MAN HELD IN THEFT OF TREES; BUT FAMILY ALLOWED TO KEEP YULE SYMBOL.Byline: Keith Stone Daily News Staff Writer Rather than ruin Christmas for a 10-year-old girl, a big-hearted detective said he allowed her family to keep its yule tree, even though he believes it is stolen property. But the Christmas spirit didn't stop Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. police Detective Jim Rahm from arresting the girl's father, George Ramirez, 40, on suspicion of grand theft. Rahm said he believes that the tree he found in Ramirez's home on Christmas Eve was among the 30 to 40 that were stolen Dec. 11 from a Van Nuys church lot. He was about to take it back to the station when he and his colleagues found out that Ramirez has a young daughter, and some of those presents beneath the tree probably were for her. So they left the tree. ``We didn't take it because of his daughter,'' said Rahm. ``We weren't going to ruin Christmas for his family just because he screwed up This article contains information about a scheduled or expected . It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content could change dramatically as the single release approaches and more information becomes available. .'' During an investigation of Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. thefts in the area, Rahm said he received a tip that led him to arrest Ramirez. Another arrest also might be made for the thefts, he said. The stolen trees were resold at another lot, on the corner of Woodley Avenue and Victory Boulevard Victory Boulevard is a major thoroughfare on Staten Island, measuring approximately 8.0 miles (12.87 km) and stretching from the west shore community of Travis to the upper east shore communities of St. George and Tompkinsville. ``at a steep discount,'' Rahm said. The same day that the trees were stolen from the St. Bridget Noun 1. St. Bridget - Irish abbess; a patron saint of Ireland (453-523) Bridget, Brigid, Saint Bride, Saint Bridget, Saint Brigid, St. Bride, St. Brigid, Bride of Sweden Catholic Church in Van Nuys, the volunteer who ran the lot died of an apparent heart attack while unloading Unloading Selling securities or commodities whose prices are dropping to minimize loss. trees. That volunteer, 47-year-old Frank Augone, sold trees at the church lot each year to raise school scholarships in the name of his son, who had died in a car crash three years ago. Augone's daughter, Maria Snook snook: see bass, fish. snook Any of about eight species (genus Centropomus) of tropical marine fishes that are long and silvery and have two dorsal fins, a long head, and a large mouth with a projecting lower jaw. , said she was pleased to hear that the thief was arrested but does not blame Ramirez for her father's death. She said her father was not upset by the thefts. ``He just let it roll off of him. Quite honestly, I think God took my father,'' she said Thursday in an interview. However, Augone's mother, Diana Augone, said Thursday that she believes the stress of the thefts could have contributed to her son's death. ``I think he really must have been so disgusted, so disenchanted dis·en·chant tr.v. dis·en·chant·ed, dis·en·chant·ing, dis·en·chants To free from illusion or false belief; undeceive. [Obsolete French desenchanter, from Old French, ,'' she said. ``The money was for the church. It wasn't for him. He was overworked and tired.'' While taking Ramirez into custody, Rahm said he felt compelled to show Ramirez a Daily News article about Augone's death. ``I even read the article to the guy - he began crying,'' Rahm said. |
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