Posts Tagged ‘Violence’

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GPS Tracking Device Could Have Prevented Tragic Murder

By Dawn in court cases, Crime, gps, gps tracker, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, murder, Police Records, Safety, stalking, Violence at December 22nd, 2011 | No comments

 

 

 

 

According to a report made by a local news station in Denver, CO, a teacher was fatally shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend outside her Denver apartment on December 16. A GPS tracking device that would have been able to warn the victim that the suspect was nearby was not requested by the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

If the suspect, Ryan Miller, had still been wearing the GPS tracker, it would have alerted Andrea Roan that he was just outside her apartment; however, it was removed after a previous domestic violence case involving Miller and Roan was taken over by the Denver District Attorney. Upon taking on the case, the District Attorney decided they did not need to track the suspected killer.

Without being privy to the details of this case, I would still have to surmise that this man was considered a dangerous character for the court to have required him to wear a GPS tracker. I wonder what changed, if anything, that led to the decision of the District Attorney to have the GPS tracker removed. This is a tragic death that could have been avoided.

“We don’t ask for it [GPS tracking devices] in every case, just those cases where we think it would be appropriate and necessary,” says Vince DeCroce. Although he was unable to talk about any specific cases, he did explain that authorities often request GPS tracking devices when they believe the victim’s life could be in danger.

Apparently, Andrea Roan’s life was in danger because she lost her life as a result of this decision.

“First and foremost is victim safety,” DeCroce says. “The tracking device sends an alert to the monitoring company if the suspect gets near the victim’s home or workplace. The company then immediately warns the victim.”

It doesn’t sound like “victim safety” was a priority here.

According to law enforcement authorities, Miller waited outside Roan’s apartment last Friday morning and then shot her in the head as she drove away. Read the full article »

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FBI Placed GPS Tracker on Bank Robber’s Car

By Dawn in Crime, gps tracker, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, murder, Police Records, robbery, Stolen Property, Theft Investigations at December 20th, 2011 | No comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a story where miscommunication, and lack of willingness to share crucial information, resulted in the death of a police officer. The controversy surrounding this incident is primarily directed at the FBI.

FBI agents knew of a bank robbery before it occurred, but they were keeping the details to themselves. The FBI contacted Muskegon County (Michigan) dispatchers to warn them about the possibility of a bank robbery. FBI Resident Agent in Charge, John King, had called the Muskegon Dispatch Center at roughly 10:20 a.m. to alert them to a bank robbery that was about to occur – 16 minutes later - ChoiceOne Bank was robbed.

“Hey, this is John King with the FBI in Grand Rapids,” dispatch tapes recorded. “We are right now tracking a couple individuals up in the Muskegon County area around Ravenna. And so, if there happens to be a bank robbery come out, can you make sure we end up getting a phone call?” The FBI had been tracking the two bank robbers with a GPS tracking device placed on the suspect’s car and on a phone.

Although the FBI had placed a GPS tracker on the suspect’s vehicle, they did not provide a vehicle description when asked by a Muskegon dispatcher.

Dispatch tapes also show that one of the FBI agents appeared to know beforehand that suspects Derryl LaFave and Kristopher Cheyne were going to be in a black Chevrolet Blazer that they used as their first getaway car. The Blazer had been stolen the day before the robbery. The suspects abandoned the Blazer, which had the GPS tracker, not far from the bank before escaping in a blue Oldsmobile Bravada.

“We had our suspects in there before the bank robbery, so I’m sure that’s it,” FBI Task Force member Pat Harig told a dispatcher. At the time, he was discussing the Blazer. Harig told dispatchers the FBI had been tracking the suspects into Ravenna through GPS, and they wanted to keep that a secret. “Without putting this on the air, we have GPS on the vehicle and on a phone,” Harig told a dispatcher. “We do not need that on the air.” Read the full article »

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Police: ‘Blond Bandit’ May Have Struck Again

By Dawn in Burlary, Crime, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, Police Records, Private Investigator, robbery, Safety, Security, Violence at November 29th, 2011 | No comments

A so-called “blond bandit” suspected of multiple heists in Virginia has been linked to another crime, this one a carjacking on Thanksgiving Day in Maryland.

