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Mass Murder: 6 Slain AL-TN state line www.privateofficer.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. AP July 18 2009 – Five people were found slain in two homes in southern Tennessee Saturday, some of whom were related, and a sixth person at a Huntsville, Ala., business, said authorities who have a suspect in custody.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Kristin Helm said in an e-mail that 30-year-old Jacob Shaffer, of Huntsville, was being questioned but no charges have been filed. She said he was sitting on the front porch of one of the homes in Lincoln County when deputies arrived and that he was being held by local authorities.
Lincoln County Sheriff Murray Blackwelder said at a news conference that his department is investigating three crime scenes, though he did not elaborate. He did not release the victims’ names and would not confirm the causes of death. He also did not release a motive in what he called “horrendous” killings and “one of the worst crimes Lincoln County has seen.”
Helm said some of the Tennessee victims were related and that the killings happened Friday night or early Saturday.
Authorities did not release ages, but Karon Weatherman, who lives about a half-mile away, said she saw children as young as 4 and 5 running back and forth between the homes that are across the road from each other in the rural area near Fayetteville.
Huntsville Police Sgt. Mickey Allen, who works for the city’s major crimes unit, told TV station WAFF that based on the suspect’s information, police found a body at Hall Cultured Marble Granite late Saturday morning.
One of the Tennessee homes was once a skating rink that was converted into a duplex, said Weatherman. She did not know the family but said they moved in about a year ago in the area made up of mostly rental houses.
“I wouldn’t expect nothing like this to happen,” she said.
Fayetteville is a town of 7,000 people about 90 miles south of Nashville near the Tennessee-Alabama border. Huntsville is the largest city in northern Alabama with more than 170,000 people and is about 30 miles south of Fayetteville.
OFFICER DOWN
Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office
New Mexico
End of Watch: Thursday, July 16, 2009
Biographical Info
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 26 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Thursday, July 16, 2009
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sergeant Joe Harris was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect along New Mexico 126 at approximately 4:30 am. He and another deputy were conducting a stakeout due to a rash of recent cabin burglaries in the area.
The deputies attempted to take the man into custody when they observed him breaking into a home. Sergeant Harris and the suspect were both fatally wounded in the ensuing shootout.
Sergeant Harris had served with the agency for six years and had previously retired from the Rio Rancho Police Department after 20 years of service. He is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.
Agency Contact Information
Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office
711 Camino del Pueblo
Bernalillo, NM 87004
Phone: (505) 867-7526
Please contact the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES
AFRICA
A security guard was killed after being shot during a robbery in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal paramedics said on Sunday.
The man was shot in the leg during the robbery of the TAB offices at Umlazi Mega City on Saturday night and bled to death on the scene, said Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha in a statement.
A second person, a cashier at the betting venue, was pistol whipped and treated for cuts to the head
BC Canada
13-year-old boy who threatened to shoot and “shank” a security guard after shoplifting some chocolate bars has received a 45-day youth custodial sentence.
The young teenager, who cannot be named, went in to the Courtenay Superstore on May 2, put some candy bars in his backpack and left without paying.
When stopped by store security just outside the store, the youngster first tried to escape.
But when he was caught and brought into the store, said Crown prosecutor M. Giri, he “threw himself onto the floor and said ‘I’ll give it back, let me go’.”
When that ploy, as well as several other escape attempts, were unsuccessful, the boy said to the guard: “F*** you bitch, you’re not a cop,” before running at her and hitting her in the chest.
He then threatened to shoot her, “shank” her and break out all of the store’s windows, according to court testimony.
Police, when they arrived, were forced to pin the small boy until he calmed down.
“I have grave concerns,” said provincial court Judge Peter Doherty. “We have this baby-faced little league kid and he’s just got a horrible start to life.
“I have a feeling we’ll be seeing (him) right through until he’s an old man, and that’s unfortunate.”
The youth, whose prior record includes assault with a weapon, threats and taking a vehicle without consent, was also convicted of breaching a court-ordered curfew three weeks after the shoplifting incident.
A youth sentence means he will spend 30 days in custody and then 15 days under community supervision. He was also placed on a 12-month court order that includes a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and forbids him from going to any Superstore in B.C.
