Showing posts with label police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Did Bank Robbery Suspect Eat Evidence?

As cops search a bank robbery suspect on the hood of a police cruiser, the alleged thief chows down on a piece of possible evidence.



STREETSBORO, Ohio (Nov. 21) -- Police say a bank robbery suspect in Ohio may have eaten evidence when he gobbled a piece of paper while handcuffed and lying across the hood of a police cruiser.

A police video camera captured the 35-year-old John Ford of Cleveland grabbing the paper with his mouth as police emptied his pockets.

Ford was arrested following a report of a bank robbery in Streetsboro just south of Cleveland on Thursday.

Police say a man walked into the bank and handed a teller a note that demanded money.

Police say they found money in a bag in Ford's car, which fit the description of the bank robber's vehicle, along with a bank die pack that had exploded.

Ford was being held in the Portage County Jail on Saturday where his file did not indicate he had a lawyer.

VIA

Monday, November 23, 2009

Most Dangerous Cities 2009

Camden, NJ Getty Images

No. 1: Camden, N.J.

Rankings in Crime
Assault: 6
Murder: 1
Rape: 8
Motor Vehicle Theft: 8
Robbery: 1
Burglary: 41

(A "murder" rank of "4" would mean it has the 4th worst murder rate. Rankings are out of 393 cities or up to 402 cities, depending on the statistics available in each category. Nine cities that did not have published statistics in all six individual crime categories were not considered in the overall rankings.)

Next: No. 2 Most Dangerous City

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Police Officer Uses Taser On 10-Year-Old Girl


Ozark police said they were called to a home where a mother asked for help with her unruly child, but the 10-year-old's father said he's outraged at the force police used against his daughter.

"I would like to say Ozark police Tased this little girl right here. Ten years old and [they] shot electricity through her body, and I want to know how the heck in God's green earth can they get away with this," said the girl's father, Anthony Medlock.

Medlock said his daughter was at her mother's house when Ozark police Officer Dustin Bradshaw shocked her in the back with a Taser and arrested her.

"If you can't pick the kid up and take her to your car, handcuff her, then I don't think you need to be an officer," Medlock said.

Medlock said his daughter does show signs of having emotional issues, but she "doesn't deserve to be treated like a dog. She's not a tiger."

According to a police report, the officer was called to the home by the mother and witnessed the child kicking and screaming. The officer's statement said the girl's mother, Kelly Hamlert, told him to use a Taser on her if he needed to.

The officer did shock the girl after he said she kicked him in the groin. "He had no other choice. He had to get the child under control," said Ozark police Chief Jim Noggle.

Noggle said the officer shocked the girl for about a second. Ozark police said it is their policy to use a Taser on someone who is a threat to others, no matter their age.

Noggle said simply restraining the child could be harmful. "Well, if he tried to restrain her, he might hurt her by restraining her. If you grab somebody, you can slip an arm out of joint. They can slip from you and fall on the ground," Noggle said. "I don't know what kind of policy it is. I don't think it's right," Medlock said.

Medlock said this is not the first time the girl's mother has called police to take her daughter to a juvenile facility. He said he will now try to get custody of his daughter.

"She just wants somebody to love her, and I do," he said.

40/29 News
checked with several other police agencies about their taser policies. The Fort Smith Police Department said it will only uses a Taser on a person 14 years old or older if they are a threat to someone.

Fort Smith Police said it's usually the discretion of each police department to make their own policies on using a Taser. Noggle said no action is being taken against the Ozark officer who used the Taser on the girl, and he said her case will go before the juvenile court system.

VIA

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Southern maryland; NAACP says police altered killing video


About 20 minutes into an uneventful traffic stop and drug scan, the lights on Cornelius Warren's Tahoe flashes almost without warning. A split second later on a police video of the incident, the SUV kicks up a cloud of dust as it lurches away from police.

But a county activist who viewed the tape before the sheriff's office released it Wednesday said he believes someone altered the video between when he saw it last month and when it was made available to the press.

"What you saw on the video is not what we've seen. It's been tampered with," county NAACP President William Braxton said.

The dashboard camera footage released Wednesday, which captured the last few moments of Warren's life, shows sheriff's officer Stephen Miller swing his body into the sport utility vehicle as it speeds off-screen, another police cruiser following close behind. The video didn't record the ensuing struggle, which happened outside the camera's line of sight. But police say that after the SUV accelerated down a Pisgah driveway, Warren tried to wrestle away Miller's handgun. A pair of sheriff's officers shot at Warren 11 times, hitting him with eight of the bullets, authorities believe.

The footage, which is without sound, charts the Oct. 2 incident, from a traffic stop at a gravel driveway about a mile from Warren's home to the search of his Chevrolet Tahoe and the alleged discovery of crack cocaine and marijuana worth more than $16,000, according to police. It was after the drugs were allegedly discovered that Warren, 44, threw his SUV into gear and drove a short distance around the circular driveway, where sheriff's officers fired the rounds that ended his life.

While Warren's family and the county chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have condemned the shooting, a grand jury last week found that the officers' actions didn't constitute a crime. The Charles County State's Attorney's Office concluded the shooting was "not unreasonable" given the danger Warren posed to the officers when he tried to grab Miller's gun.

"We're going to be second-guessed every time we use deadly force, and that's appropriate," said Maj. Joseph Montminy during a Wednesday press conference.

However, he cautioned against "Monday morning quarterbacking" and said "the deputy was in a life-and-death situation that all unfolded in a matter of seconds."

Braxton alleged that in the version of the tape he saw during a meeting with Sheriff Rex W. Coffey last month, Miller climbed into the SUV and shut the door before the Tahoe started to move.

"We … are going to talk to the sheriff's department to explain what we saw and see if he's going to look us in the eye and tell us the tapes haven't been altered," he said.

Diane Richardson, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said apart from masking the face of Warren's passenger, the sheriff's office hasn't changed the footage since showing it to NAACP members.

The passenger, whose name has not been released, has his face obscured by digital manipulation in the video released Wednesday.

"It is unfortunate Mr. Braxton is questioning our integrity," she said. "The video we released to the media is the same video that was shown to Mr. Braxton immediately following the shooting with the exception that we did protect the passenger's face."

Multimedia:

Watch the video (1 of 3)

Multimedia:

Watch the video (2 of 3)

Multimedia:

Watch the video (3 of 3)

Complete story HERE

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Hidden Costs of Speeding Tickets


They Can Affect Your Life Insurance

You're returning from a perfect weekend getaway, and a trooper nabs you while you're still out of state.

Do you admit guilt, drop the payment envelope in the mail, and have it be history…or do throw it in the trash and hope it just goes away?

Neither, exactly. And just to clear up some misconceptions, this is definitely not a case of, "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

If you understood the massive stakes involved, you'd do your research, maybe hire an attorney, and even if you have a clean record do your best to have the ticket reduced or, better yet, thrown out.

The days of speeding tickets simply going away, even if they're out-of-state, are long gone. And it's important you do something about it because a speeding ticket can come back to haunt you for years, in ways that you probably hadn't thought possible.

