Archive
Texas police release photo of person of interest in security officer’s murder www.privateofficer.com
Fort Bend TX April 29 2011 County Sheriff’s authorities are asking for the public’s help identifying a man they are describing as a person of interest in the shooting death of a security guard at a construction site last week.
On Thursday, authorities released images of the man that were taken by a store surveillance camera. Detectives want to talk to him about the April 20 death of Fidel Sanchez, 26.
Sanchez was shot multiple times after responding to an emergency alarm at J.D. Abrams, a construction site in the 8400 block of FM 2234 in Fresno.
Sanchez died later at an area hospital.
Investigators ask anyone with information to call the sheriff’s office at 281-341-4665 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS (8477).
US Security underbidding wins Colorado courthouse contract www.privateofficer.com
“I will be unemployed,” said Charles Hall, a security guard at the complex for three years. “I’ll have to look for a new job. I’ll have to collect unemployment. And hopefully I can find a new job.”
Hall says he’s refusing to drop from nearly $12.75 an hour to $9.50 per hour with the new company and feels the public should be concerned.
“I mean, you know, you’re putting people’s lives at risk for less money,” he said.
“I’m going to retire,” said Bob Perino, a guard at the security checkpoint for the past four years. “There’s no way you can work for $9.50 an hour.”
Several court staffers and even one judge told 7NEWS Wednesday they had no idea the change had been made and would be sorry to see Hall, Perino and the other two staffers go.
“OK. But cheaper’s never always better. So it’s not a great idea at all,” said Sue Reed-Baum, a Justice Center visitor. “I think it stinks.”
Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith approved the change, as did the county’s finance director.
Commissioners could vote on the final contract next week, said spokeswoman Deni La Rue.
But commissioner Steve Johnson told 7NEWS he was already sold.
“It does not bother me at all,” Johnson said. “In fact, courthouse security is the responsibility of the sheriff and he has our full confidence. What it says to me is that our sheriff is very good at courthouse security and getting the best value for the taxpayer dollar. I’m not surprised at all if the losing bidder is unhappy but that’s what competition is all about in America.”
Twin City Security had the contract for the justice center for five years, a company spokesman told 7NEWS.
And a Larimer County sheriff’s spokesman agreed the company did a fine job.
But, he said, after reviewing 14 bids, U.S. Security Associates had the lowest offer.
“Yeah, that’s the main reason the change is occurring,” said Nick Christensen, the executive officer for the sheriff’s department. “If they’re the lowest bidder, they’re going to get that job and they’re going to have to find a way to make that work.”
When asked if public security was the right place to search for cost savings, Christensen said, “Well, absolutely. As long as we get the same level of service. That’s the key.”
Criminal background checks are being done by the sheriff’s department, another spokesman said.
The contract with U.S. Security runs four years, with annual reviews and a chance to terminate the deal at any time for serious problems, the sheriff’s office spokesman said.
Detroit security shoots man during burglary call www.privateofficer.com
DETROIT MI April 29 2011 — Detroit police said a security guard shot a man Wednesday at a home at 14500 Abington Avenue.
Police said the security guard, who witnesses say is also a neighbor, was responding to an alarm that went off at the home. When he arrived, there was a car in the driveway that started backing up toward him, police said.
The guard fired shots at the man in the car, striking him in the arm, police said.
The Detroit Police Department said officers were questioning the security guard Wednesday night.
The man who was shot is in stable condition, police said.
Shoplifters bite, assault Carson Pirie security agents www.privateofficer.com
Chicago IL April 29 2011 Three women were caught stealing from Carson Pirie Scott at The Plaza, 2500 W. 95th St., and one injured two security officers by biting them, police said.
At about 4:30 p.m. on April 18, police received a call that three women were fighting in the store parking lot. According to police reports, a store clerk saw Chicago residents Sandra L. Ramsey, 17, Kametta Coakley, 19, and Lakeshia N. Ramsey, 25, walking in the store, selecting items and concealing them in the bags they were carrying.
According to reports, a clerk called security, then the women left through the west doors to the parking lot. Police said that after security officers identified themselves, the three women took off running but were caught and taken into custody.
While Ramsey was being taken into custody, she bit a security officer, breaking his skin, which necessitated a call for an ambulance, police said. The security officer eventually had to get stitches, according to the report. Police said that when they arrived, the three women were already in custody.
The three women were charged with retail theft for taking a combined $522.98 worth of assorted clothing, jewelry and makeup, police said. Ramsey also was charged with aggravated battery for biting the security guard, and was charged with battery for biting another officer on the hand, but not breaking the skin of that officer.
