Boston Police Officer Injured Going Down Kiddie Slide

080123-boston-police-slide-kal
NAILED IT

A police officer in Boston was no match for a children's playground ... the cop got busted up while hurtling down a slide, and it's all on video.

As you can see, the video starts with some metallic banging noises as the camera focuses on the bottom of the kiddie slide ... and then all of a sudden a uniformed police officer comes flying out of the chute.

The officer is face down as he zips out of the slide feet first, and almost flies over the edge. Folks behind the camera are laughing as the cop skids across the ground, then he drops an F-bomb as he stands up.

It's unclear if the cop had his gun on him when he went down the slide -- which is in City Hall Plaza -- but he's at least wearing a utility belt and some of his gear goes flying off on his way down.

Boston Police told WBZ News the officer in the video was injured on the slide, but has not missed work as a result.

The video is going viral on TikTok, racking up a million views and counting.

Hunter Dekkers Iowa State QB Accused Of Betting On Own Team

Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers is being accused of betting on multiple school sporting events -- including a 2021 football game -- and now, his NCAA eligibility is in jeopardy.

The allegations are laid out in a criminal complaint obtained by the Des Moines Register ... which claims a DraftKings account controlled by Dekkers executed more than 350 wagers totaling "over $2,799."

26 of those wagers, according to the complaint, were related to Iowa State sporting events ... and one was the Cyclones' home matchup against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2021, in which Dekkers' team won 24-21.

Dekkers -- who started under center for the Cyclones in 2022 -- did not play in the game ... as he was the backup at the time.

The outlet reports the Story County Attorney's Office is charging Dekkers with tampering with records related to the Iowa division of criminal investigation's probe into sports gambling.

It's a major issue for Dekkers -- the NCAA has strict rules against players betting on their own team and school ... and it could result in a permanent ban.

Dekkers threw for more than 3,000 yards, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season ... with the Cyclones going 1-8.

Story developing ...

Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Rex Heuermann 1st Court Appearance ... Faces Judge On 6 Murder Charges

Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann is making his first appearance in a New York court … this after he was accused of killing 3 sex workers and is the prime suspect in a fourth slaying.

The hulking Heuermann was in handcuffs as he was led by uniformed officers Tuesday into the Suffolk County courtroom to face a judge on 6 murder charges, three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Heuermann remained mostly stone-faced as he entered the courtroom.

As we reported, Heuermann was arrested in July and indicted on charges he murdered three prostitutes -- Melissa Barthelemy in 2009 and Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello in 2010. He was also linked to the 2007 killing of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barne, but he hasn't been charged yet in that case.

Prosecutors say Heuermann stuffed their bodies into burlap sacks and dumped them near Gilgo Beach on Long Island.

For over a decade, the murders went unsolved, but then investigators caught a break in 2022 when they followed up on a lead from years ago, tying Heuermann to a pickup truck allegedly involved in the Costello homicide.

rex heuermann house cops
TAKING EVIDENCE
FOX

Investigators put Heuermann and his family under surveillance at their Massapequa Park home, rounding up discarded trash for DNA testing. Detectives got a match for Heuermann off a DNA sample found on a pizza crust in a Manhattan trash can. Testing also revealed Heuermann's hair follicle was discovered inside a burlap sack containing one of the victims.

Cell phone records and witness descriptions were also used to tie Heuermann to the crimes. Police believe Heuermann could be responsible for up to 11 murders, but he has denied any wrongdoing. The former NYC architect is married with 2 kids, although his wife recently filed for divorce.

Cardi B What Battery Case? It's Time To Twerk!!!

073123-cardi-b-kal2 8/1/23
TWERKIN' THROUGH IT

Cardi B ain't sweatin' the Vegas cops ... 'cause she was dancing her butt off poolside the same day she was named a suspect in her microphone-tossing case.

Cardi posted a video Monday, which shows her and hubby, Offset, havin' a grand ol' time on the rooftop of what appears to be a Vegas hotel.

Both rappers are in bathing suits going absolutely bonkers -- Cardi is twerking like crazy in the pool as Offset wildly dances around her.