Unseen affects, budget-hemorrhaging results

Most drivers know that having speeding tickets on their record will raise their auto insurance rates, but few are aware that, depending on where they live, it can affect them in a myriad of other ways, seemingly unrelated to driving. Like when you apply to get a new life insurance policy, to insure a boat, or even to apply for a business loan.

This could mean thousands of dollars. And that's even before considering that an unsettled ticket could find its way to your credit score to wreak further havoc.

Technically, if you're a repeat speeder, you're risky business, and that risk might apply to other aspects of your life—or so say the actuaries, those who arrive at the methodology that takes all those seemingly insignificant factors in your profile, weighs them with factors like your driving record, and determines whether or not you're high risk. Simply put, whether to charge you a few hundred dollars or a couple thousand on your next insurance premium is a matter of calculated risk.

The business of risk

Read More HERE

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Missing Baby Found Alive Under Bed


Investigators spent five days searching dense vines and marshes for a missing infant, only to find her lying quietly in a 2-foot by 3-foot cedar box that had been shoved under her baby sitter's bed.

Clothing was packed around it to muffle any sounds and baking powder placed inside to mask the stench of dirty diapers.

Authorities say the baby's mother, Chrystina Lynn Mercer, gave her to baby sitter Susan Elizabeth Baker early Saturday, then reported her missing about 10 hours later.

Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock choked up Thursday as he described how 7-month-old Shannon Dedrick was stashed in the box for 12 straight hours before investigators discovered her late Wednesday. They believe she had been in the box on and off for several days before that.

"She was way back under the bed," he said. "But she was not crying."

Baker had written a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist's office in August, pleading for help for the baby and claiming her father shook her and both parents did drugs in front of her. She asked Mercer on Friday if she could have permanent custody, Haddock said. Officials do not believe Shannon's father, who is Baker's stepbrother, was involved in the disappearance.

Haddock said Shannon apparently had been fed and cared for while she was with Baker, who lived about 12 miles from Mercer, though there was no bottle in the box with her. He said Baker became a suspect several days ago but never told them where the baby was, even as they interviewed her for 12 hours while Shannon remained hidden.

Mercer and Baker were jailed and arraignments were scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Mercer was charged with interference of child custody, desertion of a child and several other charges. Charges against Baker included neglect of a child with aggravated circumstances and interference of child custody.

Mercer's mother, Candis Boyer, attended Thursday's news conference and said afterward that she was there to show support for her daughter and granddaughter.

"I love my daughter very deeply," she said.

Baker's husband, James Arthur Baker, was arrested but released. He is still under investigation, Haddock said.

Shannon's parents told investigators they last saw her when they went to bed around 3 a.m. Saturday and investigators thought she had vanished sometime between then and 8 a.m.

About 100 law enforcement agents and others spent days scouring dense vines and marshes around the baby's home in a remote, makeshift community of dirt roads, tin-roof shacks and old mobile homes. Searchers also dug through trash cans and dumpsters.

"Statistically speaking this should not have ever happened, that we found this child alive, especially after so many days," said Haddock, who cradled Shannon in his arms as he spoke to reporters earlier Thursday. "Time was against us."

Read More HERE

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Pocomoke: Salisbury man caught night-hunting in stolen vehicle


Maryland Natural Resources Police caught a 30-year-old Salisbury man poaching deer at night on Oct. 30.

NRP found Kevin Matthew Twilley shining a light out a vehicle on Scotty Road in Worcester County at about 7:30 p.m.

Officers observed Twilley shooting deer in the field next to the road. A report says when officers approached Twilley, he fled, but Pocomoke City Police were able to stop the vehicle on Route 13.


A check of Twilley's license revealed it was suspended and a check of the vehicle plate revealed it was stolen.
Twilley was charged with numerous natural resources, criminal and traffic violations.

VIA DelmarvaNow

DELMAR POLICE AUCTION



Auction of Abandoned Vehicles, Bikes, Misc Items

Sat., Nov. 7th 2009 10A.M.

Delmar PD 400 S. Penn Ave, Delmar, MD

Vehicle Inspection 9 A.M. Day of Sale Only

Terms of Sale: Cash or Certified Check day of Sale.

Vehicles must be moved day of sale 410-896-3131

  • 81 Chevy Silverado 1GCHC33W0BZ145467
  • 85 Cadi Fleetwood 1G6CB6980F4355905
  • 87 Ford P/U 1FTDF15Y5HNA42196
  • 87 Jeep Cherokee 1JCMT7837HT186256
  • 90 Dodg Caravan 2B4K45KXLR573548
  • 90 Hond Accord 1HGCB7151LA061111
  • 90 Isuzu P/U JAACL11L6L7218918
  • 91 Chev Cap Wagon 1G1BL83E0MW254700
  • 91 Ford T Bird 1FAPP60T7MH103081
  • 91 Ford Tempo 2FAPP36X9M199060
  • 91 Hond Civic 1HGED3542ML041128
  • 92 Ford T Bird 1FAPP6042NH155082
  • 92 Hond Accord 1HGCB7655NA123900
  • 92 Hond Accord 1HGCB7273NA019817
  • 92 Merc Topaz 1MEPM36XXNK653714
  • 92 Toyo Paseo JT2EL45F7N0053067
  • 93 Chev Astro Van 1GNDM15Z7PB148333
  • 93 Chev Conv Van 2GBEG25KXP4117495
  • 93 Dodg Caravan 2B4GH253xpr303452
  • 93 Ford Explorer 1FMDU34X7PUB75083
  • 93 Merc Tracer S/W 3MAPM15J2PR676776
  • 93 Olds Cutlass 1G3AG55N2P6304889
  • 95 Cadi Deville 1G6KD52B8SU207761
  • 95 Olds Cutlass 1G3AJ55M9S6351452
  • 95 Geo Prism 1Y1SK5266SZ082005
  • 96 Dodg Van 2B4FP2533TR628677
  • 96 Ford Explorer 1FMDU34X3TUB28742
  • 96 Ford Taurus 1FALP51U3TA252840
  • 96 Niss Altima 1N4BU31D7TC157579
  • 97 Ford Expedition 1FMEU1762VLA51351
  • 97 Ford Escort 1FALP13P4VW284914
  • 97 Ford Taurus 1FALP52U1VA128647
  • 97 Olds Cutlass 1G3WH52M8VF337598
  • 98 Dodg Stratus 1B3EJ46X4WN220561
  • 98 Ford Ranger 1FTYR10C0WTA18109
  • 98 Ford Taurus S/W 1FALP57U7TA199289
  • 98 Hyund Accent KMHVD14N6WU395773
  • 99 Ford Escort 3FAKP1132XR161856
  • 00 Chev Cavalier 1G1JC5245Y7335131
  • 00 Ford Crown Vic 2FAFP71W6YX136413
  • 01 Dodg Van 2B7HB11X11K552881
  • 01 Hyund Accent KMHCG45C21U248890
  • 04 Hyund Sonata KMHWF25S74A977923
  • Unknown wooden Trailer
  • Food Provided by Delmar Wesleyan Church

Eastern Shore Auctions 443-235-5717 or 410-548-3137
Easternshoreauctions.net Willie Benton Jr, Auctioneer

Monday, October 26, 2009

Arrested Blogger; Seized Computers Returned

A blogger was arrested earlier this year and their equipment was seized during a raid of the home, all equipment that could be connected to the internet was confiscated and after months just recently returned. Albeit a bit messy at least they have their stuff back.

