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2 Men charged with extortion during alledged shoplifting incident www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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Two men charged with extortion during alledged shoplifting incident http://www.privateofficer.com
OCEAN CITY MD. AUG 17 2008 — Two city men face extortion charges after they were arrested by Ocean City police in connection with a July 25 incident that took place in the 1000 block of the Boardwalk.
According to a release, officers responded on July 25 at 9:30 p.m. to a shoplifting investigation of a store. When officers arrived, they were met by a juvenile and his mother along with employees of that store.
It was learned through the investigation that the juvenile was alleged to have shoplifted an item from the store.
The employees of the store were then alleged to have offered the juvenile an option of paying them, the employees, money in lieu of criminal prosecution for the shoplifting incident.
That investigation led to the two employees of the store being charged with theft by extortion.
Charged were Jody J. Levchuk, 31, and Moustafa M. Zaatout, 25.
Warrants were issued for both men by Judge Richard Russell in the amount of $10,000.
Both were arrested and released after they posted bail.
Detective Mazzuza and Patrolman Cusack conducted the investigation.
According to a release, officers responded on July 25 at 9:30 p.m. to a shoplifting investigation of a store. When officers arrived, they were met by a juvenile and his mother along with employees of that store.
It was learned through the investigation that the juvenile was alleged to have shoplifted an item from the store.
The employees of the store were then alleged to have offered the juvenile an option of paying them, the employees, money in lieu of criminal prosecution for the shoplifting incident.
That investigation led to the two employees of the store being charged with theft by extortion.
Charged were Jody J. Levchuk, 31, and Moustafa M. Zaatout, 25.
Warrants were issued for both men by Judge Richard Russell in the amount of $10,000.
Both were arrested and released after they posted bail.
Detective Mazzuza and Patrolman Cusack conducted the investigation.
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Categories: police
arrests, extortion, jody j. levchuk, moustafa m zaatout, ocean city maryland, shoplifting
Hungry shoplifters busted in Georgia www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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Hungry shoplifters busted in Georgia http://www.privateofficer.com
CARROLLTON, Ga. Aug 17 2008
Bryan Hill
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/ — A Georgia woman was arrested and charged with shoplifting after police said she stuffed a bag of yellow rice, sliced ham, and turkey breast into a large purse.
Capt. Chris Dobbs of the Carrollton Police Department said Tammy Truitt also gave authorities a false name when questioned about the incident, which occurred last Sunday at the Food Depot in the 1000 block of Bankhead Highway.
Dobbs said the department has noticed a slight increase in shoplifting, adding it may be the result of the weak economy.
Police said Truitt was accompanied by another individual, who left the store when Truitt was detained by store employees. Authorities said the male suspect had a seizure while being questioned in the store’s parking lot and also gave them a false name.
Dobbs said the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated and released back into police custody. He was later jailed.
Authorities said the stolen food items were valued at about $20.
Both suspects were arrested and charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and giving false information, police said.
Capt. Chris Dobbs of the Carrollton Police Department said Tammy Truitt also gave authorities a false name when questioned about the incident, which occurred last Sunday at the Food Depot in the 1000 block of Bankhead Highway.
Dobbs said the department has noticed a slight increase in shoplifting, adding it may be the result of the weak economy.
Police said Truitt was accompanied by another individual, who left the store when Truitt was detained by store employees. Authorities said the male suspect had a seizure while being questioned in the store’s parking lot and also gave them a false name.
Dobbs said the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated and released back into police custody. He was later jailed.
Authorities said the stolen food items were valued at about $20.
Both suspects were arrested and charged with misdemeanor shoplifting and giving false information, police said.
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Categories: loss prevention, police
Add new tag, loss prevention, security, security guard arrested, shoplifting
FBI charges man for blackmailing NY Giant’s coach www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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FBI charges man for blackmailing NY Giants coach http://www.privateofficer.com
Phiadelphia PA Aug 17 2008
A 30-year-old Philadelphia man was arrested by the FBI yesterday and charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to blackmail and extort up to $30,000 from New York Giants head football coach Tom Coughlin.
Herbert Alex Simpson, of Angora Terrace near S. 58th Street, Kingsessing, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Henry Perkin yesterday and was released on $10,000 personal-recognizance bail.
Simpson was also ordered not to have any contact with Coughlin, his relatives or any potential witnesses. Perkin also said that Simpson will undergo a mental-competency evaluation or mental-health treatment if the Office of Pre-Trial Services recommends it.
