UPDATE:Investigators say Bethany Storro admitted to authorities that the acid attack was a hoax. She told authorities she threw the acid on herself. Investigators have wasted hundreds of hours looking for a suspect who does not exist. More to come on this story…
Bethany Storro was walking down the street in Vancouver, Washington, getting ready to head into a Starbucks. She was celebrating her new job and enjoying life when she was viciously attacked with acid. Police say an unknown African American woman walked up to Bethany and uttered the words: “Hey pretty girl, do you want to drink this?” The stranger then threw the contents inside the cup on Bethany’s face. Investigators believe the contents were some sort of acid.
The pain was agonizing as she fell to the ground screaming for dear life. The skin was burning off her face and parts of her clothes were disintegrating. Thursday, with her parents at her side, Bethany spoke out for the first time about the incident. She said she will work on forgiving her attacker.
It was a four hour standoff at the Discovery Channel headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., a suburb of Washington, D.C. today before three hostages were released and the man who held them captive was shot and killed. Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said James Lee, 43, a frequent protestor, was upset with Discovery’s environmental programming for some time now. Just after 1 p.m. he burst through the lobby of the headquartered building with a gun and canisters strapped to his body. The canisters appeared to be explosives and Manger said the device went off, but he wouldn’t elaborate on the details.
Witnesses report hearing multiple shots when Lee entered the building, but investigators have not verified that information either. Lee has protested the network in the past because he believed Discovery had very little to do with actually saving the planet, and their focus was more on products to make money. In 2008 Lee was arrested in Silver Spring for throwing money in the air and trying to draw crowds and attention to his message about the network.
While doing research on a case, I came across an interesting program for teens in Florida. The Boynton Beach Police department hosts a Teen Police Academy during the summer months. According to their website, the goal and objective is, “To encourage young people to become productive young adults by promoting the development of important core values thereby deterring juvenile delinquency.”
This entails an exciting week chocked full of fun, interactive, educational activities to include gang and drug awareness, crime scene, traffic stops, building searches, SWAT and K-9 units, life saving techniques, firearm safety, field trips, and much more. Some of the requirements are that teens have to be between the ages of 14 – 16, must be enrolled in high school, must live in the City of Boynton Beach and Western Communities, and parents have to sign the waiver.
The program is one week in length, and costs $75.00. Your registration must be complete by June 15, 2010 and the academy will be in full swing starting August 9, 2010.
If you are interested, check out the Boynton Beach Police department here.
National Police week is underway in Washington, D.C. honoring heroes. It is a time to gather and remember all of those who have died in the line of duty. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 900,000 officers currently serve in our communities across the nation, and every 53 hours an officer is killed in the line of duty. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, an estimated 4.9 million violent crimes were committed through the United States in 2009.
There are a few things you can do to continue to support those who serve us. This year, if you cannot make the candlelight vigil in person in Washington, D.C., you can participate online. Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 8 p.m. a webcast will broadcast the event. You can sign up for the webcast right here and pray for those we have lost.
If you have ever visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, you will notice the amazing flower arrangements placed there on special occasions or onthe anniversary of an officer’s death. If you would like to order a wreath, or donate to keep this beautiful tradition going from week-to-week, please complete an order form and fax or mail it to:
A homemade bomb device brought the city that never sleeps to a near standstill over the weekend. Late Saturday night, a car bomb was discovered in Times Square by a vigilant t-shirt vender. Authorities say the vender called police after seeing smoke pouring out of a Nissan Pathfinder SUV with four way flashers on. Thankfully,the homemade bomb did not ignite and no one was injured. Authorities say consumer grade fireworks, wires, three propane tanks, gasoline, fertilizer and two clocks were found inside among other items. Those items in the vehicle, along with a slew of video surveillance, could lead investigators to the suspect(s).
Through surveillance, NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says they were able to identify a white man in his 40s who was lingering around an alley near the vehicle location, and authorities have discovered who the SUV belongs to, though they are not releasing the owner’s name. Investigators also released 20 seconds of video of a man changing his shirt along a busy street in NYC. Who could have done this and why? The Armed Forces Career Center is located nearby, and authorities say this is not the first time their office has been a target. In 2008, the office was damaged by a small explosive device. This is one theory investigators are looking into. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg says at this point there is no evidence to tie this attack into any large terrorist organization.
Threats against officers, booby traps, and even a bomb are some of the dangerous obstacles the Hemet Police Department aretrying to deal with. Police say last night four city trucks were found burning just blocks away from the police department. Although the trucks are not a part of the police department directly, investigators say the arson may be connected to the recent string of attacks against their department. Officials say the trucks are used by city code enforcement officers to respond to complaints. Thankfully no one was injured.
