If you're stealing from the U.S. Army, or your own place of employment, chances are you won't be named citizen of the year. See what "icy" celeb got the honor in one South Florida town in this edition of ONLY IN FLORIDA.ONLY IN FLORIDA is our weekly roundup of the strange, bizarre and just plain ridiculous headlines from right here in the Sunshine State.
ONLY IN FLORIDA do stoners steal military Humvees for a joyride.
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said 19- year-old Jose Quinones, of Orlando, was under the influence of marijuana as he got behind the wheel of the Humvee he swiped from the Army Reserve. He also dragged a construction barrel with sparks flying underneath during his wild ride.
Deputies said Quinones’ excuse for the evening adventure: He was bored.
Army officials said the Humvees do not require keys, they have switches that start up the vehicle. (WFTV)
ONLY IN FLORIDA do would be thieves accidentally injure themselves while attempting to rob their own place of employment.
Clearwater Police detectives didn't have to look far to find their man.
That's because the suspect, 20-year-old Andre Trevor Puskas, works at the Radio Shack he was trying to hold up. Police say he showed up for his shift a little more than six hours after the robbery attempt.
During the botched crime, police say the ski mask-wearing, Puskas used pepper spray on another employee.
He also tried to shoot her with a stun gun, but ended shooting himself in the hand. (St. Petersburg Tribune)
ONLY IN FLORIDA do one-hit wonders win major civic awards.
The municipality of Wellington, in Palm Beach County will name Rob “Vanilla Ice” Van Winkle “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” during a ceremony later this month.
According to the Palm Beach Post, The Wellington Chamber of Commerce wants to acknowledge Van Winkle for his “spirit of giving and dedication” to the town.
Van Winkle has lived in Wellington for more than 10 years and films his DIY Network reality show, The Vanilla Ice Project, there as well.
The former musician’s show focuses on him making money by flipping houses. He’s been so successful that he even ran a seminar about making millions with a successful real estate career. (The Palm Beach Post)
(EDITOR'S NOTE: While my colleague Melissa seems to recall "Ice Ice Baby" as V.I.'s only hit record, his remake of Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music" peaked at #4 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100.
Let us also not forget his addition to 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II The Secret of the Ooze: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack—"Ninja Rap"—which you can watch/hear below. Mr. Van Winkle recently performed the song's ubiquitous hook for a Kraft mac and cheese commercial. - Patrick D.)
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