Middletown police ID crooks targeting local busine

From Channel 5 WLWT News on 11-12-2013

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio —Police are cracking down on shoplifting after police said thieves are targeting stores that include Kroger, Meijer, Lowes, and CVS.

These criminals are brazen working in teams as they walk into stores and swipe from the shelves.

Middletown police have been aggressively targeting these groups and with the holiday shopping season approaching and success they've had the crackdown will continue.

In September, Kroger and Middletown police gave WLWT an exclusive look at how the thieves operate targeting popular items such as tide, alcohol, Red Bull and batteries.

They would load up the carts and then head out the door in a getaway car and then sell the products to a fence could be a flea market of online business to get drug money.

By working with local businesses Middletown police said they've been able to positively id these crooks and made more arrests than anticipated 116 total.

“Out of the 116, 69 were organized and that's who we were going after. So we consider this an absolute success and it will continue. If you come to Middletown and you come to our retail stores and you steal, there’s a good chance, if it's not immediate, you will eventually be found out and charges will be filed,” Middletown police Sgt. Steve Ream said.

Ream says about 70 percent to 80 percent of those arrested have already pleaded guilty.

Police said they also made 44 warrant arrests and seized nearly two dozen cars in just six weeks.

This is part of a report I saw on WLWT 5 news Monday Nov. 4, 2013:

Police responded to the 2800 block of Tytus Avenue for a possible overdose. Paramedics revived Dustin Toler, 19, who overdosed on heroin, according to a police report. The Middletown Fire Department transported Toler to Atrium Medical Center.

A burglary was reported in the 3100 block of Ottawa Street. Jayonna Gatewood, 18, told 911 dispatchers that her father had been tied up. Police found Timothy Duffy, 28, “hog tied,” according to a police report. Duffy told police three males confronted him and knocked him out.

An assault was reported in the 6800 block of Spring Garden Street. The victim said someone grabbed her by her arm, pulled her out of a car and then placed her in a head lock. Officers observed several bruises on the victim, according to a police report.

Nov. 7

A burglary was reported in the 1700 block of Carolina Street. The victim told police she was afraid to go inside her house because someone had kicked in her door. Police did not find anyone inside, but drawers were dumped and several personal items were scattered in a bedroom. A gift card valued at $360 was reported stolen. The back door was unlocked at the time of the incident, according to a police report.

Police responded to 2601 Yankee Road, where they were advised someone was stealing a catalytic converter. Lee Gibson, 42, hit a person and another vehicle with his vehicle while attempting to flee the scene, according to a police report. Gibson was arrested for theft, assault, hit-skip, fleeing the scene and right of way from a private drive.

The Special Operations Unit and patrol officers executed a narcotics search warrant in the 1600 block of Lawn Avenue after receiving complaints of drug activity and drug trafficking. During the search, officers found empty capsules used to contain heroin, needles and snorting straws. Police arrested Robert Spurlock, 28, for permitting drug abuse, possession of drug abuse instruments and a bench warrant for failure to comply. Police arrested Shane Coffman, 26, for tampering with evidence, drug abuse/heroin and possession of drug abuse instruments. Police arrested Robyn Spurlock, 27, for drug paraphernalia and endangering children. Police arrested Janelle Spurlock, 50, for a bench warrant for permitting drug abuse. yep Middletown needs less cops!!! yes sir!!! that's it!!! and more overpaid paper pushers in city hall!!

Perplexed, you probably knew about Barbara Castell condemning a property of mine when there was nothing wrong with it. She had sent me a letter ordering me to appear (even though only a judge can order someone to appear) before her on a date and time she had set. I appeared on the date and time she set, but I was told that she was absent (I later learned that when she was harassing people, that she would hide in her office and have her staff tell people she was absent). I then took Ray Morris (second in command) to the house and had it inspected. There was nothing wrong with the house, nor were any permits needed and Ray signed off on the letter.

   About two weeks later, I got my mother who had a massive stroke. A day or two after I got my mom, Barbara Castell condemned the house. I could not fight the city, take care of my mom and run my business too (Vet you’ll understand this). I explained what had happened to city leaders but Barbara kept that house condemned for many years. Even when I tried to maintain the building the building inspection dept. would put up a new condemned sign ($100 fine for working on a condemned house).

   Once I was painting the door trim on the front porch, when I left to get my mother and me some lunch. When I got back, a new condemned sign had been taped to the door window and a large rock thrown through it. The window, the sign and the rock were lying on the floor inside the house. I was sure the inspector had broken the window since I was only gone about an hour. It wasn’t until Barbara Castell admitted that she had stuck her arm through the window, that I knew that the inspector had broken the window. Had the inspector taped up the sign and left, even if he came back by he would not have time to get Barbara out before I returned from lunch. I left my mother there with a friend and went to Lowes and bought a replacement window. The window was replaced within an hour of my return from lunch. A week or so later Barbara Castell had the building boarded up. When I (with witnesses) made the city remove the boards there was not one broken window.

  I (along with two witnesses) finally met with Barbara and her witnesses and proved that she had criminally condemned the house (we had Ray Morris tell the truth). Therefore, she and the city were responsible for my lost rent, the losses from vandalism (with a big condemned sign on the house) and all my expenses while it was condemned. I never received one cent from the city, but I did get constantly harassed. Working on the house next door that I owned, I was written up for pealing paint because we were scraping the house to paint it. Another time I was hauled into court for not having a screen on every window because I had removed the storm window with the screen in order to paint the window frame. The window with screen was down about 2-3 hours.

   This was why when Gilleland got here she put out a warrant on me, because I wanted a little honesty and integrity out of the city building. She also put both of my properties on her tear down list years ago.

   While I was trying to save my nephew’s life (I had raised my nephew for nearly thirty years- he had cancer in has face since he was nine years old – he was more of a son to me than he was a nephew) the city tore down both of my properties. My nephew lost his battle and died recently. I can never inflict enough pain on council, Judy, Doug and Tuttle to get even, but I can certainly try. Bankruptcy and prison would be a good start.

   I will tell you more about the harassment and dishonesty in the city building later.