Latest news with #CriminalInvestigationsDivision
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Virginia AG discusses law enforcement partnerships and initiatives among SWVA agencies
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made a stop at the Bristol, Virginia Police Department on Monday to talk about the law enforcement partnerships on combating crime against the most vulnerable populations. Miyares was joined by Bristol, Virginia Police Chief Byron Ashbrook, Sheriff Tyrone Foster and Del. Israel O'Quinn. There was a heavy focus on the TRIAD program, a partnership between law enforcement, seniors, and senior organizations aimed at combating crime specifically targeting that group. Those at the press conference say scammers are becoming more advanced, so they want to make seniors aware of what could happen. And they say that loneliness is another epidemic among them. 'TRIAD is the definition of a partnership. It's about bringing law enforcement, senior citizens, and volunteers working together to help our aging population,' Miyares said. 'They're both getting information of what's happening in their community, tips from law enforcement as well as how to protect themselves but they're also doing something invaluable from a mental health standpoint, which is connecting seniors with other seniors and building friendships as a result.' Miyares says one in five Virginians are over the age of 65. In Southwest Virginia, they make up 22% of the population. He also called the partnership here a model for the rest of the Commonwealth. 'Seniors are often very engaged in their communities. They have something that a lot of us don't necessarily have that's very valuable and that's time,' Del. O'Quinn said. 'So they can pitch in and make this program better and bigger and more valuable for their friends and neighbors.' Starting July 1, the Bristol, Virginia Police Department will have a detective dedicated to crimes against children and the elderly. 'We are pulling one of the units from patrol. We are fully staffed now so one of those units will be going to the [Criminal Investigations Division] to help streamline this process in both elder abuse cases and child victims of crime cases,' Chief Ashbrook said. 'It's really important to have that continuity of care so child victims aren't seeing multiple different detectives because they go through a process if they've been a victim of crime or even a witness of crime through our children's advocacy center and through the court system and having one officer, one detective to be able to handle all that is important.' Another vulnerable population they want to focus on is those suffering mental health crises. BVPD has a co-response with the Community Support Program through the Department of Social Services. 'I'm not a mental health clinician, I'm not a doctor, but if I can keep the clinician safe and I can get the clinician to the scene, and they can do their work then it's the right response for the right type of call and it can help de-escalate situations,' Ashbrook said. 'We've seen it work in the past.' The Bristol, Virginia Sheriff's Office already has several initiatives in place to help keep children and seniors safe, including the D.A.R.E. drug awareness program, providing child identification kits, Project Lifesaver (a rapid response program for those who wander away from their caregivers), the One Pill Can Kill program, and Drug Take Back days. Sheriff Tyrone Foster says his office has provided Highlands Community Services with a deputy for the Crisis Intervention Team Assessment Center along with a location for the Mount Rogers Health District's Mobile Integrative Health Service Unit, which focuses on behavioral and mental health services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deputies: One killed in shooting near Kalamazoo
OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — One person was killed in a Kalamazoo-area shooting Tuesday afternoon, deputies say. It happened around 2:30 p.m. at the Canterbury House Apartments, located off of Drake Road in Oshtemo Township. Deputies were sent to the scene in response to a call about a gunshot, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said in a release. A male victim was found unresponsive in one of the apartment buildings, the sheriff's office said. First responders on scene attempted life-saving measures. He was then brought to a local hospital, where he died of his injuries, the sheriff's office said. His identity is not being released, pending notification of his family. A witness on scene gave deputies a description of a potential suspect, who was seen fleeing from the area, the sheriff's office said. Law enforcement quickly found an individual matching the description and took them into custody for questioning. Deputies were still on scene around 4:45 p.m. as they interviewed witnesses and investigate, the sheriff's office said. Anyone with information should call the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 269.383.8749 or send an anonymous tip through Silent Observer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man offering cattle sales online accused of theft
Authorities say a man offered cattle for sale, made buyers pay a deposit and failed to deliver the animals. Several victims say Garrett Hill, also known as Jared Smith, advertised cattle for sale, required victims to pay a deposit through Cash App or an online transfer and then never delivered the cattle. According to Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper, more people could have been victimized in the case. Hill, who authorities accuse of cattle theft by deception, was arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office on May 7. Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement said they are coordinating with Franklin County's Criminal Investigations Division and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement on this investigation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officials encourage anyone who may have fallen victim to the scheme to reach out to Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement or the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The Georgia Department of Agriculture offered a warning to people buying pets over the internet, saying it's a good idea to exercise similar caution when buying cattle, too. 'Many of these criminals operate overseas,' the department's website cautions. 'Finding and prosecuting them could be extremely difficult; maybe impossible. Research the seller thoroughly. Only purchase from sellers you can validate.' Those seeking to buy cattle can find them at auction. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a list of feeder cattle auction sites. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested for impersonation, scamming 15 local businesses
BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — A man is behind bars after deputies said he was pretending to be a Bulloch County deputy to try and rip off local businesses. Authorities said the man was able to scam 15 local businesses for $500 each before someone noticed something wasn't right and called the sheriff's office. 'Most common folks would think he was with the sheriff's office,' said Captain Todd Hutchens with the Criminal Investigations Division of the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office. Captain Hutchens told WSAV the man was going door to door selling advertisements for a legitimate company's magazine while wearing a hat or polo that said 'sheriff' and calling himself 'Deputy Terry Damstra.' 'The majority of the time that that occurs they are trying to reap benefits for themselves,' said Hutchens. Hutchens said Damstra was getting commission off of each ad sold. He said the company usually partners with law enforcement to put out a local magazine filled with PSA's and educational information. 'They have multiple salespeople out in different states,' said Hutchens. 'They were very upset that the guy had done this because this is not the way they train.' Damstra is facing 15 felony counts of impersonating an officer – carrying at least a one-year sentence per count. 'The badge means a lot to us,' said Hutchens. 'When this info came forth, Sheriff Brown was very concerned, and very disturbed and we immediately went out and that's why we found him basically within 24 hours.' Hutchens said after alerting the company, they have agreed to return any money they received through Damstra's work. Captain Hutchens encouraged people just moving into town to get familiar with their first responders, so they'll have someone to turn to if they notice something like this. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
Newborn spared after gunfire hits LaGrange home, police looking for shooter
The Lagrange Police Department is asking for the public's help after a family's home was shot up during a thunderstorm Monday morning. The homeowner, Tameka Hammond, says her three children, alongside her one-month-old granddaughter, were all inside when gunfire hit her home on Rutland Circle. 'When I heard it, I jumped... I was thinking it was lighting or someone hit a pole. I'm not thinking it's gunfire and that someone was actually shooting my house,' Hammond said. Hammond's home surveillance cameras caught the gunshots on video, just before 4 a.m. She said that usually her daughter and newborn grandchild sleep in the room where the gunfire hit, but that the pair decided to sleep in her room, instead. 'Thank God, she did that. Because like I told her, 'bullets don't have names on them,'' she said. No one was injured and the only property that was damaged was where the bullets struck the home. The Lagrange Police Department Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Detective C. Montondo at 706-883-2639. Information can also be shared anonymously through Troup County CrimeStoppers by calling 706-812-1000. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: North Georgia school staff member fired after writing racial slur on the board Did you see the trail of lights in the sky? This is what they are… Georgia's university system is combining two schools [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
