Posted 10/21/2008
Lenexa police news
by Editor
From the Lenexa Police:
www.ci.lenexa.ks.us E-Watch 10/20/2008
This Summary is of selected criminal trends and is not reflective of all police activity
For the week ending 101308 Lenexa officers investigated 326 incidents, conducted 80 street checks and field interviews, wrote 200 citations, and made 66 arrests, including four arrests for DUI and four more arrests for narcotics violations.
AREA ALERT
A neighboring Johnson County law enforcement agency is investigating two pigeon drops that appear to involve the same suspect. In this latest case an elderly female was approached at a shopping center by a “pleasant” 25 year-old black female with straight hair and gold teeth in the front of her mouth who gave her the name Tina Johnson. As is usually the case in these “drops” the victim is approached by a stranger who says she has found a large sum of money and wants assistance in depositing it at a nearby bank, along with good faith money of the victim. The crooks in these cases prey on the elderly who they know are trusting and frequently keep money in their homes. Detectives are investigating and we ask that you please tell any of your “trusting” relatives of this current scam, and to call police if you have any information on these crimes.
IT’S ALL ABOUT INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
Every day law enforcement agencies in Johnson County assist each other with a variety of tasks. Whether it be as “an extra” officer on a call or an investigation most assists go by relatively unnoticed. This last week however we had several larger scale assists, including two shootings and a warrant sweep. The first shooting occurred in Overland Park near 79th & Grant (on our border) where officers assisted on a GRID perimeter while police canines tracked and caught the suspect hiding in a dumpster. The second shooting occurred early Sunday morning on Old 56 Hwy in Olathe. A suspect vehicle description was broadcast and Lenexa officers set-up on I-35 in the event the suspects came our way. They did and after conducting a high risk vehicle stop several persons were arrested for that shooting and a second shooting that occurred as the two vehicles were being driven on the highway. A handgun was recovered and the investigation is being handled by Olathe PD Detectives. Our last cooperative example for the week was a warrant sweep with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office where city and county officers were teamed up to serve warrants. That operation was deemed a success with twenty-one wanted persons being arrested that evening.
DISTURBANCES
This week was unfortunately no different than others as we responded to and investigated numerous cases of people not being able to get along with each other. Numerous cases of domestic violence were reported throughout the city. A few of the highlighted cases are incidents near 80th & Widmer (involving a boyfriend and girlfriend in a car) and near 87th & Hauser (in an apartment – that originally came in as an armed disturbance). In the Widmer case a 19 year-old Shawnee female was arrested while in the Hauser case officers discovered the 43 year-old female resident had armed herself with a large kitchen knife after being battered by her 47 year-old estranged husband, who had left before officers arrived.
Of course it wouldn’t be a normal week without the bar fights or cases related back to a bar. In an Oak Park Village case near 95th & Monrovia several “friends” went back to a nearby apartment after drinking heavily at a nearby bar. One intoxicated young man got angry at another young man after he perceived a young lady who was also present was giving the other guy too much attention and affection. Our jealous young man challenges the other to fight and threw a bottle at a window breaking it. The suspect left before officers arrived. As a side note Patrol officers are becoming more familiar with this particular apartment as detectives were already investigating an Aggravated Battery there earlier in the week where the resident was struck with an expandable baton on his face. It is safe to say the officers will be watching this place and apartment management has been notified.
Any overnight patrol officer will tell you they try to keep an eye on their bars in their districts late at night and at closing time. Simply, it deters crimes from occurring and frankly it saves us the trouble of actually having to drive to the fights when we are already either there or in the immediate neighborhood. Numerous persons were arrested at bars this week being charged with Disorderly Conduct. Probably the stupidest reason for a fight this week was the verbal argument that escalated into a physical fight between two (now former) friends over a poker game.
BURGLARY
It is quite likely the three residential burglaries reported this week could all have easily been prevented if doors had only been locked. Two of the incidents were reported in apartments, in Quivira Place on 77th Terr and in Oak Park Village on Monrovia St. A flat screen TV was taken on 77th Terr while a purse was taken on Monrovia.
