Ozzy Upset At Sheriff's Sting Op Disguised As Ozzy VIP Party

Fargo, North Dakota's Sheriff Paul Laney used a ruse to capture out-of-contact criminals: a special invitation to an exclusive Ozzy Osbourne party. The invitations were mailed to more than 40 Fargo residents who had "allegedly ignored court summons and child-support payments or failed to pay fines" according to a VH1 report. The invitations promised two tickets to Ozzy's concert on Monday night, including all the perks of the VIP package, but turned out to be a sting operation. VH1 reports:

When the invitees arrived at the "party," they were promptly handcuffed and arrested on various outstanding warrants; afterward, Laney held a televised press conference to trumpet the operation's success.

Naturally, Ozzy is highly offended and rightfully so. They used his name to lure metal fans into custody. They implied a connection between hard rock/metal and criminal activity. In a day and age where we all have to be so careful of what mail/email we open, who we trust online and off, combined with decreasing record sales and a hurting music industry, an act like the one performed by the Sheriff's department seriously injures musicians like Ozzy. To top it off, Sheriff Laney held a press conference afterwards to brag about their accomplishment and congratulate their victory. Thus, spreading the mistrust of promotional offers throughout the world of music.Ozzy told VH1 his response to the incident, which he promises he had no prior knowledge of:

"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," Osbourne said in his statement. "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."Sheriff Laney went out of his way to tarnish my reputation by implying that I somehow attract a criminal element, which is certainly not true," Ozzy continued. "My audiences are good, hard-working people who have been hugely supportive of my music for nearly four decades. They have also been very supportive of my wife Sharon's colon cancer charity by raising over a million dollars (partly through VIP ticket sales) at my shows. It's obvious to me that this sheriff has an agenda and is just trying to make a name for himself on my back."

Read the full story on VH1.com.Ozzy rides the "Crazy Train" on Jimmy Kimmel live May 22, 2007:In fine form, after all these years....