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Wartburg Police DepartmentBiographical Info
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 22 years
Badge Number: Not available
Incident Details
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: Friday, April 22, 2011
Weapon Used: Person
Suspect Info: In custody
Captain Ralph Braden succumbed to injuries sustained 10 days earlier while attempting to arrest a male subject at the scene of a domestic dispute.
He was seriously injured while struggling with the subject after the man attempted to escape out of a window. The subject was able to flee the scene but was arrested 14 hours later.
Captain Braden was transported to a local hospital where he remained in ICU until succumbing to the injuries.
The subject is facing charges in connection with Captain Braden’s murder.
Captain Braden had served with the Wartburg Police Department for 22 years.
Agency Contact Information
Wartburg Police Department
121 N Kingston Street
PO Box 386
Wartburg, TN 37887
Phone: (423) 346-2323
Please contact the Wartburg Police Department for funeral arrangements or for survivor benefit fund information.
Shoplifter’s fight with security lands him in jail www.privateofficer.com
MOORESTOWN NJ May 5 2011 – A Camden County man was arrested Saturday after fighting with a security guard at Macy’s at the Moorestown Mall after trying to steal shirts, police said Tuesday.
Michael Ambrose, 24, of Cherry Hill, was charged with robbery.
Security staff at Macy’s tried to stop Ambrose as he was leaving the department store at 4:11 p.m. with two shirts valued at nearly $60.
Ambrose scuffled with the employee, who suffered a laceration to the arm and a contusion to the nose.
Ambrose fled toward Sears and apparently escaped authorities.
About three hours later, an officer conducting an unrelated check of license plates in the Macy’s parking lot got a violations hit on Ambrose’s pickup truck. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission photo that was displayed on the computer in the officer’s patrol car matched surveillance video of Ambrose he had seen earlier that day.
The officer waited and took Ambrose into custody when he returned to the truck.
Ambrose was taken to Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly and released after posting an undisclosed amount of bail.
Source:phiilyburbs.com
NJ school security officer injured in fracas www.privateofficer.com
A fight at the high school on Don Connor Boulevard was reported to police at 10:30 a.m.
A 16-year old male was charged with disorderly conduct after police said he threw garbage cans in the cafeteria. He was also charged with aggravated assault after struggling briefly and injuring the wrist of the security officer who was attempting to restrain him. The juvenile was released to a parent pending juvenile complaints.
While at the school, officers were informed of another disturbance involving two students near the main office.
Two 15-year-old youths were each charged with harassment for fighting with each other near the office, police said.
Additionally, police said one of the students was charged with criminal mischief for breaking a desk and a glass window in a door during the incident. Both were released to parents pending juvenile complaints. Police Officers Arthur Salisbury, Kevin Chesney, Steven Scaglione and Joseph Candido responded to the incidents.
Security helps nab car burglar www.privateofficer.com
A 45-year-old Madison man caught a man inside his car last Friday afternoon and with the help of a private security guard detained the suspect until police arrived.
The break-in took place at the Job Center parking lot on Aberg Avenue, according to Madison police.
They said when the victim grabbed the man, identified as Qui Can Truong, 32, of Madison, he said he thought the car belonged to his friend.
A witness saw the suspect attempting to enter numerous vehicles prior to reaching through the cracked window of the victim’s car and unlocking the door, police said.
The suspect had drug paraphernalia in a backpack as well as numerous pairs of new eye glasses, police said.
Truong faces charges of entry into a locked vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hero Dallas cop convicted in robbery www.privateofficer.com
Dallas TX May 5 2011 A former Dallas police officer once hailed as a hero could be headed to prison.
A Dallas County jury found Alph Coleman guilty of masterminding an armed heist at a Sam’s Club where he worked off-duty security.
Jurors sent out two notes saying they were deadlocked — 9-3 on Monday and 11-1 on Tuesday morning. But by Tuesday afternoon, they were unanimous on a guilty verdict.
Coleman spoke exclusively to NBC DFW in 2008 after the robbery. He described how a man in a ski mask rushed into the store and held him at gunpoint.
When asked in the interview if he thought he was going to die, Coleman said, “There’s not one time in my head that I was thinking, ‘I was going to die.’”
Prosecutors said Coleman wanted to be shot to make the robbery seem more realistic. They presented jurors with phone records that show hundreds of calls between Coleman and the masked man around the time of the holdup.
