Philadelphia man hid 89 bags of dope in his crotch www.privateofficer.com

PHILADELPHIA PA April 11 2012  — When Delaware County police noticed a bulge in the crotch of a Philadelphia man they were arresting, it wasn’t because he was happy to see them. Twenty three year-old Ray Woods, who was taken into custody when police discovered marijuana during a traffic stop Friday night, allegedly had a large plastic bag filled with 89 smaller baggies of drugs tied to his penis and attempted to urinate on an officer who tried to remove the package, the Delaware County Times reported. The officer reportedly noticed the bulge while putting Woods into the squad car and asked the man to take off his pants when they reached the Sharon Hill Police headquarters. Woods’ package was found to contain 26 bags of suspected cocaine, 41 bags of suspected heroin and 22 other assorted baggies in various colors, according to the report. He was charged with possession with intent to deliver and tampering with evidence, but was released after posting 10 percent of $25,000 bail.

Lexington SC teen charged in murder of 2 yr old boy www.privateofficer.com

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC April 12 2012 – A Lexington County teenager has been charged with homicide by child abuse in the death of a 2-year-old boy over the weekend.

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department investigators said the toddler, Paul Edward Thomas, was found dead Sunday morning at a home in the Sparkleberry Mobile Home Park.

Officials say 17-year-old Desiree Nicole Almgren was initially arrested on Sunday and charged with unlawful conduct towards a child, but her charges were upgraded after an autopsy showed Thomas, whose 3rd birthday would have been Friday, died from head trauma.

According to deputies, Thomas’s father left for work at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, leaving the child in the care of Almgren, who is his girlfriend.

Sheriff James Metts said the father returned home from work at approximately 5:45 p.m. that evening to discover that Almgren had fled the home and the little boy in bed and unresponsive. The father called 911.

Lexington County Coroner Harry O. Harman said that Thomas was transported to Lexington Medical Center and was pronounced dead at approximately 7:30 p.m.

According to Harman, the results of the autopsy performed on Tuesday, revealed that Thomas died as a result of an acute subdural intracranial hemorrhage caused by acute head trauma.

“It was a situation I believe, I understand that the lady didn’t have enough experience with young children, probably got frustrated, irritated, let her emotions overtake the situation,” Metts said.

Investigators arrested and charged Almgren on Sunday with unlawful conduct towards a child. Almgren was released from the Lexington County Detention Center on Monday after posting bond.

Metts said the investigation revealed that Almgren caused the acute head trauma to the toddler.

“She told us she was responsible for the death of the child and she left the child unattended, didn’t seek any medical attention for the child,” Metts said.

Although Almgren confessed, Metts says the teen had an attitude about it all. “The suspect’s demeanor was a little bit on the cocky side,” he said.

Investigators don’t think Almgren fully grasps what happened, but the charges are set and even though some may not consider her an adult, she will be charged as one.

Source:WIS

San Diego security officer intervenes in robbery www.privateofficer.com

San Diego CA April 12 2012The incident happened near San Diego Police Department headquarters on 14th Street shortly before 10 p.m., police said.

According to police, a woman was walking when 35-year-old Marcus Gregory Higgs allegedly attacked her and then shoved her into some bushes. Higgs allegedly stole a $20 bill and a $50 restaurant gift card from the victim and was trying to sexually assault her when her screams caught the attention of the off-duty guard who happened to be nearby, according to SDPD Det. Gary Hassen.

“I heard a loud shout … ‘Get off me, get off me,’” said Nick Murico, who had just wrapped up a shift at the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery. He said when he looked at the bush, he saw a man on top of a woman. “The man said, ‘I know her, go away, mind your own business.’

She was saying that’s not the case, please help me,’” said Murico. Murico, who has worked security at the Tilted Kilt for four years, said his next actions were instinctive because of his training. Though he’s trained in martial arts, he said he first tried another technique. “There’s a term called verbal judo, which means use words and not your body to calm people down,” Murico told 10News.

