Dateline Florida

By Times Wires
Published November 3, 2007

Gun in his hand was worth more than the holdups

Title this one: If he'd only known. A rare handgun that was used in more than a dozen convenience store robberies across Orange County turned out to be worth more money than the robber stole, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Orlando police Detective Matt Deem recognized the gun as a 1940 Colt Woodsman pistol, worth about $1,800. "In all the robberies this kid did, you'd probably have to multiply by three just to get to the value of this gun," Deem said. Webster Cooper, 19, who was arrested Wednesday in connection with three October robberies and is a suspect in at least 15 more, didn't have a clue about the weapon's value, police said. He told detectives he had bought the gun on the street.

Judge tosses comments made by ex-astronaut

Former astronaut Lisa Nowak, who drove from Houston to Orlando to confront a rival in a love triangle, won't have her own words used against her in court. Orange Circuit Judge Marc Lubet threw out comments she made after her arrest, as well as items police found in her car. Lubet said investigators took advantage of Nowak, who hadn't slept in more than 24 hours. He ruled that Orlando Detective Chris Becton answered evasively when Nowak asked about an attorney and didn't read her her Miranda rights. She is charged with assault and attempted kidnapping. The state's evidence still includes the items in her duffel bag, but never did include the two soiled diapers that Becton said Nowak told him she used on the 1,000-mile drive.

[Last modified November 3, 2007, 00:15:59]