Odds and Ends 6-15-2009

MIAMI — A South Florida teenager was arrested early Sunday and accused of killing and mutilating the cats of his neighbors — a disturbing string of deaths that has horrified residents and shaken animal lovers in two Miami-area communities.

Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, was taken into custody at a party, police said. He was still being questioned at Miami-Dade police headquarters while authorities praised the arrest at a press conference Sunday morning.

Weinman was charged with 19 felony counts of animal cruelty, 19 misdemeanor counts of improperly disposing of an animal body and four felony counts of burglary related to the cat deaths. It is unclear if he has an attorney. Messages left at phone numbers for his parents were not immediately returned and no one answered the door at his home. Jail officials said a court date has been set for July.

Miami-Dade Police Department Maj. Julie Miller said the investigation is still open and additional arrests might be forthcoming, but she declined to name other suspects. Police said they have been watching the house where Weinman stays with his mother, and neighbors said he was taken to the police station for an interview on his prom night a few weeks ago. Weinman was still wearing a tuxedo when officers whisked him away that night, they said, and he missed the dance.

World record for longest parade claimed by over 2,000 Minn. ATVs

SILVER BAY, Minn. — All-terrain vehicle riders who formed a parade along Minnesota's North Shore are claiming a world record for their turnout.

The All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota tried Saturday to line up more than 2,000 ATVs in Silver Bay into the longest parade documented for Guinness World Records.

Group spokesman Les Schermerhorn said they fell short, but their count was 1,632 ATVs. They hope to have the Guinness organization verify the claim in the coming weeks.

The current record of 1,138 ATVs was set by the Harlan County Ridge Runners of Evarts, Ky., in 2006. Three-wheelers and side-by-side ATVs don't count.

The Minnesota group's attempt last year fell 55 four-wheelers short of the Kentucky group's total.

From Associated Press reports