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FBI arrests “Christian” militia members planning attack on cops www.privateofficer.com
The Michigan-based group, called Hutaree, planned to use the attack on police as a catalyst for a larger uprising against the government, according to newly unsealed court papers. U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said agents moved quickly on the group because its members were planning a violent mission sometime in April.
Members of the group, including its leader, David Brian Stone, also known as “Captain Hutaree,” were charged following FBI raids over the weekend on locations in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Seven people were arraigned in Detroit on Monday, and another one of Stone’s sons, Joshua, is being sought.
Stone’s ex-wife, Donna Stone, told The Associated Press before the arraignments that her former husband was to blame for pulling her son into the movement. She said David Brian Stone legally adopted her son, David Brian Stone Jr., who is among those indicted.
“It started out as a Christian thing,” said Donna Stone, 44. “You go to church. You pray. You take care of your family. I think David started to take it a little too far.”
According to the indictment, the group had been meeting and conducting military-style training exercises in the Michigan woods since 2008 to prepare for an impending war with its enemies. Members practiced building and detonating explosives and shooting firearms and built storage bunkers, investigators said.
The group says on its Web site that Hutaree means “Christian warrior” and describes the word as part of a secret language that few are privileged to know. The group quotes several Bible passages and states: “We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. … Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment.”
The site also features a picture on the site of 17 camouflaged men, all holding large guns, and includes videos of camouflaged men toting guns and running through wooded areas in apparent training exercises. Each wears a patch on his left shoulder that bears a cross and two red spears.
According to investigators, the Hutaree view local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel as a “brotherhood” and an enemy, and planned to attack them as part of an armed struggle against the U.S. government.
The idea of attacking a police funeral was one of numerous scenarios discussed as ways to go after law enforcement officers, the indictment said. Other scenarios included using a fake 911 call to lure an officer to his or her death, killing an officer after a traffic stop or an attacking the family of a police officer.
Once other officers gathered for a slain officer’s funeral, the group planned to detonate homemade bombs at the funeral, killing scores more, according to the indictment.
After the attacks, the group allegedly planned to retreat to “rally points” protected by trip-wired improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, for what they expected would become a violent standoff with law enforcement personnel.
The indictment says members of the group conspired “to levy war against the United States, (and) to oppose by force the authority of the government of the United States.”
The charges against the eight include seditious conspiracy, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, teaching the use of explosives, and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction — homemade bombs. All seven defendants in court on Monday requested to be represented by the federal defender’s office, and a bond hearing is set for Wednesday.
The arrests have dealt “a severe blow to a dangerous organization that today stands accused of conspiring to levy war against the United States,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday.
The raids on the group began over the weekend. FBI agents in Michigan swarmed a rural, wooded property Saturday evening in Adrian, about 70 miles southwest of Detroit. The same night in Hammond, Ind., law enforcement agents flooded a neighborhood, startling workers at a nearby pizzeria. In Ohio, authorities blocked off streets and raided two homes.
Outside Adrian, Heidi Wood, who lives near the property that was raided, said she hears gunshots “all the time” from near two ramshackle trailers that sit side-by-side. On Monday, a long gun leaned against a washing machine that sat in the yard, and on top of a nearby canister was another long gun.
Wood’s mother, Phyllis Brugger, who has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said Stone and his family were known as having ties to militia. They would shoot guns and often wore camouflage, she said.
“Everybody knew they were militia,” Brugger said. “You don’t mess with them.”
In Ohio, one of the raids occurred at Bayshore Estates, a well-kept trailer park in Sandusky, a small city on Lake Erie between Toledo and Cleveland. Neighbors said the man taken into custody lived in a trailer on a cul-de-sac with his wife and two young children.
The man’s wife, Kelly Sickles, said her husband collected guns as a hobby. Agents searched their home for bomb-making materials, she said, but she couldn’t believe her husband, Kristopher Sickles, 27, could be connected to a group that was plotting anything violent.
“He doesn’t even know how to make a bomb,” she said. “We had no bomb material here.”
Security officer attacked over parking violation www.privateofficer.com
The report was made on Tuesday, March 23rd, the alleged attack took place on Monday the 22nd.
According to the police report the incident took place outside the Baker’s Supermarket at 90th and Military Road.
The victim says he was writing down the license plate number of a black S.U.V. that was parked in a handicapped stall, but did not seem to have the proper permit.
The guard goes on to say a young man, possibly 22 to 25-years of age became enraged and began hitting him in the chest.
The report does not indicate how the victim managed to get away from the suspect, or the make and model of the S.U.V.
Hancock TN teacher arrested for sex assault www.privateofficer.com
Jesse Martin, 31, is accused of inappropriately touching the teen. Investigators said the alleged incident didn’t happen on school property.
Martin was arrested on March 24 and charged with sexual battery by an authority figure.
