I got permission from Tony Cueto (promoter of the Tampa Show) to copy this excerpt from his PRESS RELEASE for you all to see!!.... enjoy!!....
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BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS, WHAT YOU GONNA DO.
Robert Frank
Kerri McClam
At the Tampa show I hired security for theft deterance and to
patrol to aprehend shoplifters. It paid off! Our security officer
observed Robert Frank in the act of shoplifting from Ben Siegel's
booth. When I was informed, I called the Hillsboro County Sheriffs
office. While waiting for the deputy, Mr. Frank (a friend of Dave
Lawsons it turns out, small world) exited the show once he realized we
were on to him. Security, who is not allowed to use force or make
arrest, informed the suspect that he had been observed shoplifting and
the Sheriff Department had a deputy on its way to make the arrest. Mr.
Frank headed to the parking lot and security, vendors and I followed
him. We had gone a good distance into the parking lot following Mr.
Frank when all of the sudden a pick up truck pulled up and he jumped in.
The driver of the pickup was Kerri Jean McClam, his accomplice who
had left the show with the stolen animals when she saw security
questioning her boyfriend. What happened next I will never forget. Ben,
Gino, the security officer and I blocked the truck so the suspect could
not flea. With two young children in the truck, Kerri McClam floored the
gas peddle, total disregard for our life, attempted to run us over in
order to escape.
They did get away but security managed to get the license plate
number and fortunately no injuries occurred. On April 3rd the
suspects were picked up by the Hillsboro County Sheriffs department
shortly after 9am. Robert Frank, a thug with 5 previous arrest was
charged with Grand Theft third degree and Kerri Jean McClam faces two
felony chagres of Aggravated Assult with a Deadly Weapon and one count
of Aggravated Battery Great Bodily Harm. Gino Sassini, one of the
vendors that assisted in trying to detain the duo has already been
interviewed and subpoenaed by the Office of the State Attorney to
testify in the case.
We are sending a message to shoplifters and other criminals that we
work very hard and will not tolerate shoplifting at our shows. At the
Tampa show, on the website and throughout the show I had large signs
"Uniformed and undercover officers patrolling for shoplifting.
Shoplifters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." I also
hired security to patrol and it paid off in a big way already, not only
by the arrest of two criminals, one with 5 previos arrest, but in
sending a message to other crooks that if they come to our show, we will
be on the lookout for them. I have zero tolerance for shoplifters. I
have sent the mug shots of these two individuals to other show
promoters. I have contacted Reptiles and wrote an article about the
incideant. I included the mug shots and will plead with the
publication the importance of having the mug shots printed as well.
Tonight, as the show promoter of where the suspects stole from, and
as one of the individuals that Kerri McClam attempted to kill in order
to escape, I wrote a letters to Rebeca Peterson who is prosecuting the
case, another letter to the District Attorny Mark Ober and when a
judge is assigned, to the presiding judge, pleading that these two
individuals be given the maximum, most sever punishment the law allows
and letting them know that this case is being followed and will be
reported on by the media! I am going to send a message loud and clear
that we are fighting back, taking serious measures to stop crooks and
will go to whatever extent necessary to prosecute to the fullest extent
of the law.
It is with great sadness that I must also inform you that there was
another incident at the Tampa show and the vendor is certain that the
crook that stole from him is a fellow vendor. This
is despicable, I have a lead who you are, you will be
watched and when you slip and are caught, I assure you not only
will you be prosecuted and your picture published but that will
be only be a portion of the consequences.
Beginning this summer, at all our shows we will have uniformed off
duty police officers patrolling. In Tampa and Raleigh I have used
security officers instead of police officers because of the enormous
price difference. Typically I pay $16 hour to the security company where
an off duty police officer through the security company runs $28 to $32
hour. This fall I will be increasing only the cost of vendors 1st booth,
$5 and by doing so will be able to afford actual police officers from
then on. Two of the big advantages of this is that they will patrol in
uniform and that they will be able to make arrest on the spot when
necessary. I hope that vendors will understand the $5 increase and how
valuable it is to everyone. Remember, it will be a $5 increase
per 1st table only, not per table. The $5 investment will save you
tremendously.