Casino security team nabs suspect in chips theft www.privateofficer.com
Chester PA April 29 2011 A Delaware County casino is out $1,500 after an alleged theft from a roulette table, state police said.
Daniel Robert Paul of Prospect Park swiped six $500 chips off the table at Harrah’s Chester, police said.
When the chips turned up missing during a routine check, casino security reviewed surveillance cameras and contacted state police.
After leaving the table, Paul, 41, and Tara Lynn Foglio, 35, of Ridley Township, headed to their car in a casino garage. Foglio returned to redeem three chips for $1,500 in cash, according to police.
Paul and Foglio were charged with theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, and related crimes. They are being held in the Delaware County jail after failing to make bail.
Foglio told police she dropped the $1,500 in the parking garage when she thought she saw a security guard. That money is still missing, but the three missing chips were found in Paul’s car, police said.
Source:Philadelphia Inquirer
Heroic police officer’s last act of bravery saves daughter www.privateofficer.com
Covington LA April 29 2011 A police officer sacrificed his life to save his young daughter when a tornado ripped through their campsite in Mississippi, part of the terrifying band of storms devastating the South.
As violent winds tore through their tent, Louisiana police Lieutenant Wade Sharp, 40, flung himself on top of the sleeping nine-year-old to shield her.
Moments later a huge sweetgum tree crashed through the canvas, hitting the lieutenant on the back of the head and killing him instantly, but leaving his daughter unharmed.
It was the final act of heroism in a 19-year career with the force, in which he had been decorated several times for bravery, twice saving lives by endangering his own.
Covington Police Chief Richard Palmisano told the Times-Picayune: ‘He was a hero all the way through his whole career, and was a hero to the end.’
He said: ‘Everyone always wanted to work with him. He was a joy to be around. He was an excellent, fantastic officer, well-liked. I never heard anything against him.’
He was head of the criminal investigations division and had been given the Medal of Valor, the highest award Covington Police Department can bestow, for risking his life to save a man from a burning house, despite not having breathing apparatus.
Another colleague, Captain Jack West, called him ‘a hell of an investigator’
Cook County corrections officer commits suicide www.privateofficer.com
William Washington, of the 20100 block of Sequoia Avenue in Chicago Heights, was pronounced dead at 7:06 p.m. at Saint James Hospital and Health Care Centers in Chicago Heights, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Washington sustained a gunshot wound to his chest at about 6:15 p.m. on the 400 block of West 34th Street in Steger, officials said.
While an autopsy is scheduled for today, police are treating the case as a suicide, said Steger Police Chief Richard Stultz.
Police were called to the home at about 6:15 p.m. The apartment belongs to Washington’s girlfriend, who is also a Cook County correctional officer, said Stultz.
Washington and the girlfriend were at the woman’s apartment, where they were arguing, Stultz said. The woman had just been dropped off by a male friend, who left and walked down the stairs when the argument began, Stultz said.
After the woman stopped the argument and was about to leave, Washington went to a back bedroom. The woman heard a gunshot and then found him wounded on the floor, said Stultz. The male friend called 911.
No charges are expected, said Stultz.
Washington had worked for the Cook County sheriff’s office since March 2, 1999 and was assigned to work at Division 1, a maximum security section of Cook County Jail, said Steve Patterson, a spokesman for the office. Washington worked a 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. shift, Patterson said.
“Everything we’ve heard indicates he was a good employee,” said Patterson.
Washington, who was in uniform at the time of the shooting, apparently used his service weapon, officials said.
Source:Chicago Tibune
ST Louis corrections officer arrested in aiding prisoner escape www.privateofficer.com
St. Louis, MO April 29 2011 - A 51-year-old corrections officer at the Downtown St. Louis Justice Center has been charged in connection with last week’s daring escape from the facility.
The Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Mori Farrell with five counts of forgery, two counts of permitting escape and one count of making false declaration.
Two Justice Center inmates, 33-year-old David White and 34-year-old Vernon Collins, escaped from the Justice Center on the morning of Friday, April 22. Police said the men were in the infirmary as the Justice Center, located at 200 S. Tucker. Both White and Collins removed their yellow corrections jumpsuits prior to escaping. They pushed the bunk bed they were assigned to sleep in and put it against the wall. They climbed into the ceiling and were able to gain access to a window. They smashed the window, tied bed sheets together into a rope and used that to get down the wall and escape the building.
White was previously charged with burglary, domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child and property damage. Collins had previously been charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, armed criminal action, assault, resisting arrest and disarming a correctional officer.
