Serial rapist found after trying to join the police force hunting him
Cops hunting a serial rapist in Georgia found him right under their noses — when he tried to join their police force.
Kenneth Thomas Bowen III, 24, only came into the spotlight when he joined Clayton County Police Department’s academy in 2018. He was fired after just a few months for lateness and constant lying.
Officers later realized Bowen had been named a “suspicious” person after at least one of eight sex attacks that terrorized Jonesboro since 2015, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Detectives soon noticed the “striking resemblance” between Bowen’s photo and police sketches, police said at a press conference.
After also linking Bowen’s tattoos to the suspect’s description, officers obtained a search warrant for his DNA which linked him to the eight attacks, police said last week.
“Had he not attempted to join ranks in the Clayton County Police Department, it is questionable as to when we would have apprehended him,” Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts said, according to AJC.
Bowen has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual battery. Officials said the attacks all happened within a two-mile radius of where Bowen lived in Jonesboro. None occurred during his time at the academy.
“WE GOT HIM!” the police department wrote on Facebook last week alongside a video of Bowen under arrest.
“Citizens of Clayton County can rest a little bit easier knowing that the serial rapist has been CAPTURED! Great investigative skill set and excellent teamwork has brought his terror to an end!”
via: https://nypost.com/2019/09/03/serial-rapist-found-after-trying-to-join-the-police-force-hunting-him/
Photo Credit: AP
Video shows rodent leaping into deep fryer at Whataburger
A Texas rodent was caught on camera jumping into a deep fryer at a Whataburger over the weekend.
Facebook user Brushawn Lewis posted the footage on his page Saturday, saying: “This s–t is crazy.”
“I’m at whataburger in Bastrop Tx. It’s a damn rat just out in the open!” Lewis wrote in the caption. “But it did get deep fried! Smdh.”
Lewis’ video, which has been shared more than 60,000 times, first shows the tiny critter on a counter near the deep fryer, with Whataburger workers trying desperately to snatch him up — to no avail.
“This girl really fixin’ to try and catch this rat,” Lewis says, moments before the rodent takes its fatal plunge.
“Oh, Lord!” he yells. “It went in the grease!”
Customers can be heard screaming and freaking out afterward.
“I’ll try and get it out,” a worker says.
“When it’s cooked it’ll float up to the top,” Lewis jokes. “I’ve seen it all.”
Whataburger officials responded to the video on its Facebook page, telling users that the location had been shut down and sanitized.
“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” the fast-food chain said. “At Whataburger, cleanliness and food safety are top priorities for us. In this instance, we closed the restaurant out of an abundance of caution and notified pest control. The entire restaurant has since been cleaned and sanitized. We addressed this situation as quickly as possible, reinforcing procedures with our Family Members. While we’ll continue to be very diligent, it’s important to know there was no history of this type incident at this unit and there is no ongoing issue.”
via: https://nypost.com/2019/09/02/video-shows-rodent-leaping-into-deep-fryer-at-whataburger/
Photo Credit: news.com.au
Woman arrested after impersonating 21 year old daughter during traffic stop
A Utah woman was arrested Saturday after police say she impersonated her 21-year-old daughter during a routine traffic stop.
Heather Garcia, 38, was booked into the Davis County Jail early Saturday morning on several charges including providing false personal information to a peace officer after she was caught allegedly lying to authorities about her identity to avoid getting arrested for outstanding warrants.
Garcia was driving a silver BMW when she was pulled over on Main Street in Farmington after a Davis County police officer noticed her vehicle did not have a license plate, KABB reported.
During a search of her car, police recovered drug paraphernalia and a white powdery substance.
Garcia reportedly identified herself as Mercedes, adding she was born in 1998.
Police soon discovered Garcia provided her daughter’s name and eventually made a positive ID.
Garcia was charged with several drug charges including possession or use of a controlled substance, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to inmate records.
She was also charged with driving without insurance and driving with a suspended or revoked license or registration.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/09/03/woman-arrested-after-impersonating-daughter-during-traffic-stop/
Photo Credit: Davis County Jail
At least 10 teens injured in shooting at a high school football game in Alabama
MOBILE, Ala. — Gunfire broke out after a high school football game in Alabama, leaving 10 teens injured, half of them critically.
The victims in the shooting in Mobile ranged in age from 15 to 18, police said. They were at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Friday night for the game between Leflore and Williamson high schools when shots rang out, Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste told reporters.
Of those injured, five are in critical condition, CNN affiliate WKRG reported.
Parents whose children were at the stadium and are missing should call local hospitals, Battise told the affiliate, adding that the city will not tolerate shootings at public events.
