A courthouse in Albany, New York, was forced to close after hundreds of cockroaches were released during an altercation, creating so much chaos that proceedings had to stop for the rest of the day so that the space could be fumigated.
Four activists who had been arrested for protesting in support of an anti-eviction bill at the state Capitol were at Albany City Court for an arraignment when one of the defendants started to film inside the courtroom.
According to the state court system, the defendant was told to stop recording, prompting a clash to break out.
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Hundreds of cockroaches that had been brought into the courtroom in concealed plastic containers were then released, with police going on to arrest a 34-year-old woman in the audience for charges related to the altercation, including disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration and tampering with physical evidence.
Meanwhile, the courthouse was forced to close for the rest of the fumigation, as the incident was investigated.
The Washington Times reports that police in Albany charged Clyanna Lightbourn, 34, with obstruction of governmental administration, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, adding that she was not immediately identified as the person who released the cockroaches.
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A statement from the Office of Court Administration said: “What transpired is not advocacy or activism, it is criminal behaviour with the intent to disrupt a proceeding and cause damage.”
Earlier this year, cockroaches were causing drama not in a courtroom but at a zoo, when people were allowed to name one of the bugs after their ex as part of a Valentine's Day stunt.
As February rolls around each year, San Antonio Zoo in Texas lets people donate $5 to have one of the insects named after your ex and fed to one of the zoo’s residents.
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First introduced in 2019, the zoo now also gives the choice of naming a pre-frozen rat after their ex as well, to be fed to a variety of birds, reptiles and mammals for $25. It has even introduced a herbivore option for its veggie residents.
Speaking about the event back in 2021, President & CEO Tim Morrow said: "Cry Me a Cockroach gives guests not only the opportunity to forget someone who may have wronged them but also a direct link to the care of our animals.
"These feeder insects and humanely pre-frozen rodents are already a part of our animals’ typical diets. Although small, they really are the unsung heroes of the food chain."
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Topics: US News
Jess Hardiman