Stupid people of the week

City tears down man’s Atlanta house after sending warnings to wrong address, he says

Getting some Vogon Constructor Fleet vibes from the City of Atlanta here.

A metro Atlanta man reached out to Channel 2 Action News after seeing our investigation into the city of Atlanta demolitions. He wanted to share his demolition nightmare too.

Everett Tripodis said the city sent warnings to the wrong address before demolishing his home on Atlanta’s historic West End.

Tripodis’ property is on Lawton Street. The zip code is 30310. But the city of Atlanta demolition documents references Lawton Avenue, with zip code 30314.

“The demolition order itself gave the city and its contractor authority to demolition a home on a completely different street and a completely different zip code,” Tripodis told Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray.

Gray was on Lawton Street on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. Wednesday, where there is now nothing left but an overgrown lot.

A century-old home used to sit on the lot near the BeltLine. Tripodis and his mother bought the house as an investment property.

He said that each year, they paid to have it listed with Atlanta’s vacant property registry as required by law.

“The city had the correct address, the correct owner’s address in its internal records,” Tripodis said.

Tripodis said they were working on remodeling the home when the city demolished it.

“(We were) in the process of remodeling; they come with bulldozers and knock the entire house down,” Tripodis said. “It’s gutwrenching. I don’t even like looking at it. This is prime real estate.”

Gray was able to verify that certified letters to an incorrect address were returned to sender.

Then there is the property address itself. It is listed incorrectly in several locations as Lawton Avenue. Lawton Avenue is a real address that is 1.4 miles away from the actual property.

“It blows my mind how they could have mistakenly sent these to the wrong address,” Tripodis said. “I come and meet the contractor one morning, and the whole house is gone. Everything is gone. Nothing but dirt.”

A city inspector found the home unfit for habitation because of junk, debris, and an unsecured entry.

Tripodis contacted Gray after seeing a Channel 2 Action News investigation last week about Andre Hadnot, who was stuck with a nearly $700,000 lien on his Atlanta property for a code enforcement demolition.

“Did you, you know, take a brick and individually blast off into space? I mean, for $700,000?” Hadnot told Gray.

In Tripodis’ case, Atlanta City Council denied to pay out his claim for damages, writing, “The council has determined that the city cannot accept responsibility for his matter and therefore cannot pay this claim.”

Tripodis has now filed a lawsuit against the city. Channel 2 Action News contacted the city for comment, but they didn’t respond.

“The city demolishes the property then sends you a bill for accidentally or mistakenly, negligently demolishing your house,” Tripodis said.

The case is now in the hands of a Fulton County superior court judge.

Source; WSB-TV

California police union executive director ran fentanyl operation from home: feds

Hide in plain sight. I wonder if she was ever a member of the E-4 Mafia.

A California police union executive director allegedly ran a drug ring from her home and used her office computer and UPS account to order and distribute opioids and other drugs, federal officials charge.

Joanne Marian Segovia, who has worked for the San Jose Police Officers Association since 2003, was charged on Wednesday with attempting to unlawfully import a synthetic opioid called Valeryl fentanyl.

She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted, authorities said.

Police union president Sean Pritchard was shocked by the charges, telling NBC Bay Area, “She’s been the grandma of the POA.”

“This is not the person we’ve known, the person who has worked with fallen officers’ families, organized fundraisers for officers’ kids — just not who we’ve known over a decade.”

According to the 13-page complaint, the 64-year-old allegedly received at least 61 packages at her San Jose home from various countries — including China, Canada and India — between October 2015 and January 2023.

The packages reportedly were marked as food supplements, wedding party favors, makeup, chocolates and other items to disguise the drugs, prosecutors said.

The packages instead contained various drugs, including deadly synthetic opioids and Tapentadol, which is normally used to treat severe pain from nerve damage caused by diabetes.

Prosecutors also allege Segovia exchanged messages on WhatsApp between January 2020 and March 2023 with someone who was using a country code from India.

In one message sent on May 2, 2022, Segovia allegedly wrote, “I’m so sorry, I’m on a business trip because we had 2 officers that got shot! I should be home tomorrow night so ill get them shopped as soon as I can.”

