Archive
Registered sexual predator arrested for exposing himself at Walmart and Publix www.privateofficer.com
Titusville Fla Feb 11 2012 Security photos and tips from the public led to the arrest early Tuesday of a registered sexual predator suspected of exposing himself at Walmart and Publix, Titusville police said.
Robert Walyus, 28, an east Orange County man who spent time in prison on lewd-or-lascivious convictions, was arrested about 1:15 a.m. and is being held in the Orange County Jail on a charge of lewd or lascivious exposure to a child younger than 16. Bail is set at $125,000.
Police say he is the man pictured Saturday evening at a Titusville Walmart, where two children told an adult he flashed them in a toy aisle. One of the children said Walyus asked if he could touch the child, officers said.
Walyus is suspected of similar behavior at a Titusville Publix in October 2011, investigators said.
Last year, Walyus, McDonald’s Corp. and a McDonald’s franchise owner near Oviedo reached a settlement with a 14-year-old girl who said Walyus was touching himself as she ate at the restaurant in 2007 with her mother. Walyus, then a McDonald’s janitor, made eye contact with the girl and smiled while he performed the lewd act, a lawsuit states.
At the time, Walyus was on probation for a similar incident involving a 9-year-old girl, according to the lawsuit.
Walyus was convicted of lewd or lascivious exhibition for the McDonald’s episode and sentenced to three years in prison. He was released in September 2010.
Walyus was sentenced to three years, four months and 18 days in prison for a 2001 lewd-or-lascivious exhibition conviction in Orange County, also involving a person younger than 16.
He was found guilty of exposure of sexual organs and prostitution or lewdness in 2002 and sentenced to nearly a year in the Orange County Jail.
Source:palm beach post news
North Charleston PD goes shirtless for Special Olympics calendar www.privateofficer.com
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC Feb 11 2012 - Selling a calendar for charity is something most people don’t have an issue with, but what if the calendar features twelve officers in various poses, some without their shirts?
Twelve months, twelve badges, twelve hard bodies and one very proud chief of police.
“We’re proud of what we are doing,” North Charleston Chief Jon Zumalt said.”We are proud of our force and this is something we want to do, to highlight some of the guys on the department.”
Chief Zumalt says he’s wanted his officers to be featured in calendar like this for years. He says since he came to the department he’s been clear that fitness is key for a strong force and the calendar reflects that.
Mr. January, swat team member Rob Kruger, says other departments across the nation sell calendars for charity all the time. He says being featured gives citizens a reason to approach officers.
“We’re out there talking to the community more just because of the calendars,” Kruger said.
Each calendar costs $15 and all of the proceeds will go to the Special Olympics. Paula Byers, marketing and development director for the Lowcountry Special Olympics, says it’s doing good while having fun.
“It’s a fit because their mission is Special Olympics and it has a little twist to it that makes it more interesting than a calendar of animals of the arctic or something,” Byers said.
The North Charleston Police Department says they’re excited about this calendar. They say they are thinking about doing another one next year. The calendars are available for purchase on the second floor of North Charleston City Hall in police administration.
Source:WISTV.com
Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputy arrested for sexually assaulting an inmate www.privateofficer.com
Gwinnett County GA Feb 11 2012 A former Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputy remained in jail Friday without bond after his arrest two days earlier for allegedly sexually assaulting an inmate.
The department arrested Deputy Duone Clark, 40, of Lilburn, about 11 p.m. Wednesday and charged him with sexual assault and violation of oath by a police officer, the sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Sean Smith said.
Officers launched an internal investigation into allegations that Mr. Clark “engaged in sexual activity with an inmate while in custody at the jail,” Lt. Smith said.
“The victim made an outcry about sexual misconduct,” Lt. Smith said.
Mr. Clark, who has been with the sheriff’s office since 2003, was placed on administrative leave and arrested 10 days later, Lt. Smith said.
“Authorities secured enough evidence, along with witnesses’ statements to secure warrants for Clark’s arrest,” Lt. Smith said.
The ex-deputy was in the process of handing in his resignation when he was arrested Wednesday, Lt. Smith said.
For safety and security reasons, Mr. Clark will be housed at another facility, Lt. Smith said.
