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Sale of cellular phone turns into robbery www.privateofficer.com
Sale of cellular phone turns into robbery http://www.privateofficer.com
When two men agreed to sell and buy a cellular phone and meet at an area mall to exchange the item for the cash, police say that it may have been all a set up for a robbery.
Twenty-five year old Yi Huang agreed to meet Cedric Jamaal Dennard, 25, of Dry Branch, about 8:15 p.m. at Macon Mall to buy the phone, according to a news release. When the two men walked to the parking lot to get it, Dennard pulled a handgun on Huang and demanded his wallet, the release stated.
While the two men struggled, shoppers ran and notified mall security and police officers who were patrolling the mall at the time of the robbery and officers responded to the fight.
Police say that Huang was able to get control of the weapon and Dennard ran back toward the mall, the release stated.
Off-duty police officers and mall security spotted him and were able to get him into custody and arrested Dennard.
Dennard has been charged with criminal attempt to commit robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the release stated.
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Three charged with felony shoplifting www.privateofficer.com
Three charged with felony shoplifting http://www.privateofficer.com
The three allegedly stole various items totaling more than $1,000.
They were released on their own recognizance pending a Thursday, Oct. 9 court appearance in Fairfield municipal court.
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Houston Astro’s Backe arrested during brawl www.privateofficer.com
Houston Astro’s Backe arrested during brawl http://www.privateofficer.com
According to reports, Backe was attending a wedding at the Island Convention Center. After the reception, he and a group of people from the wedding party went to the H20 bar in the San Luis Resort to continue the celebration.
The brawl started before the group entered the bar.
Galveston’s City Manager Steve LeBlanc said one of the men had an open container of liquor. When told by an on-duty officer outside of H20 that he could not enter the bar with the alcohol, the wedding guest allegedly shoved the officer.
LeBlanc said the officer called for back up, and when the group resisted arrest, a brawl broke out.
Two people were tasered during the altercation and pepper spray was also used. One of the tasered men was also injured during the fight, and taken by life-flight to a Houston hospital as there are no hospitals in Galveston due to hurricane damage.
LeBlanc said the officers used what force was necessary to get control of the situation.
Charges range from public intoxication, to assaulting an officer, to resisting arrest. LeBlanc did not say what Backe was charged with, but did say that only those individuals who were combative with the officers were arrested.
Police will have an initial report on Monday.
The wedding reception was first event at the Island Convention Center since Hurricane Ike struck on September 13. It was also the first night that the Galveston curfew was pushed back from 6 p.m. to midnight.
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Novelty lighters cause safety concerns www.privateofficer.com
Novelty lighters cause safety concerns http://www.privateofficer.com
Shively’s City Council is expected today to ban novelty lighters from the city, citing worries that children might mistake them — colorfully shaped like Santa Claus, the Statue of Liberty or a cell phone — as toys.
The lighters — which are sold for as little as $1 at gas stations, flea markets, state fairs, tobacco stores and online — have been banned in communities across the country, including Jeffersonville, Ind.
Tennessee and Maine also have banned them, according to the U.S. Fire Administration’s Web site.
Local fire officials say Shively would be the first in Kentucky to enact a ban, although they hope to present a similar proposal to the Louisville Metro Council by the end of the year.
Shively Councilman Dick Miller said he believes the lighters, some of which make sounds and include flashing lights, are too tempting for small children.
“It’s bad enough that kids get matches and play with them, but something so attractive … and they don’t even always know how they work,” he said. “Press that button and flame shoots out. … Whew!”
Shively’s proposed ordinance, introduced last month, would ban the manufacture, sale and distribution of the lighters. Violators could face fines of $25 to $1,000 and up to 60 days in jail.
Shively fire inspector Mark LaFollette said he raised concerns about the lighters in August after discussing the issue with Theresa Baker, coordinator of trauma outreach and injury prevention at University Hospital, former metro fire marshal Donald Cummins and Okolona fire marshal Mike Allendorf.
LaFollette said the lighters are dangerous because of their whimsical designs and because many are manufactured in countries such as China or Mexico, where they may not get federally mandated child-safety mechanisms.
“None of those things have safeties, none of them,” he said. “Kids tend to play with these and not know the consequences.”
Baker, a burn-unit nurse and manager for more than 30 years, said lobbying for a ban on the novelty lighters has become her passion because of the suffering she has seen.
