RALEIGH - Raleigh police say Dillard Roe Johnson stole gas cards from an engineering company, then hung around gas stations offering motorists fill-ups for $20 a pop. Now police are trying to track down everyone who took advantage of the special offer — possibly hundreds of people.
Johnson, 27, of 507 Dacian Drive was charged Thursday with three felony counts of financial card fraud, three felony counts of breaking and entering into a motor vehicle and one count of financial card theft, according to a Wake County jail spokesman. Police said he broke into work trucks at Bass, Nixon and Kennedy in West Raleigh over the weekend.
Company president Ed Davenport said whoever stole the cards set up an illicit gas business at Triangle gas stations. “By Monday morning, $23,000 worth of gas had been charged on the cards,” he said.
Scott Wilson, the firm’s survey manager, said the cards were used more than 300 times at more than two dozen gas stations in Raleigh, Smithfield, Morrisville, Wake Forest and Youngsville. Gas purchases ranged from $5 to $400, with most falling between $50 and $100.
“He would stay at some stations for more than an hour, moving from pump to pump,” Wilson said.
Bass, Nixon & Kennedy officials learned of the break-ins Sunday morning. Wilson said they were not too concerned because the thieves did not have the cards’ activation numbers. Wilson said he isn’t sure how someone gained the cards’ numbers, though at some stores an activation number isn’t needed to purchase gas at the pumps.
Johnson confessed to the break-ins and card thefts, according to a search warrant made public Thursday.
Read More:News & Observer
Clayton Police detectives are following up on leads as to who damaged the construction site of the new community center, but they are hoping their offer of a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction will produce more.
The vandalism apparently happened in daylight Aug. 23, when the crews were not working, Clayton Police Chief Glen Allen said. He said a patrol officer discovered the damage about 6:45 p.m.
The vandal or vandals smashed in a wall, knocked over scaffolding and drove the equipment over piles of building materials.
It is not clear how the hoodlum got the bulldozer started, Allen said.
The part of the construction site, at 715 Amelia Church Road, that was damaged is not visible from the road.
Town officials said the damage will delay the spring opening of the 30,000-square-foot center, but it’s not clear how long fixing it will take or how much it will cost.
“We strongly believe that there are people with knowledge of details that may help solve this case,” Allen said in a news release Monday.
He asks that anyone with information, even if it seems to be unimportant, call Detective Andy Jernigan at the Clayton Police Department at 553-4611 or call 911 to report the information.
Source:News & Observer
(ARA) – What do a recent global crackdown on Internet child pornography and the arrest of Dennis Rader, the infamous “BTK” serial killer have in common with the Sept. 11 attacks on America? All are high profile crimes investigated not only by conventional police investigators, but by those specially trained in computer forensics, a new area of crime fighting.
Computer forensics is a branch of forensic science pertaining to legal evidence found in computers and digital storage mediums. Experts in this field investigate data storage devices such as hard drives, USB drives, CD-ROMS, floppy disks, etc., identifying, preserving and analyzing documentary and other digital evidence.
While most of the attention given to people working in this field comes from the work they do with police to help solve high profile crimes, that is not the only role they play. Individual companies are hiring forensic computer experts to perform such roles as determining the root cause of a hacker attack, collecting evidence legally admissible in court, and protecting corporate assets and reputations from crimes such as white-collar fraud.
Andrew Hildebrand, CPA, CVA, JD and dean of business programs at DeVry University in Fort Washington, Penn., offers this example of just how important a computer forensics expert’s role is in a corporate investigation of financial crime. “First a CPA would be contacted by an attorney to work on proving financial fraud. The CPA would need to have financial records and data, some of which may be in electronic format,” he says.
“Many times in these types of fraud cases, the suspect has attempted to cover-up the crime by deleting various documents, such as MS Word memos and MS Excel spreadsheets,” Hildebrand adds. “Once the accountants have some idea of what they are looking for, we can work with the computer forensics professional to recover the deleted material. During every step from seizure of the computer through to court testimony, the computer forensics professional will use their expertise to ensure that the data is recovered and the laws of evidence are respected.”
