Utah police arrest man who threatened to assassinate Utah Governor www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Salt Lake Utah Feb 5 2012 Authorities announced Saturday they had arrested a man who they said threatened to assassinate Utah Gov. Gary Herbert last week.

The threat prompted the governor to be placed on lockdown and moved by his security detail, according to a probable cause statement released by the Salt Lake County Jail Saturday night.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Dwayne Baird said officers working an undercover sting arrested Brian Biff Baker, 52, whose city of residence wasn’t known, in the area of 900 East and South Temple just before 10 p.m. Thursday after someone called West Valley police earlier in the day to report he had sent them text messages threatening the governor’s life.

Baird said he couldn’t go into a lot of detail about the alleged plot, but said authorities believe he posed a legitimate threat to Herbert’s life.

“He was going to wait for the governor and kill him,” he said.

Investigators said Baker threatened to use explosives to blow up the governor’s mansion and told his acquaintance he had been hiding in the bushes waiting to get the governor, according to the probable cause statement. He also allegedly threatened to shoot a police officer he saw drive by, the statement says.

Baird said Baker was arrested after he unknowingly met with undercover investigators on an unrelated matter.

After arresting Baker on suspicion of the second-degree felony making terroristic threats to a governmental unit, Baird said officers executed a search warrant on his car. The PC statement says Baker told investigators he had M-80s, other fireworks and ammunition, inside his vehicle.

Baird said investigators found ammunition and fireworks in the car, but no guns.

“I don’t know what his explanation was [for having those items],” Baird said.

He said he didn’t know why Baker would want to kill Herbert, but he said authorities take any threats against public officials very seriously.

Saturday evening, Baker remained in custody at the Salt Lake County Jail.

Source:sltrib.com

Maryland State Police abandoned “ten code” for plain english communications www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Baltimore MD Feb 5 2012 Another great American tradition, part of the lore and legend of the road, slid further toward oblivion last week. The Maryland State Police abandoned the terse “ten code” system of radio communication.

That was the system that embodied such code terms as the celebrated 10-4 — message understood. It was adopted by long-distance truckers, and it added to the laconic mystique of highway patrol officers.

Virginia abandoned the code in 2006. The replacement was plain English.

Effective Feb. 1, the Maryland State Police said in an announcement, the code system was out, to be replaced by “the Common Language Protocol,” which they said is also known as Plain Language.

In giving the reason for the change, the Maryland police offered a similar explanation to that put forward by Virginia.

Even police agencies in adjoining districts, authorities have said, have developed different codes for the same events. As a result, officials have said, when several agencies try to cooperate, confusion could arise. In particular, officials said, the changeover was prompted by difficulties encountered on Sept. 11, 2001.

So for the Maryland troopers, it is on to the phonetic alphabet — A-Alpha, B-Bravo and C-Charlie — and, for example, such terms as “disabled vehicle” instead of the time-honored “10-46.”

Computer gamer dead in chair at Internet Cafe goes unnoticed for 9 hours www.privateofficer.com

 

 

New Taipei City Feb 5 2012 A 23-year-old computer gamer sat dead in his chair for at least nine hours at Internet cafe in New Taipei City and nobody noticed, the Taipei Times reported.

The man, identified as Chen Rong-yu, had paid for 23 hours of web access to play League of Legends at an Internet cafe at 10 p.m. Tuesday, but died unnoticed, police told the newspaper.

“I thought that he was only dozing off and paid no particular attention,” the female waitress who made the grim discovery said.

Chen, a frequent customer at the cafe, was sitting in the first row when his head drooped slightly and his hands were stiff at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The waitress approached Chen when his 23 hours were up, and saw that his face was blackened and was sitting rigidly in the chair. When she moved Chen’s chair away from the desk, the man’s hands remained outstretched as if still gaming.

There were 10 other people in the cafe at the time of the discovery, but most remained in front of their computers and showed little interest as police cordoned off the area, the newspaper said.

Initial investigations indicated that the man may have died of organ failure or cardiac arrest, the Taipei Times reported. A slip of paper found among Chen’s belongings showed he had an upcoming appointment at the National Taiwan University Hospital, the newspaper said.

Portland mail carrier defecates in backyard of home allowed back to work www.privateofficer.com

 

 

 

PORTLAND  OR Feb 5 2012- Some neighbors in Southeast Portland are upset that a postal carrier caught relieving himself in a backyard was returning to his old route.

