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7 Yr old commits suicide with shower hose www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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MARGATE Fla April 19 2009 – A troubled 7-year-old boy appears to have died by hanging from a shower hose in the bathroom of his Margate foster home, Margate police said, citing preliminary autopsy findings.
If Thursday’s death was a suicide, Florida child welfare authorities said, the child’s young age would apparently make such a tragedy unprecedented.
Gabriel Myers had been home sick when he got upset about his lunch and ran to the bathroom, said Leslie Mann, spokeswoman with the Florida Department of Children & Families.
The 19-year-old son of Gabriel’s foster father had been watching the boy. When Gabriel became upset, the young man called the foster mother for advice, Mann said.
The young man then went to check on Gabriel, and reportedly found the boy with the shower hose wrapped around his neck, said Margate police officer Vonley Williams.
The 19-year-old called 911, and paramedics responded at about 1:40 p.m. to the home in the 6500 block of Northwest Ninth Street.
They found Gabriel still breathing. The boy was pronounced dead an hour later at Northwest Medical Center in Margate.
Gabriel’s foster parents as well as their son have been “very cooperative” in the police investigation, Williams said. The foster father is an assistant principal at a school for special needs children, and the foster mother is a registered nurse.
Gabriel’s death left local child welfare officials shaken. About 35 of them met Friday afternoon for two hours to pore over the boy’s case file, Mann said.
“One of the things that we [have been] looking at was whether it was accidental or intentional,” Mann said. “If this was intentional, then it borders on being unheard of and unprecedented for someone his age.”
Gabriel first came on DCF’s radar in June 2008 when his mother was found passed out at a car in Hallandale Beach with him inside, Mann said. He went to live with his aunt and uncle.
In October 2008, Gabriel was placed in foster care after his aunt and uncle felt they weren’t able to handle his behavioral problems. Gabriel would throw severe temper tantrums, according to child welfare officials.
The first set of foster parents concluded they couldn’t provide the care he needed, and he was moved to the Margate home three weeks ago, Mann said. The boy was supposed to move to Ohio in a few weeks to live with his paternal grandfather.
Gabriel’s mother is incarcerated in Ohio and his father’s whereabouts were unknown as of Friday night, Mann said.
The boy had been receiving therapy and psychiatric care, said DCF Southeast Regional Director Jack Moss.
“The indications are that there were no suicidal tendencies recognized by the professionals,” Moss said.
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Charlotte police nab hospital theft suspect www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. April 19 2009 — Police have identified a woman that has been accused of stealing from patients at Carolinas Medical Center numerous times and other area businesses.
Investigators said that the woman they identified asTywana Mobley, 46, was captured on security video and has arrested and charged with two counts of credit card fraud and one count of larceny in connection with crimes at Carolinas Medical Center, schools and other local hospitals.
Investigators believe Mobley also walked into Sterling Elementary in Pineville and tried to steal from an assistant principal. No charges have been filed in that case.
Police captured Mobley Friday afternoon and say that she may also face additional charges. Anyone who knows anything about this incident should call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600.
Investigators said that the woman they identified asTywana Mobley, 46, was captured on security video and has arrested and charged with two counts of credit card fraud and one count of larceny in connection with crimes at Carolinas Medical Center, schools and other local hospitals.
Investigators believe Mobley also walked into Sterling Elementary in Pineville and tried to steal from an assistant principal. No charges have been filed in that case.
Police captured Mobley Friday afternoon and say that she may also face additional charges. Anyone who knows anything about this incident should call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600.
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School employee arrested on felony drugs, theft charges www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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HALL COUNTY, Ga. April 19 2009
news2 — Parents at a metro Atlanta elementary school are in shock after learning that a paraprofessional, entrusted with kindergarten children, was arrested on felony drug and theft charges during Spring Break.
Hall County Schools’ spokesman Gordon Higgins told Channel 2 Action News reporter Jeff Dore that a parent tipped off the principal at Sugar Hill Elementary School about Para-professional Kelly Michelle Funderburk’s recent arrest.
Upon further investigation, school officials determined that Funderburk faced drug and theft charges in Gainesville, Cornelia and Pendergrass. Police in Pendergrass said Funderburk lived with a central figure in a big shoplifting ring in which items were stolen from area Wal-Mart stores and sold on e-Bay. They said $12,000 in merchandise was found in Funderburk’s home.
“What was initially perceived to be an arrest perhaps involving a small amount of marijuana has now been maybe something involving felony drug charges as well as some theft charges,” said Higgins.
Funderburk had worked at the school since March 2006.
Pendergrass police said charges include possession of marijuana, felony theft by receiving and felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Cornelia police told Channel 2 that they have charged Funderburk with theft by deception.
news2 — Parents at a metro Atlanta elementary school are in shock after learning that a paraprofessional, entrusted with kindergarten children, was arrested on felony drug and theft charges during Spring Break.
