Crime Time

Keller athlete's truck stolen during hospital stay; pickup was rebuilt to honor his late father

Austin Burtnett, a former Keller High School football player, has had a rough time in October.

First he was injured a few weeks ago during football practice at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens where he is on scholarship.

Then he developed a serious staph infection.

And while he was hospitalized with that, a thief stole his prized 1986 GMC 1500 Sierra truck. But the pickup was more than just shiny black paint and a fresh muffler job.

Austin, 19, had just completed the final phase of restoring the truck, which his dad, Foley Burtnett of Springtown, helped him get for his 16th birthday a few years ago. His dad died in June 2011 from stomach cancer.

"He called me in tears on Friday," said his mother, Kyle Spaulding of Keller. "Austin spent the money his father left him to rebuild that truck in honor of his dad, and in memory of their time together."

Read about efforts to recover the truck in this report from Tom Uhler.

 

Man tries to boost 'bait' vehicle in Arlington

Have you seen this man? If so, Arlington police want to talk, and you could be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers.

The man was videotaped trying to steal a police "bait" vehicle about 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1,  according to Tiara Ellis Richard, spokeswoman for Arlington Police Department.

The vehicle was a pickup truck parked in the 500 block of Woodcrest Lane.

It was put there by C.O.B.R.A. (Covert Organized Bait Recovery and Apprehension)  -- a cooperative effort between APD, the Fort Worth Police Department, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force.

Video surveillance taken from the interior of the pickup (below) shows the man try to start it with a tool. His efforts failed, so he left, leaving damage to the steering column.

"The suspect is most visible at the two points in the video -- at (the) 34-second point and at one minute and 38 seconds," according to an APD news release.

Anyone with information about this man can call Detective Charlie Tutor at 817-459-5308 or Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward up to $1,000.

 

-- Bill Miller

Police: Texas ex-con targeted Obama but killed 75-year-old woman to practice

Just days after James Vernon McVay was released from prison, he broke into the home of a 75-year-old nurse and slashed her throat and stole her car as part of a bizarre plot to assassinate the president, South Dakota authorities say. McVay reportedly told police he needed to practice killing and planned to "kill and kill and kill" until he could reach Obama on a golf course and shootl him, according to news reports. McVay, who has a long criminal history in Texas, is now facing extradition to South Dakota to stand trial in the woman's death.

Bentley bandit's run comes to an end

A 22-year-old Oklahoma man wanted for crimes in a half dozen states was arrested in Louisiana after two high-speed chases, the U.S. Marshalls Service reports. Justin William Durbin was driving a stolen Bentley when Louisiana State Police spotted the car Thursday night and gave chase, but he escaped.  Friday morning, U.S. marshalls joined forces with the state police and the Louisiana National Guard loaned a helicopter to track Durbin to Lake Charles. After a high-speed chase there, Durbin wrecked the Bentley and ran off. Authorities then brought in blood hounds and tracked him, and he surrendered without incident. Durbin was wanted for a series of luxury car heists, trading up in each case. He was wanted in Florida for stealing the $97,000 Bentley. Illinois said he was a suspect in the theft of a 2003 Mercedes Benz SL550. He was also sought by authorities in Arizona, South Carolina, Indiana and Maryland. Charges range from grand theft auto, larceny, burglary, fraud and probation violations, the Marshalls Service reports.

California carjacking suspect arrested after car ran out of gas

In another sign that gas prices have been rising through the roof, a man in California accused in a carjacking was arrested when he was found sitting in the car after it ran out of gas.

The Associated Press reports that Stephan Allen, 20, was found in the car about eight miles away from the scene of the carjacking in the parking lot of a pizza joint in Belmont.

A woman in the car was apparently waiting for her husband to come back with a pizza when she got out with her 5-year-old daughter.

Califnornia Highway Patrol troopers arrested Allen about two hours after the carjacking when the Civic went kaput on a highway overpass in nearby Burlingame, California.

Allen, who remains in the San Meteo County jail, has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of carjacking.

-Chance Welch

Arlington police step up presence around retail centers

With the holiday season in full swing, Arlington police have stepped up patrols at the city's prime retail spots in attempt to prevent criminals from ruining the shopping experience and ease the flow of traffic.

Skywatch towers have also been placed in shopping areas such as The Parks at Arlington mall and the Arlington Highlands. Police are also using bait cars to try to catch car thieves in the act.

As they did on Black Friday, police will be coordinating traffic around retail areas on the busiest shopping days. In the parking lots of the busiest shopping centers, bike and foot patrols will also be deployed to deter crime.

Read more here.

- Patrick M. Walker

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/29/2665320/arlington-police-step-up-presence.html#ixzz16iYexMeI

Car thief left self portrait inside stolen vehicle, police say

Police in the Houston area are looking for a car theft suspect.

They know what he looks like because they said he left his cell phone behind in a crashed stolen car that had a self portrait on it. Police said the man attacked the car's owner when it was stolen. They showed the photo to the owner and he said it's of the car thief.

Check out the story and see if you recognize the guy.

-- Lance Murray

As family grieves in church, man steals their hearse

Sheriff's officials in West Park, Fla., say an 18-year-old man turned one family's grief into his joyride.

Johnny Silfrain is accused of stealing a hearse outside a church where a funeral service was taking place. He even drove to his house to find out if relatives wanted to take a ride in the hearse with him.

Deputies eventually spied the hearse and gave chase.

Read here to find out what happened to Silfrain and where he drove the hearse after his run-in with the law.

-- Lance Murray

Is there a problem ossifer? You say I stole this car?

I know ignorance is no excuse under the law and I'm just as sure a booze-induced lack of memory isn't either.

So that's why Charles J. Schultz of Fairbanks, Alaska, is facing charges of auto theft, felony driving under the influence and misdemeanor drug misconduct after he left a gentleman's club so blitzed and got in the wrong car and drove away.

He owns a Chevy Cavalier, but he left driving someone else's Ford Escort that was then reported stolen.

A police officer later stopped the Escort and Schultz professed being stunned that he was in the wrong car and that he had no memory of taking it. By the way his blood alcohol level was .166, more than twice the legal limit. I'm still wondering how he got the keys.

-- Lance Murray

Who has the bishop's crown?

The Greek Orthodox Church wants its crown back. Some one broke into a car parked outside Picolo Mondo restaurant in north Arlington on Friday evening and took a bag that contained a golden crown that belonged to Metropolitan Isaiah, bishop of the Northwest Region of the Greek Orthodox Archdioceses of America. It was the first gift given to him as a bishop more than two decades ago. Church officials are to announce reward for info about the theft during a 3 p.m. news conference today at Arlington police headquarters. Two priests are scheduled to be there. If you know who has the crown, call Arlington police at 817-459-6486 or call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477. You could collect $1,000.Check www.star-telegram.com for more details.

- Kristin Sullivan