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Shoplifting/Retail Security News http://www.privateofficer.com
An Ypsilanti police officer and shoplifting suspect struggled in the bitterly cold Huron River Thursday night before the suspect ended up in jail.
Officer Robert Eggenberger spotted the 49-year-old man, who’s well-known to police, after employees at a new Walgreens store at Michigan Avenue and Prospect Road reported he stole batteries and other items.
Eggenberger chased the man on foot to the river, and they ended up struggling in chest-deep water, police said. Eggenberger lost his flashlight in the water before he got the suspect under arrest.
Sgt. Kevin Dorsey said neither was injured, and the man was held pending charges.
Responding police wound up arresting the two suspects after they allegedly assaulted the employee, who was hospitalized for his injuries.
Police received the call at 7:20 p.m. Feb. 4, indicating there was a disturbance in the parking lot of the Route 18 mall. Officers found that a male employee of Aéropostale had confronted two suspected shoplifters from his store in the parking lot, and was assaulted during the encounter, according to East Brunswick police. Police said the assault involved one of the suspects spraying the employee with a chemical, and biting him.
Police quickly took one of the suspects, later identified as Claudia C. Gonzalez-Mejia, 31, of College Point, N.Y., into custody at the scene. Police arrested the second suspect, Alex Romero, also of College Point, after a brief foot chase in the mall parking lot.
After the arrest, police recovered allegedly stolen property worth $808 from Aéropostale, $563 from the Express, and $1,488 from The Children’s Place, all stores located in the mall.
Police rendered first aid to the employee, a 24-year-old male, who police said was vomiting and having difficulty breathing due to the chemical that was sprayed, according to police. The victim sustained several bite marks and abrasions during the incident, and was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick for treatment.
Gonzalez-Mejia was charged with robbery, aggravated assault, possession of stolen property and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. Romero was charged with robbery, aggravated assault, possession of stolen property and criminal restraint. Each was lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, with bail set at $100,000.
On February 9, 2009 at approximately 11:21 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the Giant Food Store on South Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers were advised by management personnel that the below listed suspect had been observed attempting to take meat items from the store without making payment. The suspect was apprehended and the property was returned to the store. ARRESTED: Michael Malik Williams, 42 years of age Salisbury, Maryland
On February 9, 2009 at approximately 6:56 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the Best Buy Store on North Salisbury Boulevard for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers were advised by store management that the below listed two (2) suspects had been observed by store personnel attempting to take property from the store without making payment.
Lomita CA
A Lomita sheriff’s lieutenant has pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from his shoplifting arrest at a Torrance home improvement store, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Under a deal reached Monday, Jason Lum pleaded no contest to resisting arrest and disturbing the peace, according to Deputy City Attorney Della Thompson-Bell.
A petty theft charge for allegedly stealing a pair of $26 shears from The Home Depot was dropped when he took the plea, Thompson-Bell added.
Lum, 51, must attend 20 impulse-control counseling sessions before he returns to Torrance Superior Court for sentencing on Aug. 10, Thompson-Bell said.
At that time, prosecutors will recommend that Lum be placed on probation for one year. He also will likely receive community service, fines or both.
He must also stay away from The Home Depot.
Lum was assigned to the Lomita station for about 12 years before his April 9 arrest.
He was stopped by personnel at the do-it-yourself superstore at Crenshaw Boulevard and Skypark Drive that evening on suspicion of trying to steal the tool.
He was brought to an office, but refused to identify himself or speak to loss prevention employees, Thompson-Bell said.
Torrance police officers were called and, upon arrival, were directed by a customer to a suspect as he fled from the office, Thompson-Bell said.
Lum lead officers on a foot chase through the store. After a brief scuffle, he was arrested and brought to the Torrance police station, where he was identified.
Lum was placed on leave after his arrest, but his current status with the department is not known.
Messages left for Lomita sheriff’s station Capt. Ronena Anda and Lum’s attorney were not returned.
Myrtle Beach SC
Myrtle Beach man was charged with shoplifting after he was seen putting a package of pork chops down his pants and a watch in his pocket at Wal-Mart, according to a police report.
Ricardo Garcia Rodriguez, 33, of 209 Cedar St., was charged with shoplifting more than second offense after police were called at 4:30 p.m. Saturday to the store on Seaboard Street, police said. Rodriguez had two prior shoplifting convictions.
