ST. CHARLES A reserve officer with the Pine Lawn Police Department has been charged with raping his former girlfriend at an apartment in St. Charles in May.

Rico L. Frazier, 23, of the 5900 block of San Simeon Drive in south St. Louis County, was charged Thursday with burglary, rape, felonious restraint and two counts of sodomy.

The woman, 22, a student at Lindenwood University, reported the attack just before 4 a.m. on May 1. It happened about two miles from campus at the Time Centre Apartments, 901 Time Centre Drive. The woman was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Frazier had been a volunteer reserve police officer with the Pine Lawn Police Department for three months at the time of the assault. He graduated from the Eastern Missouri Police Academy in November 2013.

Pine Lawn Police Lt. Steven Blakeny said Frazier was with the department as a reserve until the end of June when he told officers he was taking a paying job with another department. It could not be determined Thursday whether another department hired him. Blakeny said Frazier did not volunteer with the department after the attack.

This kid on paper appeared to be stellar, he said. He was one of the standout students at the academy.

Frazier and the woman dated until October 2013, St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar said and remained friends afterward. The two had spoken as recently as the day before the assault, and the conversation had been cordial, he said.

Police gave this account of the attack:

Frazier smashed in the sliding glass door of the womans apartment about 3 a.m., while she was sleeping. Frazier then sprayed her in the face with law enforcement-grade pepper spray, temporarily blinding her.

He tackled the woman and repeatedly beat her face into the floor as he pulled her hair. The woman fought back and was able to rip a necklace off Frazier, but he overpowered her and raped her.

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Reserve Pine Lawn officer charged with raping Lindenwood University student at apartment in St. Charles

BOSTON - Prosecutors have charged a Massachusetts man with raping a woman at a raucous country music concert south of Boston on Saturday where dozens of people received treatment for alcohol-related medical problems.

Police in Mansfield, Massachusetts, the site of the concert by Australian singer Keith Urban, charged Sean Murphy, 18, with raping a woman on the outdoor venue's lawn during the performance while dozens of concert-goers looked on, some taking photos of the incident.

Murphy on Tuesday pleaded not guilty and his attorney said on Wednesday that the incident was ill-advised but consensual.

"This was a consensual act, not a sexual assault. There are no allegations of force or violence against him," attorney Neil Crowley said in a statement. "Mr. Murphy deeply regrets this incident and I am sure the young woman does as well."

Police in Mansfield, about 25 miles (40 km) south of Boston, said in a statement that a female witness "pushed Murphy off the victim" and a male witness reported the incident to a police officer. Murphy was arrested at the venue, police said.

Some 22 concert-goers were taken to hospitals during the show and about 50 people were taken into protective custody.

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Police charge man with raping woman at raucous Massachusetts concert

By Chester County Health Department For Main Line Media News

The treatment will be administered with truck-mounted spray equipment. The equipment dispenses Permanone RTU, a permethrin insecticide product, at a rate of 1.5 ounces per acre. These products are designed to provide quick, effective control of adult mosquito populations. The application materials have a very low toxicity profile to mammals and are safe for the environment when used in accordance with prescribed application methods.

To receive email notifications of future sprays, sign up for Health Department updates or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

The chance of contracting WNV from an infected mosquito is small and chances of becoming seriously ill are even smaller, however, the Health Department recommends that individuals take personal precautions to minimize the possibility of being bitten by infected mosquitoes. This includes staying indoors at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active, wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants when outside and using insect repellents when mosquitoes are active. The heightened concern will probably remain until the first frost which usually occurs in mid-October.

Residents are encouraged to take the following precautions to reduce mosquito breeding on their property:

Dispose of open containers that may collect water, such as tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, etc.

Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers so that water will not collect.

Keep your property clear of old tires.

Clean roof gutters, particularly if leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains.

Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. Continued...

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Mosquito spraying scheduled for areas in Tredyffrin Township

An 18-year-old Boston man has been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl during a Keith Urban concert at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Mass. on July 26.

The teenage girl was was allegedly sexually assaulted on the lawn area of the venue while others watched and took videos with their cell phones, The Sun Chronicle reports.

The suspect, Sean Murphy, pleaded innocent to the rape and claims that the incident was consensual. His parents were reportedly expected to post the bail for his release, which is set at $10,000.

Police say that Murphy and the girl met for the first time at the concert and began kissing near a concession stand before moving to the lawn area. An off-duty police officer intervened after seeing a large group of people surrounding them while taking videos and photos. Murphy was arrested shortly thereafter. According to police, both he and the girl were consuming alcohol during the concert, The Sun Chronicle reports.