“Look at these,” she said as she laid a book of matches and a plastic pig that emits a flame before a reporter recently. “Which one looks most fun? The fire-pig.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, the median age of children who start fires while playing is 5. Allendorf said national figures on incidents involving novelty lighters haven’t been tracked, but changes in how data are reported could lead to detailed numbers next year.
Allendorf added that he recalls an incident several years ago in which three middle schoolers accidentally set a school bulletin board on fire with a lighter shaped like a cell phone.
Shively Councilman Ronnie Wathen, a former city fire chief and the ordinance’s sponsor, said his wife, Joy, was recently given one of the lighters — an alligator that emits a flame.
He said as soon as he saw it, he knew he’d have to keep it away from his 4-year-old grandson.
“If it’s a toy-looking thing, they’re going to want to play with it more than a regular lighter,” he said.
Wathen also said he’s seen the kind of damage lighters can cause. He recalled a case where two children playing with their parents’ cigarette lighter set fire to the home. One died, and the other was badly burned.
“I’ll never forget the day my two firemen went in and carried them out of there,” he said.
Baker said the goal of such bans is not to stop smokers from having fun or lighting up, only to keep children safe.
“People who smoke are going to buy something to ignite their cigarettes,” she said. “It’s about making sure that, if you’re going to smoke,” you are “purchasing something that’s not so attractive to children.”
Metro Council President Jim King said in an interview last week that he isn’t familiar with the issue but that members would be willing to study it.
Metro Councilwoman Mary Woolridge, who represents the Shively area, said a Shively council member has persuaded her of the need for legislation.
“I had not heard of it before (Shively proposed it), but I think that it is a good law,” she said. “This would be something I would love to sponsor if it comes before the council. We have to keep our children safe.”
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Men arrested for pretending to be the police www.privateofficer.com
Men arrested for pretending to be the police http://www.privateofficer.com
NTL. ASSOC. PRIVATE OFFICERS
http://www.privateofficer.com/ – Two Tampa men pretended to be law enforcement agents in recent days, police and deputies say.
Darryl Ivan Dawson, 44, flashed Tampa police officers a badge, pretending to be a Department of Homeland Security employee Friday morning, a police report states. He isn’t. He works for a local security firm.
James Penia, 41, was hanging out at a Circle K on Nebraska Avenue on Sunday afternoon when he flashed a plastic badge to two people, telling them they would have to leave, Hillsborough County sheriff’s spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. Penia is not a Circle K employee, and a report didn’t say why he pretended to be an officer and told people to leave.
Dawson, of 8517 N. Ola Ave. in Tampa, was charged with impersonating a police officer. The incident at West Wood Street and North Ola Avenue began when officers conducting an unrelated investigation saw Dawson driving a red 2006 Ford Mustang there.
Officers checked the vehicle’s registration and determined Dawson was driving with a suspended license but had “business purposes only” restrictions. The Ford left the area.
Soon after, Dawson returned, parked his Ford next to the officers and approached them.
The officers asked where he worked, trying to determine whether he was driving within the restrictions of his suspended license.
Dawson said he worked for the Department of Homeland Security and flashed a star-shaped badge, a report states. He then showed a white identification card when officers asked for credentials to prove his claim.
The card and badge were determined to be security officer credentials for a local security firm, police say.
Dawson, who also was charged with driving with a suspended license, was released from jail on $2,250 bail.
Meanwhile, Penia, of 14208 N. 12th St., No. C, was charged two counts of impersonating a police officer. He has been released from jail on $4,000 bail.
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Retail Security/Loss Prevention News www.privateofficer.com
Retail Security/Loss Prevention News http://www.privateofficer.com
Isaac Bonds, 39, of the 700 block of Yale Terrace, was charged Monday with shoplifting $121.90 worth of packaged meats from Acme on South Main Road. Bonds also was arrested on an unrelated warrant from Middle Township Municipal Court. Bonds was processed and transported to Cumberland County Jail, where he was held on $1,149 bail.
Millville NJ
Two juveniles were charged with shoplifting $24.67 in gum and candy from a Dollar Yes store on the 500 block of North 2nd Street on Monday.
Vernon Joseph Jones, 47, of Oakview Apartments, was arrested Monday for shoplifting from ShopRite in Millville. Jones was released on a summons.
