Archive
College Park officer crashes, had cocaine in system www.privateofficer.com
Source: Channel2 news –
Former College Park Police Officer Gary Clements tested positive for having cocaine in his system when he backed into another car while transporting two prisoners, according to investigators.
After the accident, the officer had to take a drug test.
“After the drug test, it came back positive for cocaine,” said Interim College Park Chief Ron Fears.
Police said Clements told them he had the drug in his system after he tested the drug by tasting it after he pursued suspects who got away.
“He did some of the old type of testing. He tested with his finger,” said Fears.
Clements resigned, in lieu of termination.
The city of College Park is investigating why its police department allowed the officer suspected to resign instead of being terminated.
Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones confronted Fears about why he allowed the officer to resign and why he’s not face charges after the officer tested positive for cocaine.
“At this point, there are no charges pending,” said Fears. “But why not, Chief? This is serious. He’s a police officer driving with drugs in his system. You know it. You have the results. And there is no charges,” said Jones. “Not at this time, sir,” Fears said.
College Park Mayor Jack Longino is upset over the incident.
“If he had drugs in his system, he will not be allowed to resign. He will be fired! And I want him charged with driving under the influence!” said Longino.
When Jones talked to Clements about the incident, he was told to talk to City Hall.
Disturbance ends with security officer stabbed www.privateofficer.com
William Castellanos was arrested for stabbing security officer Oscar Maturana at the El Toro Loco bar at 2928 S. Military Trail.
According to a police report, security officers escorted Castellanos and some other men outside the bar, where a fight occured.
Maturana was airlifted to Delray Medical Center and treated for a non-life threatening injury.
NJ school security injured during fight www.privateofficer.com
According to reports, two 16-year-olds got into a fight in the hallway at 10:21 a.m.
A large crowd of students watched as a female security guard separated the girls but received several punches in her breast area in the process, police said.
The security guard, who complained of chest pains, was treated by EMS and then taken to Hoboken University Medical Center.
One of the girls was treated by EMS for a bite on her face. Both teens were arrested and charged with aggravated assault and then turned over to their parents, reports said.
Police said the fight started because of rumors spread by text messages. School officials could not be reached to comment.
Security nab drug dealer at apartment complex www.privateofficer.com
Officers were called to Bens Drive at 3:19 p.m. by Bay Ridge Gardens apartments security officers.
They suspected a man there had drugs and said they found some on him, then handcuffed him and called police. They said they then discovered more marijuana in the man’s backpack, police said.
Officers arrived and confiscated the drugs. At a weight of 45 grams, they had a street value of $450, police said.
Jonathan Tarr, 20, of Fairfax Road, was charged with drug possession with intent to distribute, police said.
Security officer dies from gunshot wound www.privateofficer.com
By: Brett Davis/Staff
PRIVATEOFFICER NEWS
www.privateofficer.com The security officer who was shot in the head last week outside a Hempstead bar has died, Nassau County police said Thursday.
David Nestor Moreno, 22, was pronounced dead Monday at 6:30 p.m. by doctors at Nassau County University Medical Center in East Meadow, police said.
Joan Eames, a spokeswoman for the county police department, said Thursday that no arrests have been made and police have no suspects in the shooting.
No information on Moreno’s funeral arrangements have been released.
Fla. band teacher charged with molesting student www.privateofficer.com
Raphael J. McLean, 26, was arrested on a felony charge of lewd and lascivious molestation, according to St. Petersburg police.
The victim was one of his students, officials said.
Police said that between September and December 2008, McLean grabbed and fondled the victim’s breasts over her clothes without her consent.
Detectives say they’re also investigating a similar allegation against McLean involving another female student.
McLean was taken into custody Thursday afternoon.
Police said they established probable cause based on the student’s statements and McLean’s own admission that he wrestled the same girl to the ground in his office on Monday, but did not touch her breasts.
McLean was one of the youngest teachers at the school. He was hired in January 2008. It was his first teaching job out of college.