A man in the 7000-block of SE Ogden snapped photos of his mail carrier defecating in his neighbor’s yard last April.

A spokesperson for the post office said the carrier was disciplined and temporarily taken off his route, but he has since been allowed back.

“We want to see him replaced at the very least. We don’t want him on our route. We don’t trust him,” neighbor Rick Yeoman said.

A USPS spokesperson said something like this will not happen again with that mail carrier in the neighborhood.

“Absolutely not. We’re pretty confident that everyone has the message,” USPS spokesperson Kerry Jeffrey said.

Neighbors said they’ve contacted lawyers to see what their options are.

Source:kgw.com

Houston man cuts 4 year old’s throat- commits suicide in police stand-off www.privateofficer.com

 

 

 

Houston TX Feb 5 2012 A man fatally shot himself Friday after a two-hour standoff with Houston police, who had pursued him after an attack on 4-year-old girl whose throat was cut, officials said.

Police said Decorory Montriel Pruitt, 27, became angry with his girlfriend about 9 a.m. at his home in the 7900 block of West Airport. He left and drove to an apartment in the 6300 block of Cattails Lane, where his ex-girlfriend lived.

After he was unable to find the woman there, police said, Pruitt grabbed her 4-year-old daughter, Simone Taylor, and stabbed the child in the neck.

Simone ran to a back bedroom where her aunt was as Pruitt fled, police said. The woman then gave police a description of the attacker.

Simone was taken to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital with serious injuries to her throat, said HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva. She is expected to survive.

HPD officials didn’t say what sparked the original dispute with Pruitt’s current girlfriend. According to court records, Pruitt had a criminal history that includes charges of felony evading arrest and assault.

After the attack on the little girl, Pruitt led officers on a 30-minute chase that ended back at his home in southwest Houston.

He pulled into his garage, got out of the car with a gun pointed at his own head then barricaded himself in the house. A short time later, police heard a single gunshot, Silva said.

At about 12:15 p.m., SWAT officers breached the door and entered the home, where they found Pruitt dead on the floor of a back room with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Neighbors in the complex of townhomes reacted with dismay.

Quedia Daniels, whose home is near the dead man’s, said she’s lived in the area about a year, but the violence is reason enough to find a new place to live.

“I’m terrified,” she said. “I’m ready to move now.”

Anthony Batiste, a maintenance man at the property, said Pruitt and his girlfriend moved in two days ago and had an argument on Thursday. When he heard about the day’s tragedy, Batiste expressed regret.

“What happened right here, it shouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Renee Hall, another of Pruitt’s neighbors, said the incident didn’t make sense to her. “It’s sad,” she said.

Pittsburgh schools drop security company using felons as guards www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Pittsburgh PA Feb 5 2012 Two more school districts quit using Pond Security effective Friday after learning the private company staffed schools with guards who had criminal records.

Superintendents for the Moniteau School District in Butler County and Reynolds School District in Mercer County said they stopped using Pond Security after inquiries showed the company hired at least two guards with criminal records, including one who is a registered sex offender.

The districts followed Grove City Area School System, which dismissed the firm this week.

“We didn’t know anything about Pond sending us security guards with criminal records,” said Moniteau Superintendent George Svolos. “We never would have permitted that had we known. We just don’t put our district at risk like that.”

Kelly Sieber, executive director for the Shaler branch of the international company, said the company immediately would begin implementing new hiring practices to make sure all employees are in compliance with state laws, which prohibit convicted felons from working for security companies and require those who work in schools to have state clearances.

“We deeply regret these breaches of our policies … and are taking aggressive action to ensure the integrity of our services,” Sieber said.

Sieber said Pond will conduct new background checks on all employees and share the results with clients; not assign guards to sensitive security situations until their state clearances are confirmed; and Sieber will review and approve all hires to ensure that all background checks are conducted properly.

“We take the safety of our customers and the public very seriously, and it remains our top priority,” she said.

Svolos said no children were in danger when Pond officers stood guard at football games, graduation and other events. He said the guards always were under the supervision of district administrators.

Reynolds Superintendent Joseph Neuch said the district’s board of directors will review Pond’s background check practices before deciding whether to permanently terminate their contract, which expires in June.