The two could not seem happier ... her police troubles seem to be the last thing on their minds.

Cardi was named as the suspect in a battery case after she hurled a mic into the crowd at her Vegas concert Saturday, hitting two people.

073023-cardi-b-drink-kal 7/29/23
MAKIN' A SPLASH
Twitter, TikTok / @j_blizzyy

Video captured the moment someone splashed Cardi with a drink while she was onstage at Drai's Nightclub ... after she encouraged the audience to cool her off with water in the extreme heat.

073123-cardi-b-kal1 7/29/23
ASKING FOR IT
SplashNews.com

Cardi clearly didn't approve of the way the liquid drenched her body, prompting her to throw the mic, which first struck the drink thrower and then ricocheted and hit a woman standing nearby.

That woman filed the battery report.

Neal McDonough Stopped by Cops While Going Door-to-Door ... I'm Just House Hunting!!!

Neal McDonough might need a realtor ... we've learned he was stopped and questioned by sheriff's deputies while driving around and knocking on doors, but he says he was just looking for his next home.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the L.A. County Sheriff's Department got a call earlier this week about a man behaving suspiciously around a Westlake Village neighborhood.

We're told the person who called said the man was driving around, getting out of his car and knocking on some doors. The caller was concerned he was casing the area, and up to no good.

Of course, Neal's got a knack for playing bad guys really well (see "Minority Report") -- maybe too well since his mere appearance freaked out the caller.

Anyway, we're told deputies responded and made contact with the door knocker, only to realize he was Neal.

Law enforcement says Neal was super nice and told the deputies he was looking for a house to buy and was just checking out the neighborhood. Anyway, after a friendly chat -- kind of like the one Neal had with us on the TMZ Celebrity Tour -- it was clear no crimes were being committed.

Neal went on his way, but like we said ... maybe let a realtor do the legwork for ya!

'Home Improvement' Star Zachery Ty Bryan Busted for DV Again

Zachery Ty Bryan is experiencing déjà vu in the worst way possible -- 'cause the guy found himself in an Oregon jail, yet again, for alleged domestic violence.

Eugene PD tells TMZ that the 'Home Improvement' star was arrested Friday for felony assault, in violation of the Abuse Prevention Act. That's when someone is accused of attacking somebody else who'd previously been granted a restraining order in relation to DV.

Unfortunately, this appears to be a bit of a repeat of what happened 3 years ago in the same town -- at least that's what it sounds like based on what cops say. We're told police got a call for a reported physical dispute between a male and female at a Eugene residence.

When they arrived, we're told Zach was long gone ... but they eventually tracked him down and took him to jail, where he was booked ... and where he currently remains in custody.

The details of the latest alleged incident remain unclear for now ... but remember, back in 2020 -- Zach was also arrested for 4th-degree assault ... in addition to strangulation and interfering with making a report. At the time, he was accused of roughing up his then-girlfriend.

In the end, he ended up pleading guilty to two lesser charges ... misdemeanor menacing, and misdemeanor assault. He's also publicly said the incident was blown out of proportion.

Since then, Zach actually ended up getting engaged to the woman he was accused of attacking in 2020. Unclear if this is tied to that same woman -- but all signs point to it being her. BTW, they share children together, it seems ... and there's more on the way, per reports.

Cardi B Drenched with Liquid Onstage In Vegas ... Tosses Mic At Perp

073023-cardi-b-drink-kal 7/29/23
MAKIN' A SPLASH
Twitter, TikTok / @j_blizzyy

Cardi B totally blew her top while performing onstage in Las Vegas Saturday ... this after someone in the audience splashed her with a liquid.

It all started with the New York rapper looking glamorous in a sheer orange dress as she gripped a microphone and stood near the edge of the stage at Drai's Beachclub.

Suddenly, a person in the crowd tossed some type of fluid from a cup at Cardi, getting her all wet from head to toe. Check out this video, which shows Cardi in utter shock and fury as she throws the mic at the perpetrator ... unclear, though, if it connected.

Cardi then shouted a few choice words at the jerk before her security jumped from the stage into the audience and led away the individual responsible.

