Atlanta police find dead baby in dumpster www.privateofficer.com

ATLANTA GA Nov 30 2009 -- Police found the body of a newborn buried under trash in a dumpster in northeast Atlanta early Monday morning.

Officers had been searching for the baby after the mother went to South Fulton Medical Center complaining she didn't feel well. Staff at the hospital determined the woman had recently given birth.

Police questioned the woman and the baby's father, but they initially refused to cooperate with investigators.

Eventually, the mother told police the baby was stillborn and she buried it at the San Lucia Apartments in the Morosgo Court area. She lead police to the dumpster at the apartment complex where officers found the baby's body.

Georgia has a safe haven law that allows mothers to leave a baby, up to 7 days old, with an employee of any medical facility including any hospital, institutional infirmary, health center or birthing center in Georgia without penalty.

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Text-A Tip gives police another crimefighting tool www.privateofficer.com

BOSTON MA Nov 30 2009 (AP) - A mother in Boston tells police her 8-year-old boy was shot to death in their apartment by gunmen in hooded sweat shirts during a home invasion.

Officers later receive a text message from an anonymous tipster that leads them to a much different conclusion: the boy's 7-year-old cousin accidentally shot him while the two boys were playing with a loaded 9 mm handgun.

Meanwhile, authorities in Douglas County, Colo., thwarted a threatened Columbine-style attack after an anonymous text about a student's "kill list" led them to weapons in the child's home.

After struggling for years with an anti-snitching culture that made witnesses too afraid to come forward, police across the country are getting help from text-a-tip programs that allow people to send anonymous, text messages from their cell phones.

In Boston, the first city to heavily promote texting for crime tips, police have received more than 1,000 tips since the program began two years ago. Police credit text tips for providing them with key leads in at least four high-profile killings, including: the accidental shooting of Liquarry Jefferson by his cousin; an arson fire that killed two children; the shooting of a Boston teenager on her 18th birthday; and the fatal stabbing of a man during a bar fight.

Officer Michael Charbonnier, who oversees the program, said people who live in high-crime neighborhoods are often afraid that if they talk to police, they could be hurt or even killed by gang members, drug dealers or other criminals.

"It's either call 911 or live with the bad guy. And if you call, there could be repercussions," Charbonnier said.

"So when they have this option of texting us - knowing no one will know who they are - well, now, people give us license plate numbers, they give us names," he said.

In the past, people feared retaliation for talking to police, but with the texting programs, police never see the tipster's name or telephone number. The text messages are sent to a separate, third-party server, where identifying information is stripped out and they are assigned an encrypted alias before being sent to police.

Texting programs have caught on across the country. The exact number is hard to pinpoint, but Anderson Software, one of the leading providers of technology for text-a-tip programs, has at least 400 law enforcement agencies as clients, including Tucson, Ariz., Savannah, Ga., Hartford, Conn., San Diego, Seattle and Miami.

Company founder Kevin Anderson said text-a-tip programs are rapidly gaining popularity and could soon become as popular as anonymous Web tip programs, which have been around for about five years.

"You want to provide the means of communication people are most comfortable with, and right now, texting is the more comfortable means of communicating for young people," Anderson.

The system allows a tipster to send a text message of up to 160 characters to police, who are then able to send text messages back to the sender to ask follow-up questions. Charbonnier said that because of the two-way communication, Boston police have been able to get the information they need. He said police, who promise tipsters confidentiality and anonymity, have never tried to get a tipster's identity from the third-party company, either by asking for it or through a subpoena.

"The reality is the protection of the tipster is more important than any one case," he said.

Police would not release transcripts of the actual text messages they receive or give specifics on how the tips have led them to suspects, citing the confidentiality they promise tipsters.

Charbonnier said police use the tips as leads and have to corroborate the information given by tipsters, so the tipsters themselves aren't called to court to testify.

Some police departments have heavily promoted the texting service in schools, leading to a flurry of tips about students having drugs and weapons.

In Douglas County, Colo., the sheriff's office got a text message in May from a high school student who said another student had a "kill list." Authorities never found the list but did find weapons in the student's home.

"We did believe it was a credible threat," said Phyllis Harvey, who administers the Text-A-Tip program for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"Did we prevent something? Maybe, maybe not. We don't know if the student was actually going to go through with the threats that he was making, but we would like to hope that we did prevent something."

In Springfield, Mass., the texting program was just days old last month when police received a tip about a crack house. Police raided the house, made eight arrests and shut down the headquarters of a crack distribution ring, said Sgt. John Delaney.

"People don't want to be labeled as a rat," Delaney said. "This is breaking the barriers down."

At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, campus police have promoted the text-a-tip service as a way to keep rowdy football fans under control during games.

"We get tips like 'three guys who are non-students are being rude and obnoxious behind us,' 'someone is cutting in line at the student gate,'" said Carey Drayton, chief of USC's Department of Public Safety.

"Those are things that could turn into fights. We are trying to stop things before they get too big," he said.

Boston police say the anonymous nature of the text-a-tip service, combined with police foot and bicycle patrols in violent neighborhoods, has helped them build trust with people and put a dent in the anti-snitching attitude that was prevalent for years. Five years ago, some court spectators even wore "Stop Snitchin'" T-shirts to the trial of two men charged in the shooting death of a 10-year-old girl.

"We've made a significant amount of progress in connecting with the community," said Police Commissioner Ed Davis. "That makes a big difference when you're dealing with the whole snitching situation."

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Churchill Downs to host 3-day music event www.privateofficer.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Nov 30 2009 (AP) - Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, will become a stomping ground for some of the country's best known musicians next summer.

The 3-day music festival will feature more than 65 band, including Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, and the Dave Matthews Band.

Officials with Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company of the racetrack, said Monday that the festival is called "HullabaLOU" and is set for next July 23-25. It will feature classic rock, county, adult contemporary and bluegrass musicians on five stages throughout the sprawling 147-acre facility. It is envisioned to be an annual event.

Churchill has hosted rock-n-roll royalty at the historic track in recent years with performances by the Rolling Stones and The Police.

The track has been aggressively looking for alternative source of revenue to augment its income from horse racing.

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Shoplifter pulls knife on security agents during Black Friday www.privateofficer.com

Redding CA. Nov 30 2009 A 28-year-old Redding man was arrested Friday night after he allegedly pulled on a knife on Walmart employees who tried to stop him after he tried walking out of the store pushing a shopping cart loaded with merchandise he didn't pay for.

Robert Levi Stevens took off running after he pulled the knife from his pocket and thrust it at a security guard and other employees at the Walmart on Dana Drive, Redding police Sgt. Jay Guterding said.

Redding police officer Paul Harvey, who was in the parking lot on routine patrol when the call came in at 10:07 p.m., quickly took up the search, calling in a California Highway Patrol helicopter to help.

Guterding said Stevens was spotted from the air running west behind businesses along Highway 44. Officers on the ground captured him at the Churn Creek Road highway over crossing.

Guterding said that as he ran, Stevens left a trail of stolen clothes, which were found by police K-9 Yari after the arrest. In total, Stevens tried to steal $1,700 worth of merchandise, Guterding said.

Stevens was booked into the Shasta County jail. He was being held this morning in lieu of $50,000 bail on suspicion of robbery, burglary and possessing a controlled substance .


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Lakewood police identify slain officers www.privateofficer.com

Lakewoord Wa Nov 30 2009

Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar publicly identified the four slain police officers after an extensive and very difficult notification process.

"All four of our slain officers had been with this department since it started five years ago. Sergeant Mark Renninger and Officers Ronald Owens, Tina Griswold, and Greg Richards were police veterans when they started and all have been outstanding professionals. This is a very difficult time for our families and our officers. The families will have many challenges ahead of them and we ask that their privacy be respected. Please keep our families and Lakewood Police in your prayers."

Mark Renninger

Sergeant Mark Renninger, age 39 with thirteen years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.

Ronald Owens

Officer Ronald Owen, age 37 with twelve years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a former wife and a daughter.

Tina Griswold

Officer Tina Griswold, age 40 with fourteen years of law enforcement experience. She is survived by her husband and two children.

Greg Richards

Officer Greg Richards, age 42 with eight years of law enforcement experience. He is survived by a wife and three children.

