POLICE BLOTTER
October 15, 2009 Four lowlifes with nothing better to do in the early morning attempted a smash and grab at a local sunglass shop at 2:30 A.M., Oct. 5. Police were first alerted to the Sunglass Hut located at 204 block of Miracle Mile after receiving a distress signal from the store’s alarm. Upon the first officer’s arrival, he spotted two suspicious lowlifes attempting to act like upstanding citizens out for an early morning stroll. Suspicious of their demeanor, the officer stopped both men and began to question them. During the investigation, a 2008 Cadillac Escalade was spotted idling in a parking space nearby. After a brief inspection of the SUV, police located another two lowlifes hiding in the back of the truck. Due to the inconsistencies of all four lowlifes’ stories, the foursome was brought back to police headquarters for further interrogations. Officers learned that one of the subjects was the perpetrator and the others were witnesses to the crime. Post interview, the lowlife foursome was relocated to lockup. Breaking into one man’s house was certainly a piece of cake for some hungry deviant between 7:30 A.M. and 2:55 P.M., Oct. 5. Police were summoned to the home of Josef Mendez, 54, located at 4310 San Amaro Dr. after receiving word that someone made an illegal ingress. Once on the scene, officers determined that the thief raided Mendez’s ice box during the incursion. After perusing the contents, the lowlife carefully sliced a generous piece of Mendez’s cake and helped himself to an ice cold beer to wash it down. And as icing on the cake, the thief forgot to return the cake to the refrigerator rending the confectionary lame. Aside from his missing piece and brew, Mendez was given a property report to determine what else the lowlife removed during the robbery. An alleged death threat from a former lunch lady at a local university was enough to bring police assistance at 7 P.M., Oct. 5. Police responded to the Mahoney Cafeteria at the University of Miami located 1244 Stanford Dr. after a supervisor was allegedly threatened by an ex-employee. Aroughby Zimmerman, 42, told officers that the whole incident started after he fired Betty Smith, 49, from her job as a cashier. During an ensuing call to inquire about her remuneration from another employee, Smith alleged told the woman to, “"tell Aroughby he is dead." Police gave Aroughby a case card. Three shoplifters with reading on their mind couldn’t help themselves at a local bookstore at 4:22 P.M., Oct. 6. The manager of Barnes & Noble located at 152 Miracle Mile raised the alarm after witnessing the troublesome triad bagging books and bolting out the door. The manager was able to provide police with surveillance video showing the thieving troika and their brazen book heist. Store losses were estimated at $200. A bizarre 911 call, paraphernalia and a baggie containing three grams of suspected methamphetamine were enough to land one man behind bars at 9:25 P.M., Oct. 6. Officers responded to 1699 Salzedo St, after receiving a distress call from a man claiming to be chased by several males with weapons. After a brief interview with the caller, suspicious officers asked for permission to search his book bag. The search revealed a small amount of methamphetamine and a resonated pipe. The man denied any knowledge of the illegal contents and told police, “he only smoked weed.”  The drugs were impounded and the man was taken to jail for safekeeping. A psychological disabled woman was seriously challenged when she attempted to enter a local eatery with her alleged service dog. Brooke Hargarther, 20 , of 888 Douglas Rd. summoned police help on the 2300 block of Ponce De Leon Blvd. after she was refused entry at the nearby Spris Restaurant. Hargarther told police that the eatery would not let her enter with Bella, her prized, pint sized pooch. Hargarther explained to investigators that the nine week old, one pound puppy was a service dog in training. Unable to make it to the police station to file a report that moment, Hargarther met with police the following day at her residence. Hargarther could not provide any service certifications for Bella nor for herself as a certified dog trainer. She also explained to the officer and her boyfriend that her dog will assist her in the future with her psychological disability.
Coral Gables Police Blotter
The Coral Gables Police blotter is the regular series that features the highlights and lowlifes of local Coral Gables crime and crime prevention. The stories that are contained in every story are true and based on real events faced by the men and women who proudly serve in the Coral Gables Police Department.
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