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Tuesday, September 07, 2010

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PoliceOne.com Daily News

Protest over fatal shooting by LAPD turns violent
Associated PressLOS ANGELES — A protest over the fatal police shooting of a Guatemalan immigrant turned violent when some demonstrators threw bottles at officers, set trash cans on fire and refused to disperse.Television news footage showed people tossing the bottles and plastic crates at officers in riot gear late Monday near MacArthur Park, a neighborhood with a large Central American population west of downtown.Police declared the protest an unlawful assembly around 10 p.m. and ordered the dozens of protesters to disperse. The majority of the crowd cleared out, but a small number lingered and caused trouble, police spokesman Gregory Baek said.Police made a couple of arrests, Baek said. He said police won't have a final tally until they complete the booking process for the suspects.The protest began in the afternoon with demonstrators marching back and forth between a bustling shopping area where the shooting occurred and the Rampart police station three blocks away.Police said three bicycle officers were patrolling the area Sunday when someone flagged them down and said a man was threatening passers-by with a knife.When officers confronted the man, they ordered him to drop the knife but he refused, Lt. Andrew Neiman said."Instead, he came after the officers with a knife raised in the air, leading one of the officers to fire at the suspect," Neiman said.Authorities have not released the man's name. However, friends identified him as Manuel Jamines, 37, a construction worker and father of three.Protesters contend the man was not dangerous and say officers should have used a non-lethal weapon to subdue him."When you're trying to stop a suspect or stop a deadly action, the purpose is to stop the threat as quickly as possible," Neiman said.MacArthur Park was the site of a May 1, 2007, clash, where police officers pummeled immigration rights marchers and reporters with batons and shot rubber bullets into the crowd. Dozens of protesters and journalists were injured as officers cleared the park.The embarrassing incident cost the city more than $13 million in lawsuit settlements. Police were retrained on crowd control, forming skirmish lines, using batons in a crowd and using extraction teams to identify and arrest violent demonstrators. 

Police arrest man who scaled Calif. tower
The Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco police arrested a man who scaled the exterior of a 58-story downtown skyscraper Monday and unfurled an American flag at the top.Police told KCBS radio that the man was veteran skyscraper climber Dan Goodwin. The 54-year-old Lake Tahoe resident's other climbing credits include Chicago's Sears Tower.Goodwin used suction cups but no ropes to scale Millennium Tower, a 645-foot (197-meter) residential building overlooking San Francisco Bay. He ignored orders to stop climbing, police said.Goodwin was too high to reach by the time firefighters arrived at the building, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.Goodwin reached the top just before 5:30 p.m., about three hours after he began. He affixed an American flag to the building before surrendering to waiting authorities.In a statement posted on his website, Goodwin said he climbed the building to call attention to what he described as the ongoing vulnerability of skyscrapers to terrorist attacks.He also said he wanted to inspire patients battling cancer, which he said he overcame to continue climbing. 

Calif. airport: The right spot for pot?
By Toni Scott Oroville Mercury RegisterCHICO, Calif. — In this economy, it may be good news to some that a enterprising venture is interested in one of Chico's largest vacant buildings.But others are concerned over the proposal for 1100 Marauder St. a 600,000-square-foot indoor hydroponic medical marijuana grow that would be the largest in the nation.The building at the Chico Municipal Airport Industrial Park, once occupied by clothing distributor Koret, is being eyed by Plant Properties Management, LLC.The Los Angeles-based company has hopes of creating a business model in Chico unparalleled in the medical marijuana industry.Jason Oh, 36, founding partner of the venture, said the "state-of-the-art facility" would lease space to local collectives, allow them to grow medical marijuana in a highly controlled and secure space, and then test the drug for quality, package it and track it for taxation purposes.The entire operation would be monitored around the clock by security officials. No distribution of marijuana would occur on-site.Oh's plans for Chico are unprecedented.The city of Oakland recently approved large-scale indoor marijuana production in a landmark decision, but proposed operations there would fill a maximum of 100,000 square-feet."Chico would be the largest facility in the country," Oh said. "It would definitely be groundbreaking."The company is reportedly looking into operating a similar, albeit smaller, operation in Los Angeles.Oh said Plant Properties Management's main objective is to ensure quality medicine for ailing individuals. He said he aims to work within existing law, even with the November ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana use."Our business model is intended to be a solution to problems in the industry," Oh said. "It is intended to regulate medical marijuana, the way it should be."Oh anticipates his plan would create 250 to 500 jobs in Chico, with the city to see increased tax revenue.Chico City Councilor Andy Holcombe said that is a possibility he can rally behind."If it actually creates jobs and tax revenue, it sounds like a promising business, just like any other business," Holcombe said. "From a jobs and business standpoint, in principle, it sounds like a good idea. Why not be part of the medical marijuana cluster that's developing in California? Assuming it's a legal use, it could be beneficial to our community."The question of legality, however, is one that is contested.Oh maintains the business is "legal in every way.""We're just leasing space in a controlled environment," he said.Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey and Chico Police Chief Mike Maloney disagree.Ramsey said based on the information he was provided, the facility would not be a legal operation.Although Proposition 215 allows for the cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes, it does not give the green light to mass marijuana production.Maloney said it is "ridiculous" to think otherwise."There is nowhere in the law that provides for what they're proposing," Maloney said.There is also no provision in the city's zoning regulations for the venture.The Koret building, which was vacated in 2007 by the clothing business, is in an area zoned for airport manufacturing.With zoning laws prohibiting any use that is not explicitly stated, City interim Planning Services Director Mark Wolfe said the type of operation Oh is seeking to create would be prohibited.Wolfe also pointed out the medical marijuana ordinance currently under city consideration which aims to regulate the cultivation, processing and distribution of medical marijuana would still impede Oh's plans.The ordinance only allows dispensaries to operate in light manufacturing and industrial zones, as well as general manufacturing and industrial zones within the city.Oh contends the ordinance, which comes before the city Planning Commission in September, applies to dispensaries, which his proposed plan is not.Even so, he is requesting the city include airport manufacturing areas in the ordinance, to better accommodate his proposal and serve a need he sees in the community."There's a huge demand for this," Oh said, "The industry is just completely out of control. This would implement a solution."But it's a solution that at least one local collective opposes.Max Del Real, a cannabis lobbyist and spokesman for Chico's Citizen Collective, a nonprofit collective at the forefront of city medical marijuana regulation discussions, said Oh's proposal is "absolutely ludicrous" and "audacious.""It's wrong on so many fronts," Del Real said. "First off, anything out of Los Angeles is not a good thing. Los Angeles, right now, is not a model city in terms of effective medical marijuana regulation. Los Angeles, if anything, is what we don't want to become.""This just lends itself to what we have been asking the city for nine months," Del Real said. "Chico needs a medical cannabis ordinance to protect herself from outside entities. If anything, this is a wake-up call for Chico to work with those people that are of our community."Chico City Manager Dave Burkland also is opposed to welcoming the business into Chico.Burkland recently met with a number of individuals associated with the enterprise at their request.He was not sold on the facility's merits."Frankly, we discouraged it," Burkland said. "This is not something we would support from a city staff level. I don't think it's appropriate for our city and I don't think it's the best use of that building."But there are no other businesses lining up to utilize the building, as evidenced by the property's current standing.Building owners Steve E. and Julie E. Brown have defaulted on a loan with an unpaid balance of $8.5 million on the structure, according to a legal notice published Thursday in the Enterprise-Record.The notice says the building is to be sold at a trustee's sale on Sept. 2 on the steps of the Butte County Courthouse. That action could be delayed or canceled if the situation is financially resolved.Oh would not comment on whether his company plans to buy or lease the building, saying the details are under negotiation.He did say bringing in an interested business that will fill that unoccupied space, create hundreds of jobs and boost the city's struggling economy is a smart move."Taxes help a city function," Oh said. "With the recession, the city is seeing lower tax revenue. We could fill that void."Ultimately, however, Oh said Plant Properties Management is a business and as such, needs to be profitable.He noted as much as he would like to see Chico rise to become a leader in the medical marijuana movement, if the facility faces significant hurdles, it might have to look elsewhere.And based on the city's initial response to the proposal, the budding venture could be snuffed out in Chico before ever lifting off."We're not going to come in a city if the police chief or district attorney is going to kick our doors down," Oh said. "We want the city's blessing." Copyright 2010 Oroville Mercury Register 

The 'avoidable' arrest and the issue of race
If you actually want a more complete and accurate understanding of this column you need to read all the hyperlinks in this article, but to just frame things going in:“It also appears that many people choose to ignore or minimize empirical evidence that refutes their beliefs.” — Renee Loth, Boston Globe, 2010“Mindfulness ...is the process of actively noticing new things, relinquishing preconceived mindsets, and then acting on the new observations.” — Cara Feinberg, Harvard Magazine, Sep/Oct 2010The Gates/Crowley Incident The President of the United States, the United States Attorney General, Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree are just four of many people who claim that the last summer’s arrest of Professor Gates by Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James Crowley should serve as a “teachable moment” concerning race relations in America. However, it appears that the primary lesson of this “teachable moment” may be that many law enforcement “experts,” political pundits, and members of the media ignore or minimize empirical evidence that refutes their beliefs.In one of the most ironically titled reports I’ve ever read, Missed Opportunities, Shared Responsibilities: Final Report of The Cambridge Review Committee, the “experts ignore the issue of race. These “experts,” were provided with a golden opportunity to address the issue of race in America surrounding an incident that received international attention and rather than act upon it, they chose to sweep the issue of race under the rug. So much for teachable moments!I first suspected that the Gates/Crowley incident was going to be simply another missed opportunity to discuss the issue of race in America and become another in a long line of missed opportunities when I read that the review committee had missed the opportunity to include Asian Americans on the committee. Far too often when the issue of race in America is explored, it is in the context of a “Black and White America.” It is almost as if those who do the exploring have never visited the United States Census website. Only a cursory visit reveals that the issue of race in America is far more complex and multifaceted than Black and White!First and foremost a simple yet at the same time a complex question the media needs to be answered is why the media shuns — as well it should — referring to Asian Americans as “Yellow,” yet the media continues to feel comfortable referencing “Black” and “White” when they report incidents. On page 53 of the September-October 2010 issue, Harvard Magazine, is an understated and unremarkable column, “Putting the Arrest to Rest.” It is difficult if not impossible for me to understand how Harvard Magazine could note that:...and notably [the Cambridge Review Committee report] did not emphasize the racial elements of the story that figured so prominently in reporting and commentary at the time. For details, see harvardmag.com/gates-reportHow is it possible that Harvard Magazine can note the importance of discussing the issue of race in America and when that issue sits on its very doorstep, Harvard Magazine joins most everyone else in wanting to “put the arrest to rest?” The ‘Avoidable’ Arrest In a Boston Globe opinion column, The 'avoidable' arrest, the author, Joan Vennochi, correctly notes that, “What happened between Gates and Crowley varies, according to who tells the story.” Equally important, I believe, is this: What happened between Gates and Crowley varies according to who hears the story. Most people will continue to make their decisions about the Gates/Crowley incident based upon their preconceived beliefs and bias about race in America. Vennochi believes the primary lesson to be learned by law enforcement is that rude and obnoxious behavior should not be a reason for an arrest. Vennochi also notes that:1.) What made this a national Rorschach test was the race of the cranky professor and the cranky cop. 2.) It’s clear from his comments to Crowley, that skin color triggered Gates’ reaction to the police officers. Only Crowley knows what triggered his reaction to Gates. Was it back-talk? Skin color? The combination? 3.) Avoiding the central question does not make it go away. Would the outcome in this case be different if the professor had been white?Story Tellers However, Vennochi does not inform her readers that on June 17, 2010 the Boston Globe article, Review finds no links to race, arrests, did answer some of her questions. This independent review reports that it is the context and circumstances surrounding individual incidents that are the most common factor concerning arrests for disorderly conduct, not race. The above report notes that of the 392 arrests for disorderly conduct from 2004 to 2009, 57 percent were white and 34 percent were black. This percentage almost exactly mirrors the racial composition of the population investigated for disorderly conduct. Just a cursory review of comments about the Gates/Crowley incident reveals that most people had reached presumptions of guilt before reading all the facts. In an article in the Boston Globe, Ogletree sees progress made, but more work left to do, Professor Ogletree states that:The person with control and power to make an arrest that day was Sergeant James Crowley, not Professor Gates. It was wrong of Crowley to arrest him.Apparently Professor Ogletree believes that Sergeant Crowley was absolutely wrong and Professor Gates was absolutely right. Professor Ogletree does not seem to understand the work left to do involve both law enforcement and the African-American community. I do agree with Professor Ogletree that Sergeant Crowley could have avoided making the arrest. However, to paint Professor Gates as someone without any power to control the event is wrong. All Professor Gates had to do to prevent the arrest was to provide Sergeant Crowley with the same respect that he expected Sergeant Crowley should extend to him. Cognitive Dissonance Might this be another teachable moment lost because of cognitive dissonance? Cognitive dissonance is encountered when people choose to ignore facts that dispute their belief system. It is generally accepted that facts that that support your beliefs are readily accepted as facts, while facts that can call into question what you believe, can render you unwilling or unable to accept those facts as actual facts.How facts backfire, was published in the Globe on the same day as the Vennochi column. It might be another partial explanation of how or why Americans are going to continue missing teachable moments about race similar to the Gates/Crowley incident. Conclusion All I ask is that the Cambridge Police Department, Harvard University, Harvard Magazine, and Professor Ogletree do not allow this “teachable moment” to be put to rest. As noted above, investigations reveal that, at least for the Cambridge Police, race was not central to this arrest. It is time for Harvard University – the leading educational institution in American – and Harvard Magazine – an independent voice concerning Harvard University - to help all Americans understand how or why almost everyone in the African-American community, including at least two Harvard professors, continue to believe that Sergeant Crowley was wrong, Professor Gates was innocent, and that, race was central to his arrest. The dialogue needs to continue and not be put to rest until we have an answer that we all are willing to accept, regardless of race, color creed or national origin. 

Sheriff's cousin was driver in Wisc. fatal crash
By Bruce Vielmetti and Alex Morrell Milwaukee Journal SentinelKENOSHA, Wisc. — The driver who struck and killed a 15-year-old girl in Kenosha County is Sheriff David G. Beth's cousin.The victim's mother and her lawyers in a civil case have raised questions about the investigation of the June 17 crash after no charges or citations were issued to Denise Heckel, a former dispatcher for the Kenosha County Sheriff 's Department and other agencies.Authorities who defended the decisions to a reporter on Thursday, and discussed public perceptions of possible bias when law enforcement officials are subjects of investigations, did not mention Heckel's relationship to the sheriff.Heckel, 42, was in a car with her husband, a Kenosha police sergeant, when she struck and killed Michelina "Micki" Combs on County Highway D in Paris about 9 p.m. Combs was walking with a friend in the same westbound lane Heckel was traveling.Assistant District Attorney Richard Ginkowski didn't learn that Beth is a cousin of Heckel until Friday.He and District Attorney Robert Zapf will review the new information next week, Zapf said Fri- day night."(Ginkowski) wasn't made personally aware of that. I had a quick opportunity to review some of the information. It appears the investigation proceeded in a normal course," Zapf said.Zapf said a meeting is scheduled with the Combs family next week so they can ask questions and provide additional evidence, but he said he doesn't know that the sheriff 's relationship had an impact on the investigation."I'm not sure that it plays any significant role in the investigation at this point," Zapf said. "If they have more information, we will take that into consideration." Beth said Friday that he was aware there had been a fatal crash involving a pedestrian that night, but did not know Heckel was driving until the next day, when he alerted staff to keep him out of the case because of his family connection to Heckel. He said he has had nothing to do with the investigation.Beth said from what he's heard since, the case was handled professionally and impartially and he wouldn't have done anything differently.Officials said Heckel, who admitted drinking five wine coolers earlier that day, showed no signs of intoxication at the crash scene. She had been driving safely and legally, according to witnesses.Heckel told investigators she had drunk only water after 6:30 p.m. Tests more than two hours after the crash showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.057. Wisconsin law defines legally intoxicated as 0.08 or above. Antonio Romanucci, a Chicago attorney who represents Combs' mother in a wrongful death lawsuit, said he, too, was unaware Heckel was a relative of the sheriff 's until Friday, and said it makes it apparent that a different agency should have handled the investigation."Now they've left the appearance of impropriety despite their claims that that's inevitable," Romanucci said.Copyright, 2010, Journal Sentinel, All Rights Reserved. 

Domestic-abuse reports get specific in Pa. police pilot program
By Troy Graham The Philadelphia InquirerPHILADELPHIA — For the last month, Philadelphia police officers in three districts have been documenting domestic abuse in a new and unusually detailed way.As part of a pilot program, officers in the East Division have been using a specific domestic-violence form, developed with the help of advocacy groups and experts, that includes an extensive checklist of questions for the victims.Was there pushing and shoving? Punching? Biting? Hair-pulling?Were the children hurt? What about the pets?Was anything thrown or broken? Was the furniture overturned?While all seemingly obvious queries, the old police form — known as a 48 — didn't ask for specific documentation, and officers often wrote bare-bones narratives."They would say things like, 'Arrived on the scene. The guy was gone. The complainant stated that he beat her up,' " said Susan B. Sorenson, a University of Pennsylvania professor and director of the Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence. "It wouldn't necessarily include all these contextual factors."Collecting more detailed information is important for a number of reasons, including for prosecuting the offenders."In cases where we have to go to court without the victim, that's a tremendous help for us," said Deborah Harley, the chief of the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit in the District Attorney's Office.Police leaders and advocates hope the new form will not only help the officers, but also draw out sometimes traumatized victims."The new form is fantastic," said Molly Callahan, director of the Legal Center for Women Against Abuse. "We also know victims can be very reluctant. . . . They're not always going to tell everything that has happened."The form is part of a broad effort to change the way police investigate, report, and make referrals in domestic-abuse cases — all spurred by an unexpected surge in domestic homicides last year.While homicides overall were in a two-year decline, domestic killings jumped from 21 in 2008 to 37 in 2009. There have beEn 21 domestic homicides so far this year.Eventually, police leaders hope to enact a number of changes that will provide warning signs of future and escalating violence - and help get victims help.As part of the pilot program in the East Division - which includes Northern Liberties, Kensington, Fishtown, Port Richmond, and parts of North Philadelphia — police have been sharing the information collected with advocacy groups such as Women Against Abuse.The new form asks for a "call back" number counselors can use to reach the victims to offer them services and help. Previously, counselors would have to wait for abused women to contact them, usually through a hotline.Jeannine Lisitski, executive director of Women Against Abuse, said the advocacy groups have spoken with two-thirds of the victims since the pilot program started in August."We would have never reached this many people," she said. "What struck us is the staggering need, and this is only one division."After a second call to the same home, a police victim-assistance officer also reaches out to the victim. After a third call, a domestic-violence detective gets involved, said Deputy Commissioner Patricia Giorgio-Fox.In the first week of the program, the East Division had four victims who each called police three times, she said.Two of the suspected abusers were arrested immediately after the third visit from police; two others required further investigation, Giorgio-Fox said.She said she hoped to have all six police divisions using the form by the end of the year.Police can receive as many as 100,000 domestic-violence 911 calls in a year. Once the program expands citywide, the advocacy groups won't be able to contact - or try to contact - each victim."I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project.In the meantime, the Police Department is tweaking the form, based mostly on the suggestions of the officers responding to domestic calls."I gave them a draft of a form and I said, 'Tell me what you like and don't like,' " Giorgio-Fox said. "It's going a lot better than I expected. I'm very pleased with the response of the officers."Copyright 2010 Philadelphia Newspapers, LLC 

New computer program helps Calif. dispatchers
By Bonnie Eslinger San Jose Mercury NewsOn any given day, San Mateo County emergency dispatchers handle hundreds of phone calls from residents with fire, medical, police and other concerns. The ability of any one call-taker to deftly respond to the myriad of emergencies and get necessary information from an often panicked caller leans heavily on the dispatcher's experience and training.Now law enforcement dispatchers have a new tool at their disposal -- a computer program that offers a step-by-step sequence of questions developed for several dozen of the most common calls. A similar program is already used by dispatchers handling medical calls.In July, county law enforcement dispatchers were trained to use "Emergency Police Protocol," a computer program designed to help them better respond to law enforcement-related calls. The county paid $125,000 to integrate the program, developed by the nonprofit National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, into the county's emergency communication system.Elise Moeck, the county's law enforcement program manager, said before getting the computer program, there was not as much consistency with the information call-takers took down."It was all based on their level of experience, knowledge and intuition, if you will. Now with Protocol, it blends both the Protocol and your knowledge and intuition. It limits your ability to forget something," Moeck said. "We get everything from parking complaints to shootings to stabbings to home invasions."After asking some basic questions to get the caller's address, call-back number and name, the dispatcher asks the "tell me exactly what happened question."If there's a dangerous situation, the county's computer system allows the call-taker to immediately dispatch police or medical assistance with a keystroke. The program also gives the call-taker prompts to provide information to help maintain the caller's safety until help arrives.Jon Long, who has been a dispatcher since 2001, said the program is particularly helpful for uncommon situations."I handle a disturbance (call) every day, but you give me an abduction and I'm just going on memory," Long said. "With this system, I don't have to worry about it. ... All the questions are prompted."Early on in the conversation, dispatchers also ask about the safety of the situation and if weapons are involved, Moeck said, for the sake of the people involved and for the officers responding to the scene.Sometimes callers get anxious or frustrated by the long series of questions."We've been getting a little bit of 'Why are you asking me that? You never asked me that before?'" Moeck said.The program also prompts 911 call-takers to ask for suspect and witness information."Everything starts here, once we answer the phone," Moeck said. "Whenever there's any type of prosecution for anything, the 911 tapes are always subpoenaed, documentation is requested, dispatchers are often subpoenaed to testify to what they heard. Because what we do here gives them probable cause to stop someone."The county has 40 call-takers/dispatchers. Moeck called it a "very much unrecognized" job."It's 12 to 16 hours of dealing with other people's emergencies and being on your game all the time," she said.Copyright 2010 San Jose Mercury News 

Homeless man calls 911 from hot tub, seeks cocoa
Associated PressBEAVERTON, Ore. — A homeless man who called 911 from the hot tub of a suburban Portland home and asked for towels, hot chocolate and a hug got arrested for trespassing instead.Beaverton police say Mark Eskelsen called 911 from his cell phone, identified himself as "the sheriff of Washington County," and asked for medical help. He later admitted he wasn't the sheriff but informed the dispatcher he'd been "yelling for about an hour and a half."The man said in his Sunday morning call that he'd been in the water about 10 hours and his towels had gotten wet. As he put it, "I just need a hug and a warm cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows in it."The Oregonian newspaper says arriving officers arrested Eskelsen for investigation of second-degree criminal trespass and improper use of 911. 

Craigslist removes adult services section
By Christopher Leonard Associated PressCraigslist closed the adult services section of its website Saturday, replacing it with a black bar that says "censored," just over a week after a group of state attorneys general said there weren't enough protections against blocking potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution.The listings came under new scrutiny after the jailhouse suicide last month of a former medical student who was awaiting trial in the killing of a masseuse he met through Craigslist. Critics have likened the services to virtual pimping, while Craigslist maintained the site was carrying ads even tamer than those published by some newspapers.Like many other free online forums, Craigslist typically does not review ads before they are posted by users. But in 2008, under pressure from 40 state attorneys general, Craigslist began requiring posters to provide a working phone number and pay a fee for placing an ad in what is now the adult services section. Several months later, Craigslist adopted a manual screening process in which postings are reviewed before publishing.State officials believe Craigslist is still not doing enough to stop illegal ads from appearing.The company said Saturday it would issue a statement on the matter, though it didn't say when.Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, one of the 17 attorneys general who pressed for the change, said in a statement that he welcomed the change and was trying to verify Craigslist's official policy going forward.In an Aug. 24 letter, the state attorneys general said Craigslist should remove the section because it couldn't adequately block potentially illegal ads promoting prostitution and child trafficking.Authorities point to the case of 24-year-old Philip Markoff as a prime example of the dangers posed by Craigslist services. The former medical student was accused of killing a masseuse he met through the hugely popular classified advertising site, which was founded by Craig Newmark. Markoff committed suicide in the Boston jail where he was awaiting trial.Craigslist's adult services section carried ads for everything from personal massages to a night's companionship, which critics say veered into prostitution.Craigslist's CEO Jim Buckmaster said in a May blog posting that the company's ads were no worse than those published by the alternative newspaper chain Village Voice Media. He cited one explicit ad which included the phrase: "anything goes $90."Copyright 2010 Associated Press 

Groups divided on 9/11 anniversary mosque rallies
By Samantha Gross Associated PressNEW YORK — Both supporters and opponents of a proposed Islamic cultural center should stand against rallies planned for the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, groups representing some relatives of attack victims said Thursday.Protests on that day would be "disrespectful to all who see 9/11 as a day outside of politics, when we desire to remain united in honoring the lives and the courage of our many friends and loved ones," the groups said in letters sent to developers of the Islamic center and to those planning to protest it.The messages were signed by representatives of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, the September 11th Families Association, MyGoodDeed and others.Two rallies are planned for the day: one against the center and one against anti-Islamic bigotry. Organizers of both say they will be respectful.Another family group, 9/11 Parents & Families of Firefighters & WTC Victims, responded with a letter in support of the anti-mosque rally and its planners' First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly."By attending and participating in this rally, families can endeavor to ensure that the sacred ground will continue to be respected for posterity," the letter said.Park51, a proposed cultural center two blocks from ground zero that would include a mosque, auditorium and other facilities, is not sponsoring any protests. A spokesman for the project did not comment on the protests or the letters.Protesters at the rally against the mosque will carry flags instead of signs and won't chant, said Pamela Geller, the executive director of the group Stop Islamization of America and organizer of the protest."It is a rally of remembrance," she said, adding that organizers had carefully weighed the concerns but believed most family members wished the group to go forward.Gavrielle Gemma, an organizer for the anti-bigotry rally, said the ad-hoc group's protest was being held on Sept. 11 only because Geller's rally was scheduled for that date."We definitely plan to be respectful of the day. But are we going to be silent? No," she said. "We cannot let people in this country be scapegoated because of their religion, their national origin, or their race."David Paine, president of MyGoodDeed, which helps organize the annual National Day of Service and Remembrance on Sept. 11, called on all the groups to simply stand down."One demonstration begets another, which begets another," he said. "Next thing you know it'll be the National Day of Service, Remembrance and Protest. We don't want that."

BLUtube.com Video

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Model Revealed Live (Part 2)
Introducing the next generation Police Interceptor Utility model from Ford. Built to protect and serve those who protect and serve. Visit <a href="http://www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal.com" target="_blank">www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal.com</a> for more information.

Ford Police Interceptor Utility Model Revealed Live (Part 1)
Introducing the next generation Police Interceptor Utility model from Ford. Built to protect and serve those who protect and serve. Visit <a href="http://www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal.com" target="_blank">www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal.com</a> for more information.

4-year-old girl calls 911 for help with her math homework
"What's 16 minus 8?" the young girl asks the dispatcher, who patiently answers her questions and makes sure there is no emergency.

Close-quarters Training with BOB
Although it’s been used for years for various training, the Body Opponent Bag — the BOB — is still an excellent tool for CQC/CQB training. PoliceOne Contributor Gary T. Klugiewicz works with Deputy Beth Miers and Officer Cheryl Hill of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office to demonstrate some of the training that can be done with the BOB.

360 Degree Situational Awareness
Sometimes there is a false sense of security for officers in a group, but too many times we have seen multiple officers attacked (and in some cases killed) when no one in the group is maintaining situational awareness. Below, Street Survival Seminar Instructor Betsy Brantner Smith discusses this with Lou Ann Hamblin of LouKa Tactical.

Mental Awareness and the +1 Rule
The rule of "plus one" holds that if you find one weapon, you need to be looking for the second one. But from the very outset, you have to begin by expecting to even find that first weapon in the first place. As Street Survival Seminar Instructor Dave Smith explains below, this is the when-then thinking we know to be so important for an officer's mental preparation.

Smart cop predicts the future
This officer is telling a woman he pulled over about the dangers of roadside traffic stops. Seconds after he moves her to the side of the road, a large truck plows into her vehicle.

Mo. police officer arrests firefighter
This footage shows a cop arresting a fire captain in a dispute over where a fire truck was parked during a 2003 car crash rescue. The captain was ultimately awarded $17,500 in damages over the arrest.

Drunk man assaults officer during questioning
“I’ll spit on you,” a drunken man in Texas says to a cop after being booked on a DUI. “I’ll whoop you.” This questioning session in Texas doesn't get physical until the suspect throws a punch.

Stolen tank leads cops on chase through San Diego
A man with a history of mental problems has stolen a tank from a military installation. Now the disturbed fugitive is on the loose with a 60-ton machine.

RFID Smart Lock gun holster
The gun on this holster is locked into place at all times so that a suspect cannot remove it. A sensor is attached to the officer’s wrist that unlocks the device when the officer places his/her hand on the weapon.

Police Camaro chases a BMW M3
A stolen vehicle rockets down a freeway in Kansas at more than 150 miles per hour. The daredevil behind the wheel is only 15 years old. Miles ahead, units lay down spike strips…

Disabled Obama protester has altercation with Alaska State Trooper
A protester is approached by cops while holding an “Impeach Obama” sign at the Alaska State Fair. Security guards ask him to leave, but he defends his right to speech. A State Trooper then enters the frame and a physical altercation ensues.

Jim Glennon Interview - Arresting Communication
Law Enforcement expert Jim Glennon discusses his new book <a href="http://www.policeonebooks.com/arcoesskforl.html" target="_blank">Arresting Communication </a>with PoliceOne host Dave Smith. Buy your copy today at <a href="http://www.policeonebooks.com/arcoesskforl.html" target="_blank">PoliceOneBooks.com</a> and use discount code "P1AC" for 20% off! 

The New Ford Police Interceptor (Reveal Part 3)
 Introducing the next generation Police Interceptor from Ford. Built to protect and serve those who protect and serve. Visit <a href="http://www.policeone.com/ad/?id=2601153&sid=2015909&from=2601153" target="_blank">www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal</a>.com for more information!

Concealment Boxer Briefs
In this video a man is seen demonstrating the “benefits” of a design of mens' undershorts that enables concealment of weapons and contraband. These briefs are very similar to those designed to accommodate a protective athletic cup, but the purveyor in this case is specifically selling the notion of concealment. In the video a dialog window even pops up stating, “You should never carry anything dangerous in your pocket boxer briefs! This is for demonstration purposes only. Actually you could fit a GUN in this pocket.”

The New Ford Police Interceptor (Reveal Part 2)
 Introducing the next generation Police Interceptor from Ford. Built to protect and serve those who protect and serve. Visit <a href="http://www.policeone.com/ad/?id=2601153&sid=2015909&from=2601153" target="_blank">www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal</a>.com for more information!

The New Ford Police Interceptor (Reveal Part 1)
 Introducing the next generation Police Interceptor from Ford. Built to protect and serve those who protect and serve. Visit <a href="http://www.policeone.com/ad/?id=2601153&sid=2015909&from=2601153" target="_blank">www.fordpoliceinterceptorreveal</a>.com for more information!

Spider
A short film about how dumb jokes can lead to serious, unintended consequences.

Motorcycle Police Chase
A man on a motorcycle runs from unsuccessfully runs from cops. “Dude, you’ve got a P.O.S.,” the cop says during the chase. “My Crown Vic is keeping up with you.”

The Sun News - Crime and Courts

Georgetown man charged with attempted murder, arson
A Georgetown man is accused of setting fire to a house while his girlfriend and three other people were inside, authorities said.He later tried to kill himself. The incident began late Saturday after an argument over a cell phone.Larry Dingle, 32, of Georgetown was arrested a little after 1 a.m. Sunday morning after police talked him down from the Maryville Bridge, where he was threatening to jump to his death.

Myrtle Beach witness offers Anna Nicole Smith twist
A witness from Myrtle Beach in the Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy trial recanted suggestions Friday that he saw defendant Howard K. Stern force drugs on the celebrity model.Ford Shelley also testified that he never saw Smith abuse drugs, and that he believed her boyfriend-lawyer Stern shouldn't be on trial.Shelley, whose family became entangled with Smith, was a combative prosecution witness.

Grand jury has a full week of indictments
An Horry County grand jury indicted several area residents on charges such as armed robbery, kidnapping, purse snatching and assault, according to court records released this week.Following is a list of the people indicted and their charges: Curtis Anthony Cheesboro, 48, of Aynor and Daniel Isiah Mitchell, 25, of Myrtle Beach, carjacking. Myrtle Beach police charged the men after a man said they took his 2006 Ford F-150 on May 26.

Waccamaw High teen suffered brain injury in wreck
A Waccamaw High School teen is slowly recovering after being hit while walking in Georgetown County last weekend, his mother said Thursday from a Charleston hospital.Jasonn Russell, 16, is in critical but stable condition at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, said his mother, Olivia Russell. The teen, who plans to study medicine and moved to the area with his family from New York in June 2006, suffered a brain injury and has been closely monitored since the incident that occurred Saturday, she said."He is coming around slowly, but surely," Olivia Russell said. "He's showing signs of improvement. We're just really, really rooting for that fever to go away."

Indictment filed after trooper struck during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest
A North Charleston man was indicted on a charge he assaulted a S.C. Highway Patrol trooper during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, according to a grand jury indictments.Brandon Lamar Simmons, 22, of North Charleston, was indicted on a charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature in connection with the May 29 incident during Atlantic Beach Bikefest in which a motorist tried to drive off from a traffic stop with a trooper holding onto a car.After freeing himself, the trooper fired shots at the fleeing car, which had been stopped on U.S. 17 near Barefoot Landing.

Ohio fugitive indicted on carjacking charges in Horry County
A 30-year-old Ohio man wanted in his home state in connection with a series of drugstore holdups has been indicted in Horry County on charges from a July carjacking, according to court records.Robert Michael Barnes of Boardman, Ohio, was indicted on charges of failure to stop for a blue light and possession of a stolen vehicle after the July 26 incidents, according to the indictments released this week.Barnes remains jailed at J. Reuben Long Detention Center on $83,500 bond, according to jail records. He faces charges in Boardman on two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of auto theft, according to Boardman police officials.

Ex-HomeGold CFO released
The former chief financial officer of Lexington-based HomeGold Financial Inc. was released from prison this week after serving time for conspiring to mislead regulators and investors about the financial health of the company and its investment subsidiary, Carolina Investors Inc.Karen Miller, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, was sentenced last year to 30 months in prison. A Department of Corrections spokesman said Miller, 57, was released after serving 15 months based on credit for working in prison as a chaplain assistant and a custodian helper.Neither Miller nor her attorney could be reached for comment.

Police | Kentucky murder suspect arrested at hotel in Myrtle Beach
PoliceMYRTLE BEACHPolice arrest Kentucky murder suspect

14 arrested after slaying in Myrtle Beach area
More than a dozen people now face charges in connection with the Aug. 21 fatal shooting in Socastee.But police still do not have a clear motive, said Sgt. Robert Kegler of the Horry County Police Department.Kegler said the 14th and final suspect wanted in connection with the homicide was arrested around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

North Charleston maps crimes for residents
North Charleston residents can now track what crimes are occurring in their city and where with a few clicks of a computer mouse.Police have teamed with Colorado-based Bair Software to offer online mapping of the city's crimes, allowing residents to keep abreast of offenses in their neighborhoods on a daily basis, Police Chief Jon Zumalt said.Zumalt said the goal is to increase awareness and vigilance in the community. Residents can also sign up on the website to receive e-mail alerts about crimes happening in their areas.

Bailey: Disqualify North Myrtle Beach's lawyers
William Bailey, the former public safety director who is suing this city over his dismissal in April, wants a judge to disqualify the city's lawyers because of alleged conflicts of interest.Kenneth Moss, a Little River lawyer who is representing Bailey, filed documents in federal court on Sunday requesting the disqualification.Moss said the city's law firm - Columbia-based Gignilliat, Savitz & Bettis LLP - cannot represent both the city and the top city officials named in Bailey's lawsuit, including former city manager John Smithson, spokeswoman Nicole Aiello and Steve Thomas, the assistant city manager.

Forensic artist aids in Myrtle Beach area cold case
The pale face stares straight ahead, peering at something just beyond the horizon perhaps. His lips curve ever so slightly downward, almost betraying a hint of sadness.The sculpted head could be an exhibit in a gallery, but this is no image crafted from an artist's imagination. The sculpture is a face from the grave, an art form with a CSI twist.The head was created by Special Agent Deborah Goff, a forensic artist with the State Law Enforcement Division, one of a handful of specialists nationwide with the art and science background to create a likeness from remains left behind by a killer.

Artist fuses talent, advocacy to aid victims
Spending hours each day for a week analyzing, measuring and sculpting facial features on a skull might sound like a gruesome pursuit, but Debbie Goff views it as a fusion of science and art with a crime-solving mission."I always had an interest," said Goff, one of two forensic artists in the State Law Enforcement Division. "I wanted to help catch bad guys. ... I've had friends who were victims, and I've seen what it did to them and their families. I wanted to be an advocate for victims."An Atlanta native, Goff has had a lifelong interest in and a talent for art. She got her bachelor of fine arts degree from Georgia State University after majoring in illustration and worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines and advertising agencies for years.

Police | Crew checks hundreds of smoldering tires
PoliceGEORGETOWN COUNTYCrew checks hundreds of smoldering tires

Suspect held in hit-and-run in North Myrtle Beach
Police have charged an 18-year-old from Shallotte, N.C., in a hit-and-run crash that killed a woman earlier this month.Derek Anthony Stanley II is charged with hit-and-run with death involved, according to Nicole Aiello, public information officer for North Myrtle Beach. He was arrested and charged Thursday, Aiello said. She did not say where he was arrested.Stanley is charged in connection with a collision Aug. 17 that resulted in the death of Corrisa Irvin of New Hampshire. The crash happened along U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach.

9-hour standoff ends after chase in Murrells Inlet
A standoff with police in Murrells Inlet lasted more than nine hours before it ended with a brief escape attempt and the arrest of one man.The standoff between the suspect, Sean Roy Johnson, and Georgetown County sheriff's deputies began just before 2 p.m. Wednesday and Johnson was arrested just before midnight, according to Neil Johnson of the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office.Sean Johnson, 50, is charged with criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature and was being held Thursday at the Georgetown County jail, Neil Johnson said. His bail was set at $50,000.

Area drug dealer who faked his death guilty in federal court
Prescription pill dealer Julius "Butch" Nesbitt was convicted at the federal courthouse Thursday, ending a case in which he faked his own death to avoid prison time for peddling hundreds of pills to his neighbors -- mostly oxycodone or, in street slang, "hillbilly heroin."After deliberating nearly five hours, Nesbitt was convicted on five of the six counts he faced, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and triggering a false distress call that prompted a two-day search of Winyah Bay in Georgetown County during Thanksgiving 2007.While searchers combed the bay's many islands -- guns drawn in case of alligators or wild boar -- Nesbitt was long gone, setting up a new life in Indiana.

Police: Imbibing pair on balcony rail fall in Myrtle Beach
PoliceMYRTLE BEACHPolice: Imbibing pair on balcony rail fall

Man arrested after 9-hour standoff in Murrells Inlet
Police blocked off a street in a Murrells Inlet neighborhood for more than nine hours Wednesday after a man refused to leave his home when officers responded to a domestic violence related call.A standoff between the suspect, Sean Roy Johnson, and police began just before 2 p.m. Wednesday and was arrested just before midnight, according to Lt. Neil Johnson of the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office.Sean Johnson, 50, was arrested and is being held at the Georgetown County Jail, Neil Johnson said. Warrants are pending and no bond hearing has been scheduled, he said.

Bail set for Shallotte teen charged in North Myrtle Beach hit-and-run
Bail has been set for an 18-year-old Shallotte, N.C., man who was arrested and charged this afternoon with the hit-and-run death of Corrisa Irvin of New Hampshire along U.S.17 in North Myrtle Beach on Aug.17, said North Myrtle Beach spokeswoman Nicole Aiello.North Myrtle Beach Judge Blake Martin set bail at $15,000 for Derek Anthony Stanley II on a charge of hit and run with death involved,Aiello said. Stanley could face one year to 25 years in prison and a fine between $10,000 and $25,000, according to a news release from Aiello.Irvin, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene on U.S. 17 between Ocean Creek Drive and 48th Street S near the Cracker Barrel Restaurant.

DEA outlines drug sale system in Georgetown
Prosecutors accused Julius "Butch" Nesbitt of running a "Grand Central Station" of illegal pill sales in rural Georgetown County where up to 20 people a day stopped in to buy oxycodone.And when Nesbitt faked his own death at sea during Thanksgiving 2007 in an apparent plot to avoid prison time, they further allege it was a selfish act that endangered Coast Guardsmen, costing taxpayers well over $170,000 to launch an air, land and sea search of Winyah Bay."This was all about 'Butch' Nesbitt," Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Phillips said Wednesday inside the federal court in Charleston.

DUIs yield to crackdown in Horry, Georgetown counties
DUI-related crashes dropped slightly so far this year in Horry and Georgetown counties as state public safety officials continue to target the crime they say is a leading cause of traffic deaths in the state.New television commercials and increased patrols and enforcement are among the efforts to cut the number of people driving under the influence and without seat belts through the Labor Day holiday weekend, which also marks the end of the S.C. Department of Public Safety's 100 Deadly Days of Summer safety campaign."DUI is a careless disregard for human life. DUI is a crime," said Mark Keel, state public safety director. "And we can all be crime fighters; not just men and women in uniform. Concerned citizens who call *HP [on a cell phone] to report a drunk driver are fighting crime, just as a sober person who says to an intoxicated friend, 'I'll take the keys tonight.'"

Myrtle Beach police investigate man's stomach stabbing
Myrtle Beach police are investigating after a man was stabbed in his stomach outside his 21st Avenue South home.Police were called to an apartment complex in the 300 block of 21st Avenue South about 11:30 p.m. Monday where the victim, whose shirt was covered in blood, flagged down officers.The man told police that he was stabbed by a stranger in front of the building after he walked home from work.

Suspect sought for fatal Myrtle Beach area shooting
A man was shot and killed this morning in Socastee and police are searching for a suspect. But no information is being released about the person sought or any potential motive for the shooting.Horry County Coroner Robert Edge Jr. said 28-year-old Sylvester Smart Jr., of Myrtle Beach, was killed early this morning at Strand Mobile Home Park off of Dick Pond Road, near the intersection of S.C. 544. and S.C. 707.

Former Myrtle Beach police chief dies at 71
Former Myrtle Beach Police Chief Sam Killman has died after a long fight with cancer. He was 71.Killman, who most recently resided in Wilmington, worked in law enforcement for 35 years, most of them in Charlotte, where he rose through the department's ranks from patrol officer to its top leader. He spent three decades working for the Charlotte police force, starting as a patrol officer in 1961.He was named Charlotte's chief in 1985, and held the post for five years. City officials lauded him as fair, and someone who earned the community's respect.

Crime | Horry County, Little River, Conway
 Larceny from auto | Horry County police officers responded to Garden City in reference to four unopened bottles of Johnny Walker Red liquor being stolen from a Mercedes belonging to a woman, 61. Officers learned that police on the previous shift had recovered the woman's liquor bottles, all unopened, and were holding them in evidence. The first officers had responded earlier to reports of auto break-ins in the area after a neighbor, who was driving, saw an older man walking from car to car and turned his bright lights on him. The man ran and officers found the liquor while looking for him, but did not find him. They told the victim's relative how she could reclaim her liquor. Criminal domestic violence | Officers responding to a woman's domestic violence call in Little River had an extended response time because the woman, 25, reported an incorrect address. Police finally found her in the parking lot of the place where she has been living with her boyfriend, 31. According to the incident report, the woman said she has an anxiety disorder and just wanted to take her Xanax and go to sleep, but her boyfriend does not like it when she takes her medicine because it makes her crazy. They argued, but she was "zoned out," and did not remember much, except that he punched her in the face. She said he had not been drinking. Smelling alcohol on her, an officer asked if she had been drinking and she said she "had a sip." Officers saw a small contusion on her forehead, but could not tell if it was fresh. She said she went to a hospital but they were too busy and she did not want to wait. When she went back to the residence, her belongings were outside, so she went to a neighbor's house to call police. The boyfriend was gone, and officers could not find a driver's license, criminal record or any other information on the name she gave them. Simple assault/disorderly conduct/threatening a public official | A Conway woman, 39, told Horry County police officers that her husband came home intoxicated after being served an eviction notice, screamed and yelled at her and hit her in the head with his fists. Officers found the man walking down the road, and escorted him, cursing and yelling, back to the residence as they tried to calm him. He would not talk with them about what had happened, but continued to yell and curse. According to the incident report, he stared angrily at one of them, "gritting his teeth tight-lipped and appearing to try to bulge his eyes out."

Police | Horry County woman in lightning-struck building hurt
PoliceLORISWoman in lightning-struck building hurt

Police | Myrtle Beach BB-gun shooter released from jail
PoliceMYRTLE BEACHBB-gun shooter released from jail

Van sought in North Myrtle Beach fatality
Police have released a description of the vehicle they say was likely involved Tuesday in a hit-and-run that killed a woman in North Myrtle Beach.North Myrtle Beach police and state troopers agree that a 1995-2005 Chevrolet Astro van or a 1995-2005 GMC Safari van was likely the vehicle involved in the fatality.The S.C. Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which is seeking help from the public, also outlined the type of damage the vehicle involved could have.

Horry County Drug Court guides clients to new life
Melissa Bessent was one of five participants to mark the fifth anniversary of Horry County's Drug Court by becoming the program's most recent graduates on Wednesday.The 28-year-old credits the program with helping her change her life from 10 years of drug dependency to being a cosmetology graduate with a full-time job. She also has mended several family relationships, including those with her three children."It makes you or breaks you," Bessent said before she graduated from the intensive court-supervised treatment alternative to prison for nonviolent, drug-addicted offenders.