STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.April 30 2010 -- Three Queens residents ventured to the Staten Island Mall on Wednesday and stocked up on more than $3,000 in clothing.
The only problem was they didn’t pay for a stitch of it, prosecutors allege.
Busted were Peruvian natives Eduardo Cossio, 41, Marchelo Medina, 40, and July Wendy Tutiven, 35.
A law enforcement source said cops on anti-theft patrol in the mall saw the trio exit two stores carrying bags of clothing that had sensors attached. They followed the suspects to a car in the parking lot where they were seen stuffing the clothing into a large laundry bag. Cossio had in his possession two "white metal hooks" that court papers said are used to remove plastic sensors from clothing.
Officers also allegedly saw a "booster bag" in the car, which is used to conceal property and remove it from stores without setting off security alarms.
The suspects drove off and cops followed and pulled them over on Victory Boulevard and Morani Street near the Staten Island Expressway.
The source said they stole clothes from Express, New York & Company and other shops in the mall.
The defendants are charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of stolen-property possession, said a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan. They are also accused of possessing burglar’s tools.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Security officer arrested after shooting at vehicle www.privateofficer.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. April 30 2010 -- Colorado Springs Police responded to a shots-fired call at approximately 8 p.m. Thursday at Antique Billiards, 3628 Citadel Dr. N.
They found an injured security guard, identfied as 22-year-old Nate Landis, who said he fired shots at a vehicle that sped from the scene after he was knocked down by an open door on the car.
Landis told police a suspect vehicle, described as a grey Chrysler Sebring, was parked in the parking lot outside of Antique Billiards. He approached the vehicle because he observed the occupants, whom he believed to be juveniles, were persons suspected of passing a counterfeit bill the previous day. The suspects were allegedly drinking alcohol in the car.
He asked the occupants to exit the car, but the driver put the car in reverse and backed up at a high rate of speed. Landis was struck and knocked down by the open vehicle door. He explained he got up and fired two rounds from a handgun at the vehicle as it sped away.
Police cited him for reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor.
The investigation is continuing.
They found an injured security guard, identfied as 22-year-old Nate Landis, who said he fired shots at a vehicle that sped from the scene after he was knocked down by an open door on the car.
Landis told police a suspect vehicle, described as a grey Chrysler Sebring, was parked in the parking lot outside of Antique Billiards. He approached the vehicle because he observed the occupants, whom he believed to be juveniles, were persons suspected of passing a counterfeit bill the previous day. The suspects were allegedly drinking alcohol in the car.
He asked the occupants to exit the car, but the driver put the car in reverse and backed up at a high rate of speed. Landis was struck and knocked down by the open vehicle door. He explained he got up and fired two rounds from a handgun at the vehicle as it sped away.
Police cited him for reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor.
The investigation is continuing.
Store security guard charged with sex crimes www.privateofficer.com
Virginia Beach, Va.April 30 2010 - A security guard at Lynnhaven Mall is charged with sex crimes.
Virginia Beach police say the security guard victimized a fellow employee. Now he is facing charges that, if convicted, could put him in jail for up to two years.
As a department store security guard at Lynnhaven Mall, it's Darnell Florence's job to catch criminals - but tonight Virginia Beach police say he is the criminal.
Investigators say Florence exposed himself to an employee who worked in the same store.
"He followed her into the dressing rooms and exposed his penis. And made some sort of sexual statement to her," said Adam Bernstein, Virginia Beach police.
He also groped her earlier this week.
"Came up to her and grabbed her on the breast and made another sexual statement to her," Bernstein added.
The woman's manager contacted police and Florence was arrested.
Florence has been charged with indecent exposure and sexual battery.
Florence is employed by Securitas, a private security company in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach police say the security guard victimized a fellow employee. Now he is facing charges that, if convicted, could put him in jail for up to two years.
As a department store security guard at Lynnhaven Mall, it's Darnell Florence's job to catch criminals - but tonight Virginia Beach police say he is the criminal.
Investigators say Florence exposed himself to an employee who worked in the same store.
"He followed her into the dressing rooms and exposed his penis. And made some sort of sexual statement to her," said Adam Bernstein, Virginia Beach police.
He also groped her earlier this week.
"Came up to her and grabbed her on the breast and made another sexual statement to her," Bernstein added.
The woman's manager contacted police and Florence was arrested.
Florence has been charged with indecent exposure and sexual battery.
Florence is employed by Securitas, a private security company in Virginia Beach.
OFFICER DOWN
Officer Rodney Holder
Abilene Police Department
Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: 187
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Date of Incident: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Rodney Holder was killed in a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Sayles Boulevard and South 13th Street while attempting to stop a speeder.
Another vehicle collided with his motorcycle in the intersection as he attempted to the stop the speeder on Sayles Boulevard.
Officer Holder had served with the agency for 28 years and is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
Agency Contact Information
Abilene Police Department
450 Pecan Street
PO Box 174
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 673-8331
Please contact the Abilene Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Abilene Police Department
Texas
End of Watch: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: 187
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Date of Incident: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Rodney Holder was killed in a motorcycle accident at the intersection of Sayles Boulevard and South 13th Street while attempting to stop a speeder.
Another vehicle collided with his motorcycle in the intersection as he attempted to the stop the speeder on Sayles Boulevard.
Officer Holder had served with the agency for 28 years and is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
Agency Contact Information
Abilene Police Department
450 Pecan Street
PO Box 174
Abilene, TX 79602
Phone: (325) 673-8331
Please contact the Abilene Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
OFFICER DOWN
Police Officer Bryan J. Durman
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department
Kentucky
End of Watch: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Officer Bryan Durman was struck and killed by a hit-and-run at the intersection of Limestone Street and Alabama Street.
He was investigating a noise ordinance violation at approximately 10:00 pm. He had responded to the location to locate a vehicle that had been playing music too loudly.
After striking Officer Durman, the driver of the SUV fled to a nearby apartment, where he was taken into custody by members of the agency's ERU team. He was charged with murder and numerous additional charges in connection with the accident and previous warrants.
Officer Durman had served with the agency for 2 ½ years.
Agency Contact Information
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department
150 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40507
Phone: (859) 258-3600
Please contact the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
OFFICER DOWN
Sergeant Franco Aguilar
Sevier County Sheriff's Office
Utah
End of Watch: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Franco Aguilar was killed at approximately 10:30 pm when he fell approximately 250-feet from a bridge on I-70.
He was investigating an accident on the bridge that involved a car that had crashed into a barrier after sliding on the snowy highway. As he gathered information from the driver an approaching SUV also lost control on the snow and slid into the vehicle that had previously crashed.
It is believed Sergeant Aguilar was either struck and thrown over the guardrail, or was attempting to jump out of the SUV's path, when he fell.
Sergeant Aguilar was killed on his 36th birthday.
Agency Contact Information
Sevier County Sheriff's Office
835 East 300 North
Suite 200
Richfield, UT 84701
Phone: (435) 896-2600
Please contact the Sevier County Sheriff's Office for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information
Sevier County Sheriff's Office
Utah
End of Watch: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Fall
Date of Incident: Thursday, April 29, 2010
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Sergeant Franco Aguilar was killed at approximately 10:30 pm when he fell approximately 250-feet from a bridge on I-70.
He was investigating an accident on the bridge that involved a car that had crashed into a barrier after sliding on the snowy highway. As he gathered information from the driver an approaching SUV also lost control on the snow and slid into the vehicle that had previously crashed.
It is believed Sergeant Aguilar was either struck and thrown over the guardrail, or was attempting to jump out of the SUV's path, when he fell.
Sergeant Aguilar was killed on his 36th birthday.
Agency Contact Information
Sevier County Sheriff's Office
835 East 300 North
Suite 200
Richfield, UT 84701
Phone: (435) 896-2600
Please contact the Sevier County Sheriff's Office for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information
Baker teacher arrested after sex with student www.privateofficer.com
BAKER CA APRIL 30 2010 Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Baker Valley High School gym teacher Tuesday on charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old student at the school where he works.
According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reports, deputies from the Baker sub-station and detectives from the Crimes Against Children detail arrested Ryan Moreno, 26, after responding to a report that two teachers were sexually involved with two female students from the school.
Moreno is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and engaging in an unlawful act of sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 years of age as an adult over 21 years of age. He is being held at the West Valley Detention Center at $250,000 bail.
The second teacher, who deputies say had knowledge of the crime occurring, was not arrested. A child endangerment case has been submitted to the district attorney’s office for review.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigators at 909-387-3615. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-788-7463.
According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reports, deputies from the Baker sub-station and detectives from the Crimes Against Children detail arrested Ryan Moreno, 26, after responding to a report that two teachers were sexually involved with two female students from the school.
Moreno is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and engaging in an unlawful act of sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 years of age as an adult over 21 years of age. He is being held at the West Valley Detention Center at $250,000 bail.
The second teacher, who deputies say had knowledge of the crime occurring, was not arrested. A child endangerment case has been submitted to the district attorney’s office for review.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigators at 909-387-3615. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-788-7463.
Security officer shot in robbery www.privateofficer.com
MEMPHIS, TN April 30 2010- Three people were rushed to the hospital after a wild shootout in North Memphis Wednesday night, April 28, 2010. The victims include a security guard, an accused robber, and a six-year-old girl.
Police tell Eyewitness News that at least two robbers tried to rob a security guard at the Hostess/Wonderbread store in the 3700 block of Jackson Ave. near Dilla Road.
Police say the security guard was shot in the stomach.
An off-duty Memphis housing authority police officer, who is also a friend of the security guard, witnessed the shooting from his car where he was parked with his 6-year-old daughter. He took off after the shooters. About half a block later he got into a shootout with the accused robbers. The officer shot one of the robbers in the leg. His six-year-old daughter was grazed in the head with a bullet. She was taken to Le Bonheur Hospital in critical condition.
The other two shooting victims were taken to The MED.
Police tell Eyewitness News that at least two robbers tried to rob a security guard at the Hostess/Wonderbread store in the 3700 block of Jackson Ave. near Dilla Road.
Police say the security guard was shot in the stomach.
An off-duty Memphis housing authority police officer, who is also a friend of the security guard, witnessed the shooting from his car where he was parked with his 6-year-old daughter. He took off after the shooters. About half a block later he got into a shootout with the accused robbers. The officer shot one of the robbers in the leg. His six-year-old daughter was grazed in the head with a bullet. She was taken to Le Bonheur Hospital in critical condition.
The other two shooting victims were taken to The MED.
West Bend teacher arrested for sex assault www.privateofficer.com
West Bend WI April 30 2010
jsonline.com - A West Bend East High School teacher has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting one student and sending text messages of a sexual nature to another, West Bend police said Wednesday.
The 27-year-old male teacher was arrested Tuesday after police learned of text messages sent to a 16-year-old female student, according to a news release from the West Bend Police Department.
Investigators also learned that the teacher allegedly sexually assaulted another 16-year-old female student at his West Bend home earlier this year, according to the release.
The teacher was in custody Wednesday in the Washington County Jail and police are seeking charges of exposing a child to harmful materials and sexual assault of a child by a school staff person, according to the release.
The accused is a probationary teacher at West Bend East who had previously tendered his resignation, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, according the school district.
The district is conducting its own investigation and the teacher has been placed on administrative leave, according to the district.
jsonline.com - A West Bend East High School teacher has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting one student and sending text messages of a sexual nature to another, West Bend police said Wednesday.
The 27-year-old male teacher was arrested Tuesday after police learned of text messages sent to a 16-year-old female student, according to a news release from the West Bend Police Department.
Investigators also learned that the teacher allegedly sexually assaulted another 16-year-old female student at his West Bend home earlier this year, according to the release.
The teacher was in custody Wednesday in the Washington County Jail and police are seeking charges of exposing a child to harmful materials and sexual assault of a child by a school staff person, according to the release.
The accused is a probationary teacher at West Bend East who had previously tendered his resignation, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, according the school district.
The district is conducting its own investigation and the teacher has been placed on administrative leave, according to the district.
Mall security,shoppers help capture burglar www.privateofficer.com
Bethlehem PPA April 30 2010 A man who sells watches at a Lehigh Valley Mall kiosk recognized a man browsing time pieces at his counter Wednesday afternoon and turned him into mall security, police said.
Michael Fontanez, 45, of Allentown, was wanted by Bethlehem police and Lehigh County law enforcement officials for a string of alleged burglaries stretching from early October to this week.
Bethlehem Detective Sgt. William Dosedlo said Fontanez was spotted while shopping at the mall. An employee at a watch kiosk recognized Fontanez from pictures he saw in local newspapers and reported Fontanez to mall security. Dosedlo said that as Fontanez roamed the mall, followed by security, other people called to report that they also recognized him from pictures seen in local media outlets.
Fontanez was arrested by Whitehall Township police and sent to Lehigh County Prison on an open bench warrant, Dosedlo said. Police allege Fontanez had heroin on him at the time of his arrest.
According to court papers, Fontanez worked with Tina Marie Johns -- who pleaded guilty to her part of a series of burglaries earlier this year -- to break into area homes and steal electronics, cash, and in one case, a handgun.
Fontanez faces additional charges, Dosedlo said, including an alleged burglary on Monday of a home in the 2000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
Michael Fontanez, 45, of Allentown, was wanted by Bethlehem police and Lehigh County law enforcement officials for a string of alleged burglaries stretching from early October to this week.
Bethlehem Detective Sgt. William Dosedlo said Fontanez was spotted while shopping at the mall. An employee at a watch kiosk recognized Fontanez from pictures he saw in local newspapers and reported Fontanez to mall security. Dosedlo said that as Fontanez roamed the mall, followed by security, other people called to report that they also recognized him from pictures seen in local media outlets.
Fontanez was arrested by Whitehall Township police and sent to Lehigh County Prison on an open bench warrant, Dosedlo said. Police allege Fontanez had heroin on him at the time of his arrest.
According to court papers, Fontanez worked with Tina Marie Johns -- who pleaded guilty to her part of a series of burglaries earlier this year -- to break into area homes and steal electronics, cash, and in one case, a handgun.
Fontanez faces additional charges, Dosedlo said, including an alleged burglary on Monday of a home in the 2000 block of Pennsylvania Avenue
Man throws explosive device at security officer www.privateofficer.com
IRONDALE, AL April 30 2010 (WBRC) - Investigators are looking for a suspect they say tried to attack an officer with a bomb-like device.
It happened just before 7:00 at Colonial Village at Trussville Apartments. That's actually part of Irondale, not Trussville.
The Irondale police officer involved in the incident is fine and he's lucky he wasn't seriously hurt.
The officer was sitting in his patrol car, which was parked in the apartment complex.`He was working a security guard shift.
At some point, a plastic bottle wrapped in aluminum foil was tossed at his car by someone on foot.
The device hit the pavement next to the officer's car and exploded, sounding like a shotgun blast.
The homemade device is described by authorities as dangerous and similar as a chemical bomb.
The officer was not able to get a good look at the suspect as the person fled on foot.
Police will take the device and process it for evidence.
If the officer had his window down with the device landing inside his car, he could have been seriously hurt.
Police are taking this seriously. The ATF was asked to assist in the investigation.