Police said Collins was suspected of shooting a St. Louis police officer when they got into a struggle over the officer’s gun earlier this year following a stabbing investigation in the 5200 block of St. Louis Avenue. The officer was critically injured in the shooting.
The inmates were apprehended within 24 hours and charged again.
According to court documents, Farrell was assigned to the infirmary area of the Justice Center, which included a cell holding White and Collins. Nine inmates were in the infirmary – eight male and one female.
Farrell was responsible for performing watch tours every half hour on all individuals confined to the infirmary. He was to confirm by sight that all inmates were present in their cells and enter that information into a database, which includes what time the guard performed the check and the number of confined individuals present at the time of said check.
The detention center supervisor said guards were required to perform physical head counts of confined individuals by calling off their names and confirming their presence. Guards would then report the results of the head counts to admissions personnel on the second floor, who would then relay that information via reports to a master control hub in the Justice Center.
Prosecutors allege Farrell made false entries into that database, and said he admitted to detectives that he lied about making status checks on the inmates on four occasions that morning.
A nurse at the Justice Center infirmary told investigators that at approximately 2:15 a.m. she reported hearing loud banging noises coming from one of the cells to Farrell. The noise was coming from the cell containing White and Collins.
Farrell allegedly walked into the cell area but did not enter any of the cells. He noticed the bed was on its side but did not see Vernon Collins. He then allegedly told the nurse that one of the inmates was exercising with his bed.
Around 2:45 a.m., the same nurse went to the guard again and said she heard more banging noises coming from the cell, prosecutors said. The guard again went into the cell area and looked in the cell, but did not see Vernon Collins. This time, however, authorities allege Farrell told the nurse someone was taking a shower. The nurse told the guard inmates were not allowed to take showers because of the time and staff requirements.
Prosecutors said Farrell later admitted to detectives that he never observed Collins in the infirmary at that point either.
Just before 6 a.m., Farrell went to the second floor supervisor to provide head count information and allegedly confirmed all the inmates were present. Authorities said the supervisor used this false information and made a false report.
The infirmary nurse said at some point around 6 a.m. she looked into the cell holding Collins and White and saw neither man present. She then informed Farrell, who confirmed both men were missing. Farrell then reported to the master control hub that the inmates were missing.
A St. Louis police officer interviewed the guard at 7 a.m. to review what had happened. Farrell is accused of lying to the police officer by saying he reportedly saw the inmates just before 6 a.m.
Farrell admitted to lying to authorities all this time to avoid getting into trouble, prosecutors said.
Source:KSDK
Drake University security officer assaulted www.privateofficer.com
Des Moines IA April 29 2011 A Drake University security officer monitoring activity around a beer tent near campus early today had his arm slammed in his car door as he tried to climb out of his vehicle.
Security Officer Matthew Samann was parked in a university lot in the 1300 block of 31st St., not far from Peggy’s tavern, which was hosting an annual Drake Relays party with a beer tent at the back of the business.
Des Moines police said Samann’s attention was drawn to a commotion. It appeared that a fight was about to break out. As he was getting out of his car about 1:45 a.m., a man standing nearby intentionally shut the door on him, pinning his arm between the door and the frame.
Samann detained the man with the help of fellow university employees and a Des Moines police reserve officer.
Officers charged Benjamin Joseph Freeman, 22, of Fargo, N.D., with simple assault and public intoxication. Bond was set at $600.
Source:DesMoines Register
Santa Fe NM deputy caught shoplifting www.privateofficer.com
SANTA FE April 29 2011 — A Santa Fe County Sheriff’s lieutenant faces a shoplifting charge after he was allegedly caught trying to steal inexpensive car care products from Kmart on Tuesday morning.
A store security guard caught Jeremy Garcia, 39, opening a car waxing kit and pocketing some of its contents at the Kmart on St. Michael’s Drive, according to Santa Fe police Capt. Aric Wheeler.
Garcia was seen pocketing items that dealt with car scratch repair. Wheeler said the product is valued at $19.99.
Garcia was not in uniform and there were no signs that he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the 8 a.m. incident, Wheeler said.
Garcia was cited for misdemeanor shoplifting of under $100 and was released, as is customary with petty shoplifting charges, Wheeler said.
Garcia heads a traffic patrol for the sheriff’s office and has been a lieutenant for five years, according to Santa Fe County Sheriff Robert Garcia. Jeremy Garcia has been placed on paid administrative leave pending a sheriff’s office internal review of his alleged actions, the sheriff said.
“It’s very disappointing,” Sheriff Garcia said.
Arizona security guard arrested for auto burglary www.privateofficer.com
Investigators say the couple then returned to their Jeep Liberty and saw a man wearing a uniform and holding the victim’s purse.
