TPD Blog

Improving Security Downtown: Security Officers, Tulsa Police Work Together

Downtown security boosted

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/31/2008

Kanbar Properties, which manages 2.1 million square feet of downtown Tulsa real estate, has met with Tulsa police this year to find ways they can work together to increase safety downtown.

One of the first suggestions by police was to increase lighting around the company's properties, said Clint Baranowski, vice president of Kanbar.

So the company, owned by San Francisco inventor and philanthropist Maurice Kanbar, has installed high-intensity lighting in alleys and dark spots around its buildings.

Most of Kanbar's properties are between Fourth and Sixth streets and Cheyenne to Cincinnati avenues, Baranowski said.

So far, new lights have been installed from Fifth to Sixth streets between Boston Avenue and Main Street and between Sixth and Sev enth streets between Main and Boulder Avenue, he said.

"I don't think we are complete yet, but we are definitely in the process of putting in some high intensity lighting in those areas so that they are not so dark to keep people from hiding and that sort of thing," Baranowski said.

Kanbar plans to install lighting around all of its properties.

Police and Kanbar have also discussed ways the private security officers can assist police. The security officers, who are contract workers from The Wackenhut Corporation, are posted inside their buildings, but frequently patrol outside the buildings to ensure they are secure.

"We do make some rounds checking doors, and if we see something suspicious we do report it to the Tulsa Police Department whether it is happening at our properties or whether it happens to be something on the streets," Baranowski said.

Uniform Division North Major Paul Williams said the department welcomes having security workers acting as "extra eyes and ears" downtown.

Baranowski said the company also has surveillance cameras on its buildings, and they will share video with police when needed.

The company has recently doubled its number of security officers, Baranowski said.

"We have always had a security presence at some of our properties, but what we heard our tenants asking for is just an increased presence and emphasis on that security," Baranowski said.

The company increased from about 10 security officers to about 20 by the end of January, Baranowski said. In addition to the contract workers from Wackenhut, Kanbar also has a few employees who work with the officers in a supervisory capacity.

Kanbar has a security presence on its properties 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Williams said the department looks forward to seeing what the collaboration brings. He said it is not unusual for the department to meet with businesses or other agencies to determine how they can work together.

In the fall, police met with representatives of Blue Cross Blue Shield to determine how its security guards could work with officers. Police also suggested measures to increase security at those buildings.

The relationship between Kanbar and the police, in coordination with Downtown Tulsa Unlimited, is still in its beginning stages, Williams and Baranowski said.

"We are still trying to get our feet on the ground. We are trying to make it work, and overall I think it will make a difference," Baranowski said.

Kanbar has also allowed Tulsa Fire Department and Tulsa police to use its buildings for training.

Nicole Marshall 581-8459
nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com

Source: Tulsa World

Bomb Sqaud Gets 'Realistic' Training Grounds

Tulsa Bomb Squad gets good training location
Reported by: Beth Burnett

Preparing for anything and hoping for the best.  The Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad says it can't get too much practice.

Tulsa Police officials say training for bombs is serious business and serious technology. One robot has 4 cameras with eyes watching everything that's going on.

The bomb squad uses light explosives to render safe IED's.  Those are improvised explosive devices, otherwise known as home made bombs.

Getting to that point is a long cautious process.

"We have a robot that we can utilize that we can keep from having to send an actual technician down onto an explosive device," Sgt. Jacob Thompson said.

The robot is controlled from a bomb squad RV and operated by many switches and cameras that help operators focus on suspicious devices.

The training exercise is close to a real situation. 10 bomb techs suit up in $50,000 100 pound bomb suits in the ideal environment.

"This apartment building is obviously the same type of apartments and structures that we are going to on real live calls,"  Thompson Said.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation acquired the apartments for the I-44 widening expansion project.  It cleared asbestos inspection and is set for demolition next week.

"Since we are stewards of the roadways we do have to rely on them (police) a lot for help, they rely on us as well so it's always good to have this friendship continuing,"  Said ODOT's Kenna Mitchell.

A friendly gesture for a life saving cause.  Tulsa bomb techs answer an average of 100 calls a year.

"Anytime at all that you feel like something is suspicious give us a call, we would rather run on a hundred calls that turn out to be nothing than not get called and someone end up getting hurt,"  Thompson Said.

The Tulsa Police Department Bomb Squad works as needed but they train twice a month.

The Tulsa Police Bomb Squad has two robots that cost around $175,000 each.

Source: KJRH

Burglary Suspect Arrested

Tulsa Police were called about a man under a car at the Golden Auto Sales lot at 11th and Joplin. Police officers say they've had a real problem with people stealing parts from cars, particularly catalytic converters. Tulsa Police's Burglary Task Force arrests a man they believe has been stealing parts from cars. 

It all started after midnight, when Tulsa Police were called about a man under a car at the Golden Auto Sales lot at 11th and Joplin. 

Tulsa Police had a good description of the suspect vehicle which was pulled over more than an hour later at 4th and Yale.  The unidentified driver was taken into custody.  Police officers found tools in the back seat, but no car parts. 

The Burglary Task Force was recently formed to put more police manpower to fight a growing burglary problem.

Man Arrested After Shooting

By Staff Reports
3/27/2008  10:29 AM

A Tulsa man was arrested early Thursday after a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

The shooting at the Cimarron Apartments, 13201 E 31st St., occurred about 1:30 a.m., according to an arrest report. A man and a woman were inside an apartment when someone outside fired into the unit several times, striking the man in the left foot. He was taken to Southcrest Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

Officers began to look for the woman’s ex-boyfriend after the victims told police he had been threatening them earlier in the evening. They located the suspect, Louis Saenz Hernandez, in the front yard of a house in the 1200 block of North Yale Avenue, along with a weapon that matched the caliber and brand of shell casings from the shooting, according to the arrest report.

The occupants of the house where Hernandez was found told police that earlier in the evening he came into the home uninvited, pointed a gun and began threatening them. He was looking for the man and woman later found at the apartment complex.

Hernandez, 37, was arrested on complaints of first-degree burglary, pointing a deadly weapon and two counts of possession of a firearm and shooting with the intent to kill, all after a felony conviction. He was booked into the Tulsa County Jail about 7:30 a.m., jail records show. His bond was set for $430,000.

Hernandez was previously convicted in Tulsa County on drug charges and resisting an officer.

Source: Tulsa World

Most Wanted: DeMario Lamarkus Adams

AKA Tweety
Birthdate: 10/26/1987
Height: 509
Weight 140 lbs.

Demario Adams is wanted for First Degree Murder/Shooting With Intent to Kill relating to the death of Juan Rodriguez. Rodriguez was shot to death in the parking lot of the Eden Wood Apartments near 2100 North Hartford on Friday night.

Anyone with information about the case should call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. If the tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a cash reward.