It happened just before 7:00 at Colonial Village at Trussville Apartments. That's actually part of Irondale, not Trussville.
The Irondale police officer involved in the incident is fine and he's lucky he wasn't seriously hurt.
The officer was sitting in his patrol car, which was parked in the apartment complex.`He was working a security guard shift.
At some point, a plastic bottle wrapped in aluminum foil was tossed at his car by someone on foot.
The device hit the pavement next to the officer's car and exploded, sounding like a shotgun blast.
The homemade device is described by authorities as dangerous and similar as a chemical bomb.
The officer was not able to get a good look at the suspect as the person fled on foot.
Police will take the device and process it for evidence.
If the officer had his window down with the device landing inside his car, he could have been seriously hurt.
Police are taking this seriously. The ATF was asked to assist in the investigation.
Armored car guard kills unarmed robbery suspect www.privateofficer.com
Philadelphia PA April 30 2010 An armored car guard shot and fatally wounded an unarmed robber this morning in a dollar store in Germantown, police said.
Police said the shooting occurred about 9:37 a.m. when the alleged thief walked into the Family Dollar Store on the 5200 block of Germantown Avenue and choked the guard while trying to grab the money bag.
The guard shot the man four times, hitting him in the chest and arms, police said.
The wounded man was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he died about an hour later, police said.
Residents are saying they had seen the man in the area acting irrationally beforehand.
Police said the robber was not armed. Investigators were interviewing the armored car crew.
Police said the shooting occurred about 9:37 a.m. when the alleged thief walked into the Family Dollar Store on the 5200 block of Germantown Avenue and choked the guard while trying to grab the money bag.
The guard shot the man four times, hitting him in the chest and arms, police said.
The wounded man was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he died about an hour later, police said.
Residents are saying they had seen the man in the area acting irrationally beforehand.
Police said the robber was not armed. Investigators were interviewing the armored car crew.
Off-duty security officer captures bank robber www.privateofficer.com
PALM BAY Fla April 30 2010 -- A 62-year-old off-duty security guard is being credited with thwarting an attempted bank robbery in Palm Bay this afternoon.
The attempted robbery occurred just before 2 p.m. at the Space Coast Credit Union at 150 Malabar Rd., not far from the Palm Bay Police Department headquarters.
“The robber was apprehended by a customer with a concealed weapons permit,” said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.
The suspect, Floyd Francis, 23, was taken into custody after the off-duty security guard, identified as Rueben Torres, stepped out of the branch office and walked to the parking lot.
“I went to the car and got my weapon,” said Torres, who stopped off at the bank before heading to work. Torres then pulled his 9mm on the robber before he left the branch building.
“I guess it’s the New Yorker in me,” Torres said about his decision to get involved.
The suspect appeared apologetic before officers arrived and placed him in handcuffs, Rueben said.
He was taken to police headquarters for further questioning, officials said.
Bank staffers, including the tellers, gave Torres several hugs.
"Mr. Torres' actions, while not encouraged, are appreciated and were very courageous," Lt. Mark Renkens said in a statement. "He took action to stop a crime in progress and fortunately made a positive difference in the outcome."
The attempted robbery occurred just before 2 p.m. at the Space Coast Credit Union at 150 Malabar Rd., not far from the Palm Bay Police Department headquarters.
“The robber was apprehended by a customer with a concealed weapons permit,” said Yvonne Martinez, spokeswoman for the Palm Bay Police Department.
The suspect, Floyd Francis, 23, was taken into custody after the off-duty security guard, identified as Rueben Torres, stepped out of the branch office and walked to the parking lot.
“I went to the car and got my weapon,” said Torres, who stopped off at the bank before heading to work. Torres then pulled his 9mm on the robber before he left the branch building.
“I guess it’s the New Yorker in me,” Torres said about his decision to get involved.
The suspect appeared apologetic before officers arrived and placed him in handcuffs, Rueben said.
He was taken to police headquarters for further questioning, officials said.
Bank staffers, including the tellers, gave Torres several hugs.
"Mr. Torres' actions, while not encouraged, are appreciated and were very courageous," Lt. Mark Renkens said in a statement. "He took action to stop a crime in progress and fortunately made a positive difference in the outcome."
Burglar tries running down security officer www.privateofficer.com
Columbia SC April 30 2010 Scary moments last night for a hotel security guard. Richland County Deputy Monique Mack says the security guard saw someone breaking into a car at motel six on Nates Rd.
When he approached the suspect, mack says he attempted to run over the guard, who is also an officer for the Department of Probation Pardon and Parole.
Mack says, the guard then fired shots at the suspect and the stolen car.
If you have any information on this incident contact the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
When he approached the suspect, mack says he attempted to run over the guard, who is also an officer for the Department of Probation Pardon and Parole.
Mack says, the guard then fired shots at the suspect and the stolen car.
If you have any information on this incident contact the Richland County Sheriff's Department.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
GA. officer charged in police officer's death www.privateofficer.com
WOODSTOCK, Ga. April 29 2010
Cherokee County authorities filed charges Wednesday against a Cobb County police officer and a woman after the drowning of another Cobb officer last week.
Sheriff Roger Garrison announced at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that the officer, 37-year-old Kenneth Reda of Acworth, and the woman, 37-year-old Shelly Powell of Acworth, both face charges of obstruction and making false statements.
Divers found the body of Sgt. Thomas "Brent" Stephens last Friday, who died after he apparently fell off a moving boat on Lake Allatoona.
At first, Reda had told authorities that he and Stephens had just left the Little River restaurant and were heading back by boat to the Harbor Town Marina. Reda who was apparently driving the boat told authorities he looked back and noticed Stephens was missing.
At Wednesday’s news conference, Garrison said the boat actually hit a water marker, knocking Stephens into the water.
Garrison also said Reda and Powell, who apparently are in a relationship, waited one and a half hours before reporting the accident. The sheriff added the couple tried to fix the damaged boat before contacting authorities.
Authorities had not revealed that another person besides the two officers was on the boat until Wednesday's news conference.
Both Powell and Reda were booked at the Cherokee County Jail late Wednesday afternoon. Reda was released after posting an $11,000 bond Wednesday night. Powell was also bonded out of jail Wednesday.
CBS Atlanta New obtained 911 tapes from the Thursday incident. Reda told a 911 dispatcher, "I turned around and started looking for him right away. I found his flip flops but I have not found him."
Dispatcher said, "Ok, so about 5 minutes ago?"
Reda said, "Uh, about 10 minutes ago."
Garrison said Reda lied to investigators and dispatchers about who was on the boat when the accident happened.
Dispatcher said, "Where is your wife"
Reda said, "At home."
Dispatcher said, "Ok so she’s not on the boat with you?"
Reda said, "No it was just me and him on the boat."
Cherokee County authorities filed charges Wednesday against a Cobb County police officer and a woman after the drowning of another Cobb officer last week.
Sheriff Roger Garrison announced at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that the officer, 37-year-old Kenneth Reda of Acworth, and the woman, 37-year-old Shelly Powell of Acworth, both face charges of obstruction and making false statements.
Divers found the body of Sgt. Thomas "Brent" Stephens last Friday, who died after he apparently fell off a moving boat on Lake Allatoona.
At first, Reda had told authorities that he and Stephens had just left the Little River restaurant and were heading back by boat to the Harbor Town Marina. Reda who was apparently driving the boat told authorities he looked back and noticed Stephens was missing.
At Wednesday’s news conference, Garrison said the boat actually hit a water marker, knocking Stephens into the water.
Garrison also said Reda and Powell, who apparently are in a relationship, waited one and a half hours before reporting the accident. The sheriff added the couple tried to fix the damaged boat before contacting authorities.
Authorities had not revealed that another person besides the two officers was on the boat until Wednesday's news conference.
Both Powell and Reda were booked at the Cherokee County Jail late Wednesday afternoon. Reda was released after posting an $11,000 bond Wednesday night. Powell was also bonded out of jail Wednesday.
CBS Atlanta New obtained 911 tapes from the Thursday incident. Reda told a 911 dispatcher, "I turned around and started looking for him right away. I found his flip flops but I have not found him."
Dispatcher said, "Ok, so about 5 minutes ago?"
Reda said, "Uh, about 10 minutes ago."
Garrison said Reda lied to investigators and dispatchers about who was on the boat when the accident happened.
Dispatcher said, "Where is your wife"
Reda said, "At home."
Dispatcher said, "Ok so she’s not on the boat with you?"
Reda said, "No it was just me and him on the boat."
Security-Police Talk Radio www.privateofficer.com
ATLANTA GA APRIL 29 2010
Security Police News Talk Radio
Wed & Sun 4PM EST or On-Demand
We talk about crime news, security and law enforcement matters and interview guests from the security police industry.
Each program we also spend one segment offering security training tips for private security personnel.
Atlanta, college police form task force to battle crime wave www.privateofficer.com
Atlanta GA April 29 2010 With a crime wave persisting on and around downtown's college campuses, interim Atlanta Police Chief George Turner announced Wednesday the creation of a new task force that will work collectively with the city's six university police departments.
"This is the first time all six entities and the APD have come together to jointly attack the crime problem," Morehouse School of Medicine Police Chief Joseph Chevalier said. "I think this is a great start."
The plan was formalized Tuesday on Georgia Tech's campus, which has been plagued by a series of robberies dating back to May, when a student was shot at a parking deck on Northside Drive and Tenth Street. Last week, there were three incidents reported in which Tech students were robbed either on campus or a short distance from the school.
But the tipping point, Turner acknowledged, came Sunday night when four students were carjacked and kidnapped a block away from the Morehouse campus. The youths were able to call 911 on a cell phone and were rescued by police.
"Students should expect to be safe and rest assured we're doing everything we can," Turner said.
This is the second major APD initiative on campus crime in the last six months. Last fall then-Police Chief Richard Pennington announced the department would dispatch eight uniformed officers to keep watch over the neighborhoods near Tech and the Atlanta University Center. But Turner said those increased patrols dwindled once the revenue source for overtime pay dried up.
"Police presence is a big ticket, a big key," Tech Police Chief Teresa Crocker said. Turner did not say how many additional officers -- some in uniform, some undercover -- would be assigned to the university beats but said additional overtime pay has been freed up.
"I think it will help tremendously to combine all our crime stats, to get one simple picture," Spelman College Police Chief Steve Bowser said.
Spelman student Jasmine Lynn was killed last September while walking across the Clark Atlanta campus, prompting the APD's first initiative.
It could take months before a fair appraisal can be made of the latest plan, which goes into effect just weeks before students break for the summer.
The six campuses involved in the initiative are Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morehouse University and Spelman.
"This is the first time all six entities and the APD have come together to jointly attack the crime problem," Morehouse School of Medicine Police Chief Joseph Chevalier said. "I think this is a great start."
The plan was formalized Tuesday on Georgia Tech's campus, which has been plagued by a series of robberies dating back to May, when a student was shot at a parking deck on Northside Drive and Tenth Street. Last week, there were three incidents reported in which Tech students were robbed either on campus or a short distance from the school.
But the tipping point, Turner acknowledged, came Sunday night when four students were carjacked and kidnapped a block away from the Morehouse campus. The youths were able to call 911 on a cell phone and were rescued by police.
"Students should expect to be safe and rest assured we're doing everything we can," Turner said.
This is the second major APD initiative on campus crime in the last six months. Last fall then-Police Chief Richard Pennington announced the department would dispatch eight uniformed officers to keep watch over the neighborhoods near Tech and the Atlanta University Center. But Turner said those increased patrols dwindled once the revenue source for overtime pay dried up.
"Police presence is a big ticket, a big key," Tech Police Chief Teresa Crocker said. Turner did not say how many additional officers -- some in uniform, some undercover -- would be assigned to the university beats but said additional overtime pay has been freed up.
"I think it will help tremendously to combine all our crime stats, to get one simple picture," Spelman College Police Chief Steve Bowser said.
Spelman student Jasmine Lynn was killed last September while walking across the Clark Atlanta campus, prompting the APD's first initiative.
It could take months before a fair appraisal can be made of the latest plan, which goes into effect just weeks before students break for the summer.
The six campuses involved in the initiative are Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Clark Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine, Morehouse University and Spelman.
Hospital patient bites security officer www.privateofficer.com
FORT WALTON BEACH FLA April 29 2010 – A Niceville man being treated under the Baker Act was arrested after he bit a security guard on the hand while in the emergency room at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, according to his warrant narrative.
About 2:30 a.m. March 28, an emergency room doctor told a security guard to restrain the man, who bit the security guard on the hand, the report reads. Witnesses confirmed the incident, but deputies were unable to interview the man because he was given medication to sedate him.
The man was charged with felony battery on an emergency care provider. He is due in court June 8.
About 2:30 a.m. March 28, an emergency room doctor told a security guard to restrain the man, who bit the security guard on the hand, the report reads. Witnesses confirmed the incident, but deputies were unable to interview the man because he was given medication to sedate him.
The man was charged with felony battery on an emergency care provider. He is due in court June 8.
Police shoot NC student with Taser www.privateofficer.com
IREDELL CO., N.C.April 29 2010
Source:WSOCTV.com -- The Iredell County Sheriff's Office says a school resource officer who used a Taser on a 17-year-old student did nothing wrong.
Authorities said Teresa Bova, a student at Lake Norman High School, was sent to the principal’s office Tuesday for being disruptive in class.
Police said as Bova was escorted to the office by a school resource officer, she tried to go in a different direction and then became combative.
The resource officer put handcuffs on her, but said she continued to resist, even swiveling out of the handcuffs twice.
Police said Bova may have been under the influence of drugs and that her eyes were dilated and she was slurring her words.
Police said Bova was not tested for drugs because that’s not the reason she was taken into custody.
"It actually took the officer and two other administrators to subdue her on the ground," said Lt. Rick Eades, with the Iredell County Sheriff's Office.
But those who know Bova said it just doesn’t make sense.
"She's delightful,” Elaine Mills, a friend of the teen’s family, said. “She doesn't just do things like that. That's just not her nature.”
Bova's boyfriend, Kyle Freeze, said Bova’s lip was busted during the three-minute struggle, which ended with an officer using a Taser to subdue Bova.
"It's just really upsetting,” Freeze said. “It really just did not need to happen.”
Eades said officers acted appropriately.
“We don't want to get hurt and we don't want other folks to get hurt," he said.
Bova is facing one charge of disorderly conduct and one charge of resisting an officer.
Police said Bova’s mother has chosen to keep her in jail for the time being.
Authorities said Teresa Bova, a student at Lake Norman High School, was sent to the principal’s office Tuesday for being disruptive in class.
Police said as Bova was escorted to the office by a school resource officer, she tried to go in a different direction and then became combative.
The resource officer put handcuffs on her, but said she continued to resist, even swiveling out of the handcuffs twice.
Police said Bova may have been under the influence of drugs and that her eyes were dilated and she was slurring her words.
Police said Bova was not tested for drugs because that’s not the reason she was taken into custody.
"It actually took the officer and two other administrators to subdue her on the ground," said Lt. Rick Eades, with the Iredell County Sheriff's Office.
But those who know Bova said it just doesn’t make sense.
"She's delightful,” Elaine Mills, a friend of the teen’s family, said. “She doesn't just do things like that. That's just not her nature.”
