Ozzy’s in a tizzy over sheriff’s trick

You would think that Ozzy Osbourne would be a hard man to offend, but Sheriff Paul D. Laney of Cass County, N.D., had the heavy metal icon crying foul this week.

Osbourne performed in concert Monday night in Fargo, and Laney used the occasion for a stealth operation to arrest 40 people wanted on outstanding warrants. Those people were enticed to a room full of cops by a notice in the mail that informed them they had won a free Ozzy ticket and admission to a pre-concert party by “PDL Productions” (note the sheriff’s initials).

Osbourne was furious that his name was used in the operation and by a news conference announcing the arrests.

“Instead of holding a press conference to pat himself on the back, Sheriff Laney should be apologizing to me for using my name in connection with these arrests,” the 58-year-old singer said. “It’s insulting to me and to my audience and it shows how lazy this particular sheriff is when it comes to doing his job.”

Laney could not be reached for comment.

--

-- Geoff Boucher