Freedom-seeking flamingo

A flamingo that flew the coop nearly two decades ago has been spotted on a Texas beach. Texas wildlife officials say they’re certain a greater flamingo spotted March 28 on Texas’ Gulf Coast is the same bird that escaped the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas in 2005. Two flamingos escaped the zoo 17 years ago. Flamingo 397 was spotted once in Minnesota after the escape. But No. 492—nicknamed Pink Floyd—headed south and has occasionally been spotted in Texas. Officers with Texas Parks & Wildlife have been able to read its leg tag to confirm its identity. Sedgwick Zoo officials have decided to let the bird go. “Every time we hear of it being spotted every couple of years, we’re still pleased that he’s doing well,” a zoo spokesman told CNN.

Child-like mugger

Police in Warren, Ohio, are looking for a mugger with an unusual getaway strategy. The mugger robbed a young walker on March 27. According to authorities, the knife-wielding man in a ski mask approached the victim and demanded cash. After pilfering $80 from the 22-year-old pedestrian, the perpetrator allegedly forced the victim into a “pinky promise” not to rat on him to police. Secure in the knowledge that a pinky swear under duress is not a legally binding contract, the victim called police anyway, but was unable to provide authorities with a good description.

Still has new-car smell

No sooner had a British motorist picked up his new Ferrari than he crashed it. Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit officials say no one was hurt in an April 1 single-car accident when the driver lost control. But the accident did leave a newly purchased luxury sports car in shambles and its owner’s pride in tatters. Authorities described the new red Ferrari as severely damaged as a result of the fiasco.

Airport living is the life

Rather than spend time with his family, a Chinese man has elected to live in Beijing Capital International Airport since 2008, according to a recent report in Chinese media. According to Sina News, Wei Jianguo originally left home when he fell out of favor with his in-laws, with whom he lived, and his wife over his propensity to drink and smoke. According to the report, the erstwhile husband occasionally leaves the airport to visit family or do some shopping. Wei bragged that at the airport he can drink as much as he wants.

Super-sized snacks

Teenagers in Aliquippa, Pa., have to comply with the local school’s new snack regime. Administrators at the school, which serves students between 7th and 12th grades, posted new rules for what snacks students can bring to school. According to the new rules, pupils will be limited to a 4-ounce bag of chips and a 20-ounce drink. Administrators say the rules are necessary because of the large amounts of food students had been bringing. “I’ve seen some of the snacks kids are bringing in,” parent Janisha Walker told WPXI. “Are they setting up a small store? Why are they carrying a variety box of chips and two liters of soda into the school?”

Good deed—punished

Arslan Guney thought he was doing a good deed for his Denver community by putting together a pickleball court at a local park. But the city of Denver had other ideas. Authorities in Colorado have issued an arrest warrant for the 71-year-old on the charge of felony criminal mischief after he converted a city basketball court into a pickleball court without permission. According to Guney, he used a Sharpie to add lines to an existing court at Denver’s Central Park. When the lines faded, he re-marked them on March 21. By March 24 he had a felony warrant. Guney’s lawyer said he and his pickleball friends are willing to clean off the markings and apologize. Officials for Denver Parks and Recreation said it’s their job to protect city assets. Guney turned himself in to authorities on March 24.

Bashed with a bunny

Police in Brandon, Manitoba, say they caught a shoplifter who assaulted a store clerk with a chocolate bunny. Police received a call about the incident on April 1 after a store employee confronted the suspected shoplifter. According to authorities, the suspect then reached for the nearest weapon at hand—a Mr. Solid brand chocolate bunny on display in the store for Easter. After smacking the clerk with the confection, the suspect escaped the store but was arrested by police near the scene. “I know oftentimes the people will use whatever is in their hand to commit assaults,” a police spokesman told the CBC. “But quite often it’s something more typical than a piece of food.”