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8/06 -
Missing Person 8/07 - Lottery Scam Arrest 8/12 - Hit and Run 8/27 - Lottery Scam 8/28 - Wanted Subject in Custody |
MISSING PERSON
August 6, 2002
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating the report of a missing 15-year-old girl. Elrinda Delece Jones was last seen on Friday, August 2, 2002 at the main downtown library where she performs volunteer work. Anyone who has seen Elrinda or has any information about her disappearance is asked to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at (954) 828-5700.
Name: Elrinda Delece Jones
DOB: October 15, 1986
Race/Sex: Black/Female
Height: 5’ 2”
Weight: 110 lbs
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Build: Medium
Scars: Round scar on left forearm
Other Identifying Characteristics: Glasses
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LOTTERY SCAM ARREST
August 7, 2002
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has made an arrest for Grand Theft in an attempted Lottery scam.
On Tuesday, August 06, 2002, Alberto Fernandez approached the victim and told her that he had a winning Lottery ticket. He explained to her that he could not cash the ticket because he was an illegal alien. Fernandez offered to sell the ticket to the victim for $5,000. The victim agreed to meet Fernandez at the Twin Oaks Shopping Center on West Davie Blvd. the following day (Wednesday, August 7, 2002) and buy the ticket. The victim then contacted the police department and made a report. Detective Mike Arbit of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department contacted the victim and arranged to set up a surveillance of the transaction. Detective Arbit watched as Fernandez approached the victim and overheard him ask her for the $5,000. Detective Arbit immediately took Fernandez into custody for Grand Theft. Fernandez made a full confession that he intended to steal the victim’s money.
This is just the most recent in a series of similar scam operated in South Florida in recent weeks. Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of this scam is asked to contact Detective Arbit at (954) 828-5506.
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HIT AND RUN
August 12, 2002
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is requesting the assistance from the public in locating the whereabouts or information regarding the identity of a hit and run driver and vehicle. The victim has just regained consciousness from the morning of the accident which occurred June 22, 2002.
Dimitri Marin was riding his bicycle, traveling north along the curb in the 1900 block of North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, when an unknown vehicle struck him from behind and fled the scene. The driver of the vehicle failed to render any aid to Marin who suffered life threatening injuries, and left no information. No witnesses have as yet come forward and there is no physical evidence at the scene to indicate the type of vehicle that struck Marin. Dimitri Marin is now confined to a nursing home and still recooperating.
Anyone who possibly witnessed this crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at (954) 493-TIPS, or Fort Lauderdale Police Traffic Homicide Investigator Faye Zullick at (954) 828-5825.
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LOTTERY SCAM
August 27, 2002
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a “lottery scam” also commonly know as a pigeon drop fraud.
On August 12, 2002 the victim, a 76 year-old male was approached by an older Hispanic male at the Coral Ridge Mall who stated that he had won the lottery but that he could not cash in the ticket since he was an illegal immigrant. While the victim was talking to the “winner” a female in her 50’s approached and overhearing the conversation “offered to help.”
The victim took both the male and female back to his home where the victim asked his wife to accompany them to the lottery office. While on the way to the lottery office the unknown female asked that they stop by the mall so she could check on her car. This is where the suspect asked our victims along with the female for “some good faith money.” The unknown female went into her bank and withdrew $30,000.00 and brought it back to the van where she asked the suspect if he wanted to count it. The suspect stated he trusted her. The victim then entered her bank and withdrew $12,000.00 cash and returned to the van. The suspect then gave each of the ladies his “good faith” money an envelope containing $2,500.00 at which time the unknown female told the victim “ don’t put it in your purse like that, put it all in this envelope so that you don’t get robbed”. The unknown female the put all the cash in an envelope and returned it to the victim, but not before quickly exchanging envelopes without the victim seeing it.
Both the unknown female and the victims went to their respective banks which were next door to each other to deposit their money for safe keeping before everyone would meet back at the van and travel together to the lottery office.
Once the victim entered the bank and opened the envelope to make the deposit there was nothing in the envelope but newspaper clippings.
The victims ran out of the bank, but the male and female suspects were gone.
The suspects are described as:
- Hispanic male, 60’s, 5’5”, 150 pounds, dark hair
- Hispanic female, 50’s, 5’6”, 140 pounds light colored hair
Both suspects were caught on mall surveillance cameras. Those photos cane be seen on our web site at www.flpd.org.
Anyone with information or if you may have been a victim is asked to call Detective Mike Arbit at (954) 828-5506 or Crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S.
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WANTED SUBJECT IN CUSTODY
August 28, 2002
Fort Lauderdale Police Department Fugitive Detectives Chuck Morrow and John Curry arrested Gary Devon West, 02-24-73, early this morning at an address in Pompano with the assistance of BSO/Pompano and Fort Lauderdale Police K-9 Officers.
Through a continuing investigation West was identified as the subject who assaulted Fort Lauderdale Police Officer M.P.Smith on Friday, August 23 shortly after 1:00 p.m. as Smith attempted to arrest West for traffic charges.
Originally Mathis Walker 12-28-76 was identified by the owner of the vehicle involved in the traffic stop as the driver and the person that assaulted Officer Smith. Detectives working the case were also given the name of Gary West as a suspect. Both Walker and Smith are similar in physical chacteristics, 6’4”-6’6”, 215 pounds and in their mid 20’s.
Walker, seeing his photo in the local media came to the Fort Lauderdale Police department on Monday afternoon and met with Detectives. Walker stated he had an alibi and was not in the area during the incident, and Detectives have confirmed this.
Gary Devon West is being charged with the following active warrants:
- Possession of Cocaine
- Uttering Forged Bills
- Suspended License
- Resist/Obstructing Justice
- Leaving Accident Scene
- Unlawful Tag
- Operating a Motor Vehicle w/o valid license
Additional Charges in reference to Friday’s incident will be following.
Officer Smith underwent surgery on Tuesday for his injuries and is in good condition. He is suffering from a spiral fracture of the leg, and torn ligaments in his ankle and knee.
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