The open garage door burglaries just drive us nuts. They are so easily preventable and yet some people just don’t get it. Most of the time the persons entering your garage, be it in broad daylight or during the overnight, are just out to steal your stuff that is in the garage. In one incident this week in Indian Woods near 82nd Terr & Widmer unlocked cars sitting in the open garage were entered and items including a GPS Unit, Driver’s License, credit card and other personal paperwork was stolen.
We all know that once in a while these criminals will even enter the occupied portion of the home, usually again just to steal stuff. But, can we remind you less than two years ago, an open garage door burglary near College & Pflumm went terribly bad and led to the murder of the homeowner because he returned home and interrupted the crime. The suspect in that case was arrested and convicted of murder.
Two vehicle burglaries were reported in the Meadows on 77th St. the first where a folder with paperwork was stolen from a locked car while in the second a stereo faceplate and jewelry were taken from an unlocked car. Two other vehicle burglaries were reported in the area of 94th Terr & Cottonwood where a purse and utility work belt were taken. Officers did a neighborhood canvass and were told that a silver Chevrolet S-10 with red tape over a taillight may be involved as it was seen in the neighborhood about 2 am. Other vehicle burglaries occurred in the area of 89th & Acuff where camera equipment was taken, 83rd Pl & Acuff where a wallet and diaper bag were taken, and two incidents in the 7900 blk Noland Rd.
THEFTS
Officers investigated numerous frauds involving stolen debit and credit cards and counterfeit money this last week. The problem with credit and debit card thefts is that they are frequently used out of our area and as such we don’t have the jurisdiction to prosecute that portion of the case. However, when we are the right spot to handle such a case we are glad to investigate and arrest those who are responsible. This week we got a call from a Tennessee resident, who while checking her bank statement saw a check of hers was cashed at a Lenexa bank. In her initial statement she said she believed a former friend may have stolen some checks several years ago. We started investigating and sure enough that “friend” (yea we know with friends like this who needs enemies) lived locally and signed the Tennessee victim’s name to the check that she made out to a newer (and we guess better) friend. The case file has been sent to the District Attorney’s Office to charge two Shawnee residents, ages 20 and 22 with Theft and Forgery.
The old Canadian lottery scam resurfaced this week this time using the name of “Atlantic Lottery Corporation” out of New Brunswick, Canada and we also had a few counterfeit currency cases reported this week. In one of the counterfeit cases several Four Colonies juveniles from 82nd Terr paid a pizza delivery driver with bogus money. Of course this wasn’t too tough to investigate since we had an address. Once confronted the juveniles saw the original idea was not as good as once thought and paid the driver with good money. Another counterfeit case occurred at a 95th & Lackman restaurant and in that case we’re not sure if the subject passing the money to buy their food was aware the bills were counterfeit or not.
Kudos go to a sharp patrol officer who after hearing of a wallet theft near a 77th & Quivira made a mental note of the suspect vehicle description. Two days later while on patrol he spotted a vehicle matching the description. He stopped the car and identified both occupants who also fit the initial suspect descriptions. The investigation is continuing and if we can make the case these two, based on their past criminal records, won’t be stealing from anyone except fellow inmates for quite awhile.
Numerous shoplifters (and now former company employees) were arrested this last week and one Oak Hill 14 year-old boy was busy as he hit three different stores along 87th St between Lackman and I-435, while two other boys who were with him did not participate in the thefts. Once caught though our little “clepto” told officers that he didn’t know why he did it. The new grocery store near K-10 & Woodland is going through its growing pains with several (two this last week) employee thefts reported there lately. In the most recent cases officers arrested a 30 year-old Lenexa female and a 17 year-old Olathe boy, both of whom are also now unemployed. In another employee related theft a 30 year-old Pine Ridge West company employee near 80th & Flint scammed ten fellow co-workers in a furniture sales scam that resulted in a combined loss of about $20,000. The suspect has since fled the area. He already has a warrant from a neighboring city for another theft and his current whereabouts are not known. Detectives are investigating that case as well as the theft of jewelry from a Country Hill West home where a cleaning lady is suspected of committing the crime as well as a laptop theft where two “friends” stole the Oak Park area family’s laptop while only the adult son was in town. We have names and a quick disposition is likely in this case.
