Offender: Antonio Meleek Smokes
First-Degree Burglary and Second-Degree Assault.
Date:
Magazine Sales Company: Urban Development Solutions
Location:
Click here to display mug shot of Antonio Meleek Smokes:
http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/images/smokes mug sept 2007.jpg
See Wanted Page For More Info On Antonio Smokes:
http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/wanted.html
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Seattle Police Department
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/police
Sergeant Duffy
206-684-5550
Case # 07359809
Status: In Progress
Magazine Company Contact Info:
Urban Development Solutions
(313) 878-6100
Website:
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/330345_eastlake05.html
Last updated
Police seek man who choked woman in
By LEVI PULKKINEN
P-I REPORTER
According to police reports, the man, thought to be in his
mid- to late 20s, has contacted other
Police spokesman Jeff Kappel said he was not aware of any arrests in the case.
On Friday, officers were called to an apartment in the 2200
block of
The woman told police that she bought two magazine subscriptions from the man Wednesday after he came to her door. After making the sale, she told police, the man asked for her phone number, a request she declined.
About
Returning from the bathroom, the man walked directly at her and said, "I'm sorry," before grabbing her around the neck in a choke hold, according to police reports. The man tightened his grip until the woman -- believing she was going to die -- fell unconscious.
When she awoke about 20 minutes later, she found herself in the bathtub with various injuries.
Investigators spoke with several neighbors who reported seeing the salesman earlier in the week.
One told investigators that the salesman had approached her apartment and asked whether her boyfriend was home.
P-I reporter Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com.
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9582832.html
Woman attacked in home by man posing as magazine salesman
YouNewsTV™
Story Published:
Story Updated:
By
Watch the story
According to police reports, the man, thought to be in his
middle to late 20s, has contacted other
Calling the investigation "open and active," police spokesman Jeff Kappel said he was not aware of any arrests made in the case.
On Friday, officers were called to an apartment in the 2200 block of Franklin Avenue East, where a 26-year-old woman reported that a the man had strangled choked her until she lost consciousness.
The woman told police that she purchased two magazine subscriptions from the man Wednesday after he came to her door. After making the sale, she told police, the man asked for her phone number, a request she declined.
About
Returning from the bathroom, the man walked directly at her then said, "I'm sorry," before grabbing her around the neck in a chock choke hold, according to police reports.
The man tightened his grip around her neck until the woman - believing she was going to die - fell unconscious. When she awoke about 20 minutes later, she found herself in the bathtub with various injuries.
Finding her cell phone missing, police said she left her apartment and yelled for help.
Investigators spoke with several neighbors who reported also seeing the salesman in the area earlier in the week.
One told investigators that the salesman had approached her apartment and asked whether her boyfriend was home.
Main Phone (206) 404-4000 News Desk (206) 404-4145 Sales (206) 404-4391
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http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_090507WAB_eastlake_salesman_attack_TP.a5ede768.html
Salesman attacks
By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News
Neighbors along the tree-lined streets of
It happened last Friday afternoon at an apartment in the
2200 block of
People who live on the narrow, tree lined streets of
"Well I was shocked, I mean it was a shame," said Alex Calderon. "I've lived in this neighborhood for many, many years and nothing like this has ever happened around here."
The police report describes a viscous attack by the same man who was possibly seen by many neighbors going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions.
"The victim told police she actually bought two subscriptions from the suspect, but she refused to let him come in the house when he asked to use the restroom," said Seattle Police spokesman Mark Jamieson.
Police say that was the right move.
"If something doesn't feel right, and we all get those feelings, do the prudent thing. Don't open the door, don't invite him," said Jamieson.
But the man came back two days later, saying he'd lost the paperwork and asked to come in and fill out new forms. This time, she let him in. It was while he was in there, she tells police, that he said "I'm sorry," then grabbed the woman by the throat until she passed out.
The Police report says the victim awoke in bathtub and called for help. She will be OK, but police now have what they feel is a very dangerous suspect on the loose, who first apologizes then attacks for no apparent reason.
The suspect is described as a light-skinned African American man, 5-feet 11-inches tall, 190 pounds. He's in his 20's and bald.
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9658332.html
Police: Phony magazine salesman who attacked woman may be on the run
YouNewsTV™
Story Published:
Story Updated:
By KOMO Staff
Police said Smokes, 25, is also wanted for theft of the victim's laptop and phone.
On Aug. 31, officers were called to an apartment in the 2200 block of Franklin Avenue East, where a 26-year-old woman reported that a the man had strangled choked her until she lost consciousness.
The woman told police that she purchased two magazine subscriptions from the man Wednesday after he came to her door. After making the sale, she told police, the man asked for her phone number, a request she declined.
About
Returning from the bathroom, the man walked directly at her then said, "I'm sorry," before grabbing her around the neck in a chock choke hold, according to police reports.
The man tightened his grip around her neck until the woman - believing she was going to die - fell unconscious. When she awoke about 20 minutes later, she found herself in the bathtub with various injuries.
Finding her cell phone missing, police said she left her apartment and yelled for help.
