Firefighter Fatality

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: John Grabowski

Rank: Lieutenant

Age: 49

Gender: Male

Status: Part-time (Paid)

Years of Service: 24

Date of Incident: 10/01/2012

Time of Incident: 0803hrs

Date of Death: 10/01/2012

Fire Department: Riverview Fire Department

Address: 14100 Civic Park Drive, Riverview, MI  48193

Fire Department Chief: Chief Mitchell Jensen

Incident Description: On Sunday, September 30, during his shift, Lieutenant John Grabowski participated in fire department training.  His shift ended that day at 1800hrs.  The following morning, Lieutenant Grabowski traveled to his second job.  At approximately 0803hrs, Lieutenant Grabowski was found collapsed in the parking lot of his second employer.  The second employer's emergency response team tended to Lieutenant Grabowski and performed CPR.  Advanced Life Support also responded to the scene where they treated Lieutenant Grabowski and transported him to Henry Ford Wyandotte Michigan hospital.  Efforts to revive Lieutenant Grabowski at the hospital were not successful and he passed away within approximately one hour of being found in his employer's parking lot.  The official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Incident Location: Parking lot of BASF Chemical, Wyandotte, MI

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

 

Tribute is being paid to Lieutenant John Grabowski at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 61 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm

East Lansing Man Receives 20-Year Sentence for Trading Child Pornography

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Patrick Wiseman (33) of East Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced in federal court to a sentence of 20 years’ incarceration for trading in child pornography, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announced today. Wiseman was also sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release. In sentencing Wiseman, Judge Janet Neff emphasized the need to protect the community.

Wiseman has a prior sex offense conviction in Florida for possession of child pornography in 2003 and served 30 months in prison. Wiseman came to the attention of law enforcement in 2011 when he was discovered sharing child pornography through the Internet. In July 2011, the FBI executed a search warrant on Wiseman’s home and seized his computer. While that investigation was pending, Wiseman purchased another computer and began sharing even more child pornography through the Internet. The FBI, along with Homeland Security Investigations-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE), executed another search warrant on Wiseman’s home in March 2012. Wiseman’s computer was seized, and he was arrested and held in custody.

At Wiseman’s sentencing, Judge Neff expressed dismay and disgust at Wiseman’s collection of violent and brutal images of children being sexually assaulted. The investigation disclosed Wiseman’s chat communications, where he boasted that he sexually assaulted and beat children. Wiseman claimed that the chat communications were merely fantasies; however, Judge Neff found that his statements, even if fantasies, were true expressions of his desire to brutalize and sexually assault children and that he posed an extremely high risk to children.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the special agents of the FBI and HSI-ICE. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Y. Mekaru.

A Unified CBP in Sault Ste Marie Honor the Heroes and the Fallen on the Eleventh Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

Sault Ste Marie, Mich. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) honored the heroes and the fallen of the 9/11 terrorist attacks today with a moment of silence.

The attack on the United States solidified the resolve of a nation and brought us closer together. Over three thousand men, women, and children died in this horrific event masterminded by Osama bin Laden.

“Many (CBP employees) have told me that (they) draw great strength and determination from the events of 9-11. This is how it should be, because our best response to terrorism is to come back stronger and better. And I believe the men and women of CBP are helping the nation do just that by securing our borders, by welcoming an unfettered flow of international visitors to our shores each day, and by helping transform the world of international commerce,” said Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar. 

“We remember 9/11 as a horrible tragedy, a murderous attack, but more so a resolve to never let this happen again,” stated Port Director Patrick J. Wilson, “That is one reason you see us working hand in hand with agents from CBP Air and Marine and Border Patrol; to strengthen not only our port, but our community and our nation.”

At 8:46 am the officers stopped their duties and faced the American flag while the electronic signage overhead was changed to recognize United Flight 93, The Pentagon, and World Trade Center Towers One and Two. Field Operations Officers were joined this year by agents from the U.S. Border Patrol to honor the heroes and fallen of this tragedy, and treat this solemn occasion with reverence and pride. Traffic was stopped, and vehicles were placed in front of the plaza to help highlight the significance of this day and the mission of our agency.

“We proudly serve our nation and this day reinforces our mission and priorities,” stated Office of Air and Marine’s Unit Supervisor Eric Harstvedt.

The officers in Sault Ste Marie do more than just inspect and examine travelers at the International Bridge, they are tasked throughout the United States and overseas in support of our mission to detect and intercept terrorists and their weapons before they enter our country. Officers are detailed around the United States and the world to help detect and deter additional attacks on the homeland. These officers work hand in hand with their brothers and sisters in Border Patrol, Air and Marine, as well as our State, Local and Tribal partners. The faces that you see at the border are faces that you will see in the community as well.

“Although we have different duties, our mission to protect the country is the same. Working together on this solemn day is an honor for my agents and me.” stated Patrol Agent in Charge D’Arcy Rivers of the U.S. Border Patrol.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crimes Charge

WASHINGTON—Everett Dwayne Avery, 36, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court today to a federal hate crime, admitting that he assaulted a victim because he believed the victim was gay, the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Robert D. Foley, III announced today.

During the time of the plea, Avery admitted that on March 7, 2011, he struck the victim in the face while they were customers at a convenience store in Detroit because he believed that the victim was gay. The victim suffered a fractured eye socket and other facial injuries as a result.

“Hate-fueled incidents have no place in a civilized society,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to using all the tools in our law enforcement arsenal, including the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to prosecute acts of violence motivated by hate.”

Avery faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for November 28, 2012, before Judge John Corbett O’Meara.

“A hate crime is different than a simple assault because it is an attack on not just one individual victim, but an attack on everyone who shares a particular characteristic,” said U.S. Attorney McQuade. “By passing this statute, Congress made it clear that an attack based on a victim’s sexual orientation will not be tolerated in America.”

“The FBI is committed to protecting the community from those who are motivated by hate to victimize anyone as the result of their sexual orientation,” said Special Agent in Charge Foley.

This case was investigated by the Detroit Division of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pam Thompson and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

FBI Participates in Willie Horton’s 11th Annual Batting for Kids

On Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 9:45 a.m., the Detroit Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in partnership with Don Bosco Hall, a local community based outreach organization, will participate in the 11th Annual Batting for Kids Baseball Challenge at Comerica Park.

Batting for Kids is a baseball challenge where youth will have the opportunity to showcase their baseball skills as well as learn new skills during a fun-filled day at Comerica Park. More than 350 youth between the ages of 7 and 17 will participate in a youth development baseball skills competition that will include base running, a throwing competition, batting competition, and demonstration clinics. Individual souvenirs for each skill will be awarded to the top boy and girl in each age division.

The Detroit Division FBI will participate in this event by providing volunteers to assist in the areas of mentors to the youth participating in the challenge and security.

This event will be attended by 20 volunteers from the Detroit Division FBI to include Special Agent in Charge Robert D. Foley, who will throw the ceremonial first pitch.