Private Officer Breaking News

TN teen commits suicide after constantly being bullied www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:42:00.002-05:00

GORDONSVILLE, TN Jan 27 2012- A Gordonsville boy's parents say bullying caused their son to take his own life. Phillip Parker, 14, died this week. His parents said he was constantly bullied for being gay.

More than 100 people gathered in Gordonsville on Saturday night, grieving the loss of Phillip.

"He was fun, he was energetic, he was happy," said Gena Parker, Phillip's mother.

To his many friends, Phillip was known as the boy who told everyone they're beautiful.

"He kept telling me he had a rock on his chest," said Ruby Harris, Phillip's grandmother. "He just wanted to take the rock off where he could breathe."

Phillip's family said they reported their concerns over their son's bullying to Gordonsville High School on multiple occasions, but the bullying by a group of students just got worse.

"I believe my whole family up in heaven's taking good care of him," said friend Megan Redinger.

"I want to say I love him dearly," added friend Heather Hunt. "He'll never be forgotten. He's always in my heart."

"That's my son," said Phillip Parker, Phillip's father. "I love him. I miss him. He shouldn't have had to kill himself to be brought to life."

An official with Smith County Schools told Channel 4 they are now planning how to handle a crisis situation with students Monday. Friends added they are planning to set up a memorial fund in Phillip's name but haven't made the arrangements just yet

Source:newschannel5.com

Ohio casinos ban applicants who smoke www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:40:00.005-05:00

COLUMBUS OH Jan 27 2012 — Job seekers who smoke, chew tobacco or even use nicotine patches won’t be considered for the 3,200 casino jobs in Toledo and Columbus when Penn National starts filling positions later this year.

Hollywood Casino Columbus General Manager Ameet Patel said applicants who test positive for nicotine will be disqualified and workers will be subject to random tests during employment.

Penn National’s policy will mean no tobacco use on or off the job for their 3,200 workers and Ohio’s indoor smoking ban means customers will have to step outside before lighting up.

Penn National is joining the ranks of thousands of companies and hospitals that refuse to hire smokers in the hopes of curbing medical costs and encouraging a healthier workforce.

Patel, a 22-year veteran of the casino world, called it an unusual if not unprecedented step in an industry where a vast majority of customers are smokers. “It is a very, very big change,” he said.

The Toledo and Columbus casinos will be the only two of Penn’s 21 properties that ban tobacco use among employees, Patel said.

Rock Gaming plans to hire 3,300 workers for casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati. It won’t prohibit workers from using tobacco, but it will give employees and dependents cash incentives to quit, said spokeswoman Jennifer Kulczycki.

Twenty-nine states passed laws making it illegal to refuse to hire smokers, but Ohio isn’t among them, said Lewis Maltby, president of the National Workrights Institute, a spinoff of the ACLU and opponent of hiring bans.

Maltby calls smoker hiring bans misguided. “To not hire smokers, you would have to turn down the most qualified applicant one out of every five times,” said Maltby, noting that nearly 20 percent of American adults smoke cigarettes.

“Turning them down is a loss...The savings are very visible. The cost is less visible.”

He added, “When does this stop? There is nothing unique about smoking. Smoking is one of 100 things Americans do that are unhealthy.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19.3 percent of American adults smoke cigarettes, while 22.5 percent of Ohioans do so. The CDC says smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in America and attributes one in five deaths to tobacco use.

The vast majority of casino patrons smoke. Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia do not have statewide smoking bans and Michigan and Pennsylvania’s bans exempt casinos.

Kulczycki said Rock Gaming isn’t worried that gamblers will shun the Ohio casinos because of the smoking ban. “We think there are a lot of things that will be attractive to smokers and non-smokers,” she said.

“There are casinos that are smoke-free and they’re still open,” said Shelly Kiser of the American Lung Association. “I’m confident (the Ohio casinos) will do fine. And I’m confident it is what the people of the state want.”

Source:Dayton Daily News

Former president of Clarksville Department of Electricity indicted on fraud charges www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:40:00.004-05:00

NASHVILLE, TN Jan 27 2012 - A federal grand jury indicted a former president of the Clarksville Department of Electricity (CDE) on fraud charges.

Rick Ingram Sr. has been charged with 36 counts of wire and mail fraud. Ingram served as president of the CDE from November of 2008 to July of 2009.

Ingram had been fired after audits revealed alleged kickbacks between himself and several companies totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The heads of two out-of-state companies have also been indicted in connection with the case.

Sumner County TN commissioners abolish constable's office www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:40:00.003-05:00

Gallatin TN Jan 27 2012 Sumner County voters won’t see the office of constable on the ballot when they go to the polls in March after commissioners voted 22-1 Jan. 23 to permanently abolish the office.

For more than two centuries, Tennessee constables have had the power to make arrests and issue tickets. In December, county leaders voted on second reading to strip all legal powers from the constables, citing liability concerns as the main reason. Sumner’s 12 constables, all unpaid volunteers, will continue to have legal powers until their terms expire in August.
Area constables say they are disappointed with the county’s decision.
“They questioned our professionalism, and they took a voting right and liberty away from the citizens of Sumner County,” said Tim Cummins, constable for the 6th District. “We have worked to improve the standards for constables. That’s been our mission over the last five years in Sumner County, to improve the standards of the office as far as qualifying standards and training.”
Commissioners said the move would not only eliminate any potential threat of liability to the county, but it would also save taxpayers thousands of dollars if a 2012 election is not held for the offices.
Lori Atchley, Sumner County administrator of elections, said she expected her office would save a minimum of $25,000 by not having constables on the ballot. The savings would come by not having to mail out new voter registration cards prior to the March 6 primary, she said.
But Cummins said the savings won’t be realized because he and three other constables were generating more than $100,000 a year in assessed fees through General Sessions Court, the majority of which was going directly to the county, he said.
Although constable is an upaid office, they do receive $22 for citations and $42 for arrests. Those monies are from fees collected by General Sessions Court.
Cummins said he and others in the elected office have met with constables from other counties and hope to ultimately have the constable offices reinstated in Sumner County.
“If something can be voted out, it can be voted back in,” Cummins said. “I think one of the biggest problems with this whole thing is that many of the commissioners were getting bad information. What we are working to do is to help preserve the constables that are still active in the state, which is about 400 to 500.”
The first constables in the state were elected in Tennessee in 1796, prior to marshals, sheriffs, police or any other forms of law enforcement. They remain today the only law enforcement officials who have the authority to arrest a sheriff.
In all that time, no local constable has ever come under legal fire, Cummins said.
“You hear of all the complaints of lawsuits, but no constable in Sumner County has ever been sued, indicted or removed from office,” Cummins said. “You can’t say the same for all of the (law enforcement) departments in this county.
“This decision (to abolish the office) is just kind of frustrating when we have been out there trying to do the right thing.”

Source:the Tennessean

Ohio Kroger stores replace police officers with private security www/privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:40:00.001-05:00

DAYTON, Ohio Jan 27 2012 - You won't see local police officers guarding Kroger stores soon.

The grocery chain has announced it will replace them with security guards.

Kroger HR representatives held a meeting to tell the police officers Wednesday evening.

We spoke with several officers afterwards who say it's not right and it's not safe.

Kroger has announced it plans to terminate 73 undercover police officers from its 29 stores throughout Greater Dayton and replace those positions with uniformed and armed security guards.

Those on the chopping block say its a risky move.

"The value, the expertise, the professionalism, the level of training
with doing their jobs at local stores. I don't think they will be matched with a security guard in uniform sitting at a front door," said Bryan Statzer, Law Enforcement Officer.

As it stands, local law enforcement agencies are not allowed to be in uniform when off-duty.

Therefore, a spokeswoman with Kroger told 2News in an oral statement the corporation would be partnering with Columbus based U.S Protection Service for future security.

Saying quote Kroger is changing how its managing its security. We believe our customers feel safer with a uniformed officer, end quote.

U.S Protection Service was not available for comment in terms of certifications and training.

Source:kdtn

Former security guard indicted for stealing identities-filing false tax returns www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.006-05:00

Montgomery, Alabama Jan 27 2012 - Chiquita Smith, 22, of Montgomery, Alabama, was indicted last week for conspiring to steal identities in order to obtain cash from falsely filed tax returns, announced George L. Beck, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.

According to the indictment, Smith was at one time an employee at Vinson Guard Service, Inc. During her employment at Vinson Guard Service, she was given a key to the entrance of the Department of Human Resources building. Smith and two other people used that key to go into the Department of Human Resources and steal names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth of persons who received services from the State of Alabama, Department of Human Resources. Smith then turned over those names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth to a false tax preparer. This tax preparer used this stolen information to file false tax returns that generated tax refunds. The money from the tax refunds was illegally kept by the false tax preparer.

“My office will continue to work with the IRS to vigorously prosecute those people who steal an innocent person’s identity, just to file a false tax return and steal the tax refunds,” said U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck. “These criminals need to be punished for the harm they cause to the person whose identity is stolen and the harm they cause to U.S. taxpayers.”

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison. She is also subject to fines and mandatory restitution if convicted.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brent Woodall is prosecuting the case.

Information Source: US Department of Justice
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Fla. teams may be fined for not housing homeless in stadiums www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.005-05:00

Miami Fla Jan 27 2012 In March, a homeless man made headlines in England when authorities discovered he had eluded security and been living in a secret hideaway underneath a pro soccer stadium.

Now, if some Florida legislators get their way, the homeless will not need to sneak into stadiums - they will be encouraged to seek refuge there. Either way, the teams who have neglected the homeless may have to fork over millions.

According to the Miami Herald, when the Florida legislature passed a bill in 1988 to get public money for stadiums, they included an obscure provision that required every taxpayer-funded pro team (as well as MLB teams with Florida spring training facilities) to house homeless people in their stadiums on non-event nights.

Over the past two dozen years, that provision has been totally ignored - until now. That's right: Senate Bill 816, which would force teams and stadium owners to pony up almost $300 million if they can't prove that they've been housing the homeless on non-event nights, passed with a unanimous vote by a Senate committee on Monday.

"We have spent over $300 million supporting teams that can afford to pay a guy $7, $8, $10 million a year to throw a baseball 90 feet. I think they can pay for their own stadium," said Sen. Michael Bennett, R-Bradenton. "I cannot believe that we're going to cut money out of Medicaid and take it away from the homeless and take it away from the poor and impoverished, and we're continuing to support people who are billionaires."

Under the law, teams are allowed to take up to $2 million per year of taxpayer money and the cumulative tally is soaring. According to the Herald, pro sports teams operating in Florida have taken $271,539,778 in public coffers - with the Marlins, Dolphins, Jaguars, Rays, Lightning, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Heat accounting for most of that figure.

It will be interesting to see if this unconventional bill actually is passed. And, if so, will these stadiums actually cough up millions to the community, not to mention start opening their doors to the homeless. As the Herald notes: "Based on the dozens of homeless people who sleep on the street two blocks west of American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami, it doesn't appear that a homeless shelter is functioning at the glitzy home of the Miami Heat."

Source:CBS Sports

Brinks Armored Car guard charged with rape may be serial rapist www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.004-05:00

Garden Grove CA Jan 27 2012 A 39-year-old man who works for the Brinks Armored Car company in Garden Grove was behind bars Wednesday for allegedly raping a woman in Santa Ana.

Investigators suspect Jose Luis Capacete, of Baldwin Park, may be responsible for multiple rapes in Orange County. Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said Capacete preys on illegal immigrants.

Capacete made his first appearance in court Tuesday on felony charges of sodomy by force, oral copulation by force and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, according to court records.

Capacete's arraignment was postponed until Feb. 9, and he was being held without bail.

He is accused of abducting a woman walking in the 300 block of South Harbor Boulevard on Dec. 24, taking her in his 2001 Chrysler Town and Country minivan to the 1600 north block of Harbor, where he allegedly sexually assaulted the woman, Bertagna said.

"He bound the victim in the car, took her clothes off and when he was done with her he pushed her out of the car nude and threw her clothes on top of her," Bertagna said.

The alleged rape happened behind a rental business. Employee Carroll Herren said he will never forget the woman's frightened look.

"You could tell she was traumatized, you could tell she was cold," Herren said.

Herren added the woman could only describe her assailant as Hispanic.

"All she said to me was she had been raped, the guy had a gun, and she had been tased and tied up," Herren said.

Police connected Capacete to the crime through an undisclosed piece of evidence that ended up on the pile of clothes, Bertagna said.

Capacete was arrested Friday, he said.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Capacete was a security guard for the Brinks Armored Car company, Bertagna said, adding the suspect does have a gun permit.

Capacete also put himself through a police academy and has been applying for law enforcement jobs, Bertagna said. He has a prior arrest for solicitation of prostitution, Bertagna said.

Santa Ana investigators suspect he may be involved in another attack in Garden Grove, and they are working with Homeland Security officials on another case, Bertagna said.

After a search of his home on Friday, investigators suspect there may be several more victims, Bertagna said.

"We believe that he selects people that are illegal immigrants and possible prostitutes because he has one prior arrest for solicitation of prostitution and these are people who won't report the incidents," Bertagna said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS or (855) 847-6227.

Source:NBC Los Angeles

Charter High School student arrested for attempting to rape school employee www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.003-05:00

Redwood City CA Jan 27 2012 Police have arrested a student who investigators say tried to sexually assault a school employee Monday night in the underground parking garage at Summit Preparatory Charter High School in Redwood City.

David Velasquez, 19, was arrested after brandishing a knife at a 29-year-old San Francisco woman and forcing her toward her car about 6:05 p.m., police said. Investigators declined to say what she does at the school, but identified Velasquez as a student there.

When the woman resisted, the attacker forced her to the ground, inflicting minor injuries, police said. The assault was interrupted by another Summit employee who came upon the scene and began yelling. Police say the suspect then ran away.

During the investigation, Redwood City police identified Velasquez as a suspect, but didn't say what led to them to him. He was arrested at 7 p.m. in his Redwood City home. Investigators believed, based on the actions of the suspect, that the motive for the attack was rape.

Summit Executive Director Todd Dickson said the school is waiting until it gets more information from police before deciding what action to take against Velasquez. Dickson, the head of the 420-student charter school founded in 2003, declined to release any information about the student.

The school planned to contact students' families and employees Tuesday afternoon about the assault.

"We'll take every precaution to make sure our community is safe and secure," Dickson said

Aspen man continues driving with security officer handing onto hood after being struck www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.002-05:00

Aspen CO Jan 27 2012 An Aspen man was issued a criminal summons for third-degree assault and reckless driving Wednesday after he allegedly drove with a security guard at the Winter X Games venue on the front hood of his car, bloodying the man's nose.

Martin Horowitz, 66, is scheduled to appear in court in March to face two misdemeanor charges, said Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Alex Burchetta, who made the arrest.

Burchetta said Horowitz was trying to gain access to Buttermilk — its parking lot is closed to motorists for this week's X Games — but was denied entrance by a security guard employed by the event's sponsor, ESPN.

“The security guard was standing next to the vehicle when the driver accelerated and the security guard had to jump on the car to avoid being run over,” Burchetta said. “They ended up traveling 120 feet before [the car] stopped into a snowbank.”

The security guard's nose was bloodied from his face hitting the windshield, Burchetta said. He was treated by paramedics and did not suffer serious injuries, Burchetta said.

Horowitz, contacted Wednesday night after the incident, declined comment. He only said he was trying to gain access to Buttermilk so he could drop off some items.

Sheriff Joe DiSalvo said the incident underscores the need for people to try to find public transportation, such as a Roaring Fork Transportation Authority bus, to Buttermilk this week.

“In the context of avoiding traffic at the X Games, everyone should try take public transportation,” DiSalvo said.

Said Burchetta: “This is just an opportunity to highlight the safety aspects of the venue. There are a lot of people out there and security are there to do a job: make sure everybody is safe.”

Source:Glenwood Springs Post

Barnes-Jewish Hospital security sued for assaulting former medical resident www..privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.001-05:00

ST. LOUIS, MO. Jan 27 2012
A lawsuit filed in St. Louis Circuit Court Wedneday, claims Barnes-Jewish Hospital security guards twice beat a member of its medical residency staff.

It is a complicated case, and nothing has been proven in court, but the allegations are serious.

Osama bin Laden The claims are made by Oladimeji Alade, a former medical resident at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in the psychiatric program.

Alade claims that on July 8th, 2011, and July 9th, 2011, hospital security guards beat him, the first time in his hospital office and the second time near the hospital parking lot.

According to the lawsuit, Alade had a rocky relationship with the director of the residency training program, who Alade says did not approve of his taking time off from his residency duties for military leave. According to the suit, Alade is a Captain is theU.S. ArmyReserves.

Under pressure, according to the suit, Alade resigned his residency effective July 11th, 2011.

But on July 8th, three days before that deadline, Alade claims he came to the hospital to attend a retirement party and then begin cleaning out his desk.

And that's when, while in his office, Alade alleges security guards came to the door, guns drawn, telling him he had to leave the hospital because he had been fired several weeks earlier.

Alade says he asked that the police be called and while waiting for them to arrive, he alleges the guards beating him, stripping him naked, and confiscating his personal laptop and USB drive.

"At one point in time, the human resource manager that was directing the activities of the security personnel crouched down, looked at me, made some racial statement and spat on me," Alade said.

Alade's attorney offers this explanation for the confiscation of the computer.

"They told the FBI and the police that my client worships Osama Bin Laden and thinks that the Ft. Hood alleged shooter, Major Hassan is his hero. The FBI investigated thoroughly and did not find anything whatsoever on my client," said Alade's attorney, Andrew Ndubisi Ucheomumu.

An FBI spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny the attorney's claims, or even whether the bureau participated in the investigation.

Alade alleges after the first beating, the guards, not police, took him to three hospitals, trying unsuccessfully to have him declared mentally ill.

The following day, July 9th, Alade claims he came back to the hospital to ask for the return of his laptop computer, but was told he could not have it. At that point, Alade says he headed for his car, but while walking to the parking lot, about a half dozen hospital security guards surrounded him.