Investigators spoke with several neighbors who reported also seeing the salesman in the area earlier in the week.
One told investigators that the salesman had approached her apartment and asked whether her boyfriend was home.
Police believe Smokes may be headed east from the
Smokes is said to be 5'10'' tall and weigh approximately 175
pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or
contact
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http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_090707WAB_smokes_KC.b15f1853.html#
Seattle Police looking for strangulation suspect
KING5.com
Antonio M. Smokes
Smokes is a suspect in the recent
“magazine salesman” strangulation assault of a woman in the
He is also wanted for theft of the victim’s laptop and phone.
Police believe that Smokes was heading east from the
He is described as a black male, 25 years old, 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds.
Anyone who may know of his whereabouts should call Seattle Police by calling 911 immediately and not attempt to contact him.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14066110/detail.html
Woman Choked By Man Selling Magazines
POSTED:
UPDATED:
According to police reports, a man posing as a magazine
salesman assaulted and choked a 27-year-old woman after she invited him inside
her
"The salesman followed her into the bathroom and proceeded to assault her and strangled her until she was unconscious," said Jeff Kappel of the Seattle Police Department.
A half hour after the attack, the victim made it outside, where a neighbor called 911, police said.
Several neighbors told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News they saw the man in the area before the attack.
"He was friendly and kind of strange when he came to the door," said Sam Douglas.
Neighbors put up "no soliciting" signs at the apartment complex where the attack happened.
The victim said the man told her his name is Antonio and
that he recently moved from
http://q13.trb.com/news/kcpq-090807-sales,0,4429496.story
'Magazine Salesman' Returned To Scene Of The Crime
Darren Dedo, Q13 Fox News Reporter,
A
Eddie Allen and his girlfriend Catherine Vespa
said they realized it was the same man after watching Q13 Fox News that night.
"I was watching the news and I saw this girl got attacked in
Allen's suspicions were confirmed, after he reviewed video from his home surveillance camera system. Allen says it captured Smokes on tape trying to sell the couple magazines on Tuesday afternoon.
Allen says he took the video to police in hopes of helping them catch Smokes before he hurt someone else. "My main motivation was, I don't want this guy to go our or really hurt or kill somebody. Especially, if I have his pictures and they can identify him," said Allen.
Allen's girlfriend Catherine Vespa says this run in with Antonio Smokes has changed her outlook on magazine salesman forever. "Generally, in the past I've let them come inside, but, now definitely after this incident I certainly will never allow anybody in again," said Vespa.
Antonio Smokes is a 25 year old African American man. He is 5'10'' and weighs 175 pounds. Police say he also goes by the name Tony. Investigators say Smokes is dangerous, if you see him call 911 right away.
http://www.kptv.com/news/14102403/detail.html#
Magazine Salesman Arrested In
POSTED:
UPDATED:
Police arrested Antonio Smokes, 25, on Tuesday at a motel as
he was preparing to leave in a van, according to the Northwest Fugitive
Apprehension Task Force. He was jailed for extradition to
Court papers said he was identified through a phone number he gave to the victim Aug. 29 when he first contacted her at an apartment. She purchased two subscriptions and the salesman returned two days later, saying he lost the paperwork and needed to fill out the order again, according to court documents.
After she let him in, she was choked until she lost consciousness, court papers say. A cell phone and laptop computer were stolen, authorities said.
Police in Gainesville, Fla., said Smokes had been released just last month from prison after serving nearly two years for an armed robbery in which he entered a home while selling magazine subscriptions and demanded money at knifepoint.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331819_magazine15.html
Last updated
Story of salesman sparks fears
By PHUONG CAT LE
P-I REPORTER
The door-to-door magazine salesman accused of attacking an
His arrest earlier this week raised alarm among
What should you do to protect yourself from scams and aggressive salespeople?
"You certainly do not have to open the door to anyone you don't feel comfortable with," said Mark Jamieson, a spokesman for the Seattle Police Department. "If something doesn't seem right, you should trust your instincts. If something is suspicious, call 911."
In the past few weeks, Carrie, a Montlake resident who did not give her last name, said she had three different sales pitches from magazine hawkers. Two were so aggressive that she worried they'd come back and do harm.
One "would not leave and would not take no for an answer, so I had to ask him to leave my property," she said. "He was quite aggressive, which made me worry a bit that he would come back and seek some sort of revenge."
She said a second saleswoman kicked her front door and ran down the street when she threatened to call police.
Earlier this week authorities arrested Antonio Smokes, 25,
in a
After selling the woman two magazine subscriptions Aug. 29,
police say Smokes returned to her
Smokes was selling magazines for
Urban Development Solutions, based in Gross Pointe Farm,
The company cooperated with police and helped find Smokes, whom police arrested as he was getting into a van to sell more magazines, said Tom Lanier, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshal's Service.
Door-to-door salespeople are required by
The law exempts a number of people, including those who sell products to be delivered at "a future time from a place outside of state." This means most door-to-door magazine salespeople don't have to get a seller's license.