Fund Established

Those interested in supporting the families of the slain officers are welcome to make a donation through the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579, Lakewood, WA 98499. Please visit their website for more information visit www.lpig.us.

Casino security work to curb DUI problem www.privateofficer.com

Mohegan CT Nov 29 2009 - Lynyrd Skynyrd had just played the last notes of "Free Bird," and 10,000 people streamed out of the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Tribal Police Sgt. George McCarthy, standing in front of the doors to the Sky garage, spotted a 20-something man who stumbled and slurred his speech when talking to his friend.

McCarthy stopped the man and a friend as they headed toward the garage.

"How ya doing, sir?" McCarthy asked the man. "How are you getting home tonight?"

Three people have been killed this year after patrons left the casino allegedly drunk and caused a crash. Other people have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after leaving the casino and causing minor crashes or driving erratically.

In response, Mohegan Sun has expanded measures to reduce the number of patrons who drive away from the casino drunk.

"We're not in the business of overserving," said Chuck Bunnell, the tribe's chief of staff. "The employees are very dedicated to this process. It's very bad for everybody for any type of accident or incident to happen.

"The tribal council feels they want to set the standard and protect their patrons and the general public of southeastern Connecticut."

At the checkpoint, McCarthy and another security official took the two men aside. They explained that the casino didn't want to see them drive drunk and be arrested by state police.

Patrons whom casino officials determine would be unsafe driving get the option of resting in the Cabaret Theatre until they sober up or taking a cab ride home - sometimes paid for by the casino.

The men said they had no money for a cab back to Norwich, so a tribal officer gave them a ride.

The Cabaret option with doughnut

The Cabaret at Mohegan Sun is rarely used for shows anymore. The space just off the gaming floor near the Sky entrance can seat up to 350 but some nights holds just a few patrons too drunk to drive home.

Patrons identified as being dangerously intoxicated or who have been cut off can choose to be escorted to the Cabaret, where they get a free coffee, doughnut or sandwich and a quiet place to relax. When a person feels ready to leave, a casino security officer determines if he or she is sober enough. Others choose to take a cab ride home. Patrons pay for their own cab, but in cases where they don't have enough money, the casino will provide them with the cab ride if they live locally.

Mohegan officials said that in those cases where the customer can't pay for a cab, it is worth the investment for the casino to pay for it.

"The tribal council has set a tone for the property that they want to be good corporate citizens," Bunnell said. "It's a direction that we follow through on these things. Just like for people walking here to work, we invested and put in sidewalks to make sure they're safe."

4,000 employees trained

Since 2003, more than 4,000 casino employees have been certified through a training program that helps them detect intoxicated patrons, casino officials said.

A Foxwoods Resort Casino spokesman said the casino uses similar training, as well as training from the Liquor Control Commission for many of its employees to spot intoxicated patrons.

Servers and other employees learn how to spot someone who is intoxicated. They keep an eye out for people laughing too loudly or someone who has glassy eyes, for instance.

Those are some of the cues McCarthy looked for when scanning the crowd headed for the garage after the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert.

Checkpoints are typically manned by one or two uniformed tribal police officers, a beverage supervisor and a security supervisor. They all look for the same cues and then engage the evidently impaired person in conversation. If there's any question about whether a person can drive, the officers have one-use Breathalyzers that simply display whether blood alcohol content is over the legal limit of .08.

Sometimes a person stopped at a checkpoint will be intoxicated but will have a designated driver. McCarthy said once he talks to the designated driver, the patrons are sent on their way.

On a typical night, McCarthy said, they approach about 25 people at a checkpoint and a handful take the casino up on the options offered. The others are given the Breathalyzers. If determined to be over the legal limit they are told state police will be notified if they head to their car. If an intoxicated person turns on the ignition of the car, tribal police can arrest and detain the person until members of the state police casino unit arrive.

Servers are also looking for cues.

If a server believes a person should not have more to drink, the server notifies a beverage supervisor who informs the customer that he or she will no longer be served alcohol.

At that point, the surveillance and monitor rooms have already been notified and will use one of the property's 3,400 cameras to capture an image of the person's face. The surveillance rooms are also where security officials can track a person's movements throughout nearly every square foot of the casino's property.

"It's really not a place to do something stupid," Bunnell said.

The picture and a description of the intoxicated person are uploaded and displayed on flat-screen TVs, visible only to staff, in service areas and restaurants.

The night of the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, floor servers were busy as they hurried to fill drink orders while the photos of about eight cut-off patrons rotated on the flat screen TV above the door. The servers didn't seem to pay too much attention to the screen, but casino officials said it's nearly impossible to ignore the constantly rotating images.

"They're excellent at what they do," said Richard Zazzaro, the vice president for food and beverage.

The cutoff period lasts 24 hours, during which time the photos remain on the slide show.

Restaurants were required to install the screens this summer. Previously, beverage supervisors would hand deliver picture printouts of intoxicated patrons.

Besides the screens, dozens of license card readers throughout the property enable servers to verify IDs.

Casino officials can also electronically cut off the minibar in a guest's room and notify room service that a guest has been cut off from service, said Gary Crowder, senior vice president for resort operations.

Liquor Control Commission agents also have a presence at the casinos and watch to see if servers break the law by continuing to pour drinks for already intoxicated patrons.

The night of the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, tribal police and casino security stopped intoxicated patrons leaving, but also trying to enter the casino. Three teens between 17 and 20 years old were stopped from entering when officials became suspicious of their age and actions. The teens had driven to the casino and told police they had been drinking tequila in their car.

Police escorted them to the Cabaret while they called their parents.

The parents said they wouldn't drive the 80 miles to pick them up and asked police to drop them off at a motel. Casino officials said they didn't want to risk the safety of the teens and arranged for them to spend the night at the casino's hotel at the parents' expense.

Shortly after the first in a string of fatal crashes earlier this year, state police began DUI checkpoints and roving patrols near Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun.

Between Aug. 1 and Nov. 25, about the same period as Mohegan Sun's new efforts, the number of intoxicated driving arrests by state police totaled 144, three fewer than the same period last year.

State police and casino officials said it's hard to determine the exact impact of the new efforts.

Lt. J. Paul Vance, a state police spokesman, said state police examine not only the number of DUI arrests but also the number of crashes and their causes to determine how effective checkpoints or other measures have been and where more efforts need to be made.

The Troop E area, which covers Sprague to Voluntown and East Lyme to Stonington, reported 755 total car crashes between Aug. 1 and Nov. 25. During that period last year, 885 crashes were reported.

"That's what we're looking at - cutting down on fatals and cutting down on injury accidents," Vance said. "We evaluate ourselves and look at what we're doing on a continuous basis to plug any possible leaks."

Bunnell said the impact for casino and tribe officials is seen during nearly every checkpoint.

"It's a success if that on a weekly basis one (intoxicated) person or two or three people are not on the roads," Bunnell said. "There's only so much you can do to try and control personal behaviors ... but we are certainly hopeful that between all of those things we've put in place someone doesn't get that last drink that they shouldn't have."

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Security kept busy on "Black" Friday, no major incidents www.privateofficer.com

Atlanta GA Nov 28 2009
By: Rick McCann
Staff
Private Officer News Network
www.privateofficer.com


"Black Friday" shoppers were out in the hundreds of thousands nationwide with many lining up at area stores and malls before their turkey dinner was ever digested.
Many stores opened before the crack of dawn while regional shopping malls in Birmingham Alabama, Charlotte NC, Nashville TN, Atlanta Ga and in many other areas of the country swung their doors open at the midnight hour and shoppers were ready to fill those malls.
Tammy Howell of Hoover Al. said that eating Thanksgiving dinner and heading to the Galleria Mall for midnight shopping has been a family tradition for several years and she and her sisters really love it.

Security and police reports in most areas of the country today reported that the most serious incidents involved heavy traffic, vehicle accidents and congested highways and retail thefts. Loss prevention reports show arrests for thefts were up from 2008 but there was no official count on the number of shoplifting arrests made on Friday.
Police said that there were some incidents involving pushing and shoving, several assault arrests and one stabbing incident reported in an Indiana department store but at this time no major incidents or related deaths have been reported.

Many retailers, shopping malls and cities took extra percautions this Black Friday and doubled or even tripled their police and security presence after a Wal-Mart security officer was trampled to death last year in New York. So far, the extra security visability seems to have worked and shoppers reported being happy and thankful for the extra security protection.
Retailers are reporting that sales have been brisk and revenues are up from last year.