Hospital security camera video shows Alade taking a seat on the ground, talking to the officers for several minutes. Then suddenly, the officers begin wrestling Alade to the ground.

"I begged them during that episode that okay please let me go you can see I am outside that is my car over there, I just wanted to go home. And they refused to let me go," Alade said.

After that incident, St. Louis Police were called and Alade was charged with misdemeanor trespassing. But the charge was later dropped.

As for his alleged support of bin Laden or the Ft. Hood shooter, Alade denies ever giving any indication that he supported either man, saying of bin Laden, "he got what he deserved," and of the Ft. Hood shooter, "he is unworthy of being in this country."

The suit claims as a result of these incidents, Alade's career has been damaged. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages from Barnes-Jewish Hospital and BJC Health Systems.

A spokesperson for the hospital says it has can not comment because the matter is under litigation.

Source:FOX2

Chief Financial Officer of former Pennsylvania design company guilty in bank fraud www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:39:00.000-05:00

NEWPORT NEWS VA Jan 27 2012
The Chief Financial Officer of a former Pennsylvania design company pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud charges that left a Gloucester bank with losses of more than $700,000.

At an hearing at the U.S. District Court in Newport News, Bernard Stromberg Jr., 40, of Morrisville, Pa., admitted to the charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release.

Stromberg was indicted on Oct. 13, 2011, by a federal grand jury on conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud charges, engaging monetary transaction in proceeds derived from unlawful activity and false statement on a loan application. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years when he is sentenced on May 1.

The U.S. Attorney's Office referred to court documents that stated Stromberg was the Chief Financial Officer of Atomica, a Pennsylvania design company that had a working relationship with Chesapeake Bank of Gloucester.

"In 2009, at Stromberg's direction, over 250 false invoices were submitted to the bank to cover various Atomica shortfalls. These invoices related to fictitious entities, entities that had no business relationship with Atomica, and entities for which Atomica had not completed work. Stromberg also submitted false financial information to the bank in an effort to increase Atomica's line of credit," the statement from Neil MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said.

Atomica dissolved in December, 2009, resulting in losses to Chesapeake Bank of more than $700,000.

Source:Daily Press

Bounty hunter shot in Wichita Kansas www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.006-05:00

Wichita KS Jan 27 2012 Police were called to the 3400 block of east Munger lane around 8:00 Wednesday night for a report of someone being shot.

Police say several bounty hunters were in the area looking for a wnated fugitive, southeast of Pawnee and Hillside.
Police said that one of the men was shot by an unknown person.

The 29-year-old man was taken to Via Christi St. Joe, and then transferred to St. Francis in critical condition.

Police have no suspects in the case. They say whomever shot the victim may be armed.

NC man faces 20 felonies for metal thefts www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.005-05:00

SALISBURY, N.C. Jan 27 2012-- AP A Salisbury man has been arrested and charged after sheriff's deputies say he tried to sell about 400 pounds of metal he had stolen.

The Salisbury Post reported that 28-year-old Bradley Keith Hampton was charged with 20 felonies earlier this week.

Rowan County sheriff's deputies say Hampton was questioned by deputies as about 400 pounds of metal was being weighed at the scrap yard.

Investigators say they determined the steel frame supports had been taken from an auto parts store in Salisbury.

Detectives say Hampton had sold metal to at least two businesses on more than a dozen occasions.

Hampton was charged with 12 counts of felony larceny and eight counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense.

It was unclear if he has an attorney.

NJ apartment maintenance worker charged in burglaries of tenants www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.004-05:00

NEPTUNE NJ Jan 27 2012 — A 27-year-old maintenance worker for the Neptune Township Housing Authority has been charged with taking jewelry from authority residents’ apartments.

Jared Anthony Pivarnick, Ash Drive, was charged on Jan. 16 and again on Friday and faces two counts of burglary and two counts of theft, Neptune Police Lt. William Monroe said Wednesday. Monroe said the stolen items are jewelry and that some of the jewelry has been recovered.
He said Pivarnick’s bail was set at $45,000. Pivarnick was not booked at the Monmouth County Jail, a spokewoman there said.

Monroe said that the case is still under investigation and that anyone with information should call Police Detective Robert Baldwin at 732-988-8000
Paul Caverly, the executive director of the Housing Authority, said Wednesday that an employee had been arrested twice and that the employee “took some items out of what we think are two apartments.”
Caverly said that the authority has hired a labor lawyer and that he has been told not to comment further at this time.
Sharon Turner, 48, lives in an authority apartment on Heck Avenue, and said she is one of the victims and knows that at least two sets of earrings and a necklace belonging to her children were taken.
A cashier with the Neptune High School food service, Turner said she doesn’t know how she would be compensated for the stolen jewelry.
She also expressed concern that the authority had not sent out a notification to people living in the public housing units that an employee with access to their apartments had been charged with burglary and theft.
Caverly said he could not comment.
Police declined to release a photo of Pivarnick.

Source:njpressmedia.com

Mentor Ohio police searching for man who assaulted Macy's loss prevention agent www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.003-05:00

MENTOR, OH Jan 27 2012- The Mentor Police Department is looking for help to identify a man wanted in a robbery at Macy's department store on January 10th.

The suspect is a white man, about 40-years-old old, approximately 5'10" and a stocky build.

The man attempted to steal several items and fled the store. After being chased by security, he then attempted to assault the security officer. The man fled the area in a late model GMC truck, red in color.

If anyone has information on the identity of this man, please contact the Mentor Detective Bureau at 974-5763.

Florissant MO. man nabbed by security charged with bank robbery www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.002-05:00

ST. LOUIS COUNTY MO Jan 27 2012 A Florissant man has been charged with robbery after a security officer caught him trying to rob a bank.

Brian Joseph Schappe, 27, of the 1000 block of Cheyenne Drive in Florissant, was charged Wednesday in St. Louis County with first-degree robbery. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

On Tuesday afternoon, Schappe allegedly walked into the Southern Commercial Bank at 6969 South Lindbergh Boulevard and demanded money. A security officer who works for the bank held Schappe until police arrived. No one was hurt.

Schappe is scheduled to make his initial court appearance this morning at the courthouse in St. Louis County.

Schappe's criminal history includes drug possession in Jefferson County in 2007 and a stealing a firearm in St. Louis County in 2008. Court records show he was ordered to undergo drug treatment. He was put on five years' probation.

When his probation was revoked several months later, he was ordered to serve a 120-day "shock" sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Source:www.stltoday.com

Las Vegas-pastor wanted on charges of having sex with underage girls was captured in Mexico www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.001-05:00

HENDERSON, Nev. Jan 27 2012-- A Las Vegas-pastor wanted on charges of having sex with underage girls was captured in Mexico on Wednesday night.

Fifty-five-year-old Otis Holland allegedly fled the Henderson area after an arrest warrant was issued for him on 11 counts of sexual assault of a victim under 16, one count of child abuse and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Holland's case was recently featured on America's Most Wanted. A tip from someone who watched the show lead to his arrest.

The U.S. Marshals Service, working with the Mexican National Police, who apprehended Holland in Tijuana Wednesday night.

Holland was then turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service. He is currently being held in the San Diego Central Jail pending extradition back to Henderson.

Holland was arrested in December of 2010 on three counts of sexual assault of a victim under the age of 16. During the investigation, detectives discovered allegations that Holland may have had inappropriate contact with other minors.

In January of 2011, Holland was arrested on a felony count of lewdness with a minor under 14 years old. The January arrest involved allegations from a different girl.

Holland is a pastor at the United Faith Church, which had been holding services in the lobby of a tax service business on Hacienda Avenue in Las Vegas. The alleged incidents involving Holland are said to have occurred at various locations in Henderson and in Las Vegas.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Henderson Police Department at (702) 267-4750 or Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555.

Source:8newsnow.com

Armed man shot by a MetroLink security faces two felonies www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:38:00.000-05:00

ST. LOUIS COUNTY MO Jan 27 2012 A man who was shot by a MetroLink security guard after pointing a gun at that guard has been charged with two felonies in St. Louis County.

Dominic L. Webb, 29, was charged Wednesday with unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a concealable firearm. Bail is set at $20,000.

At about 4 p.m. Tuesday, a security guard at the Rock Road MetroLink station saw Webb and another man get into a fight on the platform. The officer intervened. Webb pulled a handgun and pointed it at the guard, police say. The guard shot Webb and recovered his handgun.

Webb was critically injured but is expected to survive, police say. Webb lives in the 1600 block of Jett Drive in north St. Louis County.

The Rock Road station is near the 7000 block of St. Charles Rock Road. The guard was uninjured. The guard is an employee of a private company working on a contract basis for Metro.

Source:www.stltoday.com

Beech High School assistant football coach and math teacher arrested for rape www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.006-05:00

Goodlettsville TN Jan 27 2012 An assistant football coach and math teacher at Beech High School was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of aggravated statutory rape of a female student.

Darrell Allen Keen, 32, 22 McMurtry Road, Goodlettsville, was taken into custody at Beech High School, said Major Don Linzy with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department.
The arrest affidavit shows Beech’s school resource officer Darren Roseberry received a report from school officials Tuesday that Keen might be having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.

Detectives said they interviewed the victim, who said she had sex with Keen on Dec. 18 at the Holiday Inn Express in Hendersonville.
According to the affidavit, Keen told police he got a room at the hotel for the victim and her friend. He admitted to staying in the room with the two girls, but denied any sexual contact. But the victim told police Keen told her to get into bed with him.
“The victim’s friend confirmed that the defendant and the victim were in the same bed the following morning and that the victim disclosed the sexual activity to her,” the report said.
Linzy said the department is looking into the possibility of more victims. Keen was being held in Sumner County jail late Wednesday on $150,000 bond.

An employee with the school system for five years, Keen has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case, said Jeremy Johnson, Sumner County Schools spokesman. His court date is set for March 7.

Source:the Tennessean

Grain Valley elementary school teacher charged with child molestation www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.005-05:00

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. Jan 27 2012— A Grain Valley elementary school teacher has been charged with child molestation and sodomy of young boys at his school, prosecutors announced on Wednesday.

Matthew J. Nelson, 33, faces one count of first-degree child molestation and three felony counts of statutory sodomy in connection to the alleged attacks on the boys, ages 7 through 9.

According to court documents, Nelson – a teacher at Prairie Branch Elementary School in Grain Valley – is alleged to have touched the boy’s private areas through their clothing or directly to their skin during classroom hours, including during movie times and reading periods. In an interview with Child Protection Center authorities, one of the boys said that the alleged incidents always happened while there were other students in the classroom, but never when there were any adults around.

The parents of the alleged victims told police that they had noticed behavior changes in their children, slipping grades and unusual outbursts.

In addition, the alleged victims said that they felt safer when Nelson was “not at school,” and that Nelson would kiss them on the cheek when they would ask him about school work at his desk.

Prosecutors have requested a $250,000 cash-only bond in the case. Nelson is in custody at the Jackson County Jail.

Fountain Lake High School English teacher arrested www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.004-05:00

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.Jan 27 2012 - Garland County Sheriff's Department says they've arrested a teacher after he allegedly had sexual relations with a student.

Timothy Oshields, 34, was arrested for sexual assault of the second degree, and for having child pornography on his computer. Oshields was a English teacher at Fountain Lake High School but has resigned.

Police say that the relationship between Oshields and the 17-year-old female student had been allegedly going on since Thanksgiving weekend of 2011.

Police say that the contact between the two began with a Facebook message and continued through text messaging, instant messaging, communicating on campus, and phone conversations using different phones.

Police say that the mother of the student stated that Oshields would often ask her daughter to sneak out of their home. He also asked her daughter to perform sexual acts.

Police say that the mother stated that Oshields kissed her daughter on two different occasions and grabbed her daughter's buttocks while on campus.

In addition, police say the mother stated that Oshields texted her, thinking he was texting her daughter, asking her to sneak out of the house to meet him at his home. Pretending to be her daughter, the mother agreed to meet Oshields.

The mother's fiancée met Oshields instead, and confirmed that Oshields was there to meet the student, with a sexual agenda.

Police say that Oshields sent a text message to the mother stating that he would pay for counseling for her daughter, resign from teaching, and work "five jobs if he needed to." In addition, he offered money to help the student victim. The mother told police that in the same conversation, he admitted to have been sexually conversing with the student.

Fountain Lake Superintendent Darin Beckwith says his administration learned of sexual misconduct by Oshields after returning from Christmas break.

"The minute that it was reported to us, we took the allegations very seriously and we picked up the phone and reported it to the proper authorities," said Beckwith.

Beckwith says the district is working with police, chasing leads and talking with students.

"We want our kids and our patrons to know that safety is priority number one for our kids," said Beckwith.

Source: KTHV

Sussex Tech High School teacher arrested for sex with student www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.003-05:00

GEORGETOWN, DEL.Jan 27 2012 — Delaware State Police have arrested a Sussex Tech High School teacher who is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17 year old student.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Delaware State Police detectives were contacted by the Sussex Tech school administration that the victim was involved in a sexual relationship with a teacher.

Through further investigation it was determined that the teacher and student have had a sexual relationship since the beginning of January 2012.

Charles B. Coursey, 38, of Milton, has been charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and four counts of unlawful sexual contact.

Coursey was arraigned and committed to Sussex Correctional Center on $17,000.00 secured bail.

A statement released by the school indicates that officials are aware that Coursey was arrested Wednesday. The district also acknowledged that when allegations were brought to the attention of the district, they were immediately reported to the Delaware State Police.

“Charles Coursey is suspended pending the completion of the investigation. State and federal law protect the privacy rights of District employees. Thus, the District is not in a position to release additional information."

Due to the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victim, no further information regarding the victim is being released at this time.

Source:sussexcountian.com

Grissom Air Reserve Base security officer charged with arson www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.002-05:00

WALTON, Ind.Jan 27 2012— Indiana and military police have arrested a security officer at Grissom Air Reserve Base and his wife in connection with an fire at their home.

The Cass County Jail in Logansport was holding 38-year-old Ben Durr of Walton on a charge of arson and his wife, 33-year-old Wendy Durr, on a charge of conspiracy to commit arson following their arrests Wednesday. Both were being held on $2,000 bonds. Jail records did not indicate whether they had attorneys.

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security says state fire marshals determined a Sept. 14 fire at their home near the northern Indiana air base had been intentionally set. Other details were not released.

New Orleans police volunteer killed by carjacking suspect www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.001-05:00

NEW ORLEANS LA Jan 27 2012 -- As New Orleans police continue to search for the killer who shot and killed an Algiers Point man, those who knew Harry "Mike" Ainsworth say he had a soft spot for law enforcement.

"I'm thankful for neighbors like you!" read the sign someone placed where Ainsworth died.

Many in the Algiers Point neighborhood are calling the 44-year-old a hero after attempting to stop a carjacking near his kids' school bus stop.

"Ainsworth jumped on the hood and [the gunman] shot him through the windshield twice, he stumbled over in front of my house with the two little boys. I heard [the victim] scream," said Al Schmitt, who heard his neighbor retell her terrifying ordeal.

He also heard her screams bright and early this morning.

"I saw two little kids leaning over their dad, crying their eyes out, and so I got the two kids away," said Schmitt.

A small memorial has started to appear in the spot where Schmitt says Ainsworth took his last breath, just 50 feet from where he tried to stop a criminal.

His bravery convincing Tommy Boudreaux -- also a father -- to offer his professional "trauma scene" cleaning services free of charge.

Boudreaux's small way of reaching out to a grieving family.

"To hear that the victim was a volunteer himself, I thought the least I can do is volunteer my services and be kind to the family. It was very traumatic for me to hear his children witnessed their father's passing," added Boudreaux.

The Algiers Point man who had a soft spot for law enforcement would spend countless hours volunteering here at NOPD's 8th District Station.

"So when he saw we really wanted to fix up the station, he and his brother said: 'Well, we're going to donate the time whenever we can,'" said B.B. St. Roman, president of Cops 8.

Ainsworth was a member of the non-profit, citizen-based group that raised money to support NOPD's 8th District station.

The Algiers Point man and his brother helped re-paint the entire front lobby.

"We were very appreciative of it and he basically did it out of the kindness of his own heart. He had a real zeal for this Department and he loved the 8th District tremendously," said NOPD Officer Frank Robertson.

Those who knew the 44-year-old say he always wanted to be a police officer, which is why friends aren't surprised by his tragic attempt to help a neighbor in distress.

"To me, he was killed in the line of duty, if not as a police officer but as a Good Samaritan, the duty of a good citizen," said St. Roman.

The family is accepting donations at the Algiers Branch of Whitney Bank at 501 Verret St., New Orleans, La, 70114.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111. You could be eligible for a $5,000 reward.