Realizing the growing need for trained professionals with this area of expertise, schools such as DeVry University, one of the country’s largest, publicly held, degree-granting higher education systems in the U.S., have developed special degree programs to train the experts of tomorrow. DeVry University offers an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in Computer Information Systems with a specialized track in computer forensics that can be completed in three years. As they are pursuing their degree, students learn how to follow the trail of computer clues that are left behind when someone commits a crime of technology. They also learn how to document evidence and how to coordinate with law enforcement to track the movements of the bad guys.
“Students will be prepared for jobs such as security auditor, security specialist, security administrator, security analyst, Web security manager, security director, digital forensic investigator, privacy officer and compliance officer,” says Rajin Koonjbearry, an instructor at DeVry University in Dallas. “These jobs are in high demand and will continue to grow because of new and changing regulatory requirements.”
Among the career avenues available for students graduating with a specialization in computer forensics:
* Law Enforcement. Police departments and sheriff’s offices nationwide are looking for computer forensics professionals to help them investigate computer-related crimes.
* Corporate. Those with a computer forensics background can help companies protect their computer systems from outside attacks.
* Private Organizations. Any private organization with its own network needs computer forensics professionals to maintain surveillance on their systems.
* Software Programmers. The advice that the computer forensics degree holder can provide a software company about the stability of their programs is always welcomed.
“We are responding to the changing IT industry in order to ensure DeVry University graduates are prepared to excel in emerging industry areas,” says Eddie Wachter, Ph.D., dean of academic affairs at DeVry University Central Florida. “Professionals who know how to protect companies and consumers from cyber crime will be in great demand in our increasingly networked world, and the new specialized options give our students the edge in this evolving industry.”
To learn more about DeVry University’s Computer Information Systems (CIS) degree program, log on to http://www.DeVry.edu .
CHAPEL HILL - Chapel Hill investigators today released photos from a bank surveillance camera that they say show a man using an ATM card belonging to slain UNC-Chapel Hill student body president Eve Carson.Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran said investigators have not identified the person in the photos, and can only say that he appears to be a black man in his late teens or early 20s. He appears to be wearing gloves, what looks like a hooded sweatshirt or parka and some kind of ball cap with a star on it.
Curran said the ATM photos were taken in the Chapel Hill area, but would not say specifically where or when.
“This is our biggest break so far in this case,” he said at a press conference this morning.
Curran said the ATM camera captured several photos of the man, including one showing him in a sport utility vehicle with a roof rack that may be Carson’s 2005 Toyota Highlander. He referred to the man in the photos as “a person of interest,” not the suspected killer.
Curran said police are putting together a timeline using Carson’s cell phone records, but said they have not found her keys. He repeated that investigators have no evidence to suggest Carson was specifically targeted.
“We believe, at this point, it feels like a random crime,” Curran said.
Carson, 22, was found in the Hillcrest neighborhood northeast of the UNC-Chapel Hill campus about 5:15 a.m. Wednesday with gunshot wounds, including one to the head. She was carrying no identification, and it was not until Thursday that police announced that they had confirmed her identity.
Her Toyota Highlander was discovered Thursday afternoon on North Street, around the corner from Carson’s house at Friendly Lane.
Carson’s roommates told police that they’d gone out at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and that she had stayed home alone to study. Curran said this morning that police think Carson might have left her house after her roommates to make copies for school.
Police are still interested in speaking with anyone who thinks they saw Carson’s Highlander between 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and midday Thursday. The blue SUV has Georgia license plates, AIV-6690.