Stephanie Lynn Schwab, 26, described as a 5’3” white female with blond hair and green eyes, earned her nickname after being named in connection with an earlier carjacking and two bank robberies, all of which took place between Nov. 18 and Nov. 21, according to Virginia’s Inside.Nova.com.

In Thursday’s incident, Baltimore County police say Schwab asked a woman for a ride from the parking lot of a Safeway supermarket to a Shoppers Food Warehouse. But when the victim stopped her car, Schwab allegedly displayed a knife and told her to keep driving.

The victim asked a nearby man for help, at which point the suspect attempted to climb into the driver’s seat. The victim tried to grab the knife from Schwab and was cut on the hand, officials said. Schwab then fled on foot, police said.

Schwab is also wanted in an armed carjacking on Nov. 19 of a silver 2003 Acura.

In that incident, a 59-year-old woman had offered the suspect a ride from the parking lot of Neiman Marcus at the Tysons Corner shopping center in Virginia. They left together in the Acura, but at a nearby intersection, the suspect showed a knife and told the victim to get out of the car. That victim was left at the intersection. The Acura was found on Friday. Detectives connected Schwab to the crime and have obtained a warrant for her arrest.

Schwab also has been linked to a Nov. 18 bank robbery in Prince William County, Va. She may have been involved in another bank robbery Nov. 22, at a BB&T in Springfield, Va.

She was last seen Thursday, running eastbound on Route 40 towards Baltimore City. She has no known connection to that area, and may be staying in a motel, waiting for a chance to commandeer a getaway car reported WBALTV.com. Police are asking drivers to use caution, as the suspect may approach vehicles asking for a ride.

Former gang member
Schwab, of Manassas, Va., is a former member of the MS-13 gang, according to court records. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that she joined the group after running away from home at the age of 12. She reportedly had a fellow gang member’s child three years later, and is now a mother of two. In 2005, Schwab testified against MS-13 members in a murder trial.

Police don’t know what prompted the recent robbery spree. This woman has initiated several investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP (866-756-2587). To text a tip to Metro Crime Stoppers, send to “CRIMES” (274637), then enter the message starting with “MCS,” or e-mail a tip to www.metrocrimestoppers.org.

Those contacting Metro Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Read story@ msnbc

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Police Mull Charges in Walmart Pepper Spray Case

By Dawn in Crime, Investigations, MSI Detective Services, Violence, witness statement at November 28th, 2011 | No comments

It seems that every year for about the past eight years or so we hear about some form of shopping violence taking place on Black Friday. Remember the time a man was trampled to death? What has happened to our society when an Xbox 360, or any commodity, causes people to physically harm others in hopes of getting an item or getting it on sale? It’s just a game people. It’s not like there is a food or water shortage – where you might understand people acting desperately or irrationally.

I saw stories where people were staked out in store parking lots in tents days before Black Friday. This big shopping day of the year has truly gotten out of hand. Most often, there are no real deals to be had. Marketers and advertisers draw people in with a carrot and know that once the shopper is in the store, they will buy other items that are not on sale.

Los Angeles police are still deciding whether to pursue charges against a woman who allegedly used pepper spray while shopping at a Walmart Thanksgiving night in Porter Ranch, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

LA Police Officer Bruce Borihanh told the paper, “We have a ton of witnesses and victims to interview.”

The woman turned herself in Friday night after the incident allegedly caused minor injuries to other shoppers, including children. Reports range from stating that anywhere from 10-15 people were injured. NBC News reported police said no more than 15 were hurt, 10 of them from the effects of inhalation of pepper spray.

The woman was released pending further investigation after she refused to discuss the incident, police said Saturday. Her identity has not been released. Read the full article »

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