Archive for July 24th, 2008
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Arson fire kills family of four www.privateofficer.com
Birmingham AL. July 24 2008
BY:Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed this morning, Wednesday, at 8am central time that a couple and their children, 13 and 11, found yesterday in a burning house are homicide victims. Cause of death has not been released.
Chief Deputy Coroner Pat Curry said his office will have to use dental records to positively identify the victims.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue were called to a home in the western part Birmingham at 1:35 a.m. and as firefighters arrived they were met by heavy flames engulfing a house.
When firefighters arrived they saw heavy flames coming from the home and immediately started an all out attack on the fire and put others in a rescue mode as they attempted to gain entry into the burning house. They fought the fire for 30 minutes and forced their way through the front door.
Once inside rescue personnel found a couple and two children, ages 13 and 11. They had all died probably from toxic fumes a fure spokeman said.
Police officials say they suspect foul play in the deaths of the Grasselli Heights couple and their two children in the home located on Howard Avenue but the motive isn’t clear at this time.
Right now it is going to be approached as an arson homicide an investigator said and we’re looking at a number of things to determine the who’s and the why’s.
Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Battalion Chief C.W. Mardis said one of the adults was found near the back door and the other three were in other places in the house. None were in bed.
“I guess they were all trying to get out but they didn’t,” Mardis said.
Birmingham fire investigators and police homicide detectives have been on the scene throughout the night and remain there.
The fire’s cause is undetermined.
Posted in police | Tagged: arson birmingham alabama, arson fire, arson fire kills four, birmingham alabama, family of 4 die in fire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Woman commits suicide over house foreclosure www.privateofficer.com
Taunton MA. July 24 2008
A 53-year-old wife and mother fatally shot herself soon after faxing a letter to her mortgage company saying that by the time they foreclosed on her house that day, she would be dead.
Police in Taunton, Mass., found Carlene Balderrama dead in her home after employees at the mortgage company who received the fax called police.
Officials said that in a suicide note found next to her body, Balderrama told her husband and son to “take the insurance money and pay for the house.”
Taunton Police Department Chief Raymond O’Berg said that the woman’s husband may not have been aware of the family’s financial problems because Balderrama “handled all of the bills.”
Balderrama was granted an extension, but the police chief said that he was surprised when potential buyers showed up at the home, while Balderrama’s body was still inside, expecting an auction.
In the past year, foreclosures in Massachusetts have soared 66 percent, and families are being forced out of their homes at record rates, leaving properties either on the auction block or abandoned.
Foreclosure deeds — the final step in the process — were up 107.5 percent in May, from 677 in May 2007 to 1,405, according to the Warren Group. Year-to-date deeds rose 139.6 percent, from 2,327 in the first five months of 2007 to 5,576 this year.
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Posted in police | Tagged: carlene balderrama, foreclosure, suicide, taunton mass | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Gallatin TN Finance Director Fired Over Sexual Messages www.privateofficer.com
from I-Net News Network
NASHVILLE, Tenn. July 24 2008 A Gallatin official is out of a job because of what investigators said they found on his city-issued computer’s hard drive
Investigators said they discovered explicit pictures and messages sent from Gallatin’s former Finance Director Matt Stewart to someone he believed was an underage girl.
As of last week, the city of Gallatin no longer had a finance director after Stewart’s resignation. His resignation came after the city’s attorney and police chief presented him with evidence
Investigators said they found several pictures of Stewart exposing and touching himself sent from his office to an online friend he instant messaged with.
Officials said that Stewart believed the girl he was sending the messages to was 16 years old.
“I am on my mom’s computer,” said one message.
“Better erase this archive,” Stewart said.
Stewart goes on to say that “she’d have me arrested,” and one of the messages offered “naked pictures.”
Mayor Jo Ann Graves said she learned of the sheriff’s investigation on July 3. It wasn’t until July 14 that she learned the city’s computer was involved, and a copy of Stewart’s hard drive was made then.