Source:www.pittsburghlive.com

Mobile Alabama police kill escaped inmate who stabbed officer www.privateofficer.com

 

 

MOBILE, Alabama Feb 5 2012  (Reuters) – Authorities shot and killed an escaped inmate Friday who stabbed one Mobile police officer to death and wounded a second after fleeing in a stolen police car.

Cpl. Christopher Levy, spokesman for the Mobile Police Department, said Lawrence Wallace Jr., 24, was pronounced dead at the scene of a standoff several miles from the location where Officer Steven Green was stabbed.

Lori Myles, spokeswoman for the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, said the incident began around 3:50 p.m. as Green transported Lawrence to Mobile County Metro Jail for booking on a robbery charge. Lawrence stabbed Green and then fled in the officer’s patrol car.

A second officer, Mark Johnson, gave chase and was shot in the arm during the pursuit. He received treatment at the University of South Alabama Medical Center and was later discharged.

Court records showed Wallace was arrested for first-degree robbery in 2007, but the charge was dropped. He was arrested again on April 5, 2011, and charged with possession of a controlled substance and second-degree marijuana possession.

Mobile Police Chief Michael T. Williams appeared briefly at the site of the standoff on Cedar Crescent Drive. He declined to comment until after meeting with families of the victims at the hospital.

Homestead police shoots-kills 16 yr old boy during silent alarm response www.privateofficer.com

 

 

 

HOMESTEAD, Fla.Feb 5 2012 - The family of a 16-year-old boy gunned down by a Homestead police officer Thursday night wants to know why the officer shot him.

The incident occurred just after 11 p.m. at a Chevron station at Southwest 312th Street and U.S. 1.

Police said a gas station clerk used a silent alarm to call for help during a confrontation with Danny Cruz, 16.

“Some guy’s coming inside and asking for some medicine, and she’s telling (him) she (doesn’t) have the Tylenol. (He was) asking for Tylenol,” said Desiree Bara, a co-worker of the clerk. “And the guy’s asking for Motrin. He’s giving $1, and he asked for the dollar back.”

When officers arrived, they said they told Cruz to show his hands, which were in his pockets. When he didn’t comply, shots were fired, police said.

“Why shoot four rounds or five to an innocent child, a 16-year-old? Taser him. Don’t shoot to kill. That’s not right. It’s not fair,” said the teen’s mother.

Cruz was a gifted student at Mavericks High, a charter school. Relatives said they want answers about his death.

“That’s all I want to know: Why?” said Cruz’s aunt, Ivonne Garcia.

“He was a loving brother and always caring, and I want to know why, as well,” said Cruz’s sister. “Why would they do this to him?”

“I hurt. I lost my best friend. I grew up with him,” said Pedro Cardona, a friend.

“He was a good kid,” said Cruz’s mother. “He hung around probably with the wrong kids. He’d never been in trouble with the law or nothing like that.”

When asked whether there was a reason she could think of why her son would be carrying a gun, Cruz’s mother said no. But that begs the question, why would he be posing with a friend holding a gun for his Facebook profile picture?

“Just posing, just to look cool,” Cruz’s mother said. “Even if it was possible that he did have the gun, he wasn’t there doing an armed robbery. He wasn’t there doing nothing. He was just purchasing something.”

Miami-Dade police are combing through surveillance video from cameras at the gas station as they work to answer several questions, including whether Cruz ever pulled a gun, whether he threatened the clerk with a weapon, whether he was carrying a real gun and what made the officer shoot.

“To me, I felt like they didn’t even give him a chance to even surrender or to talk to him,” said Cruz’s mother. “I want to see surveillance videos. I want to see whether what they say is true or not. This is the only way I will find out, and I want justice.”

Anne Arundel County police corporal arrested for tipping off drug dealers www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Anne Arundel MD Feb 5 2012  A police corporal was charged Friday after allegedly warning drug suspects that a search warrant was going to be executed for their residence, police said.

Anne Arundel County Police Cpl. Rick Alexander, 36, a 14-year member of the department, was arrested and charged with obstructing and hindering a police officer, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to a statement Friday evening from county police.

Around 10 p.m. Thursday, Anne Arundel County Police executed a narcotics search and seizure warrant in the 1300 block of Juniper Street, in Shady Side, police said.

