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OFFICER DOWN-Auxiliary Lieutenant Dan Kromer
Auxiliary Lieutenant Dan Kromer
Taylor Police Department
Michigan
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Biographical Info
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: At large
Auxiliary Lieutenant Dan Kromer was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on I-94 at approximately 9:00 pm.
He had stopped to assist a disabled vehicle. A passing car sideswiped the disabled vehicle and struck Lieutenant Kromer, who was standing next to the car. The vehicle that struck him fled the scene and the driver remains at large.
Lieutenant Kromer was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to injuries early the following the morning.
Auxiliary Lieutenant Kromer had served with the Taylor Police Department for 20 years.
Agency Contact Information
Taylor Police Department
23515 Goddard Road
Taylor, MI 48180
Phone: (734) 287-6611
Please contact the Taylor Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Atlanta area shopping center fire-bombed www.privateofficer.com
EAST POINT, Ga. Sept 9 2010 — Fire investigators told Channel 2 Action News that they believe someone intentionally set a fire that engulfed a Family Dollar and Piggly Wiggly grocery store early Wednesday morning.
The fire chief told Channel 2 Action News reporter Erin Coleman that the fire is suspicious.
Channel 2 Action News obtained surveillance video from the moments before a fire engulfed the stores in East Point.
Police said the video shows two people throwing a firebomb into the store.
Fire investigators were called to the scene Wednesday afternoon.
VIDEO: Fire Burns Dollar Store, Grocery Store
Fire officials said the fire began at a Family Dollar store and quickly spread to a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in East Point.
The fire began at the strip mall on Washington Road just before 3:30 a.m.
When Channel 2 Action News reporter Mike Petchenik arrived at the scene at about 3:45 a.m. he said the fire appeared to be out. But then, flames began shooting through the roof and onto the front of the building.
The fire quickly spread to the grocery store.
Firefighters used ladder trucks to attack the fire from all angles.
No injuries were reported.
Source:WSBTV.com
Catholic teacher charged with sex crimes against a student www.privateofficer.com
Wednesday morning, at St. Andrew Catholic School in Coral Springs, parents reacted to the arrest of 37-year-old Miguel Cala, a former music teacher at the school, who had since gone on the run before turning himself in to Virginia Police, Friday. “I mean I wish it wasn’t true,” said Renee Netoli, a concerned parent.
Vanessa Diaz, another concerned parent, said, “You think they’re going to be safe, and you’re not going to think this is going to happen. It’s so sad.”
Though the alleged crime never happened on campus but during private lessons at a student’s home, investigators are searching for more victims.
Cala turned himself over to police in Virginia to be charged with lewd and lascivious molestation. The Broward Sheriff’s Office said they expect to see him extradited to Broward at some point, but they are not sure when. When he is, he could face more charges.
According to the 8-year-old victim’s mother, Cala fondled her son during his weekly private lessons at the family’s home. The victim’s mother said, her son opened up about the sexual abuse after she questioned him. “And he said, ‘Like when I have my music lesson, Mommy, and Mr. Cala touches my pee-pee.’”
In May, Cala quit working at the Catholic school and disappeared. The Broward Sheriff’s Office, however, recently located Cala in Virginia.
According to the victim’s mother, she told her son to inform her if someone touched him inappropriately, but he did not tell her about Cala’s actions. “I said, ‘Why didn’t you tell Mommy and Daddy that that happened to you?’ And he said, ‘Because he told me it’s like a hug,’” she said, “so this isn’t just a casual person, and he did this in a room that is 15 feet from where I was. I never left them alone. I mean, he did this right under my roof.”
The mother of the 8-year-old said she found out Cala was wanted by BSO because she called police when Cala failed to show up for his weekly music lesson with her son.
Authorities said, Cala may have more victims. If you believe your child may have been a victim of Cala, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.
Source:WSVN.com
Southern Union State Community College has new chief www.privateofficer.com
SUSCC interim President Amelia Pearson said the college hired Holmes to be over security at the three campuses–Wadley, Valley and Opelika.
The college will continue to use the security firm Dothan Security Incorporated (DSI) based in Dothan but they wanted a sworn police officer who has arrest powers if they have any kind of crime on campus. They may use off-duty officers for special events such as a dance, she said.
DSI patrols campus, checks doors to make sure they are locked and keeps an eye on the video cameras.
SUSCC coordinator of college relations Shondae Brown said, “He certainly has an array of experience. I am sure he will do a great job.”
Wadley does not have a full police department and they wanted to get somebody who would respond a little quicker, she said.
