17-year veteran of the New York Police Department has been suspended without pay after a kidnapping victim was found tied up in his garage. The New York Post reports Ondre Johnson, a detective with the Brooklyn north gang unit, was being questioned in connection with the incident and was forced to surrender his gun and badge. A source tells the Post the 25-year-old victim was snatched off the street on July 26. The victim's friends then got calls demanding $75,000 for the victim's release. The call was traced to Johnson's home, MyFoxNY.com reports. When authorities arrived Friday afternoon, Johnson answered the door and identified himself as a detective with the NYPD. Investigators then found the victim tied up in the garage. Four men have been charged in the apparent kidnapping scheme, MyFoxNY.com reports. 30-year-old Hakeem Clark, who lives in the same building as Johnson, was charged with kidnapping and weapons possession along with 27-year-old Jason Hutson and 27-year-old James Gayle. 24-year-old Alfredo Haughton was charged with kidnapping.

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Jamie “Iceman” Stevenson is back on the streets – less than halfway through his prison sentence for laundering £1million of drugs cash. Scotland’s most powerful mobster has been enjoying meals at expensive restaurants and socialising with pals after being allowed home for a week each month. Stevenson – who was also accused of shooting dead his best friend in an underworld hit – was put behind bars in September 2006 when he was arrested after a four-year surveillance operation by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency. He was later sentenced to 12 years and nine months for money laundering. But, we can reveal, he is now allowed out of Castle Huntly open prison near Dundee – just five years and 10 months later. A source said: “He seems determined to show his face all around town to deliver the message that he’s back and, as far as he’s concerned, nothing has changed. “A lot of people are surprised that he’s being allowed out so early. Some are not too pleased about it for a number of reasons.” Stevenson, 47, has been spotted at Bothwell Bar & Brasserie, which is run by his friend Stewart Gilmore. He and his cronies have also dined at upmarket Italian restaurant Il Pavone in Glasgow’s Princes Square shopping centre. And Stevenson has joined friends at various other restaurants and hotels, including Glasgow’s Hilton Garden Inn. A Sunday Mail investigation can today reveal that the Parole Board for Scotland could recommend Stevenson’s total freedom as early as February next year. However, the final decision on his release will rest with Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. Yesterday, Labour justice spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “I’m surprised to hear this and that anyone in these circumstances should get out of jail before the halfway point of their sentence – far less so when the conviction is of someone involved in organised crime. “The only circumstances where that would be conceivable would be if someone completely changed their lifestyle. But even then that should not be before they’ve served half their sentence. “I’m sure the victims of these crimes – and with drugs there are direct and indirect victims – will also be surprised at this.” To prepare Stevenson for his release, prison bosses have allowed him to stay a full week each month at his modest flat in Burnside, near Glasgow. On Friday, we watched him leaving the property with his wife Caroline and driving off in a silver Audi. A prison service insider said: “The Parole Board expect the prison authorities to have allowed home visits to test suitability for release ahead of the first eligible parole date. In Stevenson’s case, that’s next February. “There are conditions attached which vary but usually include the obvious ones like not mixing with other criminals and staying only at the designated address. “For prisoners sentenced to more than 10 years, the Parole Board make their recommendations to the Justice Secretary, who then decides whether to release on licence. “Stevenson is trying to keep his nose clean to convince the Parole Board that he poses no threat to society. “But, given his high profile and significance, it’s inevitable that the authorities will be careful before making any final decision.” Stevenson headed a global smuggling gang with a multi-million-pound turnover when he was brought down by the SCDEA’s Operation Folklore, which seized £61million of drugs. He faced drug and money laundering charges along with eight other suspects, including his 53-year-old wife. But his lawyers struck a deal with the Crown Office to admit money laundering in exchange for his wife’s freedom and the drugs charges being dropped. Stevenson’s stepson Gerry Carbin Jr, 32, was also jailed – for five years and six months – but was freed in 2010. Stevenson was previously arrested for the murder of Tony McGovern, 35, who was gunned down in Glasgow’s Springburn in 2000. But prosecutors dropped the case through lack of evidence. A gangland source said: “He does not fear any kind of reprisal from Tony’s brothers, nor does he regard any other criminals in Scotland as a threat or even as rivals. He did not fear any other operation in Scotland before he was jailed. Why would he now?” Two years ago, the Sunday Mail exposed a backdoor deal when the Crown handed back Stevenson’s £300,000 watch collection, which had been seized under proceeds of crime of legislation. Last June, he was sent back to high-security Shotts jail in Lanarkshire from an open prison after a major SCDEA drugs probe, Operation Chilon. Detectives believed that the gang they investigated was controlled by Stevenson. Haulage firm boss Charles McAughey’s home was one of 11 targeted in raids. In 2009, we revealed that French police had found 684kg of pure cocaine worth £31million in a lorry owned by McAughey. Chilon resulted in the SCDEA seizing 242kg of cannabis worth £1.21million and the jailing of three men for a combined 15 years.