Erika Torres, 23, of the 800 block of Almond Road in Vineland, was arrested Sept. 15 for shoplifting from Wal-Mart on North 2nd Street in Millville. Torres was released on a summons.
Melita Simms, 23, was arrested Sept. 15 for shoplifting from the Wal-Mart on North 2nd Street in Millville. Simms was released on a summons.
VINELAND NJ
Julie C. Johnson, 31, of the first block of Amity Heights Avenue, Bridgeton, was charged Wednesday with shoplifting items valued at $284.90 from Sears on West Landis Avenue. She was processed and released on a summons
Octavio Roman, 27, of Walnut Vilas Apartments, was charged Wednesday with shoplifting items valued at $94.94 from Marshalls department store on South Delsea Drive. He was processed and released on a summons.
VALDOSTA GA
At 9:30 a.m., Valdosta police arrested Jamie Kates, 54, in the 2300 block of North Ashley Street for shoplifting, according to reports.
At 5:18 p.m., Valdosta police arrested Douglas Stobb, 41, in the 300 block of Norman Drive for shoplifting, according to reports.
At 4:30 p.m., Valdosta police arrested Michael Gates, 46, in the 100 block of North Patterson Street for shoplifting, according to reports.
Salisbury MD
Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the Sears Department Store at the Centre at Salisbury for the report of three (3) shoplifters. Upon arrival, the officers were advised that store employees had observed the below listed subjects exit the store with store property without making any attempt at payment. The property was recovered and returned to the store.
Genesee County MI.
A Genesee County task force is cracking down on shoplifters. Twenty adults and five juveniles were arrested Friday, spent the night in the county jail and were all arraigned Saturday morning on shoplifting charges.
The Birch Run Outlet Mall is one of several Mid-Michigan merchants that helped put 24 extra cops on the streets Friday. Police say the amount of shoplifting complaints from retailers keep coming in and that shoplifting losses have nearly tripled since spring.
Zero arrests were made yesterday at the Birch Run Outlet Mall and they attribute that to their tightened security.
“Every store is different,” Phil Whitsel, the mall’s Marketing Manager says. “If you stay proactive and you know what’s going on out there you know what to watch for. Then you can share information between all the different retail stores and shopping centers in our market area. That is one key to staying on top of issues like this.”
The shoplifting arrest blitz started at 8:30 Friday morning and wrapped up around 10:00 p.m. Friday night
Taunton MA
• Baby formula was reported stolen from BJ’s Wholesale Club at 2075 Bay Street.• At 1:35 p.m., Roger Damon, 44, of 26 Grant Street was arrested and charged with shoplifting over $100 at the Trucchi’s market located at 534 County St.
Pocomoke MD.
Tammy Copes, age 33 of Pocomoke was arrested on charges of Shoplifting Theft. She was issued a Criminal citation and released upon her signature pending trial.
Jon Vass, age 36 of Crisfield Maryland was arrested on charges of Shoplifting Theft. He was issued a Criminal citation and released upon his signature pending trial.
JoAnna Strickland, age 20 of Parksley Virginia was arrested on charges of Shoplifting Theft. She was issued a Criminal citation and released upon her signature pending trial
NATICK MASS.
NATICK MA – A Newton woman was arrested Friday at 4:35 p.m. after police said she shoplifted at Lord & Taylor’s at the Natick Collection.Lori Schlager Herscott, 50, of 880 Dedham St., was charged with larceny of property worth more than $250, police said.
A Brighton woman was arrested Sunday at 6:51 p.m. after police said she shoplifted at J.C. Penney’s at the Natick Collection.Maria A. Cartagena, 42, of 51 Faneuil St., was charged with shoplifting, police said.
Moultrie GA. Police
• Yolanda Denise Hicks, 33, of 2010 Skyline Road in Albany, was charged Friday with theft by shoplifting.
Jason Lee Mashburn, 52, of 806 Moultrie Road in Albany, was charged Saturday with theft by shoplifting
West Dundee IL
• Retail theft: Elizabeth Gutierrez, 29, of 145 Golfview Lane, Carpentersville, was charged with felony retail theft at 4:25 p.m. Friday after security at a store in the 5000 block of Spring Hill Mall reportedly observed her leaving the store without paying for $347.20 of clothing items and perfume, a police report stated. She was released on her own recognizance and is to appear in court Sept. 25.
