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Mother stuffs video games down sons shorts www.privateofficer.com
Patricia Ann Anderson, 44, Oklahoma City, was arrested Sunday on complaints of shoplifting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Witness at the Walmart on Danforth Road told police they saw Anderson stuff the games in her son’s shorts and try to leave the store without paying for them, according to a police report.
A Walmart employee stopped the mother and 11-year-old son and recovered six of the games before calling police, the report read.
Police officers stopped the woman and the boy walking in a parking lot of a business across the street. The boy told police that his mother had stuffed nine video games in his shorts while in the store. When they were stopped by the Walmart employee they returned six of the games, but kept three of them hidden in his shorts, according to the police report.
Anderson was booked into the Edmond City jail on Sunday afternoon. She also has an outstanding Oklahoma County warrant for shoplifting.
Security company hired for G-8/ G-20 not licensed www.privateofficer.com
Contemporary Security Canada, a subsidiary of a U.S.-based company that did private security for the Vancouver Olympic Games, was selected by the RCMP to provide about 1,100 workers to screen pedestrians throughout the summits in Huntsville and Toronto.
But security guards and their companies are required by provincial law to be licensed, and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said Contemporary Security Canada is not approved.
“No, they’re not,” said Laura Blondeau, spokeswoman for Minister Rick Bartolucci. “We are scrambling to do that due diligence with the aim of getting them licensed so they can proceed. So we’re kind of behind the eight ball on this.”
Ms. Blondeau said the ministry was informed of the issue “within the last two weeks” and said awarding a licence typically takes four to six months. Ministry staff are doing background checks on the company and the security guards it has hired for the high-profile international event.
“My understanding is that the RCMP has a long-standing relationship with this company,” she said. “So they secured them and we found out about it after the fact. It’s an inconvenience.”
The company must pay a fee and go through a rigorous process to become licensed, and Ms. Blondeau said it will be able to work at the summits only if approved.
“If they are an agency that is approved to do business in Ontario, then they can proceed,” she said.
Todd Severson, project director of CSC, said the company is working with the ministry to complete the requirements.
“CSC is not currently performing any security services in Ontario, but will ensure all regulatory requirements are met before security screening begins. We are confident that we will be fully compliant and meet all prerequisites in the timeframe required,” he wrote in an e-mail.
The company is based in Salt Lake City, with an office in Vancouver, and won the contract after a federal “letter of interest” was posted in March announcing the government’s intention to secure a contractor to provide airport-style security at checkpoints.
The letter stipulated that bidders must “submit proof that they can provide the security equipment and minimum required number of security screening personnel that are licensed (Ontario Security Guard Licence).”
The fact that the tender was awarded to an unlicensed company has raised the hackles of Canadian-based security companies.
“We think it’s outrageous. It’s completely unnecessary,” said Ross McLeod, president of the Association of Professional Security.
According to CSC advertisements in Toronto newspapers, private security guards at the G8 and G20 summits will be paid $20-$24 an hour.
This is double the average wage for security guards in Ontario, according to Mr. McLeod.
“You could secure all the labour you need for much, much less,” he said. “ If they’re throwing that money around like a drunken sailor, they’re obviously being paid way, way too much.”
His company, Intelligarde, has been hired to provide private security at a Bay Street office towers. But he now worries the wages offered by CSC will lure away his employees.
“Now, all of us who have planned this responsibly for six months, we don’t know if our labour’s going to show up,” he said. “If you’re getting paid $16 to work for me at the TD Centre and somebody says I’ll give you $24 over here, I’m not going to blame you for going there.”
Paul Carson, president of the ASG Security Group, said the circumstances of the public tendering of the security contract raise serious questions.
The letter of interest was posted on March 31 and taken down on April 6. Mr. Carson said it usually takes weeks to answer the questions raised in such requests for proposal.
“The timeline is laughable,” he said. “It just doesn’t pass the sniff test.”
Sergeant Leo Monbourquette of the G8-G20 Integrated Security Unit said the tender was awarded under the national security exemption process and required bidders to hold valid NATO secret security clearance.
“It wasn’t just anybody who could bid on this contract,” he said.
Because of the national security exemption, Sgt. Monbourquette said, he could not comment on details of the contract, including how many companies bid on it, or how much the job is worth.
The cost of the summit has been estimated at nearly $1-billion. The RCMP has said that about $321-million is being spent on venue security, intelligence gathering and the expenses associated with bringing in police officers and private security guards.
The RCMP hired an independent third party to monitor the tender process to ensure it was fair, Sgt. Monbourquette added.
The RCMP is confident the company will be “fully compliant” with provincial licensing requirements before the summits begin, he said.
And if it is not?
“I don’t know if there’s a plan B,” he said. “All the information I have is that they will be.”
Summerville SC teacher arrested for sex with student www.privateofficer.com
A Summerville High School teacher was arrested after she allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year student.