Police later arrested 29-year-old Emory Ray Stout of Golden Valley. He was picked up near Davis Camp north of Bullhead City.
The police department says Stout was booked into the Mohave County jail on charges of burglary, criminal damage and theft.
Source:Daily Journal
Kansas police break student’s arm www.privateofficer.com
The department says it investigates any time an officer uses force during an arrest. In this particular case, a student was injured and the officer was unharmed. While some claim the officer went too far, the department says it’s still too early to tell.
“He just grabbed me and tried to throw me on the ground,” said Jonathan Villarreao.
17-year-old Villarreao claims he was thrown to the ground Wednesday. This, after his SRO at Derby High School asked him to pull up his pants because they were sagging, and he said ‘no.’
“I told them no because I already had gotten out of school and I was leaving to go to home and catch my bus,” said Villarreao.
Then what began as a verbal dispute turned physical, when police say Villarreao refused to comply.
“[He] used a number of different profanities towards the officers. The SRO was was attempting to escort him back to the office of the school when he refused to go,” said Derby Police Chief Robert Lee.
But police are still investigating exactly what happened to spur the officer to shoot his taser, then use enough force to break Villarreao’s arm and give him a black eye.
“This is just not right. He shouldn’t have made me get a broken bone just for [refusing] to pull up my pants,” said Villarreao.
“Physical altercation certainly isn’t the most desirable, but there are times when that’s what is the next step,” said Lee.
Whether it was the appropriate step in this case, the department hasn’t yet determined.
“What I would tell people is, don’t be driven by emotion. Let the facts tell you what they are, and that’s what we’re going to do, is gather the facts in this case,” said Lee.
But Villarreao and some of his fellow students claim they know the facts, and they say what happened wasn’t right.
“I’m pretty scared of them now, for what they did to Jonathan. If they’re here to help they shouldn’t have done what they did,” said Derby High School student Natalie Quintanilla, who says she witnessed the altercation.
“These people, they don’t really care about you. They say they’re here to protect you but they didn’t protect me,” said Villarreao.
The police department says charges haven’t been filed against Villarreao. It will be up to the District Attorney’s office whether to pursue the case.
The officer will continue working as the SRO at Derby High School as the investigation continues
Source:KAKE
Georgia teacher found walking school halls “naked” www.privateofficer.com
MORROW, Ga., April 29 2011 — Police in Georgia said an elementary school teacher caught walking the halls naked after learning he was losing his job said his “third eye was open.”
Capt. James Callaway of the Morrow Police Department said a teacher spotted Harlan Porter, 31, walking the halls of B.C. Haynie Elementary School in Morrow without any clothes at 3:20 p.m. Friday, after all of the students had gone home, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Thursday.
Callaway said the incident took place after Porter learned his contract would not be renewed after the end of the school year. He said colleagues reported the man had been acting strangely on the day of the incident, including eating tacos from Taco Bell despite his vegan lifestyle.
Porter told the responding officer he had reached a “new level of enlightenment” and said “he wanted everybody to be free now that his third eye was open.”
“I then explained the obvious problem with his third eye being opened in public,” the officer wrote in his report. “He readily agreed that his decision to remove his clothing posed a problem and stated that he understood why I would likely have to place him under arrest.”
Porter was charged with misdemeanor counts of public indecency and indecent exposure.
Source:www.upi.com
Police say Ocean Springs teacher had sex with student www.privateofficer.com
Ocean Springs MS April 29 2011 A Middle School coach accused of sex with student
An Ocean Springs Middle School teacher is under arrest, accused of having a sexual relationship with a student.
Coach Grady Brown was arrested Thursday at his home in Biloxi. He’s charged with four counts of sexual battery of a child.
Authorities began their investigation Monday night after receiving a report about a sexual assault involving a teacher and a student. The reporting party said Coach Brown had been having an affair with a female student.
The next day, investigators interviewed several students at the middle school who said they were aware of the relationship. Witnesses said Coach Brown was overheard speaking to the student about having sex with her.
It turns out the Ocean Springs School District had conducted its own investigation into the reported sexual relationship involving Coach Brown and the student back in late February. Officials said Coach Brown had been suspended by the School District for breach of policy involving the same student.
Once investigators learned that the alleged sexual assault occurred within the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction, a joint investigation began.
A search warrant was obtained for Coach Grady Brown’s house located on Westwind Drive in Biloxi. Officers collected evidence from the home Wednesday, and returned for a second search on Thursday.
Brown is being held at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center awaiting an initial appearance.
Source:WLOX
