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Unarmed California security officer murdered www.privateofficer.com
SANTA ANA, Calif. June 11 2011– A homicide investigation is under way after an unarmed security guard was shot and killed outside an apartment complex in Santa Ana.
The shooting was reported just before midnight Friday on the 1400 block of South Townsend Avenue.
When officers arrived, they found the man, identified as 24-year-old Jaime Alberto Villacorta, shot to death in an alley.
Villacorta had “at least one” gunshot wound, Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The security guard was not armed and was responsible for protecting the entire apartment complex, Bertagna said.
A motive was not immediately known.
“At this point we don’t know if he was responding to some incident that was occurring here or he was the victim of a crime himself,” Bertagna told KTLA.
A man identifying himself as Villacorta’s stepfather said the security guard had problems in the past with “racist” people in the area. He also said the security guard feared for his safety and wanted to carry a gun.
“There is some gang activity in the neighborhood,” Bertagna said, adding that it was not yet known if gangs were responsible for the shooting.
Residents of the apartment complex said Villacorta recently had at least two run-ins with gang members. During one confrontation, Villacorta was said to have been so scared that he ran and hid inside a laundry room.
Villacorta leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.
Source:(KTLA)
NC deputy killed serving arrest warrant www.privateofficer.com
KINSTON NC June 11 2011 — A Nash County based U.S. Marshal Service task force member is dead after a shootout in Kinston.
It happened around 7 p.m. Thursday on West Lenoir Avenue near Perry Street.
Nash County Sheriff Dick Jenkins said Investigator Warren “Sneak” Lewis, who was assigned to the Eastern North Carolina Fugitive Task Force, was shot while attempting to serve a warrant for homicide along with other task force members.
The murder case involved 31-year-old Thomas Hinton who was shot at the intersection of West Lenoir Avenue and Mitchell Street June 2.
After 38-year-old Lewis was shot Thursday evening, five people were taken into custody. Investigators said three were wanted in the Hinton murder.
The suspect’s names were not released. A news conference was scheduled for later Friday morning.
Sheriff Jenkins said Lewis was a member of the Nash County Sheriff’s Office for over nine years. He served on the Eastern NC Fugitive Task Force for the last three years.
“Investigator Lewis was a gentle soul and would go out of his way to give you the shirt off his back, if he thought you needed it. He will definitely be missed, and he leaves a void at this Office that will never be filled,” said Jenkins in a statement.
Governor Beverly Perdue called Friday for North Carolina flags at state facilities in Nash and Lenoir counties to be lowered to half staff through sunset Saturday to honor the life and service of Lewis.
Perdue’s office said Lewis was married with two children.
Security officer tackles machete wielding man www.privateofficer.com
Orange County CA June 11 2011
Police arrested a 20-year-old man after responding to an “unknown trouble” report from a local apartment complex.
On Tuesday, June 7, at 10:24 p.m., on the 30000 block of Tessier, a caller told police that an apartment security officer had tackled a man wielding a machete.
The guard took the machete away from the man and detained him until police arrived.
Police did not release the armed man’s name or the name of the security officer.
No injuries were reported.
Guilford College professor arrested for “upskirting” with pen camera www.privateofficer.com
Jonathan Robert Hatch, an associate professor in mathematics, was arrested on Thursday and charged with one count of secret peeping.
Prosecution said Hatch posted his $25,000 secured bond on Friday.
Police said Hatch, 43, used a camera built inside a pen to take images of the woman on May 25. Investigators believe the student was sitting in her chair when she noticed Hatch’s left hand extended and moving toward her in an unnatural way. The student alerted both the school and police.
“She did show incredible bravery. I am very proud of her for speaking up,” said Tammy Alt, an associate dean at Guilford College.
Police searched Hatch’s computer and found several pictures of children in sexually suggestive and exposed positions.
As a result, Hatch was also charged on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for possessing child pornography, police said.
None of the children in the photos or video have been identified, police said. Police said more counts of sexual exploitation of a minor could be filed against Hatch depending on the results of their investigation.
Guilford College officials said Hatch resigned on June 3 before the school completed its investigation. He had worked at the college since 2003.
Students said the allegations against Hatch were shocking as he was well-liked.
“It was just really strange to hear, especially since he was a professor at Guilford that we had looked up to,” said Hollis Wall, Guilford College senior.
“When I heard about it, I thought, ‘When did I wear a dress on campus?’ and I wondered if he had seen me or any of my friends that I’m close to,” said Kayla Davis, Guilford College senior.