According to Sumner County Sheriff Bob Barker, the investigation of Stewart has not resulted in any criminal charges because the presumed underage girl appears to be an adult posing as her daughter.
Barker also said the woman Stewart was chatting with is actually the one who turned him in. The woman was in custody on DUI charges and mentioned what she knew about the finance director’s alleged online behavior.
If the allegations against Stewart are true, the behavior breaks the city’s e-mail and Internet policy forbidding transmission of sexual images and messages, officials said.
In his letter, Stewart’s resignation was effective immediately, and he cited only personal reasons.
Stewart acknowledged to reporter Anne Marshall that he vaguely knew the woman with whom he was chatting online.
In reviewing Stewart’s personnel file, Marshall said she found he consistently received good annual reviews and that there was no other history of problems.
Graves said the city waited on confronting Stewart until the sheriff’s investigation was complete.
The city of Gallatin is beginning its search for a new finance director.
Posted in police | Tagged: finance director, gallatin tennessee, matt stewart, nashville | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Hospital security officer charged with lewd acts on minor www.privateofficer.com
Charleston SC July 24 2008
Charleston County sheriff’s detectives arrested a hospital security officer Tuesday on two charges of committing a lewd act on a minor.
Thales Newsome, 60, of Johns Island is a security officer at the Medical University of South Carolina, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.
A public information officer for the hospital did not return a phone call Tuesday about Newsome’s job status.
Affidavits stated that Newsome twice committed lewd acts on a 13-year-old girl.
A state Department of Social Services employee contacted sheriff’s deputies Thursday after receiving an anonymous tip, a sheriff’s report stated.
Newsome’s bond was set at $10,000 and he was expected to be released from jail late Tuesday.
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Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Teacher faces more charges of sex with student www.privateofficer.com
Nassau County NY July 24 2008
A former Wantagh high school teacher, already awaiting sentencing for having sex with a 16-year-old student, was charged yesterday with having another five trysts with the boy since she pleaded guilty to the original charges last month, authorities said.
Heather Kennedy, 25, of Massapequa, was first arrested March26 after the boy, a student of hers at Wantagh High School, confessed to his father that they had sex in his car in the parking lot of Massapequa High School, police said.
“Almost immediately after she walked out of court, she was having contact with the victim by phone and in person,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said of Kennedy yesterday.Kennedy, who taught math and was also a track coach at the school, pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct June 12 and was out on probation, awaiting sentencing in August, according to Rice’s office.
She faced up to a year in prison and was going to lose her teaching license after registering as a sex offender, Rice said.
At a June hearing where Kennedy pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct, a judge ordered her not have contact with the victim.
The boy was issued an order of protection.But the district attorney’s office received a tip and an investigation revealed the two had sex five more times after June 12, in violation of the boy’s order of protection, Rice said.According to the boy’s testimony to investigators, in the past two months the boy sneaked out to have sex with Kennedy twice in Kennedy’s grandparents’ Bellmore home, twice in a mutual friend’s Wantagh home, and once after Kennedy picked up the boy from the Massapequa train station, Rice said.”
At this point, her crime is very clear,” Rice said, adding that “she persisted to prey on him, and that is the outrageous aspect of this.”Kennedy was arraigned yesterday on five counts of third-degree rape, five counts of criminal contempt of a court order, two counts of a criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child.She faces up to four years in prison on each rape charge. She is being held at Nassau County jail on bail of $104,000 bond or $52,000 cash. She is due back in court tomorrow.
Posted in police | Tagged: heather kennedy, nassau county ny, teacher arrested sex with students, wantagh high school teacher heather kennedy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Robbery suspects nabbed by casino officers and police www.privateofficer.com
Midland County MI. July 24 2008
BY: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
Two robbery suspects thought that they would make a quick getaway and hide in an area casino after holding up a business but their escape didn’t go as smooth as they had hoped.