Source:www.examiner.com
Colfax High School teacher-coach charged with sexual abuse of child www.privateofficer.com
Placer CA Feb 11 2012 Belden Morgan, a former teacher and coach at Colfax High School, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of child sex abuse, Placer County sheriff’s officials reported.
Morgan, 70, of Auburn, was arrested after an investigation into allegations of ongoing abuse several years ago.
He is held at Placer County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail.
Morgan was a teacher at the school from 1998 to 2003 and a snowboard coach from 2003 to March 2011, said Eric Vereyken, human resources director for the Placer Union High School District.
Sheriff’s officials are not releasing details, and it has not been disclosed when the alleged incidents took place or whether they involved students at the high school.
Hattiesburg nightclub security officer shot at www.privateofficer.com
HATTIESBURG, MS Feb 11 2012 - A man allegedly shot at a security guard working at a Hattiesburg nightclub early Friday after the guard intervened in a fight in the parking lot.
Around 1 a.m., Hattiesburg police responded to a call about an altercation at the Remington’s Hunt Club. One man was allegedly hitting another with the butt of a handgun when a security officer attempted to intervene and was allegedly fired upon by one of the fighting men, Jason Walker, 25, who is now in jail on three aggravated assault charges.
The gun misfired, and the guard, along with two other security people in the vicinity, was not injured. Walker fled, but was later apprehended.
The incident comes amidst a discussion over a proposed bar ordinance. City Council President, Kim Bradley, said “This is the reason we have to put some sort of ordinance into place, not to hurt small businesses, but to better protect our citizens.”
Several other shootings have taken place at Remington’s Hunt Club in 2010 and 2011, including one which injured three University of Southern Mississippi football team members and left one paralyzed from the waist down.
Source:WDAM
Orange Beach man murders friend-surrenders to police www.privateofficer.com
ORANGE BEACH, Alabama Feb 11 2012 – Jon Christopher Washington was arrested today and charged with murder in the shooting death of a friend at the suspect’s home on Marina Road early Wednesday morning.
Washington, 41, turned himself in today for the alleged killing of Kenneth Gary Myers, 49, according to Assistant Police Chief Greg Duck.
No bond has been set.
Washington was also shot in the 1:30 a.m. disturbance, and was taken by ambulance to South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, where he was treated and released, Duck said. Myers was dead at the scene.
Police said the two men had known each other for eight years.
“We’re still trying to piece it together, it was one gun and two people shot,” Duck said. “Both were under the influence.”
Washington called police to report the shooting.
If it turns out to be a homicide, the last murder in Orange Beach was five years ago, according to Duck.
Source:AL.com
Palm Beach Fla security guard arrested for burglary-theft at apartments www.privateofficer.com
Palm Beach Fla Feb 11 2012 Police arrested a Port St. Lucie man Wednesday and charged him in connection with the October burglary of a Via Mizner apartment.
Robert Nodler, 48, faces charges of burglary, larceny and dealing in stolen. Police said he took two iPads worth $1,333 and sold one to a co-worker for $400, police said.
The victim, who lives in a Via Mizner apartment, got word of the theft from her real estate agent, who learned of the crime from an anonymous caller, police said.
Police used phone records in the investigation, which led them to Nodler, who worked security nearby, the report says.
Nodler is in jail on $10,000 bond.
Source:palm beach daily
Hazel Green AL man sentenced to prison for stealing money from church members www.privateofficer.com
Hazel Green, AL Feb 11 2012 - A Hazel Green pleaded guilty to theft by deception for stealing money from church members.
Phillip Story pleaded guilty to 11 counts of first degree theft and one count of second degree theft for stealing money from members of Plainview Church of Christ.
Story was ordered to pay court costs and $336,200 in restitution.
He also received ten years for each count of first degree theft to be served concurrently. He received an additional ten years for the second degree theft charge to be served consecutively.
Story was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
Source:waff.com
Franklin Road Academy coach arrested in prostitution sting www.privateofficer.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Feb 11 2012– The football coach at Franklin Road Academy was arrested Thursday night in a prostitution sting.