Hall County Schools’ spokesman Gordon Higgins told Channel 2 Action News reporter Jeff Dore that a parent tipped off the principal at Sugar Hill Elementary School about Para-professional Kelly Michelle Funderburk’s recent arrest.
Upon further investigation, school officials determined that Funderburk faced drug and theft charges in Gainesville, Cornelia and Pendergrass. Police in Pendergrass said Funderburk lived with a central figure in a big shoplifting ring in which items were stolen from area Wal-Mart stores and sold on e-Bay. They said $12,000 in merchandise was found in Funderburk’s home.
“What was initially perceived to be an arrest perhaps involving a small amount of marijuana has now been maybe something involving felony drug charges as well as some theft charges,” said Higgins.
Funderburk had worked at the school since March 2006.
Pendergrass police said charges include possession of marijuana, felony theft by receiving and felony possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Cornelia police told Channel 2 that they have charged Funderburk with theft by deception.
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Man robs pharmacy armed with syringe www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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Tampa Fla April 19 2009 – Police have arrested a man accused of trying to rob a pharmacy by saying he had in his pocket a needle filled with the AIDS virus.
Anton Francis Ziherle, 23, of no known address, was held without bail today at Orient Road Jail, charged with felony armed robbery. He has been on probation since March for three other robbery charges, Tampa police said.
Working with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, police arrested Ziherle late Friday in connection with Thursday’s robbery attempt at Westcoast Pharmacy, 8439 N. Florida Ave.
A person recognized Ziherle from the store’s security footage detectives had released to the media and called police after watching a newscast, police said.
Police said Ziherle had demanded Oxycodone from the pharmacy, but the staff there argued with him and scared him away. He did not display a syringe or any other weapon at the time.
During his arrest, detectives found syringes in his possession, but there was no evidence of any substance inside them, police said.
Ziherle also was charged with felony carjacking. He is accused of knocking down a woman and stealing her car from the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant at North 15th Street and East Fowler Avenue, police said.
Anton Francis Ziherle, 23, of no known address, was held without bail today at Orient Road Jail, charged with felony armed robbery. He has been on probation since March for three other robbery charges, Tampa police said.
Working with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, police arrested Ziherle late Friday in connection with Thursday’s robbery attempt at Westcoast Pharmacy, 8439 N. Florida Ave.
A person recognized Ziherle from the store’s security footage detectives had released to the media and called police after watching a newscast, police said.
Police said Ziherle had demanded Oxycodone from the pharmacy, but the staff there argued with him and scared him away. He did not display a syringe or any other weapon at the time.
During his arrest, detectives found syringes in his possession, but there was no evidence of any substance inside them, police said.
Ziherle also was charged with felony carjacking. He is accused of knocking down a woman and stealing her car from the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant at North 15th Street and East Fowler Avenue, police said.
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Suspicious person runs down officer www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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Oxen Hill MD April 19 2009
A Prince George’s County sheriff’s deputy working an off-duty security assignment at a lodge on Southern Avenue was seriously injured early Saturday after he was struck by a sport-utility vehicle leaving the establishment, police said.
Deputy Jamal Geter was working security at Byrne Manor, a Knights of Columbus hall in Oxon Hill, about 2:45 a.m. when he and a Prince George’s County police officer tried to make contact with a man who was reported to have been involved in an altercation in the hall, said Cpl. Yakeisha Hines, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman. As the man pulled away from the hall in an SUV, she said, he struck two other vehicles and the Prince George’s police officer and slammed into Geter.
Geter was briefly knocked unconscious and was flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Hines said. He showed no signs of broken bones, she said, but X-ray results had not been received. He was scheduled to be released today, Hines said.
The Prince George’s police officer suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized, Hines said.
The suspect, who police did not identify, was injured and was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center, Hines said. No charges had been filed yesterday afternoon, she said.
A Prince George’s County sheriff’s deputy working an off-duty security assignment at a lodge on Southern Avenue was seriously injured early Saturday after he was struck by a sport-utility vehicle leaving the establishment, police said.
Deputy Jamal Geter was working security at Byrne Manor, a Knights of Columbus hall in Oxon Hill, about 2:45 a.m. when he and a Prince George’s County police officer tried to make contact with a man who was reported to have been involved in an altercation in the hall, said Cpl. Yakeisha Hines, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman. As the man pulled away from the hall in an SUV, she said, he struck two other vehicles and the Prince George’s police officer and slammed into Geter.
Geter was briefly knocked unconscious and was flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Hines said. He showed no signs of broken bones, she said, but X-ray results had not been received. He was scheduled to be released today, Hines said.