A loss prevention employee told police she saw Rodriguez take a package of pork chops, put them down the front of his pants and then go to the jewelry department where he took a watch off the displace and put it in his pants pocket, according to the report.
Watertown NY
State Police arrested a Watertown man and another suspect on Sunday in connection with two separate thefts in January.
Robert J. Sampson Jr., 24, of Academy Street was charged with Petit Larceny for allegedly stealing an Apple I-Phone, valued at $449.25, from the Super Walmart in LeRay on January 8th.
Sampson was also charged with Criminal Mischief 4th Degree and Petit Larceny for allegedly stealing an HP computer monitor, valued at $268.00 from the Walmart store on State Route 3 in Watertown on January 28th.
Investigators believe Sampson caused damage to a fire door at the store when the monitor was stolen.
Sampson was issued appearance tickets for town courts in both LeRay and Watertown.
Troopers say the arrest of Sampson and another suspect were the result of tips from the public after investigators released Walmart security photos.
The name of the second suspect has not yet been released
Rockaway Twsp NY
Officers were called to Walmart at 1:57 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, to process Eric A. Chirco, 19, of Hopatcong, on a shoplifting complaint signed by store security workers alleging he tried to take items worth $152.88 from the store, police said.
An employee at a local sporting goods store was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $7,000 in merchandise, police said.
Jose Rios, 20, charged with theft, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at Academy Sporting and Outdoors, 4305 Old Highway 77, said police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique.
“He was an employee in the hunting and fishing department,” Manrrique said. “The store conducted an internal investigation into some thefts and he confessed to taking $7,000 worth of merchandise.”
Store security guards told police they caught Monaliben Patel, 35, and Kailasben Patel, 59, concealing the merchandise at about 4 p.m. Sunday, Lt. Joseph Shannon said. The women were detained until police arrived and arrested them.
Both were charged with shoplifting and taken to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick. They were released Monday after posting bail.
Shannon said the woman live in the same home, but it was not immediately known whether they were related.
Blackman Township MI Officers spoiled a shopping trip for a foursome accused of operating a methamphetamine lab in Homer.
Loss-prevention officers at Meijer, 2777 Airport Road, called police Thursday to report someone had shop-lifted lithium batteries and Sudafed cough syrup, two ingredients in a meth recipe.
Township officers stopped the suspect car in the store parking lot. Items in the car led to a search warrant on a house in Homer, Public Safety Director Mike Jester said.
Assisted by the Jackson Narcotics Enforcement Team, township officers searched the home and found evidence residents had cooked meth earlier, Jester said.
His department is seeking arrest warrants against the four suspects.
Salisbury MD
Rodney Vernell Johnson, 21, of the 27000 block of Edgewood Circle, Salisbury, MD was arrested for 2nd degree Assault and Theft less than $100. Officers responded to the area of Prince St and Webster St after a report that employees of Super Giant were chasing a shoplifter on foot. Officers were able to locate Johnson and place him under arrest for theft of beer and snacks. In addition, when Johnson was attempting to leave Super Giant without paying for the items, Johnson was approached by an employee. Johnson pushed the employee backwards before fleeing from the store.
On February 23, 2009 at approximately 5:00 pm, Officers of the Salisbury Police Department received a call to respond to the Target Department Store for the report of a shoplifter. Upon arrival the officers met with store security who advised that the below listed suspect had been observed by store personnel taking clothing from the store without making payment.
CORDELE GA — Police responded Tuesday night to a reported shoplifting incident at Wal-Mart Super Store here and made two arrests.
Following an investigation, Sergeant Carrie Lull charged Valencia Jackson and Shontanika Savage, both of Cordele with theft by shoplifting (first offense). Jackson also was cited for disorderly conduct.
When Lull answered the call, a store employee showed her where the alleged offenders were standing.
Lull said she instructed both women to stop where they were. Savage turned around and stopped, but Jackson continued to walk away initially. Eventually, she did stop and speak with the officer, Lull reported.
The women were asked to go with the assistant manager to the back of the store. After an inspection, several items of clothing which had not been purchased were found in Savage’s purse.
Savage and Jackson then were transported to the police department, but later released on a summons to appear in court.
Taunton MA
Robert Fruzzetti, 18, of Berkley, was arrested at 10:49 p.m. He was charged with shoplifting.• Amy Huges, 34, of Dorchester, was arrested at 10:35 p.m. She was charged with shoplifting.