Although every piece was adorned with highly adhesive evidence tape and marker the blogger was happy that the items even were returned in one piece.

This has been a very controversial situation from the day the troops stormed the bloggers home and snatched their belongings. Why so? Because the blogger posted 'public information' .... information that anyone can access VIA the internet or simply by their eyes while in public.

Is this the beginning of an attack on our freedom of speech? The blogger was made to remove the public information from their blog but the same information is throughout the internet for all that wishes to see.

Below is a snip and a couple of pictures.







It seems every time anyone in law enforcement did anything with it, they slapped on a new icky sticky strip and initialed it. With a dang Sharpie!


My laptop was not spared the wrath of the everlasting black marker either.

Read the rest of the story HERE
Then HERE

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

WORCESTER: Trial date set for Pocomoke blogger

Pocomoke blogger Billy Burke will be going to trial for wiretapping charges in November.
Regardless of any differences I believe that recording an open conversation on the public steps of City-hall is not a criminal action.
Maryland laws on/about recording are very strict, but it plainly states that one must have "a reasonable expatiation of privacy"
A conversation in public, outside, on the steps of the Pocomoke City Hall building is about as open, and public as one could be.

Mr. Burke recorded a conversation between his wife and the Mayor on the public steps of Pocomokes City hall building. (a public setting) IMHO and should well be in the eyes of the law. This is though for the Judge and Jury to decide this November.

The Burke's were met by the Pocomoke Police with a warrant to search and confiscate all electronic equipment in their possession earlier this year, and Mr. Burke charged with wiretapping by the States Attorney Joel Todd. Mr. Burke was charged after a recording was sent by Burke to SA Todd and the MD Attorney Generals office as what Burke considered evidence of the destruction of public documents that were under the FOIA of the Burkes, Mrs. Burke was a council candidate at the time.


POCOMOKE CITY — A jury trial is scheduled on Nov. 2 for a local blogger accused of illegally recording a conversation with town Mayor Michael McDermott.

William F. Burke, a Market Street resident and publisher of pocomoketattler.com, faces a single count of wiretapping for taping a March 27 exchange between McDermott, himself and his wife Stephanie on the steps of town hall.

Pocomoke, Police Investigate Thefts of Liquor Store and Tractors

Dispensary employee arrested
PRINCESS ANNE -- An employee at a Somerset County liquor dispensary has been charged with theft in connction with the disappearance of more than $800 in liquor, according to Maryland State Police.

Dennis Wayne Johnson, 51, an employee at the store on Route 13 north of Pocomoke, is accused of removing liquor from the store, and supplying others with liquor without paying for it, police said.

On Sept. 21, the Maryland State Police criminal investigative section received information from the Somerset County Liquor Board regarding the thefts.

Johnson resigned his position with the liquor store at the beginning of the investigation, police said.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, police said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Police investigate tractor thefts
PRINCESS ANNE -- Maryland State Police are investigating the thefts of two tractors from a John Deere dealership on Route 13 north of Pocomoke City.

The tractors were stolen sometime between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday from Atlantic Tractor, police said.

The suspect utilized some type of "rollback" tow vehicle to remove the two tractors which had previously been located out in front of the dealership, police said.

The tractors are described as:

n1998 John Deere model 755 tractor (used). Green and yellow with a small dent on the front grille.

n2009 John Deere model JD3032E tractor with front end loader (new). Green and yellow.

Anyone who may have seen these tractors being transported on the roadway, or anyone with information regarding this theft is urged to call the MSP Princess Anne Barrack tip line at 443-260-3737.

Source; DelmarvaNow.com

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Odor on Nictitate (chapter 4)

Grab a snack, a cup of coffee or a beer or 2. This is a long one.


By Odor Eliminator

Chapter 4: The Search is on to find Christine!

We left off last week with chronicled efforts by LE to find Christine Sheddy. Hopefully many answers were found by readers after sifting through Nictitates tale to find truth.

OE would like for everyone to understand that my tale is not about anyone other than Christine and events that are relevant to her. My mention of Mike McDermott is not about helping him run for a higher political office. Mr. McDermott has to find his own way through Nictitates and other’s tales, look within his self, and find a way to right any wrongs. OE does not do politics. Period! As one of my favorite bloggers says – “Nuff Said”!

………. Along came a spider called Nictitate spinning a tale of everything imaginable except for getting down to the business of finding Christine. Nictitate has been on “location” at the farm on Byrd Road where Christine Sheddy was last seen and produced a video showing something. Who knows what its relevance is to the subject. What we don’t see is Nictitates chronicled efforts in searching for Christine.

Are Nictitate and the spawn from the nest even bothering to search? As you will read, others have done that and Nictitates tale has been spun from those efforts.

Many of the searches to find Christine have revolved around one of Nictitates colleague known as “Man with a stick” or other AKA’s such as Lucas Caine, Lukester, and some unmentionable’s. In reality he is Luke Phillips’s. One local blog ran a post about who Luke is and OE knows that the question was a “fake” because the person asking had met Luke at one of the searches. Go figure!

Luke has been involved in many searches for Christine. Sources tell OE that they are not sure where Luke came from or how he got involved. It’s believed that he made contact with Christine’s family and offered his services. Some say that his service’s start with an internet search of missing persons and he makes contact with the family and tells them about his many talents of psychic nature. More often than not Luke goes after the really big cases of missing persons and offers the help from the international seer society.

Speaking about talents of psychic nature, we have to back up because psychics were on the case long before Luke. Almost, from the very beginning of Christine’s case.

Christine’s family contacted Suzanne and Jean Vincent psychics from Pittsburg, PA. Known as The Psychic Vincent Sisters, their website lays claim to their abilities as mediums in clairvoyance, medical intuitive, precognitive, aura, and remote viewing. While sources tell us that Christine’s mother calls them “My Ladies”, OE will call them “The Sisters”.

The Sister’s have been heavily involved in utilizing their self proclaimed abilities to find Christine and many searches of the Byrd Road property were guided or misguided by what they saw in their visions. Eyewitnesses tell OE that Lynn, Christine’s mother would walk around with a cell phone to her ear while following the guidance of the Sister’s. Some observers of this “show” left at the end of the day knowing that they had wasted valuable time and efforts.

The area surrounding the Byrd Road farm is heavily wooded and in some places swampy. Searching is a tedious task and some who have participated in the searches tell OE that there is so much area to cover and it’s slow going when making their way through all of the obstacles presented by the terrain.

We know that LE conducted searches early on including an all out search in late December 2007 which included the assistance of Flatland Search and Rescue. I don’t know if any of you avid readers have been present at one of these types of searches however, eyewitnesses to this particular search tell OE that “you might think that the military had set up camp” in reference to the observation of Flatlands method of operations. OE is told that Flatland leaves no blade of grass un-trampled, conduct searches in a highly organized way, and remain professional at all times.

