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Police beat
Article published on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006 |
Arrest made, counterfeit DVDs seized at flea market
PINELLAS PARK – Donald Bandera Jr., 39, of Dunedin, was arrested on Dec. 16 at the Wagon Wheel Flea Market on Park Boulevard in connection with alleged sales of counterfeit movie DVDs.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies report seizing more than 2,000 DVDs at the time of the arrest, following an investigation into allegations from a tip from the Motion Picture Association of American that Bandera was selling counterfeit movie DVDs that he had duplicated himself.
According to the police report, the arrest was made after a series of undercover buys at Bandera’s booth at the flea market. The counterfeit movies included Disney titles such as the new "Pirates," "Cars," "Finding Nemo" and the "Little Mermaid".
Detectives said in the police report that “citizens who are Christmas shopping should be aware of this counterfeiting practice, and that the DVDs produced - while a bargain, will be of inferior quality.”
Bandera reportedly sold these DVDs for $13 to $14, or three for $35. Detectives said a counterfeit DVD can be detected by poor quality labeling, packaging and discoloration of the disc itself due to the unprofessional DVD burning process used.
The Sheriff's Economic Crimes Section works regularly with the Motion Picture Association of America and other designer labeling fraud investigators on a regular basis to pursue complaints of counterfeit products, according to the police report.
Good Samaritan dies
PINELLAS PARK – A 32-year-old St. Petersburg man who was struck by a truck while helping a woman with a load of wood died Dec. 14 of severe head injuries. Paul Kepto died at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. Police said on Dec. 4 Kepto was helping a woman pick up lumber on U.S. 19 that had fallen from her vehicle when he was struck in the head by a passing truck’s mirror. Police said no charges have been filed, but the investigation is continuing.
Pinellas Park Middle School evacuated after bomb threat
PINELLAS PARK – Students and staff were evacuated from Pinellas Park Middle School Dec. 14 after someone called in a bomb threat. About 1,100 students were evacuated into the school’s athletic field that is located at 6940 70th Ave. No bomb was discovered after a thorough search by a Pinellas County’s Sheriff’s Office bomb detection dog. An investigation continues.
Man charged with loitering
PINELLAS PARK – A man in a strip mall with a stocking over his head told police he concealed a jump rope in his pants on Dec. 7 because “I like to jump rope.” The suspect also told police he was wearing a woman’s hose over his head because he was cold. Police noted that the temperature at the time of the incident was more than 70 degrees. Charged with loitering and prowling and released from the Pinellas County Jail without bail is Robert E. Bennett, 50, who is homeless. Officer Jimmy Rexroad said he was on patrol near the Parkside Strip Mall on U.S. 19 at about 9:40 a.m. when he spotted the suspect behind a row of businesses.
Palm Harbor man arrested on fraud charges
PINELLAS PARK – A Palm Harbor man, already in jail in lieu of $63,026 bail, had another charge lodged against him. Ronnie C. Wheelock, 40, has charges pending from fraud to practicing nursing without a license. Police said he had been arrested five other times since January on similar charges.
Detective Ken Blessing said Wheelock opened an unauthorized credit card and ran up $7,500 in illegal charges. The Discover card was opened in the name of Stanek Windows at 11721 U.S. 19. Wheelock allegedly used a company check to make a credit card payment. It was not clear how he was able to get the check. Wheelock remains in the Pinellas County Jail.
Job applicant walks off with laptop computer
PINELLAS PARK – A man who filled out a job application walked out of the business on Dec. 8 with a laptop computer. Officer Shannon Rozzi said the man went to U-Spray Systems at 13055 49th St. and applied for sales and maintenance positions.
Another applicant reported to company officials that a man just walked out with a computer under his jacket. He was last seen walking north on 49th Street. Police said the man returned and asked for his application back so he could make an addition. He left and never returned. Police said the suspect was a young black male, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall named Gerald who lives in St. Petersburg.
Cashier uses credit card to make illegal purchases
PINELLAS PARK – A city woman on Dec. 11 made a purchase at a local store and later discovered that a cashier did not return her credit card and instead used it to make a series of illegal purchases. Officer Jimmy Rexroad said the victim, who was not identified, did not know her credit card was missing until her bank called to report unusual activity on the card. The suspect, who was not immediately identified since charges are only pending, is a cashier in a store where the victim made a legitimate purchase.
Police warn senior citizens about scams
PINELLAS PARK – Police have warned senior citizens about money-grabbing scams that have been reported in recent weeks. People are urged to report any suspicious activity.
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Article published on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006
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