Myrtle Beach SC
Myrtle Beach police arrested a 20-year-old man on a charge of shoplifting after he fled Wal-Mart with $100 worth of DVD movies, according to a police report.
Danial Ray Elliott of 409 Oak St., was charged after police stopped him in the parking lot of a gas station about 2:45 p.m. Saturday, police said. An officer saw Elliott in the parking lot and noted he matched the description of a shoplifter that had fled the store on Seaboard Street after taking several box sets of movies.
When police approached Elliott, he put his jacket over several movies on the ground, according to the report. A loss prevention employee for the store told police he ran from the store and identified Elliott as the man who ran from her when she tried to stop him.
An Horry County couple were charged with shoplifting after they tried to return stolen baseball gloves to Kmart, according to a Myrtle Beach police report.
Dianna Lynn Henke, 48, of 401 North Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, and Timothy M. Tatro, 49, of 259 Crystal Way, Longs, were each charged with shoplifting after police were called at 5:30 p.m. Saturday to the store on Kings Highway, police said.
A store employee told police he saw the couple take two pairs of baseball gloves from a display and go to the customer service count and try to return them for a refund without paying for them first, according to the report. The gloves valued at $30 were returned to the store.
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Police wannabe charged with multiple crimes http://www.privateofficer.com
Police Agent Henry Martin told him no, he would be removed from the testing process. Then, Martin booked him into jail.
Montillano, of San Diego, had wanted to be a Chula Vista police officer at the same time he was wanted by police.
He was suspected of shoplifting, brawling with security personnel and threatening them at the Kmart on East H Street on Dec. 5. He also had a misdemeanor arrest warrant after a November shoplifting arrest, police spokesman Bernard Gonzales said.
Detective Ruth Hinzman identified Montillano as the suspect in the December case and reached him by phone. Montillano reportedly told her he was in Las Vegas, but would be in Chula Vista in three weeks to take the police recruitment exam.
“Sure enough, Montillano had submitted an application,” Gonzales said.
Martin, a background investigator for officer applicants, called Montillano to ask if he would attend the Feb. 18 recruit orientation. Gonzales said Montillano told Martin he would. But he missed the event and later called Martin to apologize, saying his car had been impounded.
“Detectives assumed that Montillano had realized that Chula Vista police would arrest him if he showed up,” Gonzales said. “It was further assumed that he would not be heard from again.”
But he was heard from again. He e-mailed the city to say he would take a bus to arrive for the exam, set for earlier this week. Hinzman and Martin were waiting.
They watched Montillano sign in and go into the testing room. Martin called him out and escorted him to an office. Hinzman, with other officers standing by, told Montillano he was being arrested.
Gonzales said Montillano asked if he could still take the test. When Martin said no, Montillano asked if he could reapply for the job and take the test later.
Gonzales did not record Martin’s final answer. But Montillano was booked into jail, with bail set at $145,000.
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Boston clerk arrested for having sex in courtroom http://www.privateofficer.com
boston.com
An assistant clerk at Chelsea District Court was charged yesterday with having sex in an empty courtroom with a woman accused of prostitution. In exchange, the FBI said, he promised to help get the charge against her dismissed.
FBI agents arrested 41-year-old James Burke at his Chelsea home yesterday and brought him to federal court to face charges that he deprived the woman of her constitutional rights.
“It’s a perversion of the legal system and a gross abuse of power,” said Assistant US Attorney Brian T. Kelly, head of the US attorney’s public corruption unit.
Burke was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond and ordered to return to federal court March 26 for a hearing.
Stephen Judge, a Lynn lawyer who represents Burke, did not return calls from the Globe.
A spokeswoman for the trial court said Burke was suspended without pay from his $84,869-a-year job, pending the outcome of the criminal case. She said Burke was hired at the Chelsea courthouse in 1998 and had worked as a probation officer in Quincy District Court for five years.
An FBI affidavit filed in court stated that the woman spotted Burke in December while she was at the Chelsea courthouse trying to get a prostitution charge against her dismissed. She told her lawyer that Burke approached her when she was in the courthouse lockup after her arrest on the charge in February 2005, asked whether she was a “working girl,” and offered to get her case dismissed if she provided sex, the affidavit said.
The woman alleged that Burke took her from the lockup and brought her to an empty courtroom, where she performed oral sex on him. The charge was not dismissed and is pending.
