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Episode #31 – CopTalk Podcast
Ask a Cop? Stolen Property
From: Felicia
A month ago my apartment was broken into and my ps3, xbox 360 and all the games were stolen. I recently walked past my neighbors window and saw all of my stolen things. What can I do?
Our Reply:
If it was an easily identifiable item than could be seen through a window (like a dog, purple laptop, unique purse etc) you'd have better luck having the police check on it. But all PS3's, xbox 360's and games are identical so it how do you know they are yours? If you had distinguishing marks on the xbox and other items such as initials or drivers license #' engraved on the game, or knowing the serial numbers, then you might be able to persuade an officer to ask your neighbor about the items. If you saw the exact items that were stolen, same games, same color PS3, and a police report was filed on the burglary, then a cop might contact the neighbor to see if they could check for the serial number or identifying information and to ask where they got the items. Without identifying information, there's nothing to confirm it is your property and your probably out of luck. Without identifying information, most cops wont even bother to get involved. There would be no way to determine whose property it really is and it would just be your word against the neighbors.
Another reminder why people should engrave their initials, names, drivers license number, any kind of identifying information onto their property. You can do it with an engraver, screwdriver, knife, just about anything with a point. Also with the technology today and everyone having cell phones with video and cameras, you can take videos or photos of the property including the serial numbers, that way you have proof it is yours.
Ask a Cop? Domestic Violence
From: Withheld
Friend of mine has a history if domestic violence with her husband of 4 yrs. She has 3 children and he has been arrested twice for domestic violence against her. He attended domestic violence classes and parenting and she dropped charges because she noticed significant change within him and she is a committed christian. Recently he struck her in the face and made her bleed for the first time. She wants him to leave the home but he refuses ad begs to stay because he admits he needs mental help and doesn't want to lose his wife and three kids...............
Our Reply:
Bottom line is "arrested twice and he recently struck her in the face making her bleed". Domestic violence only gets worse. As long as she tries to protect him it will get worse. She can try to get a restraining order against him based on the prior domestic violence and her fear of current escalating domestic violence. With a restraining order the police would make him leave and he will be arrested for returning or contacting her in any way. The police cant just make him leave if he lives there, he'd either have to be arrested for hitting her and/or a restraining order put in place.
I know it's tough for a woman to put a husband in jail, and the fear of living alone and having to take care of a family by herself, but she really needs to realize the danger she is putting herself and the children in. The violence WILL get worse, and if the kids see or hear the fighting and hitting, they will grow up feeling that's a normal relationship and either grow up to be a batterer or end up in a relationship being battered, it's a vicious repeating cycle. I'm sure he grew up in a home where domestic violence was present. You cant help someone who doesn't want help. Someone that resorts to physical violence when angered is a dangerous person. He's been in jail twice, and counseling, for most people that would be a wake up call. If he's hitting her again, especially striking her in the face, he needs to go back to jail. He wasn't being a "good guy" for taking parenting and domestic violence classes, those are court ordered and part of probation. If he didn't complete the classes there would have been a warrant out for his arrest. He obviously didn't get all the help he needs and she needs to protect herself.
There is a lot of help out there for battered women with families; housing, counseling, financial help etc. She really needs to get out of the situation because it isn't going to get any better. Until he can truly control his anger and physical violence, he is a very real threat to her and the children. Domestic violence only gets worse if it is ignored. She should document / photograph any bruises she has and call the police immediately anytime he batters her. Most states have a zero-tolerance for domestic violence. She should go to the police and report the latest incident. It would have been better to call the night of the incident and have the police see her bloody nose. Now she will have to explain why she waited 3 weeks but she can explain that she was fearful to report it at the time, hoping he would leave, and fearing repercussions.
She can try to obtain a restraining order based on the past incidents, and state that she was battered recently but it was an unreported incident. If she states his past history of domestic violence, the current unreported incident of being struck to the point of bleeding, and her fear of current and continuing violence, I don't see how the order can be denied.
Best advice is to get out of the situation, if he "gets away with it" it will only get worse. Maybe he needs some more jail time and mandated counseling for it to sink in. But more than likely if two prior arrests and counseling hasn't already worked, he may never change.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
P.S. Send Brent your address so we can send you a free copy of our book, I wrote a chapter on domestic violence that may be of some help. Another reader wrote that after reading the story it gave her the courage to get out of her situation.
Mark
SHOUT OUT TO AUSTRALIA - Sarah Brien and Evan Castle
Ask A Cop? Buying a used car without plates.....
I just purchased a used vehicle from someone today, but it doesn't have a license plate. Can it be towed for this?
Our Reply:
If it is currently registered but has no plates, you can get a citation (even if parked) for having no plates. If it has expired registration and no plates, you can get a citation for both. Here in CA, if a vehicle has expired registration over 6 months, even with plates, it is subject to tow and store until the registration is paid up. Hopefully the car you bought just had personalized plates the owner kept and it's currently registered. Best bet is to go to your local DMV as soon as you can with the paperwork given to you and they will issue new plates.