Bova's boyfriend, Kyle Freeze, said Bova’s lip was busted during the three-minute struggle, which ended with an officer using a Taser to subdue Bova.
"It's just really upsetting,” Freeze said. “It really just did not need to happen.”
Eades said officers acted appropriately.
“We don't want to get hurt and we don't want other folks to get hurt," he said.
Bova is facing one charge of disorderly conduct and one charge of resisting an officer.
Police said Bova’s mother has chosen to keep her in jail for the time being.
Jacksonville will hire own school police
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. April 29 2010-- Duval County Public Schools will soon have their own full-time school resource officers, the school board announced Wednesday in a news release.
The move is expected to save the school district $1 million.
"It's not enough to save schools' money to pay the school resource officer bill to (the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)," said Paul Soares, chief of operations of Duval County Schools.
Since 1995, JSO has put SROs in Duval middle and high schools. In 2006, it cost the district $3 million, and in 2009, it jumped to $4.2 million due to growing pension costs.
"When we get a JSO officer, he's got at least 10 years. Most of them have 15, 20 years," Soares said. "So they're making a $60,000, $70,000 a year salary. With benefits, they're making over $100,000."
Jacksonville Schools To Hire Own Officers
The Duval County School Police Department is hiring qualified Florida Certified Law Enforcement Officers to serve as full-time patrol officers, school resource officers and investigative personnel, according to the release.
Duval County Public Schools currently partners with the JSO to provide SROs at schools, with the exception of two K-8 schools and three of the five Alternative to Out of School Suspension Centers.
The officers the school board is hiring will be certified law enforcement officers in the state of Florida, and the district is planning to recruit individuals who have previously served with sheriff's offices or school police departments throughout the state, according to the release.
"JSO has like 150 officers retiring the next three years alone," Soares said. "We're probably going to pick off 10 or 20 of these guys that have school resource officer experience."
Having its own school police will give the district full authority of SROs, meaning that officers will be on their assigned school campus full time, available for school personnel during regular working hours, according to the release. The officers will also patrol school campuses during winter, spring and summer breaks.
The district said it plans to hire nine SROs by July 1 and 15 additional officers by Oct. 1. A full transition of all JSO school police to the Duval County School Police Department, which will consist of 60 officers, will occur by October 2011, according to the release.
Sheriff John Rutherford released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: "This conversion of SROs from JSO officers to DCPS police is a cost savings opportunity for the JSO and the school district. Although the timeline is not as quick as I would like, this is being done by mutual agreement and we’re working closely to have a smooth transition.”
To be considered for the DCSPD, a qualified candidate must be a certified law enforcement officer in Florida and successfully complete a polygraph, background check, oral board and medical and psychological examinations. Interested and qualified applicants can apply online.
The move is expected to save the school district $1 million.
"It's not enough to save schools' money to pay the school resource officer bill to (the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office)," said Paul Soares, chief of operations of Duval County Schools.
Since 1995, JSO has put SROs in Duval middle and high schools. In 2006, it cost the district $3 million, and in 2009, it jumped to $4.2 million due to growing pension costs.
"When we get a JSO officer, he's got at least 10 years. Most of them have 15, 20 years," Soares said. "So they're making a $60,000, $70,000 a year salary. With benefits, they're making over $100,000."
Jacksonville Schools To Hire Own Officers
The Duval County School Police Department is hiring qualified Florida Certified Law Enforcement Officers to serve as full-time patrol officers, school resource officers and investigative personnel, according to the release.
Duval County Public Schools currently partners with the JSO to provide SROs at schools, with the exception of two K-8 schools and three of the five Alternative to Out of School Suspension Centers.
The officers the school board is hiring will be certified law enforcement officers in the state of Florida, and the district is planning to recruit individuals who have previously served with sheriff's offices or school police departments throughout the state, according to the release.
"JSO has like 150 officers retiring the next three years alone," Soares said. "We're probably going to pick off 10 or 20 of these guys that have school resource officer experience."
Having its own school police will give the district full authority of SROs, meaning that officers will be on their assigned school campus full time, available for school personnel during regular working hours, according to the release. The officers will also patrol school campuses during winter, spring and summer breaks.
The district said it plans to hire nine SROs by July 1 and 15 additional officers by Oct. 1. A full transition of all JSO school police to the Duval County School Police Department, which will consist of 60 officers, will occur by October 2011, according to the release.
Sheriff John Rutherford released the following statement Wednesday afternoon: "This conversion of SROs from JSO officers to DCPS police is a cost savings opportunity for the JSO and the school district. Although the timeline is not as quick as I would like, this is being done by mutual agreement and we’re working closely to have a smooth transition.”
To be considered for the DCSPD, a qualified candidate must be a certified law enforcement officer in Florida and successfully complete a polygraph, background check, oral board and medical and psychological examinations. Interested and qualified applicants can apply online.
Former security officer kills armed robber www.privateofficer.com
OMAHA, Neb. April 29 2010
The defense attorney for a man who decided to open fire and kill a teenager who was attempting to rob a store said his client was a hero who engaged in a "righteous" shooting.
The shooter, Harry McCullough, said Wednesday he always has his .40 caliber Smith and Wesson on him and has a license for a loaded firearm, though not one for a concealed gun.
"You prepare for it every day," he said. "I always carry it with me, like my wallet. I've had a license to carry for a long time."
He said he's wrestling with how his life changed during a trip to the drug store.
"I'm a little shaken, but not too bad," McCullough said.
He believes he did the right thing.
"Everything went as planned … turned out OK," he said.
Video: Attorney's Account Of Walgreen's Shooting
The events unfolded Monday night inside Walgreens at 61st Street and Northwest Radial Highway.
Attorney James Martin Davis said McCullough, 32, a former security guard at College of Saint Mary's, was in the store picking up a prescription and buying ice cream when two masked men entered.
Davis said his client saw the gunman hold a sawed-off shotgun to a woman's back as she held a phone to her ear. The two yelled profanities at the customers, Davis said.
He said that's when McCullough pulled out his .40 caliber Smith and Wesson gun from his waistband and shot the armed man.
Davis said his client fired four shots. The county attorney said eight shots were fired.
"He used good judgment and good instincts to prevent a tragedy," Davis said. "He also knew, and you can check this out, that that Walgreens had been held up three times in the last five months."
The would-be robber stumbled out of the store and collapsed. His sawed-off shotgun fell in the path of the store's automatic front door, preventing it from shutting.
"He killed another human being and he will live with regardless of how righteous the shooting was," Davis said.
McCullough then chased down a second suspect, ordering him to get face-down in an aisle until police arrived, Davis said.
McCullough won't face charges for killing the teen, but he is facing the rest of his life with the realization that he killed someone.
"You never intend that," he said. "You just want to protect yourself, that's all it is."
"He's experienced with handguns, a target shooter who worked in past as security guard to avert tragedy," Davis said.
The defense attorney for a man who decided to open fire and kill a teenager who was attempting to rob a store said his client was a hero who engaged in a "righteous" shooting.
The shooter, Harry McCullough, said Wednesday he always has his .40 caliber Smith and Wesson on him and has a license for a loaded firearm, though not one for a concealed gun.
"You prepare for it every day," he said. "I always carry it with me, like my wallet. I've had a license to carry for a long time."
He said he's wrestling with how his life changed during a trip to the drug store.
"I'm a little shaken, but not too bad," McCullough said.
He believes he did the right thing.
"Everything went as planned … turned out OK," he said.
Video: Attorney's Account Of Walgreen's Shooting
The events unfolded Monday night inside Walgreens at 61st Street and Northwest Radial Highway.
Attorney James Martin Davis said McCullough, 32, a former security guard at College of Saint Mary's, was in the store picking up a prescription and buying ice cream when two masked men entered.
Davis said his client saw the gunman hold a sawed-off shotgun to a woman's back as she held a phone to her ear. The two yelled profanities at the customers, Davis said.
He said that's when McCullough pulled out his .40 caliber Smith and Wesson gun from his waistband and shot the armed man.
Davis said his client fired four shots. The county attorney said eight shots were fired.
"He used good judgment and good instincts to prevent a tragedy," Davis said. "He also knew, and you can check this out, that that Walgreens had been held up three times in the last five months."
The would-be robber stumbled out of the store and collapsed. His sawed-off shotgun fell in the path of the store's automatic front door, preventing it from shutting.
"He killed another human being and he will live with regardless of how righteous the shooting was," Davis said.
McCullough then chased down a second suspect, ordering him to get face-down in an aisle until police arrived, Davis said.
McCullough won't face charges for killing the teen, but he is facing the rest of his life with the realization that he killed someone.
"You never intend that," he said. "You just want to protect yourself, that's all it is."
"He's experienced with handguns, a target shooter who worked in past as security guard to avert tragedy," Davis said.
Police departments cancel services, lay off staff and close for good www.privateofficer.com
Charlotte NC April 29 2010
By: RICK MCCANN/STAFF
PRIVATE OFFICER NEWS NETWORK
http://www.privateofficer.com/
For the past two years, police and sheriff departments have struggled to maintain their agencies with less money, fewer officers and no new equipment.
There has been lay offs and furloughs of "non-essential" personnel including civilian employees, community service officers, animal control officers and in some cases a few law enforcement officers here and there.
But, as time goes on and the economy is reportedly getting better, many public safety agencies are still having to fight to staff their jails, patrol cars and provide an acceptable level of service to the public that they are sworn to serve and protect.
In Birmingham Alabama the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office was forced to lay off several dozen patrol deputies for a number of months because they simply did not have the money to make payroll.
And they're not alone. Police and sheriff departments in at least 43 jurisdictions have decreased their staff, their coverage area and the services that they will now provide.
Just these week two other departments, Charlotte Mecklenburg North Carolina and Ingrham County sheriffs Department in Michigan have taken steps to downsize their departments.
About ten years ago, the Charlotte police department combined their agency with the Mecklenburg County Police and became the CMPD. That move greatly increased their staff numbers as well as their response area and brought needed resources and increased budgets to both agencies.
But that was then and this is now. Now CMPD is taking a serious look at removing the Mecklenburg County name from their department and restricting services and response areas to the city limits of Charlotte, leaving those living in the non-incorporated areas of the county without police service.
After years of cuts to the Ingham County Sheriff's Office they have relinquished most patrol duty to other agencies and this week the county commission has said no more.
"The office has lost 42 positions in the past three years," Commissioner Randy Schafer said. "The road patrol is about non-existent."
The Ingham County Board of Commissioners made a decision Tuesday that was a long time coming.
"This is culmination of folks understanding we do have budget problems and our only option is to target the more discretionary items," Chairperson Debbie DeLeon said.
Tuesday's vote didn't make it official, but it showed the board's intent to eliminate county road patrol services effective January, 1 2011 -- a move that would go along way in cutting down the county's $5 million budget deficit.
"I think this is a sad day," Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said. "Most counties are hurting and are in trouble, but I think public safety should be the first priority, not the last."
Leslie Township Supervisor Dallas Henney had hoped this day would never come.
"I don't think the folks of Ingham County want to live without road patrol," Henney said.
He said the 13 outlying townships and one village have come together and are considering an alternative -- creating a township-wide police authority and paying for patrols themselves.
"We are looking at a special assessment, everyone in the county would pay the same amount, no matter how big or small your house is," Henney said. "The thought is if you use the service, everyone should pay the same amount."
Each township will decide to either fund this idea or not.
Henney said they don't know if it will be on the August ballot or November's.
If the money is not there to adequately fund city and county law enforcement agencies there will be more of this said Ronnie Parks, a professor of law. The public in some ways will have to except less services, slower responses and in some cases, no response.
By: RICK MCCANN/STAFF
PRIVATE OFFICER NEWS NETWORK
http://www.privateofficer.com/
For the past two years, police and sheriff departments have struggled to maintain their agencies with less money, fewer officers and no new equipment.
There has been lay offs and furloughs of "non-essential" personnel including civilian employees, community service officers, animal control officers and in some cases a few law enforcement officers here and there.
But, as time goes on and the economy is reportedly getting better, many public safety agencies are still having to fight to staff their jails, patrol cars and provide an acceptable level of service to the public that they are sworn to serve and protect.
In Birmingham Alabama the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office was forced to lay off several dozen patrol deputies for a number of months because they simply did not have the money to make payroll.
And they're not alone. Police and sheriff departments in at least 43 jurisdictions have decreased their staff, their coverage area and the services that they will now provide.
Just these week two other departments, Charlotte Mecklenburg North Carolina and Ingrham County sheriffs Department in Michigan have taken steps to downsize their departments.
About ten years ago, the Charlotte police department combined their agency with the Mecklenburg County Police and became the CMPD. That move greatly increased their staff numbers as well as their response area and brought needed resources and increased budgets to both agencies.
But that was then and this is now. Now CMPD is taking a serious look at removing the Mecklenburg County name from their department and restricting services and response areas to the city limits of Charlotte, leaving those living in the non-incorporated areas of the county without police service.
After years of cuts to the Ingham County Sheriff's Office they have relinquished most patrol duty to other agencies and this week the county commission has said no more.
"The office has lost 42 positions in the past three years," Commissioner Randy Schafer said. "The road patrol is about non-existent."
The Ingham County Board of Commissioners made a decision Tuesday that was a long time coming.
"This is culmination of folks understanding we do have budget problems and our only option is to target the more discretionary items," Chairperson Debbie DeLeon said.
Tuesday's vote didn't make it official, but it showed the board's intent to eliminate county road patrol services effective January, 1 2011 -- a move that would go along way in cutting down the county's $5 million budget deficit.
"I think this is a sad day," Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said. "Most counties are hurting and are in trouble, but I think public safety should be the first priority, not the last."
Leslie Township Supervisor Dallas Henney had hoped this day would never come.
"I don't think the folks of Ingham County want to live without road patrol," Henney said.
He said the 13 outlying townships and one village have come together and are considering an alternative -- creating a township-wide police authority and paying for patrols themselves.
"We are looking at a special assessment, everyone in the county would pay the same amount, no matter how big or small your house is," Henney said. "The thought is if you use the service, everyone should pay the same amount."
Each township will decide to either fund this idea or not.
Henney said they don't know if it will be on the August ballot or November's.
If the money is not there to adequately fund city and county law enforcement agencies there will be more of this said Ronnie Parks, a professor of law. The public in some ways will have to except less services, slower responses and in some cases, no response.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Settlement reached against Marina house security www.privateofficer.com
Chicago IL April 28 2010 – A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving a former security officer at Marina City’s House of Blues.
The officer, Darrel Gibson, was captured on cell phone video assaulting 23-year-old Brittney Hernandez on October 12. Gibson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to a year of court supervision and anger management counseling.
Terms of the settlement, reached last week, were not disclosed, but the attorney for Hernandez called it “fair.” Hernandez had been seeking at least $100,000.
“We found the attorneys for House of Blues to be very cooperative,” said Stuart Brody following a status hearing on Tuesday morning, “and we are pleased to have settled the case.”
Brody says discussions with HOB were “minimal” and that the video of the incident was helpful, otherwise it would have just been his client’s word against Gibson’s.