Guilford College also released a statement:
The college community is saddened by these events and is cooperating fully with the Greensboro Police Department in its investigation. Guilford College does not condone, and will not tolerate, behavior of the type alleged.
Source:FOX NEWS
Georgia police investigating robbery-carjacking attempt at Target store www.privateofficer.com
MARIETTA, Ga.June 11 2011 — Marietta police are currently investigating a robbery and attempted carjacking at a local Target store.
The incident happened around 9:30 a.m Friday at the Target at 2201 Cobb Parkway South.
According to investigators, a woman was attempting to take her child out of the back seat of her SUV when she was approached by a man who forced her into the car.
The woman and her child were able to get out of the car before the suspect drove it away.
The stolen car is a dark blue 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe with Georgia tag AEV4635.
The woman described her attacker as a light-skinned black man in his early 20s. He was wearing a white T-shirt, red shorts, a red baseball cap, and black shoes and socks.
Anyone with information in this case is asked to call 911 or Marietta Police at 770-794-5300.
Source:News11
Alabama Governor signs tough immigration law www.privateofficer.com
Montgomery AL June 11 2011 Alabama’s governor has signed the nation’s toughest new immigration law in a major crackdown on ‘illegals’.
The new law affects education, housing and employment. It requires public schools to document students’ immigration status and even makes it a crime to knowingly give an illegal immigrant a ride.
The bill also means police can arrest anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant if they’re stopped for any other reason.
Alabama employers also are now required to use a federal system called E-Verify to determine if new workers are in the country legally.
Gov. Robert Bentley said the law is America’s toughest. Groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center say they plan to challenge it.
Mary Bauer, the legal director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said on Thursday that she expects a lawsuit to be filed before the provisions of the law are scheduled to take effect on September 1.
Mrs Bauer said: ‘It is clearly unconstitutional. It’s mean-spirited, racist and we think a court will enjoin it.’
Sam Brooks, of the SPLC’s Immigrant Justice Project, said the new law will set back progress Alabama has made on civil rights and race relations.
He also said it would be costly for the state to enforce and defend the provisions of the law.
According to the 2010 U.S. census, 3.9 per cent — about 186,000 — of the state’s nearly 4.8 million people were identified as Hispanic or Latino.
That’s more than double the number reported in the 2000 census.
One of the sponsors, Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale said the new law would create jobs and put unemployed Alabama residents back to work.
He said: ‘This will put thousands of Alabamians back in the workforce.’
Jared Shepherd, a lawyer for the ACLU, said the new law has nothing to do with jobs.
‘This is about trying to put anti-immigration sentiment into law,’ Shepherd said, adding that the ACLU would join the SPLC and other groups in challenging the law in court.
He said he finds the provisions requiring schools to document the immigration status of students to be particularly troublesome.
He said he is concerned that immigrant parents will not send their children to school out of fear that they will be arrested because of their immigration status, the Associated Press reports.
Public schools will not be able to deny illegal immigrants an education, however.
Gov. Bentley said the bill was intended to get data about how many illegal immigrants attend public schools.
The governor, who campaigned on passing the toughest anti-illegal immigration bill possible, said he believes the measure can withstand legal challenges.
The House sponsor, Republican Rep. Micky Hammon of Decatur, said the bill was written so that if any part of it is determined to be unconstitutional or violate federal law, the rest will stand.
Alabama’s law was modelled on a similar law passed in Arizona.
A federal judge blocked the most controversial parts of Arizona’s law last year after the Justice Department sued.
A federal appeals court judge upheld the decision, and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has said she plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Neighboring Georgia also passed a law cracking down on immigration this year, and civil liberties groups have filed a lawsuit trying to block it.
Linton Joaquin, general counsel for the National Immigration Law Centre in Los Angeles, said the Alabama law stands out over other states because it covers all parts of an immigrant’s life.
‘It is a sweeping attack on immigrants and people of colour in general. It adds restrictions on education, housing and other areas.
‘It is a very broad attack. The state does not have the right to create its own immigration regime,’ Mr Joaquin said.
He said his organization plans to be involved in lawsuits challenging the new law, adding that it’s already involved in challenges in Utah, Arizona, Indiana and Georgia.
GA Department of Transportation Scam Alert www.privateofficer.com
In one case, GDOT said a driver with a flat tire pulled over on Interstate 75 near Moores Mill Road, where he was approached by a man wearing a gray safety vest in a white Dodge pickup truck.
The man identified himself as a GDOT employee. He took $100 and the wheel rim from the victim with the promise that he would come back to mount a new tire, but he never returned.