Police Continue Cori Baker Investigation

Remains are missing girl's

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/25/2008

Police seek more clues about teenager's death

The state Medical Examiner's Office in Tulsa confirmed Monday that remains found in a wooded, rocky area of Creek County belong to a missing 13-year-old Tulsa girl. Cori Baker has been presumed dead since she disappeared Nov. 9. Her sister's 19-year-old boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, has been charged with killing the girl after picking her up from school.

A skull and other remains were found Friday evening in the wooded terrain near the playing fields at Paintball Adventure Games Inc. The business is north of the Creek Turnpike near South 49th West Avenue. Police are investigating reports that Bullock had been to the paintball facility shortly before Cori's death.

Dental records were used to confirm that the remains were Cori's, Medical Examiner's Office spokesman Randy Saffell said. Cori's family members -- who have searched extensively for the girl -- were notified Monday that the remains were Cori's, Saffell said.

They did not return calls Monday. Tulsa police detectives, Creek County deputies and Medical Examiner's Office investigators searched for additional remains Monday.

Creek County Sheriff's Capt. Mike O'Keefe said more remains as well as clothing were found during the search. The remains were scattered over a wide area. Details about the clothing were not released, and investigators were trying to determine whether it was related to the case.

Large rocks jut from the hilly, wooded terrain, making the search difficult, Tulsa Police Sgt. Mike Huff said. O'Keefe said the search would resume Tuesday morning with about 80 to 100 law enforcement officers and others with search-and-rescue training. Authorities said it likely will be some time before Cori's cause of death can be determined.

Police say Bullock gave them conflicting statements, including saying that he and Cori went to the west bank of the Arkansas River, where Cori fell into the river and "disappeared under the water," a detective testified at Bullock's preliminary hearing last week.

Police have searched west of the Arkansas River for Cori several times. Now that she has been found, two recently developed leads remain "very relevant," Huff said.

Witnesses have told police that they saw Bullock fighting with Cori in his car near 71st Street and Riverside Parkway and later driving recklessly alone on eastbound Interstate 44 near Elwood Avenue.

Last week, before the remains were found, a judge found that sufficient evidence existed to hold Bullock for trial on a first-degree murder charge. His arraignment was scheduled for Monday, but it has been postponed a week.

Meanwhile, Huff said the investigation is continuing. "This has been one of the most unusual cases that we have worked on," he said, "and the investigation is far from over."

Source: Tulsa World

Tulsa Police Search for Remains

Area where bones found due search

By DEON HAMPTON World Staff Writer
3/24/2008

SAPULPA -- Creek County sheriff's deputies and Tulsa police will start a search Monday morning for additional portions of a body following the discovery of human remains Friday in Creek County, authorities said Sunday.

Creek County Sheriff's Capt. John Cooper said the search by about 10 deputies, Tulsa officers and search dogs would begin at 8 a.m.

Authorities said they would set up a command post.

Creek County deputies were called at 5:15 p.m. Friday to a wooded area behind Paintball Adventure Games Inc., where human remains had been found, authorities said.

The business is north of the Creek Turnpike near South 49th West Avenue.

Cooper said patrons found a jawbone and a piece of vertebrae after they went out of bounds during a game.

Some have speculated that the remains are of Cori Baker, 13, who has been missing since Nov. 9, when her older sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from Union Alternative School, 5959 S. 129th East Ave.

Cooper, however, said, "There haven't been any indications that lead us to believe that it is her."

Phone calls placed to Daniel Baker, Cori's father, were not immediately returned Sunday.
Creek County deputies were guarding the site Sunday, preventing visitors from entering the business.

Authorities said the state Medical Examiner's Office determined Saturday that the remains were human.

The remains belong to someone younger than 25, but the person's sex had not been determined, authorities said.

A Tulsa County judge ruled March 17 that Bullock must face trial on a charge of first-degree murder in Cori's disappearance.

Bullock, who turned 19 in January, was arrested late Nov. 12. He was booked on Nov. 13 into the Tulsa Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Deon Hampton 581-8413
deon.hampton@tulsaworld.com

Source: Tulsa World

Help Stop Motorcycle Thefts

During the last few weeks, the Tulsa Police Department detectives have seen an increase in motorcycle thefts.  And with warmer weather and more motorcycles about, unfortunately, motorcycle thefts are likely to increase.

Motorcycles are relatively easy to steal, the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is easy to alter, and motorcycle parts are easy to interchange.  There’s also a huge market for motorcycle parts on eBay and other internet auction sites. 

However, there are a few things you can do to keep your bike safe and help reduce motorcycle thefts:

• Keep your bike locked inside or in a secured area.  It may take a few seconds to roll it in, but doing so can greatly reduce the risk of theft.
• Keep your bike covered.  Oftentimes, thieves scout for particular makes and models, and a cover will help “disguise” your bike.
• Use fork or steering locks, a gas shut-off switch or other anti-theft devices--as a matter of habit.  A motorcycle can be stolen in just a few seconds, so get into the habit of using the anti-theft devices often, even for just a short stop at the convenience store.
• A heavy chain and lock may not keep aggressive thieves from taking your wheels, but it can deter them or delay them significantly.  A bike without a chain is a much easier target than one with two chains securing each wheel to a phone pole, concrete pillar, railing, or other fixed object.
• Be wary when buying a used motorcycle.  Most bikes have a seventeen-digit VIN stamped on either side of the headstock.  If the VIN does not look right, if you see grind marks, light stamping, or the numbers are misaligned, contact the police to investigate further.  It could be that the bike was stolen and the VIN has been altered to conceal the theft.
• If you’re not buying a used bike from a dealer, but a private seller, ask the seller for their driver license, name, address, date of birth, and other information.  Fake identities have become very common in dealing stolen motorcycles.
• If you come across that “one-of-a-kind” custom chrome part on an internet auction site, at a price that’s more like a “steal” than a bargain, chances are it could be stolen.  If it’s too good to be true, it likely is.  Consider the reputation, location, and visibility of the seller before you buy any parts online; otherwise, you could be supporting thieves and other less-reputable operations.

Remember, the harder you make it for theives to steal your bike, the less likely your bike will get stolen.  Ride safe!

Burglary Task Force Arrests 36, Serves 67 Warrants

Burglary task force touts its early success

By DAVID SCHULTE World Staff Writer
3/20/2008

A new burglary task force is taking guns off the streets and putting criminals in jail, the Tulsa Police Department announced Wednesday. The task force is an outgrowth of the department's Safe City Initiative, which was launched last fall to target repeat offenders and crime hot spots.

Police began the task force March 9 after noting an increase in burglaries in recent years, Police Chief Ron Palmer said at a press conference.

He noted that roughly 600 more burglaries were committed in Tulsa in 2007 than during the year before. Statistics previously released by the Police Department show that 6,843 burglaries were committed in 2007 -- a 10 percent increase from 2006.

Palmer said both residential and commercial burglaries have spiked. The task force consists of 24 officers from each of the Police Department's three uniform divisions.

Already, task force officers have made 36 arrests and seized 11 guns, according to information provided by the department. Eleven seized guns in less than two weeks is a high number for the department, Deputy Chief Dennis Larsen said.