For the next week, PrivateOfficer.com news staff will be reviewing police and security reports, media accounts from across the country and other data to get a clearer security picture of the Black Friday week-end incidents and events and will do a follow-up story when all information and data has been compiled.

Woman arrested for attacking bar security www.privateofficer.com

Naples Fla Nov 28 2009 — Punching male patrons in the groin is a good way to get thrown out of a bar.

Attacking the bouncer, grabbing his crotch and biting and scratching him is a good way to get arrested.

Authorities say 42-year-old Cheryl Ann Kepsel learned that lesson the hard way Thanksgiving night at Pelican Larry’s Bar & Grill, 1250 Pine Ridge Road.

Around 1 a.m., while doing his rounds in the back of the bar, the Pelican Larry’s bouncer told Collier County sheriff’s deputies that he received a complaint that Kepsel was punching men in the groin, according to an arrest report. When he asked Kepsel to leave, reports say she threw her drink in his face, and charged at him, attempting to knee him in the groin.

When the bouncer grabbed Kepsel to remove her from the bar, authorities say she started punching, kicking, scratching, biting and generally "acting crazy." She also tried to grab the bouncer’s crotch and neck, reports said.

When deputies located Kepsel walking down Pine Ridge Road, she stated that the bouncer strangled her for no reason, according to reports. Kepsel, of the 4200 block of Seventh Avenue Southwest, Golden Gate Estates, was charged with battery and disorderly intoxication.

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Okla police officer shoots brother-in-law, then commits suicide www.privateofficer.com

MANGUM Okla Nov 28 2009 — An off-duty policeman shot his brother-in-law Thanksgiving Day and then turned the gun on himself, authorities say.

Members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's tactical team late Thursday found Mangum police officer Brian Ditmore dead inside his home in the 900 block of W Tyler, said Jessica Brown, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman.

Brown said it appears Ditmore, 37, shot himself in the chest after wounding his brother-in-law, Mangum Fire Chief Fred Willis, 41. The investigation is ongoing, she said.

About 2:30 p.m. someone in the home reported a domestic dispute between Ditmore and his wife. Police responded, along with Willis who lives nearby, Brown said.

"When police arrived Mr. Willis was stumbling out of the house, injured from a gunshot wound to the stomach," Brown said.

"A few minutes later there was a single gunshot from inside the house."

Brown said officers tried for several hours to communicate with Ditmore. They later sent an OHP robot into home and determined it was safe to enter, she said.

Willis was listed in fair condition Friday after getting surgery at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus.


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Cuyahoga County security to merge with Sheriff's Office www.privateofficer.com

Cleveland OH Nov 28 2009


More than 150 Cuyahoga County security officers could be merged with the Sheriff's Office by April 1.

The 157 employees of the Protective Services division now work in the county's Central Services department. The employees and their $9 million budget would be absorbed by the sheriff.

The armed officers provide security at all county buildings except the Justice Center and courthouses. Sheriff Bob Reid and Jay Ross, who heads Central Services, are working with the county's Human Resources Department and the unions to finalize plans.

Merger discussions began after Interim Sheriff Frank Bova replaced Gerald McFaul as sheriff in April.

Reid and Ross said they do not believe jobs will be lost. Each said it makes sense for the sheriff to oversee security at county properties.

Ross said the merger would probably have occurred in 2011 anyway when county government is restructured. He said it was efficient to do it now.

Central Services duties includes maintaining county buildings and vehicles and the mailing and printing services for county agencies. The security officers are often referred to as "brown shirts" because of their uniforms. They do not have arrest powers but can detain people.

The security officers fit better under the sheriff, Reid said.

"It brings more of a law enforcement legitimacy to the branch. They do a good job. This makes a lot of sense for both organizations," the sheriff said.

Reid said security officers potentially could replace deputies who work the information desk at the Justice Center. Those deputies could then be assigned to other sheriff's units.


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Fla. deputy run over, killed by son www.privateofficer.com

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. Nov 28 2009 -- The Volusia County Sheriff's department is in mourning today after an accident claimed the life of a deputy vacationing with his sons in West Virginia.

Deputy Juan Santiago-Colon, 47, was on a hunting trip with his sons when his 10-year-old son accidentally ran over him.

Officials said Deputy Santiago-Colon had asked the boy to shift his truck into drive to move it forward, but the boy mistakenly put the vehicle into reverse, running over the deputy and killing him.

Deputy Santiago-Colon had been with the sheriff's department for 10 years, most recently serving in court security in Deland. A spokesman said he was very well liked and the department is broken up about the loss.

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Girl called hero for leading blind man out of fire www.privateofficer.com

COLUMBIA, SC Nov 28 2009 (WIS) - A blind man was inside a Columbia house when fire broke out Friday morning. He's okay, but it's all because of a six-year-old little girl.

The Columbia Fire Department said the fire happened shortly after 9am Friday on Santee Avenue near Martin Luther King Park and Five Points.

Deputy Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said the fire started when a seven-year-old cousin of the family was playing with a lighter near the couch in the living room.

Six-year-old Skylar Kennedy was also in the house when the fire started, and so was a blind man.

"We yelled out, we told Tim that fire was on the couch and then he jumped up," said Kennedy.

"They woke up the adult and actually told him about the fire," Jenkins said. "The ironic thing about it is the guy is actually visually impaired, but he was still able to get out of the house."

"If it wasn't for them I'd probably still be in there burnt up, because I had my door closed and I would have had to come out of my room into the fire," said Timothy Moore.

All three managed to get out safely, and no injuries have been reported.

"I'm completely blind I have no light perception or anything, so if they hadn't woke me up, talked to me, come and got me out of the room, the smoke would have been the least of my worries, I wouldn't have been able to see anyway to get out," Moore continued.

"We ran down to Auntie Mary's house," said Kennedy.

Auntie Mary came running down the street to help.

Deputy Chief Jenkins said the fire caused approximately $30,000 in damages, but Moore knows their lives are priceless.

"I'm glad we made it out," he said. "I mean we lost a lot, but we're still here."

Skylar says she learned what to do in case of a fire from her teacher Mrs. Jenkins -- who happens to be the wife of Deputy Chief Jenkins.

"She said if your clothes get on fire just stop, drop and roll," said Kennedy.

She's one smart six-year-old, and although she's being called a hero, she's still a kid.

"That's my bike," she said, indicating an object destroyed in the fire. "I just got that bike and it's all burnt up now. And it had pink on it and the wheels were white."

The seven-year-old who accidentally started the fire went to the hospital with asthma problems.

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Security officer accidentally shoots self using bathroom www.privateofficer.com

OAK HARBOR, Ohio Nov 28 2009 — A Davis-Besse security guard accidentally shot himself in his leg while using a restroom in the vicinity of the nuclear plant's entrance facility, according to Ottawa County Sheriff Bob Bratton.

The guard has been identified as Jamie Arthur.

The accident occurred at 7:35 a.m. Friday. Arthur was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, where he was listed in fair condition, hospital officials said.

"We'll do a full investigation," FirstEnergy spokesman Todd Schneider said.

Sheriff Bratton said his operations captain, Steve Levorchick, is at the nuclear plant examining the weapon and compiling an independent report for the sheriff's department.

"It's nothing life-threatening. It was just sort of embarrassing to him," the sheriff said of the guard's injury.

The guard is a FirstEnergy employee. The weapon was one issued to him by the utility's security force, Sheriff Bratton said.


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Fake ID business grows at alarming rate www.privateofficer.com

Charlotte NC Nov 28 2009 North Carolina officials are reporting an alarming growth in the size and sophistication of the fake identification business, which has graduated from nuisance industry to national security threat.

At the end of October, the Department of Motor Vehicles had recorded 373 arrests for driver's license fraud, which includes both manufacturing and possessing the bogus IDs. That's a larger number in 10 months than the 294 arrests made during all of last year.

The state Alcohol Law Enforcement Division closed down a "document lab" in a Beaufort County trailer park a week ago. One suspect arrested, Raul Alexander Pinto-Gonzales, had been previously deported and is awaiting deportation again.