The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees has pledged $25,000 to the Carrboro-Chapel Hill-UNC Crime Stoppers program for a reward for information leading to the arrest of a person or persons responsible for Eve Carson’s death. Police ask anyone with information about the case to call Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515 or www.crimestoppers-chcunc.org
See Picture At: News & Observer
Douglas “Trey” Robinson is the newest
member of Garner’s finest. Officer Robinson
was sworn in on December 20th, 2007
as s patrol officer for the Police Department.
Officer Robinson is a graduate of Garner
Senior High School and North Carolina
State University. At NCSU, Officer Robinson
majored in Criminology. He will be assigned
to the East District following the 12
week field training program.
SOURCE:Town Of Garner Website
On Thursday, December 20, the
Garner Police Department presented
their annual awards. Many of the
awards were given for the capture and
arrest of Samuel Cooper on November
21st. Officer Ben Deese, Lieutenant
Wayne Moore, and Investigators Grant
Davis and Don McDuffie were given
certificates for the work they did in arresting
Cooper and the investigated
work that led him to be charged with
five murders. Calvin Pendergraph, a
local citizen, was given the civilian citation
for his role in helping police locate
Cooper’s vehicle after robbing the
bank.
Also recognized were members
of the Accreditation team. The team
has worked endless hours to secure a
fourth straight accreditation. The Garner
Police Department is one of only
38 agencies of 507 total agencies to be
accredited in North Carolina.
The Department also recognized
Investigator Scott Selvek, Officer Brian
McLean, and Officer William Hinson for
completion of the Advanced Law Enforcement
certificates. Also, Officer
Paul Caldwell, School Resource Officer
at East Garner Magnet Middle School
was recognized for completing the
School Resource Officer Certificate
Program.
Garner NC City Guide A Business Directory
RALEIGH, N.C. - Wake Tech’s new Public Safety Training Center opened to serve the growing needs of area law enforcement and other public service agencies. The Center, at 321 Chapanoke Road in Raleigh, will train law enforcement officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and emergency medical service providers. It is the first centralized facility for training of this kind in Wake County.
“Safety is paramount,” said President Scott, “a concern for every individual, every family, and the whole community. Our Public Safety Training Center will train and prepare the safety professionals we depend on and will need even more as our region keeps growing.”
Wake Tech currently provides in-service training to more than 4,500 law enforcement and fire safety personnel each year. Enrollment in law enforcement classes alone has more than doubled in just the past five years - from 7,100 to 14,400. (These figures include personnel who return to Wake Tech for repeat training in a variety of areas.) Until now that training, for local police departments, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the State Highway Patrol, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the N.C. Department of Corrections, has taken place at 16 locations around Wake County.
The training of fire and rescue personnel is also on the rise. Enrollment in these classes has grown 33 percent over the past five years - from 8,600 to 11,500. Due to the nature of the training, much of it will continue to be offered on site at fire department facilities across the county.
Right now, the Public Safety Training Center occupies just 18,520 square feet of the Chapanoke Road facility’s total 100,666 square feet. Wake Tech purchased the building and completed Phase I renovations - offices, classrooms, and a weight training facility - with approximately $5 million in funds from the 2004 county bond referendum.
Design on Phase II renovations will begin next year, with completion planned for 2010. Wake Tech plans to make the Center a model regional training facility with the addition of a mock courtroom and jail, a booking center, and additional classrooms for forensics and other instruction. Emergency Medical Training will be added as well. Nearly $14 million in bond funds, approved in October of this year, will support these renovations.
“Our officers and instructors have waited a long time for a facility like this,” said Anthony Caison, Wake Tech’s Dean of Public Safety Training. “It will offer the latest technologies and high quality training they need - all under one roof.”
The Public Safety Training Center will begin with courses offerings such as Crime Scene Investigation, DWI Detection, and Field Training Officer instruction.
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
ARA) – Worn tires are blamed for the death of an Irving, Texas, police officer killed in a crash on his way to a call this past April; and in Greenville, S.C., two ambulance workers were recently injured and a patient killed when their vehicle flipped after the rear tire tread came off .