Alarming Claim Against Methodist Hospital www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:37:00.000-05:00

HOUSTON TX Jan 27 2012 (CN) - Married lawyers in their 60s say security guards refused to let them leave The Methodist Hospital, then had the husband taken to jail while the hospital held the woman overnight, injected her with Ativan against her will, and checked her needlessly into its psych ward.
The hospital did this even though a doctor said "he saw no reason why they couldn't leave," Lisa and Russell Guttshall say in their complaint in Harris County Court.
According to the complaint: "On Tuesday, August 17, 2010 Russell Guttshall called 911 for his wife, Lisa Guttshall. They had a dispute, and he feared that she might have overdosed on prescription drugs. Lisa Guttshall was taken by ambulance to Methodist. Russell Guttshall went to Methodist in his car."
The Guttshalls say blood tests showed that Lisa was OK, and they decided to leave the hospital.
However, "As Lisa Guttshall and Russell Guttshall attempted to leave Methodist, a security guard blocked them," the complaint states. "Both Lisa Guttshall and Russell Guttshall are in their sixties, and they posed no threat to this security guard. They simply made it clear that they wanted to leave the hospital, even if it was against medical advice. Both Lisa Guttshall and Russell Guttshall are also lawyers, and they told this security guard that he did not have authority to keep Lisa Guttshall at Methodist against her will.
"Despite this, the security guard grabbed Lisa Guttshall and started pulling her away. Russell Guttshall asked the security guard to leave his wife alone. At this point, other Methodist security guards joined the dispute. On information and belief, at least one of these security officers was an off-duty police officer. Russell Guttshall was grabbed, thrown to the floor and held down against his will. Lisa Guttshall was grabbed and thrown into an enclosed room while she was pleading with security to leave her husband alone. Russell Guttshall was eventually let up and put into the room with Lisa Guttshall.
"At this point, Dr. Chang with Methodist got involved in the dispute. He spoke with Lisa Guttshall and determined she was not a danger to herself or others. He told Lisa Guttshall and Russell Guttshall that he saw no reason why they couldn't leave. After talking with security, Dr. Chang told the Guttshalls that security was insisting that Russell Guttshall be arrested. Lisa Guttshall was also going to be arrested unless she agreed to stay at Methodist."
Then, the Guttshalls ,say an on-duty police officer arrived at the hospital.
"On information and belief, the off-duty officer lied to the on-duty officer about the Guttshalls' conduct in an attempt to anger the on-duty officer. The Guttshalls came out of the room where they had been detained. They were acting peaceably and with their hands out, anticipating being arrested. Without any provocation, the on-duty officer threw Russell Guttshall against a wall, handcuffed him and put a Taser gun against his ribs. The on-duty officer threatened to Taser Russell Guttshall," according to the complaint.
It continues: "The on-duty officer took Russell Guttshall out to the patrol car in handcuffs. Russell Guttshall explained to his officer that he had done nothing wrong, and there was a videotape of the incident which would verify his version of the facts. The on-duty officer said, 'I'll fix that,' got out of the car and went back into Methodist."
The Guttshalls say the officer took Russell to jail, where he told jailers "that Russell had 'beaten up a cop.' He was therefore treated terribly while in jail," the complaint states. "He was placed in the 'bullpen' with numerous other detainees. He was told that his wife had committed suicide. His paperwork was purposefully ignored. When he finally got before a judge at 1:00 p.m. the next day, the judge properly found that there was no probable cause to detain him and he was ordered to be freed. However, jail personnel would not let him go until he had been 'processed,' which they did as slowly as possible. Despite the fact that they had all of his paperwork that same day, Russell Guttshall was not released from prison until 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, August, 19, 2010."
The bizarre complaint continues: "Meanwhile, Lisa Guttshall was being detained against her will at Methodist. The first night she was kept in the room where she had been first detained. Security officers would look at her through the window and laugh at her. She was forcibly injected with Ativan against her will. She was bruised on her legs, arms and inner thighs due to Methodist's treatment of her. She was then checked into the psychiatric ward, which is locked down, against her will. She was finally evaluated by a psychiatrist, who found no reason to continue to detain her. Despite this fact, she was detained in the psychiatric ward of Methodist Hospital until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday August 19, 2010. She was released without a hearing, which would normally be required of a psychiatric patient."
The Guttshalls seek damages for assault, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, negligent hiring, aiding and abetting and conspiracy.
They are represented by Craig Keener.

NJ police arrest couple in violent Target store robberies www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:36:00.001-05:00

Manalapan NJ Jan 27 2012 The police arrested a pair of locals they say are responsible for one of two violent burglary attempts at the Route 9 Target store recently, each of which left employees with injuries.

Berron West, 42, and Cortney Appelbaum, 32, were arrested at their Oak Knoll Drive home Wednesday afternoon, one week after police allege they tried to lift $650-worth of baby formula from the big-box store.
The two, who are both unemployed, schemed to load a shopping cart with baby formula and clothes and walk out of the store about 10 a.m. last Friday, Capt. Christopher Marsala said. But West was stopped by an employee as he approached the exit and assaulted the officer and another store employee, Marsala said.

The crime, from beginning to end, was a carbon copy of what played out inside the store a week earlier, when a couple attempted to leave the store with a cart full of baby formula but failed to get past security, ending in a vicious attack on a store employee. The police are still investigating that crime and no arrests have been made.
With the help of Old Bridge Police, Manalapan detectives were able to track down the suspects in last week’s burglary attempt, Marsala said.
West was charged with robbery, simple assault, conspiracy to commit shoplifting and criminal attempted shoplifting. He was being held on $140,000 bail in Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township.
Appelbaum was charged with conspiracy to commit shoplifting and criminal attempted shoplifting. She was also taken to county jail, on $80,000 bail.

Utah teens planned to bomb school-steal airplane www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-27T04:36:00.000-05:00

Roy Utah Jan 27 2012 School resumed as normal today at Roy High School in Roy, Utah, only one day after police arrested two students who were allegedly planning to bomb their school assembly and make their getaway in a stolen plane.

Dallin Morgan, 18, and Joshua Hogan, 16, were arrested Wednesday after a female student received a troubling text message from one of the suspects.

"It was a text she felt was a threat and a danger and so she immediately went to the administration," Roy Police Department spokeswoman Anna Bond told ABCNews.com. Bond declined to reveal what the text message said because of the ongoing investigation.

Administrators contacted police, who executed four search warrants on the students' homes and vehicles, and conducted a thorough sweep of the school.

No explosives turned up during the search," Bond said. "However, investigators found "maps of the school and information about security systems had been prepared with plans for an escape using a plane from the Ogden Hinckley Airport.

"We know for certain they had been planning this for at least three months," she said.

Authorities also discovered the two boys had trained on flight simulation software in preparation for their getaway.

The FBI and its Regional Forensics Computer Laboratory will assist in analyzing any confiscated computers, but declined to comment on the case in a statement.

Morgan, who is an adult, is being held at the Weber County Jail. Hogan is being held at the Weber County Detention Center.

Source:ABC NEWS

Sumner County TN teacher charged with rape www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T05:48:00.000-05:00

GALLATIN, TN Jan 26 2012 - A Sumner County teacher was arrested Wednesday morning on a charge of statutory rape.

Darryl Keen, 32, was suspended without pay from his position as a math teacher at Beech High School pending the outcome of the police investigation.

Sumner County Schools officials would not comment on the case, but Sumner County Sheriff Sonny Weatherford said the investigation involves a student at the school.

"It's a student there at Beech High School, a young 17 year old girl that he had been talking with," Weatherford said. "He talked her into meeting him in Hendersonville at a Holiday Inn in December."

According to the police report, Keen admits to getting a hotel room in Hendersonville and staying there with the 17-year-old student and her friend, but Keen denies any sexual contact.

Keen was jailed on $150,000 bond.

Source:WSMV

West Virginia paramedic collapses and dies while on duty www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T05:25:00.000-05:00

Boone County WV Jan 26 2012 A paramedic with Boone County (W.Va.) Ambulance Authority died while on duty today (Wednesday, Jan. 25) returning from a routine inter-facility transfer, according to information from The Boone Examiner, the local newspaper in Boone County.

Sarah Nodurft, 27, died suddenly and unexpectedly from an as yet undetermined cause, according to news accounts.

The West Virginia MetroNews Network reported that Nodurft collapsed and died on the way back to the station after taking a patient to a hospital in Charleston.

Boone County Ambulance Authority Director Randy Lengyel told the network news that Nodurft, who lived in Madison, had stopped with her partner to get something to eat at about 12:30 p.m.

"She just fell over. I really don't know what happened," Lengyel told the Charleston-based network news.

Nodurft had been working with the ambulance authority for about five years. She became a paramedic last June, according to news reports.

"Everybody is having a tough time with this," Lengyel said. "It's a tragic loss for us. She was a fine paramedic and a fine person too."

On Nodurft’s social media website profile, posted on Myspace.com, she said she also worked part-time for Lincoln Emergency Services in Hamlin, W.Va.

She called herself “not your typical girly girl,” as she had knowledge of automotive repair, enjoyed four-wheeling and “having fun.” She also characterized herself as “a tad bit hyperactive 97 percent of the time” something she attributed to high-caffeine soft drinks as well as energy drinks like Vault, Red Bull and Monster.

Nodurft is also listed as an active member of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club, West Virginia #3, according to the club’s web site.

The Boone Examiner said she was a member of the Spruce River Fire Department in Jeffrey, W.Va.

Two former Hampton Roads Transit employees plead guily of embezzlement www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T04:03:00.001-05:00

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. Jan 26 2012 - Two former Hampton Roads Transit employees pleaded guilty to embezzling close to $50,000 from the company.

24-year-olds Karen Watkins and Latasha Kiana Boyd were employed as vault pullers. Between Jan. 1, 2009 and Oct. 31, 2009, the Commonwealth's Attorney says, both women visited the Park Avenue trolley station in Virginia Beach to collect the stored bus and trolley fares. The fares were then to be delivered to a money room in Norfolk.

Wednesday's release states money pulled from the vault is kept inside a sealed container, but the container at the trolley station was not sealed, allowing the pullers access to the money inside.

HRT soon saw differences in the data collected from the buses at the trolley station and the actual money received. The company determined each incident involving a discrepancy occurred on days Boyd and Watkins were working without a security guard.

On Aug. 29, 2009, Boyd and Watkins were seen driving the HRT money van to a home before going to the money room in Norfolk. Both women were suspended.

The Commonwealth's Attorney says from Jan. 2009 through Oct. 2009, Watkins and Boyd made frequent bank deposits of $1 bills. In all, Boyd took $24,414 while Watkins embezzled $23,969.

Both will be sentenced April 25.

Source:WAVY.com

Shreveport police officer charged with drug offenses www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T04:00:00.002-05:00

SHREVEPORT, La. Jan 26 2012— Shreveport police have arrested one of their own on various charges, including solicitation of prostitution.

Undercover agents, investigating a complaint, arrested 30-year-old Jeffrion Smith, who's been on the force since February 2009. He faces one count each of solicitation, distribution of a Schedule I narcotic and possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance.

Police say once investigators finish questioning him Wednesday, he will be booked into the parish jail.

Authorities say Smith was off-duty when the alleged offenses occurred.
Police Chief Willie Shaw immediately placed Smith on paid administrative leave.

DeKalb County Georgia police officer charged with stealing while in uniform www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:58:00.000-05:00

LITHONIA, Ga.Jan 26 2012
A DeKalb police officer, recently named Officer of the Month, is now behind bars accused of stealing from people while in uniform.

Officer Ghayth Abdul-Mughnee, 30, was arrested Wednesday night and was taken into the DeKalb County Police Headquarters where he was a 4-year veteran, working as center precinct morning patrol officer.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Abdul-Mughnee for theft by taking, possession of marijuana and violation of oath of office.

Police told Channel 2's Sophia Choi some additional charges are pending.

Police said Abdul-Mughnee was put on administrative leave after investigators responded to a domestic call at his home on Raiders Ridge Drive in Lithonia shortly after 2 a.m. Monday.

An incident report said the officer's live-in girlfriend, Shawte White, 33, alerted them about the theft as she was being arrested for simple assault.

The report said, "Abdul-Mughnee would bring miscellaneous items home from work that belonged to people he arrested."

According to the report, inside the home in Lithonia investigators found a laptop, cell phone and an iPod, as well as several banking transaction cards and banking information.
A police source told Choi they found ATM cards with pin numbers and credit cards not only in the home, but in the front shirt pocket of Abdul-Mughnee's uniform.

In the report, White also said Abdul-Mughnee would bring home marijuana that he had confiscated from drug suspects.

Also confiscated from his home: a patrol car.

Police said that was his perk for getting Officer of the Month in December.

That patrol car is now impounded as evidence.

Source:WSBTV

Pastor, retired officer among those arrested in Polk park sex sting www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:53:00.000-05:00

Polk County Fla Jan 26 2012 Sheriff's Office vice detectives arrested four men, including a pastor and a retired Canadian police officer, during an undercover operation today at Peace River Park in the Homeland area.

Detectives said after they made contact with the men, the suspects exposed themselves and/or asked them to perform sex acts on them.

Among those arrested was Matthew Preston Clark, 33, of Bartow, who told detectives he is senior pastor at the Blessed Assurance Temple, 1245 S. McAdoo Ave, Bartow. He was charged with soliciting a lewd act.

Also arrested was Carl Robert Kitchen, 72, of Lions Head, Ontario, Canada, and a part-time resident of Fort Meade. He told detectives he is a retired state police officer from Canada, where he served for 31 years. He was charged with exposure of sexual organ and soliciting a lewd act.

"It never ceases to amaze me when professionals such as preachers and law enforcement officers are engaged in such outrageous behavior," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a release. "That type of behavior is not going to be tolerated in our parks. We want to ensure that all of our parks are safe for children and their families to enjoy. "

The other men arrested were Paul L. Wright, 41, of Dade City, and Roger Griffin, 63, of Lakeland. Wright was charged with soliciting a lewd act, and Griffin was charged with exposure of a sexual organ and committing a lewd act.

Source:TBO

San Francisco jury has awarded $465,400 to a Muslim security guard www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:50:00.000-05:00

San Francisco CA Jan 26 2012 A San Francisco jury has awarded $465,400 to a Muslim of African descent who quit his job as a security guard after a co-worker called him a "goddamn terrorist," supervisors made racist comments and a top company official endorsed a statement that "Muslims kill people."

The Superior Court jury found Thursday that Abas Idris' employer, Andrews International, was responsible for harassment and a hostile work environment that forced Idris to resign, and awarded him $65,400 for lost wages and emotional distress. On Monday, the jury added $400,000 in punitive damages.

Idris, 27, said Tuesday he's had other security jobs both before and after his 2 1/2-year stint with Andrews, but none in which "co-workers and superiors were referring to me as a terrorist or referring to me as al Qaeda."

He said the court case allowed him to stand up for his rights and to make it clear that "Islam is a religion of peace."

Andrews International, a worldwide security company based in Los Angeles, plans to appeal the verdict, attorney Madonna Herman said Tuesday.

"Andrews does not condone discrimination or harassment of any kind," Herman said in a statement. She said the company promoted Idris to a supervisory position and accommodated his requests for schedule changes.

Idris, of Eritrean descent, was brought to the United States from Saudi Arabia by his parents when he was 2. He was hired by Andrews as a security officer at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio in September 2010 and made $14 an hour.

Idris, represented by attorney Angela Alioto, said in his lawsuit that the office manager told him in January 2008 not to zip up his black rain jacket because he looked "too black," and his supervisor told him a racist joke eight months later.

Later, Idris said, one supervisor told him that war was one of the "pillars of Islam," and another said that "Muslims kill people," particularly gays.

Idris said a co-worker told him about a January 2010 conversation with a fellow security officer who referred to Idris as a "goddamn terrorist" and added, "You can't trust al Qaeda."

Idris said no one took his complaints seriously. When the incidents were discussed at a supervisors' meeting in February 2010, he said, the company's regional director, Tom Dinnauer, described Idris as "a rat with an agenda" and said his supervisor, who had declared that Muslims kill people, "has a good point."

Idris said he quit his job that month in fear for his safety.

Source:sfchronicle.com.

25-year-old man convicted of assault on security officer faces life in prison www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:49:00.005-05:00

Shasta County CA Jan 26 2012 A 25-year-old man is facing a potential life sentence in March after being convicted Tuesday by a Shasta County jury of felony assault and battery for stomping on the head of a security guard last year at Win-River Casino in Redding.

Prosecutors said they will seek on March 23 a 25-year-to-life prison sentence for Sergio Argueta, who was arrested on Jan. 15, 2011.

Prosecutors said Argueta stomped on the head of a security guard at Win-River Casino in Redding as the guard was trying to help another security guard detain a person there in a separate altercation.

The unidentified guard, who was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion, has made a full recovery, prosecutors said.

Alabama security guard charged with murder www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:49:00.004-05:00

Dothan AL Jan 26 2012 Police have charged a man working security at a rapper’s concert with shooting a Dothan man to death outside a downtown nightclub early Sunday morning.

Dothan Police Sgt. Will Glover said police investigators have arrested Travarius Dewaunkalis Daniel, 30, of Birmingham and charged him with murder. Daniel is being held without bail.

Dothan police found 26-year-old Anthony Jerome Robinson with a gunshot wound to the chest just outside a club called Primetime. Police responded around 3:15 a.m. to the club located on East Powell Street. Robinson died at Southeast Alabama Medical Center later Sunday morning.

Dothan attorney Billy Joe Sheffield, who has been retained to represent Daniel, said his client worked as head of security for the promotional group hired by Primetime. Daniel was not a member of the security for the rapper, Webbie.

Glover, the supervisor of the violent crimes unit, said about 50 people were gathered up by police after the murder, which he said included Daniel.

Glover said the murder was the result of an altercation that started inside the club, and escalated outside.

“There were approximately 30 people that we believe were involved in the altercation, and at this time it's unclear if the victim was involved in the fight,” Glover said. “We’re still doing more interviews so we don’t know how it all started.”

A Dothan police statement said that during the fight, Daniel allegedly pulled a handgun and fatally shot Robinson. Daniel then ran across the road where he fired two additional rounds.

Daniel then tried to go into a nearby business before going back to Primetime where he was detained by police.

Glover said Daniel was originally only charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing after he was banned from the club earlier in the evening.

“He came down with the security detail for the performer,” Glover said.

According to the Primetime Dothan Facebook page, the nightclub posted their condolences to the Robinson family after he was shot to death outside the club after a Webbie concert.

The club also apologized in the posting to their patrons for being detained inside the club for seven to eight hours for questioning so Dothan police could work on their investigation.

“Our heart goes out to everyone affected by this senseless act of violence, and may God continue to watch over us all in this time of uncertainty,” the Facebook posting said.

Glover said security for both the nightclub and the performer at the nightclub that night were involved in the altercation.

Glover said police charged several other people with misdemeanor marijuana possession during the massive investigation at the nightclub.

“It was part of the drag net,” Glover said.

Agents with the Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control Board and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office have assisted in the ongoing investigation.

Lt. Kenny Davis, the agent in charge of the Dothan ABC office, said there is an ongoing investigation into circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and how it may impact the alcohol license for Primetime.

