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Metro Nashville police closed down nuisance hotel www.privateofficer.com
The Harding Inn, located at 350 Harding Place, was declared a public nuisance and shut down by a Nashville court.
Judge Steve Dozier’s order allows the motel’s rented rooms to be padlocked. The owners of the motel, John J. Yoon and Susie M. Yoon of Manchester, Tenn., and its managers, Keith Lewis, Adrian Slaton and Chris Howard, are not allowed to enter the property until a hearing is held Friday morning. However, no one has been charged.
Police said they have responded to about 300 incidents at the motel during the past year.
Officers said the owners of the motel used the facility as a place to sell drugs and allow prostitution.
Nearby businesses have complained to police about the motel’s negative impact on the area.
“Business owners and their customers, including those who workout at the nearby YMCA, are understandably fed up, and it’s time to send the message that enough is enough,” said Chief Steve Anderson in a news release. “If hundreds of police responses, arrests and warnings to the ownership won’t work, I believe today’s extreme action will.”
District Attorney Torry Johnson said the padlocking order is rare. Since 1997, only five motels in Nashville have faced nuisance proceedings.
Murder suspect arrested 32 years later www.privateofficer.com
MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED 32 YEARS LATER http://www.privateofficer.com
NASHVILLE TN. NOV. 27, 2007
A Memphis man has been arrested and charged with the 1975 murder of a Vanderbilt student, Nashville police announced yesterday.
Nashville Police say they developed new scientific evidence over the past few months that linked 60-year-old Jerome Sydney Barrett to the crime.
Barrett previously served 26 years for the rape of a Belmont student and was released in 2002.
Police arrested him Monday night in the murder of 19-year-old Sarah Vanetta Des Prez, who was found dead in her Nashville apartment.
Nashville police say their cold case unit has cleared a total of 22 murder cases since it was formed in 2005.
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RETAIL SECURITY/ LOSS PREVENTION NEWS ROUND-UP “PART TWO” by; Rick McCann www.privateofficer.com
RETAIL SECURITY/LOSS PREVENTION NEWS ROUND -UP PART TWO BY; RICK MCCANN http://www.privateofficer.com
FLORENCE KY. April Tucker, 31, Florence, shoplifting totaling less than $300, Sept. 16.
Judy Corballa, 24, Florence, shoplifting totaling less than $300, Sept. 16.
Brian K. Switzer, 34, Florence, shoplifting totaling less than $300, fleeing or evading police second degree, Sept. 16.
CARLSBAD, N.M. Bradley Cook, 26, of Torrance Circle, charged with shoplifting over $250 and under $2,500, contempt of court, failure to appear and shoplifting over $250 and under $500.
Lee Elmore, 34, of the 500 block of West Bronson, charged with shoplifting under $100.
NASHVILLE TN. Retailers, police and loss prevention agents nationwide are noticing a dramatic increase in “group” shoplifting. Families, groups of friends and organized shoplifters are banning together more frequently to steal larger items from stores and hitting the same retailer more than once. Some are shoplifting quanities of items to sell on E-Bay or at flea-markets or other on line market places while other groups are shoplifting merchandise for personal use. Although it has always been a problem for retail security, it is now becoming a much more agressive form of shoplifting causing alarm and bringing with it the potential for higher injuries to the loss prevention officer making the apprehension.
LEBANON PA. FORGERY: Joshua Zimmerman, 24, no known address, was charged with forgery, possession of a controlled substance and criminal attempt after an incident at Wal-Mart, 1355 E. Lehman St., at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, police said this week.
Charged were: Jayson Patches, 19, of 895 Richard Drive; Tyler Bender, 19, of 102 Racehorse Drive, Jonestown; and Christian Vasquez, 18, of 2320 Route 72 North, police said. Vasquez was also charged with theft, accused of taking cash and a credit card from a purse at Wal-Mart, 1355 E. Lehman St., on Aug. 29, police said.
THEFT: A purse belonging to Amanda Lutz, 729 State Drive, South Lebanon Township, was taken between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday while she was shopping at Wal-Mart, 1355 E. Lehman St., she told police Wednesday. A cell phone and other items worth $200 were in the purse.
STRAFORD N.J. The Stratford Police Department arrested two people Saturday afternoon in the Warwick Shopping Center, according to authorities.