Flatland did get into a sticky situation when they entered onto the property of one of the residents of Byrd Road. Lawsuits were threatened for violating poultry bio-security procedures however the situation was defused in an apologetic professional manner. Sources tell OE that Flatland did not realize that they didn’t have permission to be on the property and they had no intention of offending anyone.

In January of 2008 private searches were conducted in areas surrounding the Byrd Road farm. Sources tell OE that residents in the immediate area assisted Christine’s mother on day long walks looking in every nook and cranny for anything. The psychic Sisters had given information to Lynn about clues to look for while searching. These clues lead the direction of the searches and sources tell OE that they turned out to be “wild goose chases”.

February, 2008 – taken from the journal of an observer – “The police searched again today for Christine. Her mother and friends were there. Cadaver dogs were searching the property and the State Police helicopter landed and picked up a WCBI detective. The helicopter flew low over the wooded parts of the area searching”. This indeed was a costly but effective search. What was found is unknown because the detectives are not going to reveal anything, not even to the family. Does this look like LE was doing nothing?

I mentioned in the last chapter that some within LE were willing to be “open minded” about the seer society. One particular incident that was told to OE is that the family was insistent about some type of psychic writings that were happening to Jenifer, Christine’s sister. A WCBI detective conceded to their demands and followed directions given from Jenifer’s psychic visits from Christine.

It’s unclear to OE whether the family believes that Jenifer has psychic abilities. What is clear to OE is that the detective, upon the say so of the family, accommodated their demand that these writings be followed. Sources have told OE that the detective was directed to travel the country side looking in many different places that supposedly Christine was telling Jenifer where she could be found. Obviously, nothing came from the detectives meanderings because we are still looking for Christine.

OE can just imagine a picture in the mind of a detective driving from place to place because the family is saying that Christine is telling them where she is. That is material for a movie. We don’t know what became of these writings and sources say that they don’t know if Jenifer has had any more visits from Christine. Maybe after reading this chapter of my tale, Jenifer will enlighten us about this.

The neighbors have conceded to OE that they are aware of the psychic input and that they were questioned by LE about one of them having seen an apparition of Christine in one of the fields on the Byrd Road farm. One of the neighbors says that “if I had seen something like that, I would have run like hell”. Apparently, someone called LE and told them this story and as usual procedure, LE had to follow up on it. They refuse to comment about their thoughts on the psychic nature of the searches for Christine.

Following the police and cadaver dog search, another search was arranged privately utilizing the same cadaver dogs. Man with a stick, Luke, was the lead in this search and has posted that he personally paid for the use of the cadaver dogs in both the police search and this private search.

Some of us know that Luke got the name “Man with a stick” because of his use of a dowsing rod some call it a diving rod which was used to guide in the right direction to find Christine. It’s a common tool used by those who say they have psychic abilities.

Luke has participated in many of the searches for Christine and in all fairness OE is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that his heart is in the right place. OE will not give an opinion about his methods that is for you to decide. What OE will do is now tell you how Luke conducts his psychic methods of searching. OE’s information about his methods has come from many sources who have witnessed Luke at his best.

One particular “private” search for Christine had searchers meandering all over the Byrd Road farm and surrounding area. Sources tell OE that Luke was leading the pack utilizing the rod to determine the direction in which to go. One source says that they became so “frustrated” following the rod that they went off on their own to search. “He kept twirling this rod and then letting it stop and point to the direction go” the source said. After going back and forth over the same area and finding absolutely nothing, OE is told that people were just ready to walk away, and some did.

According to sources, Luke was also using direction given over a cell phone by another psychic, not the Sisters, and this psychic was supposedly someone who was in on solving some big case. The direction given by the “cell phone psychic” and the direction indicated by Luke’s rod were in conflict and a super natural dilemma was conjured up about which “seeing” was correct.

Vague directions were given by the “cell phone psychic” and in following those directions observers tell OE that it was valuable time wasted. Based from this opinion, it is obvious that people have accommodated Christine’s family in ways that many can’t even imagine. Main stream America would not spend entire days following the directions of the international seer society.

After this search, the cell phone psychic was kicked to the curb. The Sister’s are now the primary seers in search of Christine. Luke is still the “on location” seer and is guiding another private search. One source tells OE that on this search, a lead detective in Christine’s case at the time participated and it was his day off.

The search starts off in an orderly way. Areas are covered by sections and searchers are methodically covering ground. All of a sudden this orderly search turns into a leading of the blind. Luke has arrived and Lynn has been on the cell phone with the Sister’s. Everyone starts wandering aimlessly following the directions of the seer society. One observer tells OE that certain “markers” were described by the seers and if you don’t see any of the “markers” don’t waste time looking.

Mr. LE who was present for this search unknowingly bore the burden of blame for not finding anything. Sources tell OE that criticism of Mr. LE was heavy and not very nice. Mr. LE was not following the program and he was going off into places that were too flooded or muddy with his four wheeler, too look. One place that Mr. LE looked induced him to question whether someone had been in a particular area recently because he had found something that wasn’t there on previous searches. Although it turned out to be nothing of significance, OE can surmise that at least he found something! Mr. LE was sent packing and the remainder of the day was conducted under the guidance of Luke and the Sister’s by cell phone.

We are now into yet another search. This time we have participants from several LE agencies including a Department of Resource Police and her dog. As the story goes, there were certain areas or particular locations that Christine’s family felt had not been searched properly. LE accommodated the family and looked in every place that was indicated. OE is told that this search was put together by many LE agencies and some were providing their own time. Translation – day off from work.

There is a pond on the property of the Byrd Road farm. Although the cadaver dogs that had been used in two previous searches had been directed to sniff out the pond, it remained a sore thumb in the search for Christine. The family was not satisfied with the abilities of the dogs and wanted the pond searched.

A state dive team made up of many LE participants volunteered their own time to travel to Pocomoke to search the pond. WCBI Detectives on Christine’s case were on hand as well. The divers searched every square inch of the pond by hand. OE is told by eye witnesses that the pond is very murky and visibility is poor. The divers had to submerge their selves and utilize their hands on the bottom of the pond to search. One eye witness described the search as a sight worth seeing and says that they were “fascinated” at the capabilities of the dive team.

All of these searches were done prior to the “big” search in March of 2009. Some have questioned about how this search came to existence. OE has the answers for you.

The Big March Search was conjured up out of all of the derogatory and negative opinions about LE not doing its job. One of the local blogs had repeated comments trashing LE and of course there was the conspiracy theory of Mike McDermott directing many LE agencies and public service organizations to not find Christine. Leading organizers of this search were Stephanie Burke and Lynn, Christine’s mother.

LE gave their blessing for a public search. They were not able to be part of the search due to legalities. If they were present, all responsibility would fall on our LE agencies, which means the taxpayers.

What an event. By sunup, Flatland Search and Rescue was setting up their operations base from which they would conduct a detailed systematic search. Once again, Flatland volunteered their time and resources.

