PaladinCriminal Activity

Police officer apprehending Darious Petress

Local Media Reports Another Armed Robbery at Marquee Apartments near UCF

palsec May 20, 2015

“The victim was robbed in the complex parking garage after being confronted by two males with a handgun, said Capt. Angelo Nieves, Orange County Sheriff’s Office media relations spokesman, in a news release.”

UCF area apartment communities continue to be the scene of violent criminal behavior. Local media reports indicate that a man was viciously attacked and robbed on Saturday, May 16, at the Marquee Apartments. The assailants reportedly struck the victim in the head with a pistol injuring him. Fortunately, the victim’s injuries were not life threatening, and he was released from the hospital.

This same location has been the scene of other incidents of violent criminal activity over the past year. In November 2014, 22 year old Darious Petress, a boyfriend of a tenant, (see photo) was arrested for armed robbery and aggravated battery in connection to his robbing people at gunpoint on the premises of Marquee apartments. At that time, after three armed robberies in just a few months at the complex, social media exploded with complaints from residents and parents of students about the management company not taking strong enough measures to reduce the risks.

One measure that was taken was to change management and the name of the complex from Sterling Central to the Marquee as the reputation began to suffer from the repeated incidents. Still, customers were not happy.

“I wouldn’t renew my lease. I’d rather be in a safer environment so I don’t have to worry,”

Darious Petress being arrested for armed robbery with a firearm November 2014

At that time, Sheriff’s Office Officials were quoted by local media:

“I wouldn’t term [the complex] as being targeted. Three robberies over the course of months isn’t something we’d term as being targeted or a crime wave or something of that nature,”

Well, now after the May 16 incident, there have been four violent robberies in less than one year on this apartment complex that serves UCF students. There is clearly a serious problem – bad guys are targeting the young people who are living in the area apartment communities near the UCF campus. This robbery is just the latest in a string of violent incidents in the area in the past year. In addition to the armed robberies, local media has reported that official records indicated 7 cars have been stolen, 27 apartment burglaries, and 30 car burglaries at this complex.

We recommend that this apartment complex and others in the area that have been subjected to increased risk from crime seek the services of professional private security providers. Private security companies can coordinate with the owners and management officials that are responsible for the safety of the residents and guests at the complex to develop a plan for increasing safety and security on the property. Paladin Security offers teams of armed uniformed security officers who can patrol the property to detect, deter, and defeat the criminals and lower the risks from crime.

Apartment Complex Crime

palsec May 15, 2015

In an apartment complex, crime touches residents, staff and the surrounding community. Anytime you suspect that a tenant is breaking the law — using your property for an unintended purpose — owners and their management agents should take steps to end the tenancy. If they don’t, they are putting the property owner and/or management organization at risk for lawsuits should anyone be injured. So get help. Call the police. Report any crime that you are aware of. Hire a qualified security provider who is experienced with residential security and will work with the management team. Leverage the security service to write daily reports to create a paper trail that demonstrates only breaches of the lease, community rules, and violations of the law before terminating the lease. Documentation will help you make your case. Using a security service on the premises will send a strong message to the criminal element that the owner and management are not going to tolerate continued criminal activity.

A landlord’s liability for criminal activities varies depending on the state. In Florida, the law demands that landlords evict lawbreaking tenants or they are subject to possible civil liability, fines and other sanctions. In an apartment complex, crime affects the lives of tenants, owner liability, and the surrounding community.

National Crime Prevention Council Helps Communities Fight Crime

palsec May 5, 2015

It is necessary to reach children with messages about crime, violence, and drug prevention. We may like to think that children don’t yet need to know about these topics, but many kids are exposed to crime, violence, and drugs at home, in their neighborhoods, and in the news media.

Law enforcement officers, teachers, and other adults can play an important role in protecting children and helping them to gain the skills they need to make positive decisions for the rest of their lives.

Many law enforcement officers and other adults work with children to teach them how to protect themselves and keep themselves safe. Often, they will visit schools, scout meetings, and community events to talk with children about these topics. McGruff can help you reach children with fun and educational messages – he’s a proven communicator to children of all ages.

Below you will find several resources that can help you teach children about crime prevention, including activity ideas and educational worksheets and coloring pages. For more safety messages for children, visit McGruff.org.