INDIA
Sitamarhi Unidentified gunmen killed a security guard and looted Rs 11 lakh from a nationalised bank her today, a senior police officer said.
Four motorcycle-borne miscreants stormed the Pandaul branch of Punjab National Bank and sprayed bullets killing the guard Aklu Choudhary on the spot, Superintendent of Police Chhatranil Singh said.
They later held the bank employees at gun-point and decamped with the money after breaking open the chest.
Raids were on at different places to apprehend the looters and recover the money, the SP added.
Jamaica
A security guard assigned to the Portland Cooperative Credit Union in Buff Bay was rushed to hospital this morning after he was shot by three armed men.
Its understood that the guard is in critical condition.
The police report that three men approached the guard at the door to the credit union and opened fire.
They also say the security guard’s firearm was stolen by the men, who escaped in a waiting motor car.
The incident took place shortly before 10 a.m., while customers were inside the establishment.
It is not yet clear whether any of the customers were injured during the shooting.
UK
A drunken patient has been jailed for stabbing a hospital security officer with a hypodermic needle gripped in his teeth.
Pole Bogdan Zegarek turned violent because he thought nurses at Bradford Royal Infirmary were locking him up in an asylum, Bradford Crown Court heard.
Zegarek, 53, who had just arrived in the UK, was held in prison custody instead.
Today, he was imprisoned for eight months for causing Colin Woodhead actual bodily harm on April 21.
Bashir Ahmed, for the prosecution, said Zegarek was admitted to hospital at about 6am after suffering a seizure.
Nurses called security because he was staggering about with a hypodermic needle in his mouth.
Mr Woodhead pinned Zegarek against a wall but saw he had another needle in his hand.
As Mr Woodhead grabbed at it, Zegarek lunged with his head, stabbing the officer in the hand with the needle in his mouth, Mr Ahmed said.
Mr Ahmed said he had no information as to whether Mr Woodhead had suffered infection from the wound.
Zegarek told police he took the needles from a shelf and said they were infected to make the nurses let him leave.
His barrister, Giles Bridge, told the court Zegarek, a father-of-five, ended up in Bradford after coming to the UK looking for agricultural work.
He drank alcohol on the coach bringing him and immediately lost his luggage, £2,000 savings and identity card.
Zegarek claimed that in Poland epileptics who abused alcohol could be incarcerated in a psychiatric institution. He thought security staff were preventing him escaping from the hospital.
“He got into a very difficult situation and handled it badly,” Mr Bridge said.
Zegarek had spent 83 days in custody and wanted to go back to Poland.
Judge Roger Scott said: “A syringe or a needle is a very worrying weapon for the victim.”
He said people who upset nursing staff and attacked hospital security officers could expect to go to prison
Cape Town Africa
A 26-year-old Eskom security guard was shot dead at the power station’s Polokwane plant, Limpopo police said on Monday.
Captain Mohlaka Mashiane said the victim and another security guard were on duty at the Polokwane Matlala Road power station on Sunday when they were confronted by two armed men.
“The suspects instructed the guards to hand over their weapons and proceeded to search one guard,” said Mashiane.
“While the suspects were busy with that, the second guard tried to run off and he was shot in the back.”
The guard collapsed and died at the scene.
Police said the men fled without taking anything.
“We believe their motive was to rob the guards of their weapons,” said Mashiane.
No arrests had been made yet and police asked anyone with information to contact the Polokwane police on 015 296 7000.
FIJI
A 26-YEAR-OLD security officer is in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle yesterday afternoon.
Police spokesman Ser-geant Suliano Tevita said a vehicle was travelling along the Nadi back road towards the airport when the driver hit the victim.
He said the security officer was rushed to the Nadi Hospital then transferred to the intensive care unit at the Lautoka Hospital.
The driver of the vehicle has questioned by police and released.
Sergeant Tevita ad-vised motorists to be careful while on the road and to drive within the speed limit.
“My advice to drivers is to make sure that your vehicle is in good running condition,” he said.
“Pedestrians should be more vigilant on the road and always walk on the right hand side of the road so that you can see oncoming traffic.”
Police investigations are continuing.
Wellington NZ
Wellington security guard has denied raping, assaulting and sexually violating a woman last year.