Another lawsuit is still pending. Filed on October 8, it accuses another HOB security officer of assaulting Kristin Chopp at a concert on July 20, 2009. Chopp is seeking $50,000A status hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday.
The officer, Darrel Gibson, was captured on cell phone video assaulting 23-year-old Brittney Hernandez on October 12. Gibson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to a year of court supervision and anger management counseling.
Terms of the settlement, reached last week, were not disclosed, but the attorney for Hernandez called it “fair.” Hernandez had been seeking at least $100,000.
“We found the attorneys for House of Blues to be very cooperative,” said Stuart Brody following a status hearing on Tuesday morning, “and we are pleased to have settled the case.”
Brody says discussions with HOB were “minimal” and that the video of the incident was helpful, otherwise it would have just been his client’s word against Gibson’s.
Another lawsuit is still pending. Filed on October 8, it accuses another HOB security officer of assaulting Kristin Chopp at a concert on July 20, 2009. Chopp is seeking $50,000A status hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday.
Bouncer has finger biten off www.privateofficer.com
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. April 28 2010 (AP) - A South Dakota bar bouncer lost a finger in a weekend altercation with an unhappy customer.
Sioux Falls police took to jail the 30-year-old man suspected of biting off the finger.
Police say Lucio Rodriguez Castro started a fight after his friend was kicked out of the bar.
When a bouncer intervened, Castro punched him, knocked him down and then allegedly bit off his finger.
The bouncer was taken to a hospital and had surgery on his hand, but the bit-off portion of his finger was not found.
Sioux Falls police took to jail the 30-year-old man suspected of biting off the finger.
Police say Lucio Rodriguez Castro started a fight after his friend was kicked out of the bar.
When a bouncer intervened, Castro punched him, knocked him down and then allegedly bit off his finger.
The bouncer was taken to a hospital and had surgery on his hand, but the bit-off portion of his finger was not found.
Evangel University to arm campus officers www.privateofficer.com
Springfield MO April 28 2010 An Ozarks university is the first in the area to add a lethal weapon to the utility belts of its first line defenders.
Evangel University is arming its security officers.
It's a move that's been several years in the making.
"We really don't experience that many problems on campus."
Evangel Director of Security Gene Thomlinson would like that trend to continue.
"In the 41 years I've been here we've experience claw hammers and screw drivers and knives- had one incident with a rifle, but that's over a span of 40 years. That's one every ten years," Thomlinson explains.
"I'd rather have it and never need to use it than need to use it and not have it," says Andy Englert, one of Evangel's security officers.
Actual incidents are not the inspiration for adding a lethal weapon to his waistband.
It's the better safe than sorry mantra.
Evangel security says the biggest problem on campus is people entering vehicles, riffling through and taking stuff.
But a bigger concern is North Glenstone Avenue, usually packed with traffic and right alongside campus.
"It is not a matter of the people here; it's those people we don't know that could come from wherever," says Dr. Robert Spence, the university's president.
"They tell us they can respond to us in a major situation in about seven minutes," Thomlinson tells us, refering to Springfield police.
So instead of getting police officers Evangel is getting guns.
"Actually it was the student senate that made the first request," says Spence.
The university board of directors complied, voting unanimously to allow it's security officers to pack heat, next to a baton and a cannister of mace.
"We're willing to pick up the tab."
That's what the student body said.
A $10 a year security fee will help offset the cost to carry.
Most are excited.
"It makes us feel like if there's a problem we have someone to go to rather than calling security and then the police," one student tells us.
Some are hesitant.
"It's kind of a scary thought," another says.
All say so is this: Virginia Tech.
Other universities in the area utilize Springfield police.
Missouri State has a sub-station, OTC hires officers to work during its busiest times, and Drury has two officers.
Hiring officers cost Drury more than $136,000 the first year; Thomlinson says Evangel's start-up costs will be $20,000.
Evangel's security guards will not have arresting powers.
They will still have to call Springfield police for back-up if a situation arises.
Evangel University is arming its security officers.
It's a move that's been several years in the making.
"We really don't experience that many problems on campus."
Evangel Director of Security Gene Thomlinson would like that trend to continue.
"In the 41 years I've been here we've experience claw hammers and screw drivers and knives- had one incident with a rifle, but that's over a span of 40 years. That's one every ten years," Thomlinson explains.
"I'd rather have it and never need to use it than need to use it and not have it," says Andy Englert, one of Evangel's security officers.
Actual incidents are not the inspiration for adding a lethal weapon to his waistband.
It's the better safe than sorry mantra.
Evangel security says the biggest problem on campus is people entering vehicles, riffling through and taking stuff.
But a bigger concern is North Glenstone Avenue, usually packed with traffic and right alongside campus.
"It is not a matter of the people here; it's those people we don't know that could come from wherever," says Dr. Robert Spence, the university's president.
"They tell us they can respond to us in a major situation in about seven minutes," Thomlinson tells us, refering to Springfield police.
So instead of getting police officers Evangel is getting guns.
"Actually it was the student senate that made the first request," says Spence.
The university board of directors complied, voting unanimously to allow it's security officers to pack heat, next to a baton and a cannister of mace.
"We're willing to pick up the tab."
That's what the student body said.
A $10 a year security fee will help offset the cost to carry.
Most are excited.
"It makes us feel like if there's a problem we have someone to go to rather than calling security and then the police," one student tells us.
Some are hesitant.
"It's kind of a scary thought," another says.
All say so is this: Virginia Tech.
Other universities in the area utilize Springfield police.
Missouri State has a sub-station, OTC hires officers to work during its busiest times, and Drury has two officers.
Hiring officers cost Drury more than $136,000 the first year; Thomlinson says Evangel's start-up costs will be $20,000.
Evangel's security guards will not have arresting powers.
They will still have to call Springfield police for back-up if a situation arises.
Police seek help in Sears robbery assault www.privateofficer.com
MIDLAND, Mich. April 28 2010-- Police in Midland are asking for the public’s help tracking down a person they said attacked a security officer at a Sears retail store.
The attack happened Saturday, April 3, at the Midland Mall Sears store.
Police said a woman tried to leave the store with about $1,000 worth of clothing that he didn’t pay for.
A security officer then got into an altercation with the woman, who eventually managed to escape.
Anyone with information on the man on the security tape is urged to contact Midland police at 989-631-5716 .
http://www.wnem.com/video/23280102/
The attack happened Saturday, April 3, at the Midland Mall Sears store.
Police said a woman tried to leave the store with about $1,000 worth of clothing that he didn’t pay for.
A security officer then got into an altercation with the woman, who eventually managed to escape.
Anyone with information on the man on the security tape is urged to contact Midland police at 989-631-5716 .
http://www.wnem.com/video/23280102/
Man tries to abduct 4 yr old at Denver mall www.privateofficer.com
AURORA, Colo. April 28 2010
Source:7NewsDenver-- Aurora police are trying to identify a man who may have tried to abduct a 4-year-old girl at the Aurora mall.
The incident took place last Thursday at about 7 p.m.
Witnesses in the food court told police that they saw a man holding the hand of a little girl who was crying and looking around as if she was looking for someone else.
When one witness flagged down a security officer, the man let go of the girl's hand and took off, walking quickly out of the mall and into the parking lot, said Aurora detective Shannon Youngquist Lucy.
"He kind of left in a hurry if it was a misunderstanding. There was a security guard there he could have flagged down if she was just a lost little kid he was trying to help," Lucy said. "Under the circumstance, I don’t think it is a misunderstanding ... But if this was a misunderstanding, if he would come forward and clear this up, it would certainly be helpful."
The girl's parents were with her, several other children and an adult couple in the mall, named Town Center at Aurora. The group of kids had gone to the bathroom when the girl's parents lost track of her, police said.
"It was just an incident where the dad thought the girl was with the mom and the mom thought the girl was with the dad," Lucy said.
Detectives who are actively working the case have not gotten many leads so they are asking for the public's help to identify the man.
Police on Tuesday released surveillance photos taken inside the Town Center at Aurora.
The man was described as Hispanic, with medium height and build. He had a mustache and was wearing a dark colored baseball cap with white writing on the back and blue jeans. He had a brown work coat that had a hood and a logo or name on the left breast area. In the surveillance photos the coat appears to be tucked under his arm.
The photos show him getting into a late 90s or early 2000 dark colored Toyota Tacoma pickup with chrome wheels.
"It's scary. I'd be terrified if it were my son," one parent told 7NEWS.
Even though the incident occured last Thursday, police made the case public today so investigators could thoroughly investigate leads. Officials say the surveillance pictures were immediately distributed to Aurora officers.
Investigators from the Crimes Against Children Unit are actively working the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Susan Wynn at 303-739-6208 .
The incident took place last Thursday at about 7 p.m.
Witnesses in the food court told police that they saw a man holding the hand of a little girl who was crying and looking around as if she was looking for someone else.
When one witness flagged down a security officer, the man let go of the girl's hand and took off, walking quickly out of the mall and into the parking lot, said Aurora detective Shannon Youngquist Lucy.
"He kind of left in a hurry if it was a misunderstanding. There was a security guard there he could have flagged down if she was just a lost little kid he was trying to help," Lucy said. "Under the circumstance, I don’t think it is a misunderstanding ... But if this was a misunderstanding, if he would come forward and clear this up, it would certainly be helpful."
The girl's parents were with her, several other children and an adult couple in the mall, named Town Center at Aurora. The group of kids had gone to the bathroom when the girl's parents lost track of her, police said.
"It was just an incident where the dad thought the girl was with the mom and the mom thought the girl was with the dad," Lucy said.
Detectives who are actively working the case have not gotten many leads so they are asking for the public's help to identify the man.
Police on Tuesday released surveillance photos taken inside the Town Center at Aurora.
The man was described as Hispanic, with medium height and build. He had a mustache and was wearing a dark colored baseball cap with white writing on the back and blue jeans. He had a brown work coat that had a hood and a logo or name on the left breast area. In the surveillance photos the coat appears to be tucked under his arm.
The photos show him getting into a late 90s or early 2000 dark colored Toyota Tacoma pickup with chrome wheels.
"It's scary. I'd be terrified if it were my son," one parent told 7NEWS.
Even though the incident occured last Thursday, police made the case public today so investigators could thoroughly investigate leads. Officials say the surveillance pictures were immediately distributed to Aurora officers.
Investigators from the Crimes Against Children Unit are actively working the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Susan Wynn at 303-739-6208 .
Long Beach police officer commits suicide in Vegas www.privateofficer.com
LAS VEGAS NV April 28 2010
Source:dailybreeze- Las Vegas authorities confirmed Tuesday that a 10-year-veteran of the Long Beach Police Department force committed suicide at a Las Vegas hotel and casino over the weekend.
Officer Randy Kleber, who was most recently assigned to the Airport Security detail, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest on Saturday at about 8:15 p.m., according to the Clark County Coroner's Office.
Kleber, 32, was in a hotel room at the Gold Coast Casino and Hotel at the time of the shooting, coroner's investigators said.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department also confirmed the death, saying early Tuesday that police were notified of the shooting at about 7:40 p.m.
"The cause of death will be given by the coroner but it does appear to be a suicide," said Barbara Morgan, a department spokeswoman. "Detectives responded and an investigation was completed, no foul play is suspected."
Friends of Kleber both on and off the force said they were stunned and saddened by the news of his death.
Officials at the Long Beach Police Department confirmed Kleber was hired by the LBPD in 2000 and graduated from LBPD Academy Class 75.
It was not known early Tuesday when the funeral services will be held and if they will be private or public, officials said.
Source:dailybreeze- Las Vegas authorities confirmed Tuesday that a 10-year-veteran of the Long Beach Police Department force committed suicide at a Las Vegas hotel and casino over the weekend.
Officer Randy Kleber, who was most recently assigned to the Airport Security detail, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest on Saturday at about 8:15 p.m., according to the Clark County Coroner's Office.
Kleber, 32, was in a hotel room at the Gold Coast Casino and Hotel at the time of the shooting, coroner's investigators said.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department also confirmed the death, saying early Tuesday that police were notified of the shooting at about 7:40 p.m.
"The cause of death will be given by the coroner but it does appear to be a suicide," said Barbara Morgan, a department spokeswoman. "Detectives responded and an investigation was completed, no foul play is suspected."
Friends of Kleber both on and off the force said they were stunned and saddened by the news of his death.
Officials at the Long Beach Police Department confirmed Kleber was hired by the LBPD in 2000 and graduated from LBPD Academy Class 75.
It was not known early Tuesday when the funeral services will be held and if they will be private or public, officials said.
GM guard arrested for stealing copper www.privateofficer.com
Shreveport LA April 28 2010 A private security guard assigned to the General Motors assembly plant in Shreveport has been arrested on charges he stole 11,000 pounds of robotic copper welding tips from the plant.
Emile Short, 54, of Klug Pines Road is accused of taking the welding tips over a 16-month period. They were stolen "a little at a time" since 2008, Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator said.
Sheriff's detectives said Short worked for a private security company and had access to the locked area where the metals were stored.
Short was booked on 16 counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.
Emile Short, 54, of Klug Pines Road is accused of taking the welding tips over a 16-month period. They were stolen "a little at a time" since 2008, Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator said.
Sheriff's detectives said Short worked for a private security company and had access to the locked area where the metals were stored.
Short was booked on 16 counts of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft.
Three accused of embezzlement at Chevron www.privateofficer.com
PASCAGOULA MS April 28 2010
Source:SunHerald — An Alabama man working for a subcontractor at Chevron’s Pascagoula Refinery and two others have been accused of embezzling more than $30,000 in parts from the plant in exchange for OxyContin.
Investigators arrested David Randall Goff, 36, of Saraland, at the refinery Thursday while he was still an employee of the subcontractor, Triad Electric and Controls Inc., of Baton Rouge, Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd said. He is charged with embezzlement. He is out of jail on a $10,000 bond.
In addition, Byrd said, two other contract employees allegedly involved in the scheme identified Brewton, Ala., resident Memphis Shane Riddle as the man they gave the stolen parts to in exchange for the prescription pain medication.
The identities of the suspects who are assisting authorities are being withheld. Evidence against them will be presented to a grand jury.
Riddle, the sheriff said, took the stolen parts and repackaged them for sale to businesses in Escambia, Fla., and Ponchatoula, La. A warrant has been issued for Riddle’s arrest on embezzlement and grand larceny charges. The sheriff said Riddle has a history of arrests on similar charges, as well as a domestic violence arrest.
Sgt. Robert Blocker headed up the investigation. It’s believed, the sheriff said, that Riddle had been getting the employees to steal the parts for more than five years.
Chevron spokesman Steve Renfroe said security officials discovered the thefts.
“There was a tip in the refinery from an employee,” he said. “As soon as we found out, we turned it over to the sheriff’s department.”
Other arrests are expected.
Anyone with information about the thefts or Riddle’s whereabouts is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at 769-3063
DC armored car robbed www.privateofficer.com
Washington DC April 28 2010 An armored car guard was held up behind a Northeast pharmacy Tuesday evening, and D.C. police are trying to locate the suspects in the incident, officials said.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the suspects got away with any money or anything else.
The attempted heist happened behind the CVS in the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue when three suspects attacked the guard outside of the armored truck about 6:30 p.m., said officer Hugh Carew, a police spokesman. No injuries were reported.