A sign of the times was where a quantity of election signs were stolen in the 94 & Greenway neighborhood. Contrary to what some think there actually is a monetary value to them. There also was a mail theft in The Meadows where one resident stole several Netflix DVD’s that had been left out for pick-up from another resident, as well as several incidents of money being stolen from an Old Town area car wash change machine. The most unusual theft for the week was that of a large quantity of imported cheese from an 87th St grocery store. Before you laugh the 61 year-old Olathe man did put a little (emphasis on little) thought into his crime. In this case the man rented a car using his brother’s Driver’s License (we thought only young people used their siblings identities when convenient) to rent a car. He was seen and was dropping packages of cheese as he hurriedly left the store. Our alert store employees of course got the car license plate number which led to his plan coming unraveled. A patrol officer investigated the case, contacted both the named and listed brother on the car rental contract and subsequently arrested the imported cheese lover. We fail to see the attraction of imported cheese, actually we prefer cheddar, and we think this guy should have realized his plan was no “gouda” (groan-sorry we couldn’t resist).
WAS HE THINKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING?
In a word, yes. About 4:00 am the other morning we received a call from one of our convenience stores where the clerk said there was a suspicious man following her around her store. This understandably was making her nervous, especially considering the hour of the day. This type of call also raises eyebrows with police officers as we like to keep an eye on our store clerks for their safety during the overnight hours. Several officers responded and located a man fitting the description nearby. The subject, a 41 year-old Overland Park man did not deny he was in the store and he could not give a reasonable explanation for his behavior. The officers had no crime committed at the time although they noted that he had previously been arrested for, ahem…Armed Robbery.
The Police Department asks that anytime you see suspicious activity to please call 9-1-1.
www.ci.lenexa.ks.us E-Watch 10/20/2008
This Summary is of selected criminal trends and is not reflective of all police activity
For the week ending 101308 Lenexa officers investigated 326 incidents, conducted 80 street checks and field interviews, wrote 200 citations, and made 66 arrests, including four arrests for DUI and four more arrests for narcotics violations.
AREA ALERT
A neighboring Johnson County law enforcement agency is investigating two pigeon drops that appear to involve the same suspect. In this latest case an elderly female was approached at a shopping center by a “pleasant” 25 year-old black female with straight hair and gold teeth in the front of her mouth who gave her the name Tina Johnson. As is usually the case in these “drops” the victim is approached by a stranger who says she has found a large sum of money and wants assistance in depositing it at a nearby bank, along with good faith money of the victim. The crooks in these cases prey on the elderly who they know are trusting and frequently keep money in their homes. Detectives are investigating and we ask that you please tell any of your “trusting” relatives of this current scam, and to call police if you have any information on these crimes.
IT’S ALL ABOUT INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
Every day law enforcement agencies in Johnson County assist each other with a variety of tasks. Whether it be as “an extra” officer on a call or an investigation most assists go by relatively unnoticed. This last week however we had several larger scale assists, including two shootings and a warrant sweep. The first shooting occurred in Overland Park near 79th & Grant (on our border) where officers assisted on a GRID perimeter while police canines tracked and caught the suspect hiding in a dumpster. The second shooting occurred early Sunday morning on Old 56 Hwy in Olathe. A suspect vehicle description was broadcast and Lenexa officers set-up on I-35 in the event the suspects came our way. They did and after conducting a high risk vehicle stop several persons were arrested for that shooting and a second shooting that occurred as the two vehicles were being driven on the highway. A handgun was recovered and the investigation is being handled by Olathe PD Detectives. Our last cooperative example for the week was a warrant sweep with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office where city and county officers were teamed up to serve warrants. That operation was deemed a success with twenty-one wanted persons being arrested that evening.