Candidate Burke and the few family members who participated arrived much later that morning. People were already on hand and time was wasted to get everyone lined up to check in. What’s that I hear? Eye witnesses say that a waiver had to be signed by everyone who was participating in the search which released property owners of responsibility should any accidents or injuries occur. Legalities like the one mentioned about LE’s participation.

Participants were many and Walmart sent managers from eastern shore stores to help search. There were many others and if you want to read a list of them, you will have to read it on Candidate Burkes local blog. Walmart also donated refreshments for the searchers.

Teams were selected. Each team had a person from Flatland as the leader and going by the grids that had been set up they set off to search their given area. GPS was used to record positions of teams while searching and radioed back to the base. Flatland would then record on their computer where people were and where they would be going next. Fifteen square miles were covered that day. Some search parties did not give up until after dark.

Eye witnesses say that they never did see Candidate Burke out in any of the search parties. One post from a blogger has suggested that Candidate Burke was using the event to campaign for her upcoming election. Apparently, she requisitioned the refreshment center as her pulpit to campaign from.

Luke was on hand for this search as well but he didn’t go out with the search teams. Following the guidance of the Sister’s Luke was busy running a pump to remove water out of a hole that is on the farm property. This hole was of particular interest by Christine’s family and Luke because the Sister’s visions placed Christine there. After an entire day, Luke came up empty handed.

The Big March search was an out pouring of community helping to find Christine. Her story is heart wrenching and the good hearted people of Pocomoke and surrounding areas needed and wanted to do something to help. What was not known by the many volunteers is that there had been a skull recovered from Assateague that had been sent off for identification. It’s believed by many that it will be Christine.

Remember the private search that Mr. LE participated in and was dismissed because he didn’t follow the psychic program? At that time, it was known by Luke and Lynn that a skull had been found. Mr. LE was also aware of the evidence found and he still accommodated Lynn’s demand for yet another search. Could this be another reason that LE didn’t participate in the Big search?

Other behind the scene action included post’s made to a local blog by a person claiming to be Clarence Jackson. These post were of a somewhat threatening nature, specifically mentioned the upcoming Big search, and even said that nothing would be found. The local blog owner withheld these posts until after the search. Only Candidate Burke can answer the why of withholding these posts but many bloggers have speculated that she did not want the event (the Big Search) ruined.

So bloggers, speculate away. Why did candidate Burke withhold the post to her blog from the person claiming to be Clarence Jackson? Nictitates tale mentions no information related to this and it’s wondered by OE why her tale has not included this information. After all, aren’t we supposed to be solving a mystery created by Nictitate and the groupies?

I know that you all are going to have trouble understanding this next one. After the Big search and in light of probable evidence of the skull, Lynn insisted on another search. I know, folks, you are all scratching your heads right about now.

This last search to be conducted saw volunteers from Flatland Search and Rescue once again arriving at the crack of dawn. Certain spots had been privately pre-determined by the Sister’s, Lynn, and Luke. Flatland brought in a person with heavy equipment to dig with and a methodical sifting of the remains of the burnt down chicken house on the farm was done. Volunteers painstakingly sifted through the ashes and ruins.

Again, Luke was of doing his thing. He used ground penetrating sonar on a few specific locations and nothing was found. The hole was again visited by him.

Sources tell OE that as the day wore on, volunteers were becoming very disheartened. Lynn decided to share some information that the Sister’s had given her and everyone agreed, okay let’s check it out. By this time people were wandering individually all over the place without any specific destination.

Lynn was on the cell phone again with the Sister’s and began running around frantically trying to follow whatever it was that the Sister’s were seeing in a vision. An eye witness tells OE that it was “real smooth and much too convenient”. Upon the guidance of the Sister’s, Lynn found something that belonged to Christine. OE will not divulge what exactly was found because it is in the hands of LE.

Sources tell OE that the place where these things were found had been searched several times and question how it could have been missed especially by highly trained cadaver dogs. They also say that too many people had access to the place where the things were found and wonder just exactly how these things got there to be found.

OE surmises that at least ten searches were conducted and every time, Christine’s family was not satisfied. Sources tell OE that they have never seen Christine’s sister Jenifer make an appearance although she has been highly critical of everyone’s efforts. OE is mystified as to why Christine’s family kept insisting on searches of the Byrd Road farm when they knew that LE had found a skull on Assateague which is presumed to be Christine’s.

It appears to OE that Christine’s family has put blind faith into the international seer society. OE questions the wisdom of this because just suppose something was overlooked by a searcher because no “markers” were present where they were looking and every nook and cranny wasn’t searched.

According to OE’s way of thinking, none of this makes any sense. To criticize every step of LE and off handedly dismiss their efforts as doing nothing is ludicrous. To blindly follow the Sister’s who by the way have never made an appearance is something from another world. To rely on a Man with a stick to guide you to Christine – OE does not have a word to fit this scenario. And if all of that isn’t enough, enter Nictitate and the groupies.

Nictitate appears to be fixated on the Byrd Road farm as are the Sister’s, Luke, and Christine’s family. Is there something that they know that the rest of us don’t?

This chapter turned out to be rather long. OE had so much information and found that to cut out any of it would be a great disservice to the many fine people who have volunteered their time and efforts to help find Christine. Where we go from here is anyone’s guess but more than likely we will have a new chapter from Nictitates tale to read as she finds clues from what OE has written.

Coming soon….. Odor on Nictitate, Chapter 5 – OE is not quite sure which subject to follow next. It will be a surprise!

Note: For those of you who want to highjack writings from OE – DON’T. Any writings contributed by Odor Eliminator belong to The Pocomoke Public Eye exclusively and all rights are reserved. You may not copy and paste, dissect, snip, or use any of OE’s writings in any part or its entirety without prior written consent.

NOTE: New post will fall below this post

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Odor on Nictitate (chapter 3)

Odor on Nictitate
By Odor Eliminator

Chapter 3 – Someone’s got to take the heat, it might as well be the cops!

Bloggers sure have been busy this past week. It’s taking me longer and longer to keep up with all of the posts on the many blogs. Trying to sort through the relevance of all the mucky muck that is being slung out into cyberspace is becoming a who’s who story of its own. This book might well extend into the next millennium.

Before I go any further I need to say that there is a great divide that has been inserted into Christine’s case and it appears as if there are now sides as to who the good people are and who the bad people are. In relationship to the case, the only bad guys are whoever is involved in Christine’s disappearance.

Secondly, if you have ever been a victim of crime, you will understand the feelings of expecting law enforcement to move heaven and earth to put the perpetrator(s) behind bars. Add watching too many television programs such as CSI or Cold Case to the mix of emotions and the imagination runs wild.

So, where were we? Last week, we left off with the promise of looking into law enforcements role in this saga. This is going to take some time so for all of you avid readers out there – sit back and get comfy because I’m going to stop along the way for doses of rationality.

In telling this story, it needs to be perfectly understood that no member of law enforcement has contributed to this accounting. Likewise, OE would never expect LE to divulge any details concerning Christine’s case and would think much less of them if they did.

