Latest news with #criminalinvestigation
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Leader of Twin Cities violence intervention nonprofit charged with wage theft, swindling
The Hennepin County Attorney's office has charged a Twin Cities pastor with felony wage theft, and theft by swindle. Reverend Harding Smith runs a nonprofit called Minnesota Acts Now to provide violence intervention services. Back in July of 2023, several of his former employees told WCCO that he was holding back wages, and coercing or threatening them to volunteer their hours. At the time of our story, the City of Brooklyn Park did an investigation and found no payroll issues with its contract. But there was also a criminal investigation based on the employee complaints, which is how the state says it uncovered the alleged wage theft in a separate contract with Hennepin County. According to a criminal complaint filed this week, Smith signed a contract with Hennepin County in 2021, where the county would reimburse him to pay workers $35 per hour, along with some other expenses. The complaint says investigators found most employees were paid $20 per hour — a few got $25 or $30, but only Smith and his Wife were paid the full $35 per hour, leaving a nearly $150,000 discrepancy in payroll records. Prosecutors say that, in an interview, Smith acknowledged he paid employees less, but denied any fraudulent intent and said he didn't use funds from the group's account for his personal benefit. Smith's attorney calls the charges "baseless," and says Smith was fully transparent spending money on other operations' costs. He says Smith will fight the charges.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Plano parents, students shaken after teacher allegedly attacked outside elementary school
A Plano ISD parent is speaking out after an incident that occurred last week outside an elementary school in Murphy. Amber Beayrd said that about an hour after Boggess Elementary went into lockdown last Thursday morning, her family got a call. "The vice-principal answered, and she was like, 'There was an incident at the school where your son may have seen something.. and you know, I got to go...' and that was it," she said. When her 4th grader got home, she asked for more details. "They were outside for the recess activities," she said. "He heard some screaming going on and that's when he looked and saw everything happening." Beayrd said he was a little shaken, but able to describe what he saw. "He knows exactly where it happened, right in front of the school, to the right side of it," she said. "A teacher was knocked down into the bushes. He said that he saw the guy choking her and a big rush going on before they were rushed inside the school." Beayrd said she learned a man was taken into custody and in the days that have followed, she's tried to figure out what exactly happened. "There was nothing posted to the Murphy PD site," she said. "There was nothing posted on their Facebook site, and they're always up-to-date on everything." Murphy police did confirm to CBS News Texas that this is an active criminal investigation but would not provide any additional details. "What if something else would have happened?" Beayrd said. "What if he would have rushed inside that school when all the kids were being rushed inside this school? People want to know who this guy is." Beayrd went to social media hoping some of her neighbors had more information and was met with a lot of the same questions. Families are hoping for more answers soon. CBS News Texas reached out to Plano ISD today about the incident. A spokesperson for the district said they're working to get more information.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Fall from window' case in Northampton dropped by police
A criminal investigation launched after a seriously-injured woman was thought to have fallen through a window has been Police say they are no longer treating the incident in Towerfield Square in Northampton as woman had been found in the early hours of Saturday morning.A man arrested in connection with the incident has been released without charge. Officers had been called to Towerfield Square at 01:00 BST on 24 May where they found the 37-year-old woman with serious was taken to hospital where she was said to be in a critical the time, police believed her injuries might have been "consistent with a fall from a window".A 40-year-old man was arrested and released on bail pending further force has now announced that "a thorough investigation and review of the evidence has concluded that the police investigation can be closed".The man detained on Saturday has been released with no further action. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Thieves target Alpharetta neighborhood: 16 vehicles broken into overnight
The Brief Some neighbors in north Fulton County were out thousands of dollars after crooks broke into more than a dozen cars. It happened early Tuesday morning around Westside Parkway and Encore Parkway in Alpharetta. Police said thieves stole laptops, cash, and even a gun. ALPHARETTA, Ga. - A series of car break-ins is under investigation in Alpharetta. What they're saying Joshua Cody showed FOX 5 the shattered glass on the ground after someone broke into his pickup truck. "My front window on my truck was broken, and my rear driver's side door window had been shattered completely," Cody said. "I need a front window, a rear window, both driver's side windows, and they broke the trim piece on the door." What we know Alpharetta police say that late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, someone broke into 16 vehicles parked in front of homes and grabbed whatever they could: "small amounts of cash, checks, laptops," said Capt. Andrew Splawn with the Alpharetta Police Department. Investigators say a criminal or criminals hit eight of those vehicles at one apartment complex. "They left my bookbag with a tablet and computer. They left my wallet and a bunch of cash," Cody said. Cody says whoever broke in skipped over his valuables, except for one. "They left a bunch of my belongings that were worth money and only stole my gun," Cody said. "I think they targeted a big truck and figured there was a gun in it." Alpharetta police say, in some cases, car owners left their belongings in plain sight. "Most of these crimes are going to be crimes of opportunity," Splawn said. "They were visible from the outside of the vehicle. The majority of the vehicles broken into were entered through unlocked doors and were searched by the offenders." Cody says now he's out thousands of dollars. "I got the quote today; it was like 3,600 dollars in damage," Cody said. What we don't know There are no descriptions of the suspect or suspects so far. Police urge you to lock your doors and hide your belongings so you don't become a victim. The Source The Alpharetta Police Department provided the details for this report.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Gatineau, Que. police arrest 4 in drug bust
The side of a Gatineau police cruiser is seen in this undated photo. Gatineau police say four people have been arrested after several homes were searched last week as part of a drug trafficking investigation. Officers searched four homes in Gatineau on May 21, after receiving tips from the public about the sale of cocaine. The homes were on Main Street, Atmec Street, Garnier Street, and Saint-René Boulevard West. Four vehicles were also searched and seized as part of the investigation. Police seized a variety of drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine pills, psilocybin mushrooms, cannabis, and unidentified pills and powder. Police also seized weapons including brass knuckles and a pellet gun, along with more than $35,000 in cash. The four people who were arrested were all Gatineau residents. Police said the individuals have been released on summons to appear in court. Several drug charges will be filed with the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, police said. Gatineau police say anyone with information about suspected drug trafficking is asked to contact the info line at 819-243-4636, option 2.