Police were called to the Rite Aid and arrested Donna Meyer, of Stratford, for stealing merchandise valued at around $70. Police also found cocaine and drug paraphernalia after searching Meyer. She is being charged with shoplifting, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police. Shortly after making the first arrest, police responded to Incollingo’s Stratford Market and arrested Marvin K. Williams, of Lawnside, for shoplifting. Williams was spotted trying to steal roughly $80 worth of meat and was chased from the store by the manager. Police were able to track Williams to Homestead Road, where he was arrested.
ANDERSON S.C. — Two admitted crack cocaine users were fined $1087.50 each after workers at Ingles in Anderson caught them trying to steal boxes of Bayer Aspirin valued at $130.
Curtis Hill, 36, and Laura Sibert, 37, were arrested at 1:35 a.m. Friday at the 1900 North Main Street grocery store.
Both pleaded guilty to shoplifting about 8:30 a.m. Friday in Anderson City Municipal Court.
Shortly before Mr. Hill and Ms. Sibert were ordered into orange jumpsuits at the Anderson City Jail, Mr. Hill was observed putting 32 boxes of the pills in his pant’s leg. Ms. Sibert was seen putting the pills in her shirt.
Judge Hugh Welborn ordered an additional level of security at Ingles, putting Mr. Hill and Ms. Sibert on permanent trespass notice.
ROCKLAND — A 20-year-old Rockland woman was arrested Thursday afternoon for robbery, after police said a failed shoplifting incident turned violent.
Amanda French was arrested by Rockland police for Class A robbery, Deputy Rockland Police Chief Wallace Tower said.According to Tower, French and a 16-year-old girl from South Thomaston were confronted in the parking lot outside J.C. Penney on Maverick Street by two store security employees. French and the girl had shoplifted $318 in items, Tower said.The two tried to get into a car with other people, when a scuffle ensued with the security personnel. Police were called and located the vehicle.The two store security workers suffered minor injuries and were planning to see a doctor, but did not require a visit to the hospital, Tower said. French also suffered minor injuries, but did not require medical attention, he said.The 16-year-old girl was charged with theft, Tower added.
BAINBRIDGE GA. On August 26 about 3pm,Officer Taylor Mills was called to Walmart for shoplifters in custody. Security told the officer that John and another juvenile took razor blades from a package and was attempting to take some MP3 players from the locked glass case. Both juveniles were issued ban notices for Walmart.John was released to his mother.
ACORN CA. Suzanne Haffamier, an English teacher at Calabasas High School, is facing up to three years in jail for shoplifting $15 worth of groceries from an Albertsons supermarket, authorities said.
Haffamier, 53, was arrested Oct. 1 at the grocery store on Lindero Canyon Road for allegedly stealing sushi, soda and a bottle of alcohol, said Detective Victor Paladino from Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
The charge of “petty theft with a prior” elevates the shoplifting charge from an infraction or misdemeanor to a felony, Paladino said. A first offense for petty theft is usually charged as a misdemeanor when the value of the property stolen is between $50 and $400, according to legal experts. If the total value of stolen merchandise is less than $50, the perpetrator may be charged with an infraction.
Haffamier reportedly was convicted of petty theft once before. If Haffamier served at least one day in jail, the second offense is filed as a felony, Paladino said.
Details of Haffamier’s first conviction were not available. Haffamier’s attorney, Monique Hoffmayer, could not be reached for comment.
According to a criminal defense attorney not involved with the case, Haffamier faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison, although he believes that outcome is unlikely.
Paladino expects Haffamier will most likely face a stiff fine rather than jail time.
Jack Parham, an attorney representing the Las Virgenes Unified School District, said Haffamier has been placed on leave of absence from her teaching post until the legal matter is resolved.
Haffamier’s preliminary hearing is scheduled at Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys on Oct. 16.
Haffamier also taught English and directed music productions at Agoura High School. She was the director of the West Valley Ballet Company for more than 20 years and was also a former member of the San Francisco Ballet.
HILLSBORO TX. Two Hillsboro women were picked up on theft charges after Hillsboro police were called to Outlets at Hillsboro.Officers responded to the Burks Outlet about 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 8.The theft charge on 48-year-old Lena Gatewood was enhanced to a felony due to previous convictions. Her bond was set at $10,000 by Municipal Court Judge Florence Logan.A 46-year-old woman was also charged in connection with the investigation. Her bond was set at $1,000.
CINCINNATI, OH. — Two people are hospitalized in connection with a shoplifting incident that ended in a crash late Wednesday.
