Lone Tree police-mall security thwart robbery at mall www.privateofficer.com

 

Lone Tree CO April 11 2013 Lone Tree police said they teamed up with mall security officials March 30 to thwart an attempted robbery at Park Meadows shopping center. A woman was arrested, and two male suspects, one of whom apparently had been carrying a stolen handgun, still are being sought.

Bernadette Irene Vargas, 51, of Edgewater, was arrested on six charges and booked into the Douglas County jail.
While shoplifting is common at malls nationwide, robberies — especially those involving a weapon — are unusual. “We don’t have a problem with robberies at the mall,” Lone Tree Police Chief Jeff Streeter said.

“(This is) the one report since January 2012 in which a weapon was used. It’s very rare.” The incident started about 6:40 p.m. at the JC Penney store, when a store loss-prevention officer confronted the trio for allegedly taking about $300 of cologne. One of the men reportedly lifted his shirt to reveal a handgun, and threatened the security officer. Vargas reportedly then threw a bag of stolen merchandise at the security officer and the three suspects ran out of the mall.

The security officer and Lone Tree police officer Dennis Boos, who is stationed at the department’s Park Meadows substation, caught up to two of the three fleeing suspects in the parking lot.

Boos pulled his gun and ordered them to stop. The man complied, but though Vargas stopped, she reportedly started cursing, yelling ‘Shoot me,’ and walking around the man before running off into the parking lot.

The security officer caught up to her and wrestled Vargas to the ground. She allegedly cursed and attempted to kick Boos when he handcuffed her. Police later found a loaded handgun under a nearby car in the mall parking lot. The gun had been reported stolen to Thornton police. Authorities who searched Vargas at the jail reportedly found she was wearing underwear with Victoria’s Secret tags still attached to them.

Vargas was charged with aggravated robbery, menacing with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, attempted second-degree assault, theft and disorderly conduct. Though the incident started as a shoplifting, the suspects’ use of threats, force or intimidation elevates it to a robbery, Streeter said. Streeter praised Boos’ calm response during the tense, at-times chaotic series of events. “They relied on their training,” he said. “

The officer assessed it properly and we were able to take someone into custody, with no injuries to anybody.” Malls and large shopping centers are frequent targets for shoplifters, many of whom are professionals and some of whom are part of national, organized shoplifting rings.
source- our lone tree news

More than three dozen people including teacher-pro golfer snagged in Internet sex sting www.privateofficer.com

 

 

KISSIMMEE, Fla.Jan 18 2012  - More than three dozen people, including an eighth-grade teacher, a head swim coach and a professional golfer, were arrested in an undercover Internet child sex operation in Osceola County.

Sheriff’s detectives recently concluded Operation Red Cheeks, a week-long, multi-agency operation that resulted in the arrests of 40 suspects who were charged with soliciting sex from a child via the Internet and other sex and drug related crimes.

Alexander Roy, 32, of Port St. Lucie, who teaches eighth grade, was arrested on numerous charges, including traveling to seduce a child to commit sex acts.

Stephen Wesley Thomas, 55, of Meridian, Miss., a professional golfer on the Senior PGA Tour, was also arrested on several charges, including use of a computer to seduce, solicit or entice a parent.

Bryan Allan Woodward, 29, of Gainesville, the head coach of Gator Swim Club, was arrested on charges of traveling to seduce a child to commit sex acts and use of a computer to solicit a child for sex.

The operation was conducted from Jan. 8 to Jan. 16. Business professionals and eight college students were among the other arrestees.

During the operation, undercover detectives from numerous Central Florida agencies posed as juveniles or the parent or guardian of a juvenile to talk with individuals in chat rooms and instant messaging programs on the Internet.

Suspects traveled to an undercover house or secondary meeting location in Osceola County with the purpose of having sex with a child, authorities said. During the chats, some of the suspects sent pornographic images to the undercover detectives and they also brought alcohol, drugs and other items to the meeting, deputies said.

One suspect traveled from Georgia and another was on vacation from Alaska, but most were from Florida. All the suspects were arrested in Osceola County.

“This operation should also be a warning to all parents to monitor and be involved with their child’s computer activities,” Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell said.

The 37 other arrestees are as follows, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office records:

•Frederick David Adams, of Naples, high school student

•Samer Japer Al-Hubaydi, of Daytona Beach, Student at Embry-Riddle

•Jason Bacchus, of Winter Garden, Sales representative

•Christopher Baker, of Kissimmee, Unemployed

•Christopher Batman, of Wesley Chapel, Self-employed

•Marvin Alfonson Bell, of Valrico, college student

•Dennis Bluemke, of Clermont, Don Lee Wheeler fencing

•Charles James Buffington, of Deltona, Construction

•Sergio Cardenas, of Auburndale, Unemployed

•Lucas Bartholomew Clarke, of Winter Park, Student at Golf Academy of America

•Shane Daniel Cousins, of Kissimmee, Soldier, U.S. Army Reserves

•Gary J. Durso, of Palm Coast, Areole Technician

•Josean Javier Gaston, of Orlando, Student

•Carlos Gomez, of Winter Park, Student

•Justin Joseph Hall, of Kissimmee, Student

•Dell Rio Highsmith, of Fargo, Ga., retired bee keeper

•Cornellus Eugene Hunt, of Orlando, Student

•Phillip Dale Jones, of Winter Haven, Unemployed

•Roger Dale Mathews, of Lakeland, Plant manager

•Joseph Matz, of Williamstown, NJ; Unemployed

•Carl David Brooks Newsome, of Fairhope, AL; Unknown

•Ryu Nolin, of Edgewater, Personal Trainer

•Craig Alan Parsel, Jr., of Fairbanks, Alaska; Warehouse clerk

•Eric Dennard Payne, Jr., of Orlando, Dispatcher at Eagle Trans Corporation

•Ahmidullah Popal, of Flushing, NY; Wholesale dealer

•Nigel Rattan, of Mt. Dora, Self-employed

•Milton Benjamin Richardson, of Palm Bay, Engineer

•Kegan Ritchie, of Port Orange, Student

•Kenneth Sinisi, of South Daytona, Unemployed

•Andrew Louis Skinner, of Windermere, Vendor

•Jay S. Soni, of Orlando, Sales representative

•Frederick Charles Spreng, IV, of Windermere, Manager

•Warren Lee Staples, of St. Cloud, Public works

•Winston Alexander Stephens, of Shreveport, LA; Student at Full Sail University

•Christopher Stewart, of Kissimmee, Truck loader

•Ryan Stickle, of Sammamish, WA; Consultant

•Samuel Dean Straitiff, of DeLand, Information technology

Source:WKMG