According to the complaint, Segovia took a photo of a shipment she sent to a woman in North Carolina and used the San Jose Police Officers’ Association UPS account.

Homeland Security agents learned of Segovia’s operation while investigating a network in India known to ship drugs into the US.

Investigators found messages from the network that mentioned “J Segovia” with an address in San Jose and the words, “180 pills SOMA 500mg,” according to the complaint.

Although she worked for the police union before being suspended, it is not thought Segovia had a history in front-line law enforcement.

The worker allegedly continued to order the drugs even after she was interviewed by federal agents in February 2023.

Segovia was arrested on March 13 after investigators seized a parcel in Kentucky that was addressed to her.

The package was marked as containing a “clock” and came from China, authorities said.

“This is an incredibly disturbing allegation,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement to San Francisco television station KRON.

“I want to thank US Attorney [Ismail] Ramsey and his colleagues for aggressively pursuing the sources of fentanyl coming into our communities and holding drug dealers accountable.”

Source; NY Post

Armed robbery suspect calls police days later wearing same clothes he committed crime in, police say

Clayton County Police said a man called them about an armed robbery…turns out, the caller was the armed suspected.

In an 11-minute body cam video posted on the Clayton County Police Department Facebook page, police said they were called out to the 6100 block of Old Dixie Road in Forest Park in reference to an armed robbery on Mar. 25.

Two teenage victims told police the suspect pointed a black and teal gun at them and demanded cash from the register. The suspect left the location with almost $137 in cash.

Police said they went to neighboring businesses to get information and video as they were waiting to get surveillance footage of the incident from the location.

The body cam video shows a man, Desmond Holt, 35, speaking with police about what happened. Holt said he called the police to report someone who tried to run him over with their vehicle. He said the suspect was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black-short sleeved shirt over it.

As Holt continued speaking with officers, they noticed changes in the details of his story.

After a couple days of investigating and watching surveillance video, the officer was able to asses the characteristics of the suspect.

On Mar. 28 around 5 a.m., someone called officers out to Old Dixie Way about another armed robbery, which was near the previous one. When dispatched the description of the suspect, the officer recognized the description of the teal gun which was mentioned in the previous robbery.

When officers arrived to the scene, they recognized the caller was Holt, who claimed to have been robbed. Police said Holt told how the robbery took place and what items were taken from him.

However, officers said Holt was wearing the exact same clothing the suspect was wearing in the surveillance video from the armed robbery days prior.

Officers stepped away from Holt and were working to piece together information.

In the body cam video around the nine minute mark, the caption states that Holt never admitted to robbing the Subway, but he did admit to “having thoughts about robbing the Subway.”

Police said Holt was detained based on evidence gathered.

Officers eventually recovered the gun used in both robbery’s in a hotel where Holt was.

Holt was charged with armed robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Source; Yahoo!

YouTuber making prank video shot at Dulles Town Center

The victim critically injured inside Dulles Town Center mall said he was recording a prank video for his YouTube page when he was shot.

Tanner Cook, 21, remained in the intensive care unit the next day with his mother by his side after one bullet pierced through his stomach and liver.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify Tanner Cook, but court documents and a Loudoun County General District Court judge identified him during the arraignment for the suspect, Alan Colie, 31, of Leesburg.

Officials arrested and charged Colie on Sunday with aggravated malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharging a firearm within a building.

Sheriff Mike Chapman said the shooting was a result of a fight that broke out in the food court between both men. The gunfire caused panic among mallgoers.

A video recorded by Instagram user @thisismyu5ername captured Colie being arrested on the ground.

As the investigation continues, Cook spoke exclusively to WUSA9 from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery. Cook, a content creator for the YouTube page Classified Goons, said he was playing jokes with Colie for another video.

“I was playing a prank and a simple practical joke, and this guy didn’t take it very well,” said Tanner Cook.

His friend was recording the video when Colie allegedly pulled out his gun. The family said the footage is now part of evidence.

“He didn’t say anything to me,” added Tanner Cook.

Despite what led up to the gunfire, Tanner Cook’s father said the shooting was shocking and unnecessary.