After her lawyer alerted the FBI, the woman began cooperating with agents and secretly recorded conversations with Burke, who allegedly acknowledged their earlier sexual encounter and again offered to help her get the old charges dismissed if she provided sex, according to the affidavit.
During a Dec. 8, 2008, telephone call secretly recorded by the FBI, Burke said they were able to have sex undisturbed in the courtroom in 2005 “because it was late in the day and the only judge left was not going to go downstairs,” the affidavit said.
Burke asked the woman whether she thought it was “hot” that they had sex in a courtroom, and told her, “It’s good because it’s like it’s so bad,” according to the affidavit.
Burke also said that he was “just hookin’ up” with someone else in another room at the courthouse, but that person infuriated him by telling other people about it afterward, the affidavit said.
During a Dec. 18 meeting at the courthouse that was also recorded by the FBI, Burke assured the woman that he had spoken to the district attorney’s office and that she was “all set” with her case, according to the affidavit. He suggested they “do it right now,” but the woman declined.
It is unclear whether Burke ever spoke to anyone in the district attorney’s office about the woman’s case.
First Assistant Suffolk District Attorney Joshua I. Wall said, “The fact that the case is still pending speaks for itself and is the clearest measure of the integrity of the district attorney’s office.”
Burke is the second public official to be charged as a result of the woman’s cooperation with the FBI.
Boston attorney John Swomley, who represents the woman, said she is the same woman who cooperated with the FBI after Michael LoPriore, then a Boston police officer, coerced her to perform sex on him in September 2004.
In that case, the woman swiped LoPriore’s badge during their sexual encounter and cooperated with the FBI as agents secretly recorded the officer’s attempts to get it back. LoPriore resigned from his job, pleaded guilty to depriving the woman of her rights, and was sentenced to a year in prison in 2007.
“She got to the point where she had enough,” Swomley said. “If this in some way sends a message to other people who have power over helpless human beings that their actions will be held to account, then good.”
Swomley said Burke should not have been able to pull his client out of lockup without raising suspicion and questioned whether other employees helped him or were aware of wrongdoing.
Joan Kenney, a spokeswoman for the court, said the Trial Court Security Department is conducting an internal investigation.
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Mall security fails to notify police of attack http://www.privateofficer.com
newschannel36 — A woman narrowly escaped being attacked at a SouthPark Mall parking deck and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say no one ever told them, including mall security.
It’s the ritziest place to shop in Charlotte, but police say SouthPark Mall is not immune to crime.
A woman was in her car at the top floor of the Dillard’s parking deck when police say two men surrounded her car.
Police tell us the woman did just about everything right. She leaned on her horn, locked her doors, and drove away without getting hurt. It’s the mall’s actions they’re concerned about.
She managed to get away and notified mall security. But no one called the police, not even mall security.
“We don’t know what went amiss out there but we know we didn’t get the call,” said Sgt. David Nowlan, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department,
“Does that alarm you?” NewsChannel 36 asked.
“Yes. Obviously it does,” he replied.
Police say they didn’t find out about it until days later when an e-mail circulated around the community got to them and police called mall security.
“And we’ve spoke to them out there,” Nowlan said. “Obviously you can have all the radios and phones in the world, but if you don’t talk to each other it doesn’t do any good.”
What was their explanation as to why they didn’t notify CMPD? “They’re trying to track this down themselves,” Nowlan said.
We’re trying too. We were referred to a public relations person in Atlanta who told us she would try to find us some answers. She hasn’t yet.
Police say it’s always important to call 911, not just mall security.
Two teenage boys were shot in a Southdale mall parking lot Friday evening during a fight that Edina police called gang-related.
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Walmart employee commits suicide at the end of shift http://www.privateofficer.com
A 58-year-old Wal-Mart employee lit himself on fire in a strip-mall parking lot Thursday night, saying only that he “couldn’t take it anymore,” ChicagoBreakingNews.com reported.
The man, who wasn’t identified, died later at the hospital.
The employee, who worked the overnight shift, doused himself in lighter fluid around 10 p.m. outside the Chicago-area discount store before setting himself on fire, according to ChicagoBreakingNews.com.
At least 10 people witnessed the act and several attempted to rescue the man by throwing their jackets on him in an effort to put out the flames — but he refused assistance.
“He said he didn’t want any help and threw the coats off,” said Randy Sater, a watch commander with the Bloomingdale fire department.
