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Coast Guardsman killed during training session www.privateofficer.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Oct 16 2010 —The Coast Guardsman who died during a training exercise in Virginia was identified today as a 23-year-old Clifton resident, an Iraq war veteran who was also known as an arm wrestling champion.
Petty Officer Shaun Lin fell into the water Wednesday at around 9:15 p.m. when he was transferring from a 25-foot Marine Security Response Team vessel to the Coast Guard Cutter Frank Drew in the vicinity of the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge Tunnel.
A three-year member of the Coast Guard, Lin was attached to Fort Wadsworth’s Maritime Safety and Security Team, which is in Virginia for an anti-terrorism training course. They were training to recapture a ship taken over by terrorists during Wednesday’s incident.
Lin’s gear-laden body was recovered yesterday in 68-degree water after an all-day search that included the Coast Guard and Virginia police and firefighters. The incident remains under investigation, according to Coast Guard officials.
Before his assignment with the Safety and Security Team, Lin served aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Maui, which patrolled the North Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, for a year until June.
Lin has earned two Commandant Commendation Medals, a Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medal, a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon, a National Defense Service Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal, a Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, a Coast Guard Rifle Marksman Ribbon and a Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon.
“He protected our nation from criminal and terrorist threats,” wrote Adm. Robert J. Papp, commandant of the Coast Guard, in a letter to all Coast Guard members. “Petty Officer Lin’s individual efforts are probably unknown to most people, but his selfless service continues to be highly valued by all Americans. His quiet professionalism, like that of so many others in our service, ensured we were always ready.
“As we shift focus towards providing care and compassion for the family of Petty Officer Lin and his closest shipmates, I ask each of you to keep Shaun, his family, and the crew of MSST New York in your thoughts and prayers.”
Lin was featured in the Advance’s weekly Shores section in 2008 after he won the left arm, 175-pound weight class in the 30th annual Empire State Golden Arm Championship at the Port Authority Building in Manhattan.
He came in third in the right arm, 175-pound weight class.
At the time, he was a Coast Guard firefighter stationed in Boston, who was hoping to be transferred back home.
Lin was encouraged to join the arm wrestling club at Newton High School in Queens by his science teacher and world-arm wrestling champion, Mike Selearis. He has accumulated a string of victories over the years and is known to take down bigger, stronger opponents.
“Tons of big muscular guys come and think they are going to destroy people, but they lose because they do not have the mental element,” he said.
SourceSilive.com
Mall security capture armed jewelry store robbers www.privateofficer.com
One man was apprehended by mall security and police and is now facing charges. His name will be released later tonight.
Witnesses say four armed men wearing Halloween masks robbed Diamond Connection, located inside the mall on South Service Rd., at around 7:30 p.m.
The thugs fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and jewelry, but police confirm an arrest was made near the scene.
Witnesses reported the glass counters in the store were severely damaged and mall customers were frightened. Some fled the mall while others ran for cover inside other stores.
Investigators say no one was injured.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the force’s Central Robbery Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3410.
Dillards security shoots at shoplifters www.privateofficer.com
Oklahoma City Okl. October 16 2010 City police say several shots were fired outside the Penn Square Mall Friday following a shoplifting incident.
Shortly before 2pm today an off-duty Veterans Affair police officer working as a security guard for Dillards spotted two shoplifting suspects leaving the mall.
When the officer approached the two women they quickly jumped in their car and speed toward the officer.
That’s when the officer fired several shots at car.
No word yet on if anyone in the car was hit.
Police are still looking for those two women
Source:KTLU
Lesbian couple forced from mall for kissing in public www.privateofficer.com
Raleigh, N.C.Oct 16 2010 — A lesbian couple say they were forced to leave Cameron Village in Raleigh after eating lunch because they were kissing in public.
Caitlin Breedlove says she and her girlfriend were sitting on a bench with their arms around each other and had kissed briefly on the cheek when, she says, a security guard approached them, told them that “being affectionate” was “inappropriate” and asked them to leave because “no one wants to see that at Cameron Village.”
Breedlove, who is the co-director of Southerners on New Ground, says she asked the security guard if they would be asked to leave if the two were a man and a woman and that the guard replied “no.”
The officer had not received other complaints about them, Breedlove said.
“We were honestly surprised and saddened that we were asked to leave,” she said.
After the encounter, the couple went into the Flying Biscuit, where they had just eaten lunch.
“They were distraught when they came back in here,” Flying Biscuit manager Dan Palatucci said Thursday.
He says he took the issue to Cameron Village management and feels they are working to get to the bottom of what happened.
“I know Cameron Village as a whole is not taking it lightly. They are aware of it, but are trying to get information about the incident,” he said.
York Properties, which manages Cameron Village, did not comment Thursday and said a representative for the shopping plaza was out of the office.
Katy Parker, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, says the advocacy organization is looking into the claim.
