Archive
Theft of video games gets man prison term www.privateofficer.com
NJ.com The discounts at BJ’s Wholesale Club were apparently not deep enough for a Maple Shade man who helped himself to several video games.
Share Jason R. Deopp, 25, was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison for shoplifting more than $2,300 worth of Playstation games from the store here. He is also charged with similar crimes in Burlington, Atlantic and Camden counties.
In Hunterdon, Raritan Twp. police were called on Jan. 23 around 3:30 p.m. and told a suspected shoplifter was in the store. Detective Robert Landolina and Patrolman Timothy Nemeth found and spoke with Deopp. They discovered he was wanted by Vineland City Municipal Court on a shoplifting charge, police said. He was arrested on that warrant.
After further investigation, Deopp was charged with four counts of shoplifting, criminal attempt and possession of a burglary tool — a small screwdriver used to pry open the plastic cases on video games so the games can be more easily concealed.
Superior Court Judge Stephen Rubin said Deopp has a history of drug abuse. He ordered Deopp to serve three years in prison, which will run concurrently with sentences imposed in the other counties. He must pay $2,364 restitution and is banned from entering BJ’s.
East Norriton Township Police Chief dies in crash www.privateofficer.com
Forks Township Police said the accident happened Friday afternoon at 2:52 in the 2600 block of North Delaware Drive, also known as State Route 611.
Police said John J. McGowan, 58, of Horsham, was riding his motorcycle northbound on the road. He collided with the rear of a stopped car waiting to make a left turn onto Old River Road.
McGowan was taken to Easton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Northampton County Coroner said an autopsy will be performed to determine what role the accident played in McGowan’s death.
The Coroner also confirms that McGowan was the East Norriton Township Police Chief.
Forks Township Police are reconstructing the accident.
Any person that may have additional information regarding the crash is asked to contact police at 610-330-2200.
New Pa. law makes shoplifting a felony www.privateofficer.com
Now, there’s fresh ink on a law that aims to close that loophole.
Organized retail theft is bigger than shoplifting.
We’re talking about gangs targeting stores, moving quickly, and walking out with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise to resell.
Before this week, if those criminals were caught, they faced a mere fine.
Pennsylvania’s become a target, said Pa. Rep. Tom Caltagirone, (D) Berks County.
Lax laws in Pennsylvania were like the ultimate sale for crooks looking to cash in on the black market.
The Pennsylvania Retailers Association approached me as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee with the problem they’ve been confronted with about organized retail theft, said Caltagirone, who sponsored the bill, now a law, that makes organized retail theft a felony.
They can be put away for a number of years, said Caltagirone.
Pennsylvania retailers estimate organized thieves cost the state $81-million in tax revenue each year.
Redner’s Markets installed face recognition software with security cameras to catch career crooks.
Giant Food Stores have taken action as well.
We have put all of the powdered baby formula in a locked case at the front end and our customers now have to ask for that product, said Nancy Jones, Giant.
Jones said that and things like over-the-counter medication and razor blades are popular targets at grocery stores.
Electronics and clothing are targeted elsewhere.
Pennsylvania was behind neighboring states in laws to curb such crime.
Giant said stores in nearby states with tougher laws see less of the organized theft.
We definitely have seen more in Pennsylvania, said Jones.
Lawmakers hope that will change when the new law takes effect in two months.
Hopefully, said Caltagirone, it will break their back in this type of operation.
Next month, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association will help train local police departments and prosecutors on how to spot the sophisticated shoplifters.
WTNH television personality Desiree Fontaine arrested www.privateofficer.com
Fontaine, 33, was charged Saturday with sixth-degree larceny, meaning an item worth $500 or less was stolen. Police said Fontaine allegedly tried to take $104.98 worth of merchandise, but they would not release details.
Police said no one else was arrested with Fontaine, who couldn’t be reached for comment.
Fontaine, a Milford resident, was released on a promise to appear in court July 7. Milford police originally said there would not be any information about weekend activity released until today, but changed that stance because so many media outlets were calling about Fontaine’s arrest, as all kinds of stories made their way through sources.
Kirk Varner, the news director at WTNH, said the station “doesn’t comment on personnel matters.”
A source said Fontaine was inside Sears at the Westfield Connecticut Post mall when she was confronted. She later was brought to police headquarters and booked.