Deputy Chief Mark McCrory noted that the number of arrests already is an indication that the task force is an effective crime-prevention tool.

"We want to scoop people (burglars) off the street as fast as we can," he said. "Our hope is to make their life miserable."

Police officials said the majority of daytime burglaries were committed at homes.A large number of home burglaries were committed by students who were truant from school, and police are working with school resource officers to prevent the crimes, Palmer said. Most nighttime burglaries were committed in commercial areas, police said.

Palmer credited the public for calling the Police Department and 911 when they suspect that a crime is in progress. He encouraged residents to continue to do so. Larsen said that "one of the main purposes of the task force was to use our resources to reduce burglaries and to improve the quality of life in Tulsa."

The department plans to evaluate the task force's effectiveness as a burglary-prevention measure every 30 days, he added.

David Schulte 581-8367
david.schulte@tulsaworld.com

Since the burglary task force’s inception March 9:

36 arrests made
11 guns seized
67 warrants served

Source: Tulsa World

Jimmy Hendrix Wanted for Homicide

Police searching for man charged in fatal shooting

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/19/2008

Police are searching for a man who was charged Tuesday with a fatal shooting last week at an apartment complex. Jimmy Hendrix, 28, was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jerrod Young, 26, court records show.

Hendrix was last seen in the Okmulgee area in an older-model red sports car. The car was loaded with blue plastic storage bins, and its back hatch was tied down. Hendrix is believed to be with Derek Long, 20, who is being sought as a "person of interest" in the case, Officer Jason Willingham said.

Young was shot about 11:10 p.m. March 11 at the Brandy wine Apartments, 4019 S. 130th East Ave. Young's girlfriend told police that he had gone outside with three men and a woman who were at the apartment. She then heard at least one shot.

Young was shot in the leg and abdomen and was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital about 12:20 a.m. March 12. Police said the four people apparently were acquaintances of Young's, but a motive has not been released.

Detectives said last week that they were searching for two people -- Jeff Lee Smith and Ashley Kauffman
-- who were believed to have been at the apartment at the time of the shooting.

Smith and Kauffman surrendered and have been interviewed in connection with the shooting, Willingham said. Smith was arrested on an unrelated warrant, and Kauffman was released pending further investigation, he said.

Hendrix is described as American Indian, 5 feet 4 inches tall and 130 pounds, according to court records. Police released photographs of both men, but no description was provided for Long.

Anyone with information about Hendrix's or Long's whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Callers can be anonymous, and the Crime Commission offers rewards for information that leads to arrests.

Source: Tulsa World

Free Booster Seat Giveaway & Car Seat Check-Up

The Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa Black Officers Coalition Inc., and SAFE KIDS Worldwide of Tulsa will conduct the 8th annual Car Seat Check Up and Booster Seat Giveaway on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at Lacy Park Community Center, 2134 North Madison Place. This Child Passenger Safety event is scheduled from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon.

The Tulsa Black Officers Coalition will also hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt at 12:00 Noon following the check up.

We have a limited number of FREE Booster Seats to give to qualified families with children ages 4-8. Families needing a Booster Seat must bring their car and the children must be present to be fitted into the Booster Seats.

Results from previous car seat safety checks have shown that at least four out of five child safety seats are not installed correctly.

Families are encouraged to bring their children for the Car Seat Check Up and the Easter Egg Hunt. Children will receive refreshments, prizes, and a visit with Vince & Larry, the crash test dummies and a guest appearance from the Easter Bunny.

Driver Crashes Into Police Car

Driver Hits Police Car Responding To Call

Four people were taken to the hospital after their car hit a Tulsa Police Officer's car as he responded to a call. The accident happened just after midnight on Tuesday.

The officer was headed south on 129th East Avenue, with his emergency lights on, when an 18-year-old driver heading west on 31st, hit the patrol car.

All four people in the teenager's car had to be taken to the hospital. The officer was not hurt.

Officers say the 18-year-old driver only had a learner's permit.
© Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV.

Source: NewsOn6

Murder Suspect Faces Trial

Marquis Bullock Ordered To Trial

The prime suspect in the disappearance of a 13-year-old Union student will go to trial.  A judge ruled on Monday that there is enough evidence to try Marquis Bullock for the murder of Cori Baker.  The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports the defense tried to have testimony excluded and even the murder charge itself thrown out altogether.  But, a judge ruled 18-year-old Marquis Bullock will go to trial.

Cori Baker's family and friends were very visible in the Tulsa County Courthouse.  They were all wearing pink and gray T-shirts with the message:  "Justice for Cori."

"We're here representing Cori because she can't be. She's the one that should have been in there testifying," said Danny Baker, Cori's father.

Cori Baker disappeared last November.  Her sister's boyfriend Marquis Bullock is accused of killing the 13 year old.

Both of Cori's sisters, including the one Bullock shares a child with, took the stand against him.  The middle Baker girl testified that Bullock drilled a peep hole into her room and spied on her.  Courtney Baker, the oldest sister and Bullock's girlfriend, says he told her to lie to the police for him.

"Bringing back the memories. It will haunt me for life. It will never go away," said Courtney Baker.

A Tulsa Police detective told the judge at first Bullock adamantly denied picking Cori up from Union Alternative School.  The detective testified Bullock told him "I would never look at Cori that way. She is my girlfriend's sister and she's only 13."

Over four days, the detective says Bullock gave them four different versions of what happened the day Cori disappeared.  He says in one version, Bullock claimed he and Cori were at the Arkansas River horsing around and Cori fell in and drowned.

After about five hours of testimony and a dozen witnesses, the judge decided there was enough evidence for Bullock to face trial for first degree murder.

"I definitely feel relieved.  I've been holding my breath all day. Because I was a witness, I wasn't in there for any of this. So, we didn't know what was going on or what was being said. But, I'm definitely relieved that he's going to stay in custody," said Danny Baker, Cori's father.

Bullock's attorney tried to argue that without a body and a cause of death, there's no murder.  But, the judge denied that argument.  The defense also claimed Bullock's statements to police were coerced.  That was also overruled, but those arguments are sure to come up again during trial.

© Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved.

Source: NewsOn6

Report a Crime—ONLINE!

The Tulsa Police Department web site lets you report a crime online. It’s easy and fast—and can help keep officers available to respond to critical emergencies.

Of course, if you have an emergency, you should dial 9-1-1.  But if you just need to file a report, the online forms are available 24 hours a day.

REPORTS
You can complete reports for misdemeanor crimes such as:

• Larceny (e.g., someone took money or property from you or your business)
• Malicious Mischief/Vandalism (e.g., a broken window)
• Harassing/Threatening/Obscene Phone Calls
• Most other City of Tulsa misdemeanor offenses—without evidence or a known suspect present.

Once you complete the form, your report will be processed and a police report number will be e-mailed to you.  Once you receive the e-mail, your report will be filed and forwarded to an investigator. Learn more about online reports.

CRIME TIPS
You can also provide the Tulsa Police with tips and any other information you may have about a crime online using the online tip form.