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Police in Alice are investigating a shooting that occurred near Reynolds Street. According to investigators, it all started on South Nayer Street where police say Isaac Vela was standing on the side of the road waiting for a ride. A vehicle -- with four people inside passed by. One of the passengers, police say, shot Vela in the face. The vehicle fled the scene, but the driver only made it a few blocks before he lost control of the vehicle. It smashed into a nearby school. Three of the four people inside the car died. The other is in the hospital...where investigators will interview him tomorrow. Police say all of the men involved are known gang members.

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Reece James, 21, a close friend of Tulisa Contostavlos has been shot dead in a reported gangland attack. The 21-year-old, who appeared with Tulisa in a video for rapper Nines, was shot in the head in a "pre-planned and targeted" hit, 100 miles from his home in London, reports the UK's Sun newspaper. Police found James' body in Boscombe, Bournemouth, at around 2.30am near where Somali drug gangs are said operate. A 22-year-old man was arrested. Reece was said to have been in the area with some friends for "a couple of months", though had filmed the video earlier this month with Tulisa and rapper Nines on the Church End Estate in Harlesden, North West London. The former N Dubz star caused controversy at the time, making a "C" symbol to the camera - the same sign that is used by Harlesden's notorious Church Road Soldiers gang. Tulisa claimed it was a reference to Camden, where she was born. Twitter tributes began flooding in last night, with one user writing, "RIP Reece James. Thoughts are with him and his family and friends". Local MP Tobias Ellwood described the killing as "a spill over from the drugs turf war in the capital", adding, "This was one London gang chasing down another, carrying out a professional hit and then going back".

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Britain is in the grip of a pickpocketing epidemic as Eastern European gangs descend on London ahead of the Olympic Games.

A surge in sneak street thefts means more than 1,700 people fall victim every day – an increase of nearly a fifth in only two years, according to official crime  figures released yesterday.

At the same time, police warned that professional gangs from Romania, Lithuania and even South America who operate in capitals across Europe are heading to Britain, intent on cashing in on unwitting tourists at London 2012.

How they do it: A member of the pickpocket gang approaches a BBC reporter investigating the rise in thefts ahead of the Olympics

Keeping him occupied: The man speaks to the victim on the pretense of needing directions while another gang member approaches from behind

A BBC investigation exposed the tactics used by Romanian thieves, who were previously operating in Barcelona, to dupe their victims.

The criminals boasted of their ‘one-second’ theft techniques which leave targets unaware that anything has happened until  it is too late. They can make £4,000 a week taking wallets, smartphones and laptop bags. The goods are then shipped back to Romania and sold on the black market.

 Scotland Yard has made more than 80 arrests already and warned thieves the capital will be a ‘hostile environment’ in the coming weeks.

The Met has even drafted in a team of Romanian police officers to deal with the problem and patrol in the West End of London and Westminster during the Games. They will not have arrest powers.

Distracted: An accomplice (left) then plays drunk so he can get close enough to the target to strike

 

Sleight of hand: The 'drunk' man jostles around with the BBC reporter, making it harder for him to notice what is going on

 

 

Rich pickings: The sneering thief walks away with the wallet from the unsuspecting victim

Teamwork: The thief quickly hands the wallet to another member of the gang, who spirits it away

 

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘These Romanian officers will prove to be a huge asset in cracking down on certain criminal networks who are targeting tourists in central London.’

Official statistics released yesterday showed pickpocketing thefts rose 17 per cent in the past two years.

In 2011/12, a total of 625,000 people fell victim, the Crime Survey of England and Wales showed.

That is an increase of more than 102,000 since 2009/10.

The vast majority of the total are classified as ‘stealth thefts’, but in 83,000 cases the victims’ possessions were ‘snatched’.