Murico said he made it clear he wasn’t going away. “I let him know he was right next to a police station and there was no way he was getting away with what he was doing,” said Murico. While the man was distracted for a moment, Murico flagged down a nearby patrol car. The officers from the car arrested Higgs, who was taken to a hospital to be checked out, then booked on suspicion of robbery, assault with intent to commit rape and providing a false name to police. “It can always be worse, so I’m glad it was not,” said Murico.

  10News reporter Michael Chen said, “Many would call you a hero.” “I wouldn’t call myself a hero. I think everybody should help someone if they hear someone crying for help,” Murico replied. The 46-year-old victim was treated for minor injuries, Hassen said. Higgs, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 350 pounds, was denied bail, pending arraignment scheduled for Friday afternoon

Woman caught smoking at Denver airport strips naked www.privateofficer.com

DENVER, April 12 2012 (UPI) — Police said a woman who shed all of her clothes at Denver International Airport was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Airport spokeswoman Jenny Schiavone said the woman first clashed with airport workers around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday when she was caught smoking a cigarette in a non-smoking area and was told to extinguish it, KDVR-TV, Denver, reported Wednesday.

 Police said the woman, whose name was not released, was soon seen taking off all of her clothing and standing naked in front of the check-in counter. Police did not say why the woman took off her clothes, but they said it appeared to be unrelated to the smoking incident.

Police took the woman to a hospital for evaluation. They said authorities do not plan to arrest the woman or seek any charges against her.
Source:KDVR

Boston TSA security officer snared in child pornography crackdown www.privateofficer.com

Boston MA April 12 2012 Cops snared 55 Massachusetts men in a sweeping, multi-agency child pornography crackdown — including a Transportation Security Administration officer assigned to Logan International Airport who is just the latest embarrassment for the troubled federal agency.

 TSA agent Jose E. Salgado, 59, of Chelsea was suspended from his job after his employers learned that local law enforcement agencies are pursuing criminal charges against him for the possession and sharing of pornographic images of children.
TSA has been cooperating fully with our law enforcement partners during the investigation into this matter,” TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. “Upon learning of these charges, TSA took immediate action and the individual is not working at the airport.”

Periodic arrests of TSA agents on sex charges across the nation have fueled criticism of the agency’s screening of its own employees, tasked with patting down the traveling public and keeping the airways safe.

At least two other TSA officers assigned to Logan have faced sex charges in the past two years. Sex charges against others have been reported in Virginia, New Hampshire, Nevada, Georgia and other states.
Salgado could not be reached for comment last night. He has been charged but was not arrested. His name surfaced hours after representatives of more than 20 Bay State police departments announced the arrest of 32 men in Operation Corral, a weeklong roundup of child pornography suspects across the state.

“This is just a drop in the bucket,” said state police Sgt. Michael Hill of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Suspects were targeted in East Boston, Hyde Park, Revere, Dedham, Arlington, Brockton, Lowell, Worcester, New Bedford, Haverhill, Marblehead, Natick, Middleboro, Scituate, Taunton, South Harwich, North Attleboro, Milford, Seekonk, Somerset, Oak Bluffs, Oxford, Amesbury, Belchertown, Granby and Stockbridge.

Authorities say they are now pursuing criminal complaints in eight more cases, and 14 more investigations are ongoing. “We’re going to be doing this for a long time,” Hill said.

Operation Corral kicked off in January, when representatives of local, state and federal agencies began digging into computer-based file exchange networks, once used for sharing music, but now used to exchange illegal photos and videos. Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of the Boston field office of Homeland Security Investigations, said trained computer investigators tracked the accused by following their digital footprints. “A lot of times the criminals don’t even realize they left things behind,” he said.
source:boston herald

Montana volunteer fire departments threaten to cancel Interstate coverage www.privateofficer.com