Also last week, state and local police shut down an operation in south Charlotte, two months after seizing document labs in Forest City and Gastonia that had been churning out fake driver's licenses for six states, Social Security cards, resident alien cards and birth certificates.

When authorities seized the lab in Forest City, Inspector J.T. Ratliff of the Division of Motor Vehicles saw something that scared him.

"We found evidence where he appeared to be tampering with military IDs, experimenting with making them," Ratliff said.

Demand among illegal immigrants is helping drive the growth of the fraudulent ID business, state officials said. Those undocumented residents need identification to transact business and to drive. All six of the suspects in the Charlotte, Forest City and Gastonia labs were either illegal immigrants or were suspected to be.

"It's not just [underage kids] getting a driver's license to be able to beat the guy at the door to get into the club. It's getting to be a much more serious problem for everybody," said DMV Commissioner Mike Robertson. "If you look at what businesses accept, your North Carolina driver's license is your ticket. It gets you on an airplane. It cashes your checks. It gets you other identification."

No terrorism suspect so far has used fake identification, but the opportunity is obvious, said Del Richburg, the Charlotte-based assistant special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for North Carolina.

"It is vulnerability," Richburg said. "If they're readily available, they're readily available to anybody."

Law enforcement is gaining a couple more weapons in this battle.

The DMV in September finished shifting its operations so that all driver's licenses are issued from the agency's central office in Raleigh. Applicants still go to field offices and turn in their paperwork and proof of identification, but they only get a temporary license. The agency takes an additional 15 to 20 days to run the applicant's information through federal databases, to verify that the applicant is the person who walked in the door and that the address given actually exists. Then DMV mails out the license.

Those steps have cut down tremendously on attempts to get a fraudulent license at DMV field offices, Robertson said.

Unfortunately, it has also driven more business to the document labs.

The march of technology helps the law abiding and criminals alike.

When Ratliff and other officers arrested Jose Jeremias Marquez at his apartment in Charlotte last week, they didn't find a bank of blinking lights and plasma screens. The technology inside looked much like a standard home computer, Ratliff said. A bogus identification shop needs a high quality laser printer, the right card stock and a bit of know-how, and soon it's mimicking special inks and shiny holograms that probably will fool a check casher.


The Internet offers a variety of forums for ID forgers who share tricks to duplicating cards and the latest security mechanisms.

"The fraudulent side is always trying to keep up with the security features," said Richburg, of ICE. "They adapt, as do all criminal enterprises."

Some peddlers of phony IDs don't have to hide from law enforcement, because they are based outside the country. The Web site www.newidcards.com, which has a United Kingdom telephone number, also offers live operators who take questions in an Internet chat room.

When The News & Observer asked whether the company was concerned that its products were designed to help people break the law, the operator left the chat room.

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Security officer's alertness nets burglary arrests www.privateofficer.com

PORTAGE, Mich. Nov 27 2009(NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Portage police have busted four men after they broke into a restaurant for the second time in three days.

A security guard reported the break-in at Brann's Steak House around 2:30 Tuesday morning.

Police pulled the suspects over as they were driving away from the restaurant.

Officers found stolen kegs and lots of returnable bottles in the car.

The suspects also confessed to breaking into Brann's on Sunday night as well. They now face several charges.


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Two charged in Best Buy robbery www.privateofficer.com

Greenville Nov 27 2009

Greenville police arrested two people Monday after a report they stole stereo equipment from Best Buy and one pulled a utility knife as they ran from the store, a news release said.

The incident occurred about 6 p.m. at the electronics store in the Lynncroft shopping center, according to the release issued Tuesday afternoon. A security guard at the store told officers he observed a woman and man walk to the car stereo section where each took Pioneer CD players and concealed them under their coats.

The guard followed them to the front of the store and through the first set of doors, the release said. He attempted to confront the female when she began yelling. The male suspect pulled out a utility knife and they both ran out of the store, the release said.

They fled the scene in a late 90s model Isuzu. The vehicle was stopped a short time later, and police detained driver Melissa Dawn Harris and passenger Robbie Lee Knowles.

The Best Buy guard identified the two as the thieves, and Greenville officers determined the vehicle was involved in an earlier theft at the Sears department store on South Memorial Drive, the release said.

Sears staff reported a white female took two portable DVD players, a pair of Nike tennis shoes, Craftsman drills, a men's jacket and a mat cutter.

The car was identified through Sears security video, the release said. During a search of the vehicle, stolen property was located from both stores.

Knowles, 33, 576 Birchwood Drive in Greenville, was arrested and charged with armed robbery and given a $150,000 secured bond. Harris, 30, 576 Birchwood Drive, was charged with aid and abet armed robbery, felony larceny and misdemeanor larceny and given a $150,000 secured bond.


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Monroe woman charged in felony jewelry theft www.privateofficer.com

Monroe LA Nov 27 2009

Monroe police accused a Columbia woman of stealing $2,400 in jewelry at Pecanland Mall late Wednesday night.

Cindy Jones, 28, was charged with felony theft and resisting by refusing to give name.
Jones’ arrest affidavit said mall security observed Jones put jewelry items in her purse and left the store without paying for them. She was then confronted by security and handed over to Monroe police officers, who took her to Ouachita Correctional Center. During booking, she gave her name as Patricia L. Merritt in an attempt to mislead officers, the affidavit said.

She remained at OCC on Thanksgiving Day on an undetermined bond.


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Dillard's security officer charged in felony theft www.privateofficer.com

ALBANY, GA Nov 27 2009 (WALB) – The grand jury brought formal charges against Kevin Harper of felony theft by taking and burglary Wednesday.

Harper was arrested September 4th by Dougherty County Sheriff's investigators.

They say they caught him red-handed stealing thousands of dollars worth of Polo Shirts from Dillard's at the Albany Mall where he worked part time as a security guard.

He also worked at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport.

He faces up to ten years in prison.

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School guard charged in porn case www.privateofficer.com

Lake County IL Nov 27 2009

A private security guard at Grayslake North High School was indicted Wednesday on charges of child pornography and impersonating a police officer.

Christopher Bosak, 25, of Antioch allegedly possessed indecent photos of a Grayslake North student. Grayslake police said a high school staff member found photos of a 16-year-old female student on a compact disc that belonged to Bosak.

Bosak allegedly told the girl he was a Lake County sheriff's deputy to gain her trust.

His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 2.


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Family wants security officer to pay for dog he shot www.privateofficer.com

Pocono PA Nov 27 2009 You messed with the wrong family," said Gloribel Albarron of Pine Ridge.

She was referring to the Bushkill community's security force. On Saturday, a Pine Ridge security guard gunned down the family's 10-month-old English bulldog puppy, Shaq.

The dog got loose from its yard and wandered down the street. It wasn't the first time.

"He had a tendency to go exploring," said Albarron, a police officer who was at work in New York at the time of the shooting. Her son and father-in-law noticed Shaq was missing and searched for him.

Not far away, according to what Albarron has been able to piece together, Shaq was spotted by a homeowner, a woman who was walking down the road with a small child. The dog followed the woman, who called Pine Ridge public safety.

The security guard reportedly tried to capture Shaq with a net, may have sprayed the dog with pepper spray and ultimately shot the puppy in the head. The account was relayed to Albarron by the woman who called public safety.

Meanwhile, when the search for Shaq netted nothing, Albarron's husband, Michael Albarron, called Pine Ridge public safety and reported the dog missing.

"They said, we'll look for your dog. There was a dog that was loose — a pit bull — they said, and they shot him down," Michael Albarron said.

He hung up, thought about it, and then called back to public safety to ask for a description. It sounded like Shaq.

"I called my son," Michael Albarron said, "and told him, 'Go down to the gate, I have a feeling they shot Shaq.'"

The dog's body was retrieved from Pine Ridge public safety and brought home. Blooming Grove State police were called, but the family says they were told the shooting was a civil matter. State police confirmed the matter is between the Albarron family and Pine Ridge public safety and that an official report would have to come from Pine Ridge. But authorities at Pine Ridge are not talking.

At the Pine Ridge office, officials who identified themselves as the community manager and the board president refused to disclose their names. They would not say if the security guard who shot the dog is still on duty.

"We don't know how far this thing is going to go. We can't comment," the community manager said.

The Albarron family has contacted an attorney and will try to pursue the shooting in court.

