Bigger & Harman - December 2023

A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS

The Guard Squirrel Who Went Nuts on a Burglar

Anyone robbing a house must know they’re getting into a dangerous situation. But the teenager who burgled Adam Pearl’s Meridian, Idaho, home had no idea what consequences were in store. Many homeowners have a guard dog, but Pearl got his home security from Joey, his pet squirrel. One day in 2017, Pearl came home and saw that something seemed amiss. Joey was excited, and the doors he’d left closed were now open. After finding scratches on the lock of his gun safe, Pearl knew there’d been a robbery and called the police. Officer Ashley Turner couldn’t help but notice Joey’s presence in the house but didn’t believe he was connected with the case — at first. A few hours later, Turner returned to Pearl’s house with his missing belongings and a story to tell. She’d partially identified the perpetrator by the suspicious scratches on his hands.

frightening. “He wasn’t expecting to have, you know, a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” Officer Turner said. The thief reported that leaving was the only way to stop Joey’s aggression. After learning of his bravery, Pearl rewarded Joey with his favorite candy, Whoppers. But he then had a difficult choice ahead. When Joey was still a tiny baby, Pearl and his wife had taken in the abandoned squirrel. They had intended to release Joey back into the wild when spring came, but they were no longer sure. Ultimately, they let Joey decide. After he started playing with other squirrels through the home’s sliding glass door, the Pearls installed a cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. Joey spent

several weeks outdoors with other squirrels by day and returned to the Pearls by night. Eventually, he requested one final scratch behind the ears before disappearing into an apple tree and leaving the Pearls’ house behind forever. Though Joey returned to the great outdoors to live with his kind, his legend is a warning to humans. When you break into someone’s home, you never know what you might find.

During questioning, Turner said the burglar confessed to the home invasion and explained why he’d left sooner than intended: Joey attacked while he was attempting to break into the gun safe. Unsurprisingly, the rodent’s violence was

HOW A CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY CAN KEEP YOUR RIG AND WALLET ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Attention, truckers of the Golden State! Navigating California’s highways is no easy feat, especially when dealing with traffic tickets. One momentary lapse in concentration can lead to a citation that threatens both your driving record and your hard- earned cash. Before you resign yourself to paying that hefty fine, consider this: Hiring a California attorney for your traffic ticket might just be the smartest move you’ll ever make. California traffic laws are as complex as the web of highways crisscrossing the state. What seems like a straightforward citation could snowball into a series of consequences that can dent your wallet and tarnish your driving record. This is where a seasoned attorney can be your saving grace. Attorneys understand the legal system’s ins and outs and how to navigate it with finesse. They can identify loopholes, errors, or mitigating circumstances that could turn the tide in your favor. Imagine avoiding points on your record or even getting the ticket dismissed altogether — that’s money saved on the fine and potential increases in insurance premiums.

Speaking of insurance, let’s not forget the financial ripple effect a traffic ticket can have. Insurance companies are notorious for seizing any opportunity to hike premiums, and a blemished driving record is an open invitation. A skilled California attorney can negotiate with the court to reduce the charges or get the ticket dismissed, preventing the dreaded spike in your insurance rates. Time is money, and every minute you deal with the aftermath of a traffic ticket is a minute away from the open road. An attorney can handle the legal nitty-gritty on your behalf, saving you valuable time and ensuring you can focus on what you do best — driving. Before considering forking over your hard-earned dollars to the state, consider the long-term impact on your finances. Hiring an attorney for your traffic ticket may seem like an additional expense upfront, but it could be the key to keeping your record clean, your insurance rates low, and your wheels rolling smoothly down the highway. So, gear up, fellow truckers, and let a legal ally guide you through the maze of California traffic laws. When it comes to your money and your rig, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com

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