Archive
Sears security nab burglary suspects www.privateofficer.com
Riverside CA Dec 13 2010 A parolee and his female accomplice allegedly stole a large amount of jewelry from a Sears department store in Spring Valley, and then tried to run from security guards and deputies, the Sheriff’s Department said today.
Security officers at the Sears at 931 Sweetwater Rd. were able to detain Jennifer Vargas, 29, but could not corral Daniel Lopez, 38, as he fled the from the scene shortly after 8 p.m. Friday, said San Diego sheriff’s Lt. Marco Garmo.
The security officers were able to flag down some sheriff’s deputies, who began to chase Lopez on foot, Garmo said.
At one point during the foot chase, Lopez tried to break into a minivan, but was thrown out by the vehicle’s occupants, said sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Davis.
When that proved unsuccessful, Lopez ran across the state Route 125, where authorities closed a portion of the freeway for a short time to allow a sheriff’s helicopter, a San Diego police dog unit and the California Highway Patrol to search for Lopez.
Police using online dating sites to nab deadbeat dads www.privateofficer.com
Kennesaw GA Dec 13 2010 Local police in Kennesaw, Georgia are using a new tactic in locating deadbeat dads, online dating websites. Online dating websites offer a lot of information regarding not only the person’s desires in finding a mate, but also location, and other unique identifiers. Police are using this information to locate men that have not paid their child support in over 6 months. In this intensive sting operation, police are posing as potential dates and then setting up a meeting place for the date.
This tactic is already being found effective and has brought in 19 offenders. This idea is also being considered by other police forces in 16 other states. This pilot program in conjunction with other state agencies is slated to bring in over 200 other individuals that are evading police.
With so many new dating sites that are launching this year, police are planning to put staff on full time assignment to catch these suspects. Deadbeat dads are responsible for a lot of the welfare issues that the nation is facing. If more of them are captured and mad to pay, it will reduce the strain on the welfare system greatly.
Oxnard police arrest security-shut down festival www.privateofficer.com
Oxnard CA Dec 13 2010 Police Department officers arrested two security guards and halted a Virgin of Guadalupe celebration in Oxnard Sunday afternoon after complaints of too much noise.
After they arrived on the scene of the celebration near Fifth Street and Rose Avenue at 1:30 p.m., officers said they discovered other problems with the festivities, so they shut it down.
The organizers had a permit for 200 people, officers said, but there were an estimated 1,000 celebrants who lined Fifth Street between Rose and Pacific avenues, with some parking illegally.
“People were squeezed in there like you wouldn’t believe,” Oxnard Police Sgt. Brett Smith said. “People were parked all the way down Fifth Street.”
“We got overcrowded because we’ve been doing this for seven years and people have been coming and coming,” said celebrant Augustin Trejo.
Mirroring the tradition in Mexico, the event began at 6 a.m. with a parade that started at a small chapel off of Pacific Avenue, turned right onto Fifth Street, and marched a few blocks down to Campos Vanessa at 1700 E. Fifth Street. Campos Vanessa houses migrant farm workers.
“We come from an immigrant community,” Trejo said. “We are united. We like to keep our traditions together. We have people who came from Texas and Chicago. This is a religious day.”
Event organizer Gaspar Garcia said the permit he had was for 1,500.
“What happened was, somebody filled out the paperwork wrong,” said another event volunteer, Edgar Trejo.
Smith said they had a permit for the live music at the staging area in front of Campos Vanessa, but it was still out of compliance.
“Even if you have a permit, it doesn’t allow you to play so loud that you get complaints,” the sergeant said.
There were problems with the five security officers the group hired, too, Smith said. Smith said the five security officers weren’t enough for the 1,000 people that were in attendance. Plus, two of the men identifying themselves as security guards were out of compliance, said Oxnard Police Sgt. Jack Kujawa.
“They didn’t have a guard card, and they were carrying weapons,” Kujawa said.
A “guard card” is a card identifying them as security guards, he explained.
Police said they later learned that one of the guards was also carrying an illegal knife. The lack of a guard card and the illegal knife are misdemeanor counts.
The five guards were from Champ’s Private Security, which has offices in Oxnard and Bakersfield.
“They were not carrying them, but they’ve got one,” said Mariano Solorio, manager of the security business, when asked about the guard cards.
Oxnard police officers said everyone was cooperative, including the two security guards they arrested, and there were no incidents.
Organizers of the event, however, were unhappy with the police response. At least 20 squad cars, two officers on horseback, and a canine officer were on scene. Some officers donned riot helmets.
“Our people feel like they are discriminating,” Augustin Trejo said. “We feel like we did something wrong. We never see this with white people.”
“That has absolutely nothing to do with it,” Smith said. “We have been getting calls since 7:30 a.m.”
Smith explained that the numerous police cars and riot gear were to protect the police because of the size of the crowd.
“The number of officers we have here are to protect us,” Smith said. “You don’t send two units into a crowd this big,” he said.
Officers blocked off Fifth Street between Rose Avenue and Pacific Avenue for almost three hours with the crowd clearing around 4:15 p.m.