Midland County deputies nabbed the two Bay County men after they allegedly robbed the Pump & Pour store in Oil City at 4:26 a.m. Monday.
Two suspects matching the description of the men who robbed the gas station at 5538 W. Isabella Road were spotted at the Soaring Eagle Casino by security officers who called for back-up and together with other agencies took the two into custody.
Deputies arrested the men, ages 26 and 18, with assistance from Soaring Eagle Security, the Isabella County Sheriff’s Office and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police.
The names of the robbery suspects have not yet been released but both are still in custody at the Midland county jail.
Posted in police, security | Tagged: casino security | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Father gunned down tucking child into bed www.privateofficer.com
Atlanta GA July 24 2008
A 20-year-old Lawrenceville man slain last week had been putting his 2-year-old daughter to bed when someone burst into the room and shot him in the head.
Police say the shooter was 20-year-old Devin Anthony Grell, a man recently paroled for stabbing a classmate at Dacula High School five years ago.
Grell’s attorney, Ed Wilson, said Tuesday “my client maintains his innocence.”
Murder charges against Grell in the death of Donny Emmanuel Edouard were bound over Tuesday to Gwinnett County Superior Court following a preliminary hearing in Magistrate Court. Detective M.D. Brookins of the Gwinnett County Police Department was the sole witness to testify.
He said investigators have not determined a motive for the killing, but they believe Grell went to Edouard’s house on Alcovy Park Drive in Lawrenceville on the evening of July 11.
Edouard had asked a friend, 18-year-old Brianna Morgan, to chat with Grell outside the house for a few minutes while he finished putting his daughter to bed, Brookins said. After a five-minute conversation with Morgan, Grell apparently grew impatient and phoned Edouard from the front yard, according to testimony. Edouard told him to come on upstairs if he couldn’t wait, Brookins said.
The detective said Grell went to the little girl’s bedroom and shot Edouard once in the head, in front of his daughter.
Police tried to interview the toddler on Monday without much luck, Brookins said.
Morgan, however, had no trouble detailing the events. She reportedly told investigators that she was still standing outside when she heard gunshots.
Moments later, Grell came out of the house wielding a black revolver and fired at her, she told police.
The bullet grazed Morgan’s ear. Grell allegedly fired one parting shot at her before he fled with an unidentified man in a Jeep parked in front of the house. The second bullet struck Morgan in the hip.
At the hospital where she was taken for treatment, she was “telling everybody that would listen to her that Devin had shot her,” Brookins said. She also told police some crucial information — that her shooter had just gotten out of prison.
Investigators linked Grell to the shooting the following day, after researching his history with the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Grell had pleaded guilty in December 2004 to stabbing a classmate in the abdomen at Dacula High School. The stabbing occurred in 2003, when Grell was 16.
He was sentenced to six years in prison followed by nine years on probation, but paroled a year and a half early in February.
Brookins said when he questioned Grell, the parolee said he was with his girlfriend at a motel off Duluth Highway and Ga. 316 at the time of the shooting. However, hotel booking records show he and his girlfriend didn’t check in until an hour and a half later, Brookins said.
Investigators are still trying to find out why Edouard was killed.
“At this point we don’t have a strong motive,” Brookins said.
Grell reportedly told authorities that he and Edouard were “good friends.”
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Posted in police | Tagged: atlanta georgia, devin anthony grell, donny emmanuel edouard, gwinnett county georgia, lawrenceville ga | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Two prominent Fla. businessmen charged with fraud and tax evasion www.privateofficer.com
MIAMI FLA. July 24 2008 — Two prominent South Florida brothers and businessmen have been charged with health care fraud and tax evasion.
Carlos and Jorge DeCespedes surrendered Tuesday and were arraigned before a federal magistrate in Miami federal court before posting bonds of $500,000 each.