If you want to speak with someone about your police tip, please call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. Whether you use the online form or call, If your tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a cash reward.

Brothers Arrested After School Burglary

Two Brothers Break Into School

Two brothers were arrested on Monday after breaking into a school. It happened about 2:30 a.m. at Mitchell School located in the 700 block of N 73rd E Ave. Officers were responding to an alarm. Upon arrival they saw two young males running from the scene.

Some electronic equipment was recovered off of the school property. About a block away, officers arrested a 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old male.

All the property has been recovered. Officers say the brothers broke into a mobile classroom through the window.

© Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved.

Source: NewsOn6

TPD Welcomes T-Town Trolleys

Blake Promotions LLC began operating trolleys that loop to nightspots in downtown Tulsa, Brookside, and the 18th & Boston areas.  The "T-Town Trolley" will run Thursday through Saturday nights.  The trolley rides are free to nightspot patrons.

Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham said that the department "welcomes the trolleys," especially as a way to help reduce drinking and driving, and avoid tragedy.  "Anything that can reduce the number of drunk drivers on the streets is a good idea," Willingham said.

However, Officer Willingham offered a good reminder. "People still need to drink responsibly.  If they drink too much and act in a way they don't normally act, they could end up in a bad situation and face charges for public intoxication."

It seems like a great idea to hop on a trolley and bar hop around Tulsa, but trolley/bar hoppers are reminded to call a taxi at the end of the night if they aren't sober enough to drive.

The free trolleys can help keep people safe while having a good time and will hopefully encourage more people to visit the downtown, Brookside, and 18th & Boston areas.

Ex-TPD Officer Pleads Guilty

Ex-TPD officer pleads guilty to stealing and selling police guns.

By DAVID HARPER World Staff Writer
3/14/2008

A former Tulsa police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing guns and ammunition from the department and selling them on the Internet.

Buddy Visser, 47, entered the plea to the charges of possession and sale of stolen firearms and mail fraud, which were filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office March 5.

He said his criminal conduct involved between eight and 24 firearms.

U.S. District Judge Terence Kern will sentence Visser -- who is free on bond -- on June 10. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Raley estimated that federal guidelines will suggest a prison sentence from two years to three years, five months.

Raley told the court that Visser "deprived the taxpayers and the city of Tulsa of the honest services he had taken an oath to maintain" when he committed the crimes during the first 11 months of 2007.

Visser resigned from the force March 6 after a 17-year career.

Chief Ron Palmer said that same day that "the resignation was accepted with no regret."

During Thursday's plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Paul Cleary, Visser did not try to justify his crimes, but he told the court that he has been treated for manic- depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and is taking medication.

Visser admitted in his plea agreement that from January 2007 through late November he stole weapons and ammunition from the Tulsa Police Department's firing range, where he was an instructor. 

Visser said he asked for prices so low that purchasers typically would buy quickly.

Visser had been suspended in December after the Tulsa Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began investigating theft allegations.

His plea agreement indicates that Visser will be expected to pay restitution to the city for any unrecovered firearms and to the purchasers of guns that are located.

Raley said he does not an ticipate that anyone else will be charged with stealing guns from the Police Department and selling them. However, he would not comment about whether any further inquiries related to the Visser investigation are under way.

Palmer has said the department is now considering adding cameras and new auditing measures to ensure the security of weapons at the range.

David Harper 581-8359
david.harper@tulsaworld.com

Police Search River for Cori Baker

Officials search river anew for missing girl Cori Baker

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
3/14/2008

Authorities took advantage of low water levels in the Arkansas River on Thursday to search for a Tulsa teenager who has been missing since November.

Police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters searched in the riverbed and areas near the river between the 4500 block and 6000 block of Riverside Drive, hoping to find the body of Cori Baker or clues about her disappearance.

Cori, 13, has been missing since Nov. 9, when police say her older sister's boyfriend, Marquis Bullock, picked her up from Union Alternative School. Bullock was arrested and has been charged with Cori's murder.

Law enforcement officers, firefighters, relatives, volunteers and a self-proclaimed psychic have all searched ex tensively for Cori but have turned up very little. Searchers have scoured the river for clues before, but the low water levels Thursday provided another opportunity to search. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had shut off the water upstream for repairs at the Keystone Dam.

About 50 law enforcement officers and firefighters searched between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the riverbed, the bank and nearby hills and wooded areas, said Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham.

They found some clothing, but it doesn't appear to match what Cori was wearing the day she disappeared, he said.

Searchers also found bones in the area, but the Medical Examiner's Office determined that they were deer bones, Willingham said.

Barring a tip or new evidence, police won't continue to search the area Friday, he said. "We feel we've adequately searched this section of the river," Willingham said, adding that police are hopeful that more tips will come in.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Homicide: Persons of Interest

Tulsa Police Homicide Detectives are requesting assistance in locating two individuals who are persons of interest in the homicide of Jonathon "Jerrod" Young. This homicide occurred on March 11, 2008 at the Brandywine Apartments, located at 4019 S. 130th E. Avenue.

Jeff Lee Smith Jr.
DOB: 10-28-82
5'08"/150 lbs.
Brown Hair
Hazel Eyes

Ashley Ranee Kauffman
DOB: 6-5-86
5'01"/125 lbs.
Blond Hair
Green Eyes

If you have any information that can help, please call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. If the tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a cash reward.

"Toodles" Takes A Ride...

Almost 68 years ago, a dog named “Toodles” took his place in Tulsa police history.

Toodles was the first canine to ride in the new TPD “Paddy Wagon.” The patrol wagon, known as “Number 88,” came stylishly outfitted with bomb racks, a two-way radio, and a 100-horsepower engine. For the era, it was one of the most completely equipped pieces of police mobile equipment in Oklahoma.

Toodles was accompanying his master, and mistress of the night, near Main and Archer Streets. She was arrested for drunkenness.

Thus, Toodles was actually one of the first to experience the “plush” leather cushions in the back of the wagon, which seated 12—but had a “jamming capacity of 30.”

Read more
http://www.tulsapolice.org/history/youngdocs/paddywagon.html

Source: The Tulsa Tribune, July 22, 1940.

St. Patrick’s Day DUI Enforcement

Saint Patrick’s Day is traditionally a holiday with a focus on drinking green beer. The drinking part of this holiday frequently contributes to an increase in DUI related traffic crashes and arrests. Law enforcement officers recognize this recurring problem and are dedicated to preventing alcohol related traffic collisions.

Last year, during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, the Tulsa Police Department made 23 DUI related arrests during the three day weekend surrounding March 17th.

This year the Tulsa Police Department will be stepping up patrols and conducting increased Saturation Patrols and Directed Patrols around those areas that are frequented by party goers. This is to help reduce traffic collisions and arrest impaired drivers that threaten other drivers and their passengers.

Thanks to a DUI Enforcement Grant from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OSHO), the Tulsa Police Department and other agencies will be able to use overtime to provide these additional officers to identify and remove intoxicated drivers from the roadways.