Pinellas Schools spokeswoman Andrea Zahn said the school district’s Office of Professional Standards opened an investigation into McLean on March 2. She would not say what it was about.
Zahn said that while McLean is in jail, he will not be paid.
“Upon release, he’d be placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of the (school district) investigation,” Zahn said Thursday.
As of Thursday night, McLean of 4747 West Waters Ave. in Tampa remained in the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Police are still investigating and said more charges could be added. Anyone with information can contact Detective Joe Bross at (727) 893-4979.
Former Conroe TX officer guilty of bank robbery www.privateofficer.com
Source:chron.com A former Conroe police officer was found guilty Thursday of robbing a bank where he worked as a security guard when off duty.
A federal jury convicted Michael Edward Tindall on a robbery charge after hearing four weeks of testimony.
Tindall testified on his own behalf Wednesday for about three hours. His attorney, Robert Scardino, said he did not believe the prosecution proved its case, but “the jury obviously saw it differently.”
U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon, who presided over the trial, revoked Tindall’s $100,000 bond and ordered him into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Tindall faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced June 25.
Investigators said Tindall entered the bank wearing a white motorcycle helmet with a visor that covered his face. He yelled to the bank tellers, “bottom drawers,” a command to open the drawer with the big bills. Tindall grabbed the money, hopped over the counter and left the bank in a rental car. He got away with about $28,000 and deposited $5,000 into one of his accounts the same day of the robbery.
A bank teller testified that she recognized the suspect’s voice as Tindall’s voice. Tindall had worked at the bank for 19 years as a security guard. The teller, other bank employees and Conroe police officers, who later reviewed the bank surveillance tape, also identified Tindall through mannerisms, gait and clothing.
Investigators also found key evidence at Tindall’s apartment, including a white motorcycle helmet in his garage. Conroe police officers also said the helmet worn by the suspect in the surveillance video was similar to one worn by Tindall during a police charity function.
During the trial, the jury heard testimony from an imaging analysis scientist for NASA who examines space shuttles for anomalies during orbit before re-entry. The expert identified two unique marks on the robber’s helmet in the video. He told the jury that the markings on the helmet in the video were “highly correlated” to the helmet seized from Tindall’s garage.
Scardino argued that the analysis was inconclusive.
Police say St. Martin High teacher molested student www.privateofficer.com
Source;(WLOX) – A St. Martin High School teacher has been arrested and charged with molestation of a child under the age of 16. Jackson County Sheriff’s investigators believe he was having relations with a student at the school.
Robert Griffin, 39, of Ocean Springs, was arrested Thursday. He’s currently being held at the Adult Detention Facility awaiting a bond hearing.
Dr. Barry Amacker, Superintendent of Jackson County Schools, said Griffin taught health and physical education and has been with the school district since 2002. The original complaint about Griffin came from a parent.
“I hate it when grownups make bad decisions,” Dr. Amacker told WLOX News. “We take every action necessary to protect our kids.”
Dr. Amacker said Griffin will be placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the school district’s investigation.
As for the criminal investigation, if he is convicted, Griffin faces a minimum of two years and a maximum of 15 years behind bars.
Train hits teens: 1 dead, 1 injured www.privateofficer.com
It happened after 1 a.m. Friday at a railroad crossing on Stanley Road near Stilesboro Road.
Thomas Brewer, 18, from Kennesaw, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to an e-mail from Officer Joseph Hernandez of the Cobb County Police Department.
Paramedics took Austin Dix, 17, of Douglasville, to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Hernandez said the two males, both in their late teens, were sitting on the railroad tracks when they were hit. Police said they didn’t know why the two were there.
The injured person is being treated at Kennestone Hospital.
Montgomery County teacher faces indecency charge www.privateofficer.com
A Coldspring-Oakhurst high school teacher, Dennis Isbell, age 39, was arrested in San Jacinto County for indecency with a child.
The former basketball coach and speech teacher had a complaint against him that stated he had inappropriately touch a female student’s genitals at Isbell’s Willis residence.