Several people were detained and interviewed during the search. One resident of the house told police that prior to the search Alexander contacted them, saying that their home was going to be searched.

Detectives confirmed that Alexander knew the residents and had spoken to them prior to the search by phone. Interviews on Friday, police said, corroborated the initial accusation.

Police found a small amount of drugs in the home during the search and were directed to another location where more than 80 grams of marijuana — worth more than $800 on the street — had been hidden following Alexander’s alleged warning.

Alexander has been released on his own recognizance, police said.

Source:baltimore sun

Middlesex Hospital staff-security assulted by unruly patient www.privateofficer.com

 

 

MIDDLETOWN CT Feb 5 2012 — A city woman was arraigned in Middletown Court Thursday after allegedly assaulting Middlesex Hospital staff, police report.

Judith Trunik, 47, 172 Pearl St. Apt. 3E, was charged with two counts of assault on emergency medial personnel, disorderly conduct and failure to submit to fingerprinting on Feb. 1. In court on Thursday, she had a new bond set for $5,000 cash or surety and was given a new court date of Feb. 8.

According to police, Trunik had been brought to the hospital for being intoxicated and needing treatment. Police said Trunik was verbally abusive toward two nurses, becoming more hostile as the women attempted to treat her. Trunik allegedly started screaming at the nurses, calling them several expletives, and was reportedly overheard by other patients.

Hospital security was called as Trunik refused to stay in bed. She spit in the both security guards’ faces and struck the guards on the face and neck, police said.

According to police, Trunik has been arrested “several times” in the past for assaulting police officers and hospital personnel. Trunik has a conviction history in Middletown for disorderly conduct and assault on public safety/emergency medical personnel, both cases from 2008.

Trunik allegedly has five counts of failure to appear charges on her record, and was held originally on a $15,000 surety bond before her court appearance Thursday, police reported. Trunik refused to be fingerprinted or have a booking photograph taken, police said.

Source:middletown press

Central Union High School teacher arrested with drugs and explosives www.privateofficer.com

 

 

El Centro CA Feb 5 2012 A Central Union High School teacher who is being prosecuted on allegations that he possessed methamphetamine and explosives was placed on unpaid administrative leave, an official said Thursday.

Following a closed-session meeting of the high school district’s governing board, it was announced that Mike Kelsoe will remain on leave pending the outcome of his current criminal matter, said Superintendent Thomas Budde.

Kelsoe, who has been released on his own recognizance because of a lack of any prior convictions, was arrested in Imperial along with two other defendants on Jan. 21 on suspicion of committing six crimes that include being under the influence of methamphetamine and being in the possession of explosives.

Court records reveal that Kelsoe has two prior arrests on misdemeanor counts of possessing methamphetamine in 2001 and 2010, but he has remained on the Central Union High District’s payroll since he was never convicted of either crime, Budde said.

Source:Imperial Valley Press

Bismarck teacher and jazz musician charged with corruption of a minor www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Bismarck ND Feb 5 2011 Police have arrested a Bismarck teacher and jazz musician and charged him Thursday afternoon with three counts of corruption or solicitation of a minor in Burleigh County Court.

Bond for John Krueger, 26, was set at $2,000.
He is prohibited from having contact with the victim and must participate in the 24/7 program.

Krueger is also prohibited from having employment which involves contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Authorities released no further information.

Central Falls High School teacher arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor www.privateofficer.com

 

 

 

Central Falls RI Feb 5 2012 State police on Thursday arrested a former Central Falls High School teacher who was under investigation for inappropriate behavior.

Emma Wise, 22, was charged with one count of procurement of alcohol for a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She pleaded not guilty in Providence District Court and was released on personal recognizance.

State police said Wise took five teenagers to a Pawtucket liquor store in October and drank with them in a park after a school football game.

Investigators said one student admitted to a sexual relationship, but no charges were filed because the student is over the age of consent.

“Our staff and school community are disheartened by this situation, but proud of the students who came forward and cooperated with police so that the matter could be investigated and resolved appropriately,” superintendent Frances Gallo said.

Gallo said Wise was put on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and that she resigned.

Source:turnto10.com

Julius West Middle School -Rockville MD teacher charged with sex offenses against student www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Rockville MD Feb 5 2012 A Rockville man who teaches at Julius West Middle School and coaches boys basketball and track at Richard Montgomery High School was arrested Thursday and is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student, county police said in a news release.