DE BORGIA, Mont. April 12 2012– Emergency calls on a dangerous stretch of interstate, west of Missoula, could go unanswered if two volunteer fire districts can’t work out their issues with the Montana Highway Patrol.
The area covers a 42-mile stretch of Interstate 90 from the Idaho stateline past St. Regis.
The West End and St. Regis volunteer fire departments each respond to about one hundred emergency calls a year in that area.
Dash-cam video provided by the Montana Highway Patrol shows an MHP trooper approaching a crash being handled by the West End Volunteer Fire Department.
MHP officials have reviewed the video, and say the trooper was following procedure, but West End Fire Chief Bruce Charles says the trooper drove through the accident scene too fast, and he says it’s happened before.
“I’ve actually had highway patrolmen chew out my flaggers, because they were trying to slow them down.”
Charles says he’s brought up several ongoing concerns with MHP and Mineral County officials and says the concerns still haven’t been addressed.
Charles says he and St. Regis Fire have a list of conditions for MHP troopers that includes obeying directions from traffic flaggers when approaching an accident, and treating department volunteers with courtesy and respect. Charles says if they aren’t met, the two fire departments will stop responding to I-90 emergency calls.
“We’re shutting down Wednesday at midnight. We will simply not go out to the highway to do any crash rescue,” said Charles.
MHP Colonel Michael Tooley says his troopers already follow the conditions outlined by the fire departments.
“The three things that Chief Charles and Chief Dockter said they wanted to see from the highway patrol, we already do those things,” said Tooley.
Tooley says that the conflicts between the troopers and the fire departments shouldn’t stop them from responding to calls.
“As far as them suspending their services, I am disappointed if that actually happens, because it’s really not the motoring public’s fault that we have a personality conflict,” said Tooley.
Chief Charles says if they do suspend service, they’ll still respond to calls from the Mineral County Sheriff’s department.
The two fire chiefs plan to meet with Mineral County Commissioners Wednesday afternoon.

Greece offers “cop-for-hire” service to raise cash www.privateofficer.com

Greece April 12 2012 In a bid to raise cash, Greek police are offering a 30 euro ($39) per hour “cop-for-hire” scheme for private companies or citizens seeking protection at special events. Police said the service was provided only under special circumstances, such as cases of high-security risk, and that revenues would be used to fund police equipment and boost the state budget. It used to be available for free before a debt crisis hit the country. “We will provide these services only in exceptional cases and only if we have the available assets and staff. We’ll first make sure that no citizen is deprived of police protection,” police spokesman Thanassis Kokkalakis said on Tuesday. Hiring a police officer for an hour costs 30 euros, according to the law, which has entered into force. A police vehicle escort, for example for the transfer of art works or other sensitive material, will cost an additional 40 euros per hour and a motorcycle escort 20 euros. For larger-scale operations, police patrol boats can be hired for 200 euros and helicopters for an hourly 1,500-euro fee. Along with other public sector workers, Greece’s 55,000 police officers have suffered wage cuts and layoffs amid austerity measures imposed by international lenders in exchange for financial aid. ($1 = 0.7651 euros)

Corpus Christi police officer arrested for online solicitation of a 15-year-old girl www.privateofficer.com

CORPUS CHRISTI TX April 12 2012—A more than four-year veteran of the Corpus Christi Police Department was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of online solicitation of a 15-year-old girl.

 Robert Lee McChester Jr., 27, was arrested at his attorney’s office by police with assistance from federal officials, police said. On April 3, the teen made an outcry in a Corpus Christi hospital, alleging McChester had been messaging her online during the past year, some of which was sexual in nature.

Corpus Christi police launched an internal investigation that day and six days later turned their findings over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, who secured a warrant for McChester’s arrest. “We are ready, willing and able to clean our own house,” Police Chief Floyd Simpson said during a news conference Tuesday evening at the police station. Simpson said McChester, a patrol officer, was placed on administrative leave with pay pending an outcome of the investigation. The Police Department will continue a disciplinary review, which could result in McChester being fired, Simpson said.

The teen alleged the contact began in May 2011 via the Internet and they continued communicating for the next year up until her complaint, federal officials said. The online messages were recovered by investigators, who said they appeared sexual in nature, police said. The teen also told police the pair had met several times and engaged in inappropriate activity.