There was also surveillance video that didn’t synch with Coleman’s account of what happened.
Defense lawyers argued that the man accused of the robbery pointed the finger at Coleman so prosecutors would cut him a deal.
“We’re obviously disappointed in the jury’s decision,” said Tom D’Amano, Coleman’s defense attorney. “We feel there was overwhelming reasonable doubt.”
The punishment phase begins Wednesday at 9 a.m.
“We look forward to presenting the positive and good things Alph Coleman has done so that the jury has a better understanding of him,” D’Amano said.
Coleman faces up to life in prison.
Source:News Now
Alert security officer leads police to burlgary suspect www.privateofficer.com
SACRAMENTO, Calif. May 5 2011– A car burglary suspect was arrested Wednesday after a chase that ended on the Capital City Freeway.
Deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department were called to Lexus of Sacramento after a security guard spotted someone tampering with a car.
When deputies got there the suspect ran from the lot and got into a car, according to one of the deputies who chased him.
With deputies close behind, the suspect;s car raced onto the nearby Capital City Freeway, heading toward Sacramento.
At 4:15 a.m. a deputy spotted the suspect’s car facing the wrong way near the El Camino offramp.
The suspect was spotted running up the Marconi ramp, where officers were waiting for him.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department said one vehicle behind the dealership had a shattered window.
Source:www.kcra.com
NJ teacher charged with having child porn www.privateofficer.com
Brian Stern, 34, of Montclair, has been charged with one count of possession of child pornography. He had his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon before Judge Esther Salas.
According to the complaint filed in Newark federal court, Stern downloaded and shared child pornography and images of child pornography—involving children as young as 6 years old—via peer-to-peer file sharing software over the last seven to eight years.
During a search of Stern’s home Tuesday, investigators found videos and images of young children being restrained and sexually abused on Stern’s computer, including at least one image of a child who appeared to be in pain.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
MKA Headmaster Tom Nammack said Stern had been suspended from his duties. He emailed a note to MKA parents Tuesday saying that:
“It is with great regret that we are writing to inform you that MKA has been notified by the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office of the arrest of Brian Stern, a teacher, today,” Nammack wrote. Law enforcement officials “advised us that they are not aware of any other allegations of illegal activity at this time and we are not aware of any concerns regarding the safety of our students at this time.
“Please be assured that every support will be given to students at this difficult time,” Nammack added.
Nammack also sent a notice to alumni of the school on Wednesday.
“A team of administrators subsequently reached out by phone to the parents of Mr. Stern’s students to reassure them that our primary concern is for the emotional well-being and continued focus on learning for those children,” he said. “Mr. Stern has been suspended from the school and will not be on campus. As mentioned in the email, at this time however, there is absolutely no evidence of any inappropriate or illegal activities having taken place with students. Today, faculty at all three campuses met to discuss how best to support their students in the days and weeks ahead.
“I do want to reassure you that MKA requires criminal background checks for all its employees,” he said. “Additionally, school network filters not only make the downloading of illegal materials while at school extremely difficult, but attempts to do so are a matter of record.
“We are fortunate to have three experienced school counselors on staff, available to anyone in our community who needs them—adults and children alike,” he said.
Stern had taught at the private MKA from 2003 until 2009. He then traveled overseas for several months before returning to the school in September 2009.
Looking at the website http://www.ratemyteachers.com, it appears that Stern was fairly well liked by his students. As one student wrote, “good teacher … seems to care about us even though we talk a lot. Has high expectations but is fair.”
Montclair Kimberley Academy is one of the largest co-educational Pre-K – 12 independent day schools in New Jersey, located on three age-appropriate campuses.
Fishman credited special agents of the FBI’s Innocent Images Unit, under the direction of special agent in charge Michael B. Ward in Newark, with the investigation leading to the arrest.
Austin man arrested for serial robbers www.privateofficer.com
Austin TX May 5 2011 A man who was arrested last month on aggravated robbery charges is responsible for more than a dozen armed robberies around Austin, police said.
Richard Rosario, 31, was arrested moments after an April 22 robbery at a Shell gas station at Ben White Boulevard and South First Street in South Austin, police said. Rosario followed the same steps in robbing 15 Austin-area businesses, police said: walk in, show a pistol and either fire a shot or threaten to before leaving with cash. Rosario, pictured at left, shot one person in the leg, according to police.