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Photo: RCMP

Surveillance photo of Douglas Vanalstine

Douglas Edward Vanalstine, 52, formerly of Kelowna, pled guilty in BC Supreme Court Wednesday to conspiracy to traffic cocaine.

Vanalstine and Daryl Robert Johnson, 33, of Abbotsford, were both arrested in Kelowna in November of 2009 at the height of an RCMP crackdown on gangs in BC.

Both are said to be senior members of the UN gang.

Vanalstine was part owner of a snowmobile company at Big White and he was living in a cabin on the mountain at the time of the investigation.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit initiated the undercover enforcement that targeted the drug trafficking activities and resulting violence of both the Bacon group and UN gang.

During the investigation, Vanalstine and Johnson met with a police agent on a number of occasions to facilitate the purchase of 100 kg of 'Mexican' cocaine.

Police say the pair provided a $100,000 down payment and took delivery of 100 kg of placebo cocaine.

Jarrod Bacon, also arrested during the province-wide crackdown, recently received 12 years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

"Our commitment to the citizens of British Columbia is to ensure their safety by placing those people responsible for gang and organized crime violence behind bars," says CFSEU-BC's Chief Officer, Dan Malo.

"Our enforcement efforts over the past few years have significantly impacted the ability of this organized crime group and others to conduct their criminal business."

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The B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office is asking for more than $250,000 worth of jewellery belonging to Joey Lamont Arrance, according to a claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court. Arrance has been identified as a junior member of a Hell's Angels affiliate group in Prince George called the Renegades Motorcycle Club. The 33-year-old was found guilty in May of weapons offences and is being held at the Fraser Regional Correctional centre. Police were tipped off to his treasure trove of bling while Arrance was in custody awaiting trial. They noticed that he made a lot of phone calls — 671 in total — all recorded. In the civil claim, authorities say he was ensuring the smooth running of his drug trafficking operation and trying to convince a third party to take the fall for his gun. He also allegedly discussed the possibility of melting down dozens of pieces of jewellery to make a huge pendant for his girlfriend. A list of the pieces includes a gents' diamond pendant worth $43,000 and a Breitling watch worth $37,000. Now, the civil forfeiture office is going after all of it, saying it's an instrument of unlawful activity.

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There's a pretty good chance two recent gang-related shootings in Port Moody will go unsolved for years to come. A spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department, which is investigating the two shootings on behalf of the Port Moody Police Department, noted there are no new leads in the case of the most recent shooting. VPD Const. Lindsey Houghton said officers were at the scene canvassing potential witnesses the day after the murder, but the effort turned up nothing new. He added it could take years for the crime to be solved. "It's a combination of luck and all sorts of other things, if they're even solved," Houghton said. On June 25, gangster Randy Naicker was gunned down on busy Queens Street during rush hour. Naicker was the founder of the Independent Soldiers and had a criminal past. In May, another gangster, Gurbinder Singh Toor, was gunned down in the parking lot of the Port Moody Recreation Complex just after sundown. The victim was exiting his car to play ball hockey when he was shot. There have been few leads in that case, but police believe the suspect vehicle was a Nissan Murano. Investigators put up posters with the description of the vehicle at the recreation centre in hopes of getting new tips. At the time, the VPD indicated it's not uncommon for an investigation into a gang shooting to move very slowly. Simon Fraser University criminologist Robert Gordon believes there is no chance the shooters will be brought to justice. He suggested the shooters were likely "imports," who were brought into the area for that one specific purpose. They likely picked up the firearm for the shooting and then disposed of it shortly afterwards. In the case of the Naicker shooting, witnesses said the gunmen wore masks to cover their face. "They'll never be identified," Gordon said. The two shootings were the first homicides in Port Moody in nearly a decade.

