It’s a dirty job, but someone had to do it 

WEYMOUTH, Mass. - Police obtained search warrants for the bowel movements of a suspected drug dealer in Weymouth on Monday after he allegedly swallowed 20 bags of heroin and cocaine.

Drug unit detectives were monitoring an area as part of an investigation when Rene Valencia, 24, arrived just before noon.

As detectives approached his vehicle, they said Valencia began swallowing several small bags.

Valencia was taken to the hospital, where detectives recovered seven bags of heroin, 11 bags of cocaine and two bags of crack cocaine.

He was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, conspiracy to violate the drug laws and drug violations near a park.

Lt. Rick Fuller said suspects swallowing drugs to get rid of evidence has become more common.

“Lately, it’s the way of trying to get away with it,” Fuller said. “The problem is they could die. ... There’s a lot of bad things that could happen.”

Bird knocks out power

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - A bird that strayed into some overhead power line equipment caused a fire and temporarily knocked out electricity to 281 customers this past weekend.

There was some speculation among city workers that the bird might have been trying to stay warm during the snowstorm that hit. The resulting power outage in homes lasted about four and a half hours, Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack Suggs said.

Additionally, there were five outages due to trees that were weighed down by snow or ice and then sagged or broke onto power lines, said Suggs.

Police say man stole copper, accidentally set fire

NORWICH, Conn. - Norwich police have arrested a man with a long list of burglary convictions on arson and burglary charges in connection with a fire Wednesday morning at a vacant building in Occum.

David R. Small, 37, is accused of stealing copper tubing from a vacant building and sparking a small fire in the basement during the theft, police said.

In an interview after his arrest, police said, Small admitted starting the fire because he needed light to see what he was doing.

Police said Small went across the street to another vacant house in an attempt to steal more copper pipes but left when he didn’t find any. Small was arrested while leaving the area, police said.

GateHouse News Service