Man Arrested for Shooting Neighbor

Man in serious condition after shooting; Neighbor arrested

By Staff Reports

A feud between neighbors escalated early Wednesday, ending with one man shot in the abdomen and another man in the Tulsa Jail. Police were dispatched to investigate a report of shots fired at a house in the 7800 block of East King Street about 12:40 a.m., Officer Jason Willingham said.

When they arrived they found a man lying in the front yard. EMSA ambulance medics transported the 33-year-old man to St. John Medical Center in serious condition.

Willingham said that reports indicate that the victim had been feuding with man who lives nearby for more than a week.

Police arrested Elijah Flanagan, 55, on complaints of shooting with intent to kill and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, jail records show.

Copyright Tulsa World 2008. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication.

MOST WANTED: Kaysha Dawn Hess

Brithdate: 09/18/1978
Height: 5'07"
Weight: 175
Address: 5905 South 110th East Avenue

Hess has multiple felony warrants including: DUI, Grand Larceny, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and others.

Hess' total bond amount is $1,401,069.40
[yes, $1.4 million dollars].

If you have any information that can help, please call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. If the tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a cash reward.

Man Shot, Killed at Apartment Complex

Man shot, killed at Tulsa apartment complex

By KELLY HINES World Staff Writer
3/12/2008  6:32 AM
Last Modified: 3/12/2008  6:55 AM

Police are investigating a shooting at a Tulsa apartment complex late Tuesday that left one man dead.

Officers responded to a shots-fired call just after 11 p.m. at the Brandywine Apartments, 4019 S. 130th E. Ave., to find a man with two gunshot wounds lying on the sidewalk outside his apartment, Cpl. Randy Solomon of Tulsa Police said.

The victim, a 26-year-old white man, had been shot in the lower leg and abdomen. He was taken to the hospital, where he died during surgery, Solomon said. His name has not been released.

The man's girlfriend told police that she woke up to hear several people in the couple's living room. She told them to leave the apartment, and the group, including her boyfriend, went outside. A woman came back inside the apartment a few minutes later, and the two women were involved in an argument when they heard shots fired.

A man carrying a gun came back inside and told the other woman the group needed to leave. The three men and one woman left in a white 1990s Ford Crown Victoria or Chevy Caprice in an unknown direction of travel.

The man thought to be the shooter was described as a white man in his mid-20s, wearing a red baseball cap and jeans. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

The homicide is Tulsa's fourth this year and the second shooting at the Brandywine Apartments in the past week. Last Tuesday, a man was shot in the parking lot in what appeared to be an armed robbery attempt.

He and another man were working on a car when a gunman walked up and told them not to move. The gunman then shot one of the men in the face and ran away.
By KELLY HINES World Staff Writer

Again, if you have any information regarding the shooting, please call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Killer Talks About His Victim

A Killer's Words About His Victim

A killer's confession is released after his sentencing. Investigators released a DVD that shows Kevin Underwood confessing to the murder of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin.

Underwood says Jamie became his victim because she was trusting and easy to lure into his apartment. He says he didn't care if his victim was a boy or girl, but chose a child because they would put up less of a fight and be easier to get rid of afterwards.

Editorial
We regret this unfortunate reminder about telling your child to "never talk to strangers."  Of course, there's more to it than that, and neighborhood crime and other community groups can also help.

If you would like more information, or to have Tulsa Police officers visit your school or neighborhood group, don't hesitate to contact us.

The Tulsa Police Department offers several educational programs.

Also consider these child-safety tips:

• The most important key to child safety is effective communication with your child.

• We maybe sending a confusing message to our children by teaching them Stranger Danger. Children may not understand the term STRANGER.
  
  
• Most children will describe a stranger as someone who is ugly or mean. They don't perceive "nice-looking" or friendly people as strangers.
   
• Experience has shown us that most children are actually taken by someone they are familiar  with. If someone talks to a child or is even around them once, that person loses their stranger status.

• A clear, calm, and reassuring message about situations and actions to lookout for is easier for a child to understand than a particular profile or image of a stranger.
  
  
• Speak openly with about safety issues with your child.  Children will be less likely to come to you if the issue is enshrouded in secrecy.
  
  
• Children can be raised to be polite and friendly, but they need to know that it is okay to say "NO!" even to an adult.
  
  
• Parents and guardians should explain to children that the child’s personal safety is more important than being polite.
  
  
• Kids need to be empowered with positive messages and safety skills that will build their self-esteem and self-confidence while helping to keep them safe.

• If your child does share a situation with you, strive to remain calm, non-critical, and non-judgmental.

• Call police immediately if your child has been a victim.

Read more about child safety tips

Source:

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=8000059

Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved.

Hearing for Cori Baker Suspect

The preliminary hearing of Marquis Bullock, regarding the first degree murder of Cori Baker, is scheduled for March 17, 2008 at 0900 hours (9 AM) at the Tulsa County District Court, 500 South Denver Avenue, Tulsa.

As previously reported, Bullock is the suspect in the homicide of 13-year-old Cori Baker.  Bullock was the boyfriend of Cori's older sister. Bullock reportedly picked up Cori from Union Alternative School, 5656 S. 129th East Ave., about 2:10 p.m. on November 9, 2007.

Also reported, a man who read a newspaper article recently notified Tulsa police that he had seen Cori with Bullock about 4:20 p.m. on the day she disappeared. The man told police that he saw the two at the intersection of 71st Street and Riverside Parkway in the red car that Bullock was driving. They were scuffling, and it caused Bullock to run a red light and nearly collide with the man's vehicle.  The witness said he last saw the red car going north on Riverside near 68th Street. He positively identified Bullock and Cori.

If you have any information about the case, please contact Crime Stoppers @ 596-COPS.

Public information about the Marquis Bullock case is available:
http://www.oscn.net/applications/ocisweb/GetCaseInformation.asp?submitted=true&viewtype=caseGeneral&casemasterID=2052972&db=Tulsa

Related Stories:
http://tpdblog.typepad.com/tpdblog/2008/02/latest-developm.html

http://tpdblog.typepad.com/tpdblog/2008/02/lead-developed.html

Gang Unit Chases, Arrests Man with Gun

Gang Unit Arrests Man with Gun

All four people in the car were being questioned by the Tulsa Police gang unit. Four people are taken in for questioning after an overnight traffic stop.

Tulsa Police officers were called out around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a suspicious car in a neighborhood near Pine and Sheridan. Police stopped the vehicle and four young males were in it.

Police say one passenger ran off with a gun and tried to get rid of it. The suspect was caught and the gun recovered. He was arrested.

A juvenile in the car was also taken into custody. All four people in the car were being questioned by the Tulsa Police gang unit.

Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV. All Rights Reserved. Formatting different from original.

Source:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=7996520&nav=menu682_2

Officer Ron Jordan Resigns

Tulsa Police Officer Ron Jordan submitted his letter of resignation today to Chief of Police Palmer. 