The DeCespedes brothers are well known in the community as immigrants who fled Cuba as children during the Pedro Pan airlift, built a fortune with their medical supply business Pharmed, connected with community movers and shakers, and donated millions as philanthropists
Federal prosecutors have charged them with two separate and unrelated crimes.
Health care fraud charges involve an alleged six-year scheme using insiders at Kendall Regional Medical Center to receive payment for surgical supplies they never delivered.
Prosecutors accuse the brothers of stealing $5 million from the hospital and paying kickbacks to the hospital employees involved. Three have been arrested and are said to be cooperating with prosecutors.
“The charges are that there was a scheme,” said Alan Ross, the attorney representing Jorge DeCespedes. “I don’t know if it’s fair to say who set up what, but the allegations are what they are and we’ll deal with them accordingly.”
The DeCespedes brothers are also charged with income tax evasion. Prosecutors accuse them of failing to accurately report three years worth of income and shorting the United States government a collective $8 million.
“These individuals had it all — success, money and the admiration of their community,” said U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. “They have tarnished their good names and reputations because they wanted even more than they already had, and they wanted it the quick and easy way.”
The brothers declined to speak publicly after their court appearance.
Pharmed filed for bankruptcy in October after a series of financial setbacks and civil lawsuits.
Posted in police | Tagged: arrested, carlos decespedes, fraud, jorge decespedes, miami florida, pharmed, tax evasion | 1 Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Security officer slashed detaining burglar www.privateofficer.com
Brooklyn NY July 24 2008
BY; Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
A burglar who had made his way into a construction site was surprised by a security officer who arrived on scene and put up a struggle.
Police nabbed the 38-year-old suspect who broke into a North Seventh Street construction site on July 18 to steal copper wire after police said he put up a fight and slashed the security officer trying to detain him..
The thug forced his way into the site, which is between Bedford Avenue and Berry Street, at around 1:45 pm.
When a security guard tried to intervene, the thug pulled out a box-cutter and slashed the guard on the arm, but the security officer was able to overpower him and subdue the suspect until police arrived.
The suspect was taken to the precinct and then to central booking on numerous felony charges.
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Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Fake Nike shoes lands man in jail www.privateofficer.com
Bay County MI. July 24 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/ A Saginaw man has been arrested on a charge of peddling counterfeit merchandise after Bay City Police seized 141 pair of knock-off Air Jordans and Air Force Ones from the Bay County Flea Market.
Michael D. Sanchez, 38, of Saginaw, faces a hearing on the evidence at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Bay County District Court. Judge Timothy J. Kelly released Sanchez on his own recognizance.
An investigator working for Nike was making the rounds of area flea markets when he spotted dozens of knock-offs. He immediately called the Bay City Police at around 4 p.m. on Sunday and reported that he’d just purchased a pair of fake Nike-brand shoes from a booth at the market at 108 Adams St.
The investigator with officers who then confronted and arrested Sanchez on a felony.
Sanchez told police that he bought out a store in Saginaw and had no idea that the shoes weren’t legit.
The shoes would retail, if genuine, for $12,690, investigators estimate.
Posted in police | Tagged: fake nike shoes, investigator, knock-offs, micael d snachez, nije, security | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Shoplifter arrested, charged also with car theft www.privateofficer.com
GLOUCESTER TWP. NJ July 24 2008
By: Bryan Hill
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/ Authorities said that they have arrested a shoplifting suspect here and he has been charged with being in possession of a stolen vehicle, police said Saturday.
Joseph N. Costantino, 29, no permanent address, was charged with robbery, receiving stolen property and possession of a hypodermic needle. He was committed to the Camden County Correctional Facility, Camden, in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Costantino was arrested Friday night.
Police were summoned at about 7:20 p.m. to the ShopRite on Blackwood-Clementon Road for a report of a man attempting to steal a quantity of razor blades.
