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CT. arson investigator charged with arson www.privateofficer.com
Kimberly Biehn, 41, a veteran police detective who is also a member of the Police Department’s Identification Unit, was arrested by Waterbury police and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree arson, fraud and insurance fraud.
She is free after posting bond.
Biehn’s lawyer, John R. Gulash, declined comment on the arrest.
Elaine Ficarra, spokeswoman for Mayor Bill Finch, said Biehn has been suspended without pay pending an investigation by the city’s Office of Internal Affairs.
As a member of the identification unit, Biehn has been actively involved in several major crime investigations, including murder cases.
One of her duties on the unit is fingerprint analysis.
Law enforcement officials, who asked not to be identified because the case is pending, said her arrest could have a serious affect both on pending cases she has been involved with and previously disposed cases she testified in.
Noted criminal defense lawyer Edward Gavin said that he believes Biehn’s arrest will compromise her ability to testify in pending cases, but he said it will probably have no effect on cases already adjudicated.
“I’m sure most of her work can be verified so I doubt her arrest will cause any investigation to fold,” he said.
According to Waterbury Police Capt. Christopher Corbett, in December 2008 Biehn reported her 2003 Mercedes Benz sedan stolen in Bridgeport.
That car was subsequently found burning in Waterbury, he said. The car was totaled by the fire.
He said Biehn, who owed $17,000 on the car, reported the theft to her insurance company, which compensated her for the loss.
During the investigation of the burned-out car, Corbett said police located a DNA sample that was later determined to match the DNA of 35-year-old Samuel Encarnacion who, court records show, has a history of criminal convictions, including third-degree assault, violation of a protective order and violation of probation.
He said after questioning Encarnacion, Corbett said they were able to determine that he had set fire to the car at the behest of Biehn so that she could collect on her insurance.
He would not say whether Biehn paid Encarnacion to torch her car.
Corbett said Biehn agreed to surrender after being told there was a warrant for her arrest. He said Encarnacion is being charged with first-degree arson.
Source:www.connpost.com
Charlotte teacher arrested for being “Peeping Tom” www.privateofficer.com
Charlotte NC Sept 2 2010 A South Mecklenburg High teacher has been charged with peeping after police say he used a cell phone to take pictures up the skirts of a woman and her daughter at a south Charlotte Harris Teeter.
Steven L. Skinner, 55, was in Mecklenburg Jail on Tuesday night but was released on a written promise to appear. He was charged with two counts of peeping using a photographic imaging device.
Police say the incident happened on Monday at the Harris Teeter on Carmel Road near Quail Hollow Road. Police were summoned, and when they got to the supermarket, a woman told them that a man had used a cell phone camera to take pictures under her skirt and her daughter’s.
Detectives arrested Skinner on Tuesday.
Skinner teaches 11th-grade English and Advanced Placement English, according to his teacher’s page on South Mecklenburg High’s website.
School has been in session for a week. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Before Tuesday, Skinner had one infraction on his record – a 1986 speeding ticket that was waived in court.
In an automated message sent to parents, Principal Maureen Furr said a teacher from South Mecklenburg was arrested and charged with two felony counts involving a minor.
The message said the incident didn’t happen on school grounds and didn’t involve a South Mecklenburg student.
Source:www.charlotteobserver.com
Court security officer dies during training www.privateofficer.com
Cass Nemmers, 46, of Des Moines, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after he collapsed late this morning, Sheriff’s Deputy Jana Rooker said.
Rooker said Nemmers had just completed a mile-and-a-half run as part of a pre-academy physical to become a deputy. He was “having trouble standing, and having trouble breathing” before he collapsed, Rooker said. Nemmers was flown to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Rooker said.
Nemmers worked the security desks at the Polk County Courthouse’s entrances. He transferred to the job after a stint working in the old downtown jail, and was training to become a deputy.
Nemmers was well-known by lawyers, judges, courthouse employees and routine visitors. His interests included travel and motorcycling.
Source:Des Moines.com
Good samaritan shot helping robbery victim in Mobile www.privateofficer.com
Investigators say the man was shot in the leg as three robbers tried to steal a lady’s purse. Frantic and in pain, the good samaritan got to his car, and pulled up to the Walgreens down the road.
A clerk described what happened next. He had fallen on the floor near the cash register, and I asked him what happened. I thought he might have tripped and he said he had been shot, at the mall.
He said he had been shopping and was from Biloxi. He didn’t know where to go, so we called the police and ambulance. He was still talking, so he was just scared I think, really scared. Investigators say the man will be okay.
They interviewed witnesses at the business, while back at the mall, police reviewed surveillance video, looking for clues, and potential suspects connected to the brazen daytime robbery.
Shoppers we spoke with were surprised to hear this crime happened in the afternoon.
Amanda Burnsworth told us she was surprised to hear the crime happened during the day. I’m very less on guard during the day, at nightime I might look around a little bit more and stuff, try to hurry up to my car. During the day, I don’t think twice about it.
Maybe try to bring a friend with me next time, park closer, have my husband with me, something like that probably.
Source-NBC NEWS
Alert security officer help nab car thieves www.privateofficer.com
Daytona Beach Fla Sept 2 2010 Four men and a 17-year-old juvenile, all from Orlando, were arrested early today after a chase that started at an auto auction near Daytona Beach and ended in New Smyrna Beach.
