Last Wednesday's
massive $425 million US Powerball Jackpot was big news, but a man from
Allentown, Pennsylvania, became newsworthy himself when his lottery aspirations were
frustrated by a store clerk who told him the lottery machine had been switched
off for the day.
The peeved
Powerball player was so overcome with emotion that he stripped off his clothes
and staged a protest by parading naked around the store.
Miguel M.
Valeram, 27, tried to buy his ticket from the Quick Mart convenience store
on 707 N. Seventh St. Allenstown, in the early hours of Thursday February 13. Rather than just walk away and
play another day, the homeless man removed his clothes, donned a knit cap from
one of the displays, and began
parading about, penis in hand, picking up candy bars and other items
and throwing them around the store.
When store
clerk, Mukesh Patel, threatened to call the police, Valeram got back into his
cloths and fled, but the night was still young for the lewd protestor. He marched
into the Pace Mart store, farther down the street, and demanded money from the
register, but Pace Mart worker, Mohamed Moustafa, picked up a baseball bat and
chased Valeram from the store.
Valeram
then tried to steal a car from a neighboring filling station and by the time
police arrived at the scene he was running down the street with Moustafa and
the car owner still in hot pursuit.
Valera has
been charged with more than a dozen offences including, open lewdness, public
drunkenness, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. He is now off the
streets and living in Lehigh County Prison. His bail is set at $25,000.