Police charged David M. Pack with patronizing prostitution. Police said Pack responded to an ad on Backpage.com. He met an undercover officer at the Sleep Inn Hotel on Dickerson Pike.
Police said Pack allegedly agreed to have sex with the undercover officer for $150.
Pack’s bond was set at $2,000.
Officials from Franklin Road Academy released a statement Friday that said Pack had immediately resigned from his position at the school.
NY nuclear security officer found dead on duty www.privateofficer.com
BUCHANAN NY Feb 11 2012 — An Indian Point security guard died while on duty at the nuclear plant about 5 p.m. Sunday.
The cause of death was not available from the Westchester County Medical Examiner on Monday, but company officials said it appeared Kip Lorenzen died of natural causes. He was 50 and lived in Middletown.
A report to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission noted that Lorenzen was found unresponsive at the north end of the turbine building at Indian Point 2 by a fellow security officer.
After attempts to revive Lorenzen, he was transported by ambulance to Hudson Valley Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The NRC report said the guard’s security equipment was properly secured and all procedures properly followed.
It said the incident had no effect on the operation of the nuclear power plant.
Sawgrass Mills mall security nabs man taking pictures up women’s skirts www.privateofficer.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Feb 11 2012- A man was arrested at the Sawgrass Mills mall, accused of taking pictures up women’s skirts.
Police said Mel Ortiz, 29, was using a video camera to capture images underneath the dresses of women who were shopping.
The incident happened at the Saks Fifth Avenue store, police said.
Mall security guards told police they spotted Ortiz sneaking around the store with the camera and videotaping the unsuspecting women.
It was similar to another incident in December at the Saw Grass Mills Mall. In that case, a man was caught in the clothing aisle with his cellphone at the Marshalls store. When security guards approached him, he tried frantically to delete the images, police said.
Ortiz is charged with voyeurism and providing false information to police. He’s being held with no bond as authorities try to determine his immigration status.
Walt Disney World security undercover sting leads to arrest for resale of tickets www.privateofficer.com
Orlando Fla Feb 11 2912 A ticket-resale sting conducted by undercover Walt Disney World security officers resulted in the arrest of an Orlando woman Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge, an affidavit shows.
According to an affidavit, undercover security officers for “Walt Disney World Security Investigations” visited a ticket kiosk on the 7000 block of International Drive on Dec. 10.
The affidavit states the officers bought two days’ use of used park-hopper Disney passes from a woman later identified as 39-year-old Elena Maria Tarano for $190 each.
Tarano, authorities say, explained the seven-day passes had only been used for three. She gave the dates they’d been used, in case the tickets didn’t read properly at the turnstile.
The Disney agents provided sworn statements to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and identified Tarano out of a photo lineup. A warrant was issued for her arrest on January 17.
Tarano was jailed in Orange County on Wednesday on a charge of resale of multi-day or multi-event passes.
Authorities in Orange and Osceola county routinely conduct undercover operations targeting the illegal resale of park tickets in tourist areas along I-Drive and U.S. Highway 192.
Three people dead in south Florida police stand-off www.privateofficer.com
Broward County Fla Feb 11 2012 When a standoff that began at the Highland Woods RV Park Thursday evening finally ended early Friday, three people were dead including a 9-year-old boy. Two others, a woman and a 7-year-old boy, were badly hurt.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the ordeal began shortly before 6:30 p.m. Thursday with an emergency call about a shooting at the park at 900 Northeast 48th Street.
Arriving deputies found a man on the ground outside a recreational vehicle. Inside the nearby RV, a man told the deputies he was holding a woman hostage and would kill her if they approached.
SWAT Teams, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue paramedics and other emergency responders began to stage at and near the scene.
Deputies were unable to persuade the man making the threats inside the RV to release the hostage and surrender peacefully. Eventually, SWAT paramedics were able to get to the shooting victim outside the RV, but he was already dead. According to investigators, the shooting victim and the man barricaded inside the RV did not know each other.
There was a key development about 7:30 p.m. when a woman who was not hurt emerged from the RV. According to BSO, she told detectives that the suspect’s wife and two sons were inside with him.
For the next several hours, SWAT Team members tried to make contact with the barricaded man, but were unsuccessful.