It is speculated that more students may have also been subjected to Isbell’s actions, however at this time there is only on charge against him.
If anyone has more information regarding this case they are asked to contact the San Jacinto County District Attorney.
Mesa Elementary teacher arrested for child molestation www.privateofficer.com
Mesa police said the alleged 12-year-old victim disclosed on March 3 that when she was 7, her music teacher had sexually molested her.
The victim told police it had occurred on two separate occasions in the band room while she was attending Brinton Elementary School.
Mesa police said the incidents occurred between January 2005 and November 2005. The victim identified the suspect as 49-year-old Michael Allen LaMonica.
Mesa police detectives arrested LaMonica and booked him on two counts of child molestation.
LaMonica has been teaching music at Brinton Elementary for nine years.
Police say there may be other victims who have not come forward.
They are asking anyone with information contact the Mesa Police Department at 480-644-2211 .
Drive-by shooting injures one at SC bar www.privateofficer.com
Belcher was stationed outside the Asheville Highway bar when he spotted the green Ford Contour and saw the back window come down before six shots were fired. Belcher said he kneeled behind his truck and chased the car to try to obtain a license tag number.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, but your adrenaline just takes control,” Belcher said. “The bar was packed — I’d say with 75 or 80 people and about half were women — and at the time, I didn’t know how many people were hit or injured, so I just wanted to make sure these guys were caught.”
The car, occupied by four men, drove north around Hearon Circle toward Inman, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. The men aren’t believed to have been inside the bar the night of the incident.
One customer suffered a bruised knee after being struck by a bullet but would not accept medical treatment. Deputies think at least two bullets were fired into the establishment, with one round striking the bar inside.
As of Thursday night, deputies were still looking for the suspects.
Belcher, who has worked at the bar for about 2 years, called the drive-by shooting cowardly, adding that there are rarely any problems at the establishment. He said the incident was isolated, and the owner goes to great lengths to provide security — hiring additional security for busy nights — at the bar.
According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies have been called to PJ’s, at 1527 Asheville Highway, 212 times from 2007 to 2009. There have been 25 calls for disturbances, one shooting in 2009, one strong-armed robbery, two armed robberies, 12 fights and one call for a fight with a weapon.
Acting on a media request, sheriff’s office spokesman Tony Ivey also released crime statistics for a nearby bar, Rascal’s, at 1455 Asheville Highway. Police have responded to 38 calls there for the same time period. There were seven calls for larcenies, six for disturbances and one for a fight. There were no calls at Rascal’s for shootings or robberies, according to the crime statistics.
James Pope, the owner of PJ’s Bar and Grill, said he employs between five and seven security guards on slow nights and around 15 on busier nights. He said that Wednesday nights aren’t normally busy, but there were more customers than normal there this week.
Pope said he takes issue with the statistics released by the sheriff’s office on the number of calls an officer has responded to his establishment.
“I would say we’ve called them out here maybe 15 times since 2007,” Pope said. “We’re able to take care of things on our own with security and usually have the problem resolved when they get here.”
Pope said 212 calls over a two-year period is “excessive,” but said that includes minor calls such as 911 hang-up calls.
“I can say that we’ve never had anything of this magnitude happen, and I’ve spent the better part of the day trying to figure out how to keep this from happening again,” Pope said. “I can assure our patrons that we’re doing everything humanly possible to keep them safe.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 58-CRIME. All calls are anonymous.
Appeals Court grants new trial for cop killer www.privateofficer.com
Timothy McKinney was convicted in the Dec. 26, 1997, mortal shooting of officer Don Williams, who was moonlighting as a security guard at Crumpy’s Comedy Club. Williams died of complications of the shooting a month later.
The Commercial Appeal reported on Friday that a Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals panel granted a new trial, ruling McKinney’s lawyers did a poor job of representing him.
The three-judge panel said the trial lawyers presented such a weak defense that McKinney’s constitutional right to competent counsel was violated.
State prosecutors haven’t said if they plan to appeal the ruling to the Tennessee Supreme Court.