GDOT said a second case involved a man who claimed to be a “federal job recruiter” approaching job seekers at various career fairs throughout Metro Atlanta.
In exchange for $87 for an application and background check, the man promised to give people jobs with GDOT. In this case, the victims wired the money to the perpetrator, only to discover that it was a scam.
GDOT would like to remind Georgia residents that its HERO operators are always easy to identify; they drive Department trucks, wear uniforms, carry identification and never charge drivers for their assistance.
The Department also does not utilize employment recruiters or charge fees to job applicants.
Anyone who has been approached by these scam artists or has any additional information about these cases is asked to call GDOT’s Investigations Unit at 404-347-0620.
Source:News11
Baby thrown from speeding car during shoplifter pursuit www.privateofficer.com
COLUMBIA, SC June 11 2011 – A 14-month-old child was thrown from a speeding getaway car late Thursday night after the suspects were caught shoplifting at KMart, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Just after 9:00 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the KMart on Two Notch Road for a shoplifting call. The sheriff’s department says two women got into a scuffle with security officers after being confronted and accused of stealing from the store.
Deputies say a third woman, 22-year-old Kimberly Moody, was in the getaway car, according to the sheriff’s department.
When Moody saw what happened in the store she sped off, according to deputies. As she was driving away, the 14-month-old was thrown from the car. The child was not restrained and the door was not secure, according to the department.
Deputy Curtis Wilson says the child has broken ribs, a collapsed lung and multiple abrasions and is currently in ICU at the hospital.
Moody will be charged with unlawful conduct towards a child. She is awaiting a bond hearing.
21-year-old Courtney Palmer was arrested Thursday night and charged with shoplifting. A judge granted Palmer a $2,130 personal recognizance bond Friday morning. She is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
The mother of the injured baby, according to the deputies, was involved in the scuffle with the security officer, but was not charged. Her name has not been released.
We will have more details on this developing story as they become available.
Source:WIS
Mobile teachers arrested in sex sting www.privateofficer.com
MOBILE, Alabama June 11 2011- Eight people have been arrested during an undercover sex sting in the area of Langan Park in Mobile.
Two of them are Mobile County Public School employees.
Danny Moncla, a social studies teacher at Grand Bay Middle School, is charged with loitering for the purpose of deviant sexual activity.
Moncla was also arrested in 2009 in an undercover sex sting at the scenic overlook in Daphne.
Investigators said he asked a male officer for sexual favors.
That case was eventually dismissed with conditions.
Thus far, there has been no response from the Mobile school system about Moncla’s future in the classroom.
The other school employee is James Fredriksen.
He works in the school district’s central office.
Fredriksen is charged with loitering for the purpose of deviate sexual activity, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of salvia.
That’s a plant which can make you hallucinate.
Police said the arrests were made by undercover officers over a three day period, beginning Monday.
They said the arrests were the result of complaints from citizens and park goers.
Christopher Levy with the Mobile Police Department said, “It’s a family place. Any kind of sexual activity is unacceptable in a park.”
Police arrested eight people earlier this week on misdemeanor charges of loitering for the purpose of deviate sexual activity.
Levy said, “We simply send these officers out there, and they really just hangout, and they’re approached by these men for the purpose of having sex.”
Langan Park is an especially popular place in the summer.
Bridgette and Clay Moss brought their 16 month old son Kenton to the park Thursday.
Clay Moss said, “It something that, if you’re going to do it, do it in a more private setting, I guess, not in a public park where children are exposed to it, if they are exposed to it.”
Bridgette Moss said, “You know, you try to protect your kids from something like that, and, its not something to do in a park, especially a park for kids.”
Andre Richardson has three children.
Richardson said, “To hear something like that, I wouldn’t expect it, but, even knowing that its going on now, it makes me a little bit more cautious, me being a parent.”
And police said they’ll do another undercover operation, if they receive more citizen complaints.
Source:News5
Alabama shoplifter assaults store security agents www.privateofficer.com
GADSDEN, Alabama June 11 2011 — A 23-year-old Gadsden woman, Felicia Carmona, was arrested this week when she was stopped at a Gadsden Walmart on suspicion of shoplifting, then allegedly attacked a store security officer, the Gadsden Times reports.
When confronted at the door about stolen items she was believed to be carrying in her purse, Carmona allegedly attacked the store’s loss-prevention officers, resisting, fighting and scratching one of the men across his chest, the Gadsden Times reported.
Carmona was eventually taken into custody by security and held until police could arrive. She is facing shoplifting and assault charges.