Along came a spider called Nictitate spinning a tale of corruption and conspiracy within law enforcement agencies involved in Christine’s case. Nictitates tale is spun from a long running conspiracy theory which has been brewing in the City of Pocomoke and fueled by opinions from a local blog. In the spirit of fairness, one has to reason that it’s much more interesting to tell conspiracy tales than to tell factual accountings of a story.

Just what does a real accounting of the events of police involvement tell? Supposedly, the police dropped the ball in the very beginning when Christine went missing and if you listen to the chatter, they haven’t done much good since then. This is where OE’s investigation has gone. Sources and eyewitness accounts are differing from the chatter.

Concerns over Christine missing began on the evening of November 13, 2007 and a call was made to the Pocomoke City Police Department by her family. The caller was told to contact the Delaware State Police.

At this point in time, there’s no reason to suspect that anything out of the ordinary had taken place only that someone had taken off. Christine had every right to disappear if she wanted to since she was an adult and couldn’t be considered an underage runaway.

In addition, the farm house where Christine was staying is not within the jurisdiction of the PCPD it’s in the jurisdiction of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department and the Maryland State Police. Christine was from Delaware, was supposed to have returned to Delaware that evening, and the caller was from Delaware.

– Proper procedure?

By November 15th, the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the farm on Byrd Road to take a statement from the last people to see Christine Sheddy. The occupants, Clarence aka Butch, aka Junior, aka JR, Jackson and Teresa Lynn, aka Tia Johnson, tell the story that they had left the farm on the afternoon of the 13th to pick their children up from school and when they returned they found that Christine was gone and had left her two young children behind.

It’s also known that at the time of Christine’s disappearance a cousin of Tia’s, Justin Hadel was living at the farm house and he was questioned as well. It is not known if Justin Hadel left the farm house with JR and Tia when they went to pick their children up from school. There is evidence that tells a different story than the one that JR, Tia, and Justin tell.

There are others who LE has identified that were on the premises during the day of November 13th when Christine was reported missing.

Time Out……… Dose of rationality………………..

Nictitates tale says that Christine was murdered on the night of November 12th. How this has been determined is anyone’s guess and it appears as if a supposition has been made. Nictitates groupies are hanging on the web of tales accepting it as the gospel truth. We know that Nictitates nest has hatched out some interesting babies who have become a team and they claim to have psychic powers.

Observers of the international seer society have mixed thoughts about their special abilities and say that it’s a show worth seeing. Over the past two years, the team of seers has placed Christine all over the countryside. Witnesses tell OE that some within LE were willing to be opened minded enough and to satisfy Christine’s family’s insistence of looking into information provided by the seers. But that is something that will be for a later chapter of the Odor on Nictitate tale.

We all can speculate as to what happened to Christine and come up with a determination however that doesn’t mean that it’s the truth. Only those who witnessed the happenings of what went on the evening of November 12th and the day of November 13th, know the real story.

Sources tell us that three days later a Worcester County Sheriff is seen going through the neighborhood surrounding the farm armed with pictures of a young man and woman practicing tongue exercises together. They are asking folks if they have seen the young woman because she is missing.

One eyewitness tells us that it was a Sunday afternoon when they were stopped while on Byrd Road and asked about the pictures. The Deputy who asked them was off duty and they joked and teased with him about his dedication to his job.

Within a couple of days following, Worcester County Sheriff’s arrive on the Byrd Road Farm to search for the missing woman. Several units are dispatched to aide in this effort. The occupants of the farm house are not at home.

Scuttle butt is that LE found the door to the farm house ajar and checked it out for a possible breaking and entering. Upon entering the house, pets within were found in physically bad shape and the proper authorities were called to remove them from their environment.

When LE left the premises, they stopped and showed the neighbors the pictures and asked about the missing woman. The neighbors tell OE that they did not recognize the woman in the picture but learned her name and that she had been reported missing. LE also asked and was given pictures from a security camera on their property.

Okay, Time Out….... Now I don’t know about the rest of you but…… from what I understand, in Maryland, people who want to file a missing persons report should contact the law agency within the county that they are living or where the missing person was living, not where they went missing from. The next step is to file a written report with that agency and provide LE with as many details about the missing person as they can. Remember that PCPD told the family to contact the Delaware State Police? The Delaware police then told the family that they needed to contact local authorities where the person went missing from. Since the family didn’t know where the farm was located, they contacted the Pocomoke Volunteer Fire Department and were given the correct address of the farm. Is it too far of a stretch of one’s imagination to think that the family was told by PCPD what the procedure is? Nothing more nothing less?

Rationality dose - In less than two days time the police take a statement concerning Christine missing. What can be clearly seen here is “special” treatment if you take into consideration all of the legal procedures for a person to be considered missing and for LE to step in.

We are now into over a week since Christine went missing. There is no indication of foul play behind her disappearance but LE is still looking for her. If everyone is to believe the early stories, Christine was portrayed as someone who had a habit of disappearing. It’s been said that she had been known to drop her two youngest children off with their father Levi Hall and then pull a vanishing act. At the time that Christine went to Pocomoke for an extended visit, Levi was leaving messages on My Space looking for her.

Police investigations deal in facts. There is a reason for that and it’s called the law. The law is there to protect people’s rights and LE can’t just go around accusing people of things without hard proof. A family’s say so is not hard proof of anything except their loyalty to a family member.

It’s reasonable to think that by the end of November 2007, LE had heard so many stories from many sources that they were going to have to start sifting through all of the statements and try to figure out if indeed there had been foul play surrounding Christine’s disappearance.

Sources tell OE that in early December, LE visited the Byrd Road property again at night time. JR and Tia had been evicted and Christine’s case had been turned over to the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation.

Eyewitnesses to this visit say that WCBI investigators notified them that they would be on the property and not to be alarmed if they observed lights coming from the now empty farm house. At this time, the neighbors were still using the services of a private security firm and LE didn’t want to cause any unnecessary concern over their presence.

During this same month, December 2007, LE along with Flatland Search and Rescue conducted a search of the entire Byrd Road Area.

What did WCBI find on their visit to the farm house in early December? If you listen to the ranting of the cop bashers - nothing.

Time Out…….here comes another dose of rationality………. It’s highly doubtful that LE would discuss anything about what they did or didn’t find at the farm during their visits. What we do know is that they continued to look for Christine.

What we are told is that at some point during this time frame Christine’s mother had a conversation with Mike McDermott, Mayor of Pocomoke City and a detective with WCBI. Evidently some heated words were exchanged and as the story goes Mr. McDermott made some type of disparaging comment about Christine being a sponge on society. That comment has recently been repeated by a local blog owner who has said that it’s true because Mr. McDermott made the same comment about Christine to them.

What’s obvious is that there is bad blood between the Mayor of Pocomoke City, Christine’s family, and the owners of the local blog. Anyone can see that as soon as you read the many episodes of negative comments on the blog concerning the Mayor of our fair city.

