STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Officer Nikolas Bruno from Sterling Heights Police found himself unexpectedly utilizing his lifeguard training during his patrol last Saturday. At 2:30 p.m., he responded to an emergency at Riverland Park concerning a woman kayaker in trouble. Without delay, Bruno dove into the Clinton River to rescue the woman who was without a life jacket and holding onto a log for safety. "As soon as I exited the patrol vehicle, I heard the commotion and saw she was in grave danger," Bruno recounted. "She wasn't wearing a life jacket and wasn't a strong swimmer, so I removed my gun belt and jumped in." The incident occurred when the woman, part of a kayaking group, collided with a submerged tree, causing her kayak to capsize and strike her head. She managed to cling to a log, while her daughter, who was kayaking alongside her, reached a more secure log dam. The woman, along with her daughter and niece, was kayaking for the first time when her kayak snagged on the submerged tree, causing the accident. She later told Officer Bruno she was "barely holding on" when he arrived to save her. "This serves as an important reminder to always wear a life jacket," advised Bruno. … [Read more...] about Officer Saves Kayaker in Clinton River Rescue
Heroic Rescue: Good Samaritan and Officer Save Driver from Blazing Vehicle
FULLERTON, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - An astonishing rescue was captured on a police body camera, showcasing the teamwork between a local good Samaritan and a police officer as they saved a driver from a fiery car. The incident unfolded last Wednesday in Fullerton. The footage reveals 21-year-old Ricardo Vasquez, clad in a brownish-orange shirt and shorts, wielding a hammer as he rushes to assist. "I didn't hesitate," Vasquez recounted. "The hammer was the sturdiest tool I had." Vasquez, who works in construction, used the hammer to smash the windows and gain access to the burning SUV. "It was pretty frightening," he admitted. "I kept thinking, 'I hope it doesn't explode.'" Authorities report that the driver experienced a medical emergency, crashing into a parked car just outside Vasquez's home on Valencia Drive. "The tire pieces were scorching hot; they were bouncing off me. It singed a bit as I opened the door and worked to free him," Vasquez described. As Vasquez and the officer successfully extracted the driver, neighbor Jorge Jimeno sprang into action with a garden hose to douse the flames. "The fire was closing in, so I used the water to keep it at bay," Jimeno … [Read more...] about Heroic Rescue: Good Samaritan and Officer Save Driver from Blazing Vehicle
Ohio Officers Turn Shoplifting Response into Life Lesson for Teen
DAYTON, Ohio — A routine shoplifting call in Dayton transformed into a moment of empathy and education. On May 13, body camera footage from the Dayton Police Department captured officers responding to an incident where an off-duty undercover detective observed a teenager stealing items from a Walgreens store. After requesting backup, the officers arrived and engaged with the teen, who confessed to taking the items due to hunger. One officer is heard in the footage saying, “Hey man, I’m not saying what you did today wasn’t a bad thing. But all things considered, you really do seem like a good kid. You’re cooperating, and you’re speaking well and remorseful.” The teen explained, “I just made a bad decision. I just got out of practice, and I was hungry.” In a show of leniency, the officers consulted with the store staff, who opted not to press charges or issue a trespass order. Instead, the officers paid for the snacks the teen attempted to take and offered him a ride home. Before they left, the officers ensured the teenager grasped the gravity of the situation, reminding him that theft is a serious crime, yet highlighting the potential for a promising future if he remained on a … [Read more...] about Ohio Officers Turn Shoplifting Response into Life Lesson for Teen
Calif. Fraudster Admits Guilt After Attempted Submarine Escape
SHASTA LAKE, Calif. — On Thursday, a resident of Northern California confessed to orchestrating a fraudulent Ponzi-like scheme and was previously captured in 2020 after attempting an underwater getaway from the FBI in Shasta Lake, according to officials. Matthew Piercey, aged 48 and hailing from Palo Cedro, accepted charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and witness tampering tied to a $35 million fraudulent investment operation that spanned from July 2015 to August 2020, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. Piercey's deceit involved enticing investors through misleading promises made under the names of two investment firms, Family Wealth Legacy and Zolla. He misled them with claims of an "Upvesting Fund," which he falsely portrayed as an effective "automated algorithmic trading fund," the attorney's office disclosed. Funds from investors were misappropriated by Piercey to repay other investors, while he masked his activities and finances through a chiropractic office in Redding. The scheme accumulated $35 million, of which he returned only $8.8 million, spending the remainder on personal luxuries and operational costs, including … [Read more...] about Calif. Fraudster Admits Guilt After Attempted Submarine Escape
Minneapolis Police Department Experiences First Growth in Officer Numbers Since 2019
MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time since 2019, the Minneapolis Police Department's staffing levels are showing signs of recovery after a sharp decline that followed George Floyd's death in 2020. The number of sworn officers, which had decreased from 920 in March 2019 to a low of 560 by March 2024, has now risen to 588 officers as of mid-May, according to data provided by the department to Axios. The city charter stipulates a minimum requirement of 713 officers, a benchmark that has not been met since 2021. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara noted that the department is starting to make progress. Mayor Jacob Frey shared with Axios, “We saw a net positive in staffing last year, and we anticipate a significantly higher net positive this year.” In 2024, city officials approved a new union contract featuring unprecedented pay increases to aid recruitment efforts. Contributing factors to the staff shortages include an increase in workers’ compensation claims post-2020 and a waning interest in law enforcement careers. Additionally, nearly 25% of the current officers are projected to reach retirement age within three years, according to Chief O’Hara. Homicide detectives and other … [Read more...] about Minneapolis Police Department Experiences First Growth in Officer Numbers Since 2019
Children and Grandchildren of Fallen Heroes Open Mets Game with First Pitch
NEW YORK — In an event coordinated by the charity Answer The Call, four young family members of FDNY and NYPD heroes took center stage at Citi Field, delivering the ceremonial first pitch before a Mets game. This heartwarming tribute, as reported by the New York Post, included Hannah Cristiano, age 7; Charli Scalf, age 11; and siblings Jackson, age 7, and Stella Abear, age 5, as they honored the memory of their relatives who perished in the line of duty. The occasion marked the 40th anniversary of Answer The Call. Jackson Abear expressed his excitement to the Post, saying, “It was so exciting to throw out that ball. I really couldn’t sleep last night, I was so excited.” He confidently added that he didn't need practice to “throw it perfectly to my guy.” Catherine Abear, reflecting on her late husband, NYPD Detective Raymond Abear, who passed away five years ago due to COVID-19 contracted while assisting crime victims in hospitals during the pandemic, shared the mixed emotions of watching her children participate. She remarked, “It’s bittersweet. It was really emotional and cool at the same time — Ray and I were both big Mets fans, so it’s quite cool to see them on the field. I’m … [Read more...] about Children and Grandchildren of Fallen Heroes Open Mets Game with First Pitch
Former Gateway Police Chief Grant Hardin Flees Arkansas Prison
CALICO ROCK, Ark. — On Sunday, Grant Hardin, a former Arkansas police chief, managed to escape from an Arkansas prison where he was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape, according to state corrections officials. Hardin, who once served as the police chief in the small town of Gateway, located near the Arkansas-Missouri border, broke out of the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. He had been incarcerated there since 2017. The specifics of his escape remain undisclosed by corrections officials. It was noted that Hardin had disguised himself, donning a fabricated outfit that resembled law enforcement attire during his escape from the North Central Unit. Efforts to locate Hardin involve the Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction, working alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In October 2017, Hardin admitted to first-degree murder charges related to the fatal shooting of 59-year-old James Appleton. An affidavit from the case reveals that Appleton, who worked for the Gateway water department, was conversing with his brother-in-law, then-Mayor Andrew Tillman of Gateway, when he was shot in the head on February 23, 2017, near … [Read more...] about Former Gateway Police Chief Grant Hardin Flees Arkansas Prison
Florida Man Attacked by Alligator Attempts to Grab Deputy’s Gun Before Being Fatally Shot
LAKELAND, Fla. — A man who survived an alligator attack while swimming across a lake was later shot and killed by deputies after charging at them with garden shears, according to a statement by a Florida sheriff. The individual has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz. On the morning of Memorial Day, May 26, a 911 call was made from a gas station about a man who was acting erratically and asking to contact his son, reported Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a press conference on Facebook. A few hours later, the sheriff’s office received another call about a man swimming in a lake behind a Lakeland residential area, where a caller observed an alligator near the swimmer, Judd stated. The caller suspected the swimmer might be under the influence, and although a bystander attempted to offer Schulz a life preserver, he refused it, according to Judd. During the swim, Schulz appeared to have his right arm bitten by an alligator, Judd noted. After exiting the lake, witnesses saw Schulz grabbing garden shears and attempting to break into a vehicle by throwing a brick, as described by the sheriff. Deputies arriving at the scene reported seeing Schulz walking between homes … [Read more...] about Florida Man Attacked by Alligator Attempts to Grab Deputy’s Gun Before Being Fatally Shot