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People protest shoplifting arrest www.privateofficer.com
People protest shoplifting arrest http://www.privateofficer.com
By Michael A. Scarcella and Todd Ruger
BRADENTON FLA. May 7 2008 — Eduardo Garcia Roves was outside the Save-A-Lot grocery store on 14th Street on April 7 when a teenager ran up to him, grabbed him and tried to slip on handcuffs.
Roves, a friend said, was confused and moved away from the man trying to detain him — a store security guard accusing Roves of stealing a plum.
Sheriff’s deputies say Roves, 66, a native of Cuba who speaks little English, stole the plum last month after an argument with a clerk about store prices. But Roves said he was given the fruit that night in April by a family thanking him for his help taking groceries to a car.
On Saturday, about two dozen people protested outside the Save-A-Lot, calling for Latinos to boycott the store and urging its owners to abandon the misdemeanor charges against Roves. Prosecutors have not made a decision on whether to file charges.
Manatee County sheriff’s deputies showed up to move protesters off the strip mall in the 5600 block of 14th Street West and to the public sidewalk.
Roves’ attorney, Jim Delgado, said the treatment Roves got at Save-A-Lot is common and unfortunate.
Delgado questioned the aggressiveness of the security guard and said the Sheriff’s Office wasted resources in sending over several deputies to investigate the theft of a plum.
The on-duty manager of the Save-A-Lot was in the parking lot talking to supervisors on a cell phone Saturday, but declined to comment. Calls to the Save-A-Lot business office went unanswered.
Protesters said Roves was not given a chance to explain his side of the story because of a language barrier, which a Manatee County sheriff’s deputy acknowledged in a police report. Roves was jailed on charges of retail theft and resisting a store merchant.
A friend, Manuel Chepote, said Roves was treated with disrespect and should have been allowed to explain his side before getting arrested. Chepote was called that night by Roves and showed up at the store, but he said he was not allowed to talk to his friend.
Chepote said Roves bought groceries that included meat and crackers. Roves disputed the price of the crackers, which he said had gone up. Chepote said Roves paid for his groceries with a $100 bill.
As Roves left the store, a woman struggled at the front door. Roves helped the woman and her children to their vehicle. A child, Roves said, handed him the plum as a gesture of thanks.
“He has $90 in his pocket and he’s going to steal a prune?” asked Chepote, an insurance agent and past president of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce. “That is absolutely ridiculous. He may not speak the language, but he is not stupid.”
Sheriff’s deputies and the store security guard paint a different picture.
They say Roves bought some groceries at the Save-A-Lot the night of April 7. He argued with a clerk about prices, according to a statement from the store’s security officer, Michael J. Jackson, 19.
Jackson said Roves left the store and returned a short time later, stealing a red plum and walking out. Jackson said he and the store manager watched Roves steal the plum.
Jackson said he confronted Roves outside the store and ordered Roves to put his hands behind his back.
Jackson said when he tried to handcuff Roves, he resisted and tried to get away, so Jackson took him to the ground.
A customer helped Jackson subdue Roves before sheriff’s deputies arrived to put their handcuffs on the man, Jackson said.
Manatee County sheriff’s deputy Patricia Hetrick said she was unable to communicate with Roves, who was booked into the Manatee County jail. He posted $620 bail on April 8 and was released.
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Park rangers injured making arrest www.privateofficer.com
Park rangers injured making arrest http://www.privateofficer.com
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Security officers arrested for theft www.privateofficer.com
Security officers arrested for theft http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say that they have made another arrest in connection with the thefts of rims off an airplane last week.
Investigators say that another Denanche Security guard was arrested for allegedly stealing rims off an aircraft.
Gary Douglas Rosario was arrested on Friday in connection with the incident. Guam Police Department spokesman Officer Allan Guzman said Kohber Rodriguez was arrested for the incident as well.
Both Rodriguez and Rosario were assigned to the Ritidian Point area, where they allegedly stole the rims off the aircraft.
Officers are still investigating this case and did not say what the security officers intended to do with the rims.
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Armored truck robbed at Florida mall www.privateofficer.com
Armored truck robbed at Florida mall http://www.privateofficer.com
Police say that one of the Dunbar security officers went inside the store to pick up money when he was attacked.
“Before he left, he turned around and took a shot at the security guard,” said Frank Gonzalez of the Hialeah Police Department.
After the robbery, police say the shooter escaped through the mall’s parking lot to a white colored waiting car.
Police said they were investigating surveillance video from mall security cameras. They said they only have a vague description of the two robbers.
