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Hawks dive-bombing Bradenton condo residents

BRADENTON, Florida (AP) - Like a scene out of Alfred Hitchcock's classic movie "The Birds," two red-shouldered hawks have been dive-bombing residents of a retirement community along Florida's Gulf Coast.

The Bradenton Herald reported that some residents of Cortez Villas are using umbrellas to protect their heads from a pair of hawks that are nesting a fledgling in a 40-foot tree.

Rare violin from 1770 stolen from owner

Bradenton, Florida -- A rare violin crafted in 1770 has been reported missing in Bradenton and Manatee County detectives are asking for the public's help to find it.

The owner of the violin reported the instrument missing on Jan. 18 from her home in the 3900 block of 75th Street W. However, after a search of the home showed no signs of forced entry, investigators say it's possible the violin was stolen from the woman's car.

She reportedly last used the violin on Jan. 15.

Woman accidentally shoots fiance at gun range

MYAKKA CITY, Florida -- A Manatee County woman accidentally shot her fiance while at the Logue Road Gun Range in Myakka City.

Lauren Shaw, 28, was firing a gun when a hot casing landed inside her shirt, according to the Manatee Co. Sheriff's Office. While trying to remove the casing, she unknowingly pointed her gun at her fiance, 33-year-old Jared Gould, and accidentally discharged a round.

Deputies say the round struck him in his right upper thigh. He was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital for treatment. His wound is not life-threatening.

Bradenton man arrested for giving people wedgies

Bradenton, Florida - An 18-year-old man was arrested for allegedly giving wedgies to people outside of a movie theater.

Charles Ross says he started posting music videos on YouTube about a year ago. Then music turned into pranks. Ross says he uses a hidden camera and sometimes has help from friends.

Year in Review: Weird, weird Florida...

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- In 2012, Florida was a state where a lifeguard got
fired for saving a life, a woman got arrested for riding a manatee and a
man repeatedly used 911 as a phone sex service.

Think that's weird? It gets worse and more tragic.

Suspects to man: strip or get cut

Bradenton, Florida -- A man found naked wandering alongside a Manatee County road says he was beaten and stripped of all his clothes after being held at knifepoint.

Deputies say 43-year-old Ramiro Morales was in a car with three acquaintances when the two men and one woman turned on him, demanding he give up all his money and clothes or else they'd cut him.

Report: Woman arrested after masturbating in Starbucks

Bradenton, Florida -- A woman enjoying herself a little too much at a Manatee County Starbucks was arrested on drug charges Thursday.

The Smoking Gun reports police were called to a Bradenton Starbucks because staff saw a woman masturbating in their lobby.