The suspect, identified as Costantino, struggled and resisted the loss prevention officer at the store when he was stopped leaving with the unpaid merchandise.
Store security personnel were able to get him into custody and he was arrested for felony theft.
Police said Costantino drove to the ShopRite in a 1997 Nissan Maxima that had been stolen several days earlier from a Lindenwold location. Inside the vehicle were items stolen from a shoplifting at another location and a hypodermic needle, police said.
Posted in loss prevention, police | Tagged: abc news, area news, casino security, casinos, cbs news, cnn, cops, crime news, crime news blogs, fox news, hotel security, k-mart, Kohl’s, local news, loss prevention, Macy’s, mall security, metro news, news blogs, news report, police, police news, regional news, resorts, retail security, security news, security officer, shoplifting, target, walmart | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
School principal charged with rape of student www.privateofficer.com
Everret, Wash. July 24 2008 – A private school principal from Arlington has been charged for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old student.
Mark Evan Brown, 37, is charged with one count of third-degree child rape.
Snohomish County prosecutors say Brown, the principal of Highland Christian School for three years, had exchanged hundreds of text messages and phone calls with the girl. Some of the messages encouraged the girl to run away from home.
On June 12, prosecutors say the girl took Brown up on the offer. He allegedly prepared a small, unused room at the school with a hide-a-bed and TV. He arranged for someone to pick her up and bring her to the school. That night, prosecutors say Brown gave the girl rum and had sexual contact with her.
The girl’s parents thought she had run away and called police. They discovered the calls and text messages to and from Brown.
Detectives were able to track the girl down using a prepaid “go-phone.”
Court papers say she denied having sex with Brown up until Monday, when she admitted what happened.
Prosecutors also say Brown violated a protection order in which he was not allowed to have any contact with the girl. They have allegedly spoken three times on the phone since the order was made.
“I feel for the young lady that was hurt and certainly pray for her,” said David Davison, parent.
At the school, news of Brown’s arrest stunned parents. Tom Turner’s daughter is enrolled in fall semester. Now he wonders if that’s a good idea.
“I gotta go home and tell the wife and we’re gonna go from there,” he said.
At Brown’s home, no one answered the door Wednesday night. Neighbor Jim Barrato, who’s had problems with Brown, described him as someone who seems like a good guy.
“And then completely behind your back, he’s just a completely different person,” said Barrato.
But Kristin Sande, a Highland School Board member, says Brown is a good person. Her kids go to the school and she hopes the truth will come out.
“We want to get to the bottom of this, just as bad as everyone else does,” she said.
Brown arraigned Wednesday and has been booked into the Snohomish County Jail on $100,000 bail.
Detectives say they do not know of any additional victims.
Posted in police | Tagged: everret washington, highland christian school, mark evan brown, principal charged with rape | 1 Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Police seek suspect who stabbed security agent www.privateofficer.com
Macon GA July 24 2008
Kyle T. Greene
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
Bibb County sheriff’s officials identified a Macon man as a suspect in the stabbing of a Wal-Mart security guard last week.
Lt. George Meadows said in a news release Wednesday that investigators have identified Ashley Markell Booker, 21, of Fort Hill Street, as the suspect wanted for the stabbing of Musa Porter at the Wal-Mart on Harrison Road in Macon.
Porter attempted to apprehend two shoplifting suspects last week when he was stabbed multiple times. Deputies arrested James Griffin, 23, and charged him with aggravated assault and shoplifting when they tracked down his car and found stolen items from Wal-Mart. Griffin already had multiple felony warrants related to drug charges.
Meadows said Booker currently has outstanding warrants for aggravated assault and shoplifting. He is listed as 5 foot 10 inches tall and weighing 145 pounds.
Anyone with information on Booker’s whereabouts should contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 746-9441 or call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at (877) 68-CRIME.