“Why are the young people bringing this type of violence to public events. They’re bringing their beefs that they have with each other in their neighborhoods and they’re putting other people in harm’s way,” he said. “This is unacceptable for people to not to be able to come out and enjoy an event.”
It is unclear whether there was a fight before the gunfire and police are interviewing witnesses at the scene, he said. Two people are in custody.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Utah woman threatened to ‘shoot everyone’ in dentist’s office over rescheduled appointment
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah — A woman was arrested and faces a charge of threat of terrorism after a dentist’s office recorded a call where she threatened to kill everybody in the building over a rescheduled appointment.
The incident prompted a lockdown at a medical facility and dental office in Saratoga Springs Thursday afternoon.
Police stated 43-year-old Linda Patricia Morford of Saratoga Springs was supposed to bring her two children for an appointment at 2 p.m. but was late and had to reschedule.
The receptionist said the woman became angry about rescheduling and threatened violence.
“In a recorded phone call with the dentist receptionist, Linda advised her sometimes in these situations ‘gun people come in and they shoot everyone,’” the document states. “Linda then went on by stating, ‘I’ll be there next Tuesday at 2:00, and if we are five minutes late and you guys make us re-schedule, then I will come in and KILL EVERYBODY, that’s what I’ll do.’ Linda then says ‘Well I might this afternoon because I’m super angry, so watch out.’”
Police escorted several concerned employees to their vehicles.
Officers contacted Morford, who said “I would never really do that” regarding the threats she made and tried to downplay the significance of the call.
She was arrested and booked into jail on one count of threat of terrorism, which is a second-degree felony.
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Man arrested after allegedly setting dog on fire
ATLANTA — Atlanta Police responded to reports of an object on fire in a storm drain early Friday morning, which was determined to be a burning box containing a dog.
The dog, a small Yorkshire terrier, was dead by the time officers arrived at the scene. The dog was also found with a cord around its neck, and animal cruelty investigators immediately went into action.
Witnesses in the area reported seeing a white male carrying a box that morning, while others claimed to have seen him attempting to light the box on fire before leaving it in the storm drain.
The investigation led officers to 29-year-old Jessie Collins, found on Drewry Street in NE Atlanta.
Collins has been arrested in connection with the gruesome crime and will be booked into Fulton County jail once warrants are secured.
via: https://pix11.com/2019/09/01/man-arrested-after-allegedly-setting-dog-on-fire/
Photo Credit: Atlanta Police
Bob Marley’s son applies to open New Jersey marijuana dispensary
MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The son of reggae legend Bob Marley and a Colorado firm have applied to open a medical marijuana dispensary in New Jersey.
NorthJersey.com reports that Rohan Marley and Colorado-based dispensary Lightshade have applied to open a dispensary in Montclair.
State officials recently announced that five cultivation, four vertically integrated and 15 retail dispensary licenses would be granted.
Rohan Marley, who raised his five children in South Orange, said in a statement that his family in Jamaica has long advocated the medicinal benefits of marijuana. He would help with the dispensary’s marketing and hiring.
Bob Marley, who died in 1981, was an adherent of the Rastafarian faith that regards cannabis as spiritually important.
The New Jersey Department of Health says there is no immediate timetable for when licenses will be granted.
via: https://pix11.com/2019/09/01/bob-marleys-son-applies-to-open-new-jersey-marijuana-dispensary/
Photo Credit: pix11.com
Man accused of tricking woman with Alzheimer’s into paying for work he never did
DENHAM SPRINGS, La. – Police are asking for help finding a Louisiana man accused of tricking a woman with memory loss into paying him for work he never did.
Louisiana investigators say the woman has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Police believe the man went to her house when she was alone and convinced her that she owed him for major home repairs.
He allegedly drove her to a local bank so she could withdraw a large sum of money.
The elderly woman is safe, police say, and the man left her at the bank after “an alert teller thought something was amiss and asked the suspect to come inside to complete the transaction.”
A member of the victim’s family happened to be inside of the bank at the time, according to Denham Springs officials.
Photo Credit: Denham Springs Police Department
Arkansas Woman Dies As 911 Operator Mocks Her: “Don’t Know Why You’re Freaking Out”
Debbie Stevens was out delivering newspapers in Fort Smith, Arkansas when floodwaters in the riverfront town swept up her car. A distraught Stevens called 911 for help.
Instead of receiving help, she was mocked by the 911 operator, who told a panicked Stevens “You’re not going to die. I don’t know why you’re freaking out” as water slowly filled her car. Stevens later drowned.
Police released audio of the disturbing 911 call Friday but not the name of the dispatcher. Stevens can be heard pleading for help, repeatedly saying, “Please help me. I don’t wanna die.”
