Woman Nabbed For Stealing From Fundraiser Honoring Fallen Yarmouth K9 Officer
by AndrewBlakePolice said Maureen Wiggin was caught on video as she stole an item meant to benefit the Yarmouth Police Foundation.
Hyannis, MA – A 56-year-old woman was arrested for stealing an auction prize from a fundraiser in honor of murdered Yarmouth Police Sergeant Sean Gannon.
Maureen Wiggin, 56, hadn’t even purchased a $25 ticket to attend the event on Friday night when she showed up and helped herself to a sports-themed gift basket slated to be sold at a silent auction, the Boston Herald reported.
Police were called to the fundraiser at about 10:30 p.m. on June 22 after several people noticed something missing. The item Wiggin snatched contained a decorative blue box with golf balls, baseball hats, and a variety of shirts, according to police.
Wiggin’s bold theft was captured on surveillance video at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa where the event was held, the Boston Herald reported.
“A review of the security video showed a woman removing the item from a table and leaving the venue,” according to a statement posted on the official Barnstable Police Department Facebook page.
The fundraiser featuring the silent auction was titled “Back the Blue/A Night to Remember Sean,” and was organized in tribute to Sgt. Gannon, a K9 handler who was killed in the line of duty April 12.
Sgt. Gannon was fatally shot while trying to serve a warrant on a repeat offender who already had at least 111 charges on his record.
His partner, K9 Nero, was also wounded, but he has since recovered and gone home to live with the fallen hero’s family, WBTS reported.
Barnstable police officers located Wiggins at her home in Hyannis, and questioned her, according to the Boston Herald. She was initially uncooperative until she was confronted with the video, police said.
Eventually, the stolen auction item was recovered from the trunk of Wiggin’s car, and returned to the charitable event.
Police said Wiggin would be charged with larceny of property under $1,200.
“We as police officers see a lot of this happen in a lot of forums, but you just can’t believe someone would stoop that low to do that. This is typical of what’s happening in our society today,” Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson said of the theft to the Boston Herald.
“It’s just kind of sad that it took place. If Officer Gannon were involved in this he would probably look at the individual a little deeper than just someone who stole from a wonderful charity event. Like, what else may have been going on there?” Chief Frederickson said, as he recalled the officer’s compassionate nature.
The fundraising event was sponsored by the Behavioral Health Provider Coalition of Cape Cod and the Islands and with 100 percent were dedicated to the Yarmouth Police Foundation in Sgt. Gannon’s memory.
43 Responses
Burgers Allday
Jun 28, 2018 There's a Shrimp Sale at the Crab Crib.
LEO0301
Jun 28, 2018 @[Burgers Allday] - out of curiosity I googled you moniker and low and behold it became apparent you spend most of your day writing about police officers. You even have your own twitter account where you spend all your efforts critiquing police action. You sound like a very sad and lonely old man to me.
LEO0301
Jun 28, 2018 @[Burgers Allday] - it's hard to tell whether you actually believe the nonsense you spew or if it's just another attempt to troll this website. Probably a little of both, right?You have no argument and there is plenty of case law backing the use of police K-9's.Your feelings mean nothing to this case. If you think you have a legitimate argument, provide the case law you will use in court. I'm always interested in the thought process of such a sharp legal mind like yourself (sarcasm).
Burgers Allday
Jun 28, 2018 I disagree with your blanket statement about the courts. More importantly for present purposes, the issue here in this criminal case is whether the defendant had a reason to believe that the K9 unit posed a risk of death or serious bodily injury. If this goes to trial, it will be interesting to see how this issue is decided. K9 unit bites seem to be getting more and more serious as the years go by. At some point they will be considered as serious bodily harm. Given that recent picture of a K9 unit bite they linked from this site, I think we may be there now.
LEO0301
Jun 28, 2018 @[Burgers Allday] - actually K-9's are not considered deadly force by the courts. They are used as intermediate weapons, similar to a baton, in the use of force continuum. Your ignorance of the law is no excuse when it comes time to paying the price in court. https://www.policek9.com/html/statutes.html
Burgers Allday
Jun 27, 2018 http://kstp.com/news/st-paul-police-department-to-make-policy-changes-regarding-k-9-units/4935857/
Burgers Allday
Jun 27, 2018 Well, that's good. Good to find common ground. That lady shouldn't have stolen the gift basket.
JBo
Jun 27, 2018 We can tell that you're "sad for the officer's family".
Burgers Allday
Jun 27, 2018 I am sad for the officer's family. As far as whether the shooting was justifiable, I think we should all wait for the body cam footage before coming to conclusions. Even if the officer was collateral damage, receiving a bullet meant to bring down the fur missile, the Iraq War has made me comfortable with the idea of collateral damage.
ACO1952
Jun 26, 2018 Burgers Allday, are you that full of hate towards LEO's or you just the typical dumb SOB, that sits around all day with nothing better to do? The officer was killed by a repeat offender with 111 charges, that offender had already decided he was not going to jail no matter what so he kills the officer, wounds his K9 partner. Your maybes are so full of holes. Just admit it ass wipe you hate cops and dogs and your life sucks. The officer leaves behind a family, but with your mentality I guess that's ok.