Shootings near University of Central Florida (UCF)

More Gun Violence on UCF Student Housing Apartment Complex Grounds

palsec Apr 30, 2015

Cops: Shots Fired Amid Argument at East Orlando Apartment Community

April 2015 is ending with an alarming level of violence and gang related activity near Florida’s largest University located in East Orange County. The University of Central Florida Community is talking about the latest shooting incident at a residential area where students live. Several shootings have now taken place in the area and the level of concern is growing along with the level of risk.

According to local media reports, on the evening of Thursday, April 23, sheriff’s deputies were called to a complex near the UCF campus to respond to reports of gunshots on the property.

“Shots were fired near Red Iris Lane at Campus Crossings Thursday night, deputies at the student-apartment complex said. UCF student Stephanie Smith told KnightNews.com she heard arguing, then four or five shots from her apartment. Two shots pierced a door at the complex, allowing a clear view into the apartment. Deputies said no one was hurt in the incident and no one has been arrested. “

Fortunately, in this shooting incident nobody has been reported to have been injured. Stray bullets ripped through the door of a nearby apartment. People in the area were lucky not to have been hit by the gunfire. In this case, local media reports indicated that the witness to this attack was unwilling to cooperate with police, and so far there have not been any arrests made. The frequency of violent incidents on or near residential properties where University of Central Florida students reside has many people wondering what can be done to protect themselves. Local media has reported on the list of incidents that have occurred recently. Also according to reports, controversy has arisen from the lack of notice to new prospective students who are moving into apartment complexes that have been the location of violent criminal activity. Parents of students have complained about the problem. Paladin Security has reported on another recent, similar incident of crime in this area in this blog. Click here to see the other post.

This problem has been escalating over the past year and now local authorities are moving to stem the violent crime in the area.

“Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said his department is about to go public with a series of crime-fighting initiatives with UCF police to fight off-campus violence, including targeted enforcement in off-campus complexes.”

(Source: https://www.wesh.com/news/new-crimereducing-efforts-coming-to-ucf-area-orange-county-sheriff-says/32646008)

We will all be standing by to see what new initiatives the Orange County Sherriff’s Office is going to implement. They are a very effective agency and are sure to provide enhanced enforcement efforts. However, law enforcement agencies cannot be expected to tackle this problem by themselves. Property owners are responsible for the residents safety in the face of these risks and with the rising levels of violent crime they have choices to make. There are solutions available to the owners and managers of these residential communities. Many times, it takes proactive measures to control the risks from violent crime at apartment complexes. When teams of well trained, armed security officers are actively patrolling a property, criminal activity and incidents like these decrease. High quality security companies can work with both the local law enforcement agencies and with property management authorities to identify and then remove problem residents and control access to the property. We hope that the operators of these apartment communities will take the measures that will cut down the risks and make these places safer to live in order to protect lives.

Sources:

https://knightnews.com/2015/04/cops-shots-fired-amid-argument-at-campus-crossings/

https://www.wftv.com/videos/news/controversy-over-crime-plagued-apartment-complex/vCBWX/

https://www.wesh.com/news/new-crimereducing-efforts-coming-to-ucf-area-orange-county-sheriff-says/32646008

Gun suspect arrested while having sex in back seat of SUV at Orlando area Apartment Complex

palsec Apr 15, 2015

An Orlando apartment complex that has had a history of difficulties was the location on Friday April 10 of an arrest of an armed man who was literally caught with his pants down. According to media reports Orlando Police were responding to a report of a man wearing camouflage pants walking around in the area with a gun in his hand, when they discovered Jaudohn Hicks in a compromised position.

“When 27-year-old Hicks was ordered to get out of the SUV and lay on the ground, the officer noticed that he “had camouflage pants down around his ankles.”

Also according to reports a pistol and drugs were found in the vehicle.

You may ask yourself what sort of community would these sorts of arrests take place in? Well would you believe the below photograph is taken from this apartment complex’s website:

You may be thinking “It doesn’t look like the sort of place that has guys walking around with guns and drugs who might get caught by the police having sex in a parked vehicle on property”. But, that is what is reported. This is another example of how crime problems will escalate in an area that doesn’t respond to repeat incidents by contracting with a quality private armed security company to patrol the property. The only way to control risks and deter criminal activity is to face the threat with the proper countermeasures. According to the 911 police records that our analysts researched, this apartment complex has had multiple calls for service involving a shooting, batteries, and disturbances just in the past 30 days before this guy was reportedly walking around with a gun in his hand and having sex in a vehicle parked right in front of people’s homes. Would you want to pay to live in a community with those issues? Would you renew your lease here?