The 911 dispatcher replied to Stevens in a mocking tone, flippantly telling her authorities will get there when they get there.
Dispatcher: “You’re not going to die. I don’t know why you’re freaking out. It’s OK. I know the water level is high.”
Stevens: “I’m scared. I’m sorry.”
Dispatcher: “I understand that, but you freaking out — doing nothing but losing your oxygen up in there, so calm down.”
Stevens: “When are they going to be here?”
Dispatcher: “As soon as they get there.”
At one point the 911 operator berates Stevens for driving into the water.
Stevens: “I’m scared. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before.”
Dispatcher: “This will teach you next time don’t drive in the water.”
Stevens: “Couldn’t see it, ma’am. I’m sorry, or I wouldn’t have.”
Dispatcher: “I don’t see how you didn’t see it. You had to go right over it, so.”
The full audio of the 911 call and police bodycam footage can be viewed in the video below, but a warning to readers, some might find it disturbing.
Authorities responded to the scene 12 minutes after Stevens first called 911, but because of the floodwaters, it took more than an hour for anybody to reach Stevens’ vehicle. By the time police and firefighters were able to secure the car, Stevens had drowned.
Forth Smith Interim Police Chief Danny Baker said he understood the angered reactions to how the 911 operator treated Stevens in her dying moments. Baker said the dispatcher had given two weeks notice and that Stevens’ phone call for help came during the dispatcher’s last shift.
“I understand that listening to a person going through the panic that Ms. Stevens was in those final moments of her life, we would all hope that we would get a little bit better response than perhaps she was given,” Baker told KHBS after the 911 call was released. “I don’t want us interacting with anyone in that way, whether it’s a life and death situation or not.”
When asked why Stevens’ call wasn’t elevated, which would have put in place a certain set of procedures, Baker said the dispatcher likely wasn’t aware of the severity of the situation. Baker told KHBS there’s an ongoing investigation into the dispatcher’s behavior, but then went on to say the 911 operator did nothing wrong.
“She did nothing criminally wrong. I’m not even going to go so far as saying she violated policy,” Baker told KHBS.
“I am heartbroken for this tragic loss of life and my prayers are with Debra’s family and friends,” Baker said in a statement released to the media. “All of our first responders who attempted to save Ms. Stevens are distraught over the outcome. For every one of us, saving lives is at the very core of who we are and why we do what we do.”
Stevens was 47-years-old at the time of her death. She was called a “model of being servant” by friend Neal Martin.
“She was a hardworking woman who was very dedicated to her job; she would deliver in the snow and ice when almost no one else would,” Latonya Stolz told Times Record. “This goes to show just how dedicated to her job and to pleasing others she was.”
Photo Credit: newsweek.com
Randy realtor publishes graphic sex selfie in home listing
This broker found a risqué way to get ahead in the Nashville, Tenn., real estate market: He posted an X-rated image in a property listing.
Real estate agent Miguel Calvo, of Benchmark Realty, uploaded a sexy selfie Tuesday to the online listing of a 2,900-square-foot, four-bedroom home asking $399,000 for sale, Scoop Nashville reports.
Beyond photos of the home’s charming brick exterior, roomy eat-in kitchen and formal dining room, prospective buyers also got a hot shot of a naked Calvo, snapped through a mirror, apparently receiving fellatio from what appears to be a much younger woman.
The unidentified real estate lover is naked and on her knees on the bed, with her pink flip-flops located just off to the side.
The racy image has since been yanked, but Calvo told the publication that the photo was of him and that he indeed uploaded it, though he wouldn’t say if it was on purpose or accidental. He would also not confirm who the female in the photo was.
It also doesn’t appear that Calvo ever officially had the listing for this home, located at 137 Saxon Mist Drive, which hit the market this week, per Realtor.com.
Calvo’s professional page does not appear on Benchmark Realty’s website, and the company told Scoop Nashville that its agents are independent contractors working under the company name, and not direct employees.
Benchmark Realty CEO Phillip Cantrell released the following statement:
“We are a faith-based organization and hold a very dim view of impropriety. Yet we also have a set procedure of investigation when accusations are made, so that, in fairness to all parties, we do not unnecessarily exacerbate a situation. With that said, after due process of an investigation of such claims, should we determine the agent did act in an improper manner, you may rest assured that their license will be released back to the state for disposition.”
Neither Calvo nor Benchmark Realty returned messages from The Post seeking comment.
via: https://nypost.com/2019/08/29/randy-realtor-publishes-graphic-sex-selfie-in-home-listing/
Photo Credit: ScoopNashville.com