First responders put their lives on the line every day to help others; never expecting to run into problems with their equipment, but it happens. In an effort to show appreciation for the work firefighters and EMS personnel do, Michelin North America is encouraging individuals and communities to nominate a first responder to win a new set of tires, ensuring that safe and reliable tires will be on the community’s emergency response vehicle. This year, 50 winners will be awarded a set of new tires, double last year’s prize. To nominate a local hero, visit www.MichelinMan.com and either e-mail a nomination prior to November 23, or print and mail the form postmarked by November 15.
Ryan Sutter, reality television star from “The Bachelorette” and full-time firefighter for Vail Fire and Emergency Services is working with Michelin to raise awareness of the importance of tire safety for first responders.
“Tire maintenance is essential to emergency responder vehicles and many fire departments and EMS units struggle to maintain their vehicles,” says Sutter. “Through this Michelin program, communities have the opportunity to recognize the brave efforts of local first responders and help them maintain vehicle safety by nominating them for new tires.”
Last year Linda Embry of Marietta, S.C., submitted her nomination, husband David Embry, as the community’s hero and he became the first winner to receive a new set of Michelin tires for his vehicle.
“My husband David works selflessly to help the people of our community. People know they can call him at home at anytime and he will drop what he is doing and get to them. Right now he is at the church “Trunk or Treat,” operating a borrowed smoke house to teach children fire safety,” Embry wrote in her nomination. “I know he’s my husband, but I can’t imagine anyone more deserving of being recognized as a local hero. And I can’t imagine anything making him any happier than winning a new set of Michelin tires for his beloved fire department.”
Many local fire departments are under funded and sponsor chili cook-offs or hold pancake breakfasts to raise money for vehicle maintenance and repairs. New tires are a necessity that many departments cannot afford. Take the time to nominate an individual or team and help ensure the safety of the people who generously and selflessly keep their communities safe.
Remember, tire safety is important for the safety of emergency responders, but also for individuals too. Here are some things to think about for all vehicles:
* Air Pressure
Keeping tires properly inflated is essential for the maximum performance and longevity of the tire, as well as the ride quality and safety of the vehicle. Tires carry the entire weight of the vehicle and when under inflated or over inflated, they cannot do their job properly. Check pressure once a month.
* Tread
Looking at the wear and tear of the tread of a tire can tell its history. Tread is important to help the vehicle properly grip the road. Wear in the middle of the tire indicates over inflation for a significant amount of time, as wear on both outer edges indicates under inflation.
* Rotation
Regular rotation extends the life of the tires, saving both time and money in the long run. For rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from the vehicle and replaced in a different position. This ensures that all of the tires wear evenly and last longer.
*Alignment
Alignment generally refers to the adjustment of a vehicle’s front and rear suspension parts. Proper alignment not only ensures that the vehicle handles correctly but it will also help increase the life and performance of the tires. Check alignment after hitting an object, when wear patterns develop on the shoulders of the tires or if there is a difference in vehicle handling.
For more information visit www.MichelinMan.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Garner, N.C., 10-09-07 - A team
of assessors from the Commission
on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
(CALEA), will arrive November
3, 2007 to examine all aspects
of the Garner Police Department’s
policy and procedures,
management, operations, and
support services, Chief Thomas
Moss announced today.
“Verification by the team that the
Garner Police Department
meets the Commission’s stateof-
the-art standards is part of a
voluntary process to gain accreditation
- a highly prized recognition
of law enforcement professional
excellence”, Chief
Moss said.
As part of the on-site assessment,
agency employees and
members of the community are
invited to offer comments at a
public information session November
5, 2007 at 7:00
p.m. The session will be conducted
in the Garner Chamber
of Commerce at 401 Circle
Drive, Garner, NC 27529.
If for some reason an individual
cannot speak at the public information
session but would still
like to provide comments to the
assessment team, he/she may
do so by telephone. The public
may call (919) 661-6971 on November
5, 2007 between the
hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00
p.m.