The magistrate appointed Catherine Henry, of the Federal Defenders office, to represent Simpson.
Simpson mailed two threatening letters to Coughlin, which were received on July 30, 2008 and the next day, according to an arrest affidavit filed with the court by FBI special agent Todd Berry.
Both letters were mailed from Philadelphia, purportedly by two women, identified as “ND” and “AB,” who claimed that they had had sex with Coughlin when the Giants were in Philadelphia last December to play the Eagles.
The July 30 letter said that the two women would tell Coughlin’s wife and family about the encounters – which never happened – unless they were paid $10,000-$15,000 each, the affidavit said.
It gave Coughlin until August 6 to pay them or they would make his life “a living hell by doing something to [his] family.”
The letter provided contact information for “ND” and “AB.”
Coughlin received a second letter on July 31, also postmarked from Philadelphia, purporting to be from the same two women, which repeated the same threat.
But the second letter also included identifying information on Coughlin’s family and moved up the deadline for payment to August 5, the affidavit said.
Berry interviewed “ND” and “AB,” the affidavit said, and both denied involvement with the letters and confirmed that they had never met Coughlin.
Both women identified the handwriting in the letters as that of Simpson, a former co-worker who had previously written threatening letters, the affidavit said.
Simpson told Perkin that he worked at Wawa for eight years, until May 21, 2008.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Cohen declined to elaborate on the other letters or how authorities learned about the letters to Coughlin.
Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the National Football League, said that Coughlin turned the matter over to the NFL’s security department, which then provided the information to the FBI and local authorities.
Berry said that he interviewed Simpson, and that Simpson had “confessed” to sending the letters to Coughlin and said that he had researched information about Coughlin’s family to include in the letters.
The affidavit said that Simpson acknowledged that he made up the information in the letters because he was “seeking revenge” against “ND” and “AB” because of unspecified work-related issues.
Simpson claimed that he never thought Coughlin would receive the letters, and that he never intended to harm his family, the affidavit said.
Neither Coughlin nor his family was harmed.
A 30-year-old Philadelphia man was arrested by the FBI yesterday and charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to blackmail and extort up to $30,000 from New York Giants head football coach Tom Coughlin.
Herbert Alex Simpson, of Angora Terrace near S. 58th Street, Kingsessing, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Henry Perkin yesterday and was released on $10,000 personal-recognizance bail.
Simpson was also ordered not to have any contact with Coughlin, his relatives or any potential witnesses. Perkin also said that Simpson will undergo a mental-competency evaluation or mental-health treatment if the Office of Pre-Trial Services recommends it.
The magistrate appointed Catherine Henry, of the Federal Defenders office, to represent Simpson.
Simpson mailed two threatening letters to Coughlin, which were received on July 30, 2008 and the next day, according to an arrest affidavit filed with the court by FBI special agent Todd Berry.
Both letters were mailed from Philadelphia, purportedly by two women, identified as “ND” and “AB,” who claimed that they had had sex with Coughlin when the Giants were in Philadelphia last December to play the Eagles.
The July 30 letter said that the two women would tell Coughlin’s wife and family about the encounters – which never happened – unless they were paid $10,000-$15,000 each, the affidavit said.
It gave Coughlin until August 6 to pay them or they would make his life “a living hell by doing something to [his] family.”
The letter provided contact information for “ND” and “AB.”
Coughlin received a second letter on July 31, also postmarked from Philadelphia, purporting to be from the same two women, which repeated the same threat.
But the second letter also included identifying information on Coughlin’s family and moved up the deadline for payment to August 5, the affidavit said.
Berry interviewed “ND” and “AB,” the affidavit said, and both denied involvement with the letters and confirmed that they had never met Coughlin.
Both women identified the handwriting in the letters as that of Simpson, a former co-worker who had previously written threatening letters, the affidavit said.
Simpson told Perkin that he worked at Wawa for eight years, until May 21, 2008.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Cohen declined to elaborate on the other letters or how authorities learned about the letters to Coughlin.
Greg Aiello, a spokesman for the National Football League, said that Coughlin turned the matter over to the NFL’s security department, which then provided the information to the FBI and local authorities.
Berry said that he interviewed Simpson, and that Simpson had “confessed” to sending the letters to Coughlin and said that he had researched information about Coughlin’s family to include in the letters.
The affidavit said that Simpson acknowledged that he made up the information in the letters because he was “seeking revenge” against “ND” and “AB” because of unspecified work-related issues.