We don't know what happened after that ... but we're checking with Vegas PD to see if cops responded and made an arrest or issued a citation.

As for Cardi ... she probably just needs to buy a new dress ... we're sure she can afford it.

Nicki Minaj Victim of Swatting Again ... 911 Call Claiming Shooting at Home

Nicki Minaj’s is the latest in a long line of Los Angeles swatting incidents involving celebs.

Cops spoke to Nicki after arriving, and she was not pleased to see the Sheriff's deputies at her home again.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... L.A. County Sheriff Deputies rolled with lights and sirens to Nicki’s house in the San Fernando Valley Saturday afternoon after a person called 911 claiming someone was shot at the house.

This is not the first time cops have gone to Nicki’s home after a swatting call. TMZ broke the story last month that cops descended on her home after a false 911 child abuse claim.

There have been a number of celebs targeted with swatting calls, including Miley Cyrus, Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber, Tom Cruise, Kris Jenner, Paris Hilton, Rihanna, and Justin Timberlake.

It is unclear why someone keeps targeting Nicki. Police are investigating.

Amanda Bynes Checks Into New Inpatient Mental Health Center ... Work On Herself Continues

Amanda Bynes is ditching outpatient care and going back to inpatient ... and this time she's trying a new mental health treatment center as she continues to work on her illness.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Amanda checked herself into an intensive inpatient mental health treatment center in Orange County at the beginning of July, nearly a week after checking out of a Los Angeles area mental health facility for outpatient treatment

We're told Amanda wanted more of a therapeutic place to live rather than living by herself at her L.A. apartment ... and felt she needed more help than the outpatient treatment was providing.

Our sources say Amanda was introduced to this center in Orange County through her last treatment center, and she likes how she's able to be around a medical team, therapists and other patients, because it provides social interaction and company ... as opposed to being on her own.

Plus, we're told Amanda's receiving a higher level of care at the inpatient center than she was in an outpatient setting ... she's in residential treatment getting 24/7 care, while also taking part in daily therapy sessions and activities to help her develop skills to use when she leaves the center.

Our sources insist it was Amanda's decision to check into this new facility ... which is a running theme with her.

TMZ broke the story ... Amanda called cops June 17 to report she was in distress and felt she could harm herself. Police responded with a mental health specialist who determined Amanda needed to be placed on a psych hold ... and she spent time in a psychiatric facility before briefly moving to outpatient care.

Our sources say there's no time frame on how long Amanda will be in this new facility ... it's dependent on when she feels ready to leave and be on her own again.

We're told Amanda's parents know where she is ... and they're supportive of her decisions, and she knows her parents are there for her if she needs them.

'TEEN MOM 2' NATHAN GRIFFITH Sister's 911 Call After Alleged Strangulation ... 'He Tried to Kill Me'

Nathan-Griffith-audio-1
LEFT IN TEARS

"Teen Mom 2" star Nathan Griffith's sister was begging for a police response after he allegedly roughed her up ... telling dispatchers he tried killing her with his bare hands.

TMZ obtained audio of the 911 call Griffith's sister placed on July 12 in Las Vegas ... and in her chat with the dispatcher, the woman says Nathan tried to strangle her before fleeing in his car.

As we first reported ... the police report says the responding officers observed visible red marks on the sister's neck and eyelids -- indicative of someone who was strangled -- and she told them Nathan grabbed her by the throat, pushed her down onto the floor and got on top of her.

Despite telling the dispatcher her brother had left, police say Nathan was still outside the home when they arrived ... yelling and denying he ever touched his sister. Ultimately, he was arrested for battery by strangulation.

Nathan-Griffith-audio-5
FEARING FOR HER LIFE

We also obtained another 911 call Griffith's sister made earlier -- prior to the alleged strangulation -- and she told the dispatcher, Nathan is following her around in the home and making threats. It sounds like you can hear him in the background.

The 911 calls are alarming ... and cops also said Nathan made suicidal statements on his way to the Clark County Jail.

Nathan's got a kid with "Teen Mom" star Jenelle Evans ... and he's had previous arrests for domestic violence and domestic battery by strangulation.