"This community has come to pieces," Gloribel said. "We work hard. We don't bother anyone. We pay our dues. They put these toy cops in here with guns." She believes security guards should be allowed to carry Tasers or batons but not guns.

"(The security guard) doesn't understand the pain he caused. I want justice for my dog and my family," Gloribel said. "I just want to sell my house and get out of here."


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Teacher arrested for being drunk in class www.privateofficer.com

Rockcastle KY Nov 26 2009 A high school teacher speaks out after being arrested for being drunk in the classroom.

Police arrested Joe Cope at Rockcastle County High School, where he teaches English and Journalism.

The county attorney says students complained Cope was drunk, so the principal pulled him out of class.

Police gave him a breathylizer, and he reportedly blew a .14, nearly twice the legal limit.

Cope says he took two Zanax and had two glasses of wine for dinner the night before.

Police charged him with alcohol intoxication in a public place.

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Atlanta area nurse charged with molesting patients www.privateofficer.com

ATLANTA Ga Nov 26 2009 — A metro Atlanta nurse anesthetist has been charged with molesting and sodomizing anesthetized patients in dental and medical offices, and police say the videotaped abuses could involve 100 or more victims.

Paul Patrick Serdula, 47, who worked in dental and medical offices across metro Atlanta, was arrested Monday night on child molestation and sodomy charges. The arrest came after authorities found several videos showing him fondling and groping patients who were under anesthesia at various offices, said Cobb County police officer Joe Hernandez.

And authorities reviewing the videos to find more victims say the assaults could go back years and involve residents of other states who were treated by Serdula while they were in Georgia.

"The magnitude of this is almost surreal," said Cobb County Police Sgt. Dana Pierce.

Serdula, who is being held at the Cobb County Jail without bond, was first arrested Nov. 18 on three counts of unlawful surveillance after a woman found a tiny camera hidden in a bathroom stall at a Cobb County dental office. He was charged with unlawful surveillance and eavesdropping and released on bond.

He was re-arrested at about 10 p.m. Monday and charged with aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery, among other counts, said Hernandez. At least one victim was a juvenile, he said. Hernandez would not disclose the gender of the juvenile or the other victims.

Police said Serdula has an attorney, but they could not immediately provide the attorney's name.

Serdula, whose license was suspended after his arrest, first registered as a nurse in Georgia in 1997. Authorities said he was not working exclusively for any one physician but instead was a contractor hired by medical providers on a temporary basis. They said that gave him access to offices across the metro Atlanta area.

Pierce said detectives have talked to several patients who believe they are victims, and investigators are now searching the videos for more clues and more victims.

"This case is absolutely far from over," he said.

But the investigation poses a unique challenge for detectives, as many of the potential victims don't know they were targeted because they were under anesthesia.

Police are encouraging anyone worried about whether they might be a victim to contact their medical provider to see if they had ever hired Serdula. If so, said Hernandez, they should immediately contact the Cobb County Police.

Police said they do not believe victims were at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease as a result of the incidents. Hernandez said none of Serdula's actions "would require STD tests at this time."

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LSU security guard arrested for falsifying attack report www.privateofficer.com

New Orleans LA Nov 26 2009 A security guard who claimed she was attacked while working at LSU but later admitted stabbing herself has been arrested.

LSU Police said 47-year-old Dale Marie Noel of Baton Rouge was arrested Wednesday in Gonzalez and extradited to East Baton Rouge Parish, where she was booked on a charge of terrorizing and criminal mischief. Bail has not been set.

A federal grand jury indicted Noel this month on one count of making a false statement to a federal investigator.

Noel told an FBI special agent investigating the stabbing that she had been attacked by a man of Middle Eastern descent who allegedly said, "I hate Americans," and then assaulted her. Two days later, she told law enforcement she had stabbed herself in the shoulder and stomach to get attention and because of an addiction to prescription medication.

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Birmingham police officer charged with murder www.privateofficer.com

BIRMINGHAM, AL Nov 26 2009 (WBRC) - A Birmingham police officer has been arrested for murder in connection with a deadly car crash.

Birmingham Police, in a statement Wednesday to FOX6 News, said James Kendrick, 36, of Birmingham, was arrested in connection with the death of Derric Rush, 42, of Hoover. Investigators said Rush died in a crash that happened shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, on Interstate 59 near the Arkadelphia exit. Investigators said the accident is believed to be alcohol-related.

Police said a murder warrant was obtained against Kendrick, who turned himself in and posted bond.

Kendrick has served with the Birmingham Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the North Precinct. Kendrick has been placed on administrative leave pending an ongoing internal investigation.

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Fresno security officer murdered www.privateofficer.com

FRESNO CA NOV 25 2009

Fresno Police are investigating the murder of an apartment complex security guard with an unusual weapon. Coroners say the guys who killed 59-year-old Albert Rodriguez beat him to death with a tree branch.

Rodriguez was well known as a security guard at the Summerset Village complex on Weldon near Fresno in Central Fresno, but he didn't wear a uniform, so the killers may not have known who they were attacking.

Rodriguez's reserved parking spot was empty Friday and there are few signs of the struggle that killed him, just a few leftover pieces of police crime scene tape. But impressions from the beating are burned into the memory of some neighbors.

"I heard something like beating on something, like a wood being hit on something and I was sure they were just doing construction," said eyewitness Lydia Joachin.

Police say Rodriguez was walking around the complex when he ran into trouble.

"About 30 minutes before we got called out, Rodriguez called his manager to say he was going to contact a group of youths who were causing trouble," said Lt. Tony Bennink of the Fresno Police Department.

Police don't know how many suspects there were, but they beat Rodriguez with whatever they found on the scene. By the time police arrived, the suspects had scattered and officers checked the apartment for clues.

"They came into my apartment to see if nobody was hidden here," said Joachin. "They were doing that to all the apartments right here."

Neighbors say they're scared now because of what happened and because the man they leaned on for their safety is gone.

"He was a really good worker," said Joachin. "He really looked out for the people he was protecting."

Rodriguez leaves behind a wife and two kids, according to police. He was the 39th homicide victim in Fresno this year, two more than at this time last year.

Lake Havasu teacher charged in student sex case www.privateofficer.com

Lake Havasu AZ Nov 25 2009 City police arrested a local charter school teacher for alleged sexual conduct with one of his students, according to police.

Paul Hotaling, 35, faces two felony counts of sexual conduct with a minor after Thursday’s arrest. The alleged victim is a 17-year-old female, according to police. Hotaling made his initial appearance in Lake Havasu Consolidated Court Friday and he is currently being held on a $50,000 bond, according to court officials. His preliminary hearing is set for 10 a.m. on Nov. 27.

Hotaling worked last year as a substitute teacher for Lake Havasu Charter School, at 1055 Empire Drive, and started this year as a part-time seventh- and eighth-grade health teacher, said Principal Patricia Hauchrog.

“Ideally we are here to protect the students,” Hauchrog said. “(We will be) up front and honest. Students have got to come first.”

Hauchrog said school staff decided to notify police of the allegations, but she declined to provide further information.

Hauchrog said the school conducted the state-mandated criminal background check and fingerprinting upon hiring Hotaling. She said she learned of the investigation Thursday and it came to her as a surprise. She said Hotaling has “been a good teacher (and) well-received by the majority of the students.”

School staff was expected to meet Friday afternoon and Hauchrog said the staff would be in communication with the students and parents regarding the investigation. She said Hotaling will be placed on paid administrative leave, but she wasn’t sure for how long.

“We are here for the students and let the investigation do what they need to do,” Hauchrog said. “That’s how the legal system works.”

Police state that the “investigation revealed the possibility of additional victims of a similar crime involving Hotaling,” according to a police press release.

After hearing that, Hauchrog said she is concerned that there could be other victims and “concern for what affects this is going to have on them.”

“This is a real ‘take the wind out of your sails’ kind of deal,” she said.

Repeated messages left with the Lake Havasu Police Department seeking more details on the case was not returned Friday.

Police ask anyone with information regarding additional victims to contact Detective Cindy Slack at 928-855-1171.

Chicago security guard arrested for planting fake bombs www.privateofficer.com

Chicago IL Nov 25 2009


A West Side security guard appeared in Bond Court today facing charges alleging he planted fake bombs near the headquarters of the Boeing Co. and One Prudential Plaza and possessed drugs when he was arrested.