Scott Duane Spear, 47, of the 1600 block of Auburn Avenue in Rockville, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree sex offense.

Police said the department’s Family Crimes Division received information on Friday from an unnamed person who said that a 16-year-old Richard Montgomery student had told the source that she had sex with Spear.

Spear, who teaches social studies at Julius West, had been the student’s teacher when she was in eighth grade and had been her track coach since 2009, according to police.

A police investigation revealed that in May or June of last year the student told the unnamed source that she had sex with an older man, but gave no further details, the release said. In November, the student told the same person that the older man was Spear, her track coach at Richard Montgomery, police said.

Spear and the girl were in “constant contact” with each other via cell phone during and after school and on weekends, according to the police news release. In April or May of last year, Spear asked the girl to meet, police said. She agreed and Spear took the girl to a Rockville residence where they had sex, the release said.

Spear took the girl to the same residence the next night and they again had sex, the release said.

Spear was arrested without incident at his home this afternoon, said Officer Janelle Smith, a county police spokeswoman. Bond information was unavailable as of 5:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Attempts to reach Spear on Thursday afternoon were unsuccessful.

Spear has been placed on administrative leave, said Dana Tofig, a county schools spokesman. “That is with pay for now, but there will be an investigation and the status could change based on what is discovered,” Tofig said.

School counselors will be on “heightened awareness based on these circumstances” and will be available to speak with students on Friday, Tofig said.

Julius West principal Nanette Poirier sent the following email to parents Thursday afternoon:

“This is Nanette Poirier, principal of JWMS. I am contacting you to share information with you regarding the arrest of a member of our staff. The arrest occurred too late for us to send a letter home to you today, which is why I am sharing this difficult news by phone. Mr. Scott Spear, an 8th grade world studies teachers, was arrested by Montgomery County Police this afternoon and charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a minor. This minor is not a student at JWMS. Mr. Spear is on administrative leave at this time. Counselors will be available at the school tomorrow to speak to students who are upset about this matter. I will send a letter home tomorrow. Please know that the safety and security of your children is of the utmost importance to me and to the JW staff.”

Richard Montgomery principal Nelson McLeod sent the following email to parents Thursday evening:

“Good evening. This is a message from the principal of Richard Montgomery High School, calling to share information with you regarding the arrest of one of our coaches. The arrest occurred too late for us to send a letter home to you today, which is why I am sharing this difficult news by phone. Mr. Scott Spear, a Boys Varsity Basketball coach and Head Cross Country Track coach at Richard Montgomery High School and a teacher at Julius West Middle School, was arrested by Montgomery County Police on Thursday and charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a minor. The minor is a student at Richard Montgomery High School. Mr. Spear is on administrative leave at this time. Counselors will be available at the school tomorrow to speak to students who may be upset about this matter. Please know that the safety and security of your children is of the utmost importance to me and to the entire Richard Montgomery staff. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.”

Source:Patch.com

Women say that TSA target them for extra screening www.privateofficer.com

 

 

DALLAS TX Feb 5 2012   – Women passengers complain that TSA agents are targeting them for extra screening.

The Transportation Security Administration has a policy to randomly select people for extra screening, but some female passengers are complaining. They believe there is nothing “random” about the way they were picked.

A Dallas woman says TSA agents repeatedly asked her to step back into a body scanning machine at DFW International Airport. “I feel like I was totally exposed,” said Ellen Terrell, who is a wife and mother. “They wanted a nice good look.”

When Ellen Terrell and her husband, Charlie, flew out of DFW Airport several months ago, Terrell says she was surprised by a question a female TSA agent asked her. “She says to me, ‘Do you play tennis?’ And I said, ‘Why?’ She said, ‘You just have such a cute figure.’”

Terrell says she walked into the body scanner which creates an image that a TSA agent in another room reviews. Terrell says she tried to leave, but the female agent stopped her. “She says, ‘Wait, we didn’t get it,’” recalls Terrell, who claims the TSA agent sent her back a second time and even a third. But that wasn’t good enough.

After the third time, Terrell says even the agent seemed frustrated with her co-workers in the other room. “She’s talking into her microphone and she says, ‘Guys, it is not blurry, I’m letting her go. Come on out.’”

