Latest news with #CPS
Calgary Herald
7 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Five youths charged after deploying bear spray at bus near Chinook station
Article content Five youths have been charged after bear spray was deployed near a transit bus by Chinook Station. Article content Article content According to a news release, police allege two groups of youths became involved in an altercation at a bus stop near Third Street and 61 Avenue S.W., near the Chinook CTrain station, on Friday, May 23 at 3:40 p.m. Article content As one group attempted to board a bus, members of the group allegedly sprayed bear spray near the open door, affecting the victims, the bus driver and uninvolved passengers on the bus. The group then fled the scene. Article content Article content The suspects were located and arrested within minutes by members of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) and Calgary Transit Public Safety. Article content Article content Three girls aged 14, 15 and 16 and two boys aged 14 and 16 have been charged with four counts each of assault with a weapon. Article content Two girls aged 15 and 16 and one boy aged 14 are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 20. Article content The 14-year-old girl has also been charged with failure to comply with a release order. She is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The 16-year-old boy has also been charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose and one count of failure to comply with a release order. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday, May 30. Article content None of the youths can be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Article content Article content 'Safety on public transit and in public spaces is a top priority for the Calgary Police Service and our Safer Calgary partners,' said Acting Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen. 'As part of Operation Safer Calgary, CERT members have been strategically deployed to these areas to ensure public safety. This proactive deployment allowed for seamless collaboration with our partners at Transit Public Safety and the timely arrest of these suspects. Violence on transit and in public spaces will not be tolerated in our city. We remain committed to holding those who choose to commit these acts of violence accountable for their actions as we work to make Calgary a safer place for everyone.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mercer County woman sentenced for witness tampering conspiracy in sex trafficking case
MERCER COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — A Mercer County woman was sentenced for a witness tampering conspiracy in a sex trafficking case that involved a minor. According to a press release from the United States Department of Justice, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, 58-year-old Laurel Blankenship, of Bluefield, was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by one year of parole, for conspiracy to commit witness tampering. Mercer County man sentenced for witness tampering conspiracy in sex trafficking case The press release stated that Laurel Blankenship and her husband Terry were found guilty on January 18, 2024 guilty of conspiracy to commit witness tampering. Evidence at the trial showed that the couple planned to influence a witness testimony in a federal sex trafficking case against Terry Blankenship from around April 4, 2023 through about July 25, 2023. Information in the press release stated that the witness, a 12-year-old girl, reported that Terry Blankenship paid her for sexual activity with items that included vapes. Due to the allegations, Terry Blankenship was indicted on a charge of sex trafficking of a minor under 14-years-old. According to the United States Department of Justice's press release, the allegation was taken back by the minor victim during an investigation by West Virginia Child Protective Services (CPS) that could have ended in the minor being put into foster care. Mercer County man sentenced after being discharged from drug court Information in the press release stated that multiple audio and video jail calls that were recorded when Terry Blankenship was in jail waiting for the trial for the sex trafficking case, the couple reportedly discussed making sure that the minor stood by her recantation that was reportedly given to CPS. The recordings reportedly involved talking about using an iPhone to bribe the minor to keep the recantation. According to the press release, at his sentencing the Court, using evidence from earlier hearings, found that Terry Blankenship engaged in sex acts with the minor female, and that her report of the sexual abuse was accurate and the recantation was incorrect. Terry Blankenship was also found to have obstructed justice by falsely testifying at an earlier hearing. The press release stated that Terry Blankenship was a registered sex offender at the time of the incident due to pleading guilty on December 5, 2008 to possession of child pornography in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Due to the crime, Terry Blankenship was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison and was serving a lifetime of parole at the time of the reported sex trafficking offense and the witness tampering attempts that followed, according to the press release. Two people face charges after reported child abduction in Summers County Despite knowing that her husband was on federal supervised release and not permitted to be around children, Laurel Blankenship allowed children into their home including overnight. She fostered the environment that allowed her husband to sexually abuse the child. Lisa G. Johnston | Acting United States Attorney On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 56-year-old Terry Leon Blankenship, of Bluefield, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of parole, for obstruction of justice related to a sex trafficking prosecution. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston, who thanked the Mercer County Sheriff's Office for their work on the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary police used less force in 2024 than year prior: report