“They have had some ABC administrative violations in the past,” Davis said. “Criminal conduct has occurred at that license location, they have pleaded guilty and they have paid their fines on it.”

Davis said he could not comment on what type of criminal conduct has occurred at the nightclub in the past.

Sheila Brady, Robinson’s girlfriend, said she’d hoped police would make an arrest in his murder to bring him some peace. Brady said she is pregnant with Robinson’s baby.

“The baby is going to be named after him, Anthony Jerome Robinson Jr.,” Brady said. “I strongly believe when the baby is born, Anthony is going to be reborn. He left me something special, and that’s this baby. He was a great person, and had a great heart."

Source:Dothaneagle.com

Hidalgo County jailer fired for working as illegal security guard www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:49:00.003-05:00

McAllen TX Jan 26 2012 A Hidalgo County jailer is off the job after he allegedly worked as a security guard at a local nightclub falsely identifying himself as a police officer.

McAllen police arrested 22-year-old Gabriel Miranda early Sunday morning.

Investigators told Action 4 News that it all started with a disturbance at Club Phoenix around 12:49 a.m. Sunday.

Police officers reported that Miranda was wearing a black T-shirt that said “POLICE” and had a 9mm handgun in a holster.

Authorities learned that Miranda is not a licensed peace officer prompting officers to arrest him for false identification as a peace officer and unlawful carrying a weapon.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño told Action 4 News that Miranda was placed on administrative leave after the incident.

Sheriff Treviño said an internal investigation into the incident ended with Miranda being fired on Tuesday.

2,100 pounds of marijuana seized from fake AT&T work truck www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:49:00.002-05:00

McCook TX Jan 26 2012 Two men are behind bars after authorities found more than a ton of marijuana inside a fake AT&T work truck.

It all happened off FM 490 just west of the Hidalgo County community of McCook.

A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) state trooper pulled over what appeared to be an AT&T truck over for speeding 72 mph in a 60 mph zone.

Driver Aaron Arrellano-Salgado fled on foot but was caught.

Authorities found 189 bundles with 2,168 pounds of marijuana inside the cloned work truck.

State troopers pulled over a second car driven by Wilfredo Garza-Salgado for running a stop sign nearby.

According to court records, Garza-Salgado was acting as an escort for the AT&T truck.

Records show a man in Roma was going to pay Arrellano-Salgado $1,000 dollars to drive the fake AT&T truck and that Garza-Salgado was supposed to get $500 dollars to escort it.

Both men appeared before U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Peter Ormsby in McAllen on Friday morning.

Judge Ormsby denied bond for both men until a Thursday morning hearing.

Rio Grande Valley drug smugglers have used cloned or fake work vehicles from companies such as Halliburton and FedEx to smuggle drugs in the past.

Source:ValleyCentral.com

Shoplifters assault store security-lead police on chase www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:49:00.000-05:00

Madison WI Jan 26 2012 Two shoplifting suspects who allegedly fled a department store after one punched a security guard were chased out of the west side mall and arrested by police several blocks away.

Deshana Graham-Golden, 17, Madison, was arrested for battery and retail theft and a 15-year-old male from Madison was cited for retail theft, according to a Madison police news release.

The two allegedly took merchandise from Sears at West Towne Mall at about 1:30 p.m. Monday.

"The loss prevention officer (store security) at Sears, a 31-year-old woman from Madison, was punched in the face as she tried to stop two shoplifters Monday afternoon," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain.

The two suspects fled the store allegedly with stolen clothing, with the victim and a second store employee chasing after them.

"After the victim was punched, the two suspects took off across the West Towne Mall parking lot while still being pursued," DeSpain said.

Police found the two suspects near South Gammon Road and Seybold Road and made arrests.

"Some of the stolen merchandise was recovered," DeSpain said.

Source:madison.com

Atlanta police applicant claims he has been rejected because he has HIV www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:48:00.005-05:00

ATLANTA GA Jan 26 2012 – A former investigator with the city of Los Angeles claims Atlanta police rejected his job application solely because he has HIV, a decision he said breaks the law and perpetuates stereotypes about people with the virus.

Atlanta police argue hiring the man poses a threat to the health and safety of the public, setting up a legal fight that is being followed closely by gay rights groups and police agencies.

A federal appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Wednesday, and judges will have the chance to pepper both sides with questions.

"It's shocking and frustrating and very saddening that in 2012 this is still going on," said the 40-year-old man who sued the city of Atlanta in 2010 under the pseudonym Richard Roe. "People are living with HIV and, for the most part, they are living normal lives and productive lives."

Roe spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he believes his medical condition could prevent him from other job opportunities.

Roe's anonymous lawsuit mirrors a battle that has largely been waged quietly, without high-profile protests or marches. Several similar lawsuits have been dismissed by judges who sided with the police departments, or the cases were settled out of court, the agreements kept confidential.

A lower judge sided with the city of Atlanta in November 2010 and threw out the lawsuit, ruling that Roe failed to prove he didn't pose a "direct threat" to the health and safety of others. Roe appealed the decision.

Atlanta attorneys said in court documents Roe didn't disclose his condition and warned he couldn't perform "essential functions" of an officer. The police department and city officials have refused to comment beyond court filings.

Roe said he was a criminal investigator with the city of Los Angeles, though he did not work with the police department. He discovered he had HIV in 1997 but said it didn't hinder his ability to perform his duties. He said his infection never came up with the city.

He moved to Atlanta to find a better job, and in January 2006 began the lengthy process to join the city's police force. He passed a written test, a psychological exam, computerized voice stress analysis and a background check. The roadblock came after a blood test during a physical revealed he had the virus that causes AIDS, his lawsuit said. The doctor did not do any further tests.

Roe said the physician, Dr. Alton Greene, told him Atlanta police had a policy of refusing to hire officers with the virus. Roe said the doctor's statement violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which he said prevents employers from dismissing anyone because they have HIV.

The city said they do not systematically reject job applicants because of HIV, but instead they look at each individual on a case-by-case basis.

In Roe's case, the city said, the doctor recommended that he have "no physical contact or involvement with individuals."

Catherine Hanssens, executive director of the Center for HIV Law and Policy, said the Roe case centers on the "belief that, 30 years into the epidemic, HIV is easily transmitted and results in a death sentence when it is transmitted."

"And neither of those are remotely close to the truth," she said.

Nurses, paramedics and other first responders with HIV have faced similar challenges over the years by employers, said Hanssens, but she said legal fights in those professions don't often surface much anymore because decades of litigation and medical research shows those with HIV can work in higher-risk fields.

Scott Schoettes of Lambda Legal, the gay rights group that represents Roe, said the city will not be able to show that someone with HIV presents a public threat.

"And maybe other departments will realize that they should create a policy that explicitly says HIV should not disqualify you from getting a job," he said.

Police departments often don't have a policy about whether to hire an officer with HIV, and those that do are loath to advertise the decision to protect the privacy of their officers.

Darrel Stephens, the executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said his group has no guidelines for members on how to treat applicants with HIV. The Fraternal Order of Police also doesn't have a policy, but president Chuck Canterbury said his group argues that officers with the virus should be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Roe, who is in school studying criminal justice, said he's waging the legal battle because he wants to serve the city.

"Because of my desire to serve my community, I wouldn't want to be anywhere but out in the public," he said. "Making the streets safer for the underdog is one of the most rewarding things I can do."

Source:www.foxnews.com

Virginia Beach votes to keep private lifeguard service www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:48:00.004-05:00

VIRGINIA BEACH VA Jan 26 2012– Council voted Tuesday night to continue to use the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service to patrol the beaches at the oceanfront. The contract with the service would be for 5 years.

After a spirited discussion, the Council decided it was better to lock the lifesaving service into a contract rather than risk the city taking over the service and having the costs of operating it go up.

The vote was 7-4 to stay with the private service.

Some city officials said that the service provided through the private contractor cost the taxpayers too much. If the city had taken over the lifesaving duties it would have managed it through Virginia Beach EMS.

The Chief of Virginia Beach EMS, Bruce Edwards, believed they could do the same job, if not better, for a lot less money. He estimated a savings of more than $1.4 million over five years all while providing enhanced services like surf rescue boats.

But the city would have to expand its infrastructure and staff and the initial investment would cost the city more in its first year taking over services.

According to the EMS chief, Virginia Beach is one of the only major beaches on the east coast that still privatizes its lifeguarding services.

Source:WVEC.com

Mass. woman stole soda just for can deposit www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:48:00.003-05:00

LYNN, Mass. Jan 26 2011 (AP) -- Authorities say a Massachusetts woman bought $64 worth of soda using a stolen welfare benefits card, then immediately fed the full cans into the supermarket's automated redemption machine for the nickel deposit.

Tina Cafarelli, of Lynn, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges including larceny, property destruction and receiving stolen property. She was ordered held on $250 bail.

Police tell The Daily Item (http://bit.ly/yvBVmK ) that the electronic benefits card Cafarelli used to buy the 18 12-packs of soda had another person's name on it. The supermarket manager says the full cans caused extensive damage to the redemption machine.

The 36-year-old Cafarelli couldn't be reached for comment.

Former Virginia Beach lawyer gets 5 yrs prison for stealing from deceased client www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:48:00.002-05:00

NORFOLK, Va. Jan 26 2012 — A former Virginia Beach lawyer will spend five years in prison for bilking more than $390,000 from the estate of a deceased client.

U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride says Gay was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Norfolk .
A federal jury convicted 52-year-old Brian Gay last October on charges of mail and wire fraud, false statements and unlawful monetary transactions.

U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride says Gay was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Norfolk. He also must pay more than $398,000 in restitution.

According to evidence at trial and court records, Gay was the executor of the estate of Daniel Woodside, who died in 2006. Gay used some of Woodside's life insurance proceeds to buy himself a home in Naples, Fla., and two Harley Davidson motorcycles.

St Louis security officer shoots armed man in argument www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:48:00.001-05:00

St Louis Mo Jan 26 2012 Officers were called to the scene of a shooting at the Rock Road Metro platform just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to police, two men were arguing on the platform and the security guard had to step in. One man allegedly flashed a weapon and the security guard fired one shot at the man.

The injured man was taken to an area hospital, his condition is unknown. The security guard was not injured.

The Rock Road Metro station has reopened after a shooting during the afternoon commute

Police are investigating.

Source:kmo

Madison security officer thwarts attempted abduction www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:48:00.000-05:00

Madison WI Jan 26 2012 A woman shopping at a far west side grocery store has a security guard to thank for her safety, after a man grabbed her coat to get her to go with him, but left when the guard showed up.

The attempted assault was reported at 6:12 p.m. at Metcalfe's Market, 7455 Mineral Point Road, a grocery store that formerly was Cub Foods.

Madison police said in a news release the 38-year-old Madison woman was very shaken by the incident.

"She was shopping when the suspect approached and tried to engage her in a sexually suggestive conversation," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain.

The suspect then allegedly grabbed the woman's coat and said "You're coming with me."

"At that moment, the security guard came into the area and the suspect walked away," DeSpain said.

The suspect is a black male, late 20s to early 30s, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, large build, with an Afro-styled haircut and beard.

Source:madison.com

Burglary victim, mall security work to apprehend suspect www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:47:00.005-05:00

BURNSVILLE, Minn. Jan 26 2012- A Minnesota husband’s vigilant detective work led to the arrest of the suspect in a car break-in and purse theft. Hours after the theft took place Jan. 17 at Buck Hill ski area, the angry hubby located the suspect carrying the purse at Burnsville Center mall – ending her shopping spree on his wife’s dime. The suspect now faces up to 15 years incarceration and $30,000 in fines on three felony charges.

The Dakota County criminal complaint states that the victim and her husband reported the break-in and theft around 6 p.m. that day from Buck Hill. Her Coach purse, wallet and miscellaneous items were missing from behind the shattered vehicle window. The purse and wallet contained $200 cash, various credit cards and a $200 Macy’s gift card.

The couple was in the process of canceling their stolen credit cards hours later when they noticed unauthorized charges had recently been made at Burnsville Center. While the couple was headed to the police station, they stopped at the mall, as it was on the way. The husband visited a T-Mobile store where an attempted $600 charge had taken place on their account. He questioned a clerk there, who gave him a detailed description of the two females responsible for the failed transaction.

Leaving the T-Mobile store, the man saw the women fitting the profiles given by the clerk and confronted them. One of them was carrying a purse the same style of his wife’s missing one. He asked the woman, later identified as Jennifer Elizabeth Martin, 26, of Mound, if he could examine the purse, as his wife’s was missing. The second suspect then left the area of the conversation, never to return.

As the man continued to question a defiant Martin, mall security confronted the two parties as an argument was apparent. Martin then changed her story and admitted that the second suspect had left the area to throw away the credit cards and other evidence in a food court garbage can. The husband called police and mall security detained Martin until officers arrived. Macy’s Loss Prevention department then gave Burnsville police video of Martin making $245.71 in clothing purchases to the victim’s credit card that day.

Martin was found to be on probation, as she has a criminal history involving credit card fraud, theft and forgery. She now faces felony charges of Receiving Stolen Property, Financial Card Transaction Fraud and Identity Theft – each carrying a maximum of 5 years incarceration and a $10,000 fine. Martin has been in policy custody in Dakota County since Jan. 17 as she awaits further court proceedings.

Source:www.myfoxtwincities.com

Three people removed from Delta Air Lines flight www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:47:00.004-05:00

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Jan 26 2912— Officials say three people were removed from a Delta Air Lines flight at Little Rock National Airport after one of them made his way onto the airfield and later boarded the plane.

Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Sari Koshetz told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/Av3aqM) a man who opened an emergency door onto the airfield was stopped by an employee, brought back to the terminal and told to wait for police. Koshetz says the man didn't wait and boarded Delta flight 1614 to Atlanta.

When officials learned he was on the plane, the aircraft was recalled and the man, his companion and another person were removed.

Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman Sari Koshetz told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette a man who opened an emergency door onto the airfield was stopped by an airline employee, brought back to the terminal and told to wait for police.
Police spokesman Lt. Terry Hastings says the man was lost and didn't do anything wrong.

The plane left at 9 a.m. and landed at 11:35 a.m.

Georgia police officer struck by lightning www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:47:00.003-05:00

OGLETHORPE, Ga. Jan 26 2012-- AP A young police officer was to return to duty Monday afternoon. Nothing unusual, unless you've been struck by lightning.

Oglethorpe Chief Harold Cannon confirmed Monday that Officer Nicole Lucas Murillo, 23, had been struck by lightning a little after 5:30 p.m. Saturday as strong storms moved through the area.

The chief said that Murillo, who has been on the job about two years, was exiting her vehicle at Dollar General directly across the street from the police department, when lightning struck.

"It hit a car and caused no damage," Cannon said. "Witnesses said it (lightning) jumped from the car to her (Murillo) and knocked the radios off her body. It burned her fingers and toes."

Cannon said Murillo was taken to Flint River Community Hospital by ambulance and was kept overnight for observation because her heart rate was fluctuating. She was scheduled to return to work Monday afternoon, he said.

"It's just a freaky thing," Cannon said. "Where this happened, downtown, was hit pretty hard. The whole City's computers, radios and phones have all been down."

He said work crews were on site attempting to get service back up and running.

Marietta College Campus Police to become "Special Reserve Deputies." www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:47:00.002-05:00

Marietta OH Jan 26 2012 The Washington County Sheriff's Office will be partnering with the Marietta College Campus Police to introduce eight new "Special Reserve Deputies."

Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks says they will have more eyes and ears while the Campus Police will get more training. "I think it's going to be a really tremendous asset for us. You know in the recent weeks we could've used some reserve units as far as some crime scenes we had to maintain for awhile and the murder we had here in the last couple of weeks it would've been a big benefit to us."

Mincks said he and Marietta College Campus Police Chief, Tom Saccenti, have been working closely to seal this deal. They hope their agencies will work just as closely in years to come. "It gives our officers a chance to get to know fellow law enforcement officers in the county, to get to work with them, and establish a really solid relationship. Since we do back each other up within our own agencies."

The Campus Police will still patrol the campus. But they will also have the extra responsibility of more training and at times being called out to help the Sheriff's Office.

"It's an extra set of eyes whenever you have another officer out there riding with ours and in the middle of the night and you stop a car or you go to a house, you know that somebody is there behind you. And that's what we're looking forward to, having a little more man power to assist our officers," Mincks says.

The Campus Police are fully certified by the state-- but nothing compares to experience.

"And we provide them with over 100 hours of training every single year in crime scene processing, emergency medical response, things like that, but we want to make sure they are able to continually use those skills to ensure that they are called to upon campus."

The Campus Police will do an initial training with the Sheriff's Office then will do monthly ride alongs, as well as assist in investigations.

Source:WTAP

Houston library security nabs burglar www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:47:00.001-05:00

HOUSTON TX Jan 26 2012 – Police on Tuesday were questioning a suspect in a break-in at the downtown Central Library.

A security guard making his rounds Tuesday morning found a broken window.

Inside, he said he spotted a man trying to log on to a computer.

A mirror in the women’s restroom was also broken.

The man was arrested at the scene.

Police said he told them he broke in because he didn’t have anywhere else to stay.

St Louis security officer captures bank robbery suspect www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:47:00.000-05:00

St Louis MO Jan 26 2012 Police have taken a man into custody after responding to a robbery at the Southern Commercial Bank on South Lindbergh Boulevard at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday.

The man, a white male in his 20s, walked into the bank and displayed a note demanding money, police said. A security guard intervened and detained the suspect until officers arrived on the scene.

No one was injured and the suspect did not display a weapon.

St. Louis County Police have taken the suspect into custody with charges pending further investigation.

Police said the bank employed a security guard after it was robbed multiple times.

West Virginia nightclub bouncers sue comedian Andy Dick for assault www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:46:00.005-05:00

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. Jan 26 2012 (AP) — Two Kentucky men who say they were sexually assaulted by comedian Andy Dick at a West Virginia nightclub two years ago have filed a lawsuit against the comedian.