Falepou Falemai’s trial began in Wellington District Court today, in front of a jury of six men and six women.
He has been charged with sexually violating, raping and assaulting a woman in Wellington in April last year.
Crown prosecutor Geraldine Kelly said on April 5 Falemai was working at Shooters Bar, on Courtenay Place.
After the bar closed at 2am, Falemai offered the complainant a lift home, Ms Kelly said.
On the way home, he pulled his car into to a parking lot and sexually violated the woman and raped her, she said.
He then dropped her home, and as she was walking to her house, he came after her and punched her, Ms Kelly said.
The trial is set to continue until Wednesday.
Sudbury Onterio CA
A 31-year-old woman was arrested by Greater Sudbury Police Service officers Saturday after a shoplifting incident at Sears in the New Sudbury Centre.
Police say they received a complaint from Sears security personnel that they had attempted to apprehend a female shoplifter who fled from the store to a car and then drove off, partially dragging a security officer.
Police spotted the vehicle a short time later westbound on the Kingsway and attempted to get the driver to stop. The female driver continued driving and entered the Millennium Centre parking lot, at which time police discontinued the pursuit.
The stolen vehicle was abandoned at Costco and recovered by police. A female matching the description of the driver was found a short distance away at the Shell station on the Kingsway.
The woman is being held in custody pending a bail hearing on several criminal charges including dangerous driving, flight from police, theft over $5,000 and possession of stolen property
BEDFORD UK
Robber escapes with cash box
A security guard was attacked during a robbery at a petrol station on Monday morning (July 13).
The guard was carrying money across the car park at the Tesco filling station, Consiton Road, Flitwick at 9.52am, when he was sprayed in the face with an unknown liquid.
The robber then grabbed the security cash box that the guard was carrying and escaped through a hedge and past the Co-Op towards Dunstable Road.
The thief is described as white, in his mid to late 20s, wearing over sized, aviator style sunglasses and a navy blue baseball cap.
He was of proportionate build and was wearing a dark top, jeans and white trainers.
DC Claire Brenan, investigating officer, said: ” It is quite possible that someone saw something that, until now they did not realise was significant.
“If that is the case, we would urge them to contact us as soon as possible.”
Among the people the DC Brenan is keen to speak to is a man who briefly gave chase to the offender, but left before police arrived.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Beds Police on 01234 841212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
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Babysitter wanted for feeding liquor to 9-month old baby www.privateofficer.com
Carrollton police Sgt. Tony Johnson said authorities are searching for 40-year-old Tammy Demice Truitt of Carrollton on charges of first degree cruelty to children and reckless conduct for giving the baby alcohol.
Police said Truitt was the regular babysitter for the baby and four other children, ages 9, 7, 5 and 3, but was called when the mother had to leave town for a family emergency.
Doctors said the baby’s blood-alcohol content of .33 is considered a life-threatening condition.
Johnson said the baby was released from the hospital on Wednesday and is doing fine.
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Security aids shooting victim www.privateofficer.com
A man was shot in a foot Friday afternoon in the parking lot behind the Reading Public Library at Fifth and Franklin streets, Reading police said.
The 23-year-old city man was taken to Reading Hospital. Police did not release his name. His condition was not available.
Police described the gunman as a thin Latino about 6 feet tall in his mid-20s. He had close-cropped brown hair, a little longer on top, and was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts.
He left the scene in a burgundy Dodge Intrepid with chrome wheels.
Library workers heard what sounded like gunshots about 1:50 p.m. but thought it was firecrackers or a car backfiring.
A library security guard went to investigate and found there had been a shooting The security officer assisted and called police.
Police collected shell casings and other evidence at the scene and were reviewing surveillance camera footage.
Further details were unavailable.
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San Diego security officer robbed of firearm www.privateofficer.com
Two uniformed security officers were patrolling at the 62nd Street trolley station on Akins Drive about 6:30 p.m. when they were approached by the man, San Diego police said.
The robber pointed his weapon at them and took a gun, a magazine and ammunition from one of the guards, police said.
The thief was described as black, 20 to 30 years old and slim. He was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt and black pants and had a black bandana covering his face.