 Police would not release more details citing the ongoing investigation. When the allegations surfaced, Simpson said the Police Department made it a priority to act quickly and professionally. “It’s an unfortunate situation not only for McChester and the victim, but the entire CCPD family,” he said. McChester is set to appear Wednesday in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington.
Source:Caller.com

Court must decide if police are allowed to use drones to help make arrests www.privateofficer.com

Lakota ND April 12 2012 Court must decide if police are allowed to use drones to help make arrests
The tiny town of Lakota, N.D., is quickly becoming a key testing ground for the legality of the use of unmanned drones by law enforcement after one of its residents became the first American citizen to be arrested with the help of a Predator surveillance drone.
The bizarre case started when six cows wandered onto Rodney Brossart’s 3,000 acre farm. Brossart, an alleged anti-government “sovereignist,” believed he should have been able to keep the cows, so he and two family members chased police off his land with high powered rifles.
After a 16-hour standoff, the Grand Forks police department SWAT team, armed with a search warrant, used an agreement they’ve had with Homeland Security for about three years, and called in an unmanned aerial vehicle to pinpoint Brossart’s location on the ranch. The SWAT team stormed in and arrested Brossart on charges of terrorizing a sheriff, theft, criminal mischief, and other charges, according to documents.
Brossart says he “had no clue” they used a drone during the standoff until months after his arrest.
“We’re not laying over here playing dead on it,” says Brossart, who is scheduled to appear in court on April 30. He believes what the SWAT team did was “definitely” illegal.
“We’re dealing with it, we’ve got a couple different motions happening in court fighting [the drone use].”
Repeated calls to Brossart’s attorney were not returned. Douglas Manbeck, who is representing the state of North Dakota in the case, says the drone was used after warrants were already issued.
“The alleged crimes were already committed long before a drone was even thought of being used,” he says. “It was only used to help assure there weren’t weapons and to make [the arrest] safer for both the Brossarts and law enforcement.”
“I know it’s a touchy subject for anyone to feel that drones are in the air watching them, but I don’t think there was any misuse in this case,” he added.
While there’s no precedent for the use of unmanned drones by law enforcement, John Villasenor, an expert on information gathering and drone use with the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution, says he’d be “floored” if the court throws the case out. Using a drone is no different than using a helicopter, he says.
“It may have been the first time a drone was used to make an arrest, but it’s certainly not going to be the last,” Villasenor says. “I would be very surprised if someone were able to successfully launch a legal challenge [in Brossart's case].”
Villasenor points to two Supreme Court cases–California v. Ciraolo in 1986 and Florida v. Riley in 1989– that allow law enforcement to use “public navigable airspace, in a physically nonintrusive manner” to gather evidence to make an arrest.
By summertime, there may be many more cases like Brossart’s–on May 14, the government must begin issuing permits for drone use by law enforcement.
Currently, about 300 law enforcement agencies and research institutions–including the Grand Forks SWAT team–have “temporary licenses” from the FAA to use drones. Currently, drones are most commonly used by Homeland Security along America’s borders.
Bill Macki, head of the Grand Forks SWAT team, says Brossart’s case was the first and only time they’ve used a drone to help make an arrest–they tried one other time (to search for an armed, suicidal individual), but gusty weather conditions made navigation impossible.
With a population of less than 70,000, it doesn’t make sense for the Grand Forks police department to own a helicopter, but the ability to call in a drone when necessary can provide a similar purpose.
“The terrain we were working with was very large and agricultural–several hundred acres of very flat farmland made it difficult to set up a perimeter to ensure people didn’t make it off the property,” he says. “I think drones are definitely a useful tool, their effectiveness in rural operations is exceptional, they keep tactical operations as safe as possible.”
Macki is confident his team is trained to legally use drones.
“We’ve had a relationship with Predator operations for three years, we’ve provided training for them and received training on the basic capabilities of the predator,” he says. “We’ve established a relationship with [Homeland Security]. Through that relationship, we’ve learned drones’ capabilities and when we can or cannot use a drone.”