When questioned by a police officer at the scene as to why he was committing suicide, the man, who was by that time severely burned, said, “I just couldn’t take it anymore,” ChicagoBreakingNews.com reported.
A store manager said he didn’t know why the employee took his life and said he hadn’t recently been laid off.
The victim was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to the burn unit at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago.
He was pronounced dead there at 12:42 a.m.
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Soccer club manager arrested for molesting children http://www.privateofficer.com
A Mountain View man who runs a soccer club for boys was arrested today on suspicion of molesting three young girls, police said.
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Security guard charged with kidnapping, sexual assaults http://www.privateofficer.com
Brandon Burrus of San Diego was taken into custody while he was at work Tuesday night and booked into the downtown county jail with bail set at $900,000, said San Diego police sex crimes Lt. Rick O’Hanlon.
Burrus is facing multiple sex-assault charges, including rape and kidnapping with intent to commit rape, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
O’Hanlon said the first incident happened in December in the Mid City area of San Diego. He said a woman in her 20s was introduced to Burrus by an acquaintance while they were at someone’s home.
The victim told investigators that she agreed to go to a store with Burrus. After she got into the vehicle he took out a weapon, drove her to a secluded area in a park and sexually assaulted her, O’Hanlon said.
He said the second attack was on Feb. 20. A woman in her 20s told investigators that she met Burrus at a bar in Mission Beach and agreed to let him give her a ride home. The woman said that while in the car, he pulled out a weapon and then drove to a motel in Lemon Grove, where he forced her inside and sexually assaulted her, O’Hanlon said.
O’Hanlon said he then took the woman back to the beach area and let her go.
Both victims reported the attacks to police.
O’Hanlon wouldn’t reveal many details of the alleged attacks – including the exact locations, the name of the bar, what kind of weapon was used, and the name of Burrus’ employer – citing the severity of the case and the evidence that links the two incidents.
“These are extremely serious charges that potentially could carry a life sentence,” O’Hanlon said.
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Violin teacher charged with molesting students http://www.privateofficer.com
Police investigators say 26-year-old Daniel Hansol Oh was arrested Wednesday at the University of Southern California where he’s working toward a master’s degree. Bail is set at $250,000.
Sgt. Mike McDonald says the now-16-year-old victim told police she was molested by Oh over a three-year period that started when she was 11 years old.
Investigators say Oh has now confessed to molesting three other students. MacDonald says Oh used a map to show detectives the houses where molestations took place because he couldn’t remember the girls’ names.
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Teens shot inside MN. JC Penney http://www.privateofficer.com
One was shot in the leg and was not seriously injured. The other was shot in the abdomen and was in surgery late Friday, Police Chief Mike Siitari said. He said he was unsure of the condition of the teen with the abdominal wound and did not know which boy he was.
At least four shots from a .45-caliber handgun were fired during the clash between the rival Hispanic groups, Siitari said. When the shooting started, people in the parking lot — customers and the teens involved in the fight — scattered and ran.
The shooter is believed to be between 16 and 18 years old. He ran from the scene, but Siitari said it was unclear whether he might have jumped into a car. Police and mall security officials were reviewing tapes from security cameras late Friday, seeking clues to the shooter’s identity.
No arrests had been made as of late Friday, the chief said, and he said it was unclear how many people had been involved in the fight. The names and hometowns of the two injured teens were not immediately available.
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Shopping mall adds K-9 security team http://www.privateofficer.com
The Eastwood Mall in Niles has decided to get some extra security. They are the first in the area to have K-9 patrols roaming around at night.
Sparticus, a Belgium Malinois, along with his partner, Zena, are the two newest members of the Eastwood Mall Security team.
Eastwood Mall General Manager, Ken Kollar said, “We felt that the mall needed a little shot in the arm for security, something different.” For about two hours every Friday and Saturday night, the K-9 patrols will walk around the common areas to make customers feel more secure. “We’re here to enhance the safety the security [team] already provides and still make it a calm atmosphere,” said Dave Blosser, Tri-State Canine Services.
While the mall hasn’t seen an increase in crime recently, officials want to avoid any problems before they happen. Blosser added, “It was sorta funny. The first time just coming in the door, there was four gentlemen that turned away real quick and started saying ‘canine, canine’, which is usually referred to as the police dogs, and they decided not to come into the mall.”