Police responded to the scene with police dogs and a helicopter, and they issued a lookout for a green mini-van in which the three suspects may have fled, Carew said.
Police were also trying to determine if the guard's gun was stolen in the incident.
UPDATE: D.C. police have confirmed that money was stolen in the hold-up of an armored-truck guard Tuesday night in Northeast.
Police said the thieves seized bags of cash before fleeing. The amount of money involved was not disclosed.
A green mini-van that the robbers may have used was found beneath an overpass at 8th and Edgewood Streets NE, police said.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the suspects got away with any money or anything else.
The attempted heist happened behind the CVS in the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue when three suspects attacked the guard outside of the armored truck about 6:30 p.m., said officer Hugh Carew, a police spokesman. No injuries were reported.
Police responded to the scene with police dogs and a helicopter, and they issued a lookout for a green mini-van in which the three suspects may have fled, Carew said.
Police were also trying to determine if the guard's gun was stolen in the incident.
UPDATE: D.C. police have confirmed that money was stolen in the hold-up of an armored-truck guard Tuesday night in Northeast.
Police said the thieves seized bags of cash before fleeing. The amount of money involved was not disclosed.
A green mini-van that the robbers may have used was found beneath an overpass at 8th and Edgewood Streets NE, police said.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
OFFICER DOWN NYE COUNTY NV
Deputy Sheriff Ian Michael Deutch
Nye County Sheriff's Office
Nevada
End of Watch: Monday, April 26, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, April 26, 2010
Weapon Used: Rifle; SKS
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Deputy Ian Deutch was shot and killed as he and another deputy responded to a shooting call at a casino in Pahrump, Nevada.
A woman had called 911 and then fled to the casino during a domestic disturbance in which a man had fired a rifle at her. As Deputy Deutch and his partner exited their vehicle the man, who had followed her to the casino, opened fire on them with an SKS rifle.
Deputy Deutch was struck three times in the abdomen, with the rounds penetrating his vest. A third responding deputy returned fire and killed the suspect.
Deputy Deutch was a member of the Nevada Army National Guard and was on his second day back on duty after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan.
Agency Contact Information
Nye County Sheriff's Office
101 Radar Road
Tonopah, NV 89049
Phone: (775) 482-8101
Please contact the Nye County Sheriff's Office for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Nye County Sheriff's Office
Nevada
End of Watch: Monday, April 26, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, April 26, 2010
Weapon Used: Rifle; SKS
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Deputy Ian Deutch was shot and killed as he and another deputy responded to a shooting call at a casino in Pahrump, Nevada.
A woman had called 911 and then fled to the casino during a domestic disturbance in which a man had fired a rifle at her. As Deputy Deutch and his partner exited their vehicle the man, who had followed her to the casino, opened fire on them with an SKS rifle.
Deputy Deutch was struck three times in the abdomen, with the rounds penetrating his vest. A third responding deputy returned fire and killed the suspect.
Deputy Deutch was a member of the Nevada Army National Guard and was on his second day back on duty after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan.
Agency Contact Information
Nye County Sheriff's Office
101 Radar Road
Tonopah, NV 89049
Phone: (775) 482-8101
Please contact the Nye County Sheriff's Office for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Infant dies after being left in car www.privateofficer.com
MONROE COUNTY, Ga.April 27 2010 – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 21-month-old child.
A preliminary investigation indicates Joseph Chatmon was left inside a parked vehicle at Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School in Forsyth, officials said.
Investigators said the child, restrained in a child safety seat, was left inside the vehicle from the time his mother, 23-year-old India Chatmon, arrived at work Friday morning, until she left work late that afternoon.
Chatmon is an employee at the school.
Officials said as soon as Chatom discovered her son in the van, she immediately drove to the Monroe County Emergency Room with the child where he died.
The body was transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for an autopsy, officials said.
This incident is still under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
A preliminary investigation indicates Joseph Chatmon was left inside a parked vehicle at Samuel E. Hubbard Elementary School in Forsyth, officials said.
Investigators said the child, restrained in a child safety seat, was left inside the vehicle from the time his mother, 23-year-old India Chatmon, arrived at work Friday morning, until she left work late that afternoon.
Chatmon is an employee at the school.
Officials said as soon as Chatom discovered her son in the van, she immediately drove to the Monroe County Emergency Room with the child where he died.
The body was transported to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for an autopsy, officials said.
This incident is still under investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
US Army Colonel arrested for child porn www.prvateofficer.com
ATLANTA GA April 27 2010 -- A lieutenant colonel with the U.S. Army has been indicted by a federal grand jury on child pornography production and possession offenses.
Edgar Pagan-Torres, 41, of Peachtree City, made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate judge on April 15, 2009, and was indicted Tuesday afternoon.
"This defendant allegedly sexually abused his own daughter and niece and then produced videos of his crimes, mementos that he carefully organized into home-video-style DVDs," said U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. "This shocking and tragic conduct has no place in our nation's military, nor anywhere else. I appreciate all the hard work the U.S. Army investigators did to bring this case to the FBI and to ensure that the defendant now faces these very serious charges."
According to Yates, the indictment and evidence in public record and in court, Pagan-Torres was assigned to a military installation in Puerto Rico from 2004 to 2007. At that time, he and his family lived near Pagan-Torres' sister, who has a daughter the same age as Pagan-Torres' daughter.
In 2008, a year after Pagan-Torres and his family relocated to Peachtree City, Pagan-Torres' niece alleged that Pagan-Torres had molested her and his daughter. In 2009, family members passed this information to law enforcement in Puerto Rico, resulting in Pagan-Torres' guilty plea last month in Puerto Rico to criminal charges related to his niece's molestation allegations.
At the same time the Puerto Rican authorities were investigating, agents from the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigations Division based at Fort McPherson seized various computers and digital media from Pagan-Torres' home in Peachtree City. Searches of these items allegedly revealed sexually explicit videos Pagan-Torres had made involving his daughter and his niece. Some of the videos were allegedly made in Pagan-Torres' home in Puerto Rico and others were made in his Peachtree City residence. Many of the alleged videos had been transferred from the original recording media to home video-style DVDs organized into chapters. Additional forensic work uncovered a large collection of child pornography Pagan-Torres had downloaded from the Internet.
The indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by special agents of the FBI, U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, and the Peachtree City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. attorneys Robert McBurney and Jill Steinberg are prosecuting the case.
Edgar Pagan-Torres, 41, of Peachtree City, made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate judge on April 15, 2009, and was indicted Tuesday afternoon.
"This defendant allegedly sexually abused his own daughter and niece and then produced videos of his crimes, mementos that he carefully organized into home-video-style DVDs," said U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. "This shocking and tragic conduct has no place in our nation's military, nor anywhere else. I appreciate all the hard work the U.S. Army investigators did to bring this case to the FBI and to ensure that the defendant now faces these very serious charges."
According to Yates, the indictment and evidence in public record and in court, Pagan-Torres was assigned to a military installation in Puerto Rico from 2004 to 2007. At that time, he and his family lived near Pagan-Torres' sister, who has a daughter the same age as Pagan-Torres' daughter.
In 2008, a year after Pagan-Torres and his family relocated to Peachtree City, Pagan-Torres' niece alleged that Pagan-Torres had molested her and his daughter. In 2009, family members passed this information to law enforcement in Puerto Rico, resulting in Pagan-Torres' guilty plea last month in Puerto Rico to criminal charges related to his niece's molestation allegations.
At the same time the Puerto Rican authorities were investigating, agents from the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigations Division based at Fort McPherson seized various computers and digital media from Pagan-Torres' home in Peachtree City. Searches of these items allegedly revealed sexually explicit videos Pagan-Torres had made involving his daughter and his niece. Some of the videos were allegedly made in Pagan-Torres' home in Puerto Rico and others were made in his Peachtree City residence. Many of the alleged videos had been transferred from the original recording media to home video-style DVDs organized into chapters. Additional forensic work uncovered a large collection of child pornography Pagan-Torres had downloaded from the Internet.
The indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is being investigated by special agents of the FBI, U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division, and the Peachtree City Police Department.
Assistant U.S. attorneys Robert McBurney and Jill Steinberg are prosecuting the case.
Al police dog dies after being left in car www.privateofficer.com
Montgomery AL April 27 2010
Source: montgomery advertiser A police K9 dog died Friday after his human partner accidentally left him inside a patrol car between shifts, police said Monday.
The internal affairs division is investigating the incident, said Capt. Keith Barnett, a police spokesman.
Police notified the Humane Society so it could decide whether to conduct a criminal investigation, Barnett said.
Humane deputies could not immediately be reached for comment.
The officer has been transferred from K9 to patrol and could face further discipline depending on the outcome of the investigation, Barnett said.
The dog, Urso, was laid to rest Monday.
The officer had driven Urso to the Police Department's kennel mid-morning Friday. Normally, the dog would be checked into the kennel, fed and given water, Barnett said.
The officer "just forgot," Barnett said. The officer returned to the kennel for his next shift at 8 p.m. and found Urso dead inside the vehicle.
The officer is "emotionally devastated" by Urso's death, Barnett said.
Officers and K9 dogs work together as partners every day, often confronting dangerous situations together, he said.
"They are the only backup either one of them have," Barnett said.
He also pointed out that K9 partners are like family members to human officers and that police dogs and their handlers even spend a lot of their off time together.
Urso's death is believed to be heat-related.
It is hard to say exactly what happened Friday morning since the investigation has not been completed, Barnett said, but something happened to disrupt the officer's routine.
The K9 unit had worked past its normal shift Friday, and circumstances interrupted the officer's normal workflow, Barnett said.
Animal control officers would have been in and out of the kennel during the day Friday, but the officer parked in a place where no one could hear Urso if he was barking, Barnett said.
Because there is no official log at the kennel, there is no way to track exactly why a dog is not at the kennel at a given time, he said. For instance, an officer might take the dog to a veterinarian right after a shift, Barnett added.
This is the first time a Montgomery police dog has died in this manner, he said.
Urso, a German shepherd, joined the department four years ago after being trained at a facility in North Carolina.
The Police Department has a total of 12 police dogs, including 11 patrol dogs and one bloodhound.
In a statement, Police Chief Arthur Baylor expressed his gratitude to Urso for his service to the department.
Source: montgomery advertiser A police K9 dog died Friday after his human partner accidentally left him inside a patrol car between shifts, police said Monday.
The internal affairs division is investigating the incident, said Capt. Keith Barnett, a police spokesman.
Police notified the Humane Society so it could decide whether to conduct a criminal investigation, Barnett said.
Humane deputies could not immediately be reached for comment.
The officer has been transferred from K9 to patrol and could face further discipline depending on the outcome of the investigation, Barnett said.
The dog, Urso, was laid to rest Monday.
The officer had driven Urso to the Police Department's kennel mid-morning Friday. Normally, the dog would be checked into the kennel, fed and given water, Barnett said.
The officer "just forgot," Barnett said. The officer returned to the kennel for his next shift at 8 p.m. and found Urso dead inside the vehicle.
The officer is "emotionally devastated" by Urso's death, Barnett said.
Officers and K9 dogs work together as partners every day, often confronting dangerous situations together, he said.
"They are the only backup either one of them have," Barnett said.
He also pointed out that K9 partners are like family members to human officers and that police dogs and their handlers even spend a lot of their off time together.
Urso's death is believed to be heat-related.
It is hard to say exactly what happened Friday morning since the investigation has not been completed, Barnett said, but something happened to disrupt the officer's routine.
The K9 unit had worked past its normal shift Friday, and circumstances interrupted the officer's normal workflow, Barnett said.
Animal control officers would have been in and out of the kennel during the day Friday, but the officer parked in a place where no one could hear Urso if he was barking, Barnett said.
Because there is no official log at the kennel, there is no way to track exactly why a dog is not at the kennel at a given time, he said. For instance, an officer might take the dog to a veterinarian right after a shift, Barnett added.
This is the first time a Montgomery police dog has died in this manner, he said.
Urso, a German shepherd, joined the department four years ago after being trained at a facility in North Carolina.
The Police Department has a total of 12 police dogs, including 11 patrol dogs and one bloodhound.
In a statement, Police Chief Arthur Baylor expressed his gratitude to Urso for his service to the department.
Alabama Troopers arrest 127 DUI drivers during NASCAR race www.privateofficer.com
Talladega Al April 27 2010 Alabama State Troopers Task Force Zero made 127 driving under the influence arrests during the four-day Talladega race weekend, state troopers announced this morning.
The task force also issued 24 open container citations, 41 seat belt violations, 130 citations for other violations, and 30 warnings.day from Thursday through to midnight Sunday.
Task Force Zero is a unit of Alabama State Troopers that specializes in DUI detection. During race weekends the task force conducts patrols around Talladega SuperSpeedway property to enforce traffic laws and apprehend impaired drivers in an attempt to save lives, according to the troopers statement.
The number of DUI arrests by the task force was more than the late October race at Talladega, said Trooper Chad Joiner, a public information officer for the troopers.
During the four-day race weekend in October, the troopers' task force arrested 83 people on DUI charges, Joiner said.
The task force also issued 24 open container citations, 41 seat belt violations, 130 citations for other violations, and 30 warnings.day from Thursday through to midnight Sunday.
Task Force Zero is a unit of Alabama State Troopers that specializes in DUI detection. During race weekends the task force conducts patrols around Talladega SuperSpeedway property to enforce traffic laws and apprehend impaired drivers in an attempt to save lives, according to the troopers statement.
The number of DUI arrests by the task force was more than the late October race at Talladega, said Trooper Chad Joiner, a public information officer for the troopers.
During the four-day race weekend in October, the troopers' task force arrested 83 people on DUI charges, Joiner said.
Nye County deputy killed in shoot-out www.privateofficer.com
PAHRUMP, Nev. April 27 2010
Source: news 8 now -- Metro Police and University Medical Center officials say the Nye County deputy shot in Pahrump on Monday has died. The officer was shot at the Terrible's Lakeside Casino Monday afternoon.
The incident began as a domestic dispute miles away from the casino. Police say a woman reported that a man fired a gun at her. She drove to the casino to seek refuge, but he followed her. It is unclear if they were married. "She went into the casino. The suspect followed her into the casino," Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo said. "At that time, we were also having deputies respond to the domestic (situation)."
When deputies arrived, they found the woman and the suspect. The suspect then pulled out an SKS rifle and opened fire. He struck one deputy three times. One of the bullets pierced the deputy's bulletproof vest. The other deputy shot and killed the suspect. Bullets riddled the woman's car and blew out the tires.
Emergency crews airlifted the wounded deputy to University Medical Center. He arrived in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery. He died Monday evening. The deputy was 27-years-old, and he recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. "This is his second day on the streets," Sheriff DeMeo said.
People inside the Lakeside casino reacted to the news of the shooting. "It was just shocking that something was going on like this here," Richard Spleen said. "It's a tragedy on both sides," another customer said. "People have to die to learn a lesson… There are other ways than using a gun to settle problems."
The Nye County Sheriff's office has not released the identity of the deputy who died.