When TSA agents do a pat down on a traveler, only female agents are allowed to touch female passengers. But the TSA allows male agents to view the images of female passengers.

Ellen and Charlie Terrell are convinced that the extra screenings were unnecessary, possibly even voyeuristic. “I think it’s sexual harassment if you’re run through there a third or fourth time,“ responded Texas State Representative Lon Burnam of Fort Worth. “And this is not the first time I have heard about it,” said Burnam, who adds that a number of his constituents have voiced concerns about privacy.

CBS 11 News dug through more than 500 records of TSA complaints and found a pattern of women who believe that there was nothing random about the way they were selected for extra screening. TSA redacted the names of the passengers who complained, but here are quotations from several complaints.

•“I feel I was targeted by the TSA employee to go through the see-you-naked machine because I am a semi-attractive female.”
•“The screener appeared to enjoy the process of picking someone rather than doing true random screening. I felt this was inappropriate. A woman behind me was also “randomly selected.”
•“TSA staff ‘trolling’ the lines looking for people to pull out was unprofessional.”
•“After that, I saw him going to the private room where x-rays are, to speak to the guy on that room.”
•“I know he went to that room to see my naked body through the machine with the other guy.”
•“When I looked around, I saw that there were only women that were “told” to go through this machine. There were no men.”
•“Maklng American citizens unwilling victims of a peep show by TSA employees using full body imaging devices is an over-the-top invasion of privacy to which I strenuously object.”
CBS 11 News first contacted the TSA in mid-January to request a one-on-one interview on camera. A TSA spokesperson told us that no one was available for that kind of interview. The TSA held a news conference the following week. “Privacy issues is the main point,” said Amy Williams, Federal Security Director for Dallas Love Field.

At the news conference, the TSA announced that DFW and Love Field airports now have all-new scanning machines. The updated technology shows a only a generic-body outline which highlights potential threats. “With the old technology, we had to have an image room that was separate from the equipment,” says Williams. The older scanners, which create more detailed individual x-ray like images, are still used in 39 airports across the country.

“It just makes me wonder what’s going on. Are they doing this all over the country? They’re missing their focus,” said Charlie Terrell.

“You just feel like your privacy has been violated,” says Ellen Terrell.

Ellen Terrell told CBS 11 News that she did not file a complaint because she did not realize that she had that option. Passengers may not be aware that they also can opt out of the scanner by requesting a pat-down screening instead.

The TSA provided CBS 11 News with the following statement in response to our investigation.

“TSA does not profile passengers. All of our millimeter wave technology units including those in Dallas have been upgraded with additional privacy enhancements that no longer display passenger-specific images. Even prior to this upgrade, officers reviewing the images were located in a separate room and would have never seen the passenger being screened. To further ensure passenger privacy and anonymity, a privacy filter was applied to blur all images. The technology remains optional to all passengers.” — Kristin Lee, Assistant Administrator, Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs, Transportation Security Administration

A TSA spokesperson told CBS 11 News that it is not protocol to send a passenger back into a scanner more than once. He said the agency takes all complaints seriously and urges consumers to file complaints if they have a problem. He said airports store video of checkpoints for at least 30 days and complaints filed within that timeframe may be reviewed using the video. He added that passengers can notify a TSA supervisor on location to make a complaint.

Source:CBSDFW.COM

Police seek thieves who stole forty-two bottles of a cologne www.privateofficer.com

 

 

State College PA Feb 5 2012 Forty-two bottles of a cologne branded as “Fierce” were reported stolen about 2:40 p.m. Thursday at Abercrombie and Fitch, 134 S. Allen St., State College police said Friday.

The stolen merchandise, valued at $2,600, includes 18 3.4-ounce bottles valued at $74 apiece and 24 1.7-ounce bottles valued at $54 apiece, according to a police report.

Two people — a man with black, spiky hair and a blond woman — are believed to have been involved in the theft, police said. They are thought to have been carrying a large, grocery-hauling-type bag made of mesh.

Both appeared to be in their 20s, though their identities are not known, police said. No surveillance videos and no leads were immediately available in the matter, according to the report. It wasn’t clear exactly how the theft was executed.

Also Friday, police said a 14-year-old student at State College Area High School was caught drinking Thursday afternoon in a shop class. She had mixed Bacardi into iced tea, according to a police report.