We covered Nathan's arrest on a previous episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Travis Scott's Attorney Police Tried to Sink 'Utopia' ... With Release of Astroworld Investigation Report

UPDATE

8:12 AM PT -- A rep. for Travis provided an additional statement, "The timing of the Houston Police Department report’s release, coinciding with the launch of Travis Scott’s highly anticipated album, is anything but coincidental.

UPDATE

"Travis Scott and his team were, as anticipated, fully cleared of any wrongdoing associated with the Astroworld tragedy by a grand jury based on the very report released today. It is outrageous that HPD has chosen to resort to tactics that attempt to discredit Travis and his team, casting doubt on how the unfortunate events at Astroworld actually transpired while deflecting blame from their own critical failures.

UPDATE

"Travis's commitment to his audience's safety and well-being is well-documented. As reported countless times, he actively stopped the show three separate times. Contrary to the HPD report’s inaccuracies, the concert did end at the exact time communicated to Travis. Meanwhile, Houston police officers present at the event did not intervene during the unfolding situation. They were observed throughout the show standing by idly, buying merch and even filming the concert in its entirety.

UPDATE

"We encourage the Houston PD to make peace with the fact that Travis Scott and his team were found innocent of any wrongdoing and to focus on what really matters – making sure tragedies like Astroworld never occur again under their watch."

At least one of Travis Scott's attorneys believes Houston police intentionally timed the release of their report on the Astroworld tragedy ... in order to hurt sales of his new "Utopia" album.

Kent Schaffer tells TMZ ... it's no coincidence Houston's PD's full investigation report came out Friday, the same day as Travis' latest album.

Travis' lawyers says cops were well aware "Utopia" was dropping Friday -- it was highly publicized as Travis made an official announcement early in the week. Schaffer believes their motive for precisely timing the 1,266-page release was to hurt Travis' sales, and take some heat off law enforcement for not charging Travis with a crime.

For the record, Houston PD has said it is simply a "coincidence."

While Schaffer isn't buying that, he thinks the report won't have much impact on Travis' fans ... or hurt his album sales, for that matter.

Travis' lawyer is also pushing back on some of the report's contents ... including a statement from a security guard who claims he tried to get Travis' team to stop the show during Drake's set, but was told Drake had to finish first.

Schaffer flat out denies that, claiming all the crowd injuries happened 30 minutes before Drake hit the stage, but no one brought it to Travis' attention ... and he says police could have stopped the concert sooner if they wanted.

Travis told police he was told in his earpiece to stop the show after Drake left the stage ... and his attorney says Travis followed all directions and that's one reason he was not charged with a crime.

Travis' attorney says he was in communication with HPD throughout the investigation, which lasted over 18 months, and the opinions expressed to him were that police did not see any criminal liability on Travis' part.

That's exactly what a grand jury decided last month, refusing to indict the rapper for the 10 deaths at Astroworld. However, he's still facing several lawsuits from victims and families of victims.

110821_astroworld_crowd_kal 11/5/21
PLEAS FROM THE CROWD
TikTok/@cpvris_

Schaffer says the size and scope of the released documents is unusual ... and he thinks police wanted to show the public and the victims' families that they conducted a very thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, an attorney for a family whose child died at the concert tells TMZ ... "The release of this report only reminds the family about the terror, the devastation and the horror which took away their child. The feelings are mixed between sadness, anger and determination to continue pursuing justice regardless of whether it’s in a criminal courthouse or a civil courthouse."

Originally Published -- 12:50 AM PT

Ohio Bank Job Gone Awry Burglar Busted On Body Cam Video ... Cops Scream Get Down, Guns Drawn

072923_burglar_falls_kal
LOOK OUT BELOW

Things didn't work out as planned for a suspected bank burglar in Ohio ... he came crashing down from a ceiling as cops surrounded him with their guns drawn, and it was all caught on film.

Police body cam footage, obtained by NBC News, captured every dramatic moment outside Federal Credit Union in Huron, about 50 miles west of Cleveland, in the early morning hours Wednesday.

In the shocking video, Tristan Heidl is at first obscured from view as he tries to push open a door hatch from inside the roof in the bank's drive-thru area.