Augustin Trejo explained that the event was supposed to go on until 8 p.m., with dancing, food and music. As the party broke up, organizers passed out tamales, sodas, chips and other food that would have been sold to help with fundraising for the event.
Some festivalgoers kneeled and prayed in front of a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe under a white tent. At her feet were piles of roses and armies of glass-encased candles.
One of those who attended the festival, Nadia Avila, explained that the parade and festival are to honor the Catholic belief of the appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico 479 years ago. Avila pointed to the children dressed in traditional festival clothing, which was all handmade, she said. The capes and dresses are embroidered with renderings of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
“It is a huge celebration,” she said
Source:www.vcsstar.com
San Diego University student killed by boyfriend www.privateofficer.com
Dozens of students gathered Saturday night on the street where Michel David, 22, was allegedly shot and killed by Dan Shoemake, 21, on Friday afternoon. Shoemake is David’s estranged boyfriend, who police say then killed himself.
On Saturday night students sang, prayed, and mourned the loss of a life taken too soon.
“She was just the most welcoming person I could have randomly found to live with, so kind and amazing from the beginning, just so selfless,” said her friend.
Among those gathered at the candlelight vigil was her uncle, who happened to fly into San Diego for a convention just hours after his niece was shot.
“Is this for real? This happens to other people. It doesn’t happen to your family and I’ve heard people say that in interviews, it happens to other families, it doesn’t happen to yours, but it happened to ours. It’s still kind of surreal. I’m still kind of numb,” said Greg Savella.
Savella says David’s family has been in touch with the family of her accused killer and says they’re hurting as well. He said the families are relying on each other for support.
David left her College Area apartment at about 10 a.m. Friday to walk her dog. Shoemake had been waiting near her apartment near the intersection of 55th Street and El Cajon Boulevard and approached her with an assault rifle, police said.
Police say words were exchanged and Shoemake opened fire at least three times, hitting David.
“Right after that I heard another, single pop,” said neighbor Chris Noland.
Shoemake had returned to his silver pick up truck and used a handgun to kill himself, police said.
“Maybe three to five minutes later, I heard the sirens, so I knew something was wrong. So I came outside and there was a group of people standing here and I saw the paramedics doing CPR,” Noland said.
Paramedics performed CPR on David before transporting her to Mercy Hospital, where she died.
“Michel is one my closest friends and whenever I would need to talk to someone, she would always be there for me,” said Megan Punzalan, wiping away tears Saturday afternoon.
According to friends of the victim, Shoemake and David had been dating for the past three years, but recently broke up.
“We just knew they weren’t together, you know, kind of on and off,” said friend Mia Lath.
David was supposed to graduate from SDSU next week.
“The last time I saw her I didn’t even have a conversation with her because I was too busy trying to study. I really regret not talking to her at that moment,” said Lath.
Regrets, perhaps, about a conversation that didn’t happen, but no regrets about the friendship they shared.
“She was just the sweetest girl whether she knew you or not,” said Lath.
“She always saw life with a positive outcome; she never looked at things negatively. She had one of the best hearts. So many people knew that,” said Punzalan.
Shoemake was also a student at SDSU but not currently enrolled, according to police. His Facebook page says he is a member of the U.S. Army.
Both David and Shoemake are from Pleasanton, which is located in the Bay Area.
Detectives say they found a note in Shoemake’s home, but would not confirm if it was a suicide note.
A patrol car headed to the scene of the shooting crashed into an SUV at 55th Street and El Cajon Boulevard. The SUV flipped onto its side. The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The officer was not hurt.
Source: NBC San Diego
Security officer shot-paralyzed at Memphis nightclub www.privateofficer.com
Memphis TN Dec 13 2010 – Five people were shot after a dispute led to gunfire outside the Boss Club in the Smokey City Community of North Memphis.
Courtney Long has owned the club for six years since it became “The Boss.”
One of the security guards, who is also a personal friend of Long’s, was shot and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
As of Sunday night, no one is in custody for this crime.
“We’ve had problems, but none like this right here,” Long said.
He had rented out the club, at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Ayers Street, on Saturday night for a party. He said that some customers got into an altercation, so he threw them out.
“We put them out, and next thing you know, heard shots,” he said.
It happened sometime between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m Sunday morning.
Long was inside, but quickly realized his security guard, 40-year-old Andre Hubbard, was shot in the arm and back.
Hubbard’s family said that one bullet is lodged in his back, and he will not be able to walk again.
They’re now offering a reward for information on who might be responsible.
Long said the four others were injured outside. All victims were transported to The MED.
Whoever fired the shots came inside the club after gunning down the security guard.
Police said that a witness flagged down a patrol car for help.
One woman who lives next to the club said the gunshots woke her up.
“It don’t be happening over there. Things like that don’t happen over there at that club,” she added.
Other neighbors seemed to be equally shocked.
Plas Brown lives close by and didn’t hear the disturbance.
“It don’t happen too much in this part of the neighborhood; probably on the other side,” he said.
Brown said he goes to the Boss club sometimes and finds it safe, especially because there are metal detectors to check everyone coming in.