Roosevelt Billups is suspected of planting hoax bombs outside 100 N. Riverside Plaza -- which is the Boeing headquarters -- and One Prudential Plaza, a police source said. Billups, 42, was ordered held in lieu of $80,000 bond in a Cook County Bond Court hearing before Judge Laura M. Sullivan today.

Chicago police foot patrol officers arrested Billups in the 100 block of North State Street about 5 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Someone who saw Billups in the area called police after recognizing him as a suspect in three incidents involving fake bombs, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Gabrielle Lesniak.

Billups, of the 100 block of North Francisco Avenue, faces three charges of felony disorderly conduct in connection with false bomb threats, one charge of felony possession of a controlled substance, and a misdemeanor charge of drug paraphernalia possession, according to police.

Police previously had issued a community alert regarding suspicious packages resembling explosive devices being planted on three occasions near prominent downtown buildings. The person calling police recognized Billups as the person wanted in connection with those incidents, according to a police news release.

News Affairs officers said they could not say when the community alert was issued or when the fake bombs were planted. They also refused to confirm where the crimes took place.

Billups has been convicted in the past of six felony charges, including at least one prior incident involving calling in a false bomb threat, prosecutors said today. He is due in court again Dec. 8 in Branch 42 of Cook County Criminal Court.

Armored car guard shot during robbery www.privateofficer.com

HOUSTON TX NOV 25 2009

Authorities are searching for three suspects after an armored-truck guard was shot and robbed while making a delivery at a southwest Houston check-cashing store Saturday morning, FBI officials said.

A Loomis armored truck arrived around 11 a.m. to make a delivery at a check-cashing store in the 5900 block of South Gessner, FBI spokeswoman Shauna Dunlap said.

One of the guards was attempting to enter the store with the cash delivery when gunfire erupted outside the business, Dunlap said. After being hit at least once, the guard dropped the money, which was taken by one man armed with a pistol and another who had a rifle, Dunlap said.

The gunmen fled the scene in what witnesses described as a silver four-door sedan, possibly a Chevy Malibu, which was driven by a third man.

Paramedics took the guard to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he is in stable condition. The crime took place close to the lunch hour and several people were outside the shopping center.

“It was amazing no one else was hurt,“ Dunlap said.

“They didn't even attempt to rob this individual without violence,“ she said. “They shot first.“

Investigators are also trying to determine if the robbery is connected to other crimes, including a similar robbery and shooting of another armored-truck guard in the summer. Anyone with information about the latest case is urged to call the FBI at 713-693-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS

Teacher arrested for molesting 13yr old boy www.privateofficer.com

Savannah GA Nov 25 2009

Police in Pooler have arrested a local teacher and youth minister on allegations he molested a 13-year-old boy six years ago.

Mark Kit Lucas, 47, was booked Friday into the Chatham County jail on a felony charge of aggravated sexual battery in an assault reported to police earlier this month.

Lucas stands accused of engaging in a sexual act with the youth at Lucas' Pooler residence, according to a police report.

In recent months, the boy, now 19, revealed details of the assault to friends and a relative, police documents show.

Authorities were subsequently informed.

"After a preliminary investigation, we determined that there was enough to warrant an arrest, and we anticipate further charges in the immediate future," Pooler police Maj. Mark Revenew said, declining to elaborate. "It would be inappropriate to comment because it is an active investigation."

Lucas teaches at Savannah High School, according to police. A MySpace page in Lucas' name likewise lists Savannah High as his workplace.

Karla Redditte, spokeswoman for Savannah-Chatham public schools, would only confirm that Lucas works for school system.

"He is an employee, and he's been employed about a year and a half," Redditte said.

At Woodlawn Baptist Church in Garden City, Lucas was recognized in 2004 for going beyond his duties as youth and education director, according to Savannah Morning News archives.

The MySpace page indicates Lucas was an organist and youth minister at the church.

On the Woodlawn Baptist Church Web site, Lucas is listed as having been recognized in 2006 for 25 years of service as an organist. The church's Web site lists him becoming a part-time youth minister in 1997.

Two phone calls to the Rev. Gary Johnson of Woodlawn Baptist were not returned Monday.

Lucas remained held without bond Monday at the county jail, said Lt. Tommy Tillman, spokesman for the Chatham County Sheriff's Department.

Police officer arrested for attempted murder www.privateofficer.com

WASHINGTON TWP.OH Nov 25 2009 - A Columbus-area police officer is in Montgomery County Jail on an attempted murder charge after he allegedly abducted his ex-girlfriend and tried to drown her in a ditch.

Joshua Gearhart, 27Joshua Gearhart, 27, an auxiliary police officer with the Whitehall Police Department, was spotted near Leona Lane and Ohio 725 about 6 a.m. Sunday by sheriff’s deputies after witnesses reported a woman in the road, Maj. Scott Landis said.

Deputies found the woman covered in mud and grass clippings and soaking wet at a Shell Gas Station at Ohio 741 and Ohio 725, Landis said.

The woman said Gearhart, a former Columbus police officer, drove from there and the two went out Saturday night, Landis said. At some point, Gearhart requested she “do something for him,” and made threats that he would harm her if she didn’t, Landis said.

An argument ensued and the woman grabbed the keys from Gearhart’s truck and fled on foot, Landis said. Gearhart caught up with her, tried to drag her back to his truck and the two wrestled in a ditch full of water, Landis said.

Gearhart allegedly tried to drown the woman in the ditch, but failed, Sheriff Phil Plummer said. The woman is physically OK, Plummer said.

County prosecutors today approved a felony abduction charge against Gearhart, which allowed deputies to get a warrant that will keep him in jail, Landis said.

Gearhart was fired from the Columbus Police Department last fall after an internal investigation, the Columbus Dispatch reported at the time.

As a Columbus officer Gearhart was involved in the fatal shooting of a man who pointed a gun at officers, the newspaper reported.

He now serves as a part-time officer with the Whitehall Police Department, investigators said

Nashvile nightclub, security company sued over Taser incident www.privateofficer.com

Nashville TN Nov 25 2009 Paul Anderson says he was just trying to get the phone he left inside Fuel nightclub when he dropped to the ground from the shock of a Taser stun gun.
Anderson, a Florida resident, said the Taser shock led to major surgery on his knee from the injury. He filed a lawsuit Friday in Davidson County Circuit Court against the owners of Fuel and Eagle Eye Security, alleging that they fired the Taser at him without provocation and left him unable to work as a commercial truck driver.
A number for Eagle Eye Security was temporarily disconnected. A message left at Fuel nightclub was not returned Monday afternoon.
Buford Tune, who teaches firearm and Taser safety courses, said Taser safety makes up about four hours of the coursework for a security guard license.
"They are becoming more popular, but a lot of (the security companies) are not carrying them because of the cost," said Tune, who said he could not speak about the lawsuit itself. "Security officers have to make a quick judgment in a crowd and, to me, the Taser is one of the most logical tools that could be used."
Fight broke out at club
According to the lawsuit, a fight broke out in the nightclub in November 2008 while Anderson and a friend were inside, and everyone was ordered out of the club. Anderson said he realized he left some belongings inside and talked to several people to get back everything but the phone.
When he approached the security officers at the front of the club to ask about the phone, their Tasers were already drawn and they used one on him, according to the suit. When he panicked, got up and attempted to run away, the lawsuit alleged, he was struck in the back with another Taser shot and fell on his knee.
He underwent major knee surgery and was fired from his job since he was unable to drive, Anderson said in the suit.
Anderson's attorney, Hugh Garrett, did not return a call seeking comment.

Knoxville teacher charged in sex case www.privateofficer.com

Knoxville TN Nov 25 2009 A Knoxville Alternative High School teacher is out of the classroom and has been charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office arrested Justin Mikels Friday.

Knoxville Schools' superintendent Randy Flack says Mikels has been on paid leave since early October when the school received a report of inappropriate conduct with a student. Flack would not say what the conduct was or the student's age.

He did say the district is considering more serious punishment

Art teacher arrested for sex assault on student www.privateofficer.com

Groton CT Nov 20 2009 - An art teacher at Robert E. Fitch Senior High School was arrested Thursday on sexual assault charges after a police investigation found he had engaged in "inappropriate conduct" with a female student.