She had been scheduled to serve as the master of ceremonies along with colleague Keith Kountz at an event Saturday sponsored by the Urban League of Southern Connecticut, but did not attend.
According to Fontaine’s profile on the WTNH website, she joined the New Haven station in September 2007.
Fontaine attended Clark Atlanta University and graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland, according to her biography, which goes on to say, “raised by her mother, Desiree grew up in sunny California.”
Fontaine, who has spent the last five years working as a traffic and news reporter, has worked in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and more recently Harrisburg, Pa., the website says.
by police with shoplifting at Sears, police and other sources confirmed Sunday.
Fontaine, 33, was charged Saturday with sixth-degree larceny, meaning an item worth $500 or less was stolen. Police said Fontaine allegedly tried to take $104.98 worth of merchandise, but they would not release details.
Police said no one else was arrested with Fontaine, who couldn’t be reached for comment.
Fontaine, a Milford resident, was released on a promise to appear in court July 7. Milford police originally said there would not be any information about weekend activity released until today, but changed that stance because so many media outlets were calling about Fontaine’s arrest, as all kinds of stories made their way through sources.
Kirk Varner, the news director at WTNH, said the station “doesn’t comment on personnel matters.”
A source said Fontaine was inside Sears at the Westfield Connecticut Post mall when she was confronted. She later was brought to police headquarters and booked.
She had been scheduled to serve as the master of ceremonies along with colleague Keith Kountz at an event Saturday sponsored by the Urban League of Southern Connecticut, but did not attend.
According to Fontaine’s profile on the WTNH website, she joined the New Haven station in September 2007.
Fontaine attended Clark Atlanta University and graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland, according to her biography, which goes on to say, “raised by her mother, Desiree grew up in sunny California.”
Fontaine, who has spent the last five years working as a traffic and news reporter, has worked in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and more recently Harrisburg, Pa., the website says.
CSX train conductor shot-killed in New Orleans www.privateofficer.com
A train conductor was shot and killed in a robbery early Sunday, police said.
It happened near Marshall Foch Street and Florida Boulevard on the Norfolk Southern Railroad just after 12:30 a.m.
New Orleans Police Department officials said the train was traveling west when it came to stop due to traffic delays. That’s when police said the gunman got on board, shot at the conductor and ran.
New Orleans Police Officer Hilal Williams wouldn’t say what was stolen. She said it was “pretty bizarre.”
The shooting occurred in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood, just west of City Park. The 52-year-old conductor, a CSX employee, was shot several times and died at the scene. His name wasn’t released.
CSX spokeswoman Carla Groleau said the train was carrying shipping containers with mixed freight from Atlanta.
Anyone with information about the shooting should call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
Large scale police corruption investigation at Tulsa PD www.privateofficer.com
Source: Tulsa World An estimated 15 Tulsa police officers could be charged or serve as witnesses as part of the grand jury investigation into police corruption in Tulsa, a prosecutor leading the grand jury said.
The department’s Special Investigations Division is the focus of a law enforcement probe in Tulsa. The federal investigation began in late 2008 and early 2009, said Jane W. Duke, a special prosecutor and U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Thus far, the names of eight Tulsa police officers and one former federal agent have surfaced in the corruption probe.
Brandon McFadden, 33, a former agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and former Tulsa Police Officer John K. Gray, 44, have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court. Both are cooperating with Duke’s office while they await sentencing.
Meanwhile, 11 people have been freed from prison or have had their felony convictions or drug charges eliminated as part of the grand jury investigation, a Tulsa World investigation shows.
Duke’s office is investigating allegedly stolen drugs and money, falsified search warrants, nonexistent informants and false testimony by undercover officers and police officers primarily with Tulsa Police Department, the World investigation shows.
Duke said that an estimated 15 police officers could face criminal charges or serve as cooperating witnesses.
“We have about 15 officers of interest,” Duke said. “There is a good likelihood that there could be more indictments. Some of these officers may waive the indictments and simply plead.”
Duke said her office has communicated with many of the officers believed to be involved in police corruption.
“There is a dialogue that has occurred with some of these officers and we will continue that dialogue,” she said.
Meanwhile, the supervisor of the department’s Special Investigations Division has retired, said Capt. Jonathan Brooks, police spokesman.
Maj. Burney York, 59, retired May 31, Brooks said.
York was not available for comment.