Officer Jordan was involved in an accident on September 3, 2007, while off duty and driving a Tulsa Police Department patrol unit. The accident occurred in Glenpool, Oklahoma.

On September 4, 2007, The Tulsa Police Department’s Office of Integrity and Compliance initiated an investigation into the actions of Officer Jordan.  The investigation determined that Officer Jordan had violated the following Department Rules & Regulations:

Rule #2 - Duty to know and obey department rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Rule #3 - Duty to know, enforce and obey laws and ordinances.

Rule #8 - Conduct unbecoming an officer or police employee.

Rule #11 - Use of Department vehicles.

Officer Jordan was schedule for a pre-termination hearing on March 10, 2008. Jordan submitted his letter of resignation prior to that hearing.  Officer Jordan is not eligible for rehire.

Police Officer Involved In Overnight Accident

Tulsa Police say the officer missed a curve by the Adult Detention Center in the 2400 block of West Charles Page Blvd. The accident happened around 2:30 a.m. Monday as the Tulsa Police officer was responding to a 911 call.

Police say the patrol car was totaled, but the officer is going to be okay. A Tulsa police officer is shaken-up after a traffic accident overnight.  It happened around 2:30 a.m. Monday as the police officer was responding to a 911 call. Tulsa Police say they got a call that two men were fighting in the street and were told one may have a gun. 

Several police officers were rushing to the scene, including one officer which crashed his vehicle in the 2400 block of West Charles Page Blvd.  Police say the officer missed a curve by the Adult Detention Center.  The officer's vehicle went through a fence and then clipped a car.  The vehicle then hit a pickup truck, which forced the pickup into several nearby vehicles. 

Police say the patrol car was totaled, but the officer is going to be okay. Meanwhile, at the scene of the incident officers were responding to, Tulsa Police were not able to find a gun, but arrested both men.

Man Shot Over $50

Tulsa Police are looking for a suspect who shot another man Sunday evening. It happened at a home in the 3100 block of East 51st Street North. Officers say they've talked with the victim and witnesses in the area.

Police say two men apparently had a dispute over $50.  The suspect pulled a gun and fired several shots, striking the victim in the lower chest.  The 30-year-old victim was taken to a nearby convenience store, where emergency personnel were called.  The victim was transported to a Tulsa hospital and is listed in serious condition.

Police say the suspect fled the shooting scene in a vehicle described as either a Cadillac or Lincoln Continental.  The suspect was described as a male, 18 years of age,  5'09" and 130lbs.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.

Officers Lauded for Service, Bravery

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
3/8/2008

The Tulsa Police Department and the Crime Commission bestow the Tulsa's Heroes 2007 Awards. More than 90 officers were honored by the Tulsa Police Department and the Crime Commission at the Tulsa's Heroes 2007 Awards ceremony Friday night.

Awards included the Department Commendation Award for outstanding acts of achievement that bring credit to the city or department; the Lifesaving Award for sustaining or saving a life; the Chief's Award for outstanding accomplishment that resulted in improved administration, operations or savings in manpower or operational costs; the Pur ple Heart for TPD officers killed or injured in the line of duty; and the Medal of Valor for an act of outstanding bravery or heroism.

Officer Leland Ashley, spokesman for the department and a recipient of the 2007 Chief's Award, said, "It's an opportunity for the Police Department to honor our own. "All of these officers would be glad to do the job without getting awards," he said, but "I think it's great the department shows appreciation for the jobs they are doing day to day."

Each award recipient has a unique story, and unique circumstances surround each award.

One Purple Heart Award recipient, Officer Scott Osborn, had stopped a suspected drunken driver in the 3300 block of South 101st East Avenue on Nov. 12, 2006. As Osborn approached the vehicle, the driver, Everardo Valencia, was waiting to ambush him with a pistol, police said.

When Osborn was just behind the car's door, the driver held the pistol across his body and shot six times toward Osborn, striking him once in the chest, police said.

A protective plate that the officer wore with his bullet-proof vest stopped the bullet, but the impact injured him, police said. A second bullet hit his jacket, taking the teeth off its zipper. The driver fled but was captured a short distance away, police said. Valencia was sentenced in January to life in prison for the shooting.

Another Purple Heart Award recipient, Officer Wyatt Beaty, and another officer were on foot patrol Dec. 14, 2006, in the area of 2400 E. Fifth Place, an area police say has frequent drug activity and crime. A foot pursuit began when they encountered someone who ran from them, police said. Beaty was able to catch the fleeing man, who spun and hit the officer in the face. Beaty fell headfirst onto a concrete sidewalk and sustained a 4-inch cut to the top of his head. Despite the injury, Beaty was able to get up and help the other officer subdue the man.

On July 10, Officer Richard Davis, a Purple Heart Award recipient, and Officer Carolyn Ash, the Medal of Valor Award recipient, responded to a call of shots being fired in the 1400 block of East First Street. The two officers found a man in the area, but he tried to ride away on a motorcycle and was stopped by Ash, police said. The man then tried to walk away on foot, but both officers grabbed him, and a fight ensued.

Davis was knocked unconscious when he was hit by a roundhouse punch from the man, and Ash was thrown to the ground, police said. She was getting up when the man said he would kill her and then kneed her in the face and hit her several times. He fled after she was able to unsnap her gun from its holster, police said. Ash was later able to provide information that led to the man's capture, police said. Capt. Eric Dalgleish wrote in his nomination of Ash for the award, "I believe Officer Ash showed bravery in the face of danger and believe her actions may have saved her and Officer Davis' lives."

Clifton Adcock 581-8367
clifton.adcock@tulsaworld.com

Fortune Cookies Help Nab Suspect

Fortune Cookies Help Cops Nab Suspect
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Two fortune cookies helped Tulsa police make an arrest after a pair of break-ins Chinese restaurants. Terrence Middleton, 30, was booked Friday on charges of second-degree burglary and attempted second-degree burglary after police responded to a burglar alarm to find him with more than $20 in coins and the cookies in his pockets, Officer Leland Ashley said.

Middleton was being held on $15,000 bond.

Ashley said police were able to link Middleton to the Asian Express that was robbed because he had possession of the same type of fortune cookies that were at the restaurant.

The alarm went off at the Asian Express about 14 minutes after one sounded at the Chinese Chef Restaurant down the street Thursday night, Ashley said.

When officers arrived, both restaurants had their front doors broken. At the second restaurant, the cash register had been pulled open.

Minutes later, officers stopped Middleton, who was walking down the street, and he dropped various coins and a prison identification card, Ashley said.

Ashley said it appeared there was nothing stolen from the first restaurant, and all that was missing from the second restaurant was $20 in change — and the fortune cookies.

Man Stabbed During Fight

Man stabbed in arm during fight

By Tulsa World Staff Reports

A man was stabbed in the arm early Thursday during a fight at a Tulsa apartment complex.

The 21-year-old victim was in his residence at the Springs Apartments, 6103 S. 86th E. Ave., about 3:30 a.m., when the incident occurred. A woman who had been in his apartment earlier in the evening returned, accompanied by two men, to retrieve a purse she thought she left behind.