Finally, about 1:30 a.m. Friday, more than seven hours after the incident began, the BSO SWAT Team assisted by the Coral Springs Police Department’s SWAT Team entered the RV.
Inside, they found the barricaded man and a 9-year-old boy dead. The badly hurt woman and 7-year-old boy were taken to area hospitals in critical condition. The nature of their injuries was not disclosed.
The identities of the people involved have not been released and authorities were continuing to investigate what sparked the deadly incident.
Source:www.miamiherald.com
Four Houston residents sentenced to prison for attempted armored car robbery www.privateofficer.com
Houston TX Feb 11 2012 Four Houston residents have been sentenced to prison for the attempted robbery of an armored car, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.
Kaleem Jamie Stephens, 30, was charged and convicted along with Nicholas Dushon Price, 31, Victor Tyrone Bruno, 29, Jermaine McNeal, 29, and Ervin Clark, 23, for their roles in a conspiracy to rob an armored car.
Price, Bruno, McNeal and Clark pleaded guilty to various charges, while Stephens proceeded to trial. Stephens was found guilty on Sept. 29, 2011. Today, U.S. District Judge Grey Miller, who presided over the trial, sentenced Stephens to a total of 144 months in prison. He will serve 84 months on both of the conspiracy to interfere with robbery and conspiracy to commit a violent offense while possessing a firearm charges which will be served consecutively to an additional 60 months for aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Bruno and Clark pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and received sentences of 81 and 84 months, respectively, while McNeal will serve three years of probation months for his conviction of misprision of a felony. Price will be sentenced on April 13, 2012.
During Stephens’ trial, the jury heard testimony that Stephens and all of his co-conspirators were arrested on Sept. 10, 2010, as a result of an undercover operation conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The investigation began on July 2, 2010, when DPS received information that Price wanted to rob an armored car of Garda Armored Services. Shortly thereafter, undercover agents from DPS and ATF, posing as employees of the company, met with Price. During this meeting, Price discussed getting approximately $250,000 in the robbery while working alongside the undercover agents and co-conspirators. On Aug. 19, 2010, the agents met with Price, Bruno and Stephens and discussed the details of the robbery as well as the roles of each defendant. Stephens was to use a “Bin Laden style gun” to hold down the driver of the armored truck while his co-conspirators robbed collected the cash in the vehicle. At the time of the arrests, agents found Clark had stolen a Dodge Durango for the co-conspirators to use as the getaway car, while McNeal was on standby to be Bruno’s getaway driver.
On Sept. 10, 2011, the date of the planned robbery, agents conducting surveillance of the defendants arrested Stephens and his co-conspirators before the robbery, thereby thwarting their plan. Investigating agents found a loaded SKS rifle and two loaded pistols in the cars carrying the defendants as well as a pistol in Stephens’ car.
With the exception of McNeal, all remain in custody.
Assistant United States Attorney Kebharu Smith and Suzanne Elmilady prosecuted this case.
Source:yourkingwoodnews.com
Nightclub security nabs man in stabbing incident www.privateofficer.com
Springfield, Mo. Feb 11 2012- One man is in jail and another is in the hospital following a stabbing Wednesday night at a Springfield club.
Police tell KSPR two men were in the restroom at Centerfolds Gentlemen’s Club at 2800 W. Sunshine, when one man stabbed the other in the back. Police were called to the scene just before 10:00 p.m. Wednesday.
The man who was stabbed was able to get away and ask a bouncer for help. The bouncer caught the suspect and held him until officers arrived and arrested him.
Police say the suspect could be charged with 1st degree assault. The man who was stabbed is in the hospital and is expected to recover.
Small Wisconsin town hires private detective to investigate its only police officer www.privateofficer.com
Readstown WI Feb 11 2012 A small village in southwest Wisconsin has hired a private detective to investigate its only police officer.
Readstown officer Shay Larson has been the subject of a criminal probe since last September, for alleged misconduct in office. Officials in Readstown and Vernon County refuse to get specific. District Attorney Timothy Gaskell says he has not found enough evidence to charge Larson – but he says the probe continues.