Since the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 in which 32 people were killed Alabama colleges have been asked to professionalize security and come up with emergency contingency plans, the president said.
The college is not responding to any increase in crime but is just being proactive, she said.
“We want to be proactive to make sure our students are safe. Last year I think the worst thing we had is somebody to break into the meat locker and steal some meat,” she said.
A police officer will act as a deterrent. The Wadley campus is a residential institution requiring more care, she said.
There were three excellent finalists and it was a hard decision. Holmes had impressive credentials and was outstanding. It is good to have a hometown person with connections to the college and town as well as the rest of the county, she said.
Holmes was an investigator with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department for 10 years; served with the Roanoke Police Department five years and served three years with the Wadley Police Department.
“I recently moved to Wadley and this will keep me close to home. The benefits are better. I will be a salaried employee,” Holmes said. He has three children and two stepchildren and the college’s tuition assistance program was a major factor in his decision, he said, since they can get two years of college.
SUSCC has done a lot and is a professionally run organization. He said he told Wadley Police Chief Tim Terry if he needed help he would be glad to help.
“The sheriff told me he hated for me to go. I’ve enjoyed working here. The Sheriff (Jeff Fuller) has been good to me. I’ve been working in the courthouse for four years and I’ve made some good friends here. I’m going to miss it. It is a good job environment.” he said admitting to mixed feelings about his last day on Friday.
But, this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often, he said.
A graduate of Wadley High School and of SUSCC, “I kind of feel like I’m going home although I was not born there. The folks in Wadley are good folks,” he said.
His hiring seems to be a sign of the college’s growth, he said. President Pearson and Dean of Students Tiffany Sanders seem to be looking forward to his starting to work, he said.
“I’m not looking forward to saying goodbye,” he said.
Source:Roanokeleader.com
Penn. teacher sexually assaulted several students www.privateofficer.com
Ashley Herre-Bagwell, 29, is accused of having sexual encounters with students on a number of occasions, police said.
The 10th-grade teacher was suspended when the allegations first came to light in March. The district fired Herre-Bagwell in June.
Channel 11 News spoke with a woman who works at the school and whose son had Herre-Bagwell as a teacher.
“My son never had anything negative to say about her, but personally, I am shocked, because I think Monessen is a good school district,” Jill Shash said.
According to a criminal complaint, the mother of one of the students found hundreds of text messages between her daughter and the teacher.
The complaint stated that Herre-Bagwell started texting how pretty the girl was and that the two should engage in sexual contact.
The complaint shows that another student interviewed by police stated that Herre-Bagwell told her she was in love with her. The complaint also states some of the alleged sexual contact took place in the suspect’s classroom.
“Immediately, when it occurred, we got the district attorney’s office involved. Children youth and family services was involved. We are very satisfied with the D.A.’s outcome and that they did find criminal charges,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cynthia Chelan said.
Chelan also said that the students interviewed by police have been offered counseling.
Herre-Bagwell posted $7,500 bail Tuesday. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for Friday.
Source:News 11
Music teacher charged with sexual assault of student www.privateofficer.com
Detroit MI Sept 9 2010 A 58-year-old music teacher has been accused of criminal sexual activity after one of his teen students broke a four-year silence regarding alleged incidents that he said occurred in 2006 and 2007.
Gregory Stahl, who has taught privately and at Milford Music for several years and is also involved in the music program at St. Mary Parish in Milford, was arraigned on Aug. 26 on one count of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct before Magistrate Michael Batchik in 52-1 District Court in Novi. He was released on $10,000 personal bond and ordered to not have any contact with minors.
The alleged victim, now 17, recently told his parents that Stahl molested him in his private music studio in the 600 block of Hickory Street in Milford, from June 2006 to December 2007. The teen was age 13 and 14 at the time of the alleged assaults.
According to police, the teen began guitar lessons with Stahl at Milford Music in Highland several years ago. Stahl then suggested the teen come to his Hickory Street studio for lessons because it was closer to his home.
Stahl, who is single, was reportedly befriended by the teen’s family, accepting dinner invitations and accompanying them to Cedar Point and a conference in St. Louis.
After the teen and his parents spoke to police about the allegations, Stahl was interviewed by Milford detectives. Police said he was evasive during the interview and eventually admitted to touching the teen in the genital area on one occasion. He was immediately arrested.
Bonnie Twiss at Milford Music said there have never been any complaints about Stahl and he has no history of trouble with any of his students there. For now, Stahl isn’t teaching at Milford Music.
“He’s on an extended leave until this is resolved,” Twiss said.