Honolulu school security guard indicted for enticing child www.privateofficer.com
The state Attorney General’s office on Thursday presented the case against Douglas Lopez, 45, to an Oahu grand jury. The suspect was then indicted on one count of first-degree electronic enticement of a child, and his bail was set at $40,000.
Lopez is accused of sending explicit cell phone text messages to a 13-year-old girl, and then arranging to meet her in person for sex. Investigators say they became aware of the plan because the eighth grader sought help from her mother, who was in a relationship with the suspect at the time.
Previous enticement cases involved suspects communicating with undercover officers who were posing as children on the Internet.
At the time of his arrest, Lopez worked as a lunch supervisor at Benjamin Parker Elementary in Kaneohe and as a security guard at the Bishop Museum. He was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Source:HawaiiNewsNow
Woman found dead at Bonnarro music festival www.privateofficer.com
MANCHESTER, Tenn. June 11 2011– A Pennsylvania woman has died at the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester. Officials said there was no sign of trauma.
Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves said the 32-year-old woman was found dead in her tent around 11 p.m. Thursday.
The cause of death was unknown.Officials planned to perform an autopsy to determine if heat or drugs was a factor.
The woman’s identity was not released.
A 29-year-old North Carolina man died of heat stroke at last year’s festival. Officials said David Sloane collapsed in front of medical personnel. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
The Tullahoma News reported Sloane had a core body temperature of 108 degrees.
In 2009, an Alabama man also died while attending Bonnaroo. Officials said a clean-up crew found 26-year-old Matthew Lands’ body inside his single-person tent.
A Kentucky man also died at the festival in 2007. Officials said the 25-year-old died on the first full day of the event.
In each death, preliminary examinations did not show any signs of trauma.
The four-day outdoor music festival draws over 80,000 people annually. Attendants can either pitch tents and camp on the 700-acre farm, or bring an RV.
Temperatures have ranged in the low to mid 90s.
Event organizers recommend attendants stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. Several portable water stations have been provided on site, and officials advise concert-goers bring plenty of water that can be carried easily.
Emergency medical personnel and security personnel are also on site throughout the entire festival to offer assistance.
Source:NEWSCHANNEL5
Paramus police pursuit nabs mall shoplifters www.privateofficer.com
Paramus NJ June 11 2011 Police arrested two Brooklyn men after a chase at the Garden State Plaza Thursday, police reports said.
Officer Dmitriy Mazur headed to Nordstrom’s at about 6 p.m. after security there said someone tried to make a $1,653.15 credit card purchase. The purchase wasn’t authorized and the man, 33-year-old Orlando St. Paul, left the store and got into a white Toyota Camry with New York plates occupied by another man, 42-year-old Omoruyi Wellington, reports said.
Mazur saw the Camry in the north parking lot of the mall, reports said. He drove toward the car to speak with its occupants when Wellington, who was driving the car, pulled out of the parking spot, reports said.
When he saw the police car, Wellington tried to drive around it but couldn’t, reports said. Mazur ordered Wellington back into the space, but Wellington went into reverse to get away, striking a nearby vehicle three times while trying to drive off, reports said.
Wellington only managed to get so far though, as he was soon stuck in traffic in the parking lot, reports said. That’s when Wellington and St. Paul tried to make a run for it, reports said.
Mazur ordered them back into the car. St. Paul complied and was arrested, but Wellington ran off, reports said.
Det. Sgt. Kevin Delaney, who was patrolling the lot, caught up to Wellington and arrested him, reports said.
Police found Wellington and St. Paul were in possession of six fraudulent credit cards, three fake driver’s licenses and the personal information of four identity theft victims, reports said.
Wellington was charged with eluding police in a motor vehicle, possession of stolen credit cards, identity theft and six motor vehicle summons: leaving the scene of an accident, failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, driving without a license, driving without insurance, careless driving and reckless driving. He was sent to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
St. Paul was charged with possession of stolen credit cards, possession of fraudulent government identification and attempted use of stolen credit cards. He was sent to Bergen County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Source -Patch News
Victorville graduation fight lands 7 in handcuffs www.privateofficer.com
VICTORVILLE CA June 11 2011 — Sheriff’s deputies arrested seven people Thursday after a fight broke out during the graduation ceremonies at Victor Valley High School.
Deputies received reports of the fight at 7:11 p.m. in the school’s north parking lot, away from the ceremonies, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department news release.
Deputies learned that three girls were involved in a dispute weeks earlier and family members got involved in the dispute that escalated to a fight Thursday.
Family members fought with deputies and security officers as the deputies tried to take three of the combatants into custody, according to the news release.