NEWS:
Cavity search produces 50 bags of heroin
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/21/2011 07:11:48 AM PDT
SCRANTON, Pa.—Police in northeastern Pennsylvania say they recovered more than 50 bags of heroin, cash and loose change from a woman following a cavity search.
Authorities say 27-year-old Karin Mackaliunas was detained last weekend following a crash. Scranton police say they found three bags of heroin in her jacket and after being taken to the police station she told investigators she had more hidden in her vagina. A doctor performed a search and recovered 54 bags of heroin, 31 empty bags used to package heroin, prescription pills and $51.22.
Mackaliunas was jailed on $25,000 bail on charges including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. It was not clear if she had an attorney.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. If they kept digging they might have come up with all her bail money!
Police: Ohio man robs bank, is caught on city bus
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/16/2011 09:27:57 AM PDT
DAYTON, Ohio—Police in Ohio say a man robbed a bank and then tried to flee on board a public bus, where officers eventually caught up with him.
Dayton police Sgt. Moe Perez tells the Dayton Daily News the suspect got away with cash from a downtown KeyBank branch at around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Police were told by witnesses that they saw the man catch a bus about two blocks away.
Officers followed the route of the bus and pulled it over less than a mile away, near the campus of Sinclair Community College. Perez says the suspect was arrested without incident and the money was recovered. Police haven't said how much was stolen.
Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com
Woman arrested for DUI after griping to police
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/16/2011 01:49:50 AM PDT
Updated: 03/16/2011 02:05:48 AM PDT
DENVER—Police in a Denver suburb say a woman was arrested for drunken driving after she complained to officers about how they parked their patrol cars as they were investigating a DUI-related crash. Trevor Materasso of Westminster police told KMGH-TV that 49-year-old Katherine Morse was taken into custody after she walked up to police trying to move a car in the crash Sunday.
Materasso says police had parked their cars to prevent a suspected drunk driver in the crash from leaving the scene. He says officers told Morse to return to her car and she became "belligerent with them, telling them it was a stupid place" for a traffic stop.
Materasso says that's when officers realized "she too was drunk."
Morse also faces obstructing police charges.
Information from: KMGH-TV, http://www.thedenverchannel.com
Texas bank robber demands loot, shows 2 IDs
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/15/2011 12:31:50 PM PDT
Updated: 03/15/2011 12:33:57 PM PDT
DALLAS—A hapless bank robber who abided by a Dallas teller's request to provide two forms of identification before she could give him money is going to prison.
A judge sentenced 49-year-old Nathan Wayne Pugh of Sachse (SAK'-see) to more than eight years on Tuesday.
Pugh tried to hold up a Dallas Wells Fargo Bank in July.
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By CopTalk
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Ask a Cop? Stolen Property
From: Felicia
A month ago my apartment was broken into and my ps3, xbox 360 and all the games were stolen. I recently walked past my neighbors window and saw all of my stolen things. What can I do?
Our Reply:
If it was an easily identifiable item than could be seen through a window (like a dog, purple laptop, unique purse etc) you'd have better luck having the police check on it. But all PS3's, xbox 360's and games are identical so it how do you know they are yours? If you had distinguishing marks on the xbox and other items such as initials or drivers license #' engraved on the game, or knowing the serial numbers, then you might be able to persuade an officer to ask your neighbor about the items. If you saw the exact items that were stolen, same games, same color PS3, and a police report was filed on the burglary, then a cop might contact the neighbor to see if they could check for the serial number or identifying information and to ask where they got the items. Without identifying information, there's nothing to confirm it is your property and your probably out of luck. Without identifying information, most cops wont even bother to get involved. There would be no way to determine whose property it really is and it would just be your word against the neighbors.
Another reminder why people should engrave their initials, names, drivers license number, any kind of identifying information onto their property. You can do it with an engraver, screwdriver, knife, just about anything with a point. Also with the technology today and everyone having cell phones with video and cameras, you can take videos or photos of the property including the serial numbers, that way you have proof it is yours.
Ask a Cop? Domestic Violence
From: Withheld
Friend of mine has a history if domestic violence with her husband of 4 yrs. She has 3 children and he has been arrested twice for domestic violence against her. He attended domestic violence classes and parenting and she dropped charges because she noticed significant change within him and she is a committed christian. Recently he struck her in the face and made her bleed for the first time. She wants him to leave the home but he refuses ad begs to stay because he admits he needs mental help and doesn't want to lose his wife and three kids...............
Our Reply:
Bottom line is "arrested twice and he recently struck her in the face making her bleed". Domestic violence only gets worse. As long as she tries to protect him it will get worse. She can try to get a restraining order against him based on the prior domestic violence and her fear of current escalating domestic violence. With a restraining order the police would make him leave and he will be arrested for returning or contacting her in any way. The police cant just make him leave if he lives there, he'd either have to be arrested for hitting her and/or a restraining order put in place.
