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ROBBERY ARREST

January 3, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has arrested and charged 31 year old Shawn King with two counts of armed robbery, however King is a suspect in as many as a dozen robberies in the City of Ft Lauderdale, along with four others in Broward County.

Late last night, Wednesday the 2nd of January, an armed robbery occurred at the Papa Johns Pizza, 1100 East Sunrise Blvd. The suspect description matched that of a suspect in several armed robberies that had taken place in the month of December. That suspect was known to drive a white Ford Aerostar van. Officers and detectives responded to the scene, however the culprit could not be located. At approximately 1:00 this morning an armed robbery occurred at the Shell gas station located at Davie Blvd and Andrews Avenue, once again same description. As officers and detectives were in route to and at the Shell station another armed robbery was reported at the Miami Subs, 1700 block of Federal Highway. Detective Victor London, who was in route to the Shell station, observed a white Ford Aerostar van leaving the area. Detective London followed the van as patrol officers responded. An attempt was made to stop the van however a short chase ensued with the culprit being taken into custody without incident in the 2300 block of Davie Blvd.

King was transported to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where detectives are currently interviewing him.

There is no booking photo available of the arrested at this time, as detectives will be showing line-ups to several possible victims, and sharing the photo and information with other agencies.

ARRESTED: Shawn King, 04-02-70

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SEXUAL BATTERY INVESTIGATION

January 3, 2002

Bad guy

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating a sexual battery of a 22 year old female that occurred on New Years Day at approximately 10:00 a.m. in the 800 block of NW 62 Street.

The incident started at 9:30 a.m. New Years Day as the victim was exiting the drive-thru of the McDonalds restaurant located just west of the intersection of Rock Island Road and Southgate Blvd in the City of North Lauderdale. There a black male entered the vehicle through the passenger side door and threatened and choked the victim.

The victim was forced to drive to the rear of the Union Bank located in 800 block of NW 62 Street where she was sexually battered by the male suspect. The victim was then forced out of the vehicle and the suspect drove off in the victim’s vehicle.

The victim’s vehicle has not been recovered, it is a 1990 Toyota Camry, white in color, with a Florida tag # of WRU-52I. The vehicle also has an American flag decal on the trunk.

The suspect is described as a black male, 5’11”, 25-30 years of age, short cropped hair, prescription glasses, last seen wearing a dark shirt with red letters.

A composite sketch of the suspect along with a photo of the victims vehicle type are available to viewed on the Fort Lauderdale Police web site at www.flpd.org.

   
Victim's missing vehicle type

Anyone with information on the suspect or the vehicle is asked to call Detective Felicia Barnwell at 828-5533 or Crime Stoppers at 493-T.I.P.S.

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BURGLARY SUSPECT ARRESTED

January 4, 2002

Fort Lauderdale Police have arrested a suspect who is believed to have committed as many as 15 residential burglaries in the Imperial Point neighborhood of northeast Fort Lauderdale during the past three to four months.

Undercover officers have been patrolling the area around NE 62 Street in hopes of locating a burglar who has been very active in the area. At approximately 10:50 AM on Friday, January 04, 2002, officers received a call of a burglary in progress in the 1700 block of NE 62 Street. A resident called saying a white male was attempting to break into her home while she was inside. The burglar fled and undercover tactical officers along with patrol officers immediately cordoned off the area and began searching for the suspect.

At approximately 11:08 AM officers found Ted Letwinski (W/M, dob: 4/26/61, 217 NW 39 Street #E, Oakland Park) in the 1600 block of NE 62 Street and took him into custody after a short foot pursuit. Letwinski had items of jewelry; computer game cartridges and other property in his possession that officers believe he took from burglaries committed in the area this morning.

Letwinski was taken to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department where he is being interviewed by burglary detectives investigating a rash of burglaries in the area over recent months.

The Police Tactical Unit is comprised of five undercover officers assigned to combat crime sprees. They are able to concentrate on a particular area or type of crime when traditional law enforcement tactics are limited.

Letwinski is currently charged with one count of burglary of an occupied dwelling with more charges expected as the investigation continues.

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POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTING

January 10, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is continuing to investigate yesterday’s police involved shooting that occurred near the intersection of SW 4 Avenue and SW 18 Street at approximately 2:20 p.m.

