIDA is our weekly roundup of the strange, bizarre and just plain ridiculous events that happened right here in the Sunshine State.
ONLY IN FLORIDA do burglary suspects implicate themselves because they didn't check in with mom.
Deputies in Palm Beach County were at the scene of a burglary Thursday when a cell phone apparently left behind by the culprit began ringing.
The phone identified the caller as “Mom” and after a deputy answered, a woman gave police the name of her son, Derek Codd, age 19.
Codd is charged with burglary and larceny. There's no word yet on whether he called to let mom know what he thought about her chat with police. (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
ONLY IN FLORIDA do fugitives set their own house on fire to avoid arrest.
Lake County deputies tried to serve felony warrants on Charles Smith, but he didn’t want to be taken into custody.
As the lawman waited on the front porch, they saw smoke coming from the house. Deputies pulled Smith and two large dogs out of the flames.
He’s in Lake County jail on the outstanding warrants, plus two counts of animal cruelty. (Orlando Sentinel)
ONLY IN FLORIDA do fast-food robbers accidentally lock themselves in the freezer.
Employees at a Miami area Checkers were preparing to open the restaurant early Monday morning when they heard a window shattering.
Police say the shirtlesss suspect Anthony Demore demanded money from outside before completely shattering the drive-thru window and entering the burger joint.
As the employees fled, Demore hid in the freezer, which locked behind him.
After more than an hour being pelted with falling ice in the deep freeze, Demore was bandaged, bundled up in blankets, and placed into the back seat of a police car. (International Business Times)
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You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax and Patrick Donges at @patrickhdonges.