“They were making a video at the mall and trying to have fun with people and this guy wasn’t having fun,” added Jeramy Cook. “There was a phone that was around him and they were interviewing or talking to him, and he didn’t like it and he pulled out his gun and shot my son.”

Tanner Cook stressed his family is relying on God and their faith to show support for his son. He even said he has no ill will, anger, or bitterness towards Colie.

“We need restoration, we need healing, and we need to come together,” said Jeramy Cook. “I pray for this young man and pray that he finds God in this. I believe that God saved our son’s life, and he could have easily died but that’s not the outcome. God has plans for my son.”

“It’s surreal,” said his grandfather Mike Cook. “It’s obviously been unnerving and some fear running in and out, but we live on faith and not fear.”

The mall reopened on Monday after being shut down for a whole day.

Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall said she fielded many calls from worried constituents. Her focus is not only the victim but the people who witnessed the shooting.

“I’ve heard from so many of my constituents and they’re traumatized,” said Randall. “The victims are more than just people directly involved. People have secondary trauma from this and may never walk back into this mall again.”

Despite his injuries, Tanner Cook said it will not stop him from creating videos.

Source; WUSA

‘Family Feud’ contestant Timothy Bliefnick charged with killing estranged wife

Steve Harvey asks, “What’s the biggest mistake you made at your wedding?” Accused killer says, “Said ‘I do.'” That will not play well to a jury…

An Illinois man who appeared with his family on the popular game show “Family Feud” has been charged with murder in the home-invasion death of his wife — whose bullet-riddled body was found after she failed to pick up their three kids from school.

Timothy Bliefnick, 39, of Quincy, was arrested Monday morning and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of a home invasion, police said.

“This brutal crime has had the Quincy community on edge and our residents living in fear,” Quincy Police Chief Adam Yates said on the department’s Facebook page.

“I hope today’s announcement can begin to calm some of those concerns.”

Bliefnick’s estranged wife, Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, was found dead at her Kentucky Road home on Feb. 23.

The couple, who married in 2009, had been separated for several years and were going through divorce proceedings at the time of Rebecca’s death, KHQA reported, citing court documents that were later removed from Illinois’ public records website after a judge ordered them sealed.

According to the deleted documents, Rebecca or a local domestic violence agency working on her behalf had filed restraining orders against Tim and his father, the news outlet reported.

In 2020, Tim appeared with his family on the popular TV game show “Family Feud,” and KHQA reported on their watch party.

Rebecca’s family expressed their relief at the arrest.

“While the arrest today provides a step towards closure, this journey is far from over and the investigation continues,” they said, Fox News Digital reported.

“Our highest priority remains protecting and loving Becky’s sons who were the lights of her life. As we continue mourning, we will love and care for them in the ways we know she would want,” the family added.

According to a recent LinkedIn profile cited by KHQA, Tim had been working at Quincy Farm Products in business development.

Philip Hildebrand Jr., the company’s vice president of finance and administration, told the station that the suspect is no longer an employee and that the company is cooperating with police.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Rebecca Bliefnick and her family, and we’re hoping for justice,” Hildebrand told the outlet.

Tim was being held at the Adams County Jail on a no-bond warrant.

His lawyer, Casey Schnack, told Fox News Digital that she was preparing a series of court filings “to protect his interests and preserve his constitutional rights.”

“I have requested but have not received copies of the charging document and arrest warrant,” she told the outlet, adding that Tim had never been arrested before and that the couple’s three sons had never been removed from their home because of domestic violence.

Meanwhile, an online fundraiser was launched for a scholarship in Rebecca’s name.

“Despite the circumstances of her death, she is remembered for the life she cherished — a life of compassion, generosity, faith, and fierce love for her family,” her sister Sarah Reilly wrote.

“She leaves behind three young children and an entire community who loved her more than anything. Becky always envisioned herself working hands-on in the medical profession, so it was no surprise when she chose a career in nursing — her true calling — where she was able to provide care and comfort to people on a daily basis,” she added.

Source; NY Post

 

 

Category: "Teh Stoopid", Crime, Stupid Criminals