The robbers left the mall in a white vehicle, police said.
The FBI arrived at the Westland Mall at about 6 p.m. to investigate further.
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Mother arrested after child brings drugs to school www.privateofficer.com
Mother arrested after child brings drugs to school http://www.privateofficer.com
A teacher at Tom Joy Elementary School found the student with packets of crack, rock and powder cocaine and marijuana that he apparently took from his mother’s bedroom, police said.
When school officials realized that the mother was attempting to come to school and retrieve the narcotics, the school was placed on lockdown.
“And the reason they put it in lockdown was because the mother’s calling wanting to come get the child. They were concerned about his safety. They were thinking, ‘Well, if she knows he’s got these drugs on him, she’s trying to get him out and maybe something happens to him.’ So, for the safety of the child, they put the school on lockdown,” said Anna Maria Williams of Metro Police.
The mother, Artheia Barrows, was arrested at her house at about 2 p.m. and charged with possession of dangerous drugs and child endangerment.
Before Monday’s incident, Metro was already investigating the people who live in the mother’s house because of complaints that drugs were being sold at the residence. Police called the residence a drug house and that it had been under surveillance for weeks.
The child’s uncle, Darryl Barrows, is also being sought by police.
The child who brought the drugs to school has developmental problems and was unaware of the danger of the narcotics.
The mother’s five children, who range in age from 18 months to 7 years old were placed in state custody.
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Shoplifter flees injuring security agent www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter flees injuring security agent http://www.privateofficer.com
The security officer said that he had noticed a woman, described as in her 50s or 60s with reddish-sandy hair, stuffing items into a shopping bag at Macy’s in Northwoods Mall, 2200 W. War Memorial Drive.
He followed the person as she left the store and approached her about 2:15 p.m. in the parking lot outside the store as she was getting into her gray Buick LeSabre and according to police reports, she got flustered and attempted to flee.
The officer, who was standing at her driver’s side door, was caught between the door and the car and, according to witnesses, was dragged as the woman backed out of the spot. As he tried to stop the vehicle, the officer’s radio shattered the driver’s side rear window. The security officer suffered some minor injuries.
He was unable to stop the car, and the woman escaped. She reportedly stole about $200 in clothes.
Police questioned witness and the security officer and are looking for the vehicle involved. When apprehended the woman faces charges of aggravated robbery and assault.
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Bad check writer leaves drugs at store www.privateofficer.com
Bad check writer leaves drugs at store http://www.privateofficer.com
A woman in Sacramento, California, was arrested after police there say that she wrote a bad check at a Target store, then leaving behind a purse full of methamphetamine.
A surveillance camera was hovering right over the woman, identified as Kristina Parker, while she was in line at the store on a day that she would probably rather forget. It is also highly likely that Parker would never have been picked up if it wasn’t for her purse.
“Nine times out of ten we don’t catch up to these people,” said Konrad Von Schoech of the Sacramento Police.
Police allege that Parker made two huge mistakes. Mistake number one: She pulled her checkbook out of her purse and put the purse back into the shopping cart. When the check was rejected, she took off.
Mistake number two: She didn’t realize what she left behind, and security guards searched her purse.
“Target security personnel go through the wallet, and they found a large amount of drugs in there,” said Schoech. “That’s indicative of drug sales so they called us.”
When police arrived on scene, they found Parker, who had come back for her purse. Needless to say, it was too late, and she was arrested.
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Police arrest mother in childs death www.privateofficer.com
Police arrest mother in childs death http://www.privateofficer.com
Police said Ja’nva Rutledge died after a fire engulfed her apartment and that she had been left home alone on that night.
According to state fire officials, 6-year-old Ja’nya Rutledge died in an Atlanta hospital less than 12 hours after being burned over 80 percent of her body after her apartment caught fire April 26.
Glenn Allen, spokesman for the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office, said the fire happened at Lakeview Apartments in the early morning hours.
Authorities said the fire engulfed the apartment killing Ja’nya as she slept.
Investigators say that Erica Rutledge was at a local club in Carroll County when the fire started, leaving the young child at home with no adult supervision.
The investigation has proven that the fire was accidental.
Allen said families in three other units in the apartment building were displaced from the blaze.
Allen said a 5-year-old boy, who was also in the apartment, was treated at a local hospital and released.
Rutledge was taken to the county jail and authorities did not release the details of bond or if she was released after her arrest.
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Dead deer left to protest gas prices www.privateofficer.com
Dead deer left to protest gas prices http://www.privateofficer.com
Rising gas prices are weighing heavily on everyone, and Moe Patel said he does his best to keep matters light with his customers.
