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Catlett man who used Craigslist to scam renters arrested, police say
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116 days ago: Berwyn Heights mayor cleared of drug charges
116 days ago: Berwyn Heights raid puts spotlight on police tactics
116 days ago: Tacoma Park employee charged in theft of two cars
» 130 days ago: Catlett man who used Craigslist to scam renters arrested, police say «
130 days ago: Montgomery County looks to expand 'bait car' program
130 days ago: Volunteer firefighters blast proposed ambulance fees
137 days ago: Montgomery police arrest gas station robbery suspect
139 days ago: State police spied on pro-peace groups, ACLU says
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Related Topics: Maryland
Maryland
(Map, News)
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A man using Craigslist to aid in his renting of properties he did not own was arrested late Thursday night, Fairfax County police said. Related Topics: Maryland
Richard Hiner, 31, of Catlett, allegedly advertised rental homes on Craigslist, bringing potential renters on tours of the properties and then having them sign a rental contract with a down payment.
His victims would later learn the properties were bank-owned and in foreclosure.
Police were notified of the scheme by four victims between July 13 and July 18.
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Detectives posing as potential renters responded to an online advertisement and arrested Hiner when he arrived for the meeting.
Anyone with information should call 703-691-2131 or 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).
The properties involved were in the:
» 6200 block of Cool Valley Court in Franconia
» 6400 block of Ronson Court in Rose HIll
» 7900 block of Russell Road in Huntley Meadows.
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:14 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 17, 2008 re: "Berwyn Heights mayor cleared of drug charges"
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10:12 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 17, 2008
re: "Berwyn Heights mayor cleared of drug charges"
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10:57 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 13, 2008
re: "Tacoma Park employee charged in theft of two cars"
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5:20 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 10, 2008
re: "Berwyn Heights mayor cleared of drug charges"
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2:24 AM MST on Sun., Aug. 10, 2008
re: "Berwyn Heights raid puts spotlight on police tactics"
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7:47 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 28, 2008
re: "Volunteer firefighters blast proposed ambulance fees"
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8:47 AM MST on Sun., Jul. 13, 2008
re: "Montgomery police unit files suit to block use of patrol car cameras"
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Examiner Reader said:
RRRRR. Typo. PETS. PETS. PETS. Not "pest."
2 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So, the Berwyn heights mayor has been "cleared" of criminal charges? My understanding is that "suspects" are presumed "innocent" until a judge or jury finds them guilty- so the police are doing the man and his family NOTHING by "clearing" them, because until convicted, anyone charged with a crime is "innocent." That raises another problem- they were never charged. Their home was invaded, they family was terrorized by armed thugs who murdered the family pest. It's the armed thugs who committed the crimes of home illegal home invasion, assault with deadly weapons, domestic terrorism, and cruelty to animals who would need to be "cleared." Some police higher-ups need to be fired over this, and some officers need to be prosecuted by DHS as terrorists. They should be able to come to trial after 6 or 7 years at Gitmo.
4 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Your headline writer needs to learn to spell Takoma Park. Our Takoma is with a K; the one in the state of Washington has a C
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The police should never have exceeded the scope of the warrant, killed the dogs, and smeared Calvo by claiming his family was still under investigation days after they should have been cleared. His office should have been accorded more respect, and his family's constitutional rights honored. Federal courts have granted police certain powers through judicial interpretation of the Bill of Rights, but when police abuse these powers, as what was done here, they need to be held accountable. The Police should have known they couldn't just push their way into the Mayor's or anyone's home without having their warrant in order. It was arrogant and high-handed for them to assume the outcome would justify their means. We all need to be alert when constitutional rights are trampled with so little regard.
15 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Please prosecute those horrible cops that conducted that illegal raid on Mayor Cheye Calvo and his family!! It appears that those thug cops enjoyed killing their dogs and terrorizing the family. This crime reminds me of police lawlessness and brutality that occurs in 3rd world countries like Mexico or Iraq. Please try to make the USA a country where police officers are there to protect its citizens not to terrorize them.
12 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The main reasoning behind the volunteers objection is not that residents may be afraid to call in the case of an emergency... It is that they know that if the County assesses a fee for service they will lose fund drive money. That and that alone is there ONLY reasoning behind there objections
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Apparently Montgomery County is proper in moving to install the audio and video equipment in the cruisers. Neither Maryland law in general nor the Maryland Wiretap Act prohibit recording of conversations, which is what the FOP asserts. It prohibits interceptions of conversations that generally take place in cases of wiretaps or electronic eavesdropping, which usually require a warrant before hand. Wire taping applies to situations where a third party, the government or an individual, "eavesdrops" on a conversation without the knowledge of the participants to the conversation. County police would have to alert individuals of cameras and audio equipment in cruisers to avoid violation of an individual’s privacy or Miranda rights. The police, most likely, have not reasonable expectation of privacy in the presence of the recording equipment since they would know before hand that the equipment exists. Note that a Maryland State Police who had a microphone clipped to his sh
7 agree | 6 disagree
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