Martin’s wife Kim, 47, was also arrested in the incident. She’s charged with failing to report child abuse or neglect.
The investigation began after the incident was reported on March 22, according to Hancock County Sheriff Ralph Seal.
Martin is listed on the school’s Web site as teaching algebra and pre-calculus.
He’s due to be arraigned on Tuesday.
JC Penney security officer shoots to stop shoplifter www.privateofficer.com
“You shoot at somebody because they’re shoplifting? Nobody’s life is in danger,” said Gene Goodman of Pearisburg.
Roanoke police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson said a J.C. Penney security guard followed a shoplifting suspect to the mall parking lot and fired a single shot in an effort to stop him. The man was detained until police arrived.
Jared Stephen Ware, 40, of Christiansburg was arrested and charged with grand larceny, Johnson said. She said that police confiscated the Penney guard’s weapon and his use of it is being investigated. No one was injured.
Penney managers declined to comment about the incident over the weekend. Johnson would not say whether the weapon taken was the guard’s personal weapon or job-issued. Uniformed mall security guards were not carrying guns Sunday.
Goodman said the security guard in Friday’s incident put bystanders in danger and should have given any findings to the police once Ware made it outside.
Stephanie Pruchniak of Pearisburg said she respects anyone’s right to carry a weapon, but said it was “crazy” for it to be used in this instance.
“Quite frankly, that would have scared me,” said Brooke Feazell of Roanoke.
Her friend Coreina Nester of Roanoke said the incident could have happened anywhere, but it gives her something to think about because she frequents the mall.
“That was a bit much,” Nester said.
Valley View Mall’s management office was closed for the weekend and officials could not be reached. Calls and e-mails to J.C. Penney’s media relations department throughout the weekend were not returned.
TN. police officer charged with rape www.privateofficer.com
- A LaFollette police officer was arrested Monday by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation on statutory rape charges.
Daniel Terry, 25, was indicted by a Campbell County Grand Jury on March 26 on one count of official misconduct and three counts of statutory rape.
Terry was an officer at the time the offenses occurred against an underage female.
TBI opened the case on February 19.
Terry was booked into the Campbell County Jail Monday morning on a $15,000 bond.
Bouncer stabbed in fracas www.privateofficer.com
By: BRETT DAVIS/ Staff
PRIVATE OFFICER NEWS
www.privateofficer.com – A stabbing at a downtown nightclub has sent two people to the hospital including a nightclub security officer.
Shreveport Police say it all stemmed from a fight that broke out inside Kokopelis around 2:30am this morning.
Police said that the club security bouncers tried to break it up, and that’s when one of the brawlers pulled out a knife and slashed a patron and a security officer.
The bouncer and the patron were taken to LSU Hospital, where both are listed in fair condition.
Somehow, the individual wielding the knife made it out of the club before police arrived and now police are looking for the suspect who will face numerous felont charges.
If you have any information on the identity of the attacker please contact the Shreveport Police.
CPO Michael Ciaverelli named Officer of the Year www.privateofficer.com
PALM BEACH GARDENS Fla March 29 2010 — Saving lives and putting out fires is all in a day’s work for Custom Protection Officer® Michael Ciaverelli. Assigned to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) account, G4S Wackenhut’s Fort Lauderdale office honored CPO Ciaverelli’s courage and valor by naming him the 2009 Security Officer of the Year.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) and G4S Wackenhut management recognized CPO Ciaverelli during the SFRTA Governing Board meeting on Friday, March 26th. “The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority salutes CPO Ciaverelli for his bravery and commends him for his dedication to serving our passengers and the public. His background is typical of the type of officers who provide safety and security for our passengers on their daily travels,” said SFRTA Chair Jeff Koons.
CPO Ciaverelli is normally on duty at the Tri-Rail station in West Palm Beach. Recently, he heard an explosion and observed a fireball come from underneath a southbound Amtrak train that was stopped in the station. He quickly cleared the area of passengers and extinguished the fire. Because of his timely action and attention to duty, no one was injured. A few months prior to this, he saved a young man determined to end his life by walking into an oncoming train. CPO Ciaverelli observed him jump on the tracks, professing, “I am waiting to die.” He was able to talk the man off the tracks and took him to a safe location while waiting for the police to arrive. The man was transported to a mental health facility for assessment and treatment.
“We are proud of CPO Michael Ciaverelli and congratulate him on an exceptional job,” says G4S Wackenhut President Drew Levine. “Our ability to provide unrivalled security solutions to our valued clients like the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority is directly tied to exceptional employees like Michael Ciaverelli.”