It was at Patel’s station last week that Patel’s wife found a dead pregnant deer with a note attached to it that said, “Lower gas prices. Humans are taking it out on us.””My wife and I, we’re both dumbfounded. It doesn’t make sense,” Patel said.
Cheatham County Sheriff John Holder said the doe was tied to a post at the bottom of the gas price sign.
“No sense at all. No sense at all. Like I say, it’s just a criminal mind,” he said.
Detectives and officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are investigating who killed and dumped the deer and why.
Whoever is responsible could face animal cruelty charges, police said.
“They have a right to be frustrated,” Patel said.
Patel said he understands the anger but said that people should aim higher with their complaints because sinking to the level of killing an innocent animal doesn’t help anyone.
“My and my wife run this small business. … If they really want to make a change and give a message, you know, for example, take it in front of the White House lawn. … If you have problem with the gas prices, do something about it. What am I going to do about it? I can’t do anything about it, you know. I’m just the messenger,” he said.
Sheriff investigators call it a cruel act to the animal involved and a crazy way to demonstrate a persons feelings about the high gas prices.
Officials said it is possible that the deer could be road kill because they haven’t determined the cause of its death. A report said only that the deer had trauma to the back part of its body.
Holder said however it died, tying it up and moving it to the gas station was the act of more than one person.
The gas station does not have surveillance cameras outside the store.
If you have any information on this case, you should call the Cheatham County Sheriff’s Department at 615-792-4341.
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Police arrest 100 in university drug sting www.privateofficer.com
Police arrest 100 in university drug sting http://www.privateofficer.com
An undercover operation at the university showed gangs of students operating in several independent groups, some from the safety of frat houses.
Police say that those involved often sold openly and without concern for being disocvered. Authorities say that of those arrested, many were selling large quantities of crack and powder cocaine.
This was not occassional recreational users an investigator said. Many were moving large amounts of drugs and were into deep trafficking of the narcotics in a business enterprise.
Drugs, cash and guns were seized from sellers and buyers in the bust that followed a five-month undercover operation.
The San Diego County district attorney’s office says the 96 arrests include fraternity members. Defendants are scheduled to appear in state court to face charges Tuesday afternoon.
As of Wednesday morning, six fraternities have been suspended because the illegal operations were being run from those locations and involved a large majority of its members university officials say.
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Shoplifter injures deputy sheriff www.privateofficer.com
Shoplifter injures deputy sheriff http://www.privateofficer.com
On April 26, 2008, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies were called to Kohl’s Department Store located at 10318 Broadway in Pearland. Two suspects in the store were attempting to steal jewelry.
Once the suspects were outside the store, deputies approached them as they were getting into a vehicle. The driver, later identified as Kenneth Dwayne Gloud, put the car in reverse ramming a marked patrol car in an attempt to flee.
Deputies were able to extract Gloud from his vehicle. Gloud continued to fight deputies and as a result, one deputy suffered a broken leg and a second deputy has a broken hand. Gloud was released from the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office jail on April 27, 2008
As a result of the investigation, two additional charges of Assault on a Peace Officer have been filled against Kenneth Gloud. Mr. Gloud has exhibited signs of extreme violence due to his actions on April 26, 2008. He has not been located since being released from jail and is suspected to be eluding apprehension.
Brazoria County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for arrest of the suspect. The identity of callers will remain anonymous. You can call 800-460-2222.
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Police arrest Kinko employee for fraud www.privateofficer.com
Police arrest Kinko’s employee for fraud http://www.privateofficer.com
Authorities say that they were notified thant an employee of FedEx Kinko’s Inc., 1329 Anderson Ave., had been involved in theft from the store and was suspected of theft and other possible crimes at the business.
Investigators assisted by store management were able to determine that indeed an individual had been involved in a “refund scheme” and police say he was charged Monday with nine counts of theft and nine counts of computer crime, according to a Riley County Police Department report.
RCPD Lt. Hank Nelson said FedEx Kinko’s Inc. employee Kristofer Bailey, 22, was making false refunds and putting the money on his personal credit card.
A FedEx Kinko’s internal investigation revealed Bailey had stolen about $9,000 over a six-month period, Nelson said.
Bailey was taken into custody and transported to the county jail where he is being held on an undisclosed amount of bond.
FedEx Kinko’s had no comment about the arrest.
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Security officer shoots at knife wielding man www.privateofficer.com
Security officer shoots at knife wielding man http://www.privateofficer.com
Todd Brown, 37, of Warwick, told the police the man fled the hospital grounds after he fired a single shot at him inside a vacant building, state police Maj. Stephen O’Donnell said yesterday as authorities continued to look for the intruder.