Police said her parents were notified and that the school is handling disciplinary action

Chicago police bust party-arrest illegal security officers www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Chicago IL Feb 5 2012 - Police shut down a dangerous party at an unlicensed West Side nightclub early Saturday, seizing thousands of dollars in cash and arresting eight people — including a man and woman calling themselves the club’s “president” and “first lady.”

Officers arrived at an office-style building at 3450 W. Lake St., in Garfield Park about 1:45 a.m., following reports of a man with a gun, Harrison District Lt. Steven Sesso said.

Police reportedly heard gunshots upon arrival and spotted a large crowd outside that soon scattered. Some people fled back into the building and others ran away, Sesso said.

He said officers found shell casings outside.

Inside, police said they discovered an illegal party attended by about 240 people, complete with a DJ booth and unlicensed bar selling alcohol, according to Sesso, who noted that a church — not in service — was upstairs on the second floor.

Sesso said the makeshift club — “Cash Money On Deck”— was ran by a group also known as CMOD, which police described as a motorcycle and car club.

Officers dispersed partygoers and allegedly found two men and a woman armed with guns and working illegally as security guards.

Police arrested:

Gregory Peters, 19, of the 100 block of North Lotus Avenue;

Rocco Vaughn, 26, of the 3800 block of West Madison Street, and

Lafaye Chew, 42, of the 100 block of North Lotus Avenue.

Sesso said two of them had Firearm Owner’s Identification cards but lacked armed security certification. All three face felony unlawful weapon use charges.

Police also arrested three club organizers for allegedly violating a cease-and-desist order and for operating without a license. Two of them identified themselves as the club’s “president” and “first lady,” according to police.

Police seized about $4,000 in party profits from CMOD, Sesso said.

A 17-year-old girl and 19-year-old woman allegedly fought with police, resulting in their arrest and misdemeanor battery charges for both.

Police had cleared the scene about 3 a.m.

Former St Louis police officer pleads guilty to federal racketeering www.privateofficer.com

 

 

St Louis MO Feb 5 2012 A former St. Louis-area police officer and part-time St. Louis City Hall security officer has pleaded guilty to federal racketeering conspiracy charges.

Norman “Justice” Vick was among 21 people from around the country indicted in June for an alleged role in a violent biker gang called the “Wheels of Soul.” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/zuEYiL) reports that Vick pleaded guilty Wednesday.

Vick admitted destroying the “colors,” or biker group membership patch, that had been stolen from rivals in 2009. Prosecutors say the colors were taken at gunpoint from the STL Riders club.

Sentencing is May 1. Three of Vick’s co-defendants have already pleaded guilty.

Vick was a Berkeley police officer from 1993 to 2008.

Source:www.stltoday.com

Tracy police officer injured by man in underwear www.privateofficer.com

 

 

TRACY CA Feb 5 2012- A Tracy police officer is receiving medical attention for possible broken bones after police say a combative man attacked him and tried to steal his service weapon early Thursday morning.

The 41-year-old officer, a 13-year veteran of the force, was patrolling the 300 block of Hawthorne Road around 12:20 a.m. when he approached a man in his underwear walking slowly and deliberately, said Lt. David Sant of the Tracy Police Department.

“The officer attempted to make contact with the man to see if he was OK, but he assaulted (him) and the fight was on,” Sant said. “It was quite the fight for his life.”

The officer and his assailant scuffled in the street for several minutes before backup arrived. The assailant attempted to grab the officer’s gun, Sant said, but was unable to remove the handgun from the officer’s holster.

“He didn’t get it, but it was clearly his intent,” Sant said.

It took a total of six officers to subdue the attacker, he said.

Even after the suspect was in handcuffs, he continued to be combative, Sant said. He was bleeding from the mouth after the fight and spat at officers, police said. Because he was spitting blood at police, he could be charged with assault with a deadly non-firearm weapon against a police officer, Sant said.

Police identified Samuel Ramos Flores, 30, as the suspect in the attack.

In a department press release, officials from the Tracy Police Department allege officers made contact with Flores during a welfare check on Tuesday and he made threatening statements, including wanting to commit suicide by cop and a desire to grab an officer’s weapon and force them to kill him.