Larson was put on administrative leave last fall, and the county sheriff’s department took over the patrols in the village of 415. He went back to work in January – but Readstown Village President David Edgar said Larson has been updating the police manual from home because of threats that were made to his safety. Village Clerk Shawna Koch told the Vernon County Broadcaster that it cannot legally release records about the pending investigation until it’s over.
Private detective Gerald Sallman of Columbus told the paper he’ll finish his probe as quickly as possible, but he vows to be thorough. Edgar says there’s a lot he doesn’t know about the case, either – and he’s frustrated that the investigation has dragged on for six months.
Colorado authorities conduct largest drug bust in history www.privateofficer.com
DENVER CO February 11, 2012 – Special agents, police officers and deputy sheriffs on Thursday arrested 80 people on drug and/or gun charges, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado. The arrests were made by over 500 law enforcement officers, making this the largest drug bust in Denver history.
The arrests, announced on Thursday at a press conference in Aurora, Colo., were made after separate investigations were conducted by: the Metro Gang Task Force (MGTF), the Denver Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the North Metro Task Force (NMTF). The combination of these four separate-but-related investigations resulted in the Feb. 9 mass arrests. A total of 97 defendants have been charged in either federal or state court as a part of this operation.
During the course of the investigation, including this operation, law enforcement officers seized 12 weapons, including an SKS assault rifle, an AR-15 assault rifle, handguns, $415,140 in cash, 26,129 grams of cocaine, one kilogram of crack cocaine, and one pound of methamphetamine.
The defendants arrested by the MGTF, FBI, DEA, the Denver OCDETF Strike Force, and HSI resulted from seven separate indictments obtained by a federal grand jury in Denver. Many made court appearances on Thursday in two separate courtrooms, where they were advised of the charges pending against them and the related penalties. The federal defendants will have detention hearings and will be arraigned next week. The defendants arrested by the NMTF are being prosecuted by 17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick.
In addition to the subjects targeted for arrest on Thursday, 25 gang members and associates have been charged for their role in 16 violent take-over bank robberies. In December 2009, the FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force began investigating the first of these robberies that occurred in the Denver metro area. Intelligence developed by investigators was shared with members of MGTF, Aurora Police Department, and Denver Police Department. That information was used by MGTF to initiate its enterprise investigation, leading to some of the indictments being announced Feb. 9. Of the 25 gang members and associates identified, 23 have been convicted for bank robbery, 19 pursuant to federal charges and four in state court.
“This combined enforcement action to take down four separate but related investigations demonstrates the coordinated strength and professionalism of federal, state and local law enforcement working together in Metro Denver,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “These results could not have been done without the hundreds of members of our law enforcement family. Today our streets are safer, and the drug trade in Colorado has suffered a massive blow.”
“This complex multi-agency, multi-indictment operation has its roots in the simple theme of drug smuggling,” said Michael A. Holt, special agent in charge of HSI Denver. “The cooperation among our various law enforcement agencies traced the original multiple investigations involving money laundering, bulk cash smuggling, gang involvement and other criminal activity back to transporting and smuggling illegal drugs.”
If convicted, a vast majority of the federally charged defendants face not less than 10 years, and up to life in federal prison, as well as a fine of not more than $10 million.
The defendants in the NMTF case face either class two or class three felonies, with many of the drug distributions relying on the weight of the drugs distributed. Depending on the weight, these charges carry mandatory minimum prison sentences.
The MGTF is comprised of: FBI, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Aurora Police Department, Colorado National Guard, Colorado State Patrol, Commerce City Police Department, Denver District Attorney’s Office, Denver Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, HSI, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Rocky Mountain HIDTA, Thornton Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The Denver OCDETF Strike Force includes: DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Also assisting in the Denver OCDETF Strike Force investigation were: DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, the multi-agency Special Operations Division (SOD), and attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and the Office of International Affairs.
The NMTF is comprised of law enforcement officers from: Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Thornton Police Department, Westminster Police Department, Commerce City Police Department, Northglenn Police Department and Federal Heights Police Department.
The indictments are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Father-son charged in Cookeville shoplifting www.privateofficer.com
COOKEVILLE TN Feb 11 2012 — A father and son were arrested for shoplifting at a department store here on Monday, police said.
