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#1 (Murder Case)
Trayvon Martin case

February 26, 2012
Arresting agency - Sanford police

In this case Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager (17) on February 26, 2012. This case is very controversial because Zimmerman was released on his claim of self defense, there was no evidence saying that he wasn’t attacked by Martin.Many have protested, especially the African American community, demanding Zimmerman’s arrest, claiming he was motivated by racial profiling in choosing to follow Martin. Many say Zimmerman chose to follow Martin because he was a black teen wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Those protesting claim Zimmerman was released or that the police chose to accept his version of the story because of his race and thatrace has always been a part of this case.
Sanford police was the acting agency and the ones who decided to let Zimmerman walk. Soon after, Police Chief Bill Lee resigned temporarily on March 22. Special prosecutor Angela Corey has now taken over the case.
Zimmerman chose to follow Martin on February 26 as Martin was returning to his father’s fiancés house. He chose to follow him becausehe considered him suspicious. A fight soon occurred. Witnesses claim to have herd gunshots and cries for help. Zimmerman claims that Martin attacked him, punching him in the nose and slamming his head of the concert. He then shot in self defense, killing Martin. This case has taken the nation by storm, the black community has come together forming many protests demanding Zimmerman’s arrest,claiming race as a deciding factor in letting Zimmerman walk. Many black athletes such as the entire Miami Heat team of the NBA have shown support for Martin.
I believe that the original common law elements are in play here and although this case has yet to be solved it will continue to be controversial for many years to come.
Race does have a big part in this case those who are involved have toexercise extreme care not to let this case get out of their hands.


#2 Arson
Wilmington firefighter, friend, charged with arson

February 14, 2012
Arresting agency- Will County Sheriff’s agency, Will County police

Firefighter, Ronald Armstrong and friend Jeremy Sorensen have both been charged with Arson after they set fire to Armstrong’s 2005 Ford F-250 truck on or about February 14, 2012.Armstrong was also charged with filing a false insurance claim for his truck; both of these crimes are considered felonies. Armstrong’s Bail was set at $100,000 and a motion to reduce that bail was denied in court. He later posted bail.
Armstrong and Sorensen both living in Wilmington, IL, USA decided to set fire to the truck and Armstrong then made a false claim for the damages on a StateFarm insurance policy. Both men were taken into custody on Monday.
Wilmington Fire Protection District Chief Tim Zlomie said Armstrong will be fired for this.
The modern elements of the crime do not differ at all from the original common law elements; it is ironic that a firefighter set fire to his own truck and basically tried to rob the insurance company.


#3 Fraud
Prosecutors: Dixon CFOembezzled $30M

April 16, 2012
Arresting agency- Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and the head of Chicago’s FBI office, Robert Grant (FBI)


Rita Crundwell has stolen more then 30 million from the small town of Dixon, Illinois over the last six years. She was arrested on April 16 after the FBI determined that she had stolen more than $3.2 million in public funds from the city of Dixonin just a matter of months.
The arresting and prosecuting agencies are as follows, Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald and the head of Chicago’s FBI office, Robert Grant (FBI).
Crundwell was charged with a single count of wire fraud, she was the comptroller of the town of Dixon since the early 1980s. Crundwell would illegally withdraw money from Dixon accounts and use to money to live...