Odds and ends 8/22/04

Police car almost stolen during traffic stop

ATHENS, Pa. -- Athens Township police officers Thomas J. Vanfleet Jr. and Nathan Ross said they pulled over Jeremy Jacob Friedlander, 21, because his Jeep's license plate was obstructed. Friedlander told the officers he had a rifle in the car and the officers sat him in the rear of the cruiser while they searched the Jeep. Friedlander allegedly jumped into the driver's seat, where he started the car and pulled away. Vanfleet managed to get partly into the vehicle and struggled with Friedlander as he drove off, eventually shifting the car into park and pulling the keys from the ignition. Friedlander was charged Tuesday with aggravated assault, kidnapping, resisting arrest and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Bear's necessities definitely include beer

BAKER LAKE, Wash.-- When state Fish and Wildlife agents recently found a black bear passed out on the lawn of Baker Lake Resort, there were some clues scattered nearby: dozens of empty cans of beer. The bear apparently got into campers' coolers and used his claws and teeth to puncture the cans, consuming about 36 cans of Rainier Beer. Wildlife agents finally had to use a humane trap to capture it for relocation, baiting the trap with the usual: doughnuts, honey and, in this case, two open cans of Rainier. That did the trick.

'Fat Darrell' crowned best sandwich by Maxim

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- What do you call a sandwich made of chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks and french fries? Around here, it's called a Fat Darrell -- and you also can call it a winning combo. The "Fat Darrell" has been crowned the best sandwich in the country by Maxim magazine. The sandwich was created early one morning in 1997 by Darrell Butler. Butler, a Rutgers University sophomore, conceived of the sandwich as a way to save money by combining his various cravings on one bun.

-- From wire reports