Roger Leroy Wheaton, 53, and Michael Allen Wheaton, 18, both of Crescent Drive, Cookeville, were taken to the Putnam County jail after Cookeville Police Officer Anthony Reep investigated an incident at Kohl’s Department store on W. Jackson Street.
A loss prevention worker there had called police after seeing two men in the store “conceal a $65 pair of jeans each,” the officer’s report says.
The worker detained the two and waited for an officer to arrive.
Officer Reep questioned the two and learned that they are father and son, but he encountered some doubt and confusion when trying to determine their identity, the report says.
“I asked for identification. Michael Wheaton stated that he did not have any identification. He also stated that his birth certificate did not have the correct name on it. He said that his parents had ‘messed up’ his birth certificate.
“Roger Wheaton, Michael’s father, stated that he did not have identification. He stated that he had a birth certificate. He also said that he had been living in Florida.”
“Due to the risk of the subjects failing to satisfy a citation in lieu of continued custody, I placed both subjects under arrest for shoplifting and took them to the Putnam County Sheriff’s office,” the report says.
In another recent case, Kellie Ray Smith, 24, of Dietz Drive, Cookeville, was cited for shoplifting at the Walmart store on February 6 after Sgt. Jeff Glass made an investigation.
Allegedly, she attempted to leave the store without paying for $110 worth of clothing and other items
Source:Herald Citizen
Glens Falls Civic Center employee charged with locker room thefts www.privateofficer.com
GLENS FALLS NY Feb 11 2012 – An employee of the Glens Falls Civic Center was arrested Saturday for allegedly stealing items from a locker room at the facility, police said.
Tommy L. Ramsey, 21, of Glens Falls, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of stolen property, police said. He was a part-time cleaner but was fired last week after he was linked to the theft, court records show.
Ramsey is accused of stealing a wallet, two iPods, an iPod speaker system and a cellphone that were in a backpack taken from a room in the Civic Center Jan. 25.
The backpack belonged to a Pennsylvania man who was part of the company that brought the Sesame Street Live production to the venue, court records show.
Ramsey allegedly unsuccessfully tried to use a debit card from the stolen wallet to withdraw money five times the day it was stolen, according to court records.
The arrest occurred after a Glens Falls Police investigation into numerous complaints of thefts of similar items from locker rooms at the Civic Center in recent months. The complaints have prompted an increase in security at the facility, officials said.
Ramsey told Glens Falls Police he did not steal anything else while working at the Civic Center. He said he knew of others who were stealing, though, and he pledged to help police.
“I always hear of people taking things at work, so I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” Ramsey told police, according to court records.
He was caught after Glens Falls Police talked to his cleaning crew supervisor, who did some sleuthing and found a backpack hidden in Civic Center duct work that contained the stolen items, court records show.
When confronted, Ramsey admitted the backpack was his, according to court records.
While there have been a number of other theft complains in recent weeks, it did not appear any members of the Adirondack Phantoms professional hockey team were victimized.
Chris Porreca, the team’s executive vice president, said he was aware of the theft complaints but said he did not know of any that involved players or other employees of the team.
Chris Lawrence, general manager of the Civic Center, said the thefts have occurred over the past month or two, and he worked with police to identify a trend and initiate an investigation.
“We’re looking at all avenues, and we’ll do whatever is necessary to stop it,” Lawrence said.
Civic center staff met last week with Glens Falls Police Chief Will Valenza to go over security changes in light of the complaints, he said. They would not elaborate on what steps were being taken.
“The Civic Center staff was very cooperative and proactive in working with us to solve the problem,” Valenza said.
He said the theft investigations are ongoing. The main targets have been valuables like iPods and cellphones.
Ramsey was released pending prosecution in Glens Falls City Court.
The case is being investigated by Glens Falls Police officers Richard Llewellyn and Kyle Diamond.
Source:poststar.com
NY Lowe’s store employee accused of using customer’s debit card to buy hundreds of dollars worth of items www.privateofficer.com
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.Y.Feb 11 2012 – A store employee has been accused of using a customer’s debit card to buy hundreds of dollars worth of items.