He was restrained and evaluated at an unidentified detention center, but was released without notification to the police department, officials said in a press release.

The incident is under investigation, and a blood sample was drawn from Flores to determine if he was under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances, police said. It’s unclear when the results of the toxicology tests will be ready, Sant said.

According to booking records, Flores could face charges of battery on an officer, attempting to remove a firearm from an officer, resisting arrest and assault with a deadly weapon.

He is being held on a $235,000 bond at San Joaquin County Jail.

The name of the injured officer was not released by the department. He was treated at the hospital and released but there is no timetable set for his return, Sant said. But he estimated it would be at least a week before the officer will return to duty.

Florida man sues Newt Gingrich-security team for roughing him up www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Tallahassee Fla Feb 5 2012 A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against Newt Gingrich and his security team — claiming he was roughed up outside the Florida Republican Presidential Primary earlier this week … because he was carrying a sign supporting another candidate.

In a lawsuit filed yesterday in U.S. District court in Florida, Edward Dillard claims he was just minding his own business on January 31 when Newt and his wife came strolling up to the polling place. Dillard claims he was standing outside of a canopy which had been set up with a microphone stand, when Newt and Callista came right up to him and shook his hand.

Dillard claims Newt then noticed his Ron Paul t-shirt and “immediately turned his back” to him and went on to greet other people. That’s when Dillard claims several of Gingrich’s security team came up to him and tried to “intimidate him into moving from the spot.”

Dillard — who says he was wearing open-toed sandals — then claims one of the agents “lifted his heeled shoe over Dillard’s right foot and dug the back of it into his skin, twisting it side-to-side like he was stomping out a cigarette, causing a fracture to Dillard’s right foot.”

After a minor tussle, Dillard claims the guy who stomped his foot shouted to other members of his team, “Everyone step on his toes!”

Dillard is suing Newt, the campaign and the security firm for assault and battery and seeking unspecified damages.

No comment so far from Gingrich campaign.

Boeing worker seriously injured after being run over by a 787 Dreamliner www.privateofficer.com

 

 

EVERETT, Wash. Feb 5 2012– A Boeing worker was seriously injured Friday evening at Everett’s Paine Field after being run over by a 787 Dreamliner.

Dozens of paramedics and firefighters rushed to Paine Field after 6:00 p.m., working quickly to free the person from under right wing landing gear.

The victim was eventually extricated and immediately airlifted to Harborview Medical Center. He is in serious condition.

As of late Friday night, Boeing had not provided details as to exactly what happened. KING 5 learned the worker was part of a team moving the 787 from one part of Paine Field to another and got caught under the right side landing gear of the jet.

Firefighters and other workers were able to free the trapped person using a powerful jack.

One source says the worker may have bene in charge of the blocks used to keep plane tires from rolling.

In a press release, Boeing said it will investigate the cause of the incident and will implement the necessary changes to avoid a future reoccurence

Franklin Township Volunteer Fire chief killed in wreck en route to station

 

Franklin Township PA Feb 5 2012 The chief of the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department was killed in a crash while en route to the station Thursday night and the assistant chief was critically injured.

Fire Chief David Flint was driving his personal vehicle and Assistant Chief Sharon Petri was in the passenger seat when the collision occurred about five miles from the firehouse on New Road in Erie County, Capt. Jim O’Hara told Firehouse.com Friday morning.

He said that the department’s members are just now coming to grips with their loss as it begins to set in.

“They’ve taken it like one might think they would,” he said. “We’ve had a very long night.”

The crash occurred as the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Flint and Petri were in going westbound on Route 6-N in Washington Township was struck head-on around 6:45 p.m. by an eastbound 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had crossed the centerline.

Petri was extricated from the wreckage and was flown to UPMC Hamot in critical condition and was listed in stable condition as of Friday morning.

Flint was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Jeep, Joshua Nickerson, was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. His condition is unknown at this time.

Flint and Petri were on their way to the station to participate in a weekly training drill and O’Hara said that the crash occurred just 15 minutes before the drill was set to take place.

The 49-year-old chief served close to 10 years with the department and has been its leader for six years.

“He’s one of the smartest guys I know,” O’Hara. “He was a very smart, very compassionate man. I don’t think there was any part of the fire service that he didn’t know anything about.”

Funeral arrangements for Flint are pending.