Daily Crime Blotter

Here's a daily list of recent activities drawing the attention of North Texas law enforcement. List compiled on Aug. 17, 2009.

DALLAS COPS REPORT INCREASE IN STOLEN GEAR
Dallas police have reported 15 cases of stolen gear in the past five months. The department said it started seeing an increase in stolen equipment in the last year. Investigators said they hope the burglaries are random and that officers have not been targeted by thieves. Law enforcement experts say stolen equipment can be used by police impostors. Dallas police said they are examining ways to reduce the growing number of cases. Click here to read more on NBCDFW.com.

BURGLAR SIGNS FOR TV DELIVERY; HOMEOWNER LEFT WITH BILL
A Fort Worth man has been left with an $800 bill for a stolen television after a burglar signed for the FedEx delivery. Josh Tipton's home was burglarized Aug. 7. A few days later, he realized he hadn't received a big-screen television he had ordered. FedEx said it delivered the TV and wasn't responsible for the theft. Tipton said his homeowners insurance will not cover the $800 TV but will cover the other items that were stolen. Click here to read more on NBCDFW.com.

POLICE: RAPIST REAR-ENDS CARS TO LURE VICTIMS OUT OF CAR
Dallas police said a man has twice intentionally hit a car and then assaulted its female driver. Both victims told investigators the man rear-ended them and then insisted they get out and check for damage. The man then kidnapped them at knifepoint and raped them, police said. Both attacks -- one in South Dallas and one off Forest Lane near the LBJ Freeway -- happened in the early morning hours. Police have a limited description of the man, who is described as driving a dark-colored, single-cab Chevrolet pickup truck.

DORSETT'S NEPHEW PLEADS TO DRUG CHARGE
A nephew of Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges related to a suburban Pittsburgh cocaine ring, The Associated Press reported. Anthony A. Dorsett, 32, faces a maximum of life in prison after pleading guilty Monday. Prosecutors said he ran a drug ring centered on a public housing complex in Aliquippa, about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December. His uncle, Tony Dorsett, attended Pitt, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1976 before going on to play for the Dallas Cowboys.

FAST-FOOD BEATDOWNS
Murphy police are looking for five men in accused of beating a Richardson teenager early Saturday morning outside the Taco Bell in Murphy.  The teen said he was knocked out by the men, but his friends said that didn't stop the men from continuing to beat the teen. The teen's friends called police, but the men got away. Read more here. 

A second fast-food restaurant assault took place Saturday morning at the Chick-fil-A in Southlake. A couple, having received their food, were trying to pull out of the drive-through but were held in place by a Bentley parked in front of them.  The driver honked twice, a fairly common gesture, to try to get the driver to pull up. Surprisingly, the driver of the Bentley did not pull up, instead choosing to exit the car and get into a shouting match with the stuck driver's wife.  Soon, the Bentley driver was joined by two others, one who kept the husband from assisting his wife and another who slapped the woman.  The woman retaliated in a similar fashion and was promptly knocked to the ground and punched, the Star-Telegram reports.  The woman was not seriously injured and suffered only a busted lip. The men in the Bentley were chased off after employees of the restaurant came to their aid.  The men in the Bentley have not yet been located by police, though officials do have the car's registration information and hope to move forward with the case Monday.

ESTRANGED HUSBAND SHOOTS, KILLS WIFE'S LOVER, POLICE SAY
An estranged husband is on the run after he shoots and kills a man he found in bed with his wife, Dallas police said.  Manuel Gomez, 48, arrived at his home on the 1700 block of Arrowdell Sunday morning to find Armando Castorena in bed with his wife.  According to police, Gomez shot Castorena, who later died.  Police issued an arrest warrant for Gomez, who is on the run and believed to be in a white Chevrolet pickup truck, possibly with a trailer.  A license plate has not yet been made available.

CYCLIST KILLED IN GRAND PRAIRIE
Ronnie Monroe Keller, 59, was found dead at about 9 p.m. Saturday in the back seat of a car after being struck while riding his bicycle.  Police found the man lodged in the back seat of a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier -- apparently he had been struck head-on, hit the windshield, went over the top of the car and crashed into the back window, the Star-Telegram reports.  Police arrested Paul Riojas, 27, who was hiding under a parked vehicle in the area.  He was charged with intoxication manslaughter and is being held on $150,000 bond. Read more about this story at NBCDFW.com.

ELDERLY MAN FOUND DEAD IN POOL
Arlington police said James Clark, 80, was found dead in his pool Sunday.  Family members said Clark went outside to clean the top of the pool and when they got there they noticed his hat was in the water.  They pulled him out of the pool but he had already died. The Tarrant County medical examiner has not yet ruled an official cause of death, but at this time police do not suspect foul play.

MAN FOUND SHOT, DEAD IN DALLAS
The Dallas police are investigating the fatal shooting of a Hispanic male. The man, whose name has not been released, was found at a residence on the 1100 block of N. St. Augustine.  The man is believed to be in his 20s.  Investigators are expected to release more information Monday.

RAMP CLOSED IN SOUTH DALLAS
The Texas Department of Transportation will close the ramp from southbound Interstate 35E to eastbound Interstate 20 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday.  Traffic will be detoured to Wintergreen where drivers can then take I-35E north to I-20 east.