Little does Heidl know, officers already responded to an alarm that got tripped and were standing nearby waiting for him to make his appearance.

Pretty soon, the hatch flies open, and Heidl drops down into a garbage bin.

The cops rush up to him, aiming their guns at his head while screaming for him to get on the ground.

Heidl could only say, "Aw f—k," as officers arrested him for breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools and safecracking.

Travis Scott on Astroworld I Was Told To Stop Show Early ... But I Didn't Know Severity

Travis Scott told police someone in his earpiece told him to end the Astroworld concert after Drake's set, but insists he had no clue there was an emergency unfolding in the crowd.

The rapper's account of what unfolded at the deadly November 2021 concert is documented in the 1,266-page report from Houston Police, who interviewed him at his home a few days after the concert.

Travis said the first time he noticed something was wrong was when he was on a lifted platform above the stage and he noticed someone down near the stage who was receiving medical attention.

Before this point, Travis said he recalled seeing lights in the crowd but could not tell what was going on ... so he asked folks in the crowd to put up a middle finger if they were fine and that was the overwhelming response ... so he thought everything was good.

110621_astroworld_ambulance_kal 11/5/21
NAVIGATING THROUGH THE CROWD
TMZ.com

Travis told police he was on the elevated platform for about two or three songs, when he saw someone waving their hands at him near the stage ... and that's when he told the crowd to back up and get medical attention to the area.

110821_astroworld_crowd_kal 11/5/21
PLEAS FROM THE CROWD
TikTok/@cpvris_

For the rest of his time on the elevated platform, Travis said he was in a "trance" going through his performance and getting into the music ... and that there wasn't a "high commotion" in the crowd.

When Drake was onstage, the report said a security guard tried to get two members of Travis' team to stop the show in the middle of the set, but was denied and told Drake needed to finish.

110621_astroworld_kal 11/5/21
CONCERT CHAOS
TMZ.com

Travis told police he was told "Yo, this is gonna have to be like the last song," when Drake was performing ... but he says he was not told there was an emergency.

When Drake finished, Travis says he was told in his earpiece ... "Yo Trav, you got to wrap it up, it's getting kinda hectic out there." Travis says there was no mention of the situation's severity.

111121_astroworld_police_chief_kal 11/5/21
POLICE PRESENCE
Adekunle Adetomiwa/@Kun.Lens

Travis told police he was first told something happened at the concert when he got back to his trailer, when a friend told him a concertgoer was getting CPR. Travis says he thought only one person was in trouble, but was later informed that two people needed CPR and that's when he started to question what was going on.

It was not until Travis got home, around 2 AM or 3 AM, that he says he learned about the number of people who died at Astroworld.

In total, 10 people died and dozens were injured ... and now Travis is facing civil lawsuits, though he will not face criminal charges.

110721_travis_scott_kal 11/7/21
TRAVIS' EMOTIONAL MESSAGE

The report notes Travis was clearly concerned about the condition of the victims when he was talking with cops, asking about the status of those who had been hospitalized.

Astroworld Tragedy Travis' Team Prevented Concert From Stopping ... Final Police Report Says

Victims of Travis Scott's Astroworld tragedy were alarmed the concert continued as they were fighting for their lives, and one security guard even went backstage pleading with Travis' team to stop the concert ... but his team refused to alert Travis.

Police just released their 1,266-page report ... which includes interviews with hundreds of concert attendees, many of whom suffered injuries and were hospitalized. Some of them paint a grisly picture of what happened in November of 2021 ... as the crowd surge resulted in a stampede.

The report says the security guard, Marty, made it backstage to the audio area to try and stop the show while Drake was performing. Marty said he made it clear to two members of Travis' team who allegedly had the ability to communicate with Travis that the concert needed to end, but he was blocked.

111121_astroworld_police_chief_kal 11/5/21
POLICE PRESENCE
Adekunle Adetomiwa/@Kun.Lens

The man says Travis' team did not want to shut the show down because Drake had three more songs left ... and he says he told them the situation was "much bigger than Drake" but says Travis' team "actively impeded the ability for anyone to stop the show."