The 26-year-old from Ashland and the 35-year-old from Catlettsburg are also involved in a pending criminal case against Dick, their attorney said Tuesday. Dick's trial on two counts of felony first-degree sexual abuse is set for May 1 in Cabell County Circuit Court in Huntington.

Dick pleaded not guilty last summer to charges he grabbed a bouncer's crotch, and groped and kissed a patron while performing a series of shows in Huntington at a comedy club. The alleged acts occurred Jan. 23, 2010, at the Rum Runners nightclub.

Attorney Mike Woelfel said he filed the case earlier this month, seeking unspecified damages, to comply with the statute of limitations, which expired Monday. He said the complaint and the criminal case speak for themselves.

"What I see is a desire by the state and by the victims to assert that there is zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in whatever form it takes," he said.

The complaint says the men were victims of "battery and sexual abuse" and demands compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress, outrageous conduct, assault and invasion of privacy. The Associated Press does not generally identify the victims of alleged sexual abuse.

The complaint also alleges that Dick, of South Pasadena, Calif., "has a history of sexual misconduct which is serial in nature."

Dick's attorney, Marc Williams, dismissed the accusations.

"This proves what we've known all along," he told the Herald-Dispatch of Huntington (http://bit.ly/nzOvU5). "This was only about getting money from a celebrity."

Williams told The Associated Press in an email Tuesday afternoon that he was too busy to discuss the case further.

Dick has been in trouble with the law several times before.

He's been arrested in California on drug and battery charges, to which he pleaded guilty in 2008, and on charges of being drunk and disorderly in a restaurant last May. A Texas man also sued Dick last year, claiming the comedian exposed his genitals at a Dallas performance.

Dick had a long-running stint in the 1990s on NBC's "NewsRadio." He briefly had his own program, "The Andy Dick Show," on MTV. He also has had roles in several movies, including "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "Old School."

Positive growth track for private security seen in US and Canada www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:46:00.004-05:00

Washington DC Jan 26 2012 As the economy has slowly begun to show signs of improvement in recent months, the outlook for security officer jobs also appears to be on a positive growth track in the U.S. and Canada.

According to industry insiders, however, while the job market may be improving, the recession has created its own set of challenges for employers. One of the biggest hurdles that companies looking to hire have to clear is sifting through a large number of applicants for available positions to ensure that the right person is matched with the right job.

"The security officer job market for 2012 we think will be strong. We also think that there will be, because of the fragile recovery and the recession, quite a few applicants for those particular positions," said Jim Gillece, chief people officer and senior vice president of human capital management at AlliedBarton Security Services.

Gillece said that AlliedBarton employs about 55,000 security officers across the U.S. and that the company plans to do "quite a bit of hiring" this year.

Lee Achord, vice president of human resources and recruiting at G4S Secure Solutions, said that one of the good indicators he uses to determine the strength of the job market is how many of his company's more than 100 field offices are going to need to participate in upcoming local job fairs.

"I got a big turnout in December. A lot of offices wanted to schedule in advance their participation in job fairs so that to me indicates that they not only have a current need, but they are anticipating that need to increase throughout the year," he said.

Last fall, G4S committed to take part in "Joining Forces," a White House-sponsored program that encourages the hiring of veterans as more troops prepare to return home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to Achord, the company made a commitment to hire a minimum of 3,000 veterans and they have already more than 1,000 since early November.

"We've had a long, long history of hiring veterans, but when you see 1,300 in the space of barely two and a half months, that's a good indicator that we are doing a lot more hiring," he said.

Garda Security Solutions, which provides guard services across a variety of vertical markets in Canada, expects to add nearly 2,000 positions attributed mainly to new contract wins, according to Marc-Andre Aube, the company's chief operating officer.

"As a company we expect to grow and we expect to do that by capturing market share and winning large contracts," Aube said.

According to industry experts, there are also several vertical markets that could see an uptick in the hiring of guards in 2012, including in the healthcare, higher education, government, petrochemical, and critical infrastructure sectors. While many of these industries have traditionally hired their own guards, Gillece said that many of them are now looking at hiring contract guards as a way to offset their costs.

"Across the security industry and across this general economy, there are certain verticals and sectors that are under significant price pressures," said Gillece. "Many of these sectors have been proprietary, but as more and more cost pressures get placed on them, like every other sector they're looking to provide value and seek value."

Achord said that the manufacturing and banking verticals have been particularly strong for G4S.

"A lot of the verticals G4S serves have regulatory compliance issues that are important to understand. Our customers are looking for that higher-level security officer and training program that G4S provides," said Lew Pincus, senior director of marketing and communications for G4S. "It begins by recruiting the right candidates who have a certain level of discipline and leadership skills as sort of the raw material to then be able to receive the required training to go out and be a well-trained, highly skilled security officer. So many of our recruits begin as security officers but then through career development their job becomes more of a profession rather than just a security guard job."

One of the big factors impacting the job market in Canada is an increase in construction that is being driven by new natural resource developments. In Alberta, for example, Aube said that the market for security services is growing extremely fast due these natural resource projects.

"When they establish (these projects), they have to create this huge infrastructure requiring a lot of security," Aube said. "Once the construction is completed, security guards will typically remain on the site to control the traffic going in and out."

In addition to having traditional skills, Gillece said that modern day security officers must also possess good communication skills as they are often times the first point of contact for someone visiting a client's facilities. For those thinking about entering the guard market, he recommends that potential candidates maintain a friendly and professional demeanor, be punctual and be able to communicate during the interview process.

In many cases, security officers will also need to have or develop specialized skill sets depending on the sector of the employer.

"The specialized skills really relate back to the particular client. Going into an interview process, having those experiences or being educated around some of those verticals and the security needs around those verticals really gives a potential candidate a leg up," Gillece explained. "Furthermore, some sectors such as the defense contractor industry or the government sector, they may require special security clearance and in some cases unique and specialized licenses. So, it's important as a potential candidate looking for a particular role or position that they really understand and look at the job description to find out the specific characteristics and/or license or requirements the security company is looking for."

While it's important for security officers to have good customer service skills, Pincus said it is just as important for them to be able to fit into the corporate culture of the organization they work for.

"Shared values is a term I'm hearing more and more when speaking with customers," he explained. "They are looking for security officers and a company that have a lot of the same shared values and skill sets that go with it. Fitting in culturally with the organization and having shared values seems to be more important these days."

Over the last several years in Canada, Aube said that one thing that has had a big impact on the job market is an increase in government regulation of security officers.

"Where like say five years ago or two years ago, the permit or license to operate was the property of the companies," he explained. "The government has changed this and now it is the property of the employee and they need to get their own training. Before it was the responsibility of the company to provide training, now it's the government issuing the permit or license to an individual that needs to do longer and more rigid courses to get their licenses."

Aside from the economy, another factor that has had an increasing impact on the job market for security officers, according to Gillece, is an increase in various regulations and awareness in some sectors following the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

"The mission is to serve and secure the people, homes and businesses of our communities. The impact of 9/11 continues to be felt around the country," Gillece said. "As we get more sophisticated about protecting our infrastructure, our communities, our homes and our businesses, regulations will follow along with industry standards and guidelines. I think they are having a very large impact on the demand for security officers. And I also think too, that the general perception of a security officer is going through a genesis and as we get more sophisticated in the standards and requirements continue to improve and increase throughout the industry, the employee that we're looking to attract and hire to serve our clients, that bar will also continue to rise."

Pincus said that security officers are also now expected to do much more than they did in the past.

"Today, we have to provide a level of security officer that can not only be the guard at the gate, but also have that concierge skill set and be able to do security and safety inspections while on guard tours and identify safety and risk issues throughout an organization. I think there is an opportunity for security providers to become a bigger more valuable part of the corporate process," he said.

Innovations in security technologies such as video surveillance and access control have also had an impact on the duties of security officers; however, industry experts agree that the utilization of technology is not a substitute for having a well-trained guard.

"The technology is only as good as the people that are using the technology," Gillece said. "The technology will continue and probably increase the level of sophistication and demand on our security officers to protect our clients."

Because so much of a guard's duties are now related to managing equipment, Aube said that guards now really need advanced computer skills.

"We are asking a lot from our people to document their actions so they need to be competent using software and managing the equipment under their control," he said. "There is a lot more equipment to manage. Where a guard ten years ago had one or two cameras to manage with one screen, now he has software with 50 cameras and gates that can open."

Source:SecurityInfoWatch.com

Tip leads officers to body of elderly man in freezer www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:46:00.003-05:00

Panama City Fla Jan 26 2012 An informant led investigators to the dead body of an elderly Panama City, Florida, man who had been stuffed in the freezer by his wife, the Panama City News Herald reports.

The informant, whose name is being withheld at this time, apparently didn’t believed a suspect who told him about the crime until he saw the body of 80-year-old Raymond Gsell in the freezer in his garage, according to the incident report.

After realizing the other suspects were serious, the informant pretended he needed to use the bathroom and sneaked away to call law enforcement, the report said. Gsell’s wife, 47-year-old Judy Lynn Gsell, along with 27-year-old Dawn Ross has been charged with strangling Gsell to death.

The suspects overheard the informant on the phone with police and confronted him. The informant fled the scene on foot.

Arrested on charges of accessory after the fact of murder were Ashley Nicole Knowles, 24, and James Timothy Wilson, 51, both of Panama City; and Dale Emmett Hill, 47. Authorities said they are charged in connection with an attempt to help dispose of the body.

Investigators said they believe Judy Gsell and Ross had been smoking crack cocaine, drinking and using prescription medication when they used an electrical cord to strangle Raymond Gsell after an argument over money on Saturday.

Metrolink security guard shoots armed man in disturbance www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:46:00.002-05:00

PAGEDALE, MO. Jan 26 2012 - A Metrolink security guard shot and wounded a man this afternoon on a metro platform at the Rock Road Station in the 7000 block of St. Charles Rock Road in Pagedale.

St. Louis County Officer Rick Eckhard says it happened around 4 P.M.

“The security guard was responding to a disturbance call and spotted a man displaying a weapon. The security guard was defending himself and shot the suspect.” Officer Eckhard told KMOX News.

The suspect’s injuries are serious, but not life threatening. He is hospitalized.

Officer Eckhard says police are interviewing witnesses.

Source:KMOX

Arundel Mills guard charged in theft of safe with gold, money www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:46:00.001-05:00

Hanover MD Jan 26 2012 A security guard at Arundel Mills mall was arrested Monday after allegedly stealing a safe from a gold dealer’s kiosk, county police said.
John Thomas Cook IV, 22, of 501 Ski Lane, Millersville, was charged with theft between $10,000 and $100,000. He has since been released on $25,000 bond.

Police responded to the Gold Rush kiosk Sunday morning for a report of a theft of a safe from a business. Officers worked with security personnel at the mall, reviewed security tape footage and developed Cook as a suspect, police spokesman Justin Mulcahy said.

Western District officers served a search warrant on Cook’s home Monday afternoon and discovered jewelry and an undisclosed amount of cash that belonged to Gold Rush, Mulcahy said. Cook was arrested and charged with theft.

A second search warrant was executed later Monday afternoon in the 700 block of Heather Stone Loop as part of the ongoing investigation. Charges are pending against a second person, Mulcahy said.

Gene Condon, general manager at the mall, said his staff is working closely with police.

“Arundel Mills maintains a zero tolerance policy for criminal activity and any other inappropriate behavior that affects the shopping experience for our valued customers,” he said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

Mass prison guard leads police on chase during suicidal threats www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:46:00.000-05:00

LEOMINSTER MA Jan 26 2012 -- A police officer had Matthew S. Strong in his gun sights during a protracted chase Monday, according to Leominster District Court records.

Strong had threatened to kill himself, so police were trying to catch up to him to make sure he did not hurt himself, but court records show he would not obey orders and at one point drove his car toward an oncoming police car.

Strong was arraigned in court Tuesday on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop for police, driving an uninsured and unregistered motor vehicle, and a number-plate violation.

He was released on the promise he will return for another court hearing Feb. 23.

Strong is a corrections officer at the Shirley prison complex and has been having trouble dealing with his grandmother's death in December, according to court records.

He texted a friend that he planned to kill himself, court records say. He also texted a picture of a handgun.

Police went to his home at 47 Berrington Road, but he was not there, so they used cell-tower signals for his cellphone to determine his position.

Officer Richard Shea spotted him in the driveway at 13 Bel Air Heights, but Strong drove away, saying, "I'm good, man, I'm good," despite orders to stay put.

More officers stopped Strong about 200 feet away.

He got out of the Toyota Camry he was driving but kept one hand in his pocket while talking on the cellphone, according to court documents.
"Every once in a while, he would tell us he's all set then go back to his cellphone conversation," Sgt. Richard Kinney said in court records. "He was starting to fidget around and appeared to be under mental stress."

Shea stood behind a thick tree and prepared to shoot Strong if he pulled a gun out of his pocket.

Strong got back in the car and drove away with police in pursuit.

He drove toward Sgt. Andrew J. Dupuis, who was approaching in a police car "in what I perceived as an attempt to ram my cruiser," Dupuis said in court documents.

Dupuis swerved out of the way, and Strong drove into the town of Sterling, and police broke off the chase at Clinton.

The cellphone later indicated he returned to Leominster.

Police found the car empty in the Wildwood condominium complex on Sycamore Drive.

Strong called a friend and said he would meet them at the Walmart parking lot on Jungle Road.

When police found and arrested him near the Tractor Supply Co., next to Walmart, about 8:15 p.m., Strong was crying and appeared more confused than he had earlier in the day.

It turned out the gun was locked in a gun safe at home, court records say.

Source:www.sentinelandenterprise.com

ALBUQUERQUE POLICE CONCERNED OVER PRIVATE SECURITY-CITIZEN PATROLS www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-26T03:45:00.002-05:00

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Jan 26 2012-- After an incident this week, Albuquerque Police Department officials said they're concerned that volunteer patrols and security companies might be over-extending their rights, but the uniformed patrols said they're just trying to help.

As the head of local volunteer citizen protection organization Ordo Dei Imperceptus, Douglas Muha said he has to be prepared.

"So far, we've only had to detain one individual, and that was someone who broke a young lady's nose," Muha said.

He and his badge-wearing volunteers patrol the streets of downtown Albuquerque to protect where Muha said APD doesn't.

Police said groups like those can make a citizens' arrest for felonies, but early Sunday, APD officers were called to Fifth Street and Central Avenue, where two of Muha's volunteers said they found two people possibly doing drugs in a car -- a misdemeanor.

"They actually got them out of the car, started questioning them and detaining them," said APD Officer Robert Gibbs.

Gibbs said that's where the problem starts. He said, more and more, police are seeing either citizen brigades like Muha's or security companies popping up and trying to deal with crime themselves.

For police, the biggest concern isn't so much that companies or organizations like that are emerging, but rather their biggest worry is that the cars they drive, the uniforms they wear and the weapons they carry make them appear to be legitimate police officers.

"A lot of people, if they're not familiar with Albuquerque, they don't know the difference," Gibbs said. "These people aren't trained on how to deal with situations that go south."

While Muha's organization doesn't drive police-like cruisers, he said he doesn't see a problem with it if they're abiding by the law. He said all he's trying to do is make people feel safe.

Muha denied that he or any of his volunteers did anything wrong in the Sunday incident, though he said he did let one of the volunteers go after everything occurred.

He said the volunteers are actually changing their uniforms after this weekend's incident. He said he hopes groups like his can continue to work alongside the police department.

www.koat.com

OFFICER DOWN Gail Thomas

2012-01-25T14:59:00.000-05:00

Senior Police Officer
Gail Thomas

Atlanta Police Department, Georgia

End of Watch: Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Bio & Incident Details
Age: 46

Tour: 15 years

Badge # Not available

Cause: Vehicular assault

Incident Date: 1/24/2012

Weapon: Automobile; Alcohol involved

Suspect: Charged with vehicular homicide

Senior Police Officer Gail Thomas was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while assisting other officers with a traffic incident on the exit ramp from southbound I-75 to northbound I-85.

She had just exited her vehicle when she was struck. The drunk driver was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, DUI, and reckless driving.

Officer Thomas had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 15 years.

Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

Chief George Turner
Atlanta Police Department
226 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: (404) 614-6544

Northwest School of the Arts principal took his own life www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T02:06:00.000-05:00

Huntersville NC Jan 25 2012 Police said Tuesday they believe the principal of Northwest School of the Arts took his own life, days after parents had launched a public effort to protect him from an imminent dismissal from his job.
Barry Bowe, 54, was found dead in the garage area of his Huntersville home on Monday afternoon. Deputy Chief Michael Kee said all indications are that Bowe committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.
News of Bowe's passing stunned students and parents at Northwest, a performing arts magnet school on Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte. Many had rallied behind the principal in recent days when word spread that Bowe was being forced from his job in connection with a December incident in which someone pointed a gun at a student after a dance.
Parents said Bowe faced discipline because of allegations that security was insufficient.
Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh said there had been "no final determination" about whether Bowe would lose his job over the dance incident. But Hattabaugh said that late last week, Bowe had been told his options included resignation, retirement or "due process."
Bowe told CMS officials that he wanted time to think, Hattabaugh said.
Grief counselors were sent to Northwest on Tuesday, and will remain at the school all week. Students wore black to school in memory of Bowe.
"Dr. Bowe's death will be a profound loss, particularly to the children whom he took under his wing," Ginny Brien, president of the Friends of Northwest School of the Arts wrote online. "I can hear his voice ringing in my ears - 'I love my kids.' "
A native of West Virginia, Bowe arrived at Northwest in 2008; he'd been principal of an arts magnet school in his home state.
Linda Kiser, a former CMS administrator who helped hire Bowe, said his background in arts education and ability to help students with special needs made Bowe stand out among other applicants. Bowe had degrees in music and photography, along with a doctorate in education administration, according to his resume.
'Unbelievably dedicated'
Kiser said Bowe was "unbelievably dedicated" and fought hard for Northwest. She said Bowe wanted to make the school strong academically as well as artistically. She said he worked hard to enroll students who had a talent in the arts. The school serves students in grades six to 12.
Kimberly Helms' daughter started at Northwest before longtime principal Charles LaBorde retired three years ago. Helms said she was worried that no one would be able to replace LaBorde. But she said Bowe had a great impact on the school.
Helms' daughter has some learning disabilities, including having problems with writing. She said Bowe worked with CMS officials to allow her daughter to use an iPad for her coursework. She is doing better this school year.
For his efforts at Northwest, Bowe was honored in October with a Friends of the Arts Award for School Administration from the N.C. Art Education Association.
In recent days, however, word spread among Northwest parents that Bowe's job was in jeopardy. They tried to rally support for Bowe via Facebook and other means Sunday and Monday after word began to spread that Bowe was given the choice to either resign or be fired by the district.
Security issues at dance
Parents said they believed the action stemmed from a Dec. 17 incident at the school, when someone allegedly pointed a gun at a teen outside the school after a dance. Some students said no security personnel oversaw the dance.
CMS normally requires security personnel at such events. The school system has said it was investigating the incident.
Hattabaugh said Bowe was told to follow up with employee relations on Monday. When he did not respond, Hattabaugh sent Bud Cesena, chief of CMS police, to Bowe's home. Cesena contacted Huntersville police.
"I can tell you unequivocally no final determination had been made," Hattabaugh said, calling Bowe's death "very unfortunate, very tragic."
On Tuesday, Hattabaugh appointed Mark Bosco, a former Northwest administrator and teacher who now works in the northeast administrative zone, as interim leader at Northwest.

