Arrest

Published on: January 3, 2019

Cops Post on Facebook Using Suspect’s Phone

When South Carolina deputies were trying to detain a suspect for drug-related allegations the man ran away, but reportedly dropped his cell phone during his hurried departure leaving the authorities in possession of the device.

Berkeley County Sheriff’s deputies were in pursuit a suspect on Friday when he was able to bypass a confrontation with them by successfully sprinting away.

As the deputies chased the man they found a cell phone laying on the ground that they have alleged dropped off of and belongs to the man that they were attempting to arrest.

Continue reading →

Published on: November 12, 2018

Trespasser Told Police His Name is “Ben Dover”

by Staycie R. Sena

A man who was allegedly hanging out in a Florida park after hours issued a snarky retort to an officer in response to being asked for his name when he was approached about his trespassing.

Around 6:00 pm on November 6, a deputy at John Chestnut Park in Palm Harbor encountered a man on the grounds and informed him that he would have to leave because the park was closed for the evening.

When the deputy asked the man what his name was so that he could give him a warning for trespassing, he reported that the suspect said that his name was “Ben Dover.” The presumed-trespasser then allegedly stuck up his middle finger in the direction of the deputy and advanced upon him in a manner that gave the agent the impression that he was going to become physically aggressive.

Continue reading →

Published on: November 3, 2018

Driver Kidnapped Several Sets of Santa Ana Uber Riders

by Staycie R. Sena

A man from Anaheim who is a driver for Uber is suspected of attempting to kidnap up to four different rides that he was providing services for in Santa Monica.

On Halloween night, a car matching the description of a vehicle authorized to serve as an Uber was reported to 911 just before 7:00 pm by a woman inside of the car. The customer reported that she had ordered a ride and her driver was not allowing her to get out of the car.

Police dispatched to search for the blue Prius that the woman reported. While they were in the process of looking they were notified of three more calls that were received by emergency services with reports of the same type of car, and the callers said that the driver had tried to kidnap them. All of the people additionally stated that they had the impression that the driver had a gun in the vehicle with him.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 16, 2018

Man Ate Tide Pod and Destroyed Critical Care Unit

by Staycie R. Sena

In early October, a man who went to the hospital for medical treatment after consuming a Tide Pod allegedly became unruly and broke several thousands of dollars in devices while he was in the critical care unit.

On October 4, medical professionals at Health Mercy Hospital in Iowa were caring for a man who had ingested a Tide Pod and required assistance.

The man, 26-year-old Brandon McVay, was given a bed in the critical care unit where the staff was able to attend to his medical needs.

Continue reading →

Published on: September 17, 2018

Dad Gave Teens a Lift to the Park for Sex

by Staycie R. Sena

The father of a teen boy is facing charges after driving his son and an underage girl to the park where the teenagers reportedly engaged in sexual activity.

On Sunday night around 11:40 pm, an officer noticed a Toyota in a parking space at McChesney Park. When he went up to the man sitting in the driver’s seat to find out why he was at the location after hours the man reportedly said that he had given his 15-year-old son and a 15-year-old girl a ride to the park.

The officer reported that he asked why the man, identified as 53-year-old Laurence Mitchell, would take his son and the girl to a park in the middle of the night. Mitchell allegedly said that he believed they were just being teenagers and doing “what kids do,” and that they were not causing any trouble.

Continue reading →

Published on: August 29, 2018

Suspect Responds with Humorous Pop Culture Phrase during Arrest

by Staycie R. Sena

When a man was pulled over by an officer on Monday because one of the lights surrounding his license plate was burned out he was allegedly discovered with a package hidden in the front of his pants that reportedly contained drugs. When the officer inquired about it the man reportedly made a failed attempt at humor as he was placed under arrest.

A Vero Beach sheriff’s deputy performed a traffic stop on a car when he noticed that a light in the back of a vehicle that is meant for illuminating the license plate was burned out.

When the deputy approached the driver, 31-year-old Brandon McComas, he reported that he noticed he was trying to hide “a large bulge in his left front pocket with his arm.” When McComas got out of the car as ordered by the deputy he was patted down and the deputy reported feeling concern that the alleged suspect may have been carrying a weapon.

Continue reading →

Published on: August 23, 2018

Man Accused of Planting Hidden Camera in Applebee’s Bathroom

by Staycie R. Sena

After the authorities looked into the report of a hidden camera located in a bathroom at Applebee’s they suspected a Long Beach man who works at the location was responsible for the act and he was placed under arrest.

On Sunday, one of the workers at the Signal Hill Applebee’s restaurant allegedly spotted a camera hidden in a bathroom inside of a trash can that had been modified with a hole on the side of the receptacle. The police were notified and they began investigating the claim.

Upon reviewing the contents of the camera taken from the trash can it allegedly contained images of eight women and one man which were taken while they were using the employee bathroom. The recordings were said to have taken place during a five-week period beginning on July 5, and the people depicted in the images also work at Signal Hill Applebee’s.

Continue reading →

Published on: August 9, 2018

Woman Stabs K9 Officer Near Eyes During Arrest

by Staycie R. Sena

When police arrived at a woman’s residence to take her into custody on a warrant for drug charges she allegedly tried to hide from them, and when a K9 officer sniffed her out she reportedly stabbed him under both eyes with a makeup tool.

Officers from the Baytown Police Department went to the trailer where 23-year-old Abigail Martinez resides on the afternoon of July 30 because she had a felony warrant for charges of drug possession.

People were standing outside of the trailer and the officers asked them if they knew where Martinez was. They reported that they believed she was inside the trailer, and when the officers heard noises coming from inside they tried to find out if Martinez was present. They tried to call her outside but they reportedly did not hear any response after several tries so they entered through the unlocked door.

Continue reading →

Published on: May 19, 2016

How To End Up in Jail

by Staycie R. Sena

In nearly twenty years of practice as an Orange County criminal defense attorney, I have seen the following too many times to recall:

He has been served with a temporary restraining order and wants to fight it. The says there’s no reason for it. They simply had a breakup and he said some mean things. There was no violence, no harassment and no threats. Imposition of the restraining order can have consequences- he could lose his job and his ex-wife could use the restraining order against him if she ever decides to take him back to court to get more child support. Shortly before the restraining order hearing he calls and says his ex-girlfriend wants to “drop” the restraining order. I ask how he knows this and he says “she called me”.

He should never have taken that call. Unless there is some specifically carved out exception such as “the parties may have electronic communication solely for the purposes of discussing continuing financial obligations,” a restraining order prohibits contact for ALL purposes.

Continue reading →

Published on: March 16, 2016

What To Do When You’re Arguing And Neighbors Call the Police

by Staycie R. Sena

As an Orange County criminal defense lawyer who has handled thousands of domestic violence or spousal abuse cases, I get calls daily from people who were arrested or whose significant other was arrested because neighbors heard them fighting and called the police. You do not have to be married to be charged with “spousal abuse”—it applies if you were ever in a dating relationship with the other party.

In Orange County most domestic violence or spousal abuse arrests are unwanted by either party. The concept of “pressing charges” is a myth. One does not get arrested or prosecuted based on whether the other party decides to “press charges”. What this means is that your desire that your partner NOT be arrested is largely irrelevant. In most cases the police will make an arrest if they:

See any injury or

Continue reading →