Police make arrest in 1998 Phoenix cold case www.privateofficer.com

Phoenix AZ April 12 2012 A man was arrested in California last week on suspicion of shooting a Phoenix man to death in 1998, Phoenix police officials announced Tuesday. Raymond E. Rivera, 45, is suspected of shooting Habib Raies, 62, on the morning of June 9 while Raies was working in his family market near Buckeye Road and 16th Avenue, according to police. Officials said the case went cold because of a lack of witnesses and suspect information.
The case was re-opened in 2009 and worked by members of the Phoenix Police Department’s Cold Case Homicide Squad after they received a grant to solve cold cases with DNA. Rivera was identified as a suspect after they processed the forensic evidence, police said. Rivera was interviewed by detectives and booked into a California jail on suspicion of homicide and armed robbery, police said. He will be extradited back to Arizona. In a news conference held by the Phoenix Police Department on Tuesday afternoon, Raies’ family remembered him as a well-liked and compassionate man. They expressed their gratitude to police for reopening the case, and they said they always had faith that their father’s killer would face justice.
source-azcentral.com

Jacksonville Jaguars DT Terrance Knighton had surgery after bar fight www.privateofficer.com

Jacksonville, FL April 12 2012

We are learning new information about the incident that led Jaguars DT Terrance Knighton to have eye surgery Sunday.
WOKV obtained a police report detailing a fight at Pure Nightclub on Phillips Highway.

 An off-duty officer who was working security at the club says he was alerted to a disturbance inside the club at 1:30am Sunday. After he arrived, the officer witnessed club security personnel escorting several subjects out of the club due to fighting. Knighton and his friend, known as “Spoon”, were involved in a fight with several people inside the club.

Security personnel broke up the fight and rushed everyone outside the club.
While outside the club, Knighton and “Spoon” repeatedly made threats to shoot people after having been brought outside. The officer says it took several minutes to control both men and get them off the property.

Both Knighton and “Spoon” refused to leave so club promoters had to physically force them into their vehicle, an orange Dodge Challenger.
The police report does not say specifically how Knighton sustained the eye injury. The officer says Knighton appeared to have been drinking. He had a cut to his eye and the back of his head.
The report says the argument could have been about Knighton and “Spoon” disrespecting a woman. No one was arrested and the report does not name anyone other than Knighton and “Spoon”. The Jaguars released this statement after the police report was released:
“We are aware of the incident report regarding Terrance Knighton. We hold all of our players to a high standard of behavior, as does the National Football League. We’re concerned about this matter, and it is being handled internally. We’ll have no further comment at this time.” We have reached out to Terrance Knighton and “Spoon”, who we believe to be Tommie Weatherspoon, via Twitter. We also reached out to the manager at the Pure Nightclub.
Source:www.wokv.com

Walmart robbery-murder has the company considering store changes nationwide www.privateofficer.com

PHOENIX AZ April 12 2012 – The murder of a manager during a Phoenix Walmart robbery has the company considering store changes nationwide.

Phoenix police say they now have officers guarding the entrances of the Walmart at 75th Avenue and McDowell. Patrol vehicles are parked out front of the store.

Walmart Stores, Inc. told ABC15 things will remain on high alert until the company comes up with a long-term safety solution.

 Police say they will be at the Walmart 24 hours a day for the next several days. Officers tell ABC 15 they’re even escorting armored money trucks that visit the store since Assistant Store Manager Peter Marquez was shot and killed by an unknown robber.

Inside Marquez’s Walmart store, all of the employees have bonded together to honor him and raise money for his family. Co-workers are helping by riding a stationary bike non-stop to encourage customers to make donations. Marquez’s death has affected many at the store. Employees described their store as one big family.

“Naturally, our associates still very upset. They’re still going through the coping process and we have counselors on site,” Walmart Regional Manager Scott Doepke said. “Pete was so well respected. He was a great worker. He had a major influence on what they did at this store.”

Shoppers told ABC15 the store has had problems in the past. “I don’t really think it’s safe,” customer Alethea Jones said shopping with her two young boys. “I think that it’s a little bit dangerous. First, it’s by the freeway, and anything by the freeway tends to be unsafe. And, there have been a few incidents inside the Walmart where people fight.”
Police say the shooter is still on the loose. If you have any information, you are encouraged to call police. Walmart says they are planning a charity car wash for Marquez and his family Saturday, April 14. The family has set up a memorial fund at Desert Schools Federal Credit Union. You can donate to account #: 6000136395.