In the Sept. 5 bulletin for St. Mary parishioners, the Rev. Ron Anderson, pastor, acknowledged Stahl’s arraignment and said he has been “relieved from any and all paid volunteer duties and appearances at the parish until this matter is finally and fully resolved.”
Anderson also stated “we are all shocked and saddened to learn of such things and ask that you join me in praying for all involved in the situation.”
The alleged victim is reportedly not a St. Mary parishioner.
The parish participates with the Detroit Archdiocese’s Safe Environment program, which includes criminal background checks for employees and volunteers.
Milford Police Detective Ed Pilch said so far no other alleged victims have called police, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.
“We strongly encourage anyone else with any information or other potential victims to come forward. Based on his position, (Stahl) had contact with a lot of people,” Pilch said.
Reports state Stahl had a student roster of 26, ranging in age from 11 to 65.
Pilch suggests parents of Stahl’s students discuss it with their kids to determine if they might have been assaulted.
Stahl is scheduled for an exam before 52-1 District Judge Brian MacKenzie on Sept. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Police said Stahl was arrested in 2004 for a fourth degree criminal sexual conduct charge and for obscene conduct in Shelby Township. Both charges were dismissed.
Source:Hometimelife.com
Security officer exchanges gunfire with burglary suspects www.privateofficer.com
San Antonio TX Sept 9 2010 A man in his late 20s was shot in the arm early Wednesday, when he reportedly exchanged gunfire with a security guard just west of downtown, San Antonio police said.
The man, whose name was not immediately released, was in police custody at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital.Police Sgt. Joe Correa said a security guard in the 200 block of Lachapelle was told around 6 a.m. that someone was stripping a vehicle near the railroad tracks. Correa would not say where the guard worked.
The guard approached the vehicle and three suspects started to run, firing shots as they stumbled across the tracks to Burbank Street near Nogalitos Street, Correa said.
Police followed a blood trail but the men escaped, said Sgt. Matt Porter, a department spokesman. The wounded man sought treatment at the hospital and he and another suspect were arrested there, Porter said.
Source:SANEWS.com
School employee charged with sexual assault of student www.privateofficer.com
Stovall’s bond was set at $100,000. He would need $10,000 to be released from the Sarpy County Jail until a preliminary hearing. A date for that hearing has not yet been set.
He is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in a school hallway on August 30th. Bellevue police said several witnesses back up her account of being fondled.
“My whole body went numb,” said the girl’s mother, whose last name is not being disclosed to protect her daughter. “My body is still numb. It’s not something that any parent expects.”
Nicole’s daughter said the man grabbed her over her clothes, at her locker. She didn’t recognize him. “And she says mommy, a strange man was messing with me and touched me on my privates. My first question was, did you tell somebody? She goes yeah, I went to my substitute teacher.”
That teacher, Nicole said, told her to go to the office. There, she said, her daughter told the dean of students, who notified the principal by cell phone. The dean, Nicole said, also had her daughter walk the hallways to find the “stranger” who had touched her.
Eventually, they figured out who Nicole’s daughter had described. “The principal told us 15 to 20 minutes later the dean called him back on his cell phone and said, ‘Never mind, it’s not an intruder. It’s a staff member.’ Still did not call the police. Nobody did.” Nobody, but the girl’s parents.
Nicole says her daughter saw Stovall at school days later and called her mother in a panic. “Why was this guy still continuing to work with these children for three days after the initial police report was done?”
“She alleges this male employee of the school touched her inappropriately over her clothing in her intimate areas, right there in the hallway in front of her locker,” said Bellevue Police Lt. Dave Stukenholtz.
But Nicole said her daughter saw Stovall at school days after the incident. “Why was this guy still continuing to work with these children for three days after the initial police report was done?”
The district says Stovall is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. District spokeswoman Cathy Williams released this statement Wednesday:
“A thorough, national background check is done on all Bellevue Public Schools’ employees, including volunteers. It is our job in the schools to protect students and those who educate them. Bellevue Public Schools takes all accusations very seriously and we check them out thoroughly. There are always two sides to every story and we will get to the bottom of this.”
A check of Stovall’s record by Channel 6 News shows nothing more than some traffic violations.
“We send our kids to school thinking they’re going to be safe and protected,” said Nicole. “Now my faith in the school system is non-existent.”
Stovall turned himself in to Bellevue police on Tuesday. That same afternoon, one man picking up his 12-year-old granddaughter expressed his concern over the lack of communication with students’ families. “They should be notified of anything like this so they can talk to their children and tell them what they should be doing,” he said.