The Prince George’s police officer suffered minor injuries and was not hospitalized, Hines said.
The suspect, who police did not identify, was injured and was taken to Prince George’s Hospital Center, Hines said. No charges had been filed yesterday afternoon, she said.
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Security agency owner charged in fraud case www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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Los Angeles CA April 19 2009
The owner of a security firm and two vice presidents accused of defrauding the state of $9 million in an elaborate workers’ compensation scheme pleaded not guilty today.
Ousama Karawia, 45, owner and president of International Protective Services Inc., and vice presidents Larry Finley, 42, and Allan Terrill Bailey, 39, have been charged with one count each of conspiracy and multiple counts of workers’ compensation premium fraud and insurance fraud, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Karawia also has been charged with five counts of possessing unregistered assault weapons, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.
The men allegedly created a shell company, International Armored Solutions Inc., to hide the true number of employees at the security firm to avoid paying higher workers’ compensation insurance premiums to the State Compensation Insurance Fund, Robison said.
Authorities said Karawia told state officials that he employed about 20 workers at the new company and that it was not part of the main security firm. The company failed to pay $9.5 million in workers’ comp premiums for its 1,500 employees, prosecutors said.
The men were taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion of fraud, prosecutors said.
On his firm’s website, Karawia had said he was deputy director of the sheriff’s Homeland Security Support Unit. But Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Sheriff Lee Baca, said Karawia had been relieved of duty as a reserve deputy and that the unit was disbanded two years ago.
The owner of a security firm and two vice presidents accused of defrauding the state of $9 million in an elaborate workers’ compensation scheme pleaded not guilty today.
Ousama Karawia, 45, owner and president of International Protective Services Inc., and vice presidents Larry Finley, 42, and Allan Terrill Bailey, 39, have been charged with one count each of conspiracy and multiple counts of workers’ compensation premium fraud and insurance fraud, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Karawia also has been charged with five counts of possessing unregistered assault weapons, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.
The men allegedly created a shell company, International Armored Solutions Inc., to hide the true number of employees at the security firm to avoid paying higher workers’ compensation insurance premiums to the State Compensation Insurance Fund, Robison said.
Authorities said Karawia told state officials that he employed about 20 workers at the new company and that it was not part of the main security firm. The company failed to pay $9.5 million in workers’ comp premiums for its 1,500 employees, prosecutors said.
The men were taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion of fraud, prosecutors said.
On his firm’s website, Karawia had said he was deputy director of the sheriff’s Homeland Security Support Unit. But Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for Sheriff Lee Baca, said Karawia had been relieved of duty as a reserve deputy and that the unit was disbanded two years ago.
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Child drowns at Atlantic City casino www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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Alantic City NJ April 19 2009
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The little boy pulled from a casino pool Tuesday – and revived after nearly drowning – has died.
Samod Kent, 7, of Camden, died at Cooper University Hospital in Camden at 4:49 p.m. Wednesday, police were finally able to confirm Thursday. The family could not be reached before then, and the hospital could not release the information due to privacy laws.
It was a heartbreaking end to what seemed a hopeful story.
A brother and sister also at the family pool in Harrah’s Resort’s Harbour Tower had helped pull the unconscious boy out of the water, according to several news reports. Then, off-duty paramedic Kelly Hauler-Saunders jumped in to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, aided by a trained security staff. The casino’s on-site nurse also arrived quickly with all the necessary equipment, Hauler-Saunders said.
“Everything that could have gone right, went right,” the longtime emergency medical services worker said after the rescue.
Samod had stopped breathing in the ambulance but was resuscitated. He was driven to Cooper, where he was reportedly on a ventilator.
But the rescue did not have a happy ending. The Atlantic City Police Department announced Samod’s death in an e-mail Thursday afternoon.
Harrah’s was keeping in touch with the family, who could not be reached for comment. Police originally said the family was from Philadelphia.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Samod,” said Jay Snowden, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Resorts. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother and father and their entire family. We will continue to assist the family as they need us.”
There were no lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident, but all children younger than 16 are required to have an adult with them. Samod’s mother was at the pool along with another child, Hauler-Saunders said.
New Jersey Administrative Code does not require hotels to have lifeguards or first-aid personnel on site.
pressoftheatlantic.com
The little boy pulled from a casino pool Tuesday – and revived after nearly drowning – has died.
Samod Kent, 7, of Camden, died at Cooper University Hospital in Camden at 4:49 p.m. Wednesday, police were finally able to confirm Thursday. The family could not be reached before then, and the hospital could not release the information due to privacy laws.
It was a heartbreaking end to what seemed a hopeful story.