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Pilot arrested for assaulting TSA security www.privateofficer.com
Police removed the pilot of an AirTran 717 in handcuffs at Newport News/Williamsburg Airport in Virginia Wednesday. He was allegedly involved in some kind of dispute with TSA personnel at a security checkpoint.
United Press International reports that the captain was not named by AirTran. Jail Records at Newport News say an AirTran pilot identified as Michael Wayne Karnath was arrested and charged with assault and battery, according to the Hampton Roads Daily Press.
In a statement released by TSA, Spokeswoman Lauren Gaches said in a statement Wednesday’s arrest was related to an unspecified problem at one of the airport’s security checkpoints. “TSA is aware of an incident that occurred at a checkpoint this morning with an AirTran employee and will work closely with local law enforcement during their investigation,” Gaches said.
AirTran spokesman Christopher White said “We’re aware of the incident. We brought in another captain to pilot the plane to Boston.”
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Y-12 Nuclear security officers fired over steroid use www.privateofficer.com
Frank Munger/KnoxNow.com – Four security guards at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant were fired after testing positive for steroids, a spokeswoman for Wackenhut Services Inc., the government’s security contractor, confirmed Friday.
The guards’ union, however, is challenging two of the cases, claiming that the positive readings were linked to use of over-the-counter supplements.
News of the drug firings comes just a few days after Wackenhut confirmed that three Y-12 guards had been suspended without pay for bringing electronic game devices into the inner sanctum of the high-security weapons facility.
Security police officers at Y-12 are subject to regular and random drug testing, but those tests are typically for Schedule I and II drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana. Courtney Henry of Wackenhut said the company began testing some guards for anabolic steroids, a Schedule III drug, “for probable cause.”
One was positive but had a valid prescription; and four were positive with no prescription and were terminated under the provisions of the (Wackenhut) policy.
Asked what prompted the tests, Henry said, “We received credible information alleging the SPOs (security police officers) were involved in the activity and tested under our drug-free workplace policy.” Use of steroids violates both company policy and Department of Energy policy, she said.
In response to questions, Wackenhut said seven Oak Ridge security guards – all of them at Y-12, where nuclear warhead parts are manufactured and dismantled – were asked to submit to tests for steroid use.
“The seven individuals complied, which resulted in two found to be negative,” Wackenhut said. “One was positive but had a valid prescription; and four were positive with no prescription and were terminated under the provisions of the (Wackenhut) policy.”
Randy Lawson, president of the International Guards Union of America, Local 3, said the company’s statement doesn’t reveal the whole story.
Lawson said there were two separate situations. He said a couple of months ago, two security guards were asked to submit to testing for steroids, and after the results came back positive, they resigned. The union chief said it was never revealed what drugs were involved and the union didn’t pursue a grievance over the issue because the guards quit on their own.
In the latest round of tests, Lawson said two of the guards who tested positive for steroids said they had only been taking over-the-counter supplements to boost performance. He said neither Wackenhut nor the DOE ever discussed the possibility that such supplements could lead to positive drug tests and never provided a list of legal drugs not to take.
“Nobody knew until the last two guys tested positive,” Lawson said. “We never had any guidance.”
The union chief said the testing for steroids and uncertainty about what can lead to positive test results have created “pandemonium” among the Oak Ridge security force.
Henry said Wackenhut has adopted the “strict liability” policy used in professional sports and by the International Olympic Committee. She said individuals, not the company, are responsible for what they put in their bodies.
“It is not the company’s responsibility to determine what was taken, when, how or why,” she said.
Henry said Wackenhut officials do not believe use of illegal drugs, including anabolic steroids, is a big problem with security officers in Oak Ridge.
“We are aware, however, of the use of performance-enhancing stimulants, which can be purchased and taken legally, by a number of security police officers,” she said. “Independent studies have shown that between 10 percent and 25 percent of legally obtained performance-enhancing supplements contain enough anabolic steroids to result in a positive drug test for steroids, or metabolize in an individual system in a manner that causes a positive drug test. Although we cannot prohibit the use of these legal supplements, we have strongly discouraged their use.”
She said any positive drug test will result in termination. She also said that one of the supplements in question had a warning label that said “use of this product may be banned by some athletic or government associations (including military). Athletes and others should consult their sanctioning organization before using.”