When the victim told the woman her purse was not there, the two men rushed into the apartment and a fight ensued. During the fight, the victim received a stab wound to his right bicep.

He was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The stabber, who goes by the name "Primetime," is described as a black man in his early 20s, about 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds.

Anyone with information on the stabbing is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

TPD Detectives Make Quick Arrest

SUSPECT: Johnny Lee Rogers II, jailed on a first-degree burglary complaint and two complaints of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

By NICOLE MARSHALL World Staff Writer
3/6/2008

The suspect is the ex-boyfriend of a woman whose new boyfriend is the victim. A man was hospitalized with life-threatening head injuries after he was beaten early Wednesday.

Within 12 hours, detectives arrested Johnny Lee Rogers II, 24, in connection with the attack on William Goldesberry, 26. Rogers is the ex-boyfriend of a woman who is now dating Goldesberry, police said.

Goldesberry is hospitalized in critical condition, Detective Vic Regalado said. He was attacked about 2:20 a.m. at a home in the 1500 block of North Kingston Avenue, Officer Jason Willingham said. He had severe head injuries, and the woman had a cut on her arm.

"Both of the victims were attacked while they were in bed sleeping," Regalado said. The woman told police that someone had broken into her home and beaten up her boyfriend.

Detectives developed information that pointed to Rogers as a suspect in the attack. Police determined that he was in an apartment in a complex in the 7800 block of East 41st Street. Homicide detectives, patrol officers and members of the Northern Oklahoma Fugitive Task Force began watching the residence about 1:30 p.m., and Rogers was taken into custody after he walked out of the apartment.

He was jailed on a first-degree burglary complaint and two complaints of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

Regalado said police are not searching for anyone else in connection with the assault. However, anyone else who has information about what happened is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Officer Allegedly Stole, Sold Police Guns

Charges say officer stole, sold police range firearms

By CLIFTON ADCOCK World Staff Writer
3/6/2008

Federal charges filed Wednesday accuse a Tulsa police officer of stealing Tulsa Police Department guns and selling them on the Internet.

Officer Buddy Visser, an instructor at the department's firing range, was charged with possessing and selling stolen firearms and ammunition and with fraud.

Visser, a Tulsa police officer for 17 years, had been suspended with pay in early December as the department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the allegations, the nature of which was not disclosed then.

With the filing of the charges, Visser's suspension became without pay pending adjudication of the case, Police Chief Ron Palmer said at a press conference Wednesday.

"We're not happy with what these are about and certainly disappointed in Officer Visser's actions. What we thought was not true has been shown to be absolutely true," Palmer said.

"We're glad we got to the bottom of it, but it's a sad day to learn an officer stooped this low."

Visser's attorney, Scott Wood, said in a statement late Wednesday, "Buddy Visser has had a long and distinguished career with the Tulsa Police Department, including being the recipient of the Medal of Valor, but has, unfortunately, been suffering from severe depression for quite some time, which led to his aberrant behavior.

"He has, and will continue to accept full responsibility for his conduct, and hopefully he will get the help he needs."

Visser received the Police Department's Medal of Valor in 1993 in connection with the shooting of an auto-theft suspect who fired at police.

Palmer said the charges accuse Visser of stealing eight guns from the vault at the firing range, at 6066 E. 66th St. North, between November 2007 and January 2008 and offering them for sale at less than market value on his auction site.

None of the buyers knew that the guns, worth about $450 each, were stolen, Palmer said.

After shipping the weapons to buyers across the country via UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, Visser would deposit money orders he received as payment for the guns into his checking account at the Fra ternal Order of Police Credit Union in Tulsa, the charges allege.

Palmer said the eight guns -- which include three Glock .40-caliber semiautomatic pistols and a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver -- could be signed out for use by officers at the firing range.

The Police Department has put some procedures and security measures into effect to ensure that guns are not stolen from the range again, Palmer said.

Tulsa police began investigating the matter in late November, but when investigators learned that Visser might have been shipping the guns across state lines, they called in federal investigators, he said.

"In my memory, we never had to fire anybody for stealing city property and reselling it for a profit," said Palmer, who was Tulsa's police chief for 10 years before retiring six years ago and then returning to the department last year.

"The other officers share my disappointment for a fellow officer doing this," he said.

Visser and his wife, Lori Visser, who is a Tulsa police officer in Uniform Division Southwest, were both fired by Palmer in 2000 on allegations that they used excessive force when they pointed their guns at a woman and her children during an off-duty traffic stop.

The Vissers said they conducted the armed traffic stop because a felony was committed when someone threw something at them from the family's car.

An arbitrator found no evidence of excessive force and reinstated them with back pay the next year.

Palmer had said an investigation found that the Vissers had violated seven departmental rules and regulations and policies and procedures.

The family sued the Vissers and the city, and a federal jury ordered each of the Vissers in 2002 to pay $150,000 in punitive damages. The jury absolved the city of any financial responsibility.

"The first firing and what we're presently dealing with are dissimilar situations," Palmer said. "One was a use-of-force issue; the other theft."

Lori Visser was not named in the federal charges, and Palmer said no one else is expected to be charged in the case.

The U.S. Attorney's Office will present the allegations against Buddy Visser to a grand jury, which will decide whether to indict him.

Clifton Adcock 581-8367
clifton.adcock@tulsaworld.com

Copyright Tulsa World 2008. All rights reserved. Format differs from original publication

Traffic Laws in Tulsa & Oklahoma

Figuring out traffic laws in the City of Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma can seem a little confusing.

So, if you want to better understand why you got a ticket, or know if your neighbor’s car is parked illegally, here are some resources that you can use…

For City of Tulsa Municipal Traffic laws, the ones most commonly cited on City of Tulsa traffic or parking tickets, consult the City of Tulsa Municipal Traffic Ordinances.

If you received a ticket from an Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer, or want to know more about traffic and motor vehicle laws throughout the state, consult the Oklahoma Statutes about motor vehicles.

Knowing traffic laws can save you the hassles of a traffic ticket—but could also save your life. 
Drive safe!

MOST WANTED: Jerri Lynn Goff

Birthdate: 07/12/1979
Height: 5'03" Weight: 130 pounds
Address: 11006 East 15 Place

Goff is currently wanted on several outstanding warrants including a felony warrant for false prescriptions and misdemeanor warrants for bogus checks--a total bond of $94,500.

If you have any information that can help, please call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. If the tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a cash reward.

Suspect Shot During Robbery Attempt

Teen shot during alleged robbery attempt

By Tulsa World Staff Reports
3/5/2008

A 15-year-old boy was in serious condition Tuesday night after being shot while allegedly trying to rob a restaurant, and a man was shot in the face earlier Tuesday in what a detective said could have been a parking-lot robbery attempt.

After the teenager was shot about 8:20 p.m. at Ralph's Fish & Burger, 1801 N. Lewis Ave., a second would-be robber fled, police said.