T e l e p h o n e
comments as
well as appearances at the public
information session are limited
to 10 minutes and must address
the agency’s ability to
comply with CALEA’s standards.
A copy of the standards
is available at the Garner Police
Department, 900-C Seventh
Ave. Local contact is Sgt. Chris
Clayton at (919) 772-8810.
Persons wishing to offer written
comments about the Garner Police
Department’s ability to meet
the standards for accreditation
are requested to write: Commission
on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
(CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place,
Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia,
22030-2215.
“The Garner Police Department
has to comply with 366 applicable
standards in order to gain
accredited status”, said Chief
Moss.
The Accreditation Manager for
the Garner Police Department is
Dana Clay. The assessment
team is composed of law enforcement
practitioners from outo
f - s t a t e
a g e n -
cies. The
a s s es s o r s
will review
written materials,
interview
individuals,
and visit
offices and other places where
compliance can be witnessed.
The assessors
are: Deputy Chief (Retired)
John J. McQueeney, team
leader from Oneida Indian Nation
Police, NY; Lieutenant
David Holl, team assessor from
Derry Township Police Department,
PA; and Sergeant Jacqueline
Luthcke, team assessor
from Ridgewood Police Department,
NJ.
“Once the Commission’s assessors
complete their review of the
agency, they report back to the
full commission, which will then
decide if the agency is to be
granted accredited status”, Mrs.
Clay stated.
Accreditation is for three years,
during which the agency must
submit annual reports attesting
continued compliance with those
standards under which it was
initially accredited.
For more information regarding
the Commission on Accreditation
for Law Enforcement Agencies,
Inc., please write the Commission
at 10302 Eaton Place,
Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia,
22030-2215; or call (800) 368-
3757.
Customers mourn the shooting death of the ‘nice man’ at Bobby’s Grocery
RALEIGH - The owner of a Garner Road convenience store was found shot to death in the store Sunday morning, Raleigh police said.
The man, Tariq Hussain, 52, of Cary, appeared to be the victim of a robbery, Raleigh Police Department spokesman Jim Sughrue said Sunday.
Raleigh police received a call about shots fired at Bobby’s Grocery, 3114 Garner Road, shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday. When officers arrived, they found Hussain inside the store. The father of three was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sughrue would not discuss whether anybody else had been in the store at the time of the shooting, the 25th homicide in Wake County this year, and the 16th in Raleigh.
Surveillance stills released by the Raleigh Police Department show a person wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a black mask covering everything but the eyes at various locations inside the store. “Exactly who and how many people might have been in the store is still under investigation at this time,” Sughrue said.
The business is a standalone brick building in the middle of a sparsely populated block of Garner Road near Cross Link Road. The nearest structure is a home across the street, about 400 feet away.
Sunday, longtime customers were shocked by Hussain’s death. Some recalled his warm personality, easygoing disposition and dogged work ethic. Hussain usually opened the store around 7:30 a.m. and would work alone there until late in the afternoon.
“He was such a nice man. We used to tease each other when I came in on my way to work to get my cranberry juice,” said Raleigh resident Frances Hinton. “He didn’t deserve for this to happen to him.”
Late Sunday, dozens of people filled the family’s cul-de-sac to offer condolences to the family of the man many called “Papa” because of his fatherly, giving nature. Hussain’s son, Khurram Tariq, said the family learned the news of his father’s death while heading out for lunch with another family. The lunch was part of Eid al-Fitr, the three-day culmination of the Muslim holiday Ramadan.
Tariq said his parents were always trying to help someone in need of assistance. A family who recently lost a loved one had been hoping to run into Hussain, because they knew he would help them with funeral costs.
“That was the kind of person he was,” said Tariq, 23.
He said his family had been hit hard by his father’s killing.
“It’s one thing to lose someone,” he said, “but it’s another to have someone snatched from you.”
Read Full Story: News & Observer