Owner Courtney Long said, “We pat everybody down, we search everybody full force, and you know, stuff happens. But we’re going to try not to let it happen again.”
Long said the best he can do is add more security.
“We’re going to try and keep it safe at the Boss. The Boss is not a bad spot. Everybody comes to the Boss and has a good time. It’s just, that led from one neighborhood up to the club, you know. It’s something we can’t prevent. It’s going on everywhere.”
Source:WREG-TV
Orange County teacher arrested for student sex assault www.privateofficer.com
ORANGE CA Dec 13 2010 - A former Orange High School Spanish teacher has been charged with conducting a sexual relationship with a student, police said Friday.
Police arrested Scott Adrian Peterson, 48, last week after investigating reports that he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, Orange police Sgt. Dan Adams said.
Peterson, a Fullerton resident, was charged Thursday with eight felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation with a person under 18 and sexual penetration by a foreign object with a victim under 18, according to Orange County Superior Court records.
Authorities in July were alerted to a possible relationship between Peterson and the girl during the 2009-2010 school year, Adams said.
School officials were told of the allegations, Adams said, and Peterson did not come back to teach at the campus this year.
“My understanding is that he has not been working as a teacher due to our investigation,” Adams said.
At one time, Peterson was a freelance photographer used by some Orange County Register weekly newspapers. His last assignment was in summer.
Police say Peterson and the teenager appear to have had an ongoing relationship. According to court records, the charges stem from incidents that took place April 17 and May 15.
Peterson was arrested about 3:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Santa Ana river trail northeast of 1855 W. Katella Avenue, Adams said. He was booked at Orange County Jail and released a day later after posting $100,000 bail.
Peterson is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment Dec. 30, according to court records.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to call investigator Leslie Franco at 714-744-7572.
Source:Orange County Register
Florida teacher faces charges in student relationship www.privateofficer.com
39-year-old Kristina Hartless admitted to the relationship when questioned by police.
The victims mother tipped police off the possibility of the inappropriate relationship with Hartless.
When police confronted Hartless, she admitted to having intercourse with the boy multiple times over a period of months. She was then was arrested and is in the Duval County jail, where she is being held without bond and charged with three counts of capital sexual battery on a juvenile.
Hartless has been a at Beauclerc Elementary since 2006. The victim was not one of her students.
School officials have removed Hartless from the classroom until the investigation is over.
Home Dept employee charged in theft scheme www.privateofficer.com
Naples Fla Dec 13 2010 A cashier at Home Depot is accused of making false refunds totaling more than $1,700.
Gary Cabera Williams, 20, of 786 98th Ave N., North Naples, was arrested Friday by Collier deputies and charged with fraud to obtain property and grand theft.
An internal investigation at the Home Depot at 2251 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, revealed several suspicious refunds made by Williams, according to the arrest report. Store security reviewed the video and on the returns a customer was never present during the transactions.
Williams admitted to making the false returns, according to the arrest report. He told deputies he would take down the bar codes of items in the store, then enter them in the store computer as if a customer was returning it without a receipt and then put the money on a gift card.
Store surveillance shows Williams using gift cards twice to make purchases in the store. The arrest report indicates Williams made 13 false refunds totaling $1,709
Three charged in California Target burglary www.privateofficer.com
Vista CA Dec 13 2010 Three people were arrested in Vista Saturday morning while burglarizing a Target store, sheriff’s deputies reported.
A silent alarm triggered about 4:15 a.m. alerted authorities, who were able to view a real-time security video to confirm that intruders were inside the store, on University Drive near Sycamore Avenue.
Deputies arrived and arrested two men, ages 19 and 22, as they tried to flee. A 16-year-old boy sitting in a nearby car also was arrested. Deputies said he was the lookout.
The suspects smashed a glass front door to enter the store, deputies said, and then broke into numerous registers and filled shopping carts with mostly electronic merchandise. They had made several trips to the car before they were arrested, deputies said. All the cash and merchandise were recovered.
The two men were booked into county jail for commercial burglary, felony vandalism and conspiracy. The 16-year-old was booked into Juvenile Hall.
Unruly casino patron arrested after assaulting officers www.privateofficer.com
Jonathan Kramer, 31, was escorted off the casino floor after security found him to be intoxicated. State Police filed Public Drunekenness charges against him.
Before Kramer could be released, he became agressive towards one of the State Police Gaming Enforcement officers and punched him in the face.
Kramer is facing aggravated assault , simple assault and disorderly conduct charges. He is in Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
N.D. man pleads guilty in armored car robbery www.privateofficer.com
Matthew Fiechtner, Michael Link and Nathan Tuenge are charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and bank larceny. They’re accused of stealing $330,000 from an armored car in February.
Tuenge filed a plea agreement earlier this week that calls for him to plead guilty to one count. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Fiechtner also has agreed to plead guilty.
Source:Grand Forks Herald
State court documents accuse Link of providing keys for the truck, Fiechtner of making duplicates of the keys, and Fiechtner and Tuenge of removing money from the truck while dressed to resemble drivers. The case was eventually moved to federal court.
