surveillance

Published on: November 28, 2017

Imposter Uber Driver Accused of Kidnapping and Raping College Student

A man acting as an Uber driver has been accused of kidnapping and raping a woman who flagged him down for a ride early Sunday morning. The assault was said to have taken place on campus at American University where the victim is a student.

Around 3:00am on Sunday a woman and her male companion who had been drinking were rather intoxicated. When leaving the bar they were visiting they saw a car displaying an Uber sticker, and they signaled for a ride rather than using the app in the traditional fashion of ordering the service.

The driver, 36-year-old El Houcine Jourhdaly, allegedly informed the couple that he could only accept cash payment and proceeded to drive them to the university campus. The passengers began arguing in the back seat of the car causing the woman to move to the front seat where she passed out.

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Published on: October 3, 2017

Dog Sitter Accused of Burglarizing Home Pleads Not Guilty

by Staycie R. Sena

In August a Palos Verdes Estates man planning a vacation sought dog walking services through a service called Care.com, a site matching caregivers with potential clients in need, and selected Nephi Henderson of Hermosa Beach for the job. Henderson accepted the position and was provided a key in order to gain entry while the homeowner was away. He has been accused of using the key to steal property from the home.

Police reported that when the victim returned home he discovered some of his personal belongings were missing. He had a video surveillance security system in place, and while reviewing the material he discovered two people stealing items from his home. The recording for the following night revealed three people who stole more of his possessions. He believed one of the suspects was recognizable as Henderson.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Henderson’s place of residence and identified the missing property from the victim’s home, in addition to goods taken from another reported burglary. Purses and clothing that did not appear to belong to Henderson were also discovered leading police to believe that more victims may exist.

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Published on: March 13, 2017

Two Orange County Men Face Long Prison Terms for Robbery Spree

by Staycie R. Sena

Two men, Jonathan Cephus, 36, and Melvin Collins, 33, are allegedly responsible for a long list of robberies that began on July 5, 2013. Cephus held up a Little Caesars in Fullerton, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Brock Zimmon.

Cephus later pistol-whipped a man as he robbed a Del Taco in Anaheim on July 22nd. On July 26th, Cephus robbed a Jack in Box in Anaheim and on August 28th Cephus again robbed a Jack in the Box in Anaheim, Zimmon said.

Four more robberies took place on September 2, 2013. The first one happened at 7 a.m. at a Burger King in Buena Park, but Collins got scared away when the clerk mentioned that there were many surveillance cameras in the store, According to Zimmon.

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Published on: February 16, 2017

Anaheim Man Threatens ‘Suicide by Cop’ gets Arrested for Domestic Violence

by Staycie R. Sena

Anaheim police Sgt. Darin Wyatt said that the police were called to the Friendly Village mobile home park on La Palma Ave. after a report of domestic violence. But, before the police had arrived, the suspect, a man in his 30’s, fled saying he wasn’t going to go quietly and threatening “suicide by cop.”

According to Sgt. Wyatt the police set up a perimeter around the mobile home park to search for him. The people in the area were warned to shelter in place because it was unknown if the man was armed.

Anaheim’s city police helicopter was sent in, to provide a spotlight and aerial surveillance. Soon after the police in the helicopter spotted a man fitting the suspect’s description hiding in the bushes around the search area. Officers were sent to that location and arrested the suspect “without incident,” Wyatt said.

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Published on: February 10, 2017

Orange County Sex Offender Gets Caught with His Pants Down

by Staycie R. Sena

According to investigators, 37 year old Stephen Garcia flashed Orange County female bus riders. Garcia, who has a lengthy record dating back a decade of indecent exposure cases, pled guilty on Tuesday to two felony counts of indecent exposure with prior convictions. He was immediately sentenced to three years in prison.

An anonymous tip about a man flashing women on the northern Orange County bus lines prompted an investigation. Investigators viewed surveillance video and after a three week investigation they arrested Garcia, according to the sheriff’s department.

Investigators said Garcia exposed himself at least four times on the buses. He would “flash” women while he sat in the back of the bus.

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