DISTURBANCES
This week was unfortunately no different than others as we responded to and investigated numerous cases of people not being able to get along with each other. Numerous cases of domestic violence were reported throughout the city. A few of the highlighted cases are incidents near 80th & Widmer (involving a boyfriend and girlfriend in a car) and near 87th & Hauser (in an apartment – that originally came in as an armed disturbance). In the Widmer case a 19 year-old Shawnee female was arrested while in the Hauser case officers discovered the 43 year-old female resident had armed herself with a large kitchen knife after being battered by her 47 year-old estranged husband, who had left before officers arrived.
Of course it wouldn’t be a normal week without the bar fights or cases related back to a bar. In an Oak Park Village case near 95th & Monrovia several “friends” went back to a nearby apartment after drinking heavily at a nearby bar. One intoxicated young man got angry at another young man after he perceived a young lady who was also present was giving the other guy too much attention and affection. Our jealous young man challenges the other to fight and threw a bottle at a window breaking it. The suspect left before officers arrived. As a side note Patrol officers are becoming more familiar with this particular apartment as detectives were already investigating an Aggravated Battery there earlier in the week where the resident was struck with an expandable baton on his face. It is safe to say the officers will be watching this place and apartment management has been notified.
Any overnight patrol officer will tell you they try to keep an eye on their bars in their districts late at night and at closing time. Simply, it deters crimes from occurring and frankly it saves us the trouble of actually having to drive to the fights when we are already either there or in the immediate neighborhood. Numerous persons were arrested at bars this week being charged with Disorderly Conduct. Probably the stupidest reason for a fight this week was the verbal argument that escalated into a physical fight between two (now former) friends over a poker game.
BURGLARY
It is quite likely the three residential burglaries reported this week could all have easily been prevented if doors had only been locked. Two of the incidents were reported in apartments, in Quivira Place on 77th Terr and in Oak Park Village on Monrovia St. A flat screen TV was taken on 77th Terr while a purse was taken on Monrovia.
The open garage door burglaries just drive us nuts. They are so easily preventable and yet some people just don’t get it. Most of the time the persons entering your garage, be it in broad daylight or during the overnight, are just out to steal your stuff that is in the garage. In one incident this week in Indian Woods near 82nd Terr & Widmer unlocked cars sitting in the open garage were entered and items including a GPS Unit, Driver’s License, credit card and other personal paperwork was stolen.
We all know that once in a while these criminals will even enter the occupied portion of the home, usually again just to steal stuff. But, can we remind you less than two years ago, an open garage door burglary near College & Pflumm went terribly bad and led to the murder of the homeowner because he returned home and interrupted the crime. The suspect in that case was arrested and convicted of murder.
Two vehicle burglaries were reported in the Meadows on 77th St. the first where a folder with paperwork was stolen from a locked car while in the second a stereo faceplate and jewelry were taken from an unlocked car. Two other vehicle burglaries were reported in the area of 94th Terr & Cottonwood where a purse and utility work belt were taken. Officers did a neighborhood canvass and were told that a silver Chevrolet S-10 with red tape over a taillight may be involved as it was seen in the neighborhood about 2 am. Other vehicle burglaries occurred in the area of 89th & Acuff where camera equipment was taken, 83rd Pl & Acuff where a wallet and diaper bag were taken, and two incidents in the 7900 blk Noland Rd.
THEFTS
Officers investigated numerous frauds involving stolen debit and credit cards and counterfeit money this last week. The problem with credit and debit card thefts is that they are frequently used out of our area and as such we don’t have the jurisdiction to prosecute that portion of the case. However, when we are the right spot to handle such a case we are glad to investigate and arrest those who are responsible. This week we got a call from a Tennessee resident, who while checking her bank statement saw a check of hers was cashed at a Lenexa bank. In her initial statement she said she believed a former friend may have stolen some checks several years ago. We started investigating and sure enough that “friend” (yea we know with friends like this who needs enemies) lived locally and signed the Tennessee victim’s name to the check that she made out to a newer (and we guess better) friend. The case file has been sent to the District Attorney’s Office to charge two Shawnee residents, ages 20 and 22 with Theft and Forgery.