Mounted Officers working in the area of the Croissant Park School observed a Red Ford Focus traveling south on SW 4 Avenue well over the posted 15 M.P.H. school zone speed limit. Officers entered the roadway and directed the vehicle to pull to the side, which it did on SW 18 Street just west of 4 Avenue. As the officers began to question the driver, the passenger became argumentative with the officers. Both driver and passenger were asked to exit the vehicle as the officers requested back up officers. As the back up officers arrived, the passenger suddenly began to flee north on SW 4 Avenue, with officers in foot pursuit. The suspect ran around a wooden stockade fence into the front parking area of a home located at 1719 SW 4 Avenue. As the officers turned the corner of the fence, the suspect produced a handgun from his waistband and raised it toward the officers. Both officers fired their weapons at the suspect striking him several times. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect is being identified as 21-year-old Jerry Raoul Raphael, 02-29-80. Although it is unknown why Raphael ran, he is currently listed in Teletype records as being reported on February 21, 2001 as a missing/endangered person with possible suicidal tendencies, and currently has an active arrest warrant dated March 6, 2001 for Armed Burglary and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. Raphael, according to friends fled to New Jersey shortly after the March incident and returned to the Fort Lauderdale area last week.

The officers involved in the shooting are Mounted Officer Ken Van Desteeg, employed since March of 1994 and Officer Jerry Williams, employed since May of 2001. Both Officers have been placed on Administrative Leave as per Departmental Policy.

The exact number of times each Officer fired and the exact number of times the suspect was struck are not being released at this time and are still under investigation.

The driver of the vehicle is not being identified at this time, and is not being charged with any criminal action in the shooting. Statements made by the driver indicate that the speed of the Ford Focus was “in excess of 40 M.P.H.” and as the driver observed the Mounted Officers he attempted to slow down before being pulled over. The driver is being cooperative with investigators.

Anyone with information on the deceased suspect, or the shooting itself, is asked to call Detective John Curcio at 828-5529, or Detective Mark Breen at 828-5708.

The mother of the deceased has asked that her name or personal information not be released and that her privacy be respected.

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FUGITIVE ARREST

Fort Lauderdale Police Department Fugitive Detective Chuck Morrow has arrested 22-year-old Michael Johnson who was wanted in reference to an assault on two Broward Sheriffs Deputies.

On July 23, 2001 Johnson was involved in a traffic stop with Deputies near the intersection of NW 27 Avenue and NW 6 Street. Johnson rammed one of the BSO vehicles and then stuck a Deputy with his vehicle.

Johnson has been on the run since then, however information was developed and Detective Morrow along with members of the U.S. Marshall’s Service began surveillance on several locations throughout Broward County.

At approximately 12:45 this afternoon Johnson was taken into custody at a residence in the 6000 block of Wiles Road in Coral Springs by Morrow, U.S. Marshal’s, and Coral Sprigs Police.

Also seized at the residence was a TEC-9 handgun along with crack cocaine.

ARRESTED: Michael Johnson, 09-11-79

CHARGES: Active warrants for Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, 2 counts; Aggravated Assault on a Law enforcement Officer, 2 counts and Trafficking in Cocaine

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TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT

January 15, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a traffic safety checkpoint in the 1100 block of NW 6 Street on Wednesday, January 16, 2002, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Officers will be checking vehicles for any equipment violations, along with proper driver’s licenses and vehicle registration.

No traffic delays are expected as a result of this checkpoint.

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VICE ARRESTS

January 16, 2002

After a two-week joint undercover investigation, Fort Lauderdale Police Department Vice Detectives along with Agents from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco made 11 arrests at Chaps Lounge, located at 1727 North Andrews Extension.

Steve Holt

The arrests took place at approximately 10:00 p.m. Monday night, January 15, 2002.

Arrested were the clubs owner, Steve Holt, 2 club employees, and 8 patrons. Those arrested were charged with exposure of sexual organs, lewd behavior and nudity/alcohol violations.

The undercover operation had shown that the lounge set aside two areas that encouraged and promoted illicit sexual activity between club patrons and that the sexual activity was a nightly occurrence between club patrons. Additionally the club was found to be promoting illicit acts in a weekly contest with a cash prize.

Holt was additionally charged with Blocking an Emergency Exit, after detectives discovered several exits that were actually barricaded and would have blocked an escape route in the event of a fire.

For additional information on the investigation, call Fort Lauderdale Police Detective Sgt. Gary Daughenbaugh at 828-6629 or Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Captain Pat Roberts at 917-1346.

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TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT

January 23, 2002

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department will be conducting a traffic checkpoint on Friday, January 25, 2002, from 7:30 p.m. to Midnight in the 1400 block of NE 4 Avenue.

Officers will be checking vehicles for any equipment violations, along with proper driver’s licenses and vehicle paperwork.

No traffic delays are expected as a result of this operation.

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