I know it's tough for a woman to put a husband in jail, and the fear of living alone and having to take care of a family by herself, but she really needs to realize the danger she is putting herself and the children in. The violence WILL get worse, and if the kids see or hear the fighting and hitting, they will grow up feeling that's a normal relationship and either grow up to be a batterer or end up in a relationship being battered, it's a vicious repeating cycle. I'm sure he grew up in a home where domestic violence was present. You cant help someone who doesn't want help. Someone that resorts to physical violence when angered is a dangerous person. He's been in jail twice, and counseling, for most people that would be a wake up call. If he's hitting her again, especially striking her in the face, he needs to go back to jail. He wasn't being a "good guy" for taking parenting and domestic violence classes, those are court ordered and part of probation. If he didn't complete the classes there would have been a warrant out for his arrest. He obviously didn't get all the help he needs and she needs to protect herself.
There is a lot of help out there for battered women with families; housing, counseling, financial help etc. She really needs to get out of the situation because it isn't going to get any better. Until he can truly control his anger and physical violence, he is a very real threat to her and the children. Domestic violence only gets worse if it is ignored. She should document / photograph any bruises she has and call the police immediately anytime he batters her. Most states have a zero-tolerance for domestic violence. She should go to the police and report the latest incident. It would have been better to call the night of the incident and have the police see her bloody nose. Now she will have to explain why she waited 3 weeks but she can explain that she was fearful to report it at the time, hoping he would leave, and fearing repercussions.
She can try to obtain a restraining order based on the past incidents, and state that she was battered recently but it was an unreported incident. If she states his past history of domestic violence, the current unreported incident of being struck to the point of bleeding, and her fear of current and continuing violence, I don't see how the order can be denied.
Best advice is to get out of the situation, if he "gets away with it" it will only get worse. Maybe he needs some more jail time and mandated counseling for it to sink in. But more than likely if two prior arrests and counseling hasn't already worked, he may never change.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
P.S. Send Brent your address so we can send you a free copy of our book, I wrote a chapter on domestic violence that may be of some help. Another reader wrote that after reading the story it gave her the courage to get out of her situation.
Mark
SHOUT OUT TO AUSTRALIA - Sarah Brien and Evan Castle
Ask A Cop? Buying a used car without plates.....
I just purchased a used vehicle from someone today, but it doesn't have a license plate. Can it be towed for this?
Our Reply:
If it is currently registered but has no plates, you can get a citation (even if parked) for having no plates. If it has expired registration and no plates, you can get a citation for both. Here in CA, if a vehicle has expired registration over 6 months, even with plates, it is subject to tow and store until the registration is paid up. Hopefully the car you bought just had personalized plates the owner kept and it's currently registered. Best bet is to go to your local DMV as soon as you can with the paperwork given to you and they will issue new plates.
NEWS:
Cavity search produces 50 bags of heroin
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/21/2011 07:11:48 AM PDT
SCRANTON, Pa.—Police in northeastern Pennsylvania say they recovered more than 50 bags of heroin, cash and loose change from a woman following a cavity search.
Authorities say 27-year-old Karin Mackaliunas was detained last weekend following a crash. Scranton police say they found three bags of heroin in her jacket and after being taken to the police station she told investigators she had more hidden in her vagina. A doctor performed a search and recovered 54 bags of heroin, 31 empty bags used to package heroin, prescription pills and $51.22.
Mackaliunas was jailed on $25,000 bail on charges including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. It was not clear if she had an attorney.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday. If they kept digging they might have come up with all her bail money!
Police: Ohio man robs bank, is caught on city bus
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/16/2011 09:27:57 AM PDT
DAYTON, Ohio—Police in Ohio say a man robbed a bank and then tried to flee on board a public bus, where officers eventually caught up with him.
Dayton police Sgt. Moe Perez tells the Dayton Daily News the suspect got away with cash from a downtown KeyBank branch at around 10 a.m. Wednesday. Police were told by witnesses that they saw the man catch a bus about two blocks away.
Officers followed the route of the bus and pulled it over less than a mile away, near the campus of Sinclair Community College. Perez says the suspect was arrested without incident and the money was recovered. Police haven't said how much was stolen.
Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com
Woman arrested for DUI after griping to police
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/16/2011 01:49:50 AM PDT
Updated: 03/16/2011 02:05:48 AM PDT
DENVER—Police in a Denver suburb say a woman was arrested for drunken driving after she complained to officers about how they parked their patrol cars as they were investigating a DUI-related crash. Trevor Materasso of Westminster police told KMGH-TV that 49-year-old Katherine Morse was taken into custody after she walked up to police trying to move a car in the crash Sunday.
Materasso says police had parked their cars to prevent a suspected drunk driver in the crash from leaving the scene. He says officers told Morse to return to her car and she became "belligerent with them, telling them it was a stupid place" for a traffic stop.
Materasso says that's when officers realized "she too was drunk."
Morse also faces obstructing police charges.
Information from: KMGH-TV, http://www.thedenverchannel.com
Texas bank robber demands loot, shows 2 IDs
The Associated Press
Posted: 03/15/2011 12:31:50 PM PDT
Updated: 03/15/2011 12:33:57 PM PDT
DALLAS—A hapless bank robber who abided by a Dallas teller's request to provide two forms of identification before she could give him money is going to prison.
A judge sentenced 49-year-old Nathan Wayne Pugh of Sachse (SAK'-see) to more than eight years on Tuesday.
Pugh tried to hold up a Dallas Wells Fargo Bank in July.