Crime

Nick Bollea, son of popular professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, has been sentenced to eight months in Pinellas County Jail (Florida) for reckless driving that involved serious bodily injury. Hogan's friend John Graziano remains in a coma following the crash last summer.

Bollea entered an open plea in the case and could have been sentenced to up to 5 years. In a deal with prosecutors, Bollea's lawyers agreed to an "open plea" with an understanding that he would not get longer than a year in jail.

Nick's family was part the reality television show "Hogan Knows Best" which featured Nick alongside his sister Brooke, his mother Linda, and of course his famous father Hulk Hogan.

The Philadelphia police department is embroiled in a controversy surrounding police brutality, as video emerged of the police beating. In the video, about a dozen Philadelphia police officers gathering around a vehicle, and pulling three men out.

Half a dozen officers held two of the men on the ground, while both were kicked repeatedly. One was shown being punched, another appeared to be struck with a baton, and the third man was also subdued.

The victims in the film have been identified as Brian Hall, 23, Pete Hopkins,19, and Dwayne Duches, 24.

Leading up to the incident was a chase that began in the Hunting Park neighborhood of North Philadelphia, where the three men are reported to have fled a shooting.

Police in Florida are investigating the suicide of Deborah Jeane Palfrey who was to be sentenced in the "The DC Madam" trial later this year. Palfrey had been convicted of running a prostitution ring that involved several high up figures int he government. Police were called when Palfrey's body was found in a storage shed outside a mobile home park where she had been staying with her mother.

Palfrey had run the ring from 1993 to 2006. She was convicted on charges such as guilty of money laundering, racketeering and using the mail for illegal purposes and was to be sentenced in July. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican, was among the clients that had used the escort service that Palfrey ran.

Police have yet to reveal details of how she killed herself. Palfrey was 52 years old at the time of her death.

Former bad boy of the NBA was arrested by police yesterday on suspicion of felony domestic battery. The former star, who played alongside Isaiah Thomas and Michael Jordan to win championships with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, was released early this morning on $50,000 bond TMZ has reported.

Rodman, a tenacious rebounder and defensive player, has also had roles in films and television shows. He has been known for bazaar behavior in the past with rapidly changes hair colors along with tattoos and piercings that have adorned his body. He used to state that he wanted to end his NBA career stripping naked and running off the floor.

Click in to see what Rodman was booked for from the Los Angeles County website:

Federal charges were filed on Wednesday against Roger Von Bergendorff, who was found to have had the deadly toxin ricin in his Las Vegas hotel room in February. According to a Department of Justice release, Von Bergendorff, 57, has been charged with the possession of biological toxin and two firearms-related charges.

Under U.S. federal law, it is illegal to knowingly possess a biological agent and toxin of a type and quantity that is not reasonably justified by a prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purchase.

While staying at the Extended Stay America Hotel in Las Vegas, Von Bergendorff contacted emergency medical services, and indicated that he had breathing problems. He was subsequently hospitalized.

A police investigation into the incident turned up instructions to prepare ricin, as well as a cache of weapons. Police in Salt Lake City searched storage lockers that had been rented by Von Bergendorff, where they turned up castor beans, chemicals used in the production of ricin, a respirator, filters, laboratory glassware, syringes, a painter's mask, and a notebook on ricin production.

If you were looking forward to GOP blowhard Rush Limbaugh being indicted on voter fraud charges you will be sad to learn that those prospects are unlikely at best. Limbaugh had told listeners to change party affiliation and vote Democrat to keep the race going.

The Columbus Dispatch today wrote:

"We have no intention of prosecuting Rush Limbaugh because lying through your teeth and being stupid isn't a crime," said Leo Jennings, a spokesman for Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann.

When asked whether she has concerns about what Limbaugh did, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, replied, "I think it's very bad form, but I think most voters are intelligent enough to make their own decisions."

Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states holding presidential primaries is designed to help presumptive Republican nominee John McCain win the Nov. 4 election.

A Pennsylvania judge has ordered three men charged with conspiracy to commit robbery to learn English or go to jail. If the men are unable to pass an English test one year from now, they will be facing 24 months in prison for violating parole.

THe men, who speak Spanish, required translators in order to plead guilty in court. This prompted Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. to ask them, "Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all your life?"

The judge says that the unusual sentences, which also requires that the men obtain employment, are designed to help them.

One defendant's lawyers said he hadn't decided yet whether or not to appeal the ruling. Nevertheless, learning English sounds a lot more fun than sitting in jail for two years.

Virginia State Police are currently looking for a suspect involved in a series of shootings directed at vehicles on Interstate 64 in Virginia. Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Cooper told media that five vehicles were hit by gunfire in three locations along I-64 in Virginia earlier this morning.

Gunfire was first reported at 12:10am near mile marker 114 on the on-ramp to I-64 West, which was closed to traffic just minutes later. Three vehicles were also hit by gunfire at mile marker 106 near the overpass. Lastly, an unoccupied Virginia Dept. of Transportation parked near the Yancey Mill exit on I-64 was struck.

According to Virginia police, two people suffered from non-life threatening injuries. They were treated at local hospitals. It is not clear whether the injuries were directly from the gunfire, or from broken glass and fragments from the shots.

While police have not released the type of gun that they believed the shooter used, they do think that because of the casings recovered at the scenes that all five shootings may be connected.

I-64 was re-opened this morning around 6am. The gunman is still o the loose, and police are looking for him

A bomb exploded in New York City's Times Square early this morning, damaging a military recruiting center. Police are now on the hunt for a man seen on a bike wearing a grey hoodie. While authorities remain on full alert, they insist that there is no imminent threat after the 4 a.m. explosion.

The blast from the explosion was, according to eyewitnesses, pretty powerful. Witnesses said that the bomb shook the ground that they stood on, and those in nearby hotels also felt the vibrations from the blast. Police said that the bomb shattered a glass building entrance, but that no one was seriously injured.

According to media reports, there are several surveillance cameras located where the explosion took place, so it is likely that a video of the bomb's explosion will be released in the near future. For the time being, however, police are likely to be using it to help identify the perpetrator of the attack.