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20-year-old man has been arrested on a murder warrant in connection with a shooting at a party in October that left a young mother of two dead and seven others wounded. Jacob Cordero is accused of opening fire on party-goers standing outside a home in the 3700 block of Frazier Avenue in the early-morning hours of Oct. 23. Eight people were struck, including Christina Davila, 21, who died at the scene from a high-velocity gunshot wound to the neck. Homicide Sgt. Cheryl Johnson said the motive appears to be gang-related. Although Davila was not a gang member, Johnson said that she was acquainted with gang members and that several gang members were present at the party. Cordero, Johnson said, belongs to a rival gang. Cordero was being held in Johnson County on unrelated charges when he was arrested on the murder warrant. Police have said that the gunman had wore dark clothes, including a hooded jacket, when he walked up to the group, opened fire, and then ran away. Tarrant County records show that Cordova was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2010 for assaulting an off-duty Fort Worth police officer. Officer Randy Molina and two other off-duty officers were trying to break up a fight at a private party in the Stockyards when Molina was injured. He was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and concussion. Federal court records show that Cordero was deported to Mexico in May 2011. He was discovered back in the United States in November and indicted on one count of illegal re-entry. The indictment, however, was dismissed in February after information arose that Cordero, though born in Mexico, may have derived U.S. citizenship through his father. Davila left behind a son and daughter, now ages 3 and 4. Linda Rodriguez raised Davila, her granddaughter, from a toddler and now raises Davila's two children. "They do miss her, believe me," said Davila's great aunt, who spoke about the family only on the condition that she not be identified. "We have pictures in the house. "They know that's their mom and they know she's an angel in heaven and they know she's not coming back, and not because she doesn't want to." The great aunt said Rodriguez was relieved to learn about the arrest. "I know she's just glad that they finally arrested the person and there's finally closure to it," she said.

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20-year-old man has been arrested on a murder warrant in connection with a shooting at a party in October that left a young mother of two dead and seven others wounded. Jacob Cordero is accused of opening fire on party-goers standing outside a home in the 3700 block of Frazier Avenue in the early-morning hours of Oct. 23. Eight people were struck, including Christina Davila, 21, who died at the scene from a high-velocity gunshot wound to the neck. Homicide Sgt. Cheryl Johnson said the motive appears to be gang-related. Although Davila was not a gang member, Johnson said that she was acquainted with gang members and that several gang members were present at the party. Cordero, Johnson said, belongs to a rival gang. Cordero was being held in Johnson County on unrelated charges when he was arrested on the murder warrant. Police have said that the gunman had wore dark clothes, including a hooded jacket, when he walked up to the group, opened fire, and then ran away. Tarrant County records show that Cordova was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2010 for assaulting an off-duty Fort Worth police officer. Officer Randy Molina and two other off-duty officers were trying to break up a fight at a private party in the Stockyards when Molina was injured. He was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and concussion. Federal court records show that Cordero was deported to Mexico in May 2011. He was discovered back in the United States in November and indicted on one count of illegal re-entry. The indictment, however, was dismissed in February after information arose that Cordero, though born in Mexico, may have derived U.S. citizenship through his father. Davila left behind a son and daughter, now ages 3 and 4. Linda Rodriguez raised Davila, her granddaughter, from a toddler and now raises Davila's two children. "They do miss her, believe me," said Davila's great aunt, who spoke about the family only on the condition that she not be identified. "We have pictures in the house. "They know that's their mom and they know she's an angel in heaven and they know she's not coming back, and not because she doesn't want to." The great aunt said Rodriguez was relieved to learn about the arrest. "I know she's just glad that they finally arrested the person and there's finally closure to it," she said.

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20-year-old man has been arrested on a murder warrant in connection with a shooting at a party in October that left a young mother of two dead and seven others wounded. Jacob Cordero is accused of opening fire on party-goers standing outside a home in the 3700 block of Frazier Avenue in the early-morning hours of Oct. 23. Eight people were struck, including Christina Davila, 21, who died at the scene from a high-velocity gunshot wound to the neck. Homicide Sgt. Cheryl Johnson said the motive appears to be gang-related. Although Davila was not a gang member, Johnson said that she was acquainted with gang members and that several gang members were present at the party. Cordero, Johnson said, belongs to a rival gang. Cordero was being held in Johnson County on unrelated charges when he was arrested on the murder warrant. Police have said that the gunman had wore dark clothes, including a hooded jacket, when he walked up to the group, opened fire, and then ran away. Tarrant County records show that Cordova was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2010 for assaulting an off-duty Fort Worth police officer. Officer Randy Molina and two other off-duty officers were trying to break up a fight at a private party in the Stockyards when Molina was injured. He was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and concussion. Federal court records show that Cordero was deported to Mexico in May 2011. He was discovered back in the United States in November and indicted on one count of illegal re-entry. The indictment, however, was dismissed in February after information arose that Cordero, though born in Mexico, may have derived U.S. citizenship through his father. Davila left behind a son and daughter, now ages 3 and 4. Linda Rodriguez raised Davila, her granddaughter, from a toddler and now raises Davila's two children. "They do miss her, believe me," said Davila's great aunt, who spoke about the family only on the condition that she not be identified. "We have pictures in the house. "They know that's their mom and they know she's an angel in heaven and they know she's not coming back, and not because she doesn't want to." The great aunt said Rodriguez was relieved to learn about the arrest. "I know she's just glad that they finally arrested the person and there's finally closure to it," she said.