Police said Rochelle Burton, 46, was seen taking some items from a Walgreens on West Corry Avenue just after 10 p.m.
Police said that when security tried to stop her, Burton ran from the store and jumped into a waiting car.
While driving away, police said, the car’s driver tried to run down a security guard, who was a Cincinnati police officer.
Officers gave chase until the car crashed into a ditch on Burnet Woods Drive, ejecting Burton nearly 100 feet.
Burton and John Penny, 42, were transported to University Hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been released.
Both will likely be charged at a later date.
DETROIT MI. A Home Depot security guard helped police arrest a Detroit man accused of bilking a 81-year-old Warren woman out of $220.
Warren police Detective Sgt. Michael Torey praised Home Depot loss prevention officer Michael Luttenberger for identifying a man who approached a woman in the store and offered to get her lower prices on doors.
Luttenberger played back a store videotape of the man, who was seen taking the money from the woman and then leaving in a beige conversion van.
Torey said Luttenberger recognized the man a week later in the Home Depot on Hoover Road and called police. The man, identified as Gregory Allan West, 55, was charged Thursday in 37th District Court with larceny by conversion, a 1-year misdemeanor.
“The store detective did an outstanding job remembering what the man looked like and getting a picture of him from the store surveillance camera,” said Torey. “West returned to the Home Depot at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday and was put on surveillance by Mr. Luttenberger until our officers arrived to arrest him.”
Torey said the woman was shopping for doors at the Home Depot at noon Oct. 4 when she was approached by a man who introduced himself as James. The man, who claimed to be a contractor, told her that he could buy the doors cheaper and install them.
Torey said the woman gave him $220 and he told her to stay by the doors and he would return. The woman waited 30 minutes, said Torey, but the man never returned.
Torey said West denied any knowledge of the transaction. He later told police that the woman came up to him and asked if he could buy windows and install them for her.
West has a lengthy criminal history. In 1992 he pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob in Detroit. In 1997 he was convicted of larceny by conversion in Oak Park. In 1999 he was convicted of larceny over $100, and in 2004 was convicted in Warren of uttering and publishing.
WOODLANDS TX. On October 6, Deputy A. Cross was notified of a theft at the Burke’s Outlet in the 23700 block of Hwy 59. Upon arrival, Dep. Cross met with the loss prevention officer who was detaining a woman. Dep. Cross was advised that another woman involved in the theft was in the Kroger parking lot. Dep. Cross located the other suspect. The two women had taken a total of $447.95 worth of merchandise and left the store without paying. The loss prevention officer confronted them outside the store when they fled. One of the suspects, 19, was from Porter and the other, 17, from New Caney, were arrested at 7:41 p.m. and transported to jail. A third person, a man, involved in the incident was confronted by Deputy P. Cassidy, who during his investigation, discovered an illegal knife being carried by the man. The items stolen by the women were discovered in the vehicle the man was found in. The 50-year-old man from New Caney was arrested at 6:15 p.m. and transported to jail.
On October 6, Deputy C. Evans was sent to the Wal-Mart in Porter in reference to a theft. Dep. Evans met with the loss prevention officer who was detaining a man for shop lifting a total of $82.72 worth of merchandise. The 25-year-old man from Porter was arrested at 10:30 p.m. and transported to jail.
LINDEN N.J. — A man and two women from Essex County who police say went on a three-store shoplifting spree were arrested in Linden Saturday after one of them allegedly assaulted a store security officer who had tried to stop them from leaving the store.
Police said the security officer’s left arm and shoulder were injured so badly that she was unable to write and had to be taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway for treatment.
And police said they recovered more than $200 worth of merchandise taken from the store in Linden, along with merchandise from a Woodbridge store. Police said they also recovered three leather jackets from a Macy’s store but did not know the store’s location.
Linden police were called to the Marshalls store at Aviation Plaza, 625 W. Edgar Road, around 9:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of a fight outside the store. When police arrived. they found the store’s loss-prevention officer, standing outside the store out-of-breath, according to Linden Lt. Raymond Tyra.
Police said a woman wearing a long robe had placed merchandise from the store under the robe. When she started to leave the store, the loss-prevention officer tried to stop her, but the shoplifter grabbed the 24-year-old security officer by the arm, twisted it behind her back, and pushed her down to the ground.
According to the police account, the shoplifter told her companions to “go get the car,” before all three ran to a vehicle and left the area. The injured officer provided police with the license-plate number of the vehicle.
