Net Crimes & Misdemeanors

"THERE IS A THREAT TO THIS BUILDING. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. FIND THE NEAREST STAIRWELL. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS." WAHWAHWAHWAH (repeat five million times) 6:30 am. The Hilton Garden Inn in Louisville. I thought the person who had my room before me had set the alarm clock. Nope. We had to all evacuate the hotel. I sleepily rushed, put my jeans and coat on, grabbed my purse and laptop (and room key) and stumbled into the hallway. Other sleepy people were stumbling around, too. We looked like a bunch of drunks. One guy was still trying to put his sneakers on. At the stairway, a man actually held the door open for me. We were on the top of the hotel, on the 8th floor. Down we went. As we hit each floor, more people in the stairwell. Quiet. Orderly. No complaints. Just trudge trudge trudge. Good thing there wasn't a real fire, eh? Got outside, went to the front of the hotel. Called Chris. Heard sirens. The first fire truck pulls up. We all wait some more. Another fire truck pu...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Quack Tale of the tape: Robbery suspect duct tapes shoes http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100327/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_duct_tape_thief Maybe duct tape doesn't work for everything. Police said an 18-year-old Cadillac man who fastened duct tape to the bottom of his shoes in an attempt to conceal the robbery of a northern Michigan business has been arrested. Manistee County sheriff officials said the man admitted robbing All Star Pay Day Loans in Manistee Township, about 210 miles northwest of Detroit. He was arrested about 3:35 a.m. Thursday after being spotted by deputies. Police told the Ludington Daily News and WWMT-TV the man was wearing dark clothing and carrying about $1,200 in cash. The man was being held at the Manistee County Jail. He faces charges including breaking and entering with intent, a 10-year felony. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * ...

Watch out for Internet tax scams! My interview with the morning crew on WPOR in Portland, Maine

Yesterday afternoon, Chris, Phoebe and I drove to Danvers, Massachusetts for my next talk - three true crime authors on a panel at the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers . With me were Margaret Press and Mary-Ann Tirone Smith . I've done a panel with the both of them before for Sisters in Crime . I got there first, Chris and Phoebe stayed in the car. Mary-Ann came next and then Margaret made it with a minute to spare. . .literally. We had about 20-25 people show up. Then in the audience I spotted someone. My high school drill team buddy, Vicki! We hadn't seen each other in 34 years and discovered each other on Facebook recently. I was so excited!! Us authors did our thing, talked about how we got into true crime, answered a lot of great questions from the audience, then waited for book sales. Not one person bought a book from any of us. Mary-Ann was the most shocked, LOL. I just kind of shrugged it off. Hey, I got paid to talk, albeit $75, but every dollar counts these days.

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .How in the world did she have the drug agent's number? Woman accused of sending text about drugs to agent http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-od d/20100322/US.ODD.Wrong.Text/ A Mangum woman has been arrested for allegedly sending a text message about illegal drugs to a drug task force agent. A warrant was issued for the woman for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled drug with the intent to distribute. A Jackson County jailer said Wednesday the woman wasn't in custody. Authorities said District III Drug Task Force agent Chris Counts received a text message that said, "if you want a hit of this stuff before it is all gone, you better get over here." Counts sent a message asking for an address and determined that the suspect lived there. Officers said she thought she sent the message to a friend. Authorities said they found a gun and a powdery substance during a search of the residence. *...

If you're in/near Danvers, Mass, I'm speaking @ the public library @ 2 pm today w/ 2 other true crime authors: http://danverslibrary.org/

