Within the past couple of days we learned that two more guns stolen in the October, 2007 burglary at Scheel's All Sports here in Lincoln have been recovered. One was located in Omaha, the other in Phoenix. This brings the total number of guns recovered to 44, and the number still out there stands at 35. Since the initial recovery of 30 guns within a day of the crime, 14 have now surfaced. These are the first in a while, as the last ones to show up were back in May and June of 2008.
The gun recovered in Omaha was found by police in possession of a man contacted on an unrelated case entirely. The Phoenix gun was found when the police executed a search warrant relating to guns and drugs. The string of cases in which these stolen firearms have been involved continues to be impressive. My worst fear appears to have been realized, as they dribble in from other crimes.
Thats just crazy! I'm sure more are goign to turn up in Omaha in the years to come... Chief, do you know why they didn't charge those guys with x amount of counts of Possessing of a stolen firearm, or some gun charges. The newspaper reads like they only got Burglary and received a minimial sentence. ??
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ReplyDeleteTwo defendants received prison sentences. Dominique Barton is serving 6-15 years, Cleophus Collier is serving 6-12 years. (both for burglary) These cases were still pending at the time the newspaper series ran. The lesser charges of possession of stolen property seem to have been dismissed, probably as part of a plea agreement.
Chief,
ReplyDeleteDo you know of any databases that a private citizen can look at to see if a weapon has been stolen?
Several years ago I bought a pistol from a party in Lincoln from a classified ad. The guy seemed legit but I wanted to make sure I wasn't buying a hot handgun. When I called the non emergency number at LPD and told the lady on the phone if she could tell me IF the weapon was on the NCIS list she told me that she could not do that. Is that still LPD policy?
Eventually I had a friend who was a Sheriff in another state check it for me and there was no problem. I know of a couple databases that volunteers have set up on the WEB but nothing that is official.
Gun Nut
Oddly, people will point to incidents like this as a reason for stricter gun laws, overlooking the fact that burglary, theft, theft of firearms, possession of stolen goods, possession of stolen firearms, and who knows how many other acts they committed were already illegal. Unfortunately, in committing their crimes, they ignored the law. Luckily for them many of the laws apparently weren't enforced...
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ReplyDeleteThere are pretty strict rules regarding running people, plates, or items in NCIC. Someone bent them for you. I don't bend FBI regulations.
There is no national database that is open to the public. I have a local one, though, of items reported stolen to LPD.
After perusing the list of items "reported" stolen, I would think tat some of the reports there would be worthy of multiple blogs...
ReplyDeleteFor instance, I would love to hear about A8-127335, and how an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet was stolen...
Herb:
ReplyDeleteThe 17 year old defendant on house arrest from Juvenile Court cut her ankle bracelet off, took off from her home detention, and tossed it. The defendant was recovered, but not the bracelet. Not a cheap item: $575 loss.
Was scheels ever investigated to see if proper procedures were followed? I just can't believe they got away with so many handguns.
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