Volusia County deputy sheriffs said the five were attempting to steal four cars from the Manheim Auto Auction at 1305 Indian Lake Road when a security officer spotted the cars moving around inside the secure compound.
Christopher Mason, 21, Darrius Lowe, 19, David Williams, 19, Tacordon Riggins, 18, and a 17-year-old who is not being identified because of his age all are accused of commercial burglary, criminal mischief and four counts of auto theft, Sheriff’s spokesman Brandon Haught said. Mason also faces a charge of violation of probation and Lowe was arrested on an Orange County warrant charging him with aggravated fleeting and eluding.
A security guard spotted a vehicle driving around compound shortly after 3 a.m. called her partner, Haught said. Then they spotted other vehicles on the move and called 911, he said.
Four vehicles, with a combined value of $80,000, lined up at the exit and the drivers revved the engines, apparently trying to get the guards to open the gate, Haught said. When the guard wouldn’t open the gate, they drove around the lot, apparently looking for another exit, Haught said.
One of the drivers crashed 2010 Maxima into a parked car before all of them abandoned the cars and hopped a fence.
Haught said Mason had waited outside in a car that belonged to his parents and he fled after the others got back to the car.
Deputies tried to stop the car, but it fled onto Interstate four, where other deputies used spiked sticks to deflate some of the tires. The driver still refused to stop and continued to the State Road 44 exit, where he went east toward Interstate 95.
Officers from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department used more spiked sticks on the car and it finally stopped, Haught said.
All five were taken into custody. Williams and the juvenile were treated at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach for cuts inflicted by razor wire when they climbed over the fence at the auto auction, Haught said.
Source:Orlando Sentinel
Unlicensed Florida guard arrested in sting www.privateofficer.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Sept 2 2010 – Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced the arrest of an unlicensed security officer in the Tampa Bay area on charges of possession of a concealed weapon by a felon and soliciting security services without a license.
The arrest follows an investigation spanning several weeks by the department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) Bureau of Investigations. According OALE investigators, Adell L. Montgomery, 35, of Tampa, was arrested without incident following a sting investigation where the suspect met with an undercover investigator to provide contracts for security services in North Tampa.
Montgomery is the owner of “Officer Crime Task Force,” which is an unlicensed security agency. At the time of the arrest, Montgomery was observed driving an unmarked Ford Crown Victoria, and had in his possession a baton, handcuffs chemical agent and a stun gun secured to a law enforcement-type belt. Montgomery also had a bullet-proof vest, two badges and an altered temporary security officer’s license.
Montgomery was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and is being held without bond. Bronson credited the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department for its assistance in the case.
In July 2009 while allegedly providing security services, Montgomery was arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department for possession of a firearm by a felon. He is currently on probation with the State of Florida for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Source:www.winknews.com
Jurors decide against Sonitrol in lawsuit www.privateofficer.com
The original decision in the lawsuit said Sonitrol Corp., because of the exculpatory clauses in its contract, was only liable for $500 in damages. That decision was appealed, and the result of that appeal, announced on Aug. 18, is that the three co-plaintiffs—insurers Commonwealth Insurance and United States Fire Insurance, and the insured, food distributor Core-Mark Midcontinent—are now owed a total of $18.3 million.
Pre-judgment interest of 8 percent per year in Colorado could add millions to that number, according to Cozen O’Connor, attorney for the insurance companies.
At the time of the incident, Tyco International owned Sonitrol Corp. Tyco sold the company to Spire, Carlyle and Wachovia for $125.5 million in 2004. Stanley Works then bought Sonitrol in June 2008.
However, Stanley’s not paying the bill. Lynda Murphy, a Stanley spokesperson, said, “that was all Tyco’s thing. There’s no implication for Stanley now … It’s got nothing to do with us.”
Ann Lindstrom, spokesperson for Tyco property ADT confirmed Tyco’s relationship with Sonitrol Corp. at the time of the loss. “We can confirm the claim arises from a discontinued business operation of Tyco International,” Lindstrom said. “Tyco is unable to comment further as the litigation is still ongoing.”
Who foots the financial bill aside, what ramifications does this decision hold for Sonitrol specifically and for the verified-alarms in general? Leo Wanstreet, president of the Sonitrol National Dealers Association, was quick to point out the loss and subsequent jury decision in the Colorado Court of Appeals do not detract from what Sonitrol offers. “A lot’s changed since 2002 and verification’s a lot bigger topic now,” Wanstreet said. “The important thing to take away from this is that the system worked. It wasn’t a system failure and verification should not get a bad rap. It was a management failure. They didn’t solve the problems in the manner they should have.”
Vocal verified alarm advocate Keith Jentoft, RSI Video Technologies president agreed. “I believe that what got Sonitrol in trouble was the fact that they essentially turned off the microphones that they claimed were operational,” Jentoft said. “In essence, they said they could hear, but they really couldn’t.”
Published reports claim a string of false alarms at the Core-Mark warehouse led to a tech being sent at least twice to the protected premises to numb down the threshold on the microphones, leading to what jurors decided was a situation in which the system did not work and Sonitrol was negligent. On Dec. 21, 2002, burglars broke into the Core-Mark Midcontinent warehouse in question and burned it to the ground. Police were not dispatched.
Calls to Shook Hardy & Bacon partner Paul A. Williams, attorney for Sonitrol in the Colorado case, were not returned by press time.
Calls to Watkins & Letofsky partner Brian Letofsky, attorney for Core-Mark, were not returned by press time.