Source:www.charlotteobserver.com

Dallas police seek men in armored car robbery www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:54:00.000-05:00

Dallas TX Jan 25 2012 Two people still on the run following an armored car robbery in Dallas Tuesday afternoon.

The robbery took place along the 8100-block of Lake June Road, Dallas police said, when the Dunbar Armored Car stopped to drop off cash at PLS Check Cashing at 12:40 p.m.

As the guard approached the door to the business, a white, Nissan Altima pulled up next to the armored car with two men inside wearing masks and hoodies.

The passenger in the Altima exited the car with a gun and ordered the guard to hand over the bag of cash. The guard complied and the men then drove off, leaving the guard uninjured.

The getaway car, which turned out to be stolen out of Duncanville, was found a short time later abandoned on the 1400-block of Conner Drive.

Officers began to search the area for the two men using K-9 units and the Dallas police helicopter. While the search continued through abandoned buildings and residential backyards, the Dallas Independent School District responded by locking down nearby John Quincy Adams Elementary School.

Though officers were spotted talking to two people during the course of the neighborhood search, they said they have made no arrests in connection with the heist and that they are actively looking for the men involved in the robbery.

Police have not said how much cash was stolen. Additionally, since the armed robbers were wearing masks, investigators have not been able to share a description of the two men.

The robbery is now being investigated by Dallas Police Robbery Detectives and the FBI Task Force.

Loudoun County Police arrest man for impersonating police-kidnapping www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:49:00.000-05:00

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. Jan 25 2012- Loudoun County Police have arrested 21-year-old Virginia man for holding a 16-year-old girl against her will while claiming he was a police officer.

Jose L. Rivera-Laboy has been charged with kidnapping, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, brandishing a firearm and two counts of impersonating a police officer.

According to police, the incident happened on December 14, 2011 when the 16-year-old female victim was walking in the area of East Dartmouth Drive around 4 p.m. She and a friend were approached by two known teenaged females and Rivera-Laboy, who she did not know.

Police say the female victim had been involved previously in an altercation with one of the two teenaged females. During the encounter, Rivera-Laboy indicated he was a cop and at one point exposed a firearm that he was carrying in his waistband.

Later, Rivera-Laboy went into the residence with the victim’s friend and also claimed to her mother that he was a police officer from Maryland.

During the investigation, Rivera-Laboy was identified as a boyfriend of one of the two known teenaged females.

Rivera-Laboy was apprehended near his home last Thursday and remains at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Source:www.myfoxdc.com

Would-be jewelry store robber nabbed putting disguise on in parking lot www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:47:00.004-05:00

Douglasville gA Jan 25 2012 Lesson to would-be bandits: If you’ve gotten together a disguise to stick up a jewelry store, don’t put it on in the parking lot where everyone can see you.

A 20-year-old man who bought his get-up at Party City so that he could allegedly pull off the heist of Empire Jewelers in Douglasville was arrested Wednesday after a witness spotted him putting on fake dreadlocks, gloves, glasses and a hat outside the store, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Denikko Becton, of College Park, also was armed with a pellet gun he had picked up an a local Walmart a few hours before the robbery attempt at the store, on the 6900 block of Douglas Boulevard, police said.

“Everything was purchased in Douglasville,” Police Chief Chris Womack told Channel 2.

The suspect also allegedly had stolen a car tag that day.

Authorities credited an alert employee of a Moe’s Southwest Grill near the jewelry store with seeing a man adjusting his disguise outside and calling police.

Officers intercepted Becton in the store and took him into custody, police said. He was charged with armed robbery, possession of tools for an armed robbery and theft by taking.

“It was definitely bizarre,” said Glenn Easterwood, co-owner of Empire Jewelry. “We are very thankful someone saw what was happening. It could have saved many people’s lives –- there was no telling.”

Maryland preist found undressed at adult book store www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:47:00.003-05:00

ABINGDON, Md.Jan 25 2012 - In addition to adult DVDs for rent, just past the popcorn, snacks and ice cream treats, Bush River Books and Video in Abingdon has four dimly-lit movie theaters, but patrons are warned they must follow some simple rules.

"We recently hired a security guard to be here when we can't... to help us... to make sure nothing illegal is going on in there," said Pam Kuhl whose family has owned the business for 18 years.

But when Harford County Sheriff’s deputies stopped by to do some random checks, they got an eyeful.

"They went to the rear of the building where the movie theaters are and they located an adult who was in a state of undress exposing himself in a way that was visible to patrons of the establishment," said Monica Worrell of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, 47-year old Mark Stewart Bullock, was known as Father Stew Bullock at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Towson, but in a letter handed out to parishioners over the weekend, they learned the Archdiocese has removed him from the ministry.

"I in no way condone what he was doing, but he was probably a good person and he made a mistake, and they're crucifying him," said Kuhl.

The owners of the business say they, too, have been victimized---targeted by deputies wielding flashlights who show up late at night to shine light on patrons, while intruding upon their privacy.

"The police come in here anytime and we know that so we're not going to allow illegal activity to go on here. But for a few bad people that break the law, what about the hundreds upon hundreds of other people that come in here that don't break the law?"

According to the church’s letter, Bullock was on vacation at the time of the incident.

He’s been charged with indecent exposure and released from police custody.

Source:www.abc2news.com

Former CT security guard arrest in workplace theft www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:47:00.002-05:00

WESTPORT, Conn. Jan 25 2012– A Bridgeport woman who worked as a security guard in Westport was arrested Friday on a warrant for allegedly stealing from her workplace, police said.

Katlyne Lauture, a former security guard at Bridgewater Associates, was spotted on camera in November taking an iPad out of an employee's desk and then leaving the building, police said.

Lauture, 25, was later found to have taken two additional iPads and an exercise video set, all valued at approximately $2,724, police said. She was charged with third-degree larceny and released after posting a $10,000 bond. She is due in court on Jan. 30.

Source:the daily wesport

Cookeville TN Kmart employee charged with theft www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:47:00.001-05:00

COOKEVILLE TN Jan 25 2012 -- A woman was arrested Friday for allegedly stealing at her job in a Cookeville store.

Kacie Marie Mansell, 21, of Rose Garden Lane, Cookeville, is charged with theft of property in the case, according to a warrant taken by Cookeville Police Officer Justin Long.

The officer said he was called to the K-Mart store Friday on a complaint about employee theft.

"Upon arrival, I spoke with the loss prevention worker, who stated that Kacie Marie Mansell was an employee of K-Mart" and that she had confessed to theft in the store, the warrant says.

Allegedly, Mansell took a K-Mart gift card valued at $350, a prepaid Visa card valued at $400, and obtained a $5 gift card "for spending over fifty dollars on the K-Mart card," the warrant says.

Allegedly, she also admitted to taking $100 out of the store's lay-away register on two different occasions, the warrant says.

The total amount stolen in the case was $955, the warrant says.

Mansell was taken to the Putnam County jail, where her bond was set at $2,500. She has a March 5 court date.

Source:Herald Citizen

Cincinnati Police Officer arrested for breaking into woman's home www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:47:00.000-05:00

EVANSTON OH Jan 25 2012 — Cincinnati Police Officer Ronald Kiner was arrested over the weekend after being accused of breaking into an Evanston woman’s house Saturday, choking her and dropping a gun on her chest.

Kiner, who has been a Cincinnati police officer for 12 years and works in District Three, has been charged with aggravated burglary.

The woman told police that Kiner, 42, entered the woman’s house in the 3000 block of Paul Street through an unlocked door, walked to her bedroom, began choking her and then placed a gun on her chest, according to court documents.

He was arrested Saturday and held in the Hamilton County Justice Center.

His bond was set at $50,000 at an arraignment hearing Monday.

Last November, Kiner was accused of threatening to kill the same woman and damaging her car, according to court documents. A temporary restraining order was issued against him.

A Hamilton County grand jury failed to indict him on a charge of menacing by stalking.

Source:cincinnati.com

Nightclub sued after patrons injured by underaged man www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:46:00.004-05:00

WILKES-BARRE PA Jan 25 2012 – A second lawsuit has been filed against a Nanticoke bar and its owner in which a Mountain Top man says he was injured in a New Year’s Eve incident that also resulted in the face of his friend being severely slashed.

Ricky Wells says Paul Halliday, owner of the Prospect Street Cafe, was negligent the night of the attacks in that a security guard was not properly trained and a list of barred patrons was not kept.

The suit, filed by Wells’ attorney, David Selingo, on Monday, seeks unspecified damages on two counts of negligence.

The suit mirrors that of Jennifer Mieczkowski, of Nanticoke, who claimed in a suit filed Jan. 13 that the bar and Halliday were negligent for allowing inside a person who Mieczkowski claims injured her, despite the fact the person was under the legal drinking age, and that employees did nothing to stop the attack.

Mieczkowski alleged a woman slashed her face after Mieczkowski went to the aid of a friend who fell off a bar stool.

Wells’ lawsuit says the tavern had been the site of nine incidents involving disturbances at or adjacent to the bar, and had received 16 citations over an unspecified period of time prior to the incident.

The suit says Halliday entered into an agreement with the state Liquor Control Board that called for him to employ a security guard, provide training and maintain a list of persons who were barred from the tavern.

Wells alleges in the suit that he and Mieczkowski were at the tavern to pick up beer to take out when they saw some friends and decided to sit down with them and order a drink.

Mieczkowski, the suit says, noticed a female friend get knocked off a bar stool, and went to her aid when she was assaulted by an attacker.

Wells says in the suit that he tried to intervene but was grabbed by a security guard and dragged outside, where he was beaten, causing several injuries.

A police report of the incident said Wells was beaten with a pool cue. The suit says Wells suffered a fractured jaw, pain, anxiety, loss of sleep and depression as a result of the attack.

The suit alleges negligence in that Halliday and the bar failed to have a security guard undergo proper training and wear proper clothing. The suit also alleges Halliday and the bar failed to enforce the barred patron list, allowed underage patrons into the bar, served those underage patrons and failed to keep the premises “under control.”

Nanticoke Detective Capt. William Shultz said Monday the police are continuing the investigation and there have been no new developments.

Halliday could not be reached for comment.

Michael Yelen, an attorney who has previously represented the bar regarding its liquor license, said Monday he had no comment on any personal injury action and was unaware of the newest lawsuit.

Source:www.timesleader.com

CVS shoplifter tries fleeing with 45 items www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:46:00.003-05:00

Middletown NJ Jan 25 2012

CVS security watched a female shopper as she strolled through the store filling up her shopping car and her purse with more than 45 items.
Police were called to the CVS on Main Street Extension and arrested Lisa Marshall, 56, of Main Street for the theft of the merchandise which was valued at $318.48.
Security told police that she left the store without paying.
She was apologetic and offered to pay for the items but was charged with larceny.

Wife of Camp Shelby military police officer arrested in shooting www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:46:00.002-05:00

HATTIESBURG, MS Jan 25 2012 - The Forrest County Sheriff's department made an arrest in connection to a shooting of a Camp Shelby military police officer Friday, January 20th.
Tiffany Wright, the wife of the MP, was arrested in Lamar county at an apartment complex Monday evening and charged with domestic assault.

The military police officer was shot during a security check on the post Friday night. Camp Shelby officials say the MP, who was wearing a ballistic vest, was making a routine security check at the north gate around midnight when he was shot.

They say the vest stopped the bullet and saved his life. He was taken to Forrest General Hospital for a precautionary evaluation and was released
Police did not disclose what prompted the shooting or what led them to the arrest of the wife.

Man sues Galveston Yacht Club for security breach after being shot on property www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:46:00.001-05:00

GALVESTON TX Jan 25 2012 - Alleging a security breach at a Galveston yacht basin allowed someone to attack him two years ago, James P. Dillmon Jr. has filed a lawsuit.

In a lawsuit filed Jan. 5 in Galveston County District Court, Dillmon blames The Sealy & Smith Foundation for a hole in the fence line at the Galveston Yacht Club which enabled a man named Gregory Lee to approach and shoot him on Jan. 11, 2010, as he was performing maintenance work on his sailboat.

Recent court documents show Dillmon and The Sealy & Smith Foundation had a contract in which the plaintiff paid the respondent a monthly fee to store his vessel at The Yacht Club's storage lot.

"The plaintiff stored his boat at the defendant's storage lot in reliance on security provided on the premises, including, but not limited to, security guards and a chain link security fence with three rows of barbed wire affixed to the top," the original petition says.

"However, on the date in question, a portion of the fence on the west side of the storage lot was broken, creating an opening in the fence line."

Dillmon further explains that Lee, who is not a defendant in the case, went through the subject opening, came up to him and shot him with a Reck P8 6.35-mm handgun.

"One of the bullets struck the plaintiff in the stomach, causing him to suffer severe personal injuries," the suit says.

Police subsequently arrived at the scene to watch the presumed gunman sit down on the ground in the middle of the lot and shoot himself in the head, according to the suit.

Dillmon insists the defendant failed to warn him about the supposedly unrepaired opening.

He consequently seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Midani, Hinkle & Cole LLP is representing Dillmon.

Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner is presiding over the case.

Case No. 12-cv-0011

Burial problems found at VA cemeteries www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:46:00.000-05:00

Washington DC Jan 25 2012 The Department of Veterans Affairs has found scores of misplaced headstones and at least eight cases of people buried in the wrong places at several military cemeteries across the country.

The review by the VA’s National Cemetery Administration follows the revelation of widespread burial problems at Arlington National Cemetery, which touched off congressional inquiries and a criminal investigation.

After the scandal at Arlington, which included mismarked and unmarked graves and people buried in the wrong spots, some veterans groups and members of Congress had called for the cemetery, which is run by the Army, to be transferred to the VA.

Although many of the errors at Arlington were caused by an antiquated paper-record system, VA officials said the problems at seven of its national cemeteries were largely the result of sloppy work during renovations. Headstones and markers were temporarily removed from the ground and reinserted in the wrong places.

Staff members at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio were testing the accuracy of a new cemetery map in July, for instance, and realized that 47 markers were one space over from where they were supposed to be.

The problem, they discovered, arose from a 2004 project to regrade the soil and realign the markers, which tend to shift as the ground moves. The markers were lifted and put back one plot away from the correct grave site.

The error resulted in four people being buried in the wrong places. To save space at sought-after national cemeteries, family members are typically buried in the same plot. Because the headstones were in the wrong spots, some people were not buried with their loved ones.

A similar problem was discovered in November at Houston National Cemetery. In 2002, after a similar renovation, 14 grave markers were put in the wrong places. No one noticed the error at the time. A person was then buried in what officials thought was a family member’s grave site; it was actually one plot over.

VA officials first publicly acknowledged the problems after The Washington Post asked about the cemetery audits. In an interview Monday, Glenn Powers, the National Cemetery Administration’s deputy undersecretary for field operations, said the VA is working to put all headstones in the right places and attempting to contact affected families to explain and apologize. But because the affected graves cover a long period — from decades ago to recent years — it might be impossible to locate all the next of kin, he said.

“We strive to operate the best cemetery system in the world, and if something like this happens, there is no excuse,” Powers said. “The amount of times this happens is rare. But there is no margin of error; there shouldn’t be any kind of error. . . . We need to learn and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

In addition to the cemeteries in Texas, he said, problems have been discovered at national burial grounds in Ohio, New Mexico, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The cemetery administration is waiting on reports from Golden Gate and San Francisco National Cemeteries.

The audit, which was ordered in October, included only sections of cemeteries that had undergone renovations in the past decade. In all, the VA checked 1.3 million grave sites in 85 of its 131 cemeteries. It also checked graves at Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.

Powers said that once the initial survey is complete, he will order a more comprehensive review of every section of every cemetery. He said he could not rule out further problems.

We can’t be certain until we check them,” he said.

At Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio, officials found that 14 grave markers had been returned to the wrong spots after renovations in 2003 and 2004. They also discovered that in 1984, two veterans were buried in unmarked graves occupied by people who had died in 1894 and 1907.

At Santa Fe National Cemetery in New Mexico, 12 headstones and markers were put in the wrong spots after work in 2003 and 2009. One family member was buried in the wrong place.

At Beverly National Cemetery in New Jersey, Loudon Park National Cemetery in Baltimore and Philadelphia National Cemetery, officials discovered that a total of 28 headstones had been misplaced. At Beverly, officials also found an unmarked grave.

The four people buried in the wrong spots at Fort Sam Houston have been relocated to the correct grave sites, according to the National Cemetery Association.

The four re-interments at the other cemeteries have yet to happen.

