Image via Complex Original
The word "ratchet" may be played out, but until the Internet agrees upon a more accurate description for these crimes, it will have to do. These stories are sad, imaginative, and they inspire us to have conversations about race, class, and the American dream.
This week's roundup includes a crack-selling candy man, indecent assault, and various accounts of drug trafficking. Each crime is rated on our Ratchet Meter, a base-10 logarithmic scale modeled after a similar system developed by Charles Richter—except that the Ratchet Meter has nothing to do with science because it's not actually a real thing.
Read on for the best of the worst ratchet crimes in America. Proceed with caution, stay safe, don't try this at home, and send your tips to [email protected].
And for your viewing pleasure, here's the Ratchet News Network with The Kid Mero:
RNN: Ratchet News Network
Masked Robbers in Berlin Pulled Off a Luxury Store Heist in Broad Daylight
Date: 12/20/2014
Location: Berlin, Germany
Crime: Robbery
Ratchet Meter: 4
A group of masked thieves robbed Berlin's leading department store, KaDeWe, in the middle of the day on Saturday. The store, which is a popular tourist destination and receives over 180,000 customers a day, was ambushed in the beginning of the day in a heist that left 11 in the hospital after they inhaled tear gas.
Four armed men rushed into the store, impaired a guard with tear gas, and ran down the aisles. They shattered glass cases holding jewelry and looted them before making off in a getaway car. There is currently an ongoing manhunt for the group in Germany.
KaDeWe, according to its website, is known for its "world-famous gourmet department," as well as amenities, including on-site tailors, hairdressers, and buggy rentals.
Authorities currently don't know how much was stolen, but a police source told Deutsche Welle, "There has been some loot."
[via Daily Mail]
Tennessee Police Seek Man Who Allegedly Pulled Gun on Fast Food Workers for Getting His Order Wrong
Date: 12/23/2014
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Crime: Aggravated assault
Ratchet Meter: 6
Police in Tennessee say a man threatened McDonald's employees with a gun last week because his order was missing a precious McDouble.
The Smoking Gun reports that 21-year-old Demetri Johnson ordered the cheeseburger at the Nashville location last Thursday morning. After departing the drive-thru window, he returned shortly after, claiming that a McDouble had been omitted from his order. A manager asked him to park his car so he could bring the cheeseburger out to him.
According to the Smoking Gun, Johnson waited briefly before walking into the restaurant, gun in hand. Police say he and the three women with him demanded that the order be corrected, in addition to a fresh serving of fries and more beverages. They left after receiving what they asked for.
Police in Nashville are currently looking for Johnson, who's wanted on charges of aggravated assault.
[via The Smoking Gun]
Shameless Man Will Spend Next Six Years in Jail for Selling Crack from His Candy Store
Date: 2/1/2014
Location: Dubuque, Iowa
Crime: Distributing crack cocaine
Ratchet Meter: 8
An Iowa man was sentenced to six years in prison for selling crack at a candy store, officials say.
The Huffington Post reports that Dubuque, Iowa native Dwayne Howard was sentenced yesterday after pleading guilty to distributing crack cocaine near a playground in October. According to the Huffington Post, the 36-year-old admitted to selling crack to an undercover officer at his business, Wayne's Candy, in February. One incriminating detail of the legal process was that Howard would encourage the officer to take items from the store's shelves during their encounters so they'd appear legal.
Following his release, Howard must spend the following six years under supervision.
[via The Huffington Post and WQAD]
Delta Employee Arrested After Plot to Smuggle Firearms onto Airplanes Is Uncovered
Date: 12/10/2014
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Crime: Entering an airport in violation of security requirements
Ratchet Meter: 5
Authorities arrested a Delta Air Lines baggage handler yesterday for allegedly sneaking guns into Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, then passing them to a co-conspirator. Officials added that some of the weapons were loaded.
According to NBC News, 31-year-old Eugene Harvey would smuggle the guns into Hartsfield-Jackson, then turn them over to former Delta employee Mark Quentin Henry. Henry would then traffic them to New York:
Harvey, also a ramp agent, allegedly shuttled the firearms into the airport — avoiding detection since airport workers don't go through TSA screening, according to an affidavit filed by a senior federal air marshal, George Randell Taylor.
The 31-year-old Harvey came under suspicion as a result of a New York Police Department investigation into individuals trafficking stolen and straw-purchased firearms from Atlanta to the New York area.
Video footage from the Atlanta airport showed Harvey allegedly delivering the weapons to a man, Mark Quentin Henry, who would then carry them with him on flights to New York. Those guns were believed to have been handed over to a third co-conspirator who sold the weapons to a New York undercover officer, the affidavit says.
NBC News adds that Henry was arrested on Dec. 10 with 18 handguns in his possession, seven of which were loaded. Officials say he supplied a third party with a total of 129 assorted handguns and two assault rifles, and faces charges for criminal sale of firearms and criminal possession of weapons. Meanwhile, Harvey has been charged with entering an airport in violation of security requirements.
