Best of Cops Corner 2010

Since The East County Observer launched Cops Corner in August 1999, it has consistently been one of the most loved and most read features in the paper. It seems readers always want to know what kind of mischief is happening in their community.

So, as we celebrate another year, we have compiled the most outrageous, hysterical and — at times —creepiest entries of 2010.

 Sit back, relax with a mug of egg nog, and enjoy this trip down memory lane to jail. 

Jan. 26
1:30 p.m. — 8900 block of 68th Avenue East. Burglary. A white male reportedly went to the rear of the residence and took an air compressor that was being stored in a shed. The suspect then walked north down the street while wheeling the compressor behind him. The suspect made it to the 9200 block of 66th Avenue Drive East and went up to another residence and asked the owner if he could leave the compressor there until his friend came to pick him up. The suspect left the compressor and continued to walk down the street.

Feb. 3
3:50 p.m. — 6500 block of Anchor Loop. Aggravated battery (dating). The suspect and the victim have been dating. The suspect went to the victim’s residence and zapped him with a stun gun several times.

Feb. 9
 5:48 p.m. — 6225 S.R. 64 E (Walmart). Petit theft. The defendant obtained a USB A/C adapter in the electronics department and proceeded to the toy aisle. The defendant opened the packaging, removed the device and placed it in his right front pocket. Pre-Miranda, the defendant stated, “Yeah, I stole it.” Following his Miranda rights, the defendant stated, “Man I told you I took it. It was a $19.95 A/C adapter for my computer. I’m just being real with you. I told you already I took it.”

March 10
 1:04 p.m. — 2911 53rd Ave. E. (Walmart). Retail theft. The defendant entered the store and concealed $45 worth of scrubs into a bag. The defendant was detained by loss prevention and issued a trespass warning. While transporting the defendant to the transport unit, her husband approached and told her there was going to be a “domestic” when she got out because she “disgraced” the family.

March 22
 6:39 a.m. — 8604 S.R. 70 E. (Hess). Criminal mischief. A male customer driving a white Ford truck parked his truck at pump 14. The male then exited his truck and busted the four nozzles off of the gas pumps.

March 23
 6 p.m. — 7393 S.R. 70 E. (Bob Evans). Obtaining food with intent to defraud. A white male parked his vehicle on the shoulder of the westbound lanes of State Road 70 across from the restaurant. He then jumped the fence and went into the restaurant and ordered a meal for about $10. After he ate, the suspect hid out in the bathroom and was making inappropriate comments to the young female staff. The suspect kept peeking out and looking to see if the employees were not looking so he could run out. He finally did so without paying.
 
April 14
 8:15 p.m. — 2911 53rd Ave. E. (Walmart). Retail theft. While the defendant was in the cosmetics department, he selected two packages of cologne. He then began to cut the merchandise from its packaging. He then concealed the merchandise under his armpits.

May 24
 11:15 a.m. — 5100 block of 53rd Avenue East. Battery. The victim and the defendant got into an argument about the victim operating a remote control car in the parking lot because it upsets his dogs. The defendant took a chair and hit the remote control car. The defendant stated the victim drove the car into his chair.
4:44 p.m. — 6225 S.R. 64 E. (Walmart). Retail theft. Store security observed the defendant selecting a gallon of Hawaiian Punch and a bag of Jolly Rancher candy. The defendant then exited the store. The merchandise, valued at $3.94, was recovered.

July 17
 4:43 p.m. — 1700 block of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard (Publix). Retail theft (petit theft). A store manager stated a young male left the store and passed all points of sale without paying for a box of chicken and a box of doughnuts.

July 27
 10:45 a.m. — 7400 block of Tara Preserve Lane. Trespassing. The complainant noticed a large garbage can was out of place and up against the security fence to the resident community pool. After reviewing the surveillance video, a white male suspect was observed moving the garbage can and using it to climb over the fence. Once inside, the suspect is seen disrobing and skinny-dipping in the hot tub for about an hour.

Aug. 2
 11:50 a.m. — 10500 block of Winding Stream Way. Information. The victim has been receiving telephone calls from a certain phone number. He answered a few times, but the caller speaks only Spanish, and the victim could not understand him.

Sept. 14
 9:45 a.m. — 3100 block of 38th Terrace East. Burglary to an unoccupied dwelling. The victim came home from dropping her husband off at work and noticed her bedroom light was on. She then noticed her laptop computer was missing and her 50-inch television was on the back pool deck.

Oct. 5
 1:30 p.m. — 6200 block of 45th Lane East. Petit theft. The complainant reported an unknown person stole six lawn sprinkler heads from her lawn. This is an ongoing problem and marks the fourth time this has taken place in the last four months.

Dec. 7
 6:15 p.m. — 36255 S.R. 70 E. (Miller’s General Store). Retail theft. The suspect entered the store and was observed on surveillance video concealing a package of ice cream in his jacket and then exiting the store without paying for the item.