Cemetery officials said many of the errors were caused by contractors. They said administrative penalties are possible, but no one has been disciplined so far. Officials said future contracts for projects that involve markers being moved would require the headstone to be kept at the grave site.

“It is very disappointing that after we finally turned a corner at Arlington National Cemetery, veterans’ families are today being informed that their loved ones have not been laid to rest where originally thought at VA cemeteries around the country,” Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, said in a statement to The Post. Miller is scheduled to receive a report on the problems Tuesday.

“Ensuring our veterans are buried with dignity and respect is one of the most important things we as a nation do to honor the men and women who have sacrificed on our behalf. I am committed to rectifying this problem as quickly as possible to give the families affected peace and assurance, and I will work with the VA to make sure this is done immediately.”

Source:Washington Post

SC man arrested after trying to slash bouncer www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:45:00.005-05:00

ROCK HILL SC Jan 25 2012 -- A Rock Hill man is accused of trying to slash a bouncer Saturday at a Cherry Road club.
Bobby Lee Cloud, 52, was cited for disorderly conduct and unlawful weapon carrying, according to police documents.
About 2 a.m. Saturday a man identified as Cloud was seen stumbling down Cherry Road toward The Money, according to a Rock Hill police report. When the bouncer at The Money told him to leave, Cloud allegedly pulled a knife on him and tried to cut him.
A Swiss Army folding knife was found on Cloud, the report states. He was also "extremely intoxicated." The knife was placed into evidence, and Cloud was cited.
A trespass warning for The Money was also issued to Cloud, the report states.

Source:www.heraldonline.com

Las Vegas Metro Police will pay $1.7 million to settle the wrongful death lawsuit www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:45:00.004-05:00

LAS VEGAS NV Jan 25 2012-- The settlement deal for Metro Police to pay the family of an unarmed 21-year-old who was shot and killed during a botched drug raid was approved Monday.

Metro will pay $1.7 million to settle the wrongful death lawsuit. After attorney fees, 65 percent will go to Trevon Cole's young daughter and the remaining 35 percent will be split between Cole's mother and his fiancee.

Cole was killed in June 2010 by Officer Bryan Yant. Evidence showed that the police had incorrect information on the search warrant and had confused Cole with another suspect.

This is the largest payout in the history of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Somerville man caught stealing electronics totaling almost $800 at Target www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:45:00.002-05:00

Somerville MA Jan 25 2012

A Somerville man was caught stealing several electronics items totaling almost $800 in Target last Wednesday.

Jamal Matthew Crews-Williams, 20, of 118 North St. was charged with larceny over $250 and shoplifting, according to a Somerville Police report.

On Jan. 11 at 1:10 a.m., police responded to Target, 180 Somerville Ave. for a report of a shoplifter detained. Staff told cops the suspect was seen on surveillance camera taking items from the store and putting them in a black and red backpack.

Police searched the backpack and retrieved several MP3 players, video games, a portable gaming system, a memory card and three ear bud-type headphones, all of which totaled $769.90. The suspect was arrested and taken to the police station.

Source:www.wickedlocal.com

SC Belk shoplifter shoved $870 in jeans into freezer bags www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:45:00.001-05:00

ROCK HILL SC Jan 25 2012 -- A shoplifter at the Galleria Belk shoved $870 in jeans into freezer bags before running out front door this weekend, police say.
Officers responded to the department store at the Rock Hill mall and learned the man, who was wearing an orange coat and khakis, was running toward Dave Lyle Boulevard, according to a Rock Hill police report.
The suspect, later identified as Michael Batts, 39, of Rock Hill, stopped running "because he knew what he did was stupid," the report states.

The incident was captured on surveillance video. The merchandise will be returned to the shelves for resale.
Batts has eight other shoplifting convictions dating back to 1993, according to the report.
He remains booked at the Moss Justice Center on a $20,000 bond.

Source:www.heraldonline.com

Two Maryland men charged in Kohl' store felony theft www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:45:00.000-05:00

Frederick County MD Jan 25 2012 Two Baltimore men were arrested after police responded to a shoplifting complaint at the Kohl's Department Store on Guilford Drive, according a press release from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.
Emergency Communications provided responding officers with descriptions of the two suspects. When police arrived, they observed the two suspects standing outside of the store. When they suspects saw the police, they fled on foot, according to the press release.

After a brief chase, officers caught up to and arrested Dante M. Drake, 39, and Doral W. Douglas, 41.

More than $2,000 of stolen merchandise, which included hats, jackets and gloves, were recovered, according to the press release.

Both men were arrested and initially transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital. While searching the suspects, police also found heroin in Drake's possession.

After being released from the hospital, the two men were transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center's central booking unit for processing.

Drake and Douglas were charged with theft over $1,000, obstructing and hindering and resisting arrest. Additionally, Drake was charged with possession of heroin.

Source:fredericknewspost.com

Rochester woman accused of shoplifting from six stores at Eastview Mall www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:44:00.005-05:00

Victor, N.Y. Jan 25 2012— A Rochester woman accused of having more $2,000 worth of alleged stolen merchandise from six stores at Eastview Mall is facing charges.

Brianna Ashley Fleming, 18, of 1239 Genesee Park Blvd., was charged Jan. 22 with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, according to Ontario County sheriff’s deputies.

Fleming had been banned from the mall, deputies said.

Fleming was taken to Ontario County Jail and held on $10,000 cash bail.

She is scheduled to appear in Victor Town Court at a later date.

North Carolina woman beats burglar with wooden bed post www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:44:00.004-05:00

RALEIGH, NC Jan 25 2012 -- A Raleigh woman turned the tables on an alleged burglar when he broke into her home earlier this month.

According to court documents, Victoria Alexis Jones was in her Dorthea Dr. residence around 8 p.m. on January 13 with her two small children when 40-year-old Lucio Miranda allegedly broke in.

Jones said she asked Miranda to leave and when he didn't, she said she sprang into action.

As Miranda closed in on her, she grabbed a wooden bed post.

"He's still coming towards me," she recounted. "And the only thing I knew to do was to protect and defend my family. It just so happened I have an old bed with a solid wood oak post, and it was loose.

She said she grabbed the post and started to beat Miranda.

"As he got in the living room he was about to run," Jones said. "When I hit him that last time, I hit him in his head and he fell out."

Miranda was still on scene when police arrived to arrest him. A booking photo showed him with his right eye swollen shut from the beating.

Miranda was charged with first-degree burglary and possession of stolen goods.

He was treated at WakeMed for a head injury and a broken ankle.

Charlotte area builders in kick-back scheme arrested www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:44:00.003-05:00

Charlotte NC Jan 25 2012 Federal prosecutors have filed charges against six Charlotte-area defendants over mortgage fraud-related offenses and a "builder kickback" scheme, the latest fallout from the housing market bust.
The defendants are accused of working with Charlotte homebuilder Tara Properties to sell houses by offering kickbacks to straw buyers. The kickbacks weren't disclosed to lenders or included on loan applications, according to documents filed last week in federal court.
The scheme resulted in hundreds of sales between January 2005 and February 2008, with Tara paying more than $5 million in kickbacks, the filings say. The conspirators fraudulently caused lenders to provide more than $42 million in loans, prosecutors allege.
Tara specialized in building homes priced between $100,000 and $200,000 and the company offered kickbacks of 15 percent of the sales price.
Here is how prosecutors say the scheme worked: Organizers recruited straw buyers by promising kickbacks. "Word spread quickly. The promoters and mortgage brokers ... heard about the scheme and joined the conspiracy," prosecutors wrote.
Defendants lied on mortgage applications about income and assets, employment, debts and anticipated debts, and intent to occupy the home as a primary residence, court documents say. Some applications also contained false or forged documents such as bogus payroll stubs and bank statements.
Majority end in foreclosure
The straw buyers recruited by the promoters and mortgage brokers generally were unqualified to obtain the loans, and the "vast majority" of homes lapsed into foreclosure, according to prosecutors.
More mortgage-fraud cases have surfaced since the once-high-flying real estate market started to fizzle in the mid-2000s. Fraud helped fuel the nation's foreclosure crisis, artificially inflating demand and home prices. Defendants convicted in recent cases include attorneys, loan officers, bankers, builders, appraisers and real estate agents.
In a separate mortgage fraud investigation called Operation Wax House, prosecutors have charged more than three dozen defendants and expect the number to reach 70. Carried out mostly in 2006 and 2007, the crimes targeted in Operation Wax House involved some 80 homes and $100 million in loans in pricey subdivisions in south Charlotte and Waxhaw.
In Operation Wax House, the people involved agreed to buy homes at their true price and then arranged buyers who would pretend to have the assets to buy the homes at an inflated value, generally $200,000 to $500,000 higher than the actual price. At closing, the participants would split the difference.
The six defendants indicted last week in connection with the builder-kickback scheme are charged with mortgage fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
According to court filings, defendants include:
Sean Dalton Williams, a certified public accountant, who prosecutors say served as a promoter recruiting buyers and was a mortgage broker. Williams owned SW Mortgage Group, LLC, which processed fraudulent loans.
Roderick D. Williams, a licensed real estate agent who served as a promoter and recruited buyers by promising a kickback, prosecutors say. Roderick Williams is not related to Sean Williams.
Alfred Samuels, a licensed real estate agent and licensed mortgage broker who served as a promoter and mortgage broker. Samuels owned Infinity Acquisitions, a property management business that was used to manage some kickbacks, court papers say.
Channing Holit, a former licensed loan officer who served as a promoter. Holit's license lapsed while he was serving a jail term on state drug charges, prosecutors say. Holit owned 1st Priority Group Consultants, which prosecutors say managed kickbacks for the conspiracy.
Licensed loan officer Elena Z. Karadzhova, an employee of SW Mortgage Group who served the conspiracy as a promoter and buyer.
Licensed loan officer William Chad Hadden, who served as a buyer.
Tara Properties' owner, Duve W. "D.W." Miles, is mentioned in the indictment as the source of the kickback payments and named as an unindicted co-conspirator.
Two real estate agents are also named as unindicted co-conspirators, according to court documents. They are Michael J. Foley, owner of Mike Foley, Inc., doing business as "Builder's Resource Group," and Foley's son, Brandon Stewart Foley, who operated Smart Choice Realty, LLC.
Prosecutors allege the two men facilitated sales of Tara homes through the payment of hidden kickbacks.
Mike Foley of Mint Hill was charged in August 2010 by prosecutors in connection with a mortgage fraud conspiracy that involved a "builder kickback" scheme and a home that later entered foreclosure. Prosecutors did not name the homebuilder.
Attorneys for the defendants either declined to comment or were unavailable. A message left for Holit was not returned. Efforts to reach the other defendants and Miles, Mike Foley and Brandon Foley were unsuccessful.

Source:www.charlotteobserver.com

Alabama convenience store owner pleads not guilty in embezzlement of more than $350,000 worth of government funds www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:44:00.002-05:00

MOBILE, Alabama Jan 25 2012 -- A local convenience store owner pleaded not guilty last week to charges that he embezzled more than $350,000 worth of government funds used to pay for milk, baby formula and other products for low-income pregnant women and young children.

Jamil Jamal Kayed, who lives in Mobile, faces a maximum of 5 years in prison if convicted of theft of public money.

Authorities allege that from January 2007 to December 2010, Kayed abused the Women, Infant and Children program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Authorities contend that Kayed traded cash for WIC vouchers for less than the face value and then turned them in for the full amount. He illegally collected $351,163, the indictment alleges.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Cassady set Kayed’s trial for March, and allowed him to remain out of jail pending trial.

Douglas Dunning, an attorney for Kayed, said it was too early to comment on the facts of the case.

"It’s just an allegation, at this stage," he said. "At this stage, all we have is the indictment."

TN police officer fired for smoking inside police station www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:44:00.001-05:00

NEWBERN, Tenn. Jan 25 2012(AP) -- A Tennessee police department says it has fired an officer after 17 years on the force because he repeatedly smoked cigarettes inside the precinct in violation of the city's no smoking policy.

Newbern police Sgt. James Bishop was terminated last week. A 2007 city policy prohibits smoking inside all municipal offices and buildings.

According to the termination letter obtained by the State Gazette, Police Chief Harold Dunivant said he had complaints that his employees were smoking inside their offices and issued a warning that disciplinary action could be taken.

Dunivant said he continued to get complaints about Bishop smoking indoors and was forced to fire him.

A phone number that the city of Newbern had on record Bishop him was disconnected, and messages left by The Associated Press at other listings for James Bishop weren't immediately returned.

Shoplifter jailed after assaulting security officer www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:44:00.000-05:00

Santa Cruz CA Jan 25 2012 A 36-year-old transient was arrested Sunday after fighting with a store security guard who was trying to detain him after he allegedly stole alcohol from a downtown store, police said.

Officers were called to the 600 block of Front Street after the guard reported that a shoplifting suspect was running from him, police spokesman Zach Friend said.

The suspect, Tommy Lee Baca, ran down Pacific Avenue and then on to Plaza Lane when he wheeled around to face the guard, Friend said. When officers arrived, the two were struggling on the ground. Officers helped subdue Baca, Friend said.

A witness reported that Baca had threatened to stab the guard, Friend said, though no knife was found. The 26-year-old security guard suffered minor injuries, Friend said.

Baca booked into County Jail Monday with bail set at $50,000.

Former Treasurer of School PTSA Arrested for Stealing $32K www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:43:00.003-05:00

Miramar Fla Jan 25 2012 The former treasurer of the Silver Lakes Elementary School Parent Teacher Association was busted for stealing more than $32,000 made during school events and other fundraising activities during a 15-month period between 2010 and 2011, authorities said.

According to documents released by the Miramar Police Department, Janet Hanson Gamory falsified documents to conceal her theft of monies meant to go into an account for the school’s PTSA when she was the volunteer treasurer of the organization.

"It's shocking, it's beyond me. I couldn't even fathom how to go about doing something like that. It's not only stealing from the kids, it's stealing from her own children,” said Rita Stephan, a parent who was former president of the PTSA at the school.

In September of last year, the members of the PTSA Board held a meeting and confronted Gamory with theft allegations, requesting financial documents.

According to the police records, when confronted Gamory admitted to the crimes and signed a document promising to repay the stolen money.

"That's a crying shame, it's appalling, especially as a parent, you're supposed to be here to help the students and help the faculty,” said another parent, Steven Williams.

Gamory provided false statements using a software program to show that the PTSA’s bank account balance was higher than it actually was. She kept the actual bank statements to herself, not even opening most of them, in an effort to conceal the crime, according to the complaint affidavit.

Authorities say they met with a former treasurer who reviewed financial records and found that Gamory stole $32,859.35 from the PTSA over the 15-month period she was treasurer.

In December police showed up at Gamory’s Miramar residence to ask her questions but she refused to give a statement, referring questions to her attorney.

Source:NBC Miami

James Logan High School teacher charged with sex with minor has bond reduced www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:43:00.002-05:00

Union City CA Jan 25 2012 A James Logan High School teacher arrested on suspicion of having sex with a minor is scheduled to return to court Tuesday so that the court may review his bail paperwork. He is also scheduled to enter a plea.

Peter Kolesnikov, 38, still in custody, appeared briefly at a Fremont Hall of Justice courtroom Monday morning. His attorney had prepared to turn in paperwork so that Kolesnikov may be released on reduced bail, but Judge Dennis McLaughlin pushed the matter over to Tuesday.

Kolesnikov faces 22 counts of sexual assault, including charges of statutory rape, oral copulation of a minor and communicating with a minor with criminal intent, according to court records. He also faces one charge of possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

Kolesnikov, who was originally held on a $1 million bail, had his bail reduced last Thursday to $500,000 on conditions that he surrenders his passport and does not have unsupervised communications with minors.

The motion to reduce Kolesnikov’s bail was granted despite Deputy District Attorney Jimmie Wilson’s assertion that Kolesnikov is “a danger to the community.”

“I think that the defendant has access to young girls, and my concern is that if put out on bail, there’s an opportunity he would resume what he’s done in this case,” Wilson said last Thursday.

Kolesnikov was arrested Jan. 12 by Union City police after authorities received information that Kolesnikov had engaged in sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl over a nine-month period from March to November of last year. He was on his way to meet with the juvenile victim at an undisclosed location in Hayward during the time of his arrest, police said.

The victim, now 17, told police the relationship began with kissing and grew into sexual encounters in private homes and motels in Alameda County.

Police believe there may be additional victims.

According to co-workers and district staff, Kolesnikov taught English and some art classes at James Logan High School for 12 years until he was placed on leave at the end of the 2010-11 school year. The district would not comment on the nature of his leave but police said it was unrelated to criminal charges.

He was well-liked among both students and staff, according to co-workers and former students who attended Kolesnikov’s Tuesday arraignment, though some online reviews were mixed, with posters calling him "brilliant" but "lacking in enthusiasm" for teaching.

Kolesnikov’s supporters have also created an email address, supportmrk@aol.com, where students can send statement of character letters to aide in his case.

Kolesnikov is scheduled to return to Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Dept. 605 at the Fremont Hall of Justice.

Source:Patch.com

Paris KY Elementary school teacher arrested after exposing himself at restaurant www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:43:00.001-05:00

Paris KY Jan 25 2012 A teacher at Paris Elementary school has been arrested after he allegedly exposed himself at a fast food restaurant Monday.

Barton D. Short, 24, of Lexington is charged with first-degree indecent exposure following an incident that happened at a Sonic restaurant in Paris at about 4 p.m. Monday.

The Paris School District supervisor, Clay Good, confirmed that Short is a teacher at Paris Elementary. "We are fully cooperating with investigators," said Good.

Good said school officials found out Monday night about the alleged incident. Good says that Short will not be allowed back on campus until the case is fully resolved. Good could not comment on if Short's leave will be paid or not.

Short taught third grade, and this is his first year as a teacher at Paris Elementary.

Source:LEX18.com

Four East Haven Ct police officers accused of civil rights violations www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-25T01:43:00.000-05:00

East Haven, Conn. Jan 25 2012- The FBI has arrested four East Haven police officers on conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges following an investigation into alleged civil rights violations.