Source: news 8 now -- Metro Police and University Medical Center officials say the Nye County deputy shot in Pahrump on Monday has died. The officer was shot at the Terrible's Lakeside Casino Monday afternoon.
The incident began as a domestic dispute miles away from the casino. Police say a woman reported that a man fired a gun at her. She drove to the casino to seek refuge, but he followed her. It is unclear if they were married. "She went into the casino. The suspect followed her into the casino," Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo said. "At that time, we were also having deputies respond to the domestic (situation)."
When deputies arrived, they found the woman and the suspect. The suspect then pulled out an SKS rifle and opened fire. He struck one deputy three times. One of the bullets pierced the deputy's bulletproof vest. The other deputy shot and killed the suspect. Bullets riddled the woman's car and blew out the tires.
Emergency crews airlifted the wounded deputy to University Medical Center. He arrived in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery. He died Monday evening. The deputy was 27-years-old, and he recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. "This is his second day on the streets," Sheriff DeMeo said.
People inside the Lakeside casino reacted to the news of the shooting. "It was just shocking that something was going on like this here," Richard Spleen said. "It's a tragedy on both sides," another customer said. "People have to die to learn a lesson… There are other ways than using a gun to settle problems."
The Nye County Sheriff's office has not released the identity of the deputy who died.
Ocean County court officer killed in traffic accident www.privateofficer.com
Ocean County NJ April 27 2010
By: Rick McCann/Staff
PRIVATE OFFICER NETWORK
www.privateofficer.com Authorities have reported that an off-duty Ocean County sheriff's court officer died Saturday night in a one-vehicle accident on Water Street in Toms River.
Dan Murphy, 26, of Toms River, was the security supervisor at the Ocean County Courthouse and was in charge of the court security.
Police say that Murphy was traveling east at 10 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle while changing lanes and struck a curb and then a utility pole just west of Hooper Avenue.
He was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The investigation is continuing, Mastronardy said
By: Rick McCann/Staff
PRIVATE OFFICER NETWORK
www.privateofficer.com Authorities have reported that an off-duty Ocean County sheriff's court officer died Saturday night in a one-vehicle accident on Water Street in Toms River.
Dan Murphy, 26, of Toms River, was the security supervisor at the Ocean County Courthouse and was in charge of the court security.
Police say that Murphy was traveling east at 10 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle while changing lanes and struck a curb and then a utility pole just west of Hooper Avenue.
He was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The investigation is continuing, Mastronardy said
OFFICER DOWN
Deputy Sheriff Kory Dahlvig
Vilas County Sheriff's Department
Wisconsin
End of Watch: Monday, April 26, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 5 years, 10 months
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Monday, April 26, 2010
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Charged with vehicular murder
Deputy Kory Dahlvig was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a mutual aid call from the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department. As he responded on Highway 47 a dump truck parked on the side of the road entered the roadway, causing Deputy Dahlvig to strike the back of it.
The dump truck's driver was arrested and charged with vehicular murder.
Deputy Dahlvig had served with the Vilas County Sheriff's Department for two years and previously served with the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department for three and a half years.
Agency Contact Information
Vilas County Sheriff's Department
330 Court Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone: (715) 479-4441
Please contact the Vilas County Sheriff's Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Vilas County Sheriff's Department
Wisconsin
End of Watch: Monday, April 26, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 5 years, 10 months
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Monday, April 26, 2010
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Charged with vehicular murder
Deputy Kory Dahlvig was killed in an automobile crash while responding to a mutual aid call from the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department. As he responded on Highway 47 a dump truck parked on the side of the road entered the roadway, causing Deputy Dahlvig to strike the back of it.
The dump truck's driver was arrested and charged with vehicular murder.
Deputy Dahlvig had served with the Vilas County Sheriff's Department for two years and previously served with the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Police Department for three and a half years.
Agency Contact Information
Vilas County Sheriff's Department
330 Court Street
Eagle River, WI 54521
Phone: (715) 479-4441
Please contact the Vilas County Sheriff's Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
2010 Security Hall of Fame Inductees www.privateofficer.com
Atlanta GA April 26 2010
PRESS RELEASE
The following 9 persons have been inducted into the Private Officer Hall of Fame.
The inductees were selected from a list of 64 nominations for their courageous acts of bravery and valor, professionalism and contributions to the private security industry.
This was an inaugural induction to pay honor to those who have given their all to protect life and property, their client, their community and the general public at large.
Each year from this day forward, the Private Officer Hall of Fame inductions will be held during the week of April 25th in honor of the founder and CEO of the association, Mr. Rick McCann.
The Private Officer International association is a private security organization with members in 10 countries. The association provides support services including an on-line training school and certifications program, a benevolent program for injured officers or families of security officers killed in the line of duty, a radio program geared toward security, services and products for the public safety industry and regional seminars.
For more information please contact kyletgreene@privateofficer.com.
2010 INDUCTEES
DERRICK BRUN
Red Lake, MI
Officer Derrick Brun was working at the Red Lake High School as an unarmed security officer in May 2005 when heavily armed 16 year old student Jeff Weise entered the school. Brun confronted the suspect allowing another security officer and numerous students to flee.
The suspect shot Officer Brun and then went on a shooting spree killing 9 others. Because of the selfless actions of Officer Brun, numerous students and staff were unharmed.
DERRICK MCFARLAND
Blacksburg VA.
Officer McFarland was employed at the Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg VA. and was shot and killed in August 2006 while attempting to stop the escape of a prisoner who had been brought to the facility for medical treatment.
The suspect managed to disarm and kill a deputy sheriff and officer McFarland and was later captured.
McFarland leaves behind his wife Cindy, and the couple's two children.
DAVID RYAN TRIPP
Titusville Fla.
While working an unarmed security patrol at the Great Outdoors RV Park and Golf resort Officer Tripp encounted a fight involving several people. As he attempted to break up the disturbance he was killed by Shawn Cramer, a man who broke into the complex and killed three other people that night.
Tripp put up a huge battle against the armed suspect and was credited by local authorities for his brave acts which prevented further deaths that night.
Cramer was later captured and sentenced to prison for the murders.
CHERMAINE JOSEPH-QUETEL
Miami Fla.
Officer Quetel was on patrol of a MetroRail train station when she was attacked and shot and killed.
She was a dedicated, professional security and law enforcement practioner.
Quetel was a 5 year veteran of the Atlantis Security Company and a former police officer.
KURT HUSTED
LAKEWOOD WA.
While working as an armored car security officer for Loomis in June 2009 Husted was shot dead during a robbery at an area Wal-Mart.
He had been employed with the company for 16yrs and was a dependable, well-liked, professional private officer.
Husted was an avid dirt bike racer and had plans of getting married and becoming a helicopter pilot.
Four suspects have been arrested and charged with the robbery and murder.
MATT PRINDLE
DALLAS TX.
In December 2008 Officer Prindle was an employee of US Security Associates assigned to a bank in the metro Dallas area when he encountered an armed man attempting to rob the bank. The suspect fired numerous shots striking Officer Prindle twice, once in the chest and once in the abdomen. Officer Prindle returned fire as he sought cover and struck the suspect at least once which proved fatal to the bank robber. Officer Prindle was ialso nstrumental in evacuating bank employees and patrons and giving detail information to police via his cellphone as he took gunfire.
Officer Prindle survived his wounds because he was wearing his body armour. This was not the first incident that Prindle has been involved in where his actions prevented harm or loss of life to his employer and he is regarded in the security industry as a highly professional, skillful private officer.
STEVEN TYRONE JOHNS
WASHINGTON DC
Special police officer Johns was killed in a gun battle at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC on June 10 2009 when a man armed with a rifle entered and began shooting. Two other officers engaged the suspect striking the suspect who they then took into custody.
Johns was a well liked, professional security police officer who had worked at the museum for six years.
Johns left behind a wife and a son.
HARRY WEEKS
WASHINGTON DC
Special police officer Harry Weeks was employed by the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC on June 10 2009 when an amred man entered and began shooting, striking Officer Steven Tyrone Johns. Officer Weeks and his partner, officer Jason McCuiston returned fire striking the shooter. The officers then took the shooter into custody preventing any further injury or death to museum employees or patrons.
Officer Weeks is a 27 year veteran of the Washington DC police department who had recently retired and took a postion with the museum.
JASON McCUISTON
WASHINGTON DC
Special police officer McCuiston was employed by the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC on June 10 2009 when an amred man entered and began shooting, striking Officer Steven Tyrone Johns. Officer McCuiston and his partner, officer Harry Weeks returned fire striking the shooter. The officers then took the shooter into custody. Becuase of the heroic actions of these officers, the shooter never entered the main area of the museum preventing any further injury or death to museum employees or patrons
Officer McCuiston is a former U.S. Marine and Georgia police officer.
PRESS RELEASE
The following 9 persons have been inducted into the Private Officer Hall of Fame.
The inductees were selected from a list of 64 nominations for their courageous acts of bravery and valor, professionalism and contributions to the private security industry.
This was an inaugural induction to pay honor to those who have given their all to protect life and property, their client, their community and the general public at large.
Each year from this day forward, the Private Officer Hall of Fame inductions will be held during the week of April 25th in honor of the founder and CEO of the association, Mr. Rick McCann.
The Private Officer International association is a private security organization with members in 10 countries. The association provides support services including an on-line training school and certifications program, a benevolent program for injured officers or families of security officers killed in the line of duty, a radio program geared toward security, services and products for the public safety industry and regional seminars.
For more information please contact kyletgreene@privateofficer.com.
2010 INDUCTEES
DERRICK BRUN
Red Lake, MI
Officer Derrick Brun was working at the Red Lake High School as an unarmed security officer in May 2005 when heavily armed 16 year old student Jeff Weise entered the school. Brun confronted the suspect allowing another security officer and numerous students to flee.
The suspect shot Officer Brun and then went on a shooting spree killing 9 others. Because of the selfless actions of Officer Brun, numerous students and staff were unharmed.
DERRICK MCFARLAND
Blacksburg VA.
Officer McFarland was employed at the Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg VA. and was shot and killed in August 2006 while attempting to stop the escape of a prisoner who had been brought to the facility for medical treatment.
The suspect managed to disarm and kill a deputy sheriff and officer McFarland and was later captured.
McFarland leaves behind his wife Cindy, and the couple's two children.
DAVID RYAN TRIPP
Titusville Fla.
While working an unarmed security patrol at the Great Outdoors RV Park and Golf resort Officer Tripp encounted a fight involving several people. As he attempted to break up the disturbance he was killed by Shawn Cramer, a man who broke into the complex and killed three other people that night.
Tripp put up a huge battle against the armed suspect and was credited by local authorities for his brave acts which prevented further deaths that night.
Cramer was later captured and sentenced to prison for the murders.
CHERMAINE JOSEPH-QUETEL
Miami Fla.
Officer Quetel was on patrol of a MetroRail train station when she was attacked and shot and killed.
She was a dedicated, professional security and law enforcement practioner.
Quetel was a 5 year veteran of the Atlantis Security Company and a former police officer.
KURT HUSTED
LAKEWOOD WA.
While working as an armored car security officer for Loomis in June 2009 Husted was shot dead during a robbery at an area Wal-Mart.
He had been employed with the company for 16yrs and was a dependable, well-liked, professional private officer.
Husted was an avid dirt bike racer and had plans of getting married and becoming a helicopter pilot.
Four suspects have been arrested and charged with the robbery and murder.
MATT PRINDLE
DALLAS TX.
In December 2008 Officer Prindle was an employee of US Security Associates assigned to a bank in the metro Dallas area when he encountered an armed man attempting to rob the bank. The suspect fired numerous shots striking Officer Prindle twice, once in the chest and once in the abdomen. Officer Prindle returned fire as he sought cover and struck the suspect at least once which proved fatal to the bank robber. Officer Prindle was ialso nstrumental in evacuating bank employees and patrons and giving detail information to police via his cellphone as he took gunfire.
Officer Prindle survived his wounds because he was wearing his body armour. This was not the first incident that Prindle has been involved in where his actions prevented harm or loss of life to his employer and he is regarded in the security industry as a highly professional, skillful private officer.
STEVEN TYRONE JOHNS
WASHINGTON DC
Special police officer Johns was killed in a gun battle at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC on June 10 2009 when a man armed with a rifle entered and began shooting. Two other officers engaged the suspect striking the suspect who they then took into custody.
Johns was a well liked, professional security police officer who had worked at the museum for six years.
Johns left behind a wife and a son.
HARRY WEEKS
WASHINGTON DC
Special police officer Harry Weeks was employed by the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC on June 10 2009 when an amred man entered and began shooting, striking Officer Steven Tyrone Johns. Officer Weeks and his partner, officer Jason McCuiston returned fire striking the shooter. The officers then took the shooter into custody preventing any further injury or death to museum employees or patrons.
Officer Weeks is a 27 year veteran of the Washington DC police department who had recently retired and took a postion with the museum.
JASON McCUISTON
WASHINGTON DC
Special police officer McCuiston was employed by the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC on June 10 2009 when an amred man entered and began shooting, striking Officer Steven Tyrone Johns. Officer McCuiston and his partner, officer Harry Weeks returned fire striking the shooter. The officers then took the shooter into custody. Becuase of the heroic actions of these officers, the shooter never entered the main area of the museum preventing any further injury or death to museum employees or patrons
Officer McCuiston is a former U.S. Marine and Georgia police officer.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Man arrested after ppper spraying security www.privateofficer.com
LOS ANGELES CA April 26 2010 (CBS)
Authorities arrested a man who allegedly pepper-sprayed and threatened a security guard with a broken beer bottle outside a Hollywood bar early Monday morning.
One man is still at large in connection with the incident.
The security guard refused to let two men who appeared to be intoxicated into a bar near Melrose Avenue and Harvard Boulevard about 12:30 a.m., Los Angeles police Sgt. Alex Ortiz of the Hollywood Station said.
The security guard was pepper-sprayed in the face, Ortiz said.
The suspects each confronted the guard with the broken beer bottle and both fled when the guard pepper-sprayed them.
One suspect left the scene in his got to his vehicle and sped away, Ortiz said.
The other suspect was arrested five or six blocks away from the scene, Ortiz said.
The arrested suspect was charged with assault with a weapon.
Authorities arrested a man who allegedly pepper-sprayed and threatened a security guard with a broken beer bottle outside a Hollywood bar early Monday morning.
One man is still at large in connection with the incident.
The security guard refused to let two men who appeared to be intoxicated into a bar near Melrose Avenue and Harvard Boulevard about 12:30 a.m., Los Angeles police Sgt. Alex Ortiz of the Hollywood Station said.
The security guard was pepper-sprayed in the face, Ortiz said.
The suspects each confronted the guard with the broken beer bottle and both fled when the guard pepper-sprayed them.
One suspect left the scene in his got to his vehicle and sped away, Ortiz said.
The other suspect was arrested five or six blocks away from the scene, Ortiz said.
The arrested suspect was charged with assault with a weapon.
Morgan County teacher sent to prison for student rape www.privateofficer.com
Decatur AL April 26 2010 Morgon County ALabama Jessica Heather Defoor, 36-year-old second-grade teacher at Danville-Neel Elementary School, was arrested in July 2008 for allegedly engaging in inappropriate contact with a female student. In August 2009 she was indicted for alleged sex crimes against a female student, 12 to 16 years old.