Somehow in all of the controversy over the Mayor, Christine’s family members and the blog owners joined forces for a common cause. Get the Mayor/Detective. This is where the lines get real fuzzy and it’s a take no prisoner war. It’s apparent to bloggers that you are either with them are you’re not. There is not any middle ground and you can’t be interested in helping to find Christine unless you are also interested in bashing Mr. McDermott.

What gets real confusing is how the battle with the Mayor equates to slip shod police work in looking for Christine. Yes, I know, I’m kind of jumping around here on subjects but honestly if you’ve been a witness to any of the shenanigans, this is how it goes. You can’t talk or think about one without the other. If Mayor McDermott made such a disparaging comment about Christine, then he needs to man up, own it, and correct the problem!

Unfortunately for all of the many fine men and woman of LE who have been in any way involved in Christine’s case are now the targets of the bad mouthing. Sources who have observed the work of LE tell OE that the police have made many efforts to find Christine. One source tells us that Christine’s family knows that LE is progressing in the case and at this time they are waiting on crucial evidence.

Many sources tell OE that they have witnessed LE efforts in finding Christine. One witness tells OE “I have seen many times where detectives involved in Christine’s case have been out searching on their day off”. So now you have it folks. Did LE drop the ball? OE says NO. For all of the thankless ingrates OE is stepping up in their place and says “thank you” to LE for all of your efforts in trying to find Christine!

OE thinks it would be an intelligent decision for the cop bashers to stop their shenanigans. To lay blame on LE is ridiculous and disrespectful of their efforts. Nictitates tale is just that, a tale filled with nonsense and maliciousness. The seer’s society needs to cut the crap. The word charlatan comes to mind.

Up next……… Odor on Nictitate, Chapter 4: The Search is on for Christine.

Note: For those of you who want to highjack writings from OE – DON’T. Any writings contributed by Odor Eliminator belong to The Pocomoke Public Eye exclusively and all rights are reserved. You may not copy and paste, dissect, snip, or use any of OE’s writings in any part or its entirety without prior written consent.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Somerset deputy who lost job feels 'robbed' (update)


Board found officer guilty of leaking info;

Former Somerset Sheriff's deputy James "Troy" Durham knew he wanted to be a cop since he was 5 years old.

When the Pocomoke City native's parents would take him to fairs and carnivals, he didn't spend a lot of time playing games and riding rides like the other children. He would spend his time talking to police officers, and playing with the lights and sirens in their cruisers, he said.

"I think God planted that seed in my heart all my life," he said.

Durham, 41, said he spent most of his adult life working toward his dream job, which materialized when he joined the Princess Anne Police Department in 1992. Six years later, he made his way to the Somerset County Sheriff's Office -- the same place where his dream career came to an abrupt end.

"I want to go back because I feel like I was robbed and it was taken from me," Durham said referring to his job. "I want to go back and serve my community."

Durham alleges that he was fired from the Sheriff's Office out of retaliation after he refused to omit information from an incident report, one in which he indicated he used force to subdue a suspect who resisted arrest.

However, according to Somerset County Sheriff Bobby Jones, Durham was terminated because he released information regarding the report.

"Our policy is not to disseminate information, and he did," Jones said. "And he's still doing it."

Durham filed a civil lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office and Somerset County Commissioners in April. The six-page complaint details the incident of the changed report and alleges misconduct within his former place of employment, stating the commissioners and Sheriff's Office violated state laws, including the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights. Copies of the complaint and other documents were faxed to public officials, government agencies and other law enforcement departments across the state.

The grievance


Continued @
DelmarvaNow.com

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Somerset deputy fired after complaint

Officer claims he was ordered to alter, omit info in arrest report

James "Troy" Durham was nervous when he heard that Worcester County sheriff's deputies were knocking on his door Friday afternoon

It wasn't so long ago that the 41-year-old former Somerset County Sheriff's deputy was in the law enforcement brotherhood.

But he was kicked out of the family after working more than two decades as an officer when Somerset Sheriff Bobby Jones terminated him last week. Durham had been placed on administrative leave in September 2008, where he remained and continued to be paid by the county for a year.

"It was an effort to intimidate me and keep me quiet," Durham said of the visit from the Worcester officers. "I am in fear of my well-being."

Durham says this all began with a single arrest report. He assisted the Maryland State Police during an arrest. Per normal routine, he filed a report shortly after. Durham says he was asked to change his report and omit certain pieces of information. When he refused, he claims he was told to make the change or turn in his badge and gun.

He made the change.

But he kept the original report. And with it he filed a grievance.

That grievance, Durham maintains, is why he was placed on leave, why he was fired, why he became the target of an investigation and why he now fears for his safety.

For filing his grievance, Durham said, he found himself under investigation for "leaking internal documents."

His grievance has since become the foundation for a civil lawsuit against the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and Somerset County Commissioners.

It details the incident of the changed report and alleged misconduct within his former place of employment.

Errant faxes
According to Durham, the house call by Worcester deputies was triggered by faxes that contained court documents related to the lawsuit.

The six-page complaint, filed in April, alleges the commissioners and Sheriff's Office violated state laws, including the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.

Why Durham's lawsuit was faxed to various law enforcement agencies is unclear and has sparked an investigation at the request of Wicomico County State's Attorney Davis Ruark.

The deputies were sent to check on Durham on Friday simply to make sure he was OK, according to Sgt. Ed Schreier, a spokesman for the Worcester County Sheriff's Office.



"The officers were sent there because a lot of faxes were being sent out," he said. "They went down there to check his status."

Schreier later changed his story, saying he didn't know the exact reason the deputies were checking on Durham and he could not confirm the dispatch was directly related to the faxes.

Copies of documents related to the lawsuit were sent by fax to law enforcement departments, public officials within the state and other agencies, according to Ruark.

The phone number at the top of the fax, which indicates the number the document was sent from, is a number associated with the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office. But Ruark said the documents were not sent from his office.

"The fraudulent originating fax number at the top is inexcusable and was done with an intention to mislead those receiving the faxes," Ruark said.

The State's Attorney's Office was bombarded with phone calls and complaints after the first round of faxes were sent out about six months ago, according to Ruark. And as a result, the office took extra security precautions and changed the locks on its office doors. However, more documents were sent out this week, again claiming to have originated from the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office.

Memos to other government agencies were also distributed to inform them that the faxed lawsuit documents were not from the Wicomico state's attorney.

Now, the legal documents that allege misconduct and violations by the Somerset County Sheriff's Office and Somerset County Commissioners have passed through many hands across the state, and Durham says he still wonders how he became the subject of an investigation and ultimately lost his career.

According to Durham, the threads of his 20-year law enforcement career started to unravel when he filed that grievance in September 2008.

sboykin@dmg.gannett.com

VIA delmarvanow.com

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Pocomoke leaves positions open to absorb state cuts

The Pocomoke mayor and Council voted Monday night to approve a cut of more than one-quarter of a million dollars in the 2009-2010 budget to absorb the effects of revenue reductions from the state.