Officials believe that Henry and Harvey had been running the scheme since January.
[via NBC News]
Self-Proclaimed “Ladies Man” Arrested for Groping Fast Food Employee at Drive-Thru Window
Date: 12/19/2014
Location: Upper Darby, Pa.
Crime: Indecent assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness
Ratchet Meter: 7
A man was arrested in Pennsylvania last week for allegedly groping a McDonald's employee at the drive-thru window.
The Smoking Gun reports that 23-year-old Michael Jenkins ventured to the Upper Darby McDonald's early Thursday morning. That's when Jenkins began flirting with the 31-year-old woman, who was unamused and non-responsive. Jenkins erroneously figured he'd leave a lasting impression by grabbing the woman's breast before leaving the drive-thru window. Oh, how wrong he was.
The woman shut the window, then informed a manager who called the police. Local authorities found Jenkins shortly after inside of a bar in the immediate area, where he confessed to his actions, reportedly saying: "Yeah, I am a ladies man. That girl over there wants me."
Jenkins was charged with indecent assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness. Let's see how well that "ladies man" claim goes over in court.
[via The Smoking Gun]
Don't Get Locked Up Because You're Hungry
Date: 12/21/2014
Location: Harlem, N.Y.
Crime: Assaulting an officer, harassment, and trespassing
Ratchet Meter: 7
A man who really doesn't have his priorities in order started a fight with two NYPD officers yesterday evening to go to jail because he wanted a meal.
The New York Daily News reports that 27-year-old Bronx native Jihaad Curry entered the 28th Precinct stationhouse in Harlem around 5:20 p.m. He then reportedly proceeded to ask an unorthodox question: "If I go to jail tonight would I get something to eat?" Not getting the timely response he desired, he asked a more direct question: "If I punch you in the face, how long would I go to jail?"
When police attempted to remove him from the premises, he did as he promised, engaging both officers in a tussle which ended with both of them on the ground. As he wished, Curry was arrested for assaulting an officer, in addition to harassment and trespassing. The officers were treated for minor injuries at St. Luke's Hospital.
No word on whether or not Curry got the meal he wanted.
[via New York Daily News]
Man Arrested for Violating Horse While Wearing Attention-Grabbing Outfit
Date: 12/17/2014
Location: Wausau, Wis.
Ratchet Meter: 9
Police in Wisconsin arrested a man last week for violating a horse inside of a barn.
According to the Daily Herald, police were summoned to the Wausau, Wisc. barn last Wednesday and witnessed the type of thing you don't easily erase from your memory, although you'd really like to. Thirty-year-old Jared Kreft was seen wearing a black jacket, face mask, and blue wind pants featuring holes on the buttocks and groin area while near a horse.
Kreft explained to Marathon County sheriff's deputies that, inspired by a viewing of horse porn, he ventured to the barn to have sex with one of the animals. He also admitted to performing oral sex on the horse, as well as using his hand to try to arouse it. In his possession at the time of his arrest was a jar of petroleum jelly and a pipe commonly used for smoking marijuana. A small amount of marijuana was also discovered inside of his Wausau apartment.
In addition to charges for sexual gratification with an animal sex organ, Kreft was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana as a repeat offender, and bail jumping.
[via Daily Herald]
Yet Another Cocaine Smuggling Attempt Foiled at JFK International Airport
Date: 12/20/2014
Location: New York, N.Y.
Crime: Smuggling cocaine
Ratchet Meter: 6
A man was arrested at JFK International Airport in New York City this week after trying to sneak cocaine into the U.S. inside of containers of curry and rice.
The New York Daily News reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped Oral Anthony Caines at the airport on Wednesday after he returned from Georgetown, Guyana:
The officer found a plastic bag containing cocaine under a layer of food in each food container stashed in his luggage.
According to the Daily News, the 55-year-old told authorities that he was paid $5,000 to sneak the drugs into the country. He's currently being held without bail at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center.
This happens too often. Far too often.
[via New York Daily News]
Man Arrested for Hiding Heroin in Daughter's Diaper
Date: 12/8/2014
Location: Irondale, Ala.
Crime: Drug trafficking and endangerment of a child
Ratchet Meter: 10
Alabama police arrested a man earlier this month after he allegedly stashed 14 grams of heroin in his 2-year-old daughter's diaper.
The New York Post reports that Kenneth Bell, 23, was pulled over in Irondale, Ala. back on Dec. 8. After a drug-sniffing dog confirmed that there were drugs inside of the vehicle, Bell was ordered to exit, along with his three passengers: his two daughters and their mother. That's when Bell's 5-year-old daughter reportedly ratted him out, telling police that he placed something inside of the younger girl's diaper.
Inside was a bag of heroin, which police say is worth $2,500. Bell was arrested and charged with drug trafficking and chemical endangerment of a child, while his children were turned over to their mother, who police did not arrest.
[via New York Post]