Rosario is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and a parole violation. Rosario told police he had a prior conviction for negligent homicide, an arrest affidavit said. He is in the Travis County Jail on $200,000 bail, jail records show.
Former TN police officer gets prison in shooting www.privateofficer.com
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. May 5 2011 — A former Humboldt police officer was sentenced to prison for shooting an unarmed man.
Paul Carrier, 31, will spend the next two years in prison, according to WSMV’s news partners at The Leaf Chronicle.
Carrier shot and killed Roy Glenn Jr. in 2009 following a traffic stop and chase.
Carrier testified his gun accidentally fired while he was trying to arrest Glenn.
Tn daycare operator charged with aggravated child abuse www.privateofficer.com
Smyrna police said three other daycare workers were in the room during the abuse. Arrest warrants were issued for Tawanta Alexander, Kimberly Rowan and Amanda Wilson for failure to report abuse.
Target store security agent attacked by shoplifter www.privateofficer.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.May 5 2011 — A department store security guard was punched in the face and kicked several times after trying to stop a couple stealing baby clothes, police said.
A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police report detailing the melee said it happened Wednesday around noon at the Target on San Jose in Mandarin.
The report said a 40-year old security guard observed a man and a woman “stuffing merchandise into the female’s bag while in the Infants Department.”
The suspects are identified as 19-year old Kara Marie Mastrocinque and 20-year old DeShawn Anthony Thompson.
When the suspects tried to leave the store, the security guard said he approached them and identified himself.
The security guard told police he grabbed Mastrocinque and the bag of merchandise, valued later at about $142.00, but that she began to punch him. The report goes on to say that a struggle began between the exit doors at the front of the store.
The JSO report also said Thompson “turned around and punched (the security guard) multiple times in the head and kicked him.” He told police the man then grabbed the bag of merchandise and ran out of the store, but then went back to get car keys from Mastrocinque.
The report said a customer took two pictures of Thompson fighting with the security guard. The same customer also told police she followed Thompson to his car and got a tag number and description.
Despite the beating, the security guard was able to apprehend Mastrocinque, the report said.
The report said after Mastrocinque had her Miranda Rights read, she was searched by an officer. That officer reported finding an infant girls shirt, valued at $8.00, inside her pants in the groin area.
During the investigation police found more merchandise in a nearby parking lot and inside the suspect’s vehicle. Those items included drapes, a toilet cover, and infant clothes.
The report said during a police interview, Mastrocinque confessed to shoplifting the merchandise and identified Thompson, who goes by the nickname “Amp.”
Both Mastrocinque and Thompson are in jail, charged with strong arm robbery. According to online jail reports, both are being held on $50,000 bond and are set to appear in court in mid-May.
Source:news-press.com
Former Smyrna Ga employee charged with theft from city www.privateofficer.com
Shavonzail Sharese Camp, 33, of Braselton, turned herself in on April 29 to answer the felony charges and is free on $50,000 bond, according to jail records.
According to her arrest warrant, the thefts from the city’s permits department began as far back as February 2007. Camp is charged with theft, making false statements and destroying property, all felonies.
“The accused, a former employee of the City of Smyrna who was assigned to the permits department, did take in excess of $36,000 in cash for personal use,” the warrant states. It also states that she falsified receipts and deposit forms.
Also according to the warrant, Camp removed completed receipts from city receipt books and “threw them in the trash in an attempt to defraud the City of Smyrna.”
Smyrna Police Officer Mike Smith said that Camp worked for the city for about eight years, and that she has cooperated with investigators. Investigators seized her city retirement account funds, he said, though he did not know the value of those accounts. A judge will ultimately decide who gets that money, he said.
“She was fired about six weeks ago for an unrelated reason, and during that transition it was discovered that she had committed a crime and was stealing from the department,” Smith said.
Smith also noted that the charges indicate Camp “went to great lengths to circumvent” procedures designed to prevent such thefts.
“Anytime something like this happens, there’s an evaluation and we’ll take additional steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
Mayor Max Bacon also said there are procedures in place to protect city funds.
“This should not happen, but even so, people figure out some way to beat the system,” Bacon said. “I strongly suggest that we eliminate any possible way that we take cash. I think the less you deal with cash, the better off you’re going to be.”
The charges against Camp come shortly after another former Smyrna official went to jail for stealing from the city.