Simpson claimed that he never thought Coughlin would receive the letters, and that he never intended to harm his family, the affidavit said.
Neither Coughlin nor his family was harmed.
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TSA now using own K-9 teams www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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TSA now using their own K-9 teams http://www.privateofficer.com
Chicago IL Aug 17 2008
Like any good dog, Jody knows how to sit on command.
And also when she finds plastic explosives.
The 4-year-old Belgian Malinois and her handler Ray Medina are among six canine/human teams starting this week at O’Hare International Airport that will search for deadly explosives hidden in cargo on passenger planes.
Until recently, O’Hare used bomb-sniffing dogs supplied by local police to check cargo.
But a new directive by the Transportation Security Administration aims to establish patrols of in-house handlers and canines at major U.S. airports to enhance existing security programs.
“Having our own teams gives us more flexibility to allocate our resources where they need to be,” TSA spokesman Elio Montenegro said.
Monday during a demonstration at the American Airlines cargo center at O’Hare, Jody and German shepherd Jessy strained at their leads and gave out excited barks, eager to start work.
“It’s a game for them,” said Medina, a TSA inspector. “It’s playtime and they want that reward.”
Given the go-ahead, the dogs darted through the cavernous facility, jumping onto mountains of boxes filled with goods.
Jody was the lucky one. Nose quivering, she bounded onto a platform with more than 30 boxes of clothing. Suddenly, the frisky dog stopped short and sat down – a signal she’d struck gold.
Lying in the midst of the cargo were plastic explosives her handlers had planted. Medina heaped praise on the dog and tossed over a rubber chew toy Jody ecstatically grabbed.
Between 2008 and 2009, 85 teams of dogs and their TSA handlers will be rolled out at U.S. airports with the highest volumes of cargo. The first group started early this year at Los Angeles International, Dulles International, Miami International and JFK International airports.
There are 16 cargo facilities at O’Hare. The airport handled about 1.7 million tons of cargo in 2007, according to the city of Chicago.
Although passengers won’t see the canines in action, “it’s an additional layer of security that also acts as a deterrent,” Montenegro said.
The dogs spend about three months in training in bomb detection at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas with the TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. Then, they’re acclimatized to the airport environment.
“You need dogs with drive, stamina and a good nose.” said TSA inspector Guy Almerico, an Elmhurst resident who handles Jessy.
Medina is a former New York City police detective who responded to 911 and lost friends in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
He left police work in 2002 and joined the TSA. A dog lover, he was eager to sign up for the new cargo security program.
“I hope it’ll make a difference,” Medina said. “I feel I can make a difference.”
Like any good dog, Jody knows how to sit on command.
And also when she finds plastic explosives.
The 4-year-old Belgian Malinois and her handler Ray Medina are among six canine/human teams starting this week at O’Hare International Airport that will search for deadly explosives hidden in cargo on passenger planes.
Until recently, O’Hare used bomb-sniffing dogs supplied by local police to check cargo.
But a new directive by the Transportation Security Administration aims to establish patrols of in-house handlers and canines at major U.S. airports to enhance existing security programs.
“Having our own teams gives us more flexibility to allocate our resources where they need to be,” TSA spokesman Elio Montenegro said.
Monday during a demonstration at the American Airlines cargo center at O’Hare, Jody and German shepherd Jessy strained at their leads and gave out excited barks, eager to start work.
“It’s a game for them,” said Medina, a TSA inspector. “It’s playtime and they want that reward.”
Given the go-ahead, the dogs darted through the cavernous facility, jumping onto mountains of boxes filled with goods.
Jody was the lucky one. Nose quivering, she bounded onto a platform with more than 30 boxes of clothing. Suddenly, the frisky dog stopped short and sat down – a signal she’d struck gold.
Lying in the midst of the cargo were plastic explosives her handlers had planted. Medina heaped praise on the dog and tossed over a rubber chew toy Jody ecstatically grabbed.
Between 2008 and 2009, 85 teams of dogs and their TSA handlers will be rolled out at U.S. airports with the highest volumes of cargo. The first group started early this year at Los Angeles International, Dulles International, Miami International and JFK International airports.
There are 16 cargo facilities at O’Hare. The airport handled about 1.7 million tons of cargo in 2007, according to the city of Chicago.
Although passengers won’t see the canines in action, “it’s an additional layer of security that also acts as a deterrent,” Montenegro said.