If convicted, he faces up to five years behind bars, a $10,000 fine or both. As of Wednesday evening, he had not posted bail.
Court security officer arrested after accidental shooting of co-worker www.privateofficer.com
Denver CO Sept 9 2010 A private security guard at the Arapahoe County Courthouse accidentally wounded another security officer while using his pistol to calibrate a security scanner this morning.
The Olympic Security Services officer sent his a 9mm semi-automatic handgun under the X-ray scanner, then lifted the gun and snapped back in the magazine, firing into the floor in the process, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department said.
Shrapnel hit a nearby officer, who was treated and released from a hospital for a minor injury.
“Olympic Security has verified that this is not an approved machine calibration technique,” the Sheriff’s Department stated.
The security officer, 26-year-old Christopher Reed, was charged with reckless endangerment, a class 3 misdemeanor.
The gunfire happened at about 7 a.m., before the building opened to the public, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Source:www.denverpost.com
Alabama promotes website to locate missing Alzheimer patients www.privateofficer.com
Officer Joe Jones, who is spearheading Hoover’s initiative, said the program puts identifying information at an officer’s fingertips to help them quickly identify and return Alzheimer’s or dementia patients to their loved ones.
Jones said statistics from Project Lifesaver International show that the average search for a missing Alzheimer’s or dementia patient takes about nine hours, with the average cost of $1,500 per hour to law enforcement, which includes manpower and equipment.
“It can cost a lot of money and resources and a lot of heartache for families, too,” Jones said. “This would certainly help.”
According to Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s website, as many as 60 percent of Alzheimer’s patients will wander away from their caregiver. When Alzheimer’s patients wander away, they are unaware of their situation; they do not call out for help and do not respond to people calling out to them, the organization said.
A family member or caregiver can log on to the userfriendly secure website and register their loved ones, upload photos and give specific information that could help in identification. The information ranges from general medical information, insurance information to detailed information such as birthmarks, nicknames, allergies and any behavioral characteristics that can help in narrowing a person’s identity. The password protected information is only available to authorized law enforcement personnel and the person who does the registering.
The site, which is also useful for families of people with autism, provides a place to list up to two names and numbers for police to contact in case the person gets lost. The site allows families to indicate whether their loved ones are registered with the national “Safe Return” program or Alabama Project Lifesaver, a program that uses a tracking signal to locate people who have illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, autism or other disorders that make them likely to wander.
Jones said the site also allows law enforcement in different jurisdictions to share vital information. Law enforcement officers can get access to the information through the Law Enforcement Tactical System (LETS). Jones said it’s not uncommon for a dementia person to be found miles away from home.
Jones said he has encountered people while on routine patrol who would have benefited from being registered on the site. He said he recently encountered a woman who got lost while driving her car.
Alasafe.gov is maintained and operated under the authority of the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
Lynn Childs, ACJIC’s public information manager, said Alasafe.gov is only promoted through police and sheriff’s departments. The website was started in 2006. Hoover is one of 40 departments promoting the web site, and the only one in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area, according to Childs.
Childs said the site allows families to provide information to police ahead of time, saving them from having to gather up information and pictures when a crisis hits. “It’s really critical when time is of the essence,” she said.
For Jones, the program hits close to home.
Jones’ late father, Herbert, who suffered from Alzheimer’s died last month.
Jones said his father never wandered, but he knows firsthand how the disease can take an emotional toll on family. “It’s dear to me.”
Source:AL.com
Florida security guard charged with burglaries www.privateofficer.com
STUART, Fla. Sept 9 2010– A Stuart assisted living facility security guard was arrested after police said said he broke into residents’ rooms and stole their jewelry.
Raymond Loprinzi, 51, of Port St. Lucie, was arrested Friday on three counts of burglary and three counts of theft.
Detectives said Loprinzi, a security guard at the Ocean Palms Retirement Center, used tools from the facility to break into residences while the tenants were away. Detectives said he stole their jewelry and then pawned it for a fraction of what it was worth.
Bond for Loprinzi was set at $30,000.
Source:Wpbf.com
Shoplifter uses snake to threaten security officer www.privateofficer.com
Around 10 p.m. Tuesday, an officer was near Empire Theatre, 1825 Pacific Ave., when he recognized the boy suspected in the Monday night robbery of a Walgreens store on Harding Way.
According to reports, the teen entered the store and took a flashlight without paying for it. When he was confronted by a security guard and the store manager, he threatened them with a 3-foot-long snake that was wrapped around his arm, police said.
The teen was riding a light blue bike that had been taken in an earlier theft at a McDonald’s restaurant, police reported.