CPO Ciaverelli joined G4S Wackenhut in 2008 after serving in the Navy for more than 20 years as a Law Enforcement Specialist and Anti-Terrorism Training Supervisor Instructor. G4S Wackenhut has been recognized for its military outreach efforts, including being named a Top 50 Military-Friendly Employer® by G.I. Jobs magazine and a Most Valuable Employer (MVE) for Military™ by CivilianJobs.com. These awards spotlight the company’s Custom Protection Officer® (CPO) division, which was created with veterans in mind. CPO Ciaverelli’s military and law enforcement background is characteristic of the security officers who provide safety and security for Tri-Rail passengers every day.
Man charged after bomb threat on Carnival Sensation www.privateofficer.com
Aboard the Carnival Sensation in the wee hours of Sunday morning, a 31-year-old Virginia man was heard shouting “We are jihad,” and “Come to the top deck and watch the bomb,” according to a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman. Other reports said he was very inebriated.
The words were later determined to be a hoax and the passenger, Ibrahim Khalil Zarou of Leesburg, Virginia, who had been cruising as part of a party of 12, was arrested by Brevard County Sheriff’s Office officials for making a false bomb threat.
But Zarou’s words, which were reported by another passenger to ship officials, started a chain of events that included the ship being held four miles off the Florida coast for several hours and being boarded by the Coast Guard, FBI and local sheriff’s office officials; a search by bomb-sniffing dogs, conducted at Port Canaveral (where the ship had been headed), and a Unified Command being established, involving several government agencies.
In other words, there was a plan and it was put into action.
The “threat” was first reported to ship personnel around 4 a.m., and an exhaustive search for a bomb was conducted by onboard security personnel, according to USCG spokesman Christopher Evanson, Petty Officer First Class.
The 87-foot coast guard cutter Shrike was called in to assist in bringing USCG, FBI and other law enforcement officials to the scene and in establishing a security zone around the vessel, which had 3,740 passengers and crew onboard.
They arrived around 9:30 a.m., and conducted an additional bomb search and also interviewed eyewitnesses and the suspect. The arrest was made.
Back in Port Canaveral, where the Sensation was headed on the last leg of a 3-day Bahamas cruise, dogs were brought in to search Terminal 5, and a Unified Command was established. Represented at the command post were the USCG, FBI, Transportation Safety Administration, Port Canaveral Police Department, Canaveral Fire and Rescue, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Federal Air Marshal’s Service, as well as Carnival Cruise Line.
After it was determined there was no credible bomb threat, the ship was allowed to return to port, arriving at about 10:45 a.m., some five hours later than scheduled. Some passengers had to rebook missed flights home.
Extra security personnel remained at Port Canaveral throughout the day, yesterday. The ship was cleared for its next cruise, embarking yesterday evening.
UPDATE (11:33 a.m.): Florida Today is reporting Ibrahim Khalil Zarou, a heating and air conditioning salesman, was released on $10,000 bond. No court date has been set for a hearing on the charge of false reporting of a bomb threat.
Former Charlotte teacher arrested for 2nd sex crime www.privateofficer.com
Charlotte NC March 29 2010
Source: 
Charlotte Observer A 39-year-old former Charlotte-Mecklenburg high school teacher already charged with sexual activity with a 17-year-old female student has been charged with sexual activity with a second, 16-year-old female student, police said Sunday.
Brett Haight taught in the Global Studies and Economics Academy at Olympic High School.
A parent alerted authorities Dec. 1 and Haight resigned Jan. 6. He was arrested in February and charged with sexual activity with the 17-year-old girl.
Investigators said the sexual activity happened at Haight’s home and at the school in late November, and that they were looking into the possibility other students were victimized.
Sunday, police re-arrested Haight, who’d been free on $25,000 bond. He now faces a charge of taking indecent liberties with a student in addition to his previous charge of sexual activity with a student.
Haight is in Mecklenburg County jail under $10,000 bond.
PRIVATE OFFICER TALK RADIO GETS NOTICED! www.privateofficer.com
Listenership is up by more than 300%!!!!
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Former RBC Bank employee gets prison for thefts www.privateofficer.com
MOBILE, Ala. March 29 2010 – A former RBC Bank employee will spend the next two years in prison for embezzling more than $86,000 in 2007 and 2008, a federal judge in Mobile decided last week.
Dana Aline Dyess Williams, 33, of Coden, worked for the bank for 15 years. She admitted that she transferred funds from customers’ accounts into hers and her parents’ accounts for her own personal use.
According to her written plea agreement, Williams made 32 fraudulent transactions totaling $92,648. After she learned the bank had started an investigation, she put $6,000 back into one of the accounts, reducing the total loss to $86,648.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah Griffin urged U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose to impose an 18-year sentence for the fraud, on top of the mandatory two-year prison term for aggravated identity theft.
“She involved numerous other bank customers, including her own parents, putting them at risk,” Griffin said.
DuBose opted for punishment closer the defense position: two years and two months. The judge also ordered Williams to serve three years on supervised release after she gets out of prison and pay the bank back at a rate of $300 a month.