Police searching for men who smashed their way into Apple store in Indianapolis www.privateofficer.com

INDIANAPOLIS IN April 12 2012   — An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for a man suspected in a break-in at the Apple Store at The Fashion Mall at Keystone.
Investigators said forensic science helped detectives pinpoint Charlie Jones, 41, as a suspect in the smash-and-grab at the popular computer electronics store.
Police said in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, mall security guards watched from a remote location as two masked individuals used a sledgehammer to break the glass storefront at the Apple Store. In about a minute, they stole Macbooks, iPads and iPhones valued at $50,000.

Although the thieves got away with thousands of dollars in merchandise, investigators said one of the suspects left behind a crucial piece of evidence, RTV6′s Jack Rinehart reported. “We got a DNA match off the blood that was left inside the store after the break-in. In the video, you can see when the hammer goes through the door that the suspect cuts himself,” said IMPD Det. Mike Schollmeier. Investigators said the blood evidence belonged to Jones, a man well-known to local police. Investigators believe that Jones may belong to a nationwide ring of burglars that have targeted Apple stores for smash and grab break-ins. “The crew is based out of Memphis, and they use the same mode of operation in a lot of burglaries,” Schollmeier said. The Indianapolis Apple Store, the only one in the state, has joined a growing list of Apple stores in dozens of states to experience smash and grab break-ins. Local law enforcement officials said because the merchandise is in high demand, glass is the only thing that stands between the thief and the products. “That’s one of the questions we’d like to ask (Jones). We’re not sure what makes Apple so lucrative. Everything has serial numbers on it. It’s all reported stolen in the system. All the phones, they can’t activate. We’re not sure what makes Apple so lucrative to these guys,” Schollmeier said. Metro police said they’ve entered Jones’ name into the national crime computer database. If he’s taken into custody anywhere in the county, he’ll be extradited back to Indianapolis to face charges.

Former Waterbury Hospital employee charged with hacking into computer system www.privateofficer.com

Waterbury CT April 12 2012 A Waterbury man is facing even more criminal charges for his alleged behavior in the hours after he was laid off from Waterbury Hospital.

Joseph Margiotta was laid off from his job as a computer security administrator in February. Hours later, Margiotta hacked into his former boss’s account and sent him an email titled “Cry baby” and stated it would be the “first of many dopey,” according to police.

When he was laid off, Margiotta threatened his former boss saying “You come to Waterbury every day. I will be waiting for you. You just wait, I’ll be seeing you around,” according to the statement his boss gave to police.

Margiotta was arrested this week for the computer crime. He was arrested for making the threatening comments the same day he was laid off.

Police confiscated four computers from his Old Colony Drive home and determined he hacked into the hospital system for 22 minutes by using his laptop, according to police.

“He was angry. He was upset he was being laid off and this is how he was going to get back at the hospital,” said Capt. Chris Corbett of the Waterbury Police.

Margiotta did not answer the door at his home but he did tell police, “I wanted to show him that I could get by the security and still access the hospital computer system,” according to his statement to police.

While working at the hospital, Margiotta told police he compiled a list of user names and passwords for all administrators, according to court records. He also said he used those accounts to access the hospital computer system.

“He specifically targeted his former boss. There was no compromise of the integrity of the Waterbury Hospital computer system,” said Corbett.

Waterbury Hospital declined to comment.

Source:NBC Connecticut

Shoplifter strips in Washington store www.privateofficer.com

KENNEWICK, Wash. — April 12 2012 Police say a woman accused of shoplifting at a Kennewick store stripped off all her clothes in an apparent attempt to show security guards she wasn’t hiding any merchandise. Officers were called to the store in the Columbia Center mall Monday evening, and the woman got dressed.

Police spokesman Mike Blatman told The Tri-City Herald ( http://is.gd/YSKvPa) the woman’s 9-year-old daughter started crying and pulled a box of jewelry from under her shirt. The mother said she didn’t know anything about it, but Blatman says store video shows the woman instructing the girl to hide the jewelry. She also had three other children, ages 4, 6 and 13, running around the mall. The case was sent to the city attorney for possible charges and also referred to Child Protective Services.

source:kvlr