Officers Dave Manganiello and Don Geisheimer stopped the vehicle traveling on routes 1 and 9. Inside were three people, including a female passenger who fit the description of the woman who had taken the items from the Marshalls store, police said.
Among the items recovered belonging to the Marshalls store were pajamas, a white sweater dress, a Linea Donna leather jacket worth $100, Baby Phat jeans, Willie Esco jeans worth $59 and a weatherproof leather jacket. The merchandise from Marshalls was worth a total of $204.96, police said.
Inside the vehicle, police found three white plastic bags, two from the K&G Men’s Store in Woodbridge. The bags contained a sweater vest and two pairs of pajamas. Police also recovered a Macy’s bag containing three leather jackets.
Arrested were Victor Murray, 40, of Newark, the driver of the vehicle, Jamila Clark, 45, of Irvington, the woman accused of shoplifting the items from the Marshalls store, and Sharee Bass, 48, of Newark.
All three were charged with robbery, assault and theft. Bail was set at $60,000 each. Murray was also charged with not having a driver’s license and driving while his license was revoked. They were all taken the Union County Jail in Elizabeth, police said.
MILLVILLE-N.J. – Jacquel M. Bowser, 18, of Sassafras Street, was charged Friday with shoplifting. She was released on her own recognizance.
Cynthia Bodden, 41, of Pheasant Run, was charged Friday with shoplifting. She was released on her own recognizance.
MOULTRIE GA. — Employees at Wal-Mart on South Veterans Parkway reported two thieves were seen on security footage stealing Apple iPods Friday night.
An officer was called to Wal-Mart about 7:55 p.m. Friday and met with the employees as they were reviewing the security footage. The video showed a black female and a black male in the electronics department, and the female used a key to open the glass case where the iPods are kept.
The two thieves were seen stealing six black iPod Nanos, six green iPod Nanos and two iPods. They were then seen taking the items to the sporting goods section and deactivating the security strip.
The two thieves were then shown going to the registers where they bought a drink then left the store. They were captured on the video leaving in a white Ford Explorer, but the tag number was not given to the officer.
The value of the stolen iPods was about $2,871. The video and pictures of the Explorer were collected as evidence.
These thefts helped bring the cash value of weekend crime to nearly $5,000.
SHELBYVILLE TN. A man accused of shoplifting says his alleged accomplices fled, leaving him behind, when Dollar General Market personnel approached them Monday afternoon.
Amanda Evans, 22, and Tasha Evans, 19, who were with Anthony Johnson, 22, deny his claims, saying he was doing the shoplifting.
Store personnel told police the three, all of Bell Buckle, were working together and they have the video to prove it.
Johnson was apprehended at the scene and the women at a residence near Deason.
Each was charged with first offense shoplifting under $100, police say.
*A police officer says he saw a man reach toward cigarettes while a counter at Walgreen’s, North Main Street, was left unattended Monday.
Teurean Ashanti Maxwell, 25, Tate Street, had two packs in a pocket when Lt. Mike Baker checked moments later.
The cigarettes cost Maxwell a night in jail. He was being held Tuesday on a theft of property charge at Bedford County Jail pending $500 bond.
BALDWIN PARK, – Detectives are investigating an officer involved shooting that left a suspect hospitalized in serious condition.The incident happened Thursday night in the parking lot of a target store at 3100 Baldwin Park Boulevard in Baldwin Park.
Police were notified of a possible shoplifting suspect at the store.
When the suspect and an accomplice left the store, officers confronted them in the parking lot.
Investigators say one suspect reportedly pulled out a gun and started running, and that’s when officers fired.
There’s no word on whether police arrested the second suspect.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Investigators have been following strong leads in search of the suspect who shot and killed store owner Gene Kim. They have a big piece of evidence – the store surveillance tape.
Officials said they did not believe the store was robbed. They continue to investigate reports that the shooting was connected to an argument in the market earlier in the evening.
Witnesses told investigators the argument that led to the Kim’s murder was about shoplifting.
Tanya Smith lit a candle at the doorway of the Shop-N-Save market in memory of Gene Kim.
“It’s just… something from the heart,” Smith told NewsChannel 5. “I mean, like I said – it was hard to believe. I couldn’t believe it.”
Kim died Thursday night inside the market he owned on County Hospital Road in Bordeaux.
Surveillance video shows Kim was reading his Bible when a suspect entering the store.
There may have been an exchange of words before the suspect shot Kim in the head.