The fighting family members were handcuffed, following a short melee. Deputies and security pushed the remaining crowd behind a parking lot fence, where they were told to leave the campus.
The crowd then began pushing through the fence. Deputies used pepper spray and the crowd dispersed, according to the news release.
Deputies arrested Geoffrey Vaughn Jr. on suspicion of battery, trespassing and resisting arrest. They arrested Geoffrey Vaughn Sr., Tamara Sutphen and a 16 year-old boy for resisting arrest. They also arrested Monique Allen, Clarice Matthews and the 13 year-old girl on suspicion of fighting in public.
The teens were arrested and booked at Apple Valley Juvenile Hall and the adults were booked at Victor Valley Jail.
Corpus Christi employee charged with felony theft www.privateofficer.com
CORPUS CHRISTI TX June 11 2011 — On the heels of the city manager announcing he’s starting a team to investigate corruption at city hall, police arrested a city employee.
Police say 46-year-old Genaro Perez admitted to stealing 14 tires, worth more than $1,100 from the city.
Detectives say the senior vehicle pool attendant ordered the tires and picked them up at the City’s main service center on Ayers.
He was supposed to use them to replace old tires on city vehicles.
But, police say instead, Perez loaded them up in his truck and took the tires to his home in the 600 block of Hugo.
Then, they say he sold them on Craigslist.
One of the employees that works with Perez says he just didn’t show up for work today and when he found out why he was shocked.
Eddy Huerta said, “I was off Monday and Tuesday and I came in today and heard what happened. What did you think? I just couldn’t believe it I couldn’t believe it he never talked about having problems I was just shocked this morning he comes in at 8 and nobody showed up.”
The city manager already started the termination process after he says police told him they caught Perez red-handed Tuesday afternoon.
At least one co-worker is having a hard time understanding the crime.
Huerta said, “And to find out that he’s accused of stealing tires, is that frustrating as a city employee? I guess yeah because that’s our hard earned money, tax payers I’m pretty sure if they find out, they’ll be mad too.”
Police say the investigation started a couple weeks ago after a city employee called in the tip.
Officers say Perez made four different trips to pick up tires but they say this past Tuesday’s trip will be the last.
If convicted, Perez faces up to a $4,000 fine and one year in jail.
Nevada gym owner charged in scheme to defraud US military www.privateofficer.com
Carson City NV June 11 2011 A Carson City businessman was arrested Wednesday in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. military and commit money laundering by allegedly selling stolen U.S. military ammunition, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Chad Eric O’Kelley, 40, formerly of El Paso, Texas, was arrested on a federal warrant at his Indian Hills home by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s and Homeland Security. Agents assigned to the Southwest Border Financial Operations and Currency Unified Strike Force and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Office of the Inspector General in El Paso conducted the investigation and traveled to Nevada to execute the federal arrest warrant.
O’Kelley, co-owner and manager of Gold’s Gym in Carson City, is charged by a federal grand jury indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States and money laundering.
According to the indictment, in early 2007, O’Kelley was employed as the Iraq deputy in-country manager stationed at the Baghdad Operations Center by Security Operations Consulting, a private company holding U.S. Department of Defense contracts. O’Kelley’s job was to ensure that all bases of operation in Iraq under contract with SOC were supplied with ammunition and other logistical support and supplies.
The indictment alleges that beginning in January 2007 and continuing until July 2008, O’Kelley conspired with others to illegally obtain ammunition belonging to the United States, then resell the ammunition to private individuals and businesses in Iraq. At times, O’Kelley sold the ammunition back to the United States and coalition forces effectively requiring the government to pay for the ammunition twice.
The indictment also alleges that O’Kelley and others, using Federal Express and body couriers, shipped bulk currency derived from these transactions — more than $10,000 at one time — from Iraq to the United States to distribute among the conspirators. After being promoted in August 2007 to Iraq operations senior program manager at SOC headquarters in Minden, O’Kelley continued to receive proceeds from the scheme via Fed Ex. The indictment alleges that O’Kelley took the proceeds and subsequently made four structured cash deposits – each less than $10,000– into an El Paso bank account to avoid financial transaction reporting requirements.
O’Kelley had his initial appearance Thursday in Reno before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie P. Cooke who ordered him to report for further court hearings in the El Paso Division of the Western District of Texas.
If convicted of the conspiracy charge, O’Kelley faces up to five years in federal prison for the charge of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, and up to 20 years for the money laundering charge. The government is also seeking to forfeit any traceable proceeds from the scheme.
Source:Neveda Appeal