While this idea is relatively new, most of the customers enjoy the dog patrols being around. Angela Lynch from Hubbard said, “I think it’s a great idea. Any way you can make a community safer is a good idea.” Carl Smith from Warren added, “I think it’ll stop a lot of nonsense and keep a lot of people that don’t need to be out out of the mall, keep a lot of confusion down and keep our kids safe.”
Kollar says that the customers deserve to go to the mall, be relaxed and be with their children and see the Equarium, and do things they are supposed to do at the Eastwood Mall.
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Riot police called in after food fight at school http://www.privateofficer.com
Most of Gilroy High School’s 3000 students got to go home early today – those that didn’t leave in handcuffs, that is. On a day that state officials were visiting GHS to consider it for an academic award, students embarassed the administration by engaging in food fights. The administrators’ response was to promptly called the cop, who arrived in force with riot gear and dispersed a large crowd of students. At least 11 students were arrested and the school says there are 15-20 more it plans to “discipline”.
The school said the fights were gang-related, then had to backpedal on that statement – which is contradicted by some comments from students on the Gilroy Dispatch article – also admitting that there were no weapons used or significant injuries. Reportedly around 100 people, but possibly a lot more – the majority of the school according to one student (and official estimates always underestimate the participation in disorders) – participated in the second incident, mostly by throwing food, before it was broken up by police. “A lot of kids think this is a big joke, but it’s not,” groaned Principal James Maxwell in dismay.
Obviously, there are at least 11 kids who know this. As for the rest, was the creation of disorder in the prison-like institutional setting enjoyable? Why shouldn’t it have been? Was it somehow planned to go down on the day the state reviewers came? In any case, students posting to the Dispatch website report a lot more disgust and fear towards the actions of police and administrators than any of their peers’, “gang member” or no. The early dismissal was announced on the basis of alleged threats of drive-by shooting – not very likely, with the school already crawling with cops; more likely in an attempt to spread terror among students and their families.
Of course, there is talk about gang members and illegal immigrants, about measures to control and discipline youth within the institution of school, and prevent the formation of visible crews of any sort. In other words, restrictions on movement, expression and association – backed up by the threat and the memory of police violence – all in the name of rationality and the kids’ best interest. What if their best interest is realized by actions like disrupting the institution shaping them to be cogs in the social machinery? In resisting the institutions, not just schools but jails and nation-states, which keep us caged, struggle is never easy and always must deal with the problem of the ruling class’s armed enforcers. We applaud the youth of Gilory, north side, south side, food fighters, whatever, who delivered this blow against their jailers’ prestige, found enjoyment in disrupting the school day and got to leave early. As the corporate operators of a West Texas immigration prison and their allies in law enforcement recently found out, collective resistance to an institutional structure can be extremely cost-effective (as much as $20 million in this case, in fact).
This fall GHS had a bit of scandal with an English teacher getting paid leave while being investigated by Gilroy Police, who determined she slapped or shoved 3 students in a class for English as a Second Language study.
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Robbery suspect snatches gun from security guard http://www.privateofficer.com
Gastonia police said the man wearing a ski mask didn’t get away with any money, but he left the guard shaken at Little Dan’s Convenience Store on West Franklin Boulevard.
“If he is brazen enough to go into a store knowing the employees are armed? That worries me a little bit,” said Sgt. Jimmy West as he viewed surveillance video from inside the store.
Once the robber got the second gun, he used both weapons to force the guard to the floor.
West said he believes that masked man won’t stop at this crime.
“The more of this he does, the more courage he is going to build, and the more desperate he is going to become, and I’m afraid that he may escalate and do something stupid, possibly even shooting somebody,” he said.
He said the video shows the man is a determined robber. Even though he had subdued the strongest line of defense and clearly had the upper hand in the store, he couldn’t go any further because a thick glass window separated him from the employee with the money.
Police said he tried to get the cashier to open the door, but she didn’t, and he didn’t want to wait.
“When he couldn’t get into the office area, I think that discouraged him, and he realized he wasn’t going to get anything,” West said.
The robber walked out with the stolen gun.
Police dogs weren’t about to catch his scent. Detectives believed he had a car waiting for him.
If you recognize the man, call Gaston County Crime Stoppers at (704) 861-8000.
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Teacher arrested for being stoned in classroom http://www.privateofficer.com
A Maricopa elementary school teacher was arrested at the school this afternoon on charges of illegal drug use and child endangerment.
The school was locked down briefly while the teacher was arrested.
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