Posted in loss prevention, police | Tagged: ashley markell booker, macon ga, security officer injured, walmart, walmart security stabbed | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Hospital “Locked Down” after armed man spotted www.privateofficer.com
JACKSONVILLE, FL July 24 2008– A local hospital closed its doors for a short time after reports someone had a gun on the property. It’s business as usual at Memorial Hospital now. But for ten minutes Wednesday night, it was on lockdown.
A representative with the hospital told First Coast News someone reported seeing a person with a gun. She says that person never threatened anyone and was seen on a surveillance camera leaving the hospital a little before 11 o’clock.
We spoke with a hospital employee in the Security Department Thursday morning. He said he did not know who the person was or if the person actually had a gun. He told us someone thought they saw a person with a weapon.
Hospital officials took no chances. No one could come inside Memorial Hospital for ten minutes. Security personnel said the hospital was still up and running during that time.
The security employee told us guns are not allowed on the hospital’s property. He said the rules are the same as for federal buildings and schools. If a person is caught with a gun on the premises, he or she can be arrested.
Under a new Florida law, employees can bring a gun to work as long as it is kept locked in their car. They also have to legally own the weapon and have a concealed weapons license. There are exceptions to the law. Hospitals like Memorial are exempt. Guns are not allowed in locked cars.
As for the incident Wednesday night, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officers are investigating.
Posted in police, security | Tagged: abc news, area news, casino security, casinos, cbs news, cnn, cops, crime news, crime news blogs, fox news, gun, hotel security, jacksonville florida, k-mart, Kohl’s, local news, loss prevention, Macy’s, mall security, memorial hospital, metro news, news blogs, news report, police, police news, regional news, resorts, retail security, security news, security officer, shoplifting, target, walmart | Leave a Comment »
Posted by privateofficernews on July 24, 2008
Pursuit of suspected shoplifters ends in tragedy www.privateofficer.com
Petersburg VA. July 24 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
A call of a shoplifting at a local 7-11 store ended after police got into a pursuit with a vehicle that they suspected was involved in the theft and that vehicle crashed killing two teenagers.
Call it a tragic case of poor decision-making all around.
The word senseless doesn’t do justice to the chain of events that began in a 7-Eleven parking lot with a police pursuit and ended several miles away with a mutilated Pontiac Sunfire and the deaths of two Petersburg teens.
Tuesday’s tragedy began 1:21 a.m. with a call to a 7-Eleven and responding officers spotted a possible suspect fleeing the area.
But as police tried to stop the vehicle, it took off and refused to stop for the blue lights and siren and eventually crashed.
Javon Butts, 19, and Donte Howlett, 18, were identified as the vehicle’s driver and passanger.
As it turns out, the teens in the Sunfire were not the suspects; store surveillance cameras cleared them. But the officer responding to the call said the Sunfire almost backed into his vehicle in the store parking lot.
The pursuit began. Two lives ended. Now police say the only thing the driver was guilty of was driving without a license and maybe that put fear in the teenager and caused him to lead police on the pursuit but police can’t be sure of it.
When a vehicle refuses to stop we don’t know if they are wanted fugitives, bank robbers, murderers or have a carload of dope an officer said. We don’t force them to drive on when we’re trying to stop them. That’s their decision.
Two summers ago, a Petersburg police officer speeding to a non-emergency call without a siren or lights broadsided the car of a city couple. Robert Allen, 75, and his wife Juanita, 71, died less than a block from home.
The department has additional history that might make some motorists leery of police.
In October 2003, two Petersburg police officers stopped a driver to question him about a hit-and-run incident. The driver, Lamont Cortez Koonce, ran away and was tackled, doused with pepper spray and kicked and stomped into a coma as he lay motionless.
Police officer Michael A. Tweedy — who blamed his aggressive demeanor on the use of anabolic steroids — pleaded guilty to depriving Koonce of his civil rights and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Posted in police | Tagged: 7-11, donte howlett, javon butts, petersburg virginia, shoplifters | Leave a Comment »