Summerville Police arrested 25-year old Sarah Renee Banner, of Summerville, and charged her with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to an incident report, the parents of the teenager approached Summerville Police investigators to tell them of alleged inappropriate conduct between Banner and their son. The report states that the 16-year old asked his guardian if they wanted to see a picture of a teacher that liked him. The guardian allegedly told the teen that teachers and pupils cannot be involved in relationships and dismissed the issue.
On June 1, the teen allegedly failed to return home as planned and upon his return, his guardian took his mobile phone away and found a picture message that had been sent from a number that was allegedly stored as Banner’s, depicting a woman’s private area. The guardian then says they went to address the issue with the teen and found the teen had left home. The guardian says they later observed him in Banner’s car in the parking lot of Summerville High School.
Banner allegedly fled the scene when confronted by the guardians and a short time later they met up with the teen and a woman, whom was later identified as Banner and discovered the vehicle that Banner and the teen had allegedly been in.
According to the report, the teen did not wish to speak with police, but the guardians turned over the mobile phone where the alleged sexual misconduct was stored.
Man breaches gate at BlueGrass Army Depot www.privateofficer.com
The man, driving a black Ford Mustang, entered the Main Gate of the depot, according to Samuel G. Hudson, public affairs officer at the depot. When approached by security guards for identification, the man changed lanes and sped past the security checkpoint into the depot administrative area, Hudson said in a press release.
“Security personnel immediately responded and pursued the vehicle at high speeds within the administrative area of the Depot,” the press release states.
The pursuit ended when the suspect neared the high-security Restricted Area, at which time, the suspect’s vehicle struck a Depot police truck.
“At no time did the suspect’s vehicle come in proximity to conventional or chemical munition stockpiles,” the release states.
The man, who was not identified by name, was immediately apprehended. After treatment for injuries at Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center, he was released to Madison County authorities and is being detained at the Madison County Detention Center, Hudson said.
The initial investigation revealed that the suspect has a history of mental illness and was operating a vehicle previously reported as stolen.
A joint investigation is ongoing and the Depot is coordinating with local law enforcement officials in determining potential federal and state criminal charges. A Depot police officer who also was injured during the accident was transported to Patty A. Clay and later released.
“The injured security guard made a split-second decision to use his vehicle as an added security measure to prevent the suspect from entering the restricted area,” Hudson said. “His heroism is a depiction of the dedication of all Depot employees to ensure the safety of our base, its personnel and the surrounding community.”
Security assaulted, 2 arrested in shoplifting www.privateofficer.com
Marta Sanchez, 51, 462 S. 1100 East, No. 5, St. George, and Irma Magadan, 52, address unknown, were booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility after witnesses and store employees said the women took clothing and jewelry from the JC Penney store at Red Cliffs Mall, Police Information Officer Johnny Heppler said.
The women allegedly took a blue suitcase at the store and loaded it with the merchandise, then exited JC Penney with the suitcase and the merchandise inside, which was valued at more than $1,500, Heppler said.
“A security guard made contact with Marta, telling her she had to return to the store with him,” Heppler said. “Marta then allegedly pushed the security guard into the wall and proceeded to run away.”
The guard was uniformed and readily identifiable as a store officer, he said.
Mall officers called the police, who located Sanchez and Magadan a short time later near the Barnes and Noble store at the south end of the mall.
Officers recovered the suitcase with the merchandise inside after stopping the women, Heppler said.
Sanchez was booked on charges of robbery and retail theft valued at more than $1,000. The robbery charge relates to the alleged assault on the security guard during the alleged commission of a theft, Heppler said.
Sanchez was released from jail after paying $15,000 bail.
Magadan was booked on a charge of retail theft valued at more than $1,000. She is being held on $5,000 bail.
Anderson police officer charged with on duty rape www.privateofficer.com
Bryan Benson was arrested Tuesday morning on charges of rape, kidnapping, and other charges related to the sexual assault.
Investigators say Benson raped the 24 year old woman after he arrested her on May 29th. The victim reportedly told officers that Benson began making sexual comments toward her on the way to the jail.
After she refused to participate, the officer allegedly pulled her behind a building, and raped her.
Shasta County District Attorney Jerry Benito said “He had reported that he was at the jail, when in fact he was not at the jail. At that point he pulled her out of the car and she was sexually assaulted at that time.”
A fellow officer reportedly told investigators that Benson admitted to having sex with the woman the night of the alleged attack.
Teacher arrested in online sex sting www.privateofficer.com
Terry Jimenez, 61, of Zuni, N.M. west of Albuquerque, was arrested in the 6700 block of Edgemere Monday morning. He went there with the intention of having sex with a minor, according to police.
Police with the Internet Crimes Against Children division say Jimenez contacted the detective posing as a minor around May 19th. At one point, he video chatted and exposed himself to the detective, according to a complaint affidavit.
Then Jimenez made plans to meet the girl Monday morning, said police.
Police, along with the El Paso FBI, collaborated in the investigation.
Jimenez is being charged with Online Solicitation of a Minor and Online Solitication of a Minor with Intent for Sexual Contact.