Chris and Phoebe decided to come on the ride to the Conway Public Library with me last night. According to SamSam (the voice on our TomTom), it was going to take over 2 hours. Hrm? That didn't sound right, as getting to North Conway takes about an hour and half or so and Conway is before that. We stopped at Wendy's for a quick dinner and ended up getting to the library at 635 pm, an hour and half ride. SamSam was wayway offoff. Chris stayed in the car w/Phoebe and I brought a few books in with me. I had asked the librarian, Janis, how the previous Sisters In Crime talks had gone with the other true crime authors. She said only a few people showed up to each, so I only brought in five books with me. Set up my table in front of two rows of five chairs each. Got some water, wandered around the room to look at photos a local photographer had taken, which were lovely. Check out Woodland Winds Photography . I sat down and began doodling on a piece of paper. A man walked in the room...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .I know what bridesmaid's dresses look like and she probably asked someone to steal it Bridesmaid's dress stolen hours before wedding http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100313/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_bridesmaid_s_dress_stole n Delaware state police said someone broke into a car and stole a bridesmaid's dress just hours before a wedding on Friday at a shopping center in Pike Creek. Police said the bride and one of her bridesmaids were in a salon getting ready for the wedding. When they got back to their car, they found that someone had stolen the pink dress the bridesmaid had planned to wear at the ceremony. A bag of accessories was also stolen. The vehicle was not damaged. Police believe the thieves overrode the car's self-locking mechanism. Police hoped to recover the dress in time for the ceremony. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * ...

FOXNews.com - Need a Stylist? New Web Site Offers Free Wardrobe Advice I'm quoted in the article as a cybercrime expert - enjoy!

Support a writer! 2nd edition of Net Crimes & Misdemeanors autographed by me PLUS the 3-CD Video Professor based on the book PLUS The Ghosts of Okinawa, also signed by me for just $20 - FREE shipping in the USA. Email me at netcrimes@netcrimes.net for more info.

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .But were they considered concealed weapons? Woman Charged for Squirting Breast Milk at Deputy http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588 369,00.html A Kentucky woman was charged with assault after she allegedly squirted breast milk into the face of a deputy, sparking online debate Sunday in the local media. Toni Tramel, 31, was arrested Thursday for public intoxication in Owensboro, WYMT-TV reported, but it is what she did next which has attracted headlines. As Tramel changed into an inmate uniform, she squirted a stream of breast milk[] into the face of the female deputy watching over her. A press release from the Daviess County, Kentucky, Detention Center, said that after the deputy decontaminated herself from the "bio-hazard", Tramel was charged with third degree assault. While the public drunkenness was merely a misdemeanor offense, the assault is a felony charge and a US$10,000 bond was set. Reports of the case have sparked debates...

Press Contacts: Jayne Hitchcock, President of WHOA whoa@haltabuse.org 815-550-5059 dee Andersson WHOA PR whoapr@haltabuse.org WHOA Press Release #2010-2 OLDEST ONLINE SAFETY ORGANIZATION DISCLOSES CURRENT CYBERSTALKING STATISTICS WHOA Shows How Online Trends Have Changed In the Past Ten Years March, 2010 - Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA) released their 2009 cyberstalking statistics today, as well as cumulative statistics for the past ten years, from 2000-2009. WHOA is the oldest and largest all-volunteer online safety organization that has been continuously helping adult victims of cyberstalking since 1997. WHOA is the only online organization to provide the most up-to-date cyberstalking statistics and cumulative trends. It is important to understand that WHOA statistics are not based on the total number of cases handled during the year. WHOA proprietary statistics represent complaints where victims actually completed questionnaires in their entirety. Criteria is distinguishe...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Stupid criminals Cops: Fla. thieves overheard after misdialing 911 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100224/ap_ on_fe_st/us_accidental911_call Police say two Florida teenagers are facing charges after 911 dispatchers heard them talking about breaking into cars when one teen's cell phone accidentally called 911 during a heist. Daytona Beach police say 19-year-old Stefanie Vargas and a 13-year-old boy are charged with burglary to a conveyance. Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt says dispatchers listened as the pair discussed what was worth taking while rummaging though a vehicle parked near a Daytona Beach nightclub early Sunday. Officers went to the area and spotted the boy inside a vehicle. A police report says the pair tried to flee in a sport utility vehicle driven by Vargas. The report says both admitted to the robbery. It's unclear how the number got dialed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WH...