Timothy Riendeau, 29, of 31 Fleming Court, was charged with two counts of second-
degree sexual assault, said Lt. Bob Martin of the Groton City police, who investigated the case. He was released Thursday afternoon on a $150,000 bond and is due to appear in court at 10 a.m. on Dec. 2.

The investigation into Riendeau's conduct began on Nov. 9, when school officials notified police they were suspicious that he was engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a female student. Police obtained a warrant on Wednesday and arrested him at his home about noon on Thursday.

Riendeau posted a $150,000 bond and was released from police custody Thursday afternoon. He did not speak to a reporter as he left the Groton City police department.

Neither police nor school officials would provide the age of the student or her grade. Police said the assaults occurred within the City of Groton, not at Fitch.

He has been on paid administrative leave since the police investigation began, Groton Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri said. Administrators took immediate action to protect students once they learned of Riendeau's alleged involvement with a student, he added.

"In this case, I think everything was handled appropriately," Kadri said. "What every parent should know is the school district does everything it can to protect its students, and if anything happens we move as fast as we can to thoroughly take care of the situation."

Fitch students will be able to talk to counselors today, Kadri said.

Riendeau was in the middle of his first year teaching at Fitch, and had previously worked at Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School. Kadri declined to discuss Riendeau's personnel file or say if he had been disciplined in the past, citing privacy concerns.

While police were investigating Riendeau's conduct, school administrators quickly took steps to ensure any impacted students received assistance, Kadri said.

"Whenever there's a situation like this, aside from whatever's going on with the police, there's also the necessity of making sure parents are involved, that guidance counselors are involved, that we address any issues that are out there," he said.

Early this year, a teacher's aide at Fitch allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old student and was charged with second-degree sexual assault, two counts of providing alcohol to a minor and risk of injury to a minor.

Shonna Couture, 31, was arraigned in January then sent to jail in February after violating a court order against contacting the victim

Hospital security nabs purse snatcher www.privateofficer.com

DAYTON OH Nov 20 2009 - A Miami Valley Hospital security officer helped arrest a man who was seen walking near the hospital with a black purse belonging to a sleeping patient.

Richano V. Fisher, 34The officer noticed Richano V. Fisher, 34, carrying the bag about 2:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, and approached the man, asking what he was doing with the purse, according to a police report.

Fisher said he was getting the purse for his “baby’s momma” and was walking back to the hospital to give it to her, the report stated. The security officer asked Fisher to look inside the purse and noticed the identification inside belonged to a different woman, the report stated.

The officer determined the purse belonged a patient at the hospital and called Dayton Police officers to assist him with detaining Fisher, the report stated.

Inside the hospital, Dayton officers found the owner of the purse, who said it went missing about 11 p.m. after she and her husband fell asleep in her room, the report stated.

Outside Fisher became combative with officers, who transported him to Montgomery County Jail. Fisher is expected to appear in court Friday, Nov. 20, on a felony charge of receiving stolen property, according to jail records

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Ws. teacher aid charged with sexual assault of student www.privateofficer.com

River Falls WS Nov 20 2009 Former River Falls teacher's aide Rebecca Ann O'Malley-Tietz has been arrested and charged with first degree sexual assault of a child.

The boy, a student of River Falls School District's Harbor Program, where O'Malley-Tietz worked, was 12 years old at the time of the alleged assault.

KSTP reported that, in court documents, the boy said the pair had sexual intercourse 30 to 40 times from 2007 to 2008, and that O'Malley-Tietz threatened him with a gun if he spoke about their relationship. He eventually went to his mother, who notified police in October.

WQOW-TV said she has since admitted to having intercourse with the boy, said that he forced himself on her.

If convicted, O'Malley-Tietz faces up to 60 years in prison.

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Oceanside teacher charged with rape of student www.privateofficer.com

OCEANSIDE CA Nov 20 2009 — A physical education teacher at Oceanside High School was arrested Thursday on allegations that he had a two-year sexual relationship with a student beginning when she was 15 years old, police said.

Corey Hogue, 37, is expected to be booked into Vista jail on suspicion of two counts of rape and two counts of lewd and lascivious acts, Oceanside police said.

The female student reported the relationship to police in late October, telling detectives that the sexual encounters took place at Hogue’s house in Oceanside, where he lives with his wife and children.

Hogue, who was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 30, is now on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the criminal case, said Steve Lombard, spokesman for the Oceanside Unified School District.

Hogue was hired in 2006 to teach physical education and health, as well as coach boys’ varsity basketball. He spent two years before that at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, where he also coached basketball.

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Off- duty Vegas cop gunned down in robbery www.privateofficer.com

Las Vegas NV Nov 20 2009 When Trevor Nettleton decided to follow in his father's footsteps, the retired highway patrol trooper tried to talk his son out of it.

Richard Nettleton warned him about the dangers of police work, but his son insisted on serving his country and his community, first as a Marine and then as a Las Vegas police officer.

Richard Nettleton pinned the badge on his son's uniform when he joined the Metropolitan Police Department three years ago.

"I was never more proud in my life," he said from his home in Yakima, Wash.

But Trevor Nettleton's dream of a long career in law enforcement was cut short Thursday when he became a victim of the kind of crime he had dedicated himself to fighting. The patrol officer had hoped to "get his 30 years in" and retire, his father said. Instead, he was gunned down in the garage of his North Las Vegas home during an attempted robbery, police said.

The officer's violent death was the third for the Police Department this year, making 2009 the deadliest year in the department's history.

Two North Las Vegas men and one male juvenile have been arrested in connection with the slaying: Prentice Marshall, 18, Saul Williams Jr., 20, and a 17-year-old who was not identified by North Las Vegas police.

Nettleton had just finished his shift with the Police Department's Bolden Area Command and was at home in street clothes when he was randomly attacked about 12:18 a.m. on Emerald Stone Avenue, near Lone Mountain Road and Bruce Street, said North Las Vegas police, the agency investigating the slaying.

The 30-year-old father of two young children acted as a "hero" because he was protecting family members who were inside the home during the attack, police said. After multiple suspects entered his open garage, Nettleton fired his weapon during an exchange of bullets.

"He leaves behind two small children who now only know the greatness of their father by the stories they are told, rather than knowing firsthand," Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie said.

Richard Nettleton said his son was the father of a 2-year-old boy, Tanner, and a 2-month-old girl, Quinn. The children were in the home during the attack with Trevor's wife, Danielle, and his mother, who was visiting for Thanksgiving, Richard Nettleton said.

The male adult suspects in custody have gang affiliations and one lives on a street near the slain officer's house, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Marshall, reported to be a junior at Mojave High School, was a starting guard last season on a varsity basketball team that went 17-9. The Rattlers lost in the Sunset Region quarterfinals.

Williams, last known to attend Rancho High School, was arrested in 2008 on charges of possession of a stolen firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. According to his arrest report, he had tried to flee from officers. When officers caught him, they found a .32 caliber handgun near him that had been stolen from a Henderson residence. Williams told police he needed the gun for "protection" and had bought it for $80, according to the report.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to carry a concealed firearm and was given probation. Williams later violated that probation and was sentenced on June 22 to six months in jail, with 35 days credit for time served.

North Las Vegas police Sgt. Tim Bedwell said Marshall was being treated for nonlife threatening gunshot wounds at University Medical Center. He is under police guard and faces a charge of murder with a deadly weapon.

Bedwell said Williams is being held on the same charge at the North Las Vegas Detention Center.

The 17-year-old suspect, a North Las Vegas resident, was arrested late Thursday night and booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center. He faces charges of murder with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Bedwell wouldn't provide details about who shot the officer.

Although Nettleton was not on the clock, Gillespie said, he was technically on duty because it is department policy to consider personnel who resort to deadly force with a weapon as being on duty.

"If he wasn't acting in a capacity of a police officer out there this morning, I would like for someone to convince me otherwise," Gillespie said.

Richard Nettleton said his son's death was senseless.

"I can understand if it (happened) on the street," he said. "But not in his house. ... Not in his house. I wish it had been me and not him."

Trevor Nettleton was one of several officers recognized for saving residents from a burning apartment complex in 2007. Thursday, Emerald Stone Avenue residents remembered Nettleton as one of the best neighbors on the block and said he knew most of the children in the neighborhood.

