News From the Crime Blotter

— -- Nude Lang Syne

S H I R L E Y, N.Y. Angelina Torres says a police officer went too far when he told her to strip off her clothes and walk four blocks home dressed only in her high heels and underwear. Now she’s suing Suffolk County, N.Y., for $15 million.

Torres, 27, had pulled over to the side of the road in her car to cry after having a fight with her boyfriend in the wee hours of New Year’s morning. She says a cop stopped her to ask what was wrong, gave her two sobriety tests, and claimed she failed the second one. Then, she says, he handcuffed her, drove her near her home and told her to strip and walk the rest of the way.

The officer told her that he usually made “the guys” walk home naked, “to teach them a lesson,” court papers filed Tuesday said.

“He scared me,” Torres told ABCNEWS.

The officer, who is unidentified, has been placed on leave.

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe; Merry Bank Robbery

W O R C E S T E R, Mass.

There was no fake mustache, no note, nothreats, no gun. A backhoe was all this bank robber figured heneeded.

Worcester police say he knocked a hole in the wall of aSovereign Bank branch early Tuesday. The robber was apparentlytrying to break into two automatic teller machines.

Sergeant Donald Cummings says the backhoe was apparently stolenfrom a nearby construction site. It was recovered near the bank.

Police were still checking how much money the robber may havestolen.

They know something about the suspect already: he can drive abackhoe.

How Did the Grinch Get Stolen?

A L E X A N D R I A, La. A foul one has been afoot in centralLouisiana this holiday season.

Two days after Christmas, someone stole the Grinch mannequin setup by Eva and Julian Long under the carport of their Alexandriahome.

The couple chose the Grinch for their Christmas display becauseof the popularity of the movie Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch StoleChristmas, starring Jim Carrey. The Longs even sent out Christmascards featuring the furry, green holiday-hater.