His replacement is Maj. Eric Dalgleish, 39, who wasn’t available for comment, Brooks said.
Before being moved to special investigation, Dalgleish served at police headquarters, Brooks said.
McFadden pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy May 6 in federal court and could face five to 40 years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled for July 28.
In his guilty plea, McFadden said he and Tulsa Police Officer Jeff Henderson, 37, stole drugs and money, falsified investigative reports, gave false testimony and persuaded others to provide false testimony, court records show.
Henderson has not been charged with a crime, and he denies any wrongdoing.
Gray, who retired from the department in May, pleaded guilty June 14 in federal court.
Gray and officers Nick DeBruin, 37, Bruce Bonham, 52, and Harold Wells, 59, allegedly took $5,000 during an FBI sting May 18, 2009, in Tulsa, records show.
Gray waived his indictment and pleaded guilty to stealing about $2,000 during the sting, records show. He has a tentative agreement with Duke’s office to receive probation at his sentencing, set for Oct. 26, records show. Gray could face a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Additionally, in another drug case, Gray named himself, Officer Eric Hill, 32, former Police Officer Callison Kaiser, 29, and Wells as a group of officers who stole about $10,000during a drug bust Jan. 4, 2008, in Tulsa, records show.
The drug bust involved a falsified search warrant prepared by Gray and served at the home of Hugo Alberto Gutierrez, U.S. District Court records show.
Wells has said that he plans to cooperate with Duke’s office. However, court records allege he has tried to persuade Gray, Kaiser and Hill to keep quiet about the stolen money from the Gutierrez bust.
“Wells encouraged Gray to not disclose this theft by stating that ‘just us officers know about that,’ ” court records filed by Duke on Thursday in federal court state.
“Kaiser and Hill also had similar encounters with Wells in the recent past. Specifically, Wells stated to Kaiser, ‘You can’t say anything about that money that I gave to you,’ referring to the Gutierrez money.”
Kaiser resigned from the Tulsa Police Department in August 2008 to work for the U.S. Secret Service. He resigned from the Secret Service in early June, officials said.
Duke said police officers who are the target of the grand jury investigation receive a notification letter that is known as a target letter.
“I am not anticipating any more target letters going out, but I can’t say that there won’t be any more,” Duke said
Shoot-out leaves Dallas police chief’s son dead www.privateofficer.com
The police officer was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in the 900 block of River Bend at around 6 p.m. Sunday. Two others were also killed in the shootout, including the suspect believed to have shot the officer.
The officer, who authorities will name in the morning, arrived at the apartment complex after shots were fired. According to Lancaster Police Chief Keith Humphrey, the suspect opened fire, hitting the officer. The officer shot back and struck the suspect.
“I’m just hysterical wondering what’s going on,” said Jackie Goldman, who lives at the apartment complex. “Somebody I love could be dead.”
A blue tarp hung over a car near the entrance of the parking lot, and witnesses said they saw gunfire near the vehicle.
“I was standing here,” said resident Tiffany James, pointing to a spot near the vehicle. “I seen the officer when they shot the car. I’d seen when they shot the car.”
One of the individuals killed was identified as the suspect. At a press conference Sunday night, first assistant chief of the Dallas Police Department Charles Cato confirmed that David O’Neal Brown Jr. was killed in the incident. He did not specify whether he was killed before or after the officer opened fire.
“It’s a very difficult situation for me and my officers,” Humphrey said during a press conference earlier in the evening. “I would ask you keep us … and all of our employees in your prayers.”
Police did not identify the officer killed out of respect for his family, but Humphrey said he had been an officer for five years and was 37-years-old.
“(He was) one of the best people, one of the top officers in the department; very caring, very giving, selfless, hard worker,” Humphrey said. “He lost his life defending the citizens of Lancaster.”
Four hours after the shootout, residents lined the police tape at the complex while officers from other nearby departments canvassed the scene for evidence. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department will aid in the investigation.
Humphrey said the department has had emergency calls from that apartment complex, but nothing that would cause any alarm. He referred to the calls as “routine.”
“It’s part of our job,” he said.
Cato said Brown was with his family Sunday night, mourning the deaths of his son and the Lancaster police officer. Cato closed the press conference by asking for support from Dallas residents.
“Chief Brown asks the Dallas community to keep his family in their prayers this evening and in the days to come as his family tries to comprehend the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” Cato said.