In March 2010 Defoor was sentenced to six years for the class C felony of enticing a child for sexual purposes. Defoor was ordered to serve two years in prison, and would be subject to serving the remaining four years of her sentence in prison if she violated the terms of five-years of supervised probation. She was also sentenced to 12 months for the class A misdemeanor of second-degree sexual abuse. The sentences are to run concurrently. In addition, she will be required to register as a convicted sex offender after her release from prison.
Prosecutor Andrew Arrington called it a fair sentence based on her criminal history.
Defoor admitted to taking a 14-year-old girl to concerts and providing her with alcohol. Defoor admitted that the child was present in her home on an evening in February of 2006, that she served the child alcohol, and that she had sexual intercourse with a man while the child was in the house. The child testified that Defoor subjected her to sexual contact, and invited her into the bedroom.
Prosecutors argued that DeFoor and another man, Zackary Mullins, had a sexual relationships with a pair of teenagers. Mullins was arrested in California in October of last year and charged with sodomy, rape, and sexual abuse.
In March 2010 Defoor was sentenced to six years for the class C felony of enticing a child for sexual purposes. Defoor was ordered to serve two years in prison, and would be subject to serving the remaining four years of her sentence in prison if she violated the terms of five-years of supervised probation. She was also sentenced to 12 months for the class A misdemeanor of second-degree sexual abuse. The sentences are to run concurrently. In addition, she will be required to register as a convicted sex offender after her release from prison.
Prosecutor Andrew Arrington called it a fair sentence based on her criminal history.
Defoor admitted to taking a 14-year-old girl to concerts and providing her with alcohol. Defoor admitted that the child was present in her home on an evening in February of 2006, that she served the child alcohol, and that she had sexual intercourse with a man while the child was in the house. The child testified that Defoor subjected her to sexual contact, and invited her into the bedroom.
Prosecutors argued that DeFoor and another man, Zackary Mullins, had a sexual relationships with a pair of teenagers. Mullins was arrested in California in October of last year and charged with sodomy, rape, and sexual abuse.
Yale University doctor slain www.privateofficer.com
BRANFORD CT April 26 2010
Source: Hartford Courant An employee at a hospital in New York says a man charged with killing a Yale University doctor outside his Connecticut home had a confrontation with the victim a few years ago.
Branford police say 44-year-old Lishan Wang is charged with murder, attempted murder and firearms offenses in the fatal shooting Monday of Vajinder Toor outside Toor's home.
A hospital employee told The Associated Press that Wang and Toor were involved in a confrontation a few years ago at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center after Wang left his post at the intensive care unit and was not reachable for a few hours. The employee said Toor reprimanded him and that Wang threatened Toor in front of other employees.
The employee spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing murder investigation.
Wang's former landlord told The Courant that Wang lost his job at the hospital and moved out of the apartment he rented from her around November 2008.
That dispute may be part of what prompted Wang to allegedly shoot and kill Toor Monday. Branford police Lt. Geoffrey Morgan said the fatal shooting of Toor, 34, was not random.
According to Branford Police, Lishan Wang was arrested and charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a handgun without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm. Wang is being held on a $2,000,000.00 bond.
Police said his last known address was 3546 South East River Heights Crossing Marietta, Georgia and is a Chinese National from Beijing.
Branford Chief John DeCarlo said, "Our agency is looking at a number of motives for this homicide. One is the possibility that Dr. Toor and Lishan Wang had a previous working relationship at a hospital in New York. We are unsure of the extent of their interactions at this time."
DeCarlo said there is no connection between the assailant and the victim that relates to the victim's employment at Yale.
Toor worked at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York before joining Yale. Morgan says police are looking into whether Toor and the alleged shooter had what police call "some sort of negative interaction" on the job.
Toor was ambushed around 8 a.m. as he walked to his car outside his condominium at 255 Blueberry Lane, police said.
Toor's wife came out of the condominium after hearing the shots, and the suspect fired at her, but missed, said Morgan. Witnesses said they heard as many as eight shots. Police said Toor was shot multiple times.
Yale Police Chief James Perrotti sent an e-mail to the university community saying Branford police told him the crime was not a random act and was unrelated to Yale.
Harsh Arora, a neighbor and family friend, said the wife, Parneeta, had just waved goodbye to her husband and closed the door when she heard gunshots and ran outside. She saw her husband lying on the ground, saw a man with a gun and asked what he was doing. The man started firing at her, so she hid behind a car, Arora said. The man appeared to be in his 50s and the wife did not recognize him. A neighbor tried to perform CPR on Toor, Arora said.
"She said she had no idea why it happened," Arora said. "She's in shock. Why it happened, she has no clue."
The couple have a 3-year old son, and Parneeta is five months pregnant, Arora said.
"She can't even cry in front of the kid," Arora said. "She's trying to be brave."The suspect was caught about a mile from the scene driving a van and was taken into custody on Bushy Plain Road, Morgan said. He said the suspect is a Chinese immigrant and that officials are dealing with diplomatic issues.
The suspect was not cooperating with police, and they don't have his name or know a motive, Morgan said. He said the man has not been formally charged, but police expect to charge him with the killing.
According to the Yale School of Medicine's website, Toor was a first-year postdoctoral fellow in infections diseases. He had previously worked at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York and graduated from Guru Govind Singh Medical College in 2001.
Source: Hartford Courant An employee at a hospital in New York says a man charged with killing a Yale University doctor outside his Connecticut home had a confrontation with the victim a few years ago.
Branford police say 44-year-old Lishan Wang is charged with murder, attempted murder and firearms offenses in the fatal shooting Monday of Vajinder Toor outside Toor's home.
A hospital employee told The Associated Press that Wang and Toor were involved in a confrontation a few years ago at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center after Wang left his post at the intensive care unit and was not reachable for a few hours. The employee said Toor reprimanded him and that Wang threatened Toor in front of other employees.
The employee spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing murder investigation.
Wang's former landlord told The Courant that Wang lost his job at the hospital and moved out of the apartment he rented from her around November 2008.
That dispute may be part of what prompted Wang to allegedly shoot and kill Toor Monday. Branford police Lt. Geoffrey Morgan said the fatal shooting of Toor, 34, was not random.
According to Branford Police, Lishan Wang was arrested and charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a handgun without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm. Wang is being held on a $2,000,000.00 bond.
Police said his last known address was 3546 South East River Heights Crossing Marietta, Georgia and is a Chinese National from Beijing.
Branford Chief John DeCarlo said, "Our agency is looking at a number of motives for this homicide. One is the possibility that Dr. Toor and Lishan Wang had a previous working relationship at a hospital in New York. We are unsure of the extent of their interactions at this time."
DeCarlo said there is no connection between the assailant and the victim that relates to the victim's employment at Yale.
Toor worked at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York before joining Yale. Morgan says police are looking into whether Toor and the alleged shooter had what police call "some sort of negative interaction" on the job.
Toor was ambushed around 8 a.m. as he walked to his car outside his condominium at 255 Blueberry Lane, police said.
Toor's wife came out of the condominium after hearing the shots, and the suspect fired at her, but missed, said Morgan. Witnesses said they heard as many as eight shots. Police said Toor was shot multiple times.
Yale Police Chief James Perrotti sent an e-mail to the university community saying Branford police told him the crime was not a random act and was unrelated to Yale.
Harsh Arora, a neighbor and family friend, said the wife, Parneeta, had just waved goodbye to her husband and closed the door when she heard gunshots and ran outside. She saw her husband lying on the ground, saw a man with a gun and asked what he was doing. The man started firing at her, so she hid behind a car, Arora said. The man appeared to be in his 50s and the wife did not recognize him. A neighbor tried to perform CPR on Toor, Arora said.
"She said she had no idea why it happened," Arora said. "She's in shock. Why it happened, she has no clue."
The couple have a 3-year old son, and Parneeta is five months pregnant, Arora said.
"She can't even cry in front of the kid," Arora said. "She's trying to be brave."The suspect was caught about a mile from the scene driving a van and was taken into custody on Bushy Plain Road, Morgan said. He said the suspect is a Chinese immigrant and that officials are dealing with diplomatic issues.
The suspect was not cooperating with police, and they don't have his name or know a motive, Morgan said. He said the man has not been formally charged, but police expect to charge him with the killing.
According to the Yale School of Medicine's website, Toor was a first-year postdoctoral fellow in infections diseases. He had previously worked at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center in New York and graduated from Guru Govind Singh Medical College in 2001.
Violent shoplifter pulls security officers hair out www.privateofficer.com
Pohatcong NJ April 26 2010
By: Rick McCann/Staff
Private Officer News
http://www.privateofficer.com/ A Phillipsburg woman is in custody charged with robbery after she violently attacked a store security officer at Wal-Mart in Pohatcong Township on Friday, pulling some of the officer’s hair out of her head, court records show.
Vivian A Mendez, 18, of the 300 block of Lincoln Street, is now charged with robbery.
According to police, the alleged attack occurred when two female security officers caught Mendez allegedly shoplifting in the store and confronted her as she left the premises with merchandise that had not been paid for.
Mendez jumped on top of one of the loss prevention agents, punched her on the head and face, and pulled out her hair, authorities alleged.
Police say that the woman was brought under control by store employees until police could arrive.
Mendez is being held pending a court hearing.
By: Rick McCann/Staff
Private Officer News
http://www.privateofficer.com/ A Phillipsburg woman is in custody charged with robbery after she violently attacked a store security officer at Wal-Mart in Pohatcong Township on Friday, pulling some of the officer’s hair out of her head, court records show.
Vivian A Mendez, 18, of the 300 block of Lincoln Street, is now charged with robbery.
According to police, the alleged attack occurred when two female security officers caught Mendez allegedly shoplifting in the store and confronted her as she left the premises with merchandise that had not been paid for.
Mendez jumped on top of one of the loss prevention agents, punched her on the head and face, and pulled out her hair, authorities alleged.
Police say that the woman was brought under control by store employees until police could arrive.
Mendez is being held pending a court hearing.
Security officer stabbed breaking up bar fight www.privateofficer.com
San Francisco CA April 26 2010
A stabbing at a local bar left two men injured including a security officer.
The situation unfolded about 12:50 a.m. Sunday at Kirby's Sports Bar at 42312 Fremont Blvd. A fight broke out between two groups, prompting a security guard to intervene, police Sgt. Chris Mazzone said.
The guard wrapped one of the combatants in a bear hug. That emboldened another brawler who, seeing his target tightly wrapped and going nowhere, came at both men with a knife, Mazzone said.
"While they were both together in the bear hug, the suspect stabbed both of them," Mazzone said.
Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. The names of the victims weren't released.
A stabbing at a local bar left two men injured including a security officer.
The situation unfolded about 12:50 a.m. Sunday at Kirby's Sports Bar at 42312 Fremont Blvd. A fight broke out between two groups, prompting a security guard to intervene, police Sgt. Chris Mazzone said.
The guard wrapped one of the combatants in a bear hug. That emboldened another brawler who, seeing his target tightly wrapped and going nowhere, came at both men with a knife, Mazzone said.
"While they were both together in the bear hug, the suspect stabbed both of them," Mazzone said.
Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, police said. The names of the victims weren't released.
Lawmakers want National Guard to patrol Chicago streets www.privateofficer.com
Chicago Il April 26 2010 Two state representatives called on Gov. Pat Quinn Sunday to deploy the Illinois National Guard to safeguard Chicago's streets.
Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford said they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis to allow guardsmen to patrol streets and help quell violence. Weis said he did not support the idea because the military and police operate under different rules.
"Is this a drastic call to action? Of course it is," Fritchey said. "Is it warranted when we are losing residents to gun violence at such an alarming rate? Without question. We are not talking about rolling tanks down the street or having armed guards on each corner."
What he envisions, Fritchey said, is a "heightened presence on the streets," particularly on the roughly 9 percent of city blocks where most of the city's violent crimes occur.
Weis previously identified those "hot spots" and said he plans to create a 100-person team made up of selected and volunteer police personnel to respond to crime there. If guardsmen were to assist police, they could comprise or contribute to that force, Fritchey said.
So far this year, 113 people have been killed across Chicago, the same number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in the same period, Fritchey said.
"As we speak, National Guard members are working side-by-side with our troops to fight a war halfway around the world," Fritchey said. "The unfortunate reality is that we have another war that is just as deadly taking place right in our backyard." While the National Guard has been deployed in other states to prevent violence related to specific events and protests, the Chicago legislators said they are unaware of guardsmen being deployed to assist with general urban unrest.
Weis countered that the only scenario in which the National Guard would be helpful is in the situation of a tornado, earthquake or flood. If the military were brought in to help with city violence, they wouldn't answer to police command -- creating a "major disconnect" in mission and strategy.
Alluding to the 1970 Kent State University incident where the National Guard was called in and protestors and students were shot, Weis said having guardsmen handle crime could be "disastrous." But he said if the Daley suggested it, he would consider the option.
"I'm open to anything that reduces violence. But I have concerns when you mix law enforcement and the military," Weis said.
But Fritchey and Ford said prompt action is needed because summer is right around the corner and with the warm weather comes an increase in violence.
Fritchey and Ford serve two different constituencies, representing the North Side and the West Side respectively. "One half of this city views this as a part of daily life," Fritchey said. "Another part of the city doesn't care because it doesn't affect them." Yet the lawmakers said they are coming together because gun violence should be a priority to all Chicagoans.
"No help is too much help" Ford said. "This is not just about the murders. It's about the crime. It's about people being stabbed, robbed and in the hospital on life support."
Fritchey said he spoke to representatives from Quinn's office about deploying guardsmen and they "seemed open to the idea." The lawmakers had yet to speak to Weis or the mayor's office.
"I don't anticipate the governor implementing it over the objection of the mayor," Fritchey said.
"I hope this doesn't become a territorial issue. I hope this doesn't become an ego issue. This isn't about public relations or politics. This is about reclaiming our communities."
Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford said they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis to allow guardsmen to patrol streets and help quell violence. Weis said he did not support the idea because the military and police operate under different rules.
"Is this a drastic call to action? Of course it is," Fritchey said. "Is it warranted when we are losing residents to gun violence at such an alarming rate? Without question. We are not talking about rolling tanks down the street or having armed guards on each corner."
What he envisions, Fritchey said, is a "heightened presence on the streets," particularly on the roughly 9 percent of city blocks where most of the city's violent crimes occur.
Weis previously identified those "hot spots" and said he plans to create a 100-person team made up of selected and volunteer police personnel to respond to crime there. If guardsmen were to assist police, they could comprise or contribute to that force, Fritchey said.
So far this year, 113 people have been killed across Chicago, the same number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in the same period, Fritchey said.
"As we speak, National Guard members are working side-by-side with our troops to fight a war halfway around the world," Fritchey said. "The unfortunate reality is that we have another war that is just as deadly taking place right in our backyard." While the National Guard has been deployed in other states to prevent violence related to specific events and protests, the Chicago legislators said they are unaware of guardsmen being deployed to assist with general urban unrest.