Employee theft: A checkout clerk at Best Buy, 424 Randall Road, has been accused of ringing up bogus customer returns and using them to issue gift cards to himself, police said this week. They said Matthew Moses, 24, of 1435 Millbrook, Algonquin, was charged with two counts of theft over $300.
Robinson PA
• Three adults from Cleveland were arrested Sept. 5 after they were accused of stealing $4,144 worth of items from six shops in The Mall at Robinson.
Charged with six counts each of retail theft, receiving stolenproperty and criminal conspiracy were Frank Tindell, 27; Chelsea Taylor, 24; and Taneish Howard, 26.
Scott PA
• Shareese Davis, 20, of Carnegie, was charged Sept. 8 with retail theft and giving false identification to police at Wal-Mart, Raceway Plaza.
San Jose CA.
Security officers and San Jose police had their hands full at Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Center.
a group of five males and females using modified shopping bags were suspected of stealing merchandise from several stores. When police arrived to arrest them, they dispersed. However, police were able to arrest two of the suspects.
security at Nordstrom confronted a group of seven males and females suspected of stealing clothing. The suspects brandished a knife and ran out of the store. Two females and three males were arrested after police located the stolen property and knife.
Mesa AZ.
Three men suspected of shoplifting from a Mesa Blockbuster Video store on Tuesday morning had three young children with them as they fled, nearly hitting a police officer with their vehicle, according to a police report.
The men drove at the officer at a high rate of speed through the Blockbuster parking lot in the 2000 block of East University Drive about 11:20 a.m., police said.
The officer was forced to jump out of the way to avoid being hit and was not injured, police said.
The officer was called to the store to investigate a shoplifting in progress. As the officer approached the men, they got into the vehicle and pulled out of the parking space, accelerating toward the officer, according to the police report.
The vehicle is described as a white Chevy S-10 Extreme pickup.
HAMILTON TWP., N.J. A theft from a Hamilton Township, New Jersey jewelry store lead to a police chase across the area.
Police say it began at 4:49 p.m. Monday when a man stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry from a clerk at Zales in the Hamilton Mall. The man fled in a van.
A witness followed the van until police arrived.
That’s when, investigators say, the man fled and a police chase ensued
It lasted through Egg Harbor Township, Pleasantville and Atlantic City. The pursuit ended when the van crashed.
There were multiple people in the van, who fled on foot. Police were able to catch one of them.
North Myrtle Beach SC
A 45-year-old woman has been charged with shoplifting $87 worth of merchandise from a Wal-Mart in North Myrtle Beach, according to a North Myrtle Beach police incident report.
Tina Bobo, of Charleston, was seen Saturday afternoon moving through various departments in the store at 550 U.S.17 N., concealing items in a large handbag and leaving the store without paying for them, the incident report stated.
The items included cocktail pourers, a corkscrew, white tennis shoes, a 20 oz. 7-Up soft drink, a bra, and two multicolored swimsuits, the report stated.
FABRIC STORE SHOPLIFTEDAt 3:02 p.m. Sept. 12, police reported to Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, 341 W. 104th Ave., on a shoplift report. Upon arrival, police spoke with the reporting party who said one of the employees saw two white men enter the store and take a basket of items, valued at approximately $100. The first man was described as 6 feet tall, about 180 pounds with glasses. The second man was described as 6 feet tall, about 180 pounds with big black rings in his ears.
Millville NJ
Debra A. Parent, 51, of the first block of South Tuckahoe Road, Williamstown, was charged Monday with shoplifting from Main Street Supermarket. She was processed and released on a summons.
Derry NH
Robert Middlemiss, 26, 11 Linlew Drive, arrest, charged with shoplifting
David Murray, 38, 88 W. Broadway, Derry, warrant arrest, charged with shoplifting.
EL PASO TX — A man and a woman were arrested after a shoplifting-turned-robbery Thursday afternoon at the Sears store in Sunland Park Mall, El Paso police said.
Store security reported seeing the pair trying to steal memory cards and other items. When a loss-prevention officer tried to detain the woman, a man used a pocket knife to threatened the officer to release the woman, police said.
The pair rode off on a blue motorcycle, but a police motorcycle officer saw them on a street. The pair were eventually found and arrested in the 4800 block of North Mesa. Their names were not immediately available.
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