The dogs spend about three months in training in bomb detection at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas with the TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. Then, they’re acclimatized to the airport environment.
“You need dogs with drive, stamina and a good nose.” said TSA inspector Guy Almerico, an Elmhurst resident who handles Jessy.
Medina is a former New York City police detective who responded to 911 and lost friends in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
He left police work in 2002 and joined the TSA. A dog lover, he was eager to sign up for the new cargo security program.
“I hope it’ll make a difference,” Medina said. “I feel I can make a difference.”
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Categories: security
k-9 teams, o'hare airport, TSA
Deported immigrant returns and is caught shoplifting www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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Deported immigrant returns and is caught shoplifting http://www.privateofficer.com
CHANDLER, Ariz. Aug 17 2008
By: Bryan Hill
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/ Authorities say that a man has been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting on Thursday after Chandler police said he attempted to steal packages of octopus and shrimp by stuffing them down his pants.
Police were notified by store employees that a man, later identified as Ricardo Arcos-Lopez grabbed the packages, slipped them in his shorts and passed by all cashiers before the store manager caught him at the door, officers said.
When police arrived, they said the name Arcos-Lopez gave them was bogus. When he revealed his real name, police said they discovered he was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant and two felony warrants.
Officers said the man had a history of using false identities. Police said they found a fake mustache and beard in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.
Police also said thatArcos-Lopez is an illegal immigrant who had been deported once before and said he will more than likely be deported again.
He was transported to the county detention center and was being held without bail as ICE agents were being called to further investigate.
Police were notified by store employees that a man, later identified as Ricardo Arcos-Lopez grabbed the packages, slipped them in his shorts and passed by all cashiers before the store manager caught him at the door, officers said.
When police arrived, they said the name Arcos-Lopez gave them was bogus. When he revealed his real name, police said they discovered he was wanted on a misdemeanor warrant and two felony warrants.
Officers said the man had a history of using false identities. Police said they found a fake mustache and beard in his vehicle at the time of his arrest.
Police also said thatArcos-Lopez is an illegal immigrant who had been deported once before and said he will more than likely be deported again.
He was transported to the county detention center and was being held without bail as ICE agents were being called to further investigate.
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Categories: police, security
Add new tag, ICE, ins, shoplifting, shoplifting arrests
Nashville school employee charged with theft, fraud www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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Nashville school employee charged with theft, forgery http://www.privateofficer.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Aug 17 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/ Metro Nashville police say that a former cafeteria manager at a Nashville High School is facing serious charges Friday morning amid allegations she stole from the school.
Police were notified of a substantial amount of money missing from the school food budget account and investigators say that Kecia Gray is the one who took it and they have charged her with theft and forgery for allegedly destroying Maplewood High School financial records and stealing more than $40,000.
Gray allegedly admitted to pocketing the cash between August and December 2006 and then destroying records to cover up her crimes.
The money was supposed to go for food in Maplewood’s cafeteria.
Police were notified of a substantial amount of money missing from the school food budget account and investigators say that Kecia Gray is the one who took it and they have charged her with theft and forgery for allegedly destroying Maplewood High School financial records and stealing more than $40,000.
Gray allegedly admitted to pocketing the cash between August and December 2006 and then destroying records to cover up her crimes.
The money was supposed to go for food in Maplewood’s cafeteria.
Gray was booked into the metro jail and was being held pending a bail hearnig.
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Casino customer charged with theft www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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Casino customer charged with theft http://www.privateofficer.com
Dauphin PA. Aug 17 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/ Casino security officers say that a man took a gaming voucher that did not belong to him and tried cashing it.
Paul Lesko, 49, Mechanicsburg, was charged with cashing a gaming voucher worth $45 that belonged to an unnamed Jonestown man at 8:13 p.m. Thursday in East Hanover Township, state police said.
The victim had walked away from a slot machine without removing the voucher, police said. When he returned, Lesko and swiped it and told him there were no credits on the machine when he arrived.
Lesko was taken into custody and arrested after he later tried to redeem the voucher at the cashier cage, police said.
Paul Lesko, 49, Mechanicsburg, was charged with cashing a gaming voucher worth $45 that belonged to an unnamed Jonestown man at 8:13 p.m. Thursday in East Hanover Township, state police said.
The victim had walked away from a slot machine without removing the voucher, police said. When he returned, Lesko and swiped it and told him there were no credits on the machine when he arrived.