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Police charge man with shooting Fla wildlife officer www.privateofficer.com
Police said 23-year-old Christopher Eddy was arrested after he was found hiding in a sand dune on Melbourne Beach.
FWC Officer Van Streety, a 10-year FWC veteran, was patrolling near the intersection of Satellite Boulevard and State Road 520 in Brevard County when he was shot multiple times during a routine stop.
“If I wanted to kill him, I could have,” Eddy said after he was arrested. “I shot him in his vest on purpose.”
Streety was saved by a bulletproof vest — and a special coin he had in his pocket, which helped stop one of the bullets. (See Images Of The Coin)
Police said Eddy was stopped by the officer, a struggle started and, according to reports, Eddy pulled out a gun and shot the officer several times.
Streety was attempting to arrest Eddy for warrants issued from Brevard County for multiple traffic violations, officials said.
Eddy said he shot the officer during the routine traffic stop because he had prior traffic tickets and had a warrant out for his arrest for driving without a license.
“I felt my freedom was being violated,” Eddy said. “It was just unjust they way they treated me. They pulled me over, gave me some traffic tickets and sent me right to the court.”
Investigators said they’ve been putting the pressure on Eddy and apparently he couldn’t take it anymore. They said he made one big mistake leading to his capture on Friday when he tried to steal a car from an armed neighbor.
Investigators said they brought the 46-hour manhunt to an end with “luck, intensity and aggression.”
Police said when Eddy tried to steal the car and he was approached by the armed homeowner, Eddy took off running.
“He kept yelling out to the homeowner, ‘I’m homeless, I’m homeless,’” said Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Major Andrew Walters. “You could see he was bug-bitten, but he did see a firearm.”
Walters said when police found Eddy, the fugitive emerged from the sand dunes and turned himself in.
“He led them to a makeshift camp he had been staying in and showed them the firearm,” Walters said.
On Thursday, Eddy’s girlfriend was arrested and is still being held in a Brevard County jail without bond.
A judge said that any attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer “tears at the fabric of our society” and that he wanted her to stay in jail until she comes before a jury on charges of accessory to attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
Tammi Temple, 37, was arrested Thursday, the same day that what was later identified as a shrapnel bomb was found at her home.
Police found the shrapnel bomb when they served a search warrant at Temple’s home in Melbourne in connection with Wednesday night’s shooting of the FWC law enforcement officer.
Investigators said Temple was in the car with Eddy when he shot the officer. Police said she didn’t come to Streety’s aide but rather helped Eddy get away. Deputies said Floyd Johnson helped Eddy escape, as well. He has been charged with being an accessory after the shooting.
“All I want is a peaceful life,” Eddy said. “I just want some freedom. I guess I’ll never get out of jail for this dumb (expletive).”
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Armored car robbed in Tempe www.privateofficer.com
It started at about 11 a.m., when police said a Loomis Armored truck drove up into the grocery parking lot.
Just as the Loomis guard set out to make a delivery police said two men approached him from behind, with a handgun and assault rifle.
Witness Katy Resnick said she pulled in to the parking lot just as the two men were taking off with the money.
I didn’t really know what was going on until I talked to people and they were like, yeah, they just robbed that truck,” said Resnick.
Police said they’re looking into whether a red car found nearby the armored truck, played a role in the robbery.
“It’s a possibility that the red car is involved, we’re not sure on that, we’re checking into it,” said Officer Jeff Glover.
Resnick said she saw the men run north to a block wall then jump over to the other side.
“It looked fake,” said Resnick. “I didn’t think much of it until I saw people looking over the fence because we saw them hop the fence.”
Police said the men got away in a silver Nissan Sentra, which has damage to the left rear quarter panel on the driver’s side.
The vehicle was last seen in Mesa, near Country Club Road and First Avenue.
Police also said they recovered some empty money bags in a Dumpster near the U.S. 60 and Country Club Road.
“It’s just scary because I used to live right around the corner and I would come to this grocery store like twice a day,” said Resnick.
The men are still on the run and considered armed and dangerous according to police. Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact the Tempe Police Department at 480-350-8311.
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