The restaurant's owner told police that he had shot someone who was trying to rob him, Sgt. Virgil Litterell said.

The youth reportedly had a gunshot wound to the lower back. EMSA spokeswoman Tina Wells said he was taken to St. John Medical Center.

The restaurant had just closed and an employee had stepped out the front door when two armed juveniles confronted him, Litterell said. While one pushed the employee to the ground, the other entered the restaurant, he said.

When the owner saw the armed youth enter, he drew a gun and fired twice, hitting the teen once, "before he could be fired upon," Litterell said.

The other youth ran west across Lewis, dropping his gun in the street, Litterell said.

Police used a helicopter and dogs in their search for the teen who fled. He was described as black, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slender build and dark clothes.

Earlier shooting: Earlier in the day, a gunshot victim was taken to a hospital from the Brandywine Apartments, 4020 S. 130th East Ave., in serious condition, authorities said.

He and another man were working on a car when a gunman walked up and told them not to move, Cpl. K.D. Williams said. The gunman then shot one of the men in the face and ran north and then west through the complex.

The shooter was described as black, in his early 20s, and about 5 feet 7 inches tall. He was wearing black and had his face covered.

The shooting appeared to be an armed robbery attempt, Sgt. Dave Walker said.

Unrelated robberies: Police also are investigating three armed robberies Monday night and early Tuesday. The first occurred about 6:20 p.m. Monday in a parking lot near the 3600 block of South Yale Avenue.

That robber was described as white, in his early 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 170 pounds. A man who was with him was black and in his early 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches and 175 pounds.

About 8:15 p.m. Monday, a man was robbed as he was walking near 67th Street and Lewis Avenue.

That robber was black, about 5 feet 7 inches and 150 pounds. He wore a camouflage jacket and black pants and carried a dark-colored semiautomatic pistol.

In the third heist, two young men or teenagers forced their way inside a woman's home at the South Glen Apartments, 5629 S. Quaker Ave., and robbed her about 2:10 a.m.

They were wearing black clothing and black ski masks.

Anyone with information about the robberies or shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

E-ticket 'Battle' Continues...

Councilor continues battle for e-ticketing

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
3/5/2008

Eagleton says electronic tickets could generate money and save lives.

The city is losing an opportunity to save its residents about $187 million each year in property damage, medical expenses and lost productivity by not implementing e-ticketing, City Councilor John Eagleton said Tuesday.

An update on the receipt of bids to implement electronic ticketing in the Police Depart ment was discussed during a council committee meeting Tuesday.

Finance Director Mike Kier said the city received eight separate bids from seven different firms last week. The total costs to fully implement the program ranged from $2.6 million to $5.4 million, he said. Kier did not have the specifics of the bids broken out into first phase costs, but he told Eagleton many of the bids were in the $900,000 to $1 million range.

Eagleton said at least one was less than $900,000.

Kier said the bids the city received have not been evaluated and have complexities that need to be thoroughly reviewed. He said there also is an issue of where the project stands "priority wise" against other city projects.

Kier said that normally the city would not launch a project like e-ticketing unless it was financially prepared to fund all phases. "There is probably a minimal benefit by just dealing with phase one," Kier said. Eagleton said he disagreed and that phase one would be the most productive.

He said the council was told in December that a source to fund the first phase was found. "How long will it take to analyze e-tickets and determine whether or not the city of Tulsa can afford to continue doing it the same way we've always have done it?" he asked.

"What is the cost of doing nothing? The cost is 15,000 traffic accidents per year," he said.

The councilor presented results and findings from eight governmental entities across the nation and Montreal, Canada. All concluded that not only does e-ticketing reduce traffic accidents, but it also frees up police officer's time, saves money, and provides a revenue stream. In Montreal, the city invested $8 million for a police traffic squad at the start of this year and has already pulled in an extra $22.8 million through e-ticketing, Eagleton's research shows.

Traffic deaths also dropped 17.2 percent there, he said.

"If Tulsa had the same result as Montreal, it would save officer's time, make more money, save lives and reduce city expenses," he said.

Controversy arose in late January over the bid requests after someone in the adminis tration pulled the bid requests. The council had been told by Police Chief Ron Palmer that the city would have bids in early February before learning later that the bids had been canceled. At that time, Mayor Kathy Taylor said she did not know who ordered the bid requests or who pulled them. After Eagleton and other councilors took issue with cancelation action, the requests for bids moved forward.

Car Crashes Into Train

In the past few weeks, we’ve had posts about railroad crossing safety including stories about 2 separate fatal accidents, railroad traffic safety tips, and how Tulsa Police are enforcing railroad crossing laws.

Like many people who read the news, some seem to think, “that can’t happen here in Tulsa…people don’t try to dodge trains in town…” Well, unfortunately, they certainly do. 

Last night shortly before 2 AM, in the 3400 block of South Sheridan Road, a driver and passenger friend left a nightclub.  The driver ignored the railroad safety barriers and collided with the train.

The passenger remained in the car, but the cowardly driver ran off, leaving his wrecked car and friend behind in the middle of road as the freight train continued rumbling through town.

Related Stories

Railroad Safety Tips

Railroad Crossing Laws Enforced

Car Hits Train | NewsOn6.com

Wanted: Assault & Battery Suspects

Police Look For Suspects In Overnight Assault

Tulsa Police are looking for two suspects who robbed and assaulted a man inside his south Tulsa condo overnight.  The assault happened shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday in the 3100 block of East 91st Place South.

Tulsa Police are looking for two suspects who robbed and assaulted a 25-year-old man with a machete at his south Tulsa condo late Sunday.

The victim told police, two men he didn't know, came into his unlocked condo in the 3100 block of East 91st Place South and tried to assault him. He says they threw dumbbells at him, but missed. 

The victim grabbed his gun and fired two shots, but only hit his mattress.  The suspects took away his pistol, beat him and stabbed him in the foot with a machete.  The victim says the suspects were demanding to see a safe and ransacked the entire condo in the 30 minutes they were there.  They left, and the man told police officers, he went to a neighbor to call for help, leaving behind a trail of bloody footprints. 

Tulsa Police say the victim's pain pills were taken and so was his gun.

If you have any information that can help, please call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. If the tip leads to an arrest, you'll receive a cash reward.

Copyright 2000-2007, WorldNow and KOTV.
Formatting differs from original.

Fight Crime with Serial Numbers...

Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the time to keep track of everything in life.  And among all our other priorities, keeping good household records and serial numbers of major appliances, electronics, tools, etc., eludes most of us.

Perhaps more unfortunately, most criminals know this—and they take advantage of it.  Consider for example, how many of us buy a new drill, a new iPod, cell phone, or other item, and immediately make two records of the serial number?  Think about how even fewer of us keep a copy of all of our serial numbers in a safe place—and then keep another copy at work, in the office, or in a safe deposit box.

Keeping track of your serial numbers can help tremendously if anything is ever stolen.  More importantly, without a serial number, there is oftentimes little that the police (and your insurance company) can do to help you recover any stolen items.