The Night Note: 11/18/09

News you need to know.

The following stories are brought to you by the fine folks on the News4 assignment desk.

DETECTIVE: RAMSEY ORDERED MASS ARRESTS
A police detective alleges that former Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey, despite past denials, ordered mass arrests of hundreds of demonstrators who were protesting annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in 2002.

Ramsey, now the commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, has given inconsistent statements over the years on the arrests, saying repeatedly, including twice in sworn statements, that he did not order them. He said an assistant chief of police did so. (WTOP/AP)

IN TOKYO, ROBOTS TO HELP YOU SHOP
Shopping in Tokyo can reach unparalleled levels of stupidity, with people often queuing for days to try to grab the first copy of a new video game or mobile phone. Newly-opened department stores in Japan are often swamped with crowds of middle-aged women desperate for the biggest discounts on the latest crockery and washing machines.

In an attempt to make it easier to deal with Tokyo’s masses of shoppers, department store Takashimaya decided to enroll the services of a speech-recognising robot for a week. Enter Saya, the latest frightening fembot to haunt Tokyo’s streets.  (The Telegraph)

DOG THROWER BROUGHT TO JUSTICE VIA NET USERS
A man who filmed himself throwing a helpless dog over the side of a bridge and then posted the footage online turned himself in out of fear today after an internet campaign to bring him to justice.

Footage of the unidentified man was posted on Lithuanian websites and quickly spread throughout the world wide web, with Facebook groups as far away as America calling for him to be brought to justice. (The Daily Mail)

GEEZER BANDIT SOUGHT
FBI officials say an elderly, thin, gray-haired man nicknamed the "Geezer Bandit" is responsible for holding up five San Diego-area banks since summer.

Investigators say the man appears to be in his 70s. Officials say that in the most recent robbery Monday, he approached a Bank of America teller in La Jolla, displayed a handgun and asked for cash. He fled on foot. (MSNBC)
 

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