"In simple terms, these defendants behaved like bullies with badges," said Janice Fedarcyk, assistant director of the New York office of the FBI.

The officers are being held by authorities in Bridgeport and will appear in federal court there at 2 p.m.

A union spokesperson says they believe the officers will be exonerated. The union says the four officers had been suspended with pay.

The East Haven officers assaulted individuals while they were handcuffed, unlawfully searched Latino businesses, and harassed and intimidated individuals, including advocates, witnesses and other officers who tried to investigate or report misconduct or abuse the officers committed, according to the federal indictment.

Federal law enforcement officials said in indictment papers that Officer Dennis Spaulding, Officer David Cari Officer Jason Zullo and Sgt. John Miller executed unreasonable searches and seizures and used unreasonable force and concealed their actions.

Miller is the president of the police union.

"At its core, this is an abuse of power case," said Assistant US Attorney General Thomas Perez.

Mayor Maturo said the four men were arrested at about 6 a.m. Tuesday.

The officers are linked to the 2009 arrest of Father James Manship, who videotaped officers inside a store owned by Hispanics . Father Manship was arrested, but the charged were later dropped.

"These officers have damaged the reputation of their department," said Fedarcyk.

The federal government had been investigating allegations of racial profiling in the town.

Donald Cretella, Miller's lawyer, said his client has been honored with awards and risked his life in shootouts.

"John Miller is a hero in East Haven," he said. "He's decorated. He's a wonderful family man. Hopefully, we'll clear his name."

Frank Riccio Jr., Spaulding's attorney, said his client is an exemplary police officer.

"At this early stage it's our position Mr. Spaulding is not guilty of the charges. He's been nothing but an exemplary police officer. That's why this is shocking."

It wasn't immediately clear who was representing Cari and Zullo.

The indictment says Miller reported to a police department leader described as a co-conspirator who blocked efforts by the police commission to investigate Miller's misconduct. That refers to Chief Leonard Gallo, according to his attorney, Jon Einhorn, who denied that Gallo blocked the investigation.

"It's unfair that he is mentioned in this regard when he isn't even indicted," Einhorn said.

The investigation is ongoing and officers are continuing to look into additional incidents, said U.S. Attorney David Fein.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the FBI Tips Line at 212-384-1000.

Source:WTNH/AP

OFFICER DOWN- STATE OF KY James I. Thacker

2012-01-24T16:25:00.000-05:00

Deputy Sheriff
James I. Thacker

Pike County Sheriff's Department, Kentucky

End of Watch: Monday, January 23, 2012
Bio & Incident Details
Age: 53

Tour: Not available

Badge # 71

Cause: Automobile accident

Incident Date: 1/23/2012

Weapon: Not available

Suspect: Not available

Deputy Sheriff James Thacker was killed in an automobile accident on U.S. 460, just past Marrowbone Creek Road, at approximately 9:00 pm.

He was returning to Elkhorn City from Pikeville at the end of his shift when he was involved in a three-vehicle crash.

Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:

Sheriff Charles Keesee
Pike County Sheriff's Department
146 Main Street #204
Pikeville, KY 41501

Phone: (606) 432-6260

Florida security officer dies in hit-run accident www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T03:02:00.000-05:00

ST. PETERSBURG Fla Jan 24 2012 — Edward Guzenski, a security guard whose car was broadsided by a hit-and-run driver in September, has died.

The accident happened shortly before midnight on Sept. 5, Guzenski's 88th birthday, when he was returning from his job at Bayway Isle in Tierra Verde.
Police said the hit-and-run occurred after an officer noticed a 2002 Ford Mustang moving erratically on 35th Street N.
When the officer turned on his lights and siren and tried to pull him over, the driver turned off his headlights and sped up.
The driver, described by police as a black man in his mid-to-late 20s, then ignored a stop sign at 22nd Avenue N and slammed into the passenger side of the Toyota Camry Guzenski was driving.
Police said the officer was not pursuing the Mustang when the crash occurred. Guzenski, who was critically injured, died on Jan. 18.
The driver that hit his car has not been caught. Police are still investigating and are asking anyone with information to call Officer Stanley Deckert at (727) 893-7633.

Norfolk police seek suspect in security officer shooting www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T03:00:00.000-05:00

NORFOLK VA Jan 24 2012

Police released a photo of the man who shot a security guard in a men’s clothing store near Military Circle.

The photo does not show the suspect’s face, but he wore a white jersey with the No. 33 when he injured a security guard at Casual Male, 6109 E. Virginia Beach Blvd.

The 40-year-old was shot at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 13, two days after an armed man wearing dark gray clothing robbed the store at 10:40 a.m. The guard was released from a hospital.

Police said they are trying to determine whether the same man committed the crimes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Source:pilotonline.com

PORTSMOUTH VA police officer guilty in theft of seized TV www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:44:00.001-05:00

PORTSMOUTH VA Jan 24 2012

A police officer accused of taking a TV that had been seized during the execution of a search warrant was found guilty of misdemeanor embezzlement Monday.

Robert Anthony Murray, 39, had been indicted on a felony charge, but the judge found there was no evidence that the value of the 42-inch flat-screen TV exceeded $200.

The TV was seized along with computers and other items during a raid on a suspected illegal gambling operation in July 2009, according to police Capt. Garrett Shelton.

More than a year later, the commonwealth's attorney decided to drop charges against Robert Judd, who at the time owned Lucky Dog Sweepstakes. Judd made arrangements to pick up the seized items, Shelton said.

When the TV could not be found, calls and texts to police officers went out.

Don Butler, who was a lieutenant in special investigations, said that when he came back to work from vacation, the TV was on a desk.

Butler said he asked Murray who brought it in and where it had been and Murray told him that another officer who was no longer with the department had it.

The incident led to an investigation and ultimately to the indictment of Murray.

Judge Marc Jacobson said Monday that it was clear that Murray took the TV and appropriated it for his own use.

Murray is on unpaid suspension from the department. He will be sentenced June 4.

Source:pilotonline.com

Binghamton, NY bouncer stabbed www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:41:00.000-05:00

Binghamton, NY Jan 24 2012 One man is left with serious injuries after an early morning stabbing Saturday at the Voodoo Lounge on Charlotte Street.

Binghamton Police say Joshua J. Vaughn, 19, was attempting to get into a private party at the Voodoo Lounge at around 2 A.M. Saturday.

When the bouncer attempted to keep Vaughn from enter the lounge, a disturbance broke out.

Police say Vaughn stabbed the bouncer, leaving him with injuries to his stomach, intestines, and lower aorta.

Vaughn was arrested and charged with felony assault.

The victim was taken to Wilson Hospital. As of Sunday morning, Binghamton Police say the victim's injuries are still serious.

Source:WBNG

Home Depot-PayPal team up at the cash registers www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:40:00.005-05:00

ATLANTA GA Jan 24 2012 — A pilot program that lets Home Depot shoppers use PayPal to make purchases in stores could fundamentally change the way people pay for goods, an analyst said, effectively eliminating plastic in favor of mobile wallets.

For now, the joint pilot is in 51 locations. But in March, it should expand to all Home Depot locations. PayPal said it intends to offer the service at 20 major retailers by the end of the year. It is the first time people have been able to make in-store purchases using PayPal, a popular online payment company owned by eBay that allows people to pay for items without sharing their financial information.

Shoppers who have a PayPal account can pay for their items by swiping a PayPal card and entering a PIN, or by entering their cellphone number and the PIN. It allows shoppers to purchase goods without carrying any form of payment with them, said Dwaine Kimmet, Home Depot’s treasurer and vice president of financial services.

“The ease of use is just incredible,” he said.

For Home Depot and other retailers, the PayPal purchases come with lower fees than debit or credit card purchases. PayPal users can link checking accounts, credit cards or other payment methods to their accounts, and the mix allows PayPal to keep fees lower.

In time, the program will link gift cards and stores’ private-label cards to the PayPal account, Kimmet said. He would not say how much Home Depot spent to upgrade its technology to work with PayPal.

The benefits for stores could be even greater than payment savings, said Gil Luria, senior vice president for Wedbush Securities.

As technology advances, customers who scan an item with their phones could receive discount offers if they buy the items there, using PayPal.

Luria said targeting customers specifically when they are in a store could help retailers push back against online retailers like Amazon.com.

And Luria said this is only the start of a large-scale trend.

“It’s a very big deal,” he said. “It’s how we’re going to pay in the future.”

For PayPal, getting into physical stores allows access to customers in all their shopping lives, as they make purchases across a variety of platforms, from online to mobile to in-store.

PayPal will sweeten the deal by allowing customers to opt into programs that connect their loyalty cards or offer specific discounts, said Donald Kingsborough, PayPal’s vice president of global retail and prepaid.

Georgia police officer hits vehicle head on after falling asleep driving www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:40:00.004-05:00

Worth County, GA Jan 24 2012 - A Sylvester Police Officer is hospitalized after troopers say fell asleep at the wheel of her cruiser and struck another car head on.

Officer Madeline McCullar had just dropped off an inmate at the Turner County jail when she crossed the center line on Highway 112 and crashed into that oncoming car. That driver was also injured. Now both of them are facing traffic charges. WALB News Tens Gianna Caserta has more state troopers.

These pictures show the wreckage of a crash involving a Sylvester Police cruiser.

Troopers say Officer Madeline McCullar was traveling south on Highway 112, heading back Saturday into Sylvester just after 6 AM.

"Returning from taking an inmate to Turner county jail," says Sgt. George Hall, Sylvester Police Department.

McCullar's shift was ending and she was about to get off work.

"We know in this line of work, unfortunately we drive a lot of hours, and a lot of miles on these cars," says Hall.

Georgia State Trooper Jeff Hobby says McCullar dozed off while approaching the sharp curve at Shingler.

Brandon Cross of Ashburn was traveling north on Highway 112 when McCullar smashed into his Mercury Grand Marquis.

"Apparently she fell asleep, crossed the center line and hit another car head on," says Jeff Hobby, Georgia State Trooper.

Hobby says people do not realize how dangerous it is to operate a vehicle while sleepy.

"It can get quite dangerous, because once you doze off, you don't have control over the vehicle, I mean the vehicle has control of you," says Hobby.

Both Cross and McCullar sustained serious injuries and were transported to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital by Worth EMS.

"Mr. Cross sustained a broken leg, chest contusions, and some mouth injuries, and Ms. McCullar, she had a broken leg and a broken ankle," says Hobby.

Hobby says there are a few things you can do if you feel yourself falling asleep on the road.

"I would suggest if they get tired, just stop the car, get out and walk around a few minutes," says Hobby.

A few minutes that could end up saving your life.

Cross is charged with driving on a suspended license and Officer McCullar is charged with failure to maintain lane.

They are both still in the hospital but are in good condition.

Source:WALB

Former Mt. Zion police chief continuing appeal of his termination www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:40:00.003-05:00

Mt Zion GA Jan 24 2012 A former Mt. Zion police chief is continuing to appeal his 2009 termination in Georgia courts.

In response to an order filed in Carroll County Superior Court on Dec. 14, in which Judge Quillian Baldwin denied former Mt. Zion Police Chief Bradley Forrister’s petition for writ of certiorari, or discretionary review, Forrister’s attorney this month filed a new petition for a discretionary appeal in the Georgia Court of Appeals.

In the petition filed Jan. 18, Gary Bunch asserts that because former Mayor Sue Bloodworth, who terminated Forrister in 2009 for “willfully giving false statements to supervisors, officials or to the public,” refused to serve as a witness in Forrister’s termination appeal hearing at the city, “the Hearing was a charade. And that is a polite and charitable understatement.”

Bunch argues that Forrister, as a permanent employee of the city, had a right to appeal his termination to the mayor and city council as outlined in the city’s personnel policy.

When Forrister was given an appeal hearing before the city council, however, Bunch said the city did not require Bloodworth to be questioned and did not provide documents relevant to Forrister’s dismissal to Forrister or his attorney. Following the hearing, he was terminated by a unanimous decision of the city council.

“By prohibiting [Forrister] from questioning [Bloodworth], [the city of Mt. Zion] prevented [Forrister] from being heard,” the appeal reads. “It was a critical part of [Forrister]’s presentation that he be allowed to question [Mt. Zion]’s mayor. But [Forrister] was not allowed to do so.”

Bloodworth terminated Forrister from his position with the city in September 2009, after it was alleged that he attempted to aid a Mt. Zion resident in getting out of jail in Douglas County. The city’s attorney, Alan Miller, said that when then Bloodworth questioned Forrister on his role in having the woman released, he attempted to lie about his reasons for calling the Douglasville Police Department.

“He was giving them a favor and not owning up to it. I think that [now] he is basically looking to clear his name and to obtain some sort of award. We’re not going to change our position,” Miller said. “We were successful in having this case dismissed and we plan to continue to defend the city during his appeal, and hopefully have the same result.”

Miller said that since the original appeal to the city council in 2009, the case was delayed for nearly a year to allow for Judge Baldwin to review the hearing’s transcripts.

The newest petition asserts that Baldwin’s order last month also erred, when it relied on the precedent set in a case in Albany, Ga., in 2009.

“The Carroll County Superior Court, in denying Petitioner’s petition for a writ of certiorari, relied upon Goddard v. City of Albany. But the Superior Court’s reliance upon that decision was misplaced,” the petition argues. “In Goddard, the Georgia Supreme Court recognized that a city charter could provide for a hearing, which would trigger the certiorari procedure.”

Miller said that if the Court of Appeals denies Forrister’s request for another appeal, he will have no more chances to appeal the termination.

“If the Court of Appeals grants his petition to appeal then he is allowed to appeal it,” Miller said. “Then that would be his last avenue. Then, if the Court of Appeals reverses the judge’s decision, then he would be back where he was before. He would be back to suing the city. But we intend to do all we can to have his petition dismissed. We hope to be successful here.”

Source:Times-Georgian

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital visitor Tasered by police www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:40:00.002-05:00

BRATTLEBORO VT Jan 24 2012 — Police Tasered and later arrested a 51-year-old man after a confrontation at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Friday night, according to a news release from Vermont State Police.

Police were at the hospital about 10:30 p.m. on an unrelated matter when hospital security alerted them to Howard Hoye, 51, of Guilford, Vt., a hospital visitor who police say was not following “visitor regulations.”

When they confronted Hoye, he became disorderly and police stunned him, according to the release. The release says he was given medical treatment by police on scene and refused to be examined by hospital staff.

Hoye was then taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct. He has a court date of Feb. 21.

Source:Sentinel Source

Kingston police begin to armor patrol vehicles www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:40:00.001-05:00

KINGSTON NY Jan 24 2012 – The first two Kingston City Police cars are being fitted with armor as the PBA launches Project Armor with a contribution from Ulster Savings Bank.

Project Armor seeks to provide vehicle armor solutions to Kingston police vehicles through the support of local businesses, private donations and national corporate sponsors.

Armor Dynamics has developed an armor system for police vehicles that is lightweight, cost-effective and involves little to no vehicle adjustments.

The system includes door panel protection and two ballistic visors for front and side window protection.

The city has 16 police vehicles and it was previously estimated that it would cost $35,000 to equip them all.

The exact amount of the bank’s contribution was not revealed.

Carlsbad Police officer arrested for burglary www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:40:00.000-05:00

CARLSBAD, Calif. Jan 24 2012-- The Carlsbad Police Chief calls it a “tremendous disappointment” after one of the department’s police officers was arrested just days ago.

In a press release from the Carlsbad Police Department sent to 10News Sunday night, the letter began with "It is with tremendous disappointment that I announce the arrest of Police Officer Michael C. Koch."

The 44-year-old's arrest was outlined in a note from Police Chief Gary Morrison, who continued by saying, "All members of the Carlsbad Police Department, both sworn and civilian are held to the highest of standards."

The Police Department says it launched an investigation upon learning of the potential misconduct, although they will not provide specifics.

We're told the 17-year veteran Carlsbad officer was arrested Thursday night on burglary charges. He was booked into Vista Jail and then released the next day on $25,000 bail.

Although he is listed as an officer in the notification, 10News found background information that he is a detective.

In the meantime, the Chief added, "Our goal as a department is to be open and transparent within the parameters of the law."

Volunteer coordinator for Empty Cradle charged with embezzlement www.privateofficer.com

2012-01-24T02:39:00.003-05:00

EL CAJON, Calif. Jan 24 2012-- A member of a nonprofit group for grieving families spoke with 10News on Sunday after a former volunteer was accused of stealing from the group.

Elizabeth Lower is accused of embezzling about $25,000 from Empty Cradle, a Temecula-based nonprofit that helps families deal with a miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of an infant.

Suzanne Wells, the volunteer coordinator for Empty Cradle, said Lowers went to the group and asked for help as she dealt with the loss of her 6-month-old daughter Madeline to SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome.

"She just seemed to be struggling with her grief so when she offered to volunteer, we thought that was great," said Wells.

Wells said Lower helped set up meetings before she stepped into the open treasurer position.

"The bills we had were being paid, so there were no red flags," said Wells.

A year ago, Wells said Lower became difficult to reach after a bill that was supposed to be paid was not. Eventually, the group took a closer look and realized all of their money – more than between $25,000 and $30,000 – was missing from their accounts.

"It's literally everything," said Wells. "It's money people donated."

Lower was arrested at her El Cajon apartment on Thursday. Her arrest has sparked questions about how much of the story of Madeline's death is true.

"I hope we find out during the investigation but of course, we all have those questions," said Wells.

Lower's mother, who lives at the same apartment as her, told 10News that her granddaughter died of SIDS.

"I was there," said Lower's mother. " ... As for the charges, my daughter is innocent. That's all I have to say."

Meanwhile, Empty Cradle admitted they were too trusting but said they never saw it coming.

"It's a personal betrayal," said Wells. "There's a sense that this person is not who we thought she was."

Wells said the organization is limited to all but core services. She also said they are planning new policies on the way money is handled.

Lower will be arraigned in Riverside on Monday.

Source:10News.com