Police say a Mayfield man reported he used his debit card on February 1st while shopping at Lowe’s. Once home, he realized he didn’t have his card and reported the card stolen. He told officers he used the self-checkout machine at the store and had an employee help him. He said he gave the employee his pin number so he could check out.
The victim found $915 of unauthorized purchases on his card before it was canceled.
Police say Runako Braithwaite, 19, of Amsterdam, was the employee who helped the victim at checkout. He was arrested on February 6th and charged with grand larceny and identity theft. He was arraigned and taken to the Montgomery County Jail on bail.
Source:YNN
San Antonio emplyees fired-resigned after theft allegations www.privateofficer.com
SAN ANTONIO TX Feb 11 2012 - A number of long-time city employees have been fired or have resigned after allegations of theft over the last year.
The thefts range from city time and materials to a bag at the airport.
Alan Barragan worked in the city’s Information Technology Services Department and was investigated for taking paid leave from his job without having earned it.
The city’s Office of Municipal Integrity questioned Barragan during a videotaped session.
“I’ve always put in my time,” Barragan said on the videotape. “This time I forgot and God forgive me that I forgot.”
He had worked for the city for 18 years and had been in charge of filling out his own timesheets.
But the city found he took paid leave he had not earned totaling more than 68 hours. He was terminated.
Another employee investigated was McKinley Gibson, a security guard at the Alamodome.
When Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 came to the Alamodome, tickets at the box office were selling for around $40.
In one complaint to the city, a woman named Victoria said she bought nine tickets for the show on Craigslist for $20 each from a guy calling himself “Rob.” When her group went to the show the tickets she bought were invalid.
A woman named Desiree bought tickets from the same man as well from Craigslist. They were also invalid.
A city investigation found their tickets were the same ones that had been reported missing at the Alamodome.
And “Rob” turned out to be Gibson, whose tattoos and cell phone number matched the description of the Craigslist seller.
“Tickets come in the office,” Gibson said in his taped interview with city investigators.
“We have cameras. I’m in the security office. People are in there all the time, how can I take tickets?”
Regardless of that statement, he resigned.
Maria Quintero, a 14-year city employee at the Botanical Gardens, was also investigated for the theft of a sprinkler.
“It’s not like I’m stealing,” Quintero said during her taped interview. “It’s still in the truck.”
Quintero said she took two sprinklers from the Botanical Gardens to keep them from being stolen, but said she did not steal them.
“Because I’m afraid to lose my job,” Quintero said. “Yeah. That’s the main thing.” She resigned.
Another example of where a long-term city employee lost a job and benefits because of a poor decision occurred at the airport. There, a maintenance worker found a bag and evidence showed that instead of turning it in, she kept it.
Security video caught the theft by Aurora DeLeon. The bag included a laptop computer, iPod and two watches. DeLeon admitted pawning them for $190.
She and the others lost good jobs because of momentary weaknesses.
Source:ksat.com
Mullins High School coach pleads guilty to showing students porn www.privateofficer.com
Mullins SC Feb 11 2012 Greg Hill pleaded guilty Friday morning to disseminating harmful materials to minors.
Prosecutors say Hill showed pictures of his genitals on his cell phone to a 16-year-old girl at Mullins High School in 2010.
Officers say the student was on her way to class when Hill asked her to come to his classroom. They say he showed her the pictures and asked if she was going to tell anyone. The school resource officer found out and state police were called in to investigate.
Hill was arrested and charged with nine counts of dissemination of harmful materials to minors.
He was let go as head coach of the Mullins High School football team.
The investigation revealed Hill had committed similar crimes in Dillon County, according to prosecutors. They say he met a minor victim at a church event in Dillon County in 2009. Officers say she made a video for him on the computer for sexual arousal. Prosecutors say Hill told the teenager she could come by his home when she became of legal consent age for sexual relations, when his wife was out of town.
Hill apologized to the victims and their families.
Judge William Seals sentenced Hill to five years probation and he has to register as a sex offender. Judge Seals also ordered Hill to stay away from the victims and their families.
Prosecutors say the victims families didn’t want jail time for Hill, but wanted him to register as a sex offender.
Hill’s attorney says his client has been going to counseling and just made a serious mistake.