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20-year-old man has been arrested on a murder warrant in connection with a shooting at a party in October that left a young mother of two dead and seven others wounded. Jacob Cordero is accused of opening fire on party-goers standing outside a home in the 3700 block of Frazier Avenue in the early-morning hours of Oct. 23. Eight people were struck, including Christina Davila, 21, who died at the scene from a high-velocity gunshot wound to the neck. Homicide Sgt. Cheryl Johnson said the motive appears to be gang-related. Although Davila was not a gang member, Johnson said that she was acquainted with gang members and that several gang members were present at the party. Cordero, Johnson said, belongs to a rival gang. Cordero was being held in Johnson County on unrelated charges when he was arrested on the murder warrant. Police have said that the gunman had wore dark clothes, including a hooded jacket, when he walked up to the group, opened fire, and then ran away. Tarrant County records show that Cordova was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2010 for assaulting an off-duty Fort Worth police officer. Officer Randy Molina and two other off-duty officers were trying to break up a fight at a private party in the Stockyards when Molina was injured. He was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and concussion. Federal court records show that Cordero was deported to Mexico in May 2011. He was discovered back in the United States in November and indicted on one count of illegal re-entry. The indictment, however, was dismissed in February after information arose that Cordero, though born in Mexico, may have derived U.S. citizenship through his father. Davila left behind a son and daughter, now ages 3 and 4. Linda Rodriguez raised Davila, her granddaughter, from a toddler and now raises Davila's two children. "They do miss her, believe me," said Davila's great aunt, who spoke about the family only on the condition that she not be identified. "We have pictures in the house. "They know that's their mom and they know she's an angel in heaven and they know she's not coming back, and not because she doesn't want to." The great aunt said Rodriguez was relieved to learn about the arrest. "I know she's just glad that they finally arrested the person and there's finally closure to it," she said.

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20-year-old man has been arrested on a murder warrant in connection with a shooting at a party in October that left a young mother of two dead and seven others wounded. Jacob Cordero is accused of opening fire on party-goers standing outside a home in the 3700 block of Frazier Avenue in the early-morning hours of Oct. 23. Eight people were struck, including Christina Davila, 21, who died at the scene from a high-velocity gunshot wound to the neck. Homicide Sgt. Cheryl Johnson said the motive appears to be gang-related. Although Davila was not a gang member, Johnson said that she was acquainted with gang members and that several gang members were present at the party. Cordero, Johnson said, belongs to a rival gang. Cordero was being held in Johnson County on unrelated charges when he was arrested on the murder warrant. Police have said that the gunman had wore dark clothes, including a hooded jacket, when he walked up to the group, opened fire, and then ran away. Tarrant County records show that Cordova was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2010 for assaulting an off-duty Fort Worth police officer. Officer Randy Molina and two other off-duty officers were trying to break up a fight at a private party in the Stockyards when Molina was injured. He was treated at a hospital for a broken nose and concussion. Federal court records show that Cordero was deported to Mexico in May 2011. He was discovered back in the United States in November and indicted on one count of illegal re-entry. The indictment, however, was dismissed in February after information arose that Cordero, though born in Mexico, may have derived U.S. citizenship through his father. Davila left behind a son and daughter, now ages 3 and 4. Linda Rodriguez raised Davila, her granddaughter, from a toddler and now raises Davila's two children. "They do miss her, believe me," said Davila's great aunt, who spoke about the family only on the condition that she not be identified. "We have pictures in the house. "They know that's their mom and they know she's an angel in heaven and they know she's not coming back, and not because she doesn't want to." The great aunt said Rodriguez was relieved to learn about the arrest. "I know she's just glad that they finally arrested the person and there's finally closure to it," she said.

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