Police interviewed Drake and asked if he noticed any problems going on in the crowd while he was on stage and he told cops it was difficult to see from his vantage point because there were a lot of lights and it was his first time ever on that stage and he wasn't able to rehearse.

110821_astroworld_crowd_kal 11/5/21
PLEAS FROM THE CROWD
TikTok/@cpvris_

Drake also told cops he didn't hear anyone in the crowd begging to stop the show, explaining that his earpiece drowns out a lot of outside noise.

The report also says Drake told police he met up with Travis after the show and at that point, they did not know about the tragic incident in the crowd. Drake said his manager later informed him of what happened.

Travis is still facing civil lawsuits over the deadly concert and if it turns out people on his team were blocking folks from stopping the show it could have legal consequences in those suits.

The police report is also filled with details from concertgoers ... including one named Ayden who said he felt like he was "losing oxygen and he began to yell for help as he fell to the ground." His friend, Brianna, was nearby and he heard her yelling, "I can't breathe" and he went into "survival mode."

Ayden says he got himself out of the pile, but "it did not help that the music continued on playing even though it was clear people were being trampled on." He says he got to the front of the stage and tried to get Travis' attention to stop the concert, but was unable to do so.

110621_astroworld_kal 11/5/21
CONCERT CHAOS
TMZ.com

Aside from the obvious stamped issues that occurred during the chaos, another fan believed the lighting on the stage caused him to have a seizure. He told police he had no history of seizures and had not taken any drugs that night.

The report also includes interviews with first responders who describe the absolutely horrific scene. One Houston firefighter said they had worked on 11 cardiac arrest patients within 46 minutes, and observed one person with a crushed larynx, one overdose and several other injuries.

Story developing ...

Larsa Pippen, Marcus Jordan We Witnessed An Officer-Involved Shooting!!! ... 'It Was Scary AF'

Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan are counting their blessings today ... 'cause the couple says they were at the scene of a terrifying officer-involved shooting Thursday evening.

The incident went down at around 5:30 PM in a popular shopping area in Miami ... after a man had allegedly taken two people hostage inside a Victoria's Secret and threatened to stab them with a knife.

According to police, in an attempt to de-escalate the situation ... an officer opened fire on the man and struck him.

072823_larsa_pippen_kal
AT THE SCENE

Larsa said in an Instagram post following the shooting that she was just feet away from it all ... and it was "scary AF."

"So thankful for the Miami Beach Police Department," she said, "everyone was running and screaming."

In footage from the scene that Pippen shared, you can see people were panicked ... as officers tried to clear out the area.

A spokesperson for the Miami Beach Police Dept. says the suspect was taken to the hospital following the shooting ... though he was later pronounced dead there.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Tyreek Hill Video Shows NFL Star Swatting At Man ... During Boat Altercation

Video from Tyreek Hill's June run-in with a fishing boat employee has finally surfaced ... and it shows the NFL star did take a swipe at the man during their altercation.

The surveillance footage, obtained Wednesday by Andy Slater, was captured in a Miami marina at around 6:45 p.m. on June 18 ... and you can see Hill is clearly upset with the boat company worker.

The Miami Dolphins wideout -- wearing a light grey shirt, shorts, and white shoes -- is being held back from the man ... when he swats at the guy's head/neck area. The man then recoils as if he'd been hit -- before Hill is ushered away from the scene.

But, the video shows Hill then seemingly attempting to go after the guy again ... however, thankfully, some of the football player's friends hold him back.

Police did investigate it all ... but prosecutors said on Wednesday no charges would be filed -- saying in a statement to TMZ Sports, "The individual who would have been termed a victim if there had been a filed case, came into the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, met with Assistant State Attorney Robert Fiallo and signed a notarized Non-Prosecution Form indicating that he did not wish to press criminal charges."

"On the form, he also indicated that no threats, promises, or coercion played a part in his decision."

As for any civil matters, reps for Hill and the alleged victim told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday they'd reached a settlement.

For Hill's part, he spoke briefly about the situation with media members on Wednesday ... saying, "I just can't make bonehead mistakes like that."

The NFL, meanwhile, has not yet announced if it will punish Hill.