Denise Movius, director of the city's Revenue & Consumer Affairs Division, said her agency has been considering whether to change the rules.
"We've been looking at it for the past couple of years," she said. "This (case) has raised it to the surface again."
Earlene Williams, executive director of Parent Watch, wants criminal background checks on all door-to-door salespeople as a way to protect both consumers and the youths who join these traveling magazine sales crews.
"The kids are just as much at risk for harm as the homeowner," said Williams, whose national group is a clearinghouse for information on child and youth labor abuse in the door-to-door sales industry.
Smokes was recently released from a
He has a criminal history in
Homeowners shouldn't panic and be afraid of everyone who comes to their door, but Williams advises trying not to be too open and hospitable.
"Don't let anyone in," she said. "If you want to buy a subscription, conduct your business with them out on the porch."
Earlier this year, the local Better Business Bureau warned
consumers about door-to-door salespeople who posed as high school cheerleaders
and basketball players.
"Get something in writing that states who they are and
what they represent," said Marcella Kallmann, a
spokeswoman for the BBB serving
DOOR STOPS
Consider posting a sign that says "No solicitors,"
"No peddlers" or "No agents." In
Acknowledge the knock, since ignoring it might lead to an attempted burglary.
Before opening the door, look for proper identification. Legitimate company representatives will have it.
Use good judgment: It's safer not to allow the person into your home.
Avoid paying immediately. Find out from the seller how to order directly from the company.
Don't give in to high-pressure tactics. Don't be afraid to say no.
Get the name of the company or organization the person claims to represent and check it out.
Federal Trade Commission rules allow you a refund period of three business days on door-to-door sales of more than $25. In addition, a state law allows you to cancel a contract within three days in which payments are made in installments, such as the sales of magazine subscriptions or vacuum cleaners, the Attorney General's Office says.
Sources: Seattle Police Department; the Better Business
Bureau of
P-I reporter Phuong Cat Le can be reached at 206-448-8390 or phuongle@seattlepi.com.
Fear and loathing dogs magazine salesmen
By Russ Zabel
The magazine salesman who allegedly
choked an
It's not the first time the 25-year-old salesman has been in
trouble with the law. He had recently gotten out of jail in
Urban Development Solutions officials cooperated with police
in the case, according to
But Urban Development wasn't the only subscription company
with sales crews in
D&T has no history of complaints, according to the Indiana Better Business Bureau. However, D&T Connections is one of 11 companies listed under American Community Services Inc., and American Community Services does have a poor record with its salesmen, according to the Indiana BBB and press accounts.
Among the offenses, one of their salesmen was jailed in 2004
after trying to sexually assault an 80-year-old woman in
A call placed to D&T vice president Tekeba Swift last week was not returned by press deadline this week, but the Indiana BBB had a lot to say about American Community Services.
For one thing, the company is no longer in business, according to BBB records, which also note the company generated almost 50 complaints in the past three years, 25 of those within the past 12 months.
According to BBB records, one complaint was about customer-service issues, two were about contract issues, nine were about sales practices, 11 were for refund or exchange issues, and 26 complaints concerned delivery issues. The BBB record also indicates American Community Services did not respond to those complaints.
But judging from
The salesmen, who wear dark pants, dress shirts and ties, are verbally hostile to customers, and they return several times each day, according to the report, which notes the men have been spotted at the sides of houses and in back yards.
One victim told police he looked out through the mail slot when a salesman showed up at his front door, and he asked the salesman what he wanted a couple of times. The salesman didn't reply and just stood there with a scowl on his face, according to the police report.
One of the D&T salesmen approached another house in the neighborhood, and he didn't say anything when the teenage daughter of the woman who lives there asked what he wanted. At one point, though, he yelled at the girl to let him in, and he also started flirting with the girl, according to the report.
There were other incidents in the area, and a common theme was that it took the victims asking several times for the pushy salesmen to leave before they finally did. Police caught the pair on Upper Queen Anne Hill, and they were arrested and booked for harassment, trespassing and not having a city business license.
Several residents in the Madison Park area also complained to police Sept. 7 and 8 about door-to-door salesmen in dark slacks, dress shirt and ties.
Elsewhere, a woman in Sandpoint had an encounter with a
subscription salesman on Sept. 7. The man matched the description of the
The salesman raised the woman's suspicions when he asked her who was home, asked about her dog and requested a drink of water, according to the report. Still, the woman gave the man a check for $80 for a subscription and noticed only later that the receipt had only his signature on it; there was no contact or company information.
Only the two men operating in Queen Anne and the
Among the suggestions, look for proper identification that includes the seller's name, photo and the name of the company the seller works for before opening the door.
Also, if the salesman refuses a request to leave or asks to use the bathroom, make a phone call or to get a drink of water, again tell the person to leave. Police should be called if the resident feels intimidated, pressured or threatened at any time.
Finally, police recommend residents not give in to high-pressure sales tactics - and never be afraid to say "NO!!"
Staff reporter Russ Zabel may be reached via rzabel@nwlink.com.
