On December 19, 2009, the Plantation Police Department received a call of a vehicle burglary of a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) marked unit.  There were several items taken in the burglary including an AR-15 Rifle, a BSO laptop computer, BSO uniforms, and other law enforcement related items.  Detective LeGette first became aware of the incident on Monday, December 21, 2009, and immediately began his investigation.  Video was obtained from the incident location showing the suspect and the suspect vehicle.  Detective LeGette had a BOLO and media release created and released to law enforcement agencies. On December 23, 2009, as a result of the dissemination of the suspect information, a BSO employee observed the vehicle at the 3300 block of Commercial Blvd.  Detective LeGette responded and coordinated with BSO detectives to contact the offender’s mother.  Initially her cooperation was in question but due to the rapport Detectives LeGette and Schurkman established with her she eventually consented to a search of the vehicle and admitted that the suspect in this case was most likely her son.  Detective LeGette then made initial contact with the offender’s father and once again due to the rapport Detective LeGette established with the offender’s father he positively identified his vehicle as the suspect vehicle and further identified his son as the offender.  The established rapport with the offender’s family continued to assist and ultimately resolve this case successfully.  The family consented to a preliminary search of their home for the offender and later cooperated fully with a more in depth search of their home for any of the stolen items. Detective LeGette’s continued rapport with the family finally resulted in a call from the offender’s father on the morning of Saturday, December 26, 2009. The father advised the whereabouts of the AR-15 rifle and informed Detective LeGette that he would be transporting his son in to the Plantation Police Department (along with the remaining property) so he could turn himself in to Detective LeGette.  The rifle was recovered intact with the ammunition and the offender’s surrender was successful with no further incident.  Although the laptop computer and a few other items were never recovered the majority of the missing items including BSO uniforms and other law enforcement property were recovered.

Detective LeGette maintained his rapport with the family including an uncle who is an attorney in another state.  On December 27, 2009, the offender advised, via his father, that he would like to speak to Detective LeGette and confess.  On December 31, 2009, Detective LeGette responded to the BSO Conte facility and obtained a full confession.  Unfortunately due to the offender’s drugged state of mind during and following the offense he could not recall where the still missing property might be located. 

Detective LeGette is an asset to the Investigation’s Division working over 222 assigned cases for the year including crimes ranging from grand thefts and burglaries to more significant cases including homicides, robberies, and other cases. For his efforts Detective LeGette was recognized as Officer of the Month for January 2010.

On September 2, 2009, Plantation police officers responded to a call from a resident claiming to have been the victim of an aggravated battery. During the altercation the reporter claimed that he was stabbed and subsequently fired a gun at the suspect in self-defense. While no victim of a shooting was discovered, projectiles fired by the reporter struck the neighbor’s vehicle while another went completely through their residence which was occupied at the time. The reporter was transported to the hospital where he was treated for a laceration which required stitches to close the wound. The incident was deemed to be serious enough to activate the Major Crimes Team.

Upon release from the hospital, the reporter continued making allegations of suspicious persons and incidents occurring at his residence. While some complaints appeared questionable, the reporter maintained the incidents were taking place and provided descriptions of the suspects.  These allegations were complicated by the fact the reporter had his own family convinced their residence was being targeted by a violent criminal and solicited the family members to make calls themselves.

Detectives Mike Moberg and Jim Murray, discouraged by the repeat incidents, developed an operational plan which included the coordination of a number of departmental resources. On September 18th, the reporter was charged with making a false report after calling in a fictitious burglary in progress at his home. This did not discourage further incidents from being reported. Both detectives remained focused and committed for several more weeks as they sought the truth regarding all of the allegations through a wide variety of self-initiated approaches. In one incident, the reporter was caught on video hammering holes in the outer wall of his residence to help support the claim that anther serious incident (drive-by shooting) had occurred when his family was out for the day.

Through very detailed investigative documentation, Detective Moberg was finally able to secure an arrest warrant charging the reporter with several additional felonies including the original false reporting of the aggravated battery and the subsequent firing of his firearm at the neighbor’s vehicle and residence. On October 9, 2009, the reporter was arrested on these charges.

Even after the arrest, a multitude of additional concerns were identified with this case.  Detectives Moberg and Murray continued in their efforts in working with the victim and the State Attorney’s Office to bring closure to this case. In mid November, approximately 10 weeks after the first incident occurred, the reporter and his defense team negotiated a settlement in which he pled “no contest” to all charges. In addition to numerous miscellaneous requirements, the defendant was ordered by the Court to relinquish all firearms, pay investigative reimbursement to the Plantation Police Department, and serve 10 years on probation.

This investigation required an exceptional collective team effort, determination, and great patience on the part of both detectives. Any attempt to single out one detective for recognition would be unfair. For their outstanding commitment to this investigation, both Detective Michael Moberg and Detective James Murray were selected as Officers of the Month for November 2009.