The old Canadian lottery scam resurfaced this week this time using the name of “Atlantic Lottery Corporation” out of New Brunswick, Canada and we also had a few counterfeit currency cases reported this week. In one of the counterfeit cases several Four Colonies juveniles from 82nd Terr paid a pizza delivery driver with bogus money. Of course this wasn’t too tough to investigate since we had an address. Once confronted the juveniles saw the original idea was not as good as once thought and paid the driver with good money. Another counterfeit case occurred at a 95th & Lackman restaurant and in that case we’re not sure if the subject passing the money to buy their food was aware the bills were counterfeit or not.
Kudos go to a sharp patrol officer who after hearing of a wallet theft near a 77th & Quivira made a mental note of the suspect vehicle description. Two days later while on patrol he spotted a vehicle matching the description. He stopped the car and identified both occupants who also fit the initial suspect descriptions. The investigation is continuing and if we can make the case these two, based on their past criminal records, won’t be stealing from anyone except fellow inmates for quite awhile.
Numerous shoplifters (and now former company employees) were arrested this last week and one Oak Hill 14 year-old boy was busy as he hit three different stores along 87th St between Lackman and I-435, while two other boys who were with him did not participate in the thefts. Once caught though our little “clepto” told officers that he didn’t know why he did it. The new grocery store near K-10 & Woodland is going through its growing pains with several (two this last week) employee thefts reported there lately. In the most recent cases officers arrested a 30 year-old Lenexa female and a 17 year-old Olathe boy, both of whom are also now unemployed. In another employee related theft a 30 year-old Pine Ridge West company employee near 80th & Flint scammed ten fellow co-workers in a furniture sales scam that resulted in a combined loss of about $20,000. The suspect has since fled the area. He already has a warrant from a neighboring city for another theft and his current whereabouts are not known. Detectives are investigating that case as well as the theft of jewelry from a Country Hill West home where a cleaning lady is suspected of committing the crime as well as a laptop theft where two “friends” stole the Oak Park area family’s laptop while only the adult son was in town. We have names and a quick disposition is likely in this case.
A sign of the times was where a quantity of election signs were stolen in the 94 & Greenway neighborhood. Contrary to what some think there actually is a monetary value to them. There also was a mail theft in The Meadows where one resident stole several Netflix DVD’s that had been left out for pick-up from another resident, as well as several incidents of money being stolen from an Old Town area car wash change machine. The most unusual theft for the week was that of a large quantity of imported cheese from an 87th St grocery store. Before you laugh the 61 year-old Olathe man did put a little (emphasis on little) thought into his crime. In this case the man rented a car using his brother’s Driver’s License (we thought only young people used their siblings identities when convenient) to rent a car. He was seen and was dropping packages of cheese as he hurriedly left the store. Our alert store employees of course got the car license plate number which led to his plan coming unraveled. A patrol officer investigated the case, contacted both the named and listed brother on the car rental contract and subsequently arrested the imported cheese lover. We fail to see the attraction of imported cheese, actually we prefer cheddar, and we think this guy should have realized his plan was no “gouda” (groan-sorry we couldn’t resist).
WAS HE THINKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING?
In a word, yes. About 4:00 am the other morning we received a call from one of our convenience stores where the clerk said there was a suspicious man following her around her store. This understandably was making her nervous, especially considering the hour of the day. This type of call also raises eyebrows with police officers as we like to keep an eye on our store clerks for their safety during the overnight hours. Several officers responded and located a man fitting the description nearby. The subject, a 41 year-old Overland Park man did not deny he was in the store and he could not give a reasonable explanation for his behavior. The officers had no crime committed at the time although they noted that he had previously been arrested for, ahem…Armed Robbery.
The Police Department asks that anytime you see suspicious activity to please call 9-1-1.
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