Lesko was taken into custody and arrested after he later tried to redeem the voucher at the cashier cage, police said.
Police say that he was later released with a date to appear in court.
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Alabama Rolls Out The Bat Mobiles www.privateofficer.com
August 17, 2008
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Alabama Rolls Out The Bat Mobiles http://www.privateofficer.com
Birmingham AL. Aug 17 2008
By: Rick McCann
Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers
http://www.privateofficer.com/
If you’re out on area highways during the next few weeks, don’t be surprised if you come in contact with the BAT Mobile.No, it’s not the one driven by the famed comic superhero, But it is involved in fighting crime and saving lives.
Governor Bob Riley has awarded almost $1.4 million in grants to fund a statewide DUI task force with vehicles nicknamed “BAT Mobiles” because they will be equipped with specialized breath alcohol testing devices.
“Our state troopers and the new equipment provided by these grants will save lives by taking drunk drivers off Alabama’s highways,” said Governor Riley. “Approximately 40 percent of all traffic deaths in Alabama involve alcohol. The danger drunk drivers pose to every man, woman and child who travel on our roads cannot be taken lightly, and in Alabama we don’t take this threat lightly.”
If you’re out on area highways during the next few weeks, don’t be surprised if you come in contact with the BAT Mobile.No, it’s not the one driven by the famed comic superhero, But it is involved in fighting crime and saving lives.
Governor Bob Riley has awarded almost $1.4 million in grants to fund a statewide DUI task force with vehicles nicknamed “BAT Mobiles” because they will be equipped with specialized breath alcohol testing devices.
“Our state troopers and the new equipment provided by these grants will save lives by taking drunk drivers off Alabama’s highways,” said Governor Riley. “Approximately 40 percent of all traffic deaths in Alabama involve alcohol. The danger drunk drivers pose to every man, woman and child who travel on our roads cannot be taken lightly, and in Alabama we don’t take this threat lightly.”
The “BAT Mobiles” are a key component of “Task Force Zero,” a state trooper initiative to combat drunken driving, said Col. J. Christopher Murphy, director of the Department of Public Safety. Murphy said TFZ stems from the resourcefulness and dedication of state troopers in Montgomery who sought to facilitate DUI enforcement by finding a way to conduct roadside testing. The troopers were able to acquire an old bread delivery truck that they equipped with a breathalyzer for use at sobriety checkpoints.
The Alabama Department of Public Safety has recently deployed nine BAT Mobile units throughout the state and they are ready to roll.The vehicle represents a new weapon for law enforcement to combat drunken driving.It comes equipped with all the tools needed to determine if a motorist is driving under the influence.Typically when someone is stopped at a checkpoint and is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, we have to haul them to the post or near by police department to run them on the breathalyzer machine a trooper said. But now, with the Bat units, we’ll be able to set up a checkpoint or go to one that another agency is holding and when someone is suspected of being DUI we can bring on board our unit and do the testing right there. It saves time and money and it will definite save lives he said.
Each unit will have breath alcohol testing devices provided by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Bat units are also being deployed in the metro areas of Birmingham and Mobile as well as several other areas of the state and will get a good work-out in the upcoming long Labor Day holiday week-end.
Each unit will have breath alcohol testing devices provided by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Bat units are also being deployed in the metro areas of Birmingham and Mobile as well as several other areas of the state and will get a good work-out in the upcoming long Labor Day holiday week-end.
“This is another tool that will be available for law enforcement as we try to stop drunk driving,” said Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton.Bat Mobiles have been deployed for years in other states said officer Russo who was once an officer in Florida where Bat units are a common sight along the side of many interstate areas.
JVarra McCall, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Economics and Community Affairs, said impaired driving is a deadly crime.She said there were 384 crashes involving impaired drivers statewide that resulted in fatalities. In northwest Alabama, there were 34.
“Impaired driving is not an accident; it’s a crime, one that we’re not going to tolerate,” McCall said. “DUI is something that every law enforcement agency takes very seriously and works hard at tying to stop.
This is a tool that will help.”Pullin said the campaign and use of the BAT Mobiles are part of the state’s effort to reduce traffic fatalities.”We’re down 94 fatalities from this same time last year,” Pullin said. “We want to keep those fatalities declining and this campaign is a part of that overall program.”
Law enforcement officials say the sole purpose of the units is to provide safer roads.
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Categories: police
bat mobile, bat mobile units, mobile breathalyzer units, state of alabama