During the show, 46 people received medical treatment for alcohol-related illnesses and 50-plus people were taken into protective custody. About 18,000 people attended Saturday's concert.

This article originally appeared on Billboard.com.

Excerpt from:
Boston Man Arrested for Allegedly Raping Girl During Keith Urban Concert

By STEVE Metsch smetsch@southtownstar.com July 29, 2014 10:00PM

Chicago Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan visits with a patient at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. | Steve Metsch/For Sun-Times Media

storyidforme: 69802005 tmspicid: 24701533 fileheaderid: 12369508

Updated: July 30, 2014 2:15AM

After he visited Tuesday with sick children at Advocate Childrens Hospital in Oak Lawn, Chicago Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan said he felt like the day may have meant more to him than the kids.

We have a tendency to complain and think we dont have it good. When you see the kids, your heart breaks for them because of their innocence and what theyre going through, Coghlan said. And it gives you encouragement because you watch a kid who is so young to have that much courage to fight for their life. Originally, you come because you want to give back, but you take away probably more than they take away (from this visit).

Coghlan, 29, met with about 10 children with various medical problems, ranging from cancer to injuries that are not life-threatening but serious enough to require hospitalization.

The kids were thrilled to see a real big leaguer. Coghlan wore his white home jersey with the blue pinstripes and distinctive Cubs logo.

Every time you come to a hospital, you think of what more you can do. Its humbling and gives you great perspective. It would help anybody regardless of their profession because it gives you perspective of how good we really have it, Coghlan said.

Beau Morgan, 7, of Steger, was at the hospital because he injured his pancreas in a bicycle accident. Hes getting better, mom Kirsten St. Pierre said.

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Cubs Chris Coghlan brightens kids day at Advocate Childrens Hospital in Oak Lawn

At least one gym in California is trying to conserve water during what is called the state's worst drought in nearly four decades with a technology appropriate for its Silicon Valley setting.

Almaden Valley Athletic Club in San Jose, California, started using a trademarked product this week that coats brown lawns into green grass with paint.

Jeff Griffith-Jones, general manager of operations of the 38-year old fitness center, said the gym decided to pay about $600 for the services of Green Polymer Systems, a company based in nearby Los Gatos. The green treatment should last three to six months, he said.

"It looks phenomenal," Griffith-Jones said.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

PHOTO: Green Canary worker Josue Bojorquez sprays green water-based paint on a partially dead lawn

California Approves Fines for Water-Wasters

While some cities in California are responding to a severe drought by charging more for water or limiting water use, San Jose doesn't have those restrictions. Last week, the state's water regulators voted to approve fines up to $500 a day for residents' excessive water use.

But the fitness center's management decided to take measures upon the concern of some of its 6,000 customers.

Fire Season in West So Far Is Below Expectations

Excerpt from:
The Drought Is So Bad in Calif. That People Are Painting Lawns Green

Conservation groups launch effort to protect local water resources

PORTSMOUTH The answer to reducing environmental damage in local water bodies lies right in our own back and front yards.

The Conservation Law Foundation has joined forces with local conservation groups to launch a new initiative called Smart Fertilizer Use to reduce nitrogen levels in the Great Bay Estuary. While much of the nitrogen reaching the estuary comes from sewage treatment plants, there is also a portion that comes from fertilizer used in residential lawns, Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper Jeff Barnum said.

"My interest lies in clean water, and too much nitrogen in our water is a big deal," Barnum said. "We should be paying attention not only to sewage treatment plants, but also onto problems we can do something about."

Barnum said 40 percent of all Seacoast homeowners fertilize their lawns, with about half of those residents employing a professional to do the work. These treated lawns contribute about 115 tons of nitrogen to the estuary each year, he said.

Want a visual?

Imagine 230 pickup trucks dumping loads of nitrogen into the water. That amount of lawn-linked nitrogen, combined with the 1,250 tons of nitrogen coming from sewage plants and other sources, has a huge impact on the underwater ecosystem, Barnum said.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Association, nitrogen is essential to a healthy ecosystem, but too much of the nutrient can increase the amount of algae in the water. Algae blooms can cause great harm to water quality, food resources and habitats. Algae decreases oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic life need to survive.

The EPA also warns of the danger that high nitrogen levels pose to humans: "Some algal blooms are harmful to humans because they produce elevated toxins and bacterial growth that can make people sick if they come into contact with polluted water, consume tainted fish or shellfish, or drink contaminated water."

