Terror cops hunt down ornamental castor bean plant

A man in Orem, Utah had the Homeland Security flying squad at his house because he'd planted a castor bean plant on his front lawn, prompting a neighbor or passing snitch to decide he was making ricin:

A startled homeowner got a visit from Orem Police Tuesday afternoon. They were interested in a plant that he was growing by his mailbox in the front yard. They were so interested that they put a call into Homeland Security. No, it wasn't marijuana. It was a castor bean plant…

He says with a laugh, "I'm not a terrorist, but I was terribly frightened when the call came in. I was terrorized (for) my humble little plant that's over there in the corner."

Orem man's bean plant investigated

(Thanks, Sam!)