A brother and sister also at the family pool in Harrah’s Resort’s Harbour Tower had helped pull the unconscious boy out of the water, according to several news reports. Then, off-duty paramedic Kelly Hauler-Saunders jumped in to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, aided by a trained security staff. The casino’s on-site nurse also arrived quickly with all the necessary equipment, Hauler-Saunders said.
“Everything that could have gone right, went right,” the longtime emergency medical services worker said after the rescue.
Samod had stopped breathing in the ambulance but was resuscitated. He was driven to Cooper, where he was reportedly on a ventilator.
But the rescue did not have a happy ending. The Atlantic City Police Department announced Samod’s death in an e-mail Thursday afternoon.
Harrah’s was keeping in touch with the family, who could not be reached for comment. Police originally said the family was from Philadelphia.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Samod,” said Jay Snowden, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Resorts. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother and father and their entire family. We will continue to assist the family as they need us.”
There were no lifeguards on duty at the time of the incident, but all children younger than 16 are required to have an adult with them. Samod’s mother was at the pool along with another child, Hauler-Saunders said.
New Jersey Administrative Code does not require hotels to have lifeguards or first-aid personnel on site.
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College student kidnapped, raped by illegal immigrants www.privateofficer.com
April 19, 2009
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WESLACO(McAllen) TX. April 19 2009 — Police here arrested three illegal immigrants from Mexico on Friday in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a South Texas College student.
Efrain Ozuna, 30, Martin Rosas, 33, and Benito Zaragoza, 22, were each charged Friday with aggravated kidnapping. Ozuna and Zaragoza are also accused of sexually assaulting the 23-year-old woman.
Wednesday’s kidnapping took place about 8:15 a.m. as the student parked at the southeast parking lot of South Texas College’s Mid-Valley Campus, 400 N. Border Ave., said David Molina, a spokesman with the Weslaco Police Department.
The woman told police one of the men grabbed her and forced her into their truck. They drove her to various locations and released her in a wooded area south of Donna about 8 p.m. the same day. The kidnappers covered her face with a jacket, she told police.
Molina said the men apparently took her because they thought she was wealthy and they hoped to extract a ransom from her friends and family in exchange for her return. Once they realized “she didn’t have money,” they sexually assaulted her and let her go.
Police found the men inside a home at the intersection of Victoria and Castillo roads in Donna after receiving tips through the department’s Crime Stoppers hotline. The Texas Department of Public Safety put up surveillance equipment at the home to help catch the suspects, Molina said. Police found a gun inside the home that was apparently used in the attack.
Molina said they also found the jacket believed to have been used to cover the victim’s face.
The woman is receiving counseling through the Texas attorney general’s crime victims compensation program, Molina said.
The three suspects remained at the Hidalgo County Jail as of late Friday. Each was given a $1 million bond for the kidnapping charges. Ozuna and Zaragoza each received an additional $250,000 bond for the sexual assault charges.
Typically, at least six security guards and one Weslaco police officer patrol the Mid-Valley Campus at any given hour in the day, said Paul Varville, STC’s security director. Since the attack, though, officials have deployed at least three more guards to patrol the area.
Efrain Ozuna, 30, Martin Rosas, 33, and Benito Zaragoza, 22, were each charged Friday with aggravated kidnapping. Ozuna and Zaragoza are also accused of sexually assaulting the 23-year-old woman.
Wednesday’s kidnapping took place about 8:15 a.m. as the student parked at the southeast parking lot of South Texas College’s Mid-Valley Campus, 400 N. Border Ave., said David Molina, a spokesman with the Weslaco Police Department.
The woman told police one of the men grabbed her and forced her into their truck. They drove her to various locations and released her in a wooded area south of Donna about 8 p.m. the same day. The kidnappers covered her face with a jacket, she told police.
Molina said the men apparently took her because they thought she was wealthy and they hoped to extract a ransom from her friends and family in exchange for her return. Once they realized “she didn’t have money,” they sexually assaulted her and let her go.
Police found the men inside a home at the intersection of Victoria and Castillo roads in Donna after receiving tips through the department’s Crime Stoppers hotline. The Texas Department of Public Safety put up surveillance equipment at the home to help catch the suspects, Molina said. Police found a gun inside the home that was apparently used in the attack.
Molina said they also found the jacket believed to have been used to cover the victim’s face.
The woman is receiving counseling through the Texas attorney general’s crime victims compensation program, Molina said.
The three suspects remained at the Hidalgo County Jail as of late Friday. Each was given a $1 million bond for the kidnapping charges. Ozuna and Zaragoza each received an additional $250,000 bond for the sexual assault charges.
Typically, at least six security guards and one Weslaco police officer patrol the Mid-Valley Campus at any given hour in the day, said Paul Varville, STC’s security director. Since the attack, though, officials have deployed at least three more guards to patrol the area.
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