NEWS OF THE WEIRD

Extreme religion

Pastor John Renken’s Xtreme Ministries of Memphis, Tenn., is one of a supposedly growing number of churches that use “mixed martial arts” events to recruit wayward young men to the Christian gospel. Typically, after leading his flock in solemn prayer to a loving God, Pastor Renken adjourns the session to the back room, where a New York Times reporter found him in February shouting encouragement to his violent parishioners: “Hard punches!” Renken yelled. “Finish the fight! To the head! To the head!” One participant told the Times that fight nights bring a greater masculinity to religion, which he said had, in recent years, gone soft. 

Government in action

. At age 8, Mike Hicks is a frequent air traveler with his mother, and while she is seldom noticed by airport screeners, “Mikey” almost always is because he shares a name with someone on the enhancedsecurity list that is one level below “no fly” (one of 1,600 such Michael Hickses in the

U.S.). His mom told The New York Times

in January that Mikey has been patted down by security since he was 2.

. Delaware pediatrician Earl Bradley’s January arrest and February indictment for allegedly sexually molesting 103 children came only after he was cleared in two police investigations in three years, involving eight complaints, and despite one ex-colleague’s routinely referring to Dr. Bradley as a “pedophile.” 

Better late than never

. Ten days after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab nearly brought down the Christmas Day airliner over Detroit, the State Department officially revoked his visa.

. Eight days after the Christmas Eve demolition of Minneapolis’ historic Fjelde House (as a fire hazard), the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission awarded the site “interim protection” for its historic value. 

Too much diversity

. In January, the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division posted a job announcement supposedly in line with current affirmative-action policy. The division is seeking “experienced attorneys” and was encouraging “qualified applicants with targeted disabilities” to apply. Legally protected “targeted disabilities” include the traditional, such as blindness, but also “mental retardation.”

. In February, aspirants for taxicab licenses in Portsmouth, England, were officially informed by the city council that application forms are available in other languages or in “audio,” “large print” or “Braille.” 

When ‘You lie!’ doesn’t quite capture the moment

Legislator Abel LeBlanc was suspended from Canada’s New Brunswick Assembly in February for giving middle finger salutes to two colleagues, calling one a “punk” and declaring himself ready to “walk outside with any one of yas here.” “Don’t ever laugh at me,” he continued. “Yes, I gave you that (the finger). And I’ll give you that again. And (to another colleague) I’ll give you this (finger) if you want to go outside.” 

Names in the news

Arrested in January in Memphis, Tenn., and charged with having carnal knowledge of an underage girl: Mr. Knowledge Clark, 29. Arrested in January in Hellertown, Pa., and charged with cashing a stolen check: Richard Fluck, 47, and Bryan Flok, 47. Arrested in Denver in February and charged with using another person’s driver’s license as identification: Mr. Robin J. Hood, 34. Arrested in Kingston, Pa., in January and charged with cocaine trafficking: Carlos Laurel, 30, and Andre Hardy, 39. Arrested in February in DeFuniak Springs and charged with possession of crystal meth: Crystal Beth Williams, 21. 

Pervo-American community

Colt Heltsley, 20, had been spotted by police in 2008 at the Preble County (Ohio) Fair, “looking around, acting nervous” in the area of a row of portable toilets and in one 30-minute sequence continually moving empty toilets until they were close together. He was eventually convicted of voyeurism, peeping at a female using the facility. In December 2009, a state appeals court rejected Heltsley’s defense that police had violated his right to privacy with their surveillance. 

They don’t make cops like they used to

. Sheriff’s deputy John Franklin of San Luis Obispo, Calif., filed a lawsuit in December against the Catholic Church and former priest Geronimo Cuevas for the “emotional trauma” he suffered by being propositioned for sex while working undercover in 2007. Deputy Franklin was patrolling a public park near Avila Beach when Father Cuevas reached out and touched Franklin’s clothed genital area. The priest was arrested and convicted, but Deputy Franklin said he is not yet over the feelings of “anger, rage, disgust and embarrassment.”

. Former Stoughton, Mass., police sergeant David Cohen was convicted in 2007 of attempted extortion and witness-tampering and sentenced to 30 months in jail. In November 2009, he filed a formal demand for payment of at least $113,000 he said the department owes him for unused vacation, sick leave and comp time. He also claims extra pay because, while still on the job, he had to spend 481 hours in court and 280 hours preparing in order to defend himself against the criminal charges. 