One way to do your part in nitrogen reduction is to determine whether your lawn actually needs fertilizing, according to Barnum. The University of New Hampshire and University of Maine offer testing services, and do-it-yourself kits are available online. You may find your lawn doesn't need fertilizer at all. If it does, Barnum recommends an organic, slow-release fertilizer that is phosphorus-free.

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Lawn fertilizer taints estuary

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A TEENAGER who broke into the bedroom of a barrister while armed with lawn shears was suffering from brain abnormalities so rare a GP or psychiatrist could not expect to come across it in their lifetimes.

Swansea Crown Court heard that there was only one doctor in the whole of Wales capable of treating Matthew James Tilson.

Judge Chris Vosper said the 18-year-olds offending could have resulted in a 10-year-jail sentence. But he would not receive the treatment he needed in jail.

Georgina Buckley, prosecuting, said Tilson broke into a garden shed at the home of Iain Alba and his wife Emma in Pontardulais and stole a pair of lawn edgers.

Then he smashed his way through patio doors and made his way to their bedroom.

Mr Alba woke as he entered the room. Tilson said How do? and began making his way back down the stairs.

Mr Alba followed and Tilson, from Cefn Padrig in Machynys, Llanelli, grabbed his face as if to remove his glasses and pushed him to the floor.

Tilson ran out through the patio doors but Mr Alba was barefoot and could not chase him because of the amount of glass on the floor.

Miss Buckley said the police were called and became aware that a Mazda car nearby had been broken into, and then received reports or two more cars being damaged. Officers searched the area and found a Saab with a smashed passenger side window and Tilson sitting inside.

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Llanelli teenager broke into bedroom of barrister armed with lawn shears

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CHICAGO (STMW) An Oak Lawn woman charged with murdering her 5-month-old granddaughter with a sledgehammer and knife is not mentally fit to stand trial at this time, a Cook County Circuit Court judge ruled Monday.

Judge Clayton Crane agreed with the findings of psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Markos, of Cook County Forensic Clinical Services, who in May found Alfreda Giedrojc unfit to stand trial.

After a series of delays the past few months, her fitness hearing finally was held before Crane at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago.

It took all of five minutes for Crane to issue his ruling.

He told Giedrojc that she must return to court Aug. 28, at which time her treatment schedule will be unveiled. The judge also said Giedrojc, 62, must be re-evaluated after one year to determine whether she is fit to stand trial after treatment.

The Polish immigrant, who needs an interpreter during court appearances, was dressed in jail-issued blue coveralls over a white shirt. She used her left hand to pat down her graying hair as she entered the courtroom. No family members attended the hearing.

Her lawyer, assistant public defender Michael Wilson, was not available for comment after the judges ruling.

Giedrojc is to remain in the Cook County Jail, where she has resided since Oct. 6, the day that police say she used a sledgehammer and carving knife to kill Vivian Summers.

Continued here:
Judge: Woman Accused Of Killing Granddaughter Unfit For Trial

CHICAGO --

Judge Clayton Crane agreed with the findings of psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Markos, of Cook County Forensic Clinical Services, who in May found Alfreda Giedrojc unfit to stand trial, the Southtown Star is reporting.

After a series of delays the past few months, her fitness hearing finally was held before Crane at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California Avenue in Chicago.

It took all of five minutes for Crane to issue his ruling.

He told Giedrojc that she must return to court Aug. 28, at which time her treatment schedule will be unveiled. The judge also said Giedrojc, 62, must be re-evaluated after one year to determine whether she is fit to stand trial after treatment.

The Polish immigrant, who needs an interpreter during court appearances, was dressed in jail-issued blue coveralls over a white shirt. She used her left hand to pat down her graying hair as she entered the courtroom. No family members attended the hearing.

Her lawyer, assistant public defender Michael Wilson, was not available for comment after the judge's ruling.

Giedrojc is to remain in the Cook County Jail, where she has resided since Oct. 6, the day that police say she used a sledgehammer and carving knife to kill Vivian Summers.

The gruesome killing shook Oak Lawn residents, as well as the battle-tested police officers and paramedics who first arrived on the horrific scene that Sunday morning.

The baby's father, Joe Summers, of Bolingbrook, had brought her to her grandparents' house so Giedrojc could watch her while he helped his brother-in-law with a repair project at his house across the street from where Giedrojc and her husband lived, officials said. The baby's mother is Amy Summers, the daughter of Alfreda and her husband, Boleslaw.

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Grandmother accused of killing 5-month-old with sledgehammer and knife unfit for trial, judge says