Crime Blotter: Man Accused of Drunken Zamboni Driving

July 1, 2005 -- -- A man is accused of driving a Zamboni while drunk; a senior citizen saves her elderly dog from an alleged would-be pooch snatcher; and an alleged "Peeping Tom" is in the outhouse -- literally. There are no firecrackers, but plenty of fireworks, in this week's edition of "The Crime Blotter."

Man Accused of Driving a Zamboni While Drunk

NEWARK, N.J. -- A New Jersey man has had his Zamboni driving privileges put on ice -- for now.

John Peragallo was charged with drunken driving after a colleague at Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown, N.J., called police on June 26 to report that the Zamboni ice-surfacing machine Peragallo was driving was speeding and had nearly crashed into the walls of the skating rink. By the time police arrived, Peragallo polished the ice rink during a public skating break and parked the Zamboni. However, police said, tests found that Peragallo's blood-alcohol level was 0.12 percent. A person is considered legally drunk in New Jersey with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 percent and above.

Morris County authorities said a Zamboni is considered a motor vehicle. Peragallo received a summons and his car keys were confiscated. His Zamboni driving privileges have been revoked until further review.

Elderly Woman Saves Dog, Foils Would-Be Robber

SAN DIEGO-- Sometimes an old woman can be the best friend man's best friend can have.

A 73-year-old woman fought off a man who allegedly tried to snatch a bag containing her elderly Yorkshire terrier, police said. On June 28, the woman -- whose name was not released -- was pushing her 12-year-old Yorkie and several bags in a shopping cart when a man passed by on a bicycle and grabbed a bag containing the dog. It was not clear whether the alleged robber realized a dog was in the bag, authorities said.

As the man began to ride away, the woman swung her 10-pound book bag and knocked him off his bicycle. She then kicked the alleged robber in the groin and retrieved her dog and bag. But as she began to walk away, the alleged robber smacked the woman on the side of her head and then rode away on his bicycle, police said.

According to Sgt. Diane Wendell, the woman and her dog were not injured. Police were searching for the would-be thief.

Alleged 'Peeping Tom' in the Outhouse

ALBANY, N.H. -- A 45-year-old man was arrested after a teenage girl noticed him looking at her from the depths of a toilet seat in a New Hampshire outhouse, police said.

Carroll County law enforcement officials said they do not know how Gary Moody was in the sewage tank of the log cabin outhouse but they had to decontaminate him before they formally arrested him June 27.

"It's a very filthy environment and before we put anybody in contact with him, we had to decontaminate him," sheriff's department Capt. Jon Hebert said. "We treated him as if he were hazardous material."

Police said the door to the sewage tank was locked, suggesting that Moody entered the space through the toilet. Moody, a resident of Maine, has been charged with criminal trespass and could face more charges. He has been released on bail and is due to appear in court for a hearing July 19.

"I started [in] this business in 1980 and I have never in my career encountered anybody in this type of situation," Hebert said.