“We’re really appalled this would happen to these women, and we’re looking into any legal recourse,” she said.
According to its website, Southerners on New Ground is a social justice group that “envisions a multi-issue southern justice movement that unites across class, age, race, ability, gender, immigration status and sexuality.”
Breedlove says a few people have asked her if she and her girlfriend planned the incident. She says the confrontation was not a stunt.
Source:WRAL.com
Mayor of San Gabriel, Calif charged in robbery www.privateofficer.com
Los Angeles CA Oct 16 2010 The mayor of San Gabriel, Calif., is under arrest on charges of suspicion of felony robbery and assault for alleged purse-snatching, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Mayor Albert Y.M. Huang, 35, was accused of grabbing a woman’s purse outside a restaurant following a heated argument over money.
Police say, according to the Times, that Huang tried to drive off in his SUV, but the woman jumped on the running board, reaching into the vehicle from the passenger window.
She clung to the vehicle, police say, while Huang allegedly drove off at up to 45 mph for more than a quarter-mile.
A security guard eventually intervened and detained Huang until police arrived, the Times reports.
He was charged with suspicion of felony robbery, suspicion of assault by means likely to produce great injury, also a felony, and battery.
Source:USAToday
Man arrested foir riding down luggae carousel www.privateofficer.com
MIAMI, FL Oct 16 2010 — An Alpharetta man bonded out of jail early Friday, a day after his arrest for climbing onto a moving luggage carousel at Miami International Airport and riding it into a secure area.
Bradley Ray Bromelow got on the luggage carrier at the airport’s Concourse J at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday and stayed aboard as it traveled into the airport’s operating area.
The 40-year-old, who was waiting for his luggage, allegedly hopped onto the conveyor belt to show off for a friend. As he traveled on the carousel, he videotaped passengers who, in turn, were taping him.
Bromelow was arrested and charged with trespassing. The Transportation Security Administration released a statement saying that it is further investigating the incident to decide if Bromelow should face any civil penalties.
Source:11alive.com
Wal-Mart employee charged in retail theft www.privateofficer.com
Dothan Al Oct 16 2010
Police arrested a Dothan woman on a felony theft charge that she stole from Wal-Mart while she worked at the business.
A statement from the Dothan Police Department said police charged Cassandra Louise Cox, 20, of Fortner Street, with first-degree theft of property.
The arrest was the result of a report made by security officers at Walmart. The statement said surveillance was provided to the police that showed Cox stealing from her employer on several occasions.
Phoenix police officer indicted for “On Duty” murder www.privateofficer.com
Officer Richard Chrisman was served a summons on the indictment, attorney Craig Mehrens said. The indictment also charged him with aggravated assault and misdemeanor cruelty to animals.
He had been previously charged with aggravated assault but remains free on bail.
Chrisman allegedly pulled his pistol, put it against 29-year-old Danny Frank Rodriguez’s head and told him he didn’t need a warrant when Rodriguez ordered him out of his house on Oct. 5. Over the next few minutes, authorities say, Chrisman shocked Rodriguez with a stun gun, shot his pit bull, then finally fatally shot Rodriguez, according to a court document.
Records show another officer told investigators he saw no reason for Chrisman to shoot.
Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley has called a press conference to discuss the case for late Thursday morning.
Mehrens said his client was justified in shooting Rodriguez and did not put his gun against his head as another officer reportedly said.
Chrisman, 36, and officer Sergio Virgillo had been called to a south Phoenix mobile home by Rodriguez’s mother, according to a court document. Elvira Fernandez told the officers she had been arguing with her son, that he had damaged property inside the trailer and that she left because she was afraid he would assault her.
When the officers entered the home, Rodriguez asked to see a warrant, at which point Chrisman put his pistol against his head and told him he didn’t need a warrant, the document said.
A police probable cause statement showed that the two officers then had difficulty controlling Rodriguez, with both firing their stun guns on the suspect to little effect. Virgillo told investigators that after using the stun guns, Chrisman used pepper spray on Rodriguez and shot a dog that was in the living room.
Virgillo told investigators the dog was not threatening them and he saw no reason why Chrisman would shoot it. The suspect asked why Chrisman had shot his dog, and Virgillo said he tried to calm Rodriguez down and talk him into coming outside.
The police document said Rodriguez told the officers he was leaving with his bicycle, but Virgillo moved to block the door and Chrisman began struggling with Rodriguez over the handlebars.
Chrisman then allegedly pulled out his handgun and shot Rodriguez more than once. Rodriguez died at the scene.
Chrisman was arrested about five hours after the shooting and was freed on bail the following day.
Mehrens said he and an expert he hired interviews Chrisman for several hours earlier this week. He said he offered to allow him to testify in front of a grand jury, but he never got a response from Romley.
“They didn’t want to hear his side of the story,” Mehrens said.
Source:AP
