US customs finds missing Vietnam war plaque

US customs officials have retrieved a Vietnam war plaque missing for seven years, after raiding a shipment of military items bound for Thailand, officials said Wednesday.
The memorial plaque, paying tribute to 19 prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action during the conflict, disappeared after being sent for re-polishing by its owners in 2004.
It belonged to Americans Who Care, based in Fayetteville, Carolina, and was seized by customs officers in a shipment leaving the West Coast port of Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, on April 19.
"This discovery attests the attentiveness, vigilance and high degree of expertise of CBP?s outbound enforcement team at LA/Long Beach seaport," said US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting Los Angeles head Carlos Martel.
"I commend the CBP officers involved in the recovery of this piece of history that will bring closure to military families in Fayetteville."
Janice Lee Urton of Americans Who Care said: "Its return will bring great relief to many and deep healing that it will be coming home," to be seen again by those who "want to pay tribute to our military men and women."

 

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arrest of 20 gang members in South Texas.

"Operation Community Shield," a national initiative of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has resulted in the arrest of 20 gang members in South Texas.

A two-day multi-agency of law enforcement authorities worked together to arrest various gang's members for various violations including robbery, aggravated assault, a felon possessing firearms, and drugs in the Corpus Christi area.

According to HSI reports released today, the operation ended April 21 with coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement.

The operation targets "significant public safety threats posed by transnational street gangs. target foreign born gang members."

The 20 gang members and associates arrested during this operation include the following street gang affiliations:

AD MOB, (1);
Aryan Brotherhood, (2);
Chula Vista, (1);
Little Mobster, (1);
Mexican Mafia, (2);
Suicide Barrio, (2);
Surenos Trece (SUR-13), (1);
Raza Unida, (3); and
Texas Syndicate, (7).
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"The effective removal of dangerous gang members and their associates from our streets makes our communities safer," said Fred Schroeder, assistant special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Corpus Christi. "ICE continues to work closely with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle gang activity in our neighborhoods."

The joint takedown was conducted by the following agencies: ICE HSI; Corpus Christi Police Department; the Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Marshals Service. All were U.S. citizens arrested on outstanding State of Texas arrest warrants, and turned over to local law enforcement.

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A woman faces aggravated murder charges in Friday's shooting death of a Eugene police officer as he attempted to pull over a car for running a red light.

A woman faces aggravated murder charges in Friday's shooting death of a Eugene police officer as he attempted to pull over a car for running a red light.

Cheryl Dawn Kidd, 56, is in the Lane County Jail on one count of aggravated murder. She faces arraignment Monday.

Springfield Police Chief Jerry Smith told KVAL News that Kidd is the woman suspected of shooting Officer Chris Kilcullen, 43, as he attempted to make a traffic stop on Friday afternoon around 4:30.

She was taken into custody after a high-speed chase on country and forest roads that ended outside of Oakridge.

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largest crystal meth busts in Ontario history — which included the arrest of a city police officer

Hamilton police say they've made one of the largest crystal meth busts in Ontario history — which included the arrest of a city police officer.

On Wednesday morning, police raided 23 homes and businesses across Ontario. Officers seized 26 kilograms of crystal meth and anabolic steroids in the pre-dawn raids in Hamilton, Grimsby, Burlington, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Sudbury and Mississauga.

Police arrested 21 people.

Police said the drugs seized were valued at more than $4 million. The meth alone was worth more than $3 million.

On Thursday, police arrested one of their own for allegedly leaking police information to the main target of the investigation. The allegations have not been tested in court.

Const. Andrew Pauls, a nine-year member of the Hamilton force, is facing a charge of breach of trust. "He's been arrested and now those charges are before the court," Sgt. Terri-Lynn Collings said in a telephone interview Thursday.

Collings said Pauls was on suspension when he was arrested Thursday for a previous charge.

Last year, Pauls, who remains on paid suspension, was charged after drugs went missing from a police locker.

Collings said the arrest of an officer shouldn't paint the entire force. Hamilton officers, she said, are continuing to do their jobs.

"There's a lot of good work that does take place," Collings said. "From time to time these things do occur."

Dubbed "Project Newton," the 18-month investigation included more than 175 police officers from nine different police agencies, including the RCMP and Ontario Provincial Police. Collings said there were no indications the people arrested this week had gang affiliations. They also were not producing the drugs, but allegedly acting as middlemen and trafficking the drugs.

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A Trinity County jury has found a Trinity man guilty in connection to a drive-by shooting in November of 2008, which ultimately resulted in the sheriff's death.

A Trinity County jury has found a Trinity man guilty in connection to a drive-by shooting in November of 2008, which ultimately resulted in the sheriff's death.

"It was the shooting incident in the Pinecrest subdivision that the sheriff's department responded to as well as the Texas Rangers and my office.  It's a result of that incident, there was a female dispatcher that was at home off duty and she received a gunshot wound to her abdomen area," said Trinity County District Attorney's Office Investigator Travis Haygood.

The jury sentenced Ricky Dalon Rains, 22, to 20 years in state prison.

The conviction comes following a two-year investigation by retired Texas Ranger Pete Maskunas, and Haygood. The investigation has resulted in four arrests, with three of them now convicted.

"We were traveling all across the state, collecting statements and interviewing multiple witnesses. We were fortunately able to recover the gun that was used in the incident," said Haygood.

The case against Cole Norman Brown is next in line for the prosecution.

Joey Leon Gray and Angela Fannin Gray have pleaded guilty for their part in the crimes and are now confined.

According to Haygood, the victim, a Trinity Police Department dispatcher, was shot when Rains shot into the residence.

Sheriff Brent Lee died in a car wreck which occurred while he was responding to the scene.

For Haygood, a third conviction means some closure in dealing with the loss of his close friend.

"We were friends. It was difficult for me to go out there and see that but just like he was during his job, we all have to do our part," said Haygood.

Assistant District Attorney Bennie Schiro has no doubt Rains' actions lead to the sheriff's death.

"I hold Ricky Rains responsible for what happened to the sheriff," said Schiro.

"If he had stayed at home and not returned back there with a gun I think that sheriff Lee would have still been with us today," said Haygood.

Haygood can't get his friend back but he can help bring justice to Lee's family, and those he served.

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