Many of the incidents are just too close for comfort. Lt. Duane Wisehard told me three incidents could have seriously hurt a member of his department, and one threat thankfully was not followed through with. “Any one of those could have minimally injured or seriously injured an officer, and to have a threat that a car is going to be blown up is a little unnerving… this is what we do, so we have to work around it. We are not used to getting such blatant threats or actions,” says Wisehard.
Threats against officers, booby traps, and even a bomb are some of the dangerous obstacles the Hemet Police Department aretrying to deal with. Many of the incidents are just too close for comfort. Lt. Duane Wisehard told me three incidents could have seriously hurt a member of his department, and one threat thankfully was not followed through with. “Any one of those could have minimally injured or seriously injured an officer, and to have a threat that a car is going to be blown up is a little unnerving… this is what we do, so we have to work around it. We are not used to getting such blatant threats or actions,” says Wisehard.
These actions could be possible retaliation against law enforcement for a number of reasons. An area gang is a direction they are looking in, but there are other options investigators cannot comment about as well. Lt. Wisehard says there was a sweep on the Vagos Motorcycle gang last week, and a number of members were arrested. Over 1/3 of the gang is located in Riverside County, with 600 members total. Although there were arrests, Lt. Wisehard says those arrests are not a direct result of the actual threats against his officers.
Are you retired from a federal, state or local agency? Want to put your investigative tools to good use?
Become a partner in the Project Alert program through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The team is comprised ofnearly 200 professionals and former investigatorswho want to lend their expertise and knowledge to help communities across the country.
According to the NCMEC’s website:
Project ALERT members also represent NCMEC at law enforcement conferences, provide law enforcement training, and address community awareness initiatives. They can integrate NCMEC resources such as age progression, facial reconstruction, poster distribution, DNA protocol, search experts, and database searches into the investigation.
This consulting service is supplied at no cost to the requesting agencies. All travel arrangements and expenses associated with travel and resource materials are coordinated and paid for by NCMEC.
Contact Project ALERT if you are in need of
seasoned investigators, critical resources, and additional manpower to resolve long-term, missing-child cases
training on various aspects of missing child cases
community outreach assistance for presentations on child-safety issues and prevention strategies
Sixty years is a long time, especially for a successful trend to catch on. Thatis why we celebrate the birthday of the famous FBI TOP 10 list. They have been in business keeping dangerous criminals off the streets for six decades now. The FBI’s wanted posters made their first appearance at post offices across the country. They now appear on digital billboards and have spared a social networking craze. Among the most famous fugitives who are still on the run are Osama Bin Laden and Whitey Bulger out of Boston, MA. Read more about all of the FBI’s top ten active cases and how you can submit a tip on the world’s most wanted. Over the last sixty years, the list has featured sex offenders, rapists, murderers, and terrorists. Although the majority of the wanted suspects are men, women are occasionally featured. The first woman to make the list was on December 28, 1968. Ruth Eismann-Schier was wanted after she and her boyfriend Gary Krist kidnapped heiress Barbara Jane Mackle. Less than three months later, Eismann-Schier was captured and deported to Honduras.
Washington State Patrol is on the hunt for a man who shot at a Long Beach Trooper early Saturday morning. According to the most recent release and wanted poster, 25 year veteran Trooper Scott Johnson was recording the contents of a vehicle along State Route 103 near 12th when a suspect walked up, pulled out a small caliber handgun, and fired it twice. One of the bullets struck Trooper Johnson in the head. Although injured, he was able to return fire. Authorities do not know if the suspect washit or injured.
Trooper Johnson has been serving his community since 1984. According to the release, the driver of the vehicle that Trooper Johnson was doing inventory on had been arrested for DWI. Authorities need any witnesses to this crime to come forward. Please call: (800) 283-7808
Race: White male
Age: 35-40
Weight: 185 – 200
Complexion: light tan
Last seen wearing: A dark colored insulated shirt and knit cap
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
Are you retired from a federal, state or local agency? Want to put your investigative tools to good use? 
Sixty years is a long time, especially for a successful trend to catch on. That is why we celebrate the birthday of the famous FBI TOP 10 list. They have been in business keeping dangerous criminals off the streets for six decades now. The FBI’s wanted posters made their first appearance at post offices across the country. They now appear on digital billboards and have spared a social networking craze. Among the most famous fugitives who are still on the run are Osama Bin Laden and Whitey Bulger out of Boston, MA. 