Weis countered that the only scenario in which the National Guard would be helpful is in the situation of a tornado, earthquake or flood. If the military were brought in to help with city violence, they wouldn't answer to police command -- creating a "major disconnect" in mission and strategy.
Alluding to the 1970 Kent State University incident where the National Guard was called in and protestors and students were shot, Weis said having guardsmen handle crime could be "disastrous." But he said if the Daley suggested it, he would consider the option.
"I'm open to anything that reduces violence. But I have concerns when you mix law enforcement and the military," Weis said.
But Fritchey and Ford said prompt action is needed because summer is right around the corner and with the warm weather comes an increase in violence.
Fritchey and Ford serve two different constituencies, representing the North Side and the West Side respectively. "One half of this city views this as a part of daily life," Fritchey said. "Another part of the city doesn't care because it doesn't affect them." Yet the lawmakers said they are coming together because gun violence should be a priority to all Chicagoans.
"No help is too much help" Ford said. "This is not just about the murders. It's about the crime. It's about people being stabbed, robbed and in the hospital on life support."
Fritchey said he spoke to representatives from Quinn's office about deploying guardsmen and they "seemed open to the idea." The lawmakers had yet to speak to Weis or the mayor's office.
"I don't anticipate the governor implementing it over the objection of the mayor," Fritchey said.
"I hope this doesn't become a territorial issue. I hope this doesn't become an ego issue. This isn't about public relations or politics. This is about reclaiming our communities."
Gates TN police chief commits suicide www.privateofficer.com
Gates TN April 26 2101
Source: Jackson Sun The Gates police chief has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a news release.
Authorities are awaiting final autopsy results from the Shelby County Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death for Chief Marvin Brown.
The release said that at this time there does not appear to be any suspicious behavior or foul-play associated with the death.
Halls police and Lauderdale County sheriff's deputies were called to Brown's home on Sumrow Street in Halls at 10 p.m. Thursday.
They found Brown dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Halls Police Department, assisted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, is conducting the investigation of the shooting.
Brown was recently the focus of a TBI investigation into allegations of fraud, theft, and official misconduct related to his employment with both the town of Gates and the Lauderdale County School System.
That investigation has also prompted municipal and county investigative audits of the respective payroll records of Brown from the town of Gates and the Lauderdale County Schools, by the state of Tennessee Comptroller's Office.
Source: Jackson Sun The Gates police chief has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a news release.
Authorities are awaiting final autopsy results from the Shelby County Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death for Chief Marvin Brown.
The release said that at this time there does not appear to be any suspicious behavior or foul-play associated with the death.
Halls police and Lauderdale County sheriff's deputies were called to Brown's home on Sumrow Street in Halls at 10 p.m. Thursday.
They found Brown dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Halls Police Department, assisted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, is conducting the investigation of the shooting.
Brown was recently the focus of a TBI investigation into allegations of fraud, theft, and official misconduct related to his employment with both the town of Gates and the Lauderdale County School System.
That investigation has also prompted municipal and county investigative audits of the respective payroll records of Brown from the town of Gates and the Lauderdale County Schools, by the state of Tennessee Comptroller's Office.
UK woman played detectives to find "suicide voyeur" www.privateofficer.com
United Kingdom April 26 2010 Three British women turned detective to bring an American "suicide voyeur" William Melchert-Dinkel to justice over his alleged attempts to encourage vulnerable people to take their own lives.
Katherine Lowe, 37, an unemployed mother of two, was one of many chat room users to 'speak' to Melchert-Dinkel .
Celia Blay started making inquiries after a contact of hers revealed that she was entering into a suicide pact with an American woman she had 'met' through the internet .
Katherine Lowe, 37, an unemployed mother of two, was one of many chat room users to 'speak' to Melchert-Dinkel .
Celia Blay started making inquiries after a contact of hers revealed that she was entering into a suicide pact with an American woman she had 'met' through the internet .
The 47-year-old is said to have posed as a female nurse on the internet to encourage dozens of people, including a man in the UK, to commit suicide. It is claimed that he wanted to watch his victims die using a webcam.
Melchert-Dinkel, who is married with two children, allegedly pretended to be a compassionate nurse in internet chat rooms – calling himself names including "Falcon Girl" and "Cami D" – in order to prey on depressed people.
He was charged on Friday by the US authorities with two rare counts of assisting suicides, and more charges may follow. He has been charged with aiding the suicide of Mark Drybrough, 32, who hanged himself in Coventry in 2005. Melchert-Dinkel is also accused of assisting with the suicide of Nadia Kajouji, 18, who drowned in a river in Ottawa, Canada.
The charges follow investigative work going back five years by three British women, including Mr Drybrough's mother. She joined forced with Katherine Lowe, from Wolverhampton, who alleges that Melchert-Dinkel encouraged her over the internet to commit suicide.
The third woman to help was Celia Blay, who started making inquiries after a contact of hers revealed that she was entering into a suicide pact with an American woman she had "met" through the internet.
The findings of the three women were passed to US investigators who have now concluded there is ample evidence to charge their suspect.
It is claimed that the American suspect pretended to feel compassion for people contemplating suicide in chat rooms, while giving them instructions on how to take their own lives.
Prosecutors in the US say Melchert-Dinkel, who is in fact a male nurse, has admitted telling police he had encouraged "dozens" of people to kill themselves and "characterised it as the thrill of the chase". He has been described as a "suicide voyeur".
Miss Lowe, 37, an unemployed mother of two, was one of many chat room users to "speak" to Melchert-Dinkel at a time when she was feeling down and potentially suicidal.
Miss Lowe, from Wolverhampton, suspected the American was not who he said he was after a picture he sent her of himself as a female still had a male pseudonym as the filename.
"I made a lot of friends in that internet support group, and we all started to suspect him after a while because he used lots of different names," she told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday.
"People would offer each other support on there, but whenever he 'spoke' to people he was always a bit too over-supportive in encouraging people to go through with suicide. I knew what he was doing, but I decided to string him along to gather all the evidence I could.
"He was always very friendly online, really chatty, and would always insist in getting you to talk to him over a webcam even though there was always some reason why his didn't work. After a while I convinced him to use a webcam himself, and it was then I saw him as the man he really was. So I took a picture of him on my mobile phone."
Mrs Drybrough, 61, who is also from Coventry, became suspicious after her son's death five years ago when an email, allegedly traced back to Melchert-Dinkel, was found on Mr Drybrough's computer. It contained detailed advice on how a person could hang himself or herself.
Mrs Drybrough compiled a dossier of evidence on her son's death and passed it on to Minnesota Police. She has also contacted West Midlands police.
"We examined Mark's computer after he died to see if there was anything that might help us to understand what he had done. Then we came across the emails," she said. "He was just coming through a nervous breakdown at the time and was incredibly susceptible at that point. Mark was a real computer nerd and this person was there 'whispering in his ear' every time he logged on.
Mrs Blay started investigations of her own in late 2006 when she was in email contact with a 17-year-old girl in South America, who was depressed. The teenager revealed to Mrs Blay that she was going to kill herself in a suicide pact with an American woman in which they were going to watch each other die over a webcam.
Mrs Blay, from Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, started making inquiries and discovered, through a "suicide news group" that the same person was making similar suicide pacts with others and was a man, not a woman. The teenage girl, from Guatemala, abandoned her suicide attempt after the fake identity of her "suicide partner" was revealed. "I am glad this man has been charged. I hope a message had been sent out that vulnerable, suicidal people aren't easy targets," she said yesterday.
Melchert-Dinkel will appear in court in the US on May 25. He lives with his wife and two teenage daughters, in Faribault, a town with a population of 20,000 nestled in the hilly Minnesota countryside. His neighbours have described him as a regular churchgoer and a "great dad".
Melchert-Dinkel, who is married with two children, allegedly pretended to be a compassionate nurse in internet chat rooms – calling himself names including "Falcon Girl" and "Cami D" – in order to prey on depressed people.
He was charged on Friday by the US authorities with two rare counts of assisting suicides, and more charges may follow. He has been charged with aiding the suicide of Mark Drybrough, 32, who hanged himself in Coventry in 2005. Melchert-Dinkel is also accused of assisting with the suicide of Nadia Kajouji, 18, who drowned in a river in Ottawa, Canada.
The charges follow investigative work going back five years by three British women, including Mr Drybrough's mother. She joined forced with Katherine Lowe, from Wolverhampton, who alleges that Melchert-Dinkel encouraged her over the internet to commit suicide.
The third woman to help was Celia Blay, who started making inquiries after a contact of hers revealed that she was entering into a suicide pact with an American woman she had "met" through the internet.
The findings of the three women were passed to US investigators who have now concluded there is ample evidence to charge their suspect.
It is claimed that the American suspect pretended to feel compassion for people contemplating suicide in chat rooms, while giving them instructions on how to take their own lives.
Prosecutors in the US say Melchert-Dinkel, who is in fact a male nurse, has admitted telling police he had encouraged "dozens" of people to kill themselves and "characterised it as the thrill of the chase". He has been described as a "suicide voyeur".
Miss Lowe, 37, an unemployed mother of two, was one of many chat room users to "speak" to Melchert-Dinkel at a time when she was feeling down and potentially suicidal.
Miss Lowe, from Wolverhampton, suspected the American was not who he said he was after a picture he sent her of himself as a female still had a male pseudonym as the filename.
"I made a lot of friends in that internet support group, and we all started to suspect him after a while because he used lots of different names," she told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday.
"People would offer each other support on there, but whenever he 'spoke' to people he was always a bit too over-supportive in encouraging people to go through with suicide. I knew what he was doing, but I decided to string him along to gather all the evidence I could.
"He was always very friendly online, really chatty, and would always insist in getting you to talk to him over a webcam even though there was always some reason why his didn't work. After a while I convinced him to use a webcam himself, and it was then I saw him as the man he really was. So I took a picture of him on my mobile phone."
Mrs Drybrough, 61, who is also from Coventry, became suspicious after her son's death five years ago when an email, allegedly traced back to Melchert-Dinkel, was found on Mr Drybrough's computer. It contained detailed advice on how a person could hang himself or herself.
Mrs Drybrough compiled a dossier of evidence on her son's death and passed it on to Minnesota Police. She has also contacted West Midlands police.
"We examined Mark's computer after he died to see if there was anything that might help us to understand what he had done. Then we came across the emails," she said. "He was just coming through a nervous breakdown at the time and was incredibly susceptible at that point. Mark was a real computer nerd and this person was there 'whispering in his ear' every time he logged on.
Mrs Blay started investigations of her own in late 2006 when she was in email contact with a 17-year-old girl in South America, who was depressed. The teenager revealed to Mrs Blay that she was going to kill herself in a suicide pact with an American woman in which they were going to watch each other die over a webcam.
Mrs Blay, from Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, started making inquiries and discovered, through a "suicide news group" that the same person was making similar suicide pacts with others and was a man, not a woman. The teenage girl, from Guatemala, abandoned her suicide attempt after the fake identity of her "suicide partner" was revealed. "I am glad this man has been charged. I hope a message had been sent out that vulnerable, suicidal people aren't easy targets," she said yesterday.
Melchert-Dinkel will appear in court in the US on May 25. He lives with his wife and two teenage daughters, in Faribault, a town with a population of 20,000 nestled in the hilly Minnesota countryside. His neighbours have described him as a regular churchgoer and a "great dad".
Armed fake cop arrested near Air Force One www.privateofficer.com
ASHEVILLE, N.C. April 26 2010 AP– An armed man spotted at a North Carolina airport parking lot just after Air Force One departed Sunday told an officer he wanted to see the president and had a car equipped with police gear, including a siren and flashing lights, authorities said.
Joseph Sean McVey, 23, of Coshocton, Ohio, is charged with going armed in terror of the public, a misdemeanor, said Asheville Regional Airport Police Capt. Kevan Smith.
Security was heightened at the airport because President Barack Obama was leaving after spending the weekend vacationing in Asheville. He was headed to a memorial service for 29 West Virginia coal miners killed in an explosion.
At about 2 p.m., airport police saw McVey get out of a maroon car with Ohio plates and that he had a sidearm, Smith said. Both airport police and the Secret Service questioned him and he was taken into custody. The suspect was nowhere near the president's plane, which had just departed, and was in a rental car return lot that is open to the public, Smith said.
His car was equipped with clear LED law enforcement-style strobe lights in the front and rear dash, Smith said. The car also had a mounted digital camera in the front window, four large antennas on the trunk lid, and under the steering wheel was a working siren box. Smith said McVey was not in law enforcement.
When McVey got out of the car, he was listening to a handheld scanner and radio that had a remote earpiece, Smith said. Police said he was monitoring local agencies and had formulas for rifle scopes on a note in his cup holder. Police did not immediately elaborate on what the formulas might mean and Smith was not available to comment late Sunday.
McVey gave authorities an Ohio driver's license, but a computer check failed to show the number was valid, police said. His hometown of Coshocton is about halfway between Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.
When Officer Kaleb Rice asked him what he was doing, McVey told him he heard the president was in town and wanted to see him.
Rice removed the firearm and took McVey into custody. He was being held at the Buncombe County jail on $100,000 bond.
The investigation into what McVey was doing with a gun, with formulas for rifle scopes and why his car was equipped with police gear was continuing, Smith said. The Secret Service had no comment on the arrest, deferring to airport police.
A jail officer said it didn't appear McVey had an attorney. A person who answered a phone listing for Joseph McVey in Coshocton said he had no idea about an arrest.
Joseph Sean McVey, 23, of Coshocton, Ohio, is charged with going armed in terror of the public, a misdemeanor, said Asheville Regional Airport Police Capt. Kevan Smith.
Security was heightened at the airport because President Barack Obama was leaving after spending the weekend vacationing in Asheville. He was headed to a memorial service for 29 West Virginia coal miners killed in an explosion.
At about 2 p.m., airport police saw McVey get out of a maroon car with Ohio plates and that he had a sidearm, Smith said. Both airport police and the Secret Service questioned him and he was taken into custody. The suspect was nowhere near the president's plane, which had just departed, and was in a rental car return lot that is open to the public, Smith said.
His car was equipped with clear LED law enforcement-style strobe lights in the front and rear dash, Smith said. The car also had a mounted digital camera in the front window, four large antennas on the trunk lid, and under the steering wheel was a working siren box. Smith said McVey was not in law enforcement.
When McVey got out of the car, he was listening to a handheld scanner and radio that had a remote earpiece, Smith said. Police said he was monitoring local agencies and had formulas for rifle scopes on a note in his cup holder. Police did not immediately elaborate on what the formulas might mean and Smith was not available to comment late Sunday.
McVey gave authorities an Ohio driver's license, but a computer check failed to show the number was valid, police said. His hometown of Coshocton is about halfway between Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio.
When Officer Kaleb Rice asked him what he was doing, McVey told him he heard the president was in town and wanted to see him.
Rice removed the firearm and took McVey into custody. He was being held at the Buncombe County jail on $100,000 bond.
The investigation into what McVey was doing with a gun, with formulas for rifle scopes and why his car was equipped with police gear was continuing, Smith said. The Secret Service had no comment on the arrest, deferring to airport police.
A jail officer said it didn't appear McVey had an attorney. A person who answered a phone listing for Joseph McVey in Coshocton said he had no idea about an arrest.
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