Chris Corey, the city’s former human resources director, pleaded guilty on April 11 to multiple charges of stealing about $121,000 from the city.
Corey, 46, of Powder Springs, was sentenced to serve a year in the county jail, followed by 14 years on probation and ordered to pay full restitution. Corey had worked for the city for 14 years before he was fired on Feb. 4, 2009
Source:The Marietta Daily Journal
Cleveland police bust large auto left ring www.privateofficer.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio May 5 2011 — Police say they have broken up the largest auto theft ring to operate in Northeast Ohio in at least 25 years.
The highly organized ring, responsible for stealing up to 200 cars over the past 18 months, operated five chop shops in residential garages in Lakewood and Brooklyn and on Cleveland’s West Side, Cleveland police Commander Thomas McCartney said at a news conference Tuesday.
Cleveland police, along with the FBI, the State Highway Patrol and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 26 people over the past several weeks, he said.
They were secretly indicted Tuesday on numerous felony counts, including involuntary manslaughter, auto theft, receiving stolen property, forgery and tampering with records. Officials would not discuss the involuntary manslaughter charges.
Authorities are still seeking 11 others.
McCartney said investigators recovered 24 vehicles — many pieced together with stolen parts — from the five chop shops.
While the number of auto thefts has dropped markedly in Cleveland in recent years, McCartney said the group was a highly organized criminal ring that operated far beyond the city’s borders.
“We know they stole cars and car parts from lots at Kent State University, Akron University and Summit Mall . . . all over Northeast Ohio,” he said. “There were at least 100 cars involved. . . . We are still looking for 67 more, and there may have been as many as 200. It’s an ongoing investigation.”
The cars and car parts — many of which were Hondas — were sold throughout the state.
The stolen cars and parts were valued at more than $200,000, he said.
Lt. Judy Neel, chief of the State Highway Patrol’s auto theft unit, said investigations started with information they shared with Cleveland police.
He said that while there wasn’t a single ringleader, officials have nabbed all of the individuals who “were of highest interest to us.”
Source:Cleveland.com
Woman arrested in Killeen for attacking K-Mart security agent www.privateofficer.com
KILLEEN TX May 5 2011 – A woman is in jail after she reportedly attacked a store worker.
Last week, 35-year-old Chana Marie Smith was supposedly caught stealing CDs and games from the K-Mart on 1101 S. Ft Hood street.
She was confronted by a security worker and that’s when she allegedly started biting, scratching, and hitting him.
The worker still managed to get Smith’s purse away from her, where he found the stolen goods.
Smith is being held in the Bell county jail and is now charged with felony robbery.
Source:NewsChannel25
Woman hides stolen credit card, drivers license in vagina www.privateofficer.com
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. May 5 2011- A Florida woman was arrested last week for possessing a fraudulent credit card and a fake driver’s license, which she allegedly hid inside her vagina.
During a routine traffic stop Friday evening, a Lee County Sheriff’s deputy noticed a number of expensive power tools in the back of Ann Marie Hernandez’s vehicle. Many still had security tags attached.
Further investigation revealed that some of the items had been bought at a nearby Home Depot with a fraudulent credit card.
A female deputy was called to the scene to speak with the 46-year-old suspect, according to the Fort Myers News-Press.
That’s when Hernandez admitted that the credit card and a fake ID to match were hidden in her vagina.
Hernandez was taken to the county jail where the items were retrieved and she was booked into the jail.
There was no word on the bond amount for her.
Universal Studios employee steals $1 million worth of tickets www.privateofficer.com
Orlando Fla May 5 2011 A woman accused of bilking Universal Studios out of $1 million worth of park tickets while she was an employee is out of jail.
Carmen Kunstorf, 43, was jailed over the weekend after Orlando police arrested her and charged her with first-degree grand theft. Her bond amount wasn’t immediately available Monday.
A company spokesman said late Monday that Kunstorf is no longer employed at Universal Studios.
Kunstorf, who was in charge of distributing complimentary park tickets to employees, allegedly admitted to park security that she stole hundreds of tickets on the weekends, according to court records.
An internal audit from January 2007 to January 2011 showed Kunstorf had “unlawfully distributed over $1 million in complimentary tickets,” according to an arrest affidavit.
Universal officials became aware of the problem when they discovered that “excessively large amounts” of tickets issued to Kunstorf were being used to get into the parks, the affidavit said.