“It seemed like he’d get along with everybody, so that was just uncalled for. It doesn’t make sense at all,” said Loretta Bridges, who lives near the store.
“I mean, you walk into door… he’s just smiling and he would play with anybody’s kids – not only mine… anybody’s kids. He’d take right up with them right when you came through the door,” said frequent customer Leslie Garner.
Friends said Kim frequently read his bible. He was a deacon at the Nashville Korean Presbyterian Church on Franklin Pike.
Pastor Shin Kang said in a time like this there is not much you can do other than to pray for Kim’s wife, daughter and son.
“Other than just being there with them, holding their hands – words are not appropriate,” said Kang.
Friends said what they will remember most about Kim is how much he loved children.
Deondra Key lives across the street from the store. He said Kim would give him a little money when he’d do little chores around the store.
“It was sad, real sad. I miss him,” Deondra said.
Witnesses told police the suspect left the area in a red Pontiac Grand Am.
Police said anyone with information about the murder or shoplifting should call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME. If the information you have results in an arrest and prosecution you could receive up to $1,000.
TYLER TX. Tyler Police say a shoplifting case has prompted a cocaine-related arrest. Police were called to Wal-Mart Super Center on Troup Highway regarding three suspects allegedly trying to shoplift a television in an empty box. All three were arrested, including Quentin Gardner, 34, of Overton. Gardner was charged with possession of 26.5 grams of powder cocaine, 102 grams or 3.6 ounces of crack cocaine, and 11 grams of marijuana, all first degree felony charges. Police say he also had $2,350 in cash in a shaving kit along with drug paraphernalia. Additionally, Gardner had outstanding warrants for violation of parole, possession of a firearm, engaging in organized crime, and possession of a controlled substance. Renee Harrison, 33, of Tyler was charged with theft, a class A misdemeanor. Jason Jevic, 28, of Tyler was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. All three suspects were taken into custody and transported to the Smith County Jail.
NEW BEDFORD MA. — Carlos Felix, a local community activist and unsuccessful political candidate, was arrested this week on shoplifting charges in Dartmouth.
Mr. Felix, 33, of 21 Social St., New Bedford, is charged with trying to steal a $350 tool set from Sears at the Dartmouth Mall. He allegedly carried the merchandise outside the store, according to police reports.
Mr. Felix, who was arraigned Monday in New Bedford District Court, ran as an independent for state representative from the 13th Bristol District last year. He also founded the local watchdog group Citizens in Action for Progress. He said he considered running for City Council this year but decided against it.
Mr. Felix attributed his shoplifting arrest Monday to kleptomania, which he said drives him to steal. He also said he has been battling anxiety.
“It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand the feeling of being compelled to take something,” Mr. Felix told The Standard-Times.
“Something triggered inside of me. It’s like I did not know I was doing something improper,” he said. “Basically, I made a mistake.”
His latest legal problem could reopen a marijuana possession case that was continued without a finding last summer. In June, he pleaded nolo contendere, meaning that he admitted sufficient facts of the case.
The marijuana possession charges were to be dismissed in June 2008 as long Mr. Felix was not arrested on any new charges.
The Probation Department at New Bedford District Court will decide whether he violated the terms of his no-contest plea.
According to court records, a Sears loss prevention officer reported seeing a man behaving “suspiciously” in the tool section around 11:30 a.m. Monday. The officer saw the man pick up a 238-piece tool set and walk past the registers.
Another loss prevention officer who was stationed outside the store stopped the man as he left the building and ordered him to return to the manager’s office, court records said.
Mr. Felix said he never left the store. He said he was going “in and out” out of the door, struggling with his impulses.
“I was fighting my demons,” he said.
Dartmouth police officers arrived and arrested Mr. Felix. On the way to police headquarters, Mr. Felix told the officers he has a mental disease that causes him to steal, court records said. He also told the officers he had not done anything like that in a long time.
Mr. Felix was arrested Dec. 1, 2006, in New Bedford after a police officer observed him and another man sitting in a parked car near McGurk and Ruth streets. Having detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car, the officer searched Mr. Felix and found a small amount of marijuana in his pants pocket, according to court records.
Mr. Felix said that he has since stopped smoking marijuana, which he said helped him cope with his anxiety.
“I’ve been trying to better myself, and here I am doing this idiotic, stupid thing,” he said. “It’s like I woke up in a jail cell, and I thought, ‘What happened?”