"He was a good officer, a good father and a good friend," said Margarita Luna, who has three children. "I'm going to miss him terribly."

Luna, 36, said her husband works nights. Nettleton also got off work late. He had told Luna that he would check the outside of her house when he came home to make sure she was safe.

"When I'd see him come home, I'd sleep better," she said.

He also helped tutor her 9-year-old son in math sometimes, she said.

Neighbors said they rarely saw Nettleton's patrol car. Some didn't know he was an officer. The street his family lives on is dotted with vacant homes and "for sale" signs. Neighbors blamed the recession for several crimes that have plagued the neighborhood and the surrounding area recently.

After midnight Wednesday, 39-year-old Ursula Adedje said she heard a car with a loud muffler pull up in front of her house, which is near Nettleton's home. She heard a car door open and then slam, as if someone was being dropped off.

Then she said she heard four loud booms, which sounded like gunshots. She said she heard several other shots that sounded as if they were from a smaller gun. She then heard a car speed away.

"It hurts my heart," Adedje said of what happened.

North Las Vegas police wouldn't comment on whether additional suspects are being sought.

Richard Nettleton said his son served for nine years as a Marine and spent the last two years of his duty working in communications at the White House. On his final day of work there, Trevor invited his dad to Washington, D.C., to meet President George W. Bush.

"I got a photograph with him and the president in the Oval Office," said Richard Nettleton, who last spoke with his son last week. "That picture will always be on my wall. That will always be a memory."

Shortly after he was discharged from the Marines, Nettleton moved to Las Vegas to work as a police officer, his father said.

Nettleton's body was transported from his home to the Clark County coroner's office by a procession of about 15 police patrol cars and motorcycles.

The motorcade reached its destination about 11 a.m. Officers formed rows from the receiving garage to the van and saluted as Nettleton's body was lowered onto a stretcher and moved into the building.

Once the body was inside, the grieving officers comforted one another.

Joseph Forti, North Las Vegas police chief, described the distress that follows a late-night phone call involving a slain officer.

"When you hear something like this, your heart sinks into the pit of your stomach," Forti said. "All of us who are in law enforcement will feel this loss as one."

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Casino officers detain man taking lewd pictures www.privateofficer.com

San Diego CA Nov 19 2009 A visitor to the Valley View Casino found himself under arrest this week, accused of aiming his cell phone camera underneath a woman's skirt ---- and it may not be the first time he has done so, authorities said Wednesday.

The casino's security officers detained David Hiroshi Oda, 39, Monday night after witnesses spotted him aiming the recording device up the skirt of a woman standing in a buffet line, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a news release.

Sheriff's deputies arrested the Los Angeles County man, and the subsequent investigation revealed that Oda may have made similar Peeping Tom recordings in shopping malls in the Los Angeles area, the Sheriff's Department said.


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Retired police captain dies in crash www.privateofficer.com

Pearl MS. Nov 19 2009

Retired Pearl police Capt. George Burgess was on his way to a motorcycle club meeting when his Yamaha cruiser collided with a Ford Taurus on Tuesday evening.
Burgess, 58, died at the scene, at Lakeland and River Oaks drives in Flowood. The driver of the car, whose name was not released, was not harmed.
Burgess retired from the Pearl Police Department in 2001 and worked as security director for Southern Farm Bureau Insurance. He lived in Ridgeland with his wife of nearly 20 years, Gwen.
"He was a very careful and very experienced rider and would never do anything to endanger himself or anybody else," Gwen Burgess said Wednesday, her voice shaky with emotion.
The accident happened around 6:30 p.m., according to Flowood police. Burgess was traveling east when the car turned in front of him, police said.
The accident is under investigation, Flowood Police Chief Johnny DeWitt said.
George Burgess joined Pearl police in 1974, a year after the agency formed. He was one of the first motorcycle patrol officers there, said Pearl police Lt. Butch Townsend, who worked with Burgess for 12 years.
Burgess worked his way up through the department and retired as second in command, Townsend said.
"He was just here visiting us not that long ago," Townsend said.
Pearl Mayor Brad Rogers and his family were close to the Burgess family. Burgess was a "by-the-book" cop and always took an interest in other people, Rogers said.
"George always had time for anybody. He will be missed for sure," Rogers said.
Burgess enjoyed cooking, deep-sea fishing, motorcycles, his family and reading, his wife said. "He was thoroughly enjoying his new job," Gwen Burgess said.
Burgess also is survived by two sons, Marty and Jake.

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TSA names Kimberly Herrea Officer of the Year www.privateofficer.com

Arlington VA Nov 19 2009 Kimberly Herrera, a transportation security officer at Albany International Airport, has been named the agency’s Employee of the Year for 2009. She accepted her award at the TSA’s Eighth Annual Honorary Awards Ceremony in Arlington, Va., this morning.

Herrera, who has been with the TSA for seven years, in 2008 launched an initiative that provided outdated TSA uniforms and jackets to homeless veterans in the Capital Region. She then assisted 30 other airports nationwide in starting similar programs.

“Kim’s work ethic, positive attitude and professionalism are exemplary,” said Brian Johansson, TSA’s federal security director at the Albany airport. “This award is very well deserved and TSA Albany is incredibly proud that one of our own officers is being recognized by TSA Headquarters for her contribution to this agency and Albany International Airport.”

Before joining TSA, Herrera served eight years in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Afghanistan. She also earned a degree in business management from the University of Maryland (European division).

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New laws won't allow clothes to dry on clotheslines www.privateofficer.com

PERKASIE, Pennsylvania Nov 19 2009(Reuters) – Carin Froehlich pegs her laundry to three clotheslines strung between trees outside her 18th-century farmhouse, knowing that her actions annoy local officials who have asked her to stop.
Froehlich is among the growing number of people across America fighting for the right to dry their laundry outside against a rising tide of housing associations who oppose the practice despite its energy-saving green appeal.
Although there are no formal laws in this southeast Pennsylvania town against drying laundry outside, a town official called Froehlich to ask her to stop drying clothes in the sun. And she received two anonymous notes from neighbors saying they did not want to see her underwear flapping about.
"They said it made the place look like trailer trash," she said, in her yard across the street from a row of neat, suburban houses. "They said they didn't want to look at my 'unmentionables.'"
Froehlich says she hangs her underwear inside. The effervescent 54-year-old is one of a growing number of Americans demanding the right to dry laundry on clotheslines despite local rules and a culture that frowns on it.
Their interests are represented by Project Laundry List, a group that argues people can save money and reduce carbon emissions by not using their electric or gas dryers, according to the group's executive director, Alexander Lee.
Widespread adoption of clotheslines could significantly reduce U.S. energy consumption, argued Lee, who said dryer use accounts for about 6 percent of U.S. residential electricity use.
Florida, Utah, Maine, Vermont, Colorado, and Hawaii have passed laws restricting the rights of local authorities to stop residents using clotheslines. Another five states are considering similar measures, said Lee, 35, a former lawyer who quit to run the non-profit group.
'RIGHT TO HANG'
His principal opponents are the housing associations such as condominiums and townhouse communities that are home to an estimated 60 million Americans, or about 20 percent of the population. About half of those organizations have 'no hanging' rules, Lee said, and enforce them with fines.
Carl Weiner, a lawyer for about 50 homeowners associations in suburban Philadelphia, said the no-hanging rules are usually included by the communities' developers along with regulations such as a ban on sheds or commercial vehicles.
The no-hanging rules are an aesthetic issue, Weiner said.
"The consensus in most communities is that people don't want to see everybody else's laundry."
He said opposition to clotheslines may ease as more people understand it can save energy and reduce greenhouse gases.
"There is more awareness of impact on the environment," he said. "I would not be surprised to see people questioning these restrictions."
For Froehlich, the "right to hang" is the embodiment of the American tradition of freedom.
"If my husband has a right to have guns in the house, I have a right to hang laundry," said Froehlich, who is writing a book on the subject.
Besides, it saves money. Line-drying laundry for a family of five saves $83 a month in electric bills, she said.
Kevin Firth, who owns a two-bedroom condominium in a Dublin, Pennsylvania housing association, said he was fined $100 by the association for putting up a clothesline in a common area.
"It made me angry and upset," said Firth, a 27-year-old carpenter. "I like having the laundry drying in the sun. It's something I have always done since I was a little kid."