Although investigators still had questions to answer, it appeared that Brown’s account corresponded with other reports from the scene, O’Donnell said, noting that a second security guard had heard the tussle inside the building.
The incident raised other questions about compliance with a hospital policy that prohibits weapons on the campus.
The guard’s private security company is supposed to keep its employees from carrying weapons on the Zambarano campus, said Laurie Petrone, a spokeswoman for the facility’s overseer, the Rhode Island Department of Mental Health, Retardation & Hospitals.
The North Providence company, Industrial Security and Investigators, was apprised of the policy during the bidding phase of its negotiations with MHRH, Petrone said.
The hospital informed the company and its staff of the policy a second time before the guards started working under the contract last week, Petrone said.
At the direction of the hospital’s administrator, Paul Despres, the security company was informed a third-time yesterday, said Petrone.
“We have their assurances that there will be no guns on the campus going forward,” she said.
The incident involving Brown was first reported to the state police around 8:15 p.m. Sunday.
A hospital dispatcher reported suspicious activity, including flickering lights in a vacant building on the hospital grounds, according to O’Donnell.
The dispatcher also reported that the hospital’s security personnel and the Burrillville police were aware of the situation.
About eight minutes later, the hospital telephoned again and reported that a weapon had been fired, O’Donnell said.
Brown, who was the supervisor of security personnel at the hospital, later told the police he had gone into the abandoned building and encountered a slender man who stood about 6 feet tall and wore dark jeans, a gray-hooded sweatshirt and white, dirty sneakers, O’Donnell said.
During the altercation, the man fell down a set of stairs and came back up wielding a knife, he said.
At that point, Brown fired, O’Donnell said.
The guard told the police he thought he had hit the intruder, but investigators did not find any blood or other evidence of such an injury, O’Donnell said.
Investigators did not recover the rusty knife described by Brown, he said.
The intruder fled toward Route 100 after the encounter. Also, the hospital had telephoned the police earlier on Sunday to report the presence of a vagrant on the property.
O’Donnell described the state police investigation as a standard response to any incident involving a gunshot under such circumstances.
“Any time anybody fires a firearm we’re going to inquire as to what happened and why,” he said.
A person can fire a gun justifiably to protect him or herself from an “imminent threat” of severe bodily harm or death or to protect another person from the same threat, O’Donnell said.
An attacker armed with a knife represents such a threat, he said.
Brown was the only security guard carrying a weapon Sunday night, O’Donnell said, adding that the company allows its supervisors to carry weapons.
Brown has a permit for his gun and has met the qualifications necessary for carrying a pistol as a security guard.
No patients and employees at the hospital were hurt and the hospital was operating under its regular visiting hours yesterday.
Petrone did not identify the guard by name, but she confirmed that he would not work on either of the Eleanor Slater Hospital’s two campuses in Burrillville and Cranston as the state police finish their investigation.
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Sailors arrested for looting tornado area of Va. www.privateofficer.com
Sailors arrested for looting tornado area http://www.privateofficer.com
Suffolk police were alerted around 7 p.m. Saturday to a possible looting on Ruger Court. A caller said three people were taking items from the remnants of a home devastated by the April 28 tornado. The caller provided a description and followed them until they were intercepted by police.Police searched the bag the people were carrying and found several items covered with debris, including Pokemon cards, PlayStation video games, a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream liquor and two pill bottles. The name and address on the pill bottles matched the location the people were seen looting, George said.Investigators learned that Kew lived in the affected area and the other two suspects were visiting him at the time of the incident.All three were transported to Western Tidewater Regional Jail with a $5,000 bond set for each man, George said
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Man kills children, girlfriend, himself in Va. www.privateofficer.com
Man kills 2 children, girlfriend, himself in Va. http://www.privateofficer.com
Officers said that a man fatally shot his girlfriend with an assault rifle and then used a handgun to kill their two young children and himself in a mobile home they shared, authorities said Tuesday.
Aaccording to police, a neighbor reported hearing gunshots moments before a concerned relative arrived on Monday to check on the family. Latasha Thomas, 23, had called to say she was being physically assaulted by her boyfriend, investigators said.
Police were notified and responded to investigate and it was at that point that officers discovered the bloddy scene inside.
Thomas and Aaron P. Jackson, 24, died at the scene. Their children, ages 2 and 18 months who were shot in their cribs, were taken to area hospitals where they died, according to Stafford County sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.
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