He is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.
Ocean Springs police officer arrested for child porn www.privateofficer.com
According to OSPD Assistant Chief Mark Dunston, Futral is on administrative leave with pay.
Also, Futral’s police department laptop was confiscated. There was no indication the laptop was used in the alleged crimes, but it has been seized as part of the investigation.
The Ocean Springs Police Department is conducting its own internal investigation into the allegations against Lt. Futral.
“The matter involving Steve Futral’s arrest is currently under investigation. The Ocean Springs Police Department is assisting the sheriff’s department with anything they need with their criminal investigation,” Ocean Springs Police Chief Lionel Cothern said in a statement. “While this investigation will take time, we assure the members of our community that the men and women of the OSPD will continue to provide the professional service our citizens expect and deserve.”
Lieutenant Futral was working as the OSPD’s Public Information Officer. The arrest was made as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, which uses a combination of new technologies to help track down suspected child predators.
If found guilty, Lieutenant Futral faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison.
In reference to the recent arrest, Mayor Connie Moran said, “The City of Ocean Springs and the Police Department are fully cooperating with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in the recent arrest of Lt. Steve Futral and the on-going investigation.”
“While we are not at liberty to speak on the specifics of the case, I would like to emphasize that the city has a zero tolerance for unethical, unprofessional behavior in its employees. The Board of Aldermen and I will discuss this matter during executive session at tonight’s recess meeting. The City remains committed to its citizens in offering professional services and delivery of those services.”
Futral had his initial court appearance at 10:30am. Doug Walker was there and will have more later today on WLOX News and WLOX.com.
Security officer shoots at vehicle www.privateofficer.com
Police said the security guard was patrolling a parking lot at 2:44 a.m. between Pennsylvania Avenue and Mill Street in Westport.
The officer told police he noticed a car was in the lot for a long period of time and went to check it out. The guard said the driver responded erratically and tried to back out of the lot to get away.
Police said the officer feared for his life and shot into the back of the vehicle. The officer told police a passenger got out of the vehicle and that person is now in custody.
The vehicle backed into the officer, police said. The officer has some lacerations to his left hand and was taken to an area hospital.
Police said the driver of the vehicle fled the scene.
Students plotting Columbine style attack arrested www.privateofficer.com
Christopher Franko, who turned 18 on Tuesday, was ordered held without bail after his court-appointed attorney entered a not guilty plea to felony conspiracy. Franko and Dana Saltzman, 16, were arrested in early May on misdemeanor conspiracy, but a grand jury voted to upgrade the charges.
The teens were plotting to attack Connetquot High School this Thursday with shotguns and explosives, prosecutors said. Their plan was to kill security guards outside of the school, then go inside and shoot as many students as possible, Assistant District Attorney Glenn Kurtzrock said. Once police arrived at the school, the pair planned to fire at officers before ultimately killing themselves, the prosecutor added.
Kurtzrock added that Franko had diagrams of the school and they intended to go to locations “where they knew a lot of students congregated for the purpose of killing as many students as possible.”
Their plot was thwarted in part when their attempts to purchase a shotgun at a local sporting goods store were rejected because neither teen was 18. Prosecutors say Franko intended to return to the store on Tuesday to make the purchase.
Kurtzrock said he could not explain a motive, other than Franko had apparently been teased by classmates — a slight he never forgot.
“He’s definitely a danger,” Kurtzrock said, adding that the case is “chillingly similar” to Franko’s arrest in 2007 as a juvenile on charges of plotting to attack the school.
That case was handled in Family Court; Franko left Connetquot High School and graduated from a special-education program where he met Saltzman, who is still a student.
She is expected to be arraigned June 17 on the same felony conspiracy count. Her attorney, Cesar Galarza, said she intended to plead not guilty. “This was all his doing,” Galarza said. “He basically tried to take a 16-year-old and get her to carry out his plan, which she never intended to carry out.”
The prosecutor noted that had Franko remained at the school, he would have been a graduating senior this month. “This was really his last opportunity to get all of these kids in the same place at the same time,” Kurtzrock said.
Although Franko was ordered held without bail, Suffolk County Judge Stephen Braslow issued restraining orders barring the teen from contacting anyone associated with the school.
“The school has been watching Christopher since prior to the first incident,” Connetquot Superintendent Alan Groveman said. “We remain concerned about the student’s anger toward students and staff.” He added that despite Franko’s incarceration, security staff, administrators and others have been provided with a photograph of the teenager as a precaution.
“The most disturbing part of this is the potential danger to students and staff. It’s hard to be 100 percent perfect,” Groveman said. “To hear that students and staff have been targeted is really disturbing.”
A court-appointed attorney from Legal Aid, John Schick, entered the not guilty plea on behalf of Franko. He said he had only been assigned to the case on Tuesday and needed to research the allegations further.
“Quite obviously there may be quite a few extenuating circumstances that could surface,” he told Suffolk County Court Judge Stephen Braslow.
If convicted, Franko could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison
