Feds investigating fatal shooting of suspected shoplifter
Federal atuhorities have launched an investigation into possible civil rights violations by a Deptford, New Jersey, police officer who fatally shot a suspected shoplifter who they allege aggressively drove toward him as she attempted to flee. The review comes nearly five months after a grand jury in Gloucester County declined to recommend charges against Sgt. Kevin Clements in the death of LaShanda Anderson in the June 9 confrontation outside the Marshalls store at Deptford Crossing.
In a March 15 letter to the lawyers representing Anderson’s family in a potential civil suit, Paul D. Colangelo, first assistant county prosecutor, advised that “the Federal Government is reviewing my office’s investigation to determine if Sgt. Clements committed any civil rights violations in his use of deadly force that resulted in Ms. Anderson’s death.” County Prosecutor Charles Fiore and federal authorities declined comment on the letter and documents obtained by The Inquirer under the state’s Open Public Records Act.
The letter was in response to a request seeking the prosecutor’s complete investigative file into the case, which Fiore denied. Clements fired, striking Anderson, 36, of Philadelphia in the left side of her head and arm, authorities said. She died at the scene. Two alleged accomplices in the $3,400 shoplifting spree were eventually taken into custody. [Source: The Inquirer]
Shoplift arrest uncovers 8 warrants in 4 counties
It was a “see something, say something” moment for some Roseville, California, retail employees that led to the arrest of a man with eight warrants out in four counties. On Tuesday morning, Roseville police say employees saw a man, later identified as David Franklin Tietjen, apparently casing some items at a store. Another man, Nathan Mark Gallagher, was seen circling outside in a car.
When officers arrived, Gallagher took off. But he eventually pulled over and officers found over $2,000 worth of stolen items in his car. Gallagher, as officers also found he had 8 warrants for his arrest from 4 counties. Tietjen also led officers on a short foot chase but was also soon arrested. Both men have been booked into jail facing charges of organized retail crime. [Source: CBS13 Sacramento]
Shoplifting trio have their ‘case filed’
The cases of three people arrested for shoplifting at the Kohl’s store at Rhode Island Mall on March 9 have been filed for one year. Richard Irvin, 28; Tristan Irvin, 25; and Alisha Leonard, 30, all pleaded no contest to various misdemeanor charges stemming from their theft of more than $500 in merchandise from the store.
Third Division District Court Judge Joseph Ippolito Jr. handed down the ruling on March 21 for each charge of conspiracy and removal of an anti-theft device against Richard Irvin, of Hyde Park, MA, imposed a no-trespass order, and ordered Irvin to pay $186.75 in court costs. In a separate court hearing on March 11, Ippolito filed charges of shoplifting and conspiracy against Tristan Irvin, of West Warwick, and imposed a no-trespass order and $186.75 in court costs. The third person, Alisha Leonard, also of Warwick, received a similar judgment on March 21. Under Rhode Island state law, the cases can be reinstated if the three are arrested again within the next year, or fail to pay court costs. [Source: Warwick Post]
Felony theft increase ready for House vote
A Florida House proposal that would increase a threshold for felony theft charges from $300 to at least $1,000 passed its final committee Wednesday, preparing it to go to the House floor for a vote. Efforts to raise the threshold amount for the first time since 1986 have stalled in the Legislature in the past. This year’s proposal (HB 589) has steadily moved forward in the House, as criminal-justice reform advocates say there is momentum to pass such measures. Yet, past arguments against the proposal have re-emerged during this year’s Session, as demonstrated during a House Judiciary Committee debate Wednesday.
The Florida Retail Federation, whose members include Target, Walmart and Walgreens, opposes easing retail theft sanctions. James Miller, a spokesman for the organization, said his group’s focus is “specifically on strengthening punishment for organized retail crime and the repeat offender.” Under the bill, someone who steals retail property that is valued at $300 or more could still be charged with a third-degree felony if the offender coordinated with other people to commit the crime or if the offenders stole another item from a different store within a 48-hour period. [Source: FLAPOL]
Traveling group charged with ORC
On March 16, at about 6:52 p.m., police were dispatched to a report of theft at a Michael Kors outlet in North Bend, according to Snoqualmie police in Washington state.. The officer took a report, and after viewing high quality video, took still photos from the footage of the suspects to reference later on. The officer, while driving by another store, located the four suspects, three females and one male, and observed them speaking with each other through the clear windows of another business. He witnessed the suspects split up inside the store, a common practice in organized thefts, authorities said.
The officer waited outside the storefront. Two of the three females exited the store and were detained. Back-up officers arrived and the lead officer entered the store, taking the male suspect into custody for theft. The final female suspect was also detained. Among the items stolen were apparel, shoes, purses and sunglasses taken from the Nike store, Coach, Michael Kors, Under Armour, Cutter & Buck, Eddie Bauer locations in the Premium Outlet Mall. The four suspects have long criminal histories that include prior theft charges, possession of stolen property, residential burglary, forgery and ID theft. The investigation remains open and the charges have been referred to the King County Prosecutor’s Office. [Source: Valley Record]
Rumpus with shoplifters ends in 2 arrests
Police in University Heights, Ohio, were called to Macy’s, where loss prevention associates were engaged in a struggle with a man, 19. The man was subsequently subdued and arrested on a charge of grand theft. Also with man was a girl, 17. She was charged with theft and robbery. The names of the subjects were not released. [Source: Cleveland.com]