City Manager Russell W. Blake reported that the state was cutting $221,522, mostly in highway user revenues, from the funds that would normally have been sent to Pocomoke City. The balance was cut from aid for police protection. Blake said that this was the largest cut the state, which is slashing its own budget as tax revenues fall short, had ever imposed on Pocomoke City.

Blake said that there were also items not included in the budget, such as the $10,000 reward for the arrests of the arsonists in the Public Works fire, $20,000 in costs related to a well project, and $12,000 for the purchase of the Fleming lot on Market Street.

To meet this shortfall, he proposed savings of $262,277 in unspent capital outlay and in not filling employment positions. There would be no layoffs or furloughs of personnel already working for the city.

The budget would also continue to include funds for a part-time downtown coordinator and the pigging of the water lines in the Pocomoke Heights area.

Treatment plant proposals
The council reviewed a proposal for contract administration for the sewage treatment plant ENR upgrade project. The only one that was submitted was from George, Miles and Buhr. Blake suggested that the council proceed to negotiate with the firm, a move that was given the okay by the council.

Proposed policies
The state of Maryland had asked the council to submit a policy giving guidelines for borrowing by the town. Blake said that this is not a problem for Pocomoke City, since the town had incurred very little debt. The policy, which was passed by the council, calls for the debt not to exceed 3 percent of the operating fund or one percent of the assessed valuation of property in the city limits.

The state is also requiring revisions in the stormwater management ordinance. The council is expecting to hear a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission at a future meeting. The deadline for a draft ordinance is Nov. 11.

In a hearing concerning a repair or demolish order for the former truck stop property on Route 13 south, William Hudson, one of the property owners, appeared to comment about the order. He said that the building had been closed, but he questioned the short amount of time to demolish the building if that action was needed.

Mayor Michael A. McDermott said even though the building might have been secured, it was "obviously an abandoned building."

Hudson said he would need more time, about six months, if the building had to be demolished. He added that he would take care of covering up the graffiti that is presently on the building.

The town decided to give him 60 days to remove the graffiti and secure the building and would review the matter in six months concerning any other actions.

Ron Sawyer, a Pocomoke resident, appeared before the council to discuss the policy on removal of abandoned cars. He had received a notice about a vehicle on his property and had removed it. He thought the policy was a good one, but that it was not being handled fairly. He has seen a number of other abandoned vehicles throughout the town.

McDermott said that a lot of the action in this area was complaint-driven. He also requested Sawyer's help in reporting any vehicles he has seen.

Under other business, the council passed an ordinance declaring a number of items, mostly cars, as surplus so they could be disposed of and they approved the Fair Board's plan to reimburse horse owners who had come to this year's races at the fair. The races were rained out.

via delmarvanow.com

Monday, September 21, 2009

How Does The Public Eye Feel?

Well, let me tell you.

From the beginning I was not even aware that Pocomoke had a missing person. I found that information on another blog a few months after the person went missing. At that point I asked questions, did some searching. I did alot of searching and I found so much bumbled-up info out there that Sherlock Holmes could not string it together.

Now, in the beginning I do believe that LE "dropped the ball". But I also believe they must have had a reason not to jump on this right away. We do have an outstanding Sheriffs Department so the question to why the wait in the very beginning we may never know.

But the people of Pocomoke worked diligently. They talked to friends, neighbors, searched the internet, asked questions. They even blogged tirelessly trying to help. Eventually, they even personally volunteered their personal time and bodies on multiple occasions.

Then things quiet down again for a while. Yet the folks of Pocomoke, the ones that were in it from the start, kept pecking the keyboards finding bits and pieces and providing that info for whomever needed to know.

Still, no sight nor sound about what is actually happening to find this missing person. All the while the family is losing hope by the day. But the Pocomoke community has not forgotten them. Slowed down? Maybe. It's the same information over and over but we still work on tirelessly. We said we would, and by-golly we won't quit!

Fast forward: Something happened. What? We don't know......nothing new......Is anyone working on this? Then BANG!! New evidence! Yeeehaw! Just as we thought LE was not working on this. They prove that they are on the case with new findings.

Now shhhhhhh!! No one say anything about this "new"find. Ok. So we wait and wait. What's going on we wonder but we are told to "Shhhhh". So mums the word because we are a community of integrity and few want to be on the end of "so-n-so told me", "he said/she said" you know the small town "chatter".

Now once again it quiets down for awhile, and once again we wonder. Ok. Times up! Let's do this thing again......... Blogs are alive, people talking about who, what, when, why and how. We go to new places, do new searches, contact new people. We put a fire under their ass once again but each time we come up with less or I should more of the same. Of course we do. There is only so much info available and we have seen it all before.

Fast forward again. Someone finds a website that deals in missing persons that decides they want to help. Yeeehaw!! The city is ecstatic that this new person is willing to jump in and help. We probably bombarded them with emails. I know I did. I even sent them embarrassing emails of things I personally question and am skeptical about. But I figured what the heck.....leave nothing that could possibly help out of the picture.

Enters---- the "new hope" for the Sheddy family. At first we all stuck fast to our computers. We just could not wait to get home and fire up the PC, read and contribute VIA comments about what we knew and how we knew it. The "new hope" seemed vigilant and progressive.

But wait!! Something's not quite right. Some things we have said are taken way out of context. We are told there is no mishandling by the first appointed. I was even told by this "new hope" that she would personally campaign to help the first working on the case, to seek a higher office that the first in control of the case was seeking. (scratching head) Yeah, I know. That's a rough one.

Now off to blogging we go. Oh boy! We are going to get somewhere now! But wait! That's not right. Tha'ts not what was said. Now I have some questions. I ask those questions. But instead of an answer I get blamed. Me? Ok must be a mistake.

I/we keep plugging away and asking questions but I find now I and others are being blamed. What's going on here?

I start looking for the truth. Then I started posting my findings of the truth and BOOM!! I'm suddenly the bad guy. I'm the blogger that's trying to stir up trouble........I'm now the bad-guy, a target.

Oh boy! Now I'm going to be sued.
More and more people jump aboard the truth all the while others are now being accused of being me and I of being others. Why this diversion? Why the division? All the while the PCVFD is being implicated in a cover-up and conspiracy. We read about fires in Parsonsburg. There's a deputy Fire Marshall shot in the leg and the thefts at the Wicomico county landfill plus an eleven year old RICO case? Yet, I have to ask.........Where is Christine?

It looks as if the "new hope" has changed directions and is looking into some kind of government conspiracy that simply does not exist. A complete 180 degree turn from what they stated they would do from the beginning. The "new hope" demanded "proof to back-up" "accusations" from others but now the "new hope" is making accusations with NO proof. Anyone that can read can go back and see that for themselves.

What happened? Did the "new hope" hit a road block and needs some kind of juicy story for their readers, even if it's an embellishment? Did the PPE's throw a wrench into their spokes? Or did the outright lies just catch up to them.

Not much has happened since the "new hope: accused our VFD of deleting information from their website and insinuating that our VFD is involved in a conspiracy.

So, is this the end? What exactly is next? It has become hush-hush once again. Will the police come a-knocking at your door?

Nah!! It's just getting started!

Hold on to your hats!!!!!!!!