If the complex management had quality, trained, armed security officers patrolling this property and focused on deterring criminal activity, it is very unlikely this incident and others that have happened on this property in the past few weeks would have occurred at all. Many times, apartment complex operators choose not to invest the funds to source the correct solution. This is a mistake. In the current environment of internet and social media, the reputations of these sorts of properties are tarnished quickly in the market. If a person is harmed by criminal activity, legal liability can result for the owners and management if there was a history of ongoing crime. Large multimillion dollar judgements and settlements have been paid by Owners and management companies who have been found to be negligent by failing to provide the correct security measures.

Paladin Security has proven that it has the capability to help communities like this one get control of the situation and bring criminal activity to near zero. Our armed security officers are trained, equipped, and led in a way that produces quality outcomes. Owners and management companies have turned to our team to protect their communities from these sorts of problems. The armed security officers on our patrol teams are not the typical “rent a cops” – they are professionals who are dedicated to the mission and who take pride in helping to keep communities and businesses safe. Many are veterans of the US military who have proven themselves in difficult situations. All of them have extensive training and are focused on safe, ethical and effective performance. If your community needs our service, we can help. Contact our experts to consult with you to find the correct solution.

Source: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-gun-arrest-backseat-sex-20150413-story.html

Gang Related Double Shooting Near UCF marks 2nd in 2 weeks

palsec Apr 11, 2015

“Witness told deputies double shooting near UCF may have drug ties, report says”

Local media reports of a 2^ndshooting near off campus housing for the University of Central Florida area have increased concerns among parents and university leaders . Observers point to gang related incidents as an ongoing concern. Here are some quotes from the coverage by local media outlets.

“The UCF-area shooting that left two men critically injured Thursday night has raised more concerns about student safety and gang activity in the neighborhoods bordering the campus off Alafaya Trail.”

“It was the second shooting in less than a month linked to possible gang activity in the area near off-campus housing, including a row of University of Central Florida off-campus fraternity houses.”

“…Orange County deputies confirmed that the 59 Brims — an offshoot of the national Bloods gang — are active and living in the neighborhoods bordering UCF…”

“Someone yelled “Brim Blood,” a reference to the 59 Brim gang, right before gunfire erupted March 19…”
Residential communities in this area may consider increasing their security posture in light of the recent increase in violent gang related crimes. Paladin Security is able to provide our customers highly trained armed security staff to patrol communities to detect, deter, and defeat these threats. Armed security is used by many apartment complexes to reduce the risks of violent crime and send a message to criminals that the community will not tolerate the sort of activity that is being reported in the area of off campus housing where students and staff of the University of Central Florida live. Paladin Security specializes in providing high quality armed security services for residential communities. Paladin Security is different from the typical security guard company. Paladin Security is focused on providing armed security and our organization has a proven past performance record of decreasing criminal activity in the communities we patrol. Our demonstrated and proven ability to generate quality outcomes in very dangerous and risk filled environments gives our customers the confidence to trust our armed security officers with the task of reducing risks in their locations.

Sources:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ucf-shooting-gang-crime-20150403-story.html

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ucf-area-shooting-possible-drug-gang-20150412-story.html

Orlando Apartment Shooting Victim Speaks to Media

palsec Apr 8, 2015

According to media reports, a 46 year old woman and her guest was hospitalized after being shot inside her home at the Timber Skan Apartments in Orlando, Florida.

“Me and old man, we were sitting there watching American Justice, eating popcorn and just heard a bunch of shots, so, we went to running. I didn’t get too far. I just fell by the sofa,”

According to statements given to media and law enforcement officials, the victim was struck by 11 bullets that ripped through her apartment window from outside. Officials are working to apprehend the shooter or shooters who are responsible.

“They heard some gunshots. Their couch is placed right beside a window [and] those rounds came through the window, striking them,” said Lt. Paul Hopkins of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Apartment Complexes that hire armed security guards are less likely to suffer these sorts of violent incidents. When qualified, well equipped, well trained armed security officers are on patrol, criminals face higher chances of being caught or stopped. There are many cases where violent crimes are stopped by armed security officers who are working in apartment communities.

Source: https://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/hospitalized-tymber-skan-shooting-victim-talks-wft/nkft9/

Source: https://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/couple-shot-while-watching-tv-tymber-skan-apartmen/nkd26/