The use of force by Calgary police officers hit a seven-year low last year, after spiking in 2023, according to an annual report. Article content The report, delivered to the Calgary police commission Wednesday, highlighted that the Calgary Police Service 's use-of-force incidents dropped nine per cent in 2024 compared to the year prior and were eight per cent down from the five-year average. Article content Article content Calgary police officers used physical force 818 times last year, according to the report, down from 901 incidents in 2023. Article content Article content The report highlights that 2023 saw the highest counts since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2024 marked a return to more typical volumes. Article content Amtul Siddiqui, chair of the police commission, said it is encouraging that use-of-force has appeared to level out after the bump in 2023. Article content 'The CPS has a rigorous system for tracking and reviewing all incidents where officers use force, and the information learned helps shape future training to continually improve how officers approach situations,' she said in a statement. Article content 'Our commission has also placed a high priority on the CPS collecting and using race-based data. The latest report shows our shared commitment with the CPS to make sure that racial disparities are identified and analyzed for any systemic issues that need to be addressed.' Article content Article content The report also revealed a two per cent drop in overall police interactions with the public, from 588,407 interactions in 2023 to 574,246 in 2024. Use of force was used in 0.14 per cent of instances, or once for every 702 interactions between officers and the public. Article content A Calgary criminologist said that while police used less force last year, that's partly because 2023 was an outlier. Outside of that year, the number of incidents has remained pretty similar for the last decade. Article content 'If you look at the numbers, you can get lost in percentages,' said Mount Royal University criminology professor Doug King. 'You have to watch about that because the numbers of use of force incidents are actually quite low, so an increase of 10 can really bump things up a bit.' Article content In 2023, officers used their Tasers, also known as conducted energy weapons, 211 times, the report stated, which was well above the five-year average of 161. Last year, officers used their Tasers 165 times, marking a 22 per cent year-over-year drop.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Missing man last seen at Airdrie workplace: Calgary police
Justin, 40, was last seen in Airdrie on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (CPS handout) Calgary police are looking to the public for help finding a missing man last seen in Airdrie on Tuesday. Police say Justin, 40, hasn't been in contact with his family since then. He was last spotted leaving his workplace in the city at 2 p.m. Justin is described as 6' tall (183cm) and about 150 pounds (68kg) with brown hair and brown eyes. He was driving a 2024 grey Volkswagen Atlas with Alberta licence plate L-98374. Though there is nothing to indicate foul play, police say Justin's family is concerned for his well being. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers. NOTE: The Calgary Police Service announced last year it would no longer be sharing the last names of those who are reported missing or sharing details of whether any of those individuals are located deceased as a standard practice moving forward.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Alleged Liverpool parade driver appears in court on charges against six victims
Father-of-three Paul Doyle is accused of seven offences after the incident in Water Street in the city centre on Monday, which resulted in 79 people suffering injuries. The 53-year-old, wearing a black suit, white shirt and grey tie, looked emotional as he came into the courtroom at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Friday morning. He looked around at the dozens of reporters packing the courtroom as he was brought in from the cells, his face crumpling slightly as he held back tears. District Judge Paul Healey asked the defendant to identify himself and in a croaky voice, Doyle confirmed his name and gave his date of birth and address in Liverpool. The hearing has been adjourned briefly while reporting restrictions are considered. Doyle is accused of two counts of wounding with intent, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of dangerous driving. A wounding charge and an attempted grievous bodily harm charge relate to a child. Police confirmed the ages of those injured ranged from nine to 78 and all 79 are British. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the charges against Doyle, who is reportedly an ex-Royal Marine, would be kept 'under review as the investigation progresses'. In a statement issued to reporters on Thursday, chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire, Sarah Hammond, said: 'The investigation is at an early stage. 'Prosecutors and police are continuing to work at pace to review a huge volume of evidence. 'This includes multiple pieces of video footage and numerous witness statements. 'It is important to ensure every victim gets the justice they deserve.' At the press conference, Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Jenny Sims added: 'I fully understand how this incident has left us all shocked and saddened, and I know many will continue to have concerns and questions. 'Our detectives are working tirelessly, with diligence and professionalism, to seek the answer to all of those questions. 'When we are able to, we will provide further information.' Ms Sims said seven people remain in hospital. Police previously said they believed the car that struck pedestrians was able to follow an ambulance crew attending to someone suffering a heart attack after a roadblock was temporarily lifted.
