June 2009 Archives

A man who allegedly shot at Redondo Beach police officers as they tried stop him from firing at someone else was charged Tuesday with attempted murder.

Brayon Martinez, 29, of Lawndale, pleaded not guilty in Torrance Superior Court to two counts of attempted murder, assault on a peace officer, evading and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Deputy District Attorney Paulette Paccione.

The attempted murder counts also carry allegations that Martinez used a firearm.

He has a prior conviction for domestic violence in 2001, according to Paccione. Court records show he was also convicted in 1999 for using violence on a spouse.

Martinez faces the possibility of life in prison, she said. He returns to court July 16.

Martinez was spotted by the officers in the 4500 block of 170th Street as they passed through Lawndale on a routine patrol Saturday night about 11:40 p.m.

He was allegedly firing a gun at a man on the sidewalk, according to the sheriff's department.
He allegedly fled in a BMW, but returned and shot at the officers, who returned fire and struck him in the arm.

Soon after Joe Nino and Miguel Torres were convicted - for the second time - in May, Nino's former girlfriend sent a letter to Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum claiming she was with Nino on Dec. 2, 2001 - the night Juan Vasquez was shot and killed execution style in a drainage ditch by a Rolling Hills school.

Why the Arizona prison guard waited nearly eight years and two trials to present herself as an alibi is not known. Nino's attorney, Jeff Gray, told Torrance Superior Court Judge Eric Taylor he investigated the claim and believes she is one of several reasons why his client should have a new trial.

However, Miguel Torres' attorneys - Jaclin Awad, who was in court, and Matthew Fletcher, who was not - asked for more time to prepare. Gray didn't want to put off arguing his new trial motion, but his client did. Because Hum will be involved in another murder trial downtown for a couple months, Nino and Torres will return for their motion and sentencing hearing on Oct. 1.

Outside of court, Hum called the former girlfriend's statement "interesting," especially since Nino gave a statement to police about his activities that night and nothing he said mentioned her. She was also interviewed by police back then, but only said Nino's car didn't have an alarm (neighbors near the crime scene reported hearing a car alarm).

Meanwhile, on our last story about the trial, the user comments are quite heated - both from those who know the parties involved and those who don't.

Previously:

Tight security and tense emotions during Rolling Hills murder verdict

It's been nearly three years since a Torrance jury couldn't agree on what crime to convict Cameron Brown with. Now, the case is poised once again for trial - this time in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom.

Brown is charged with murder for the Nov. 8, 2000, death of his 4-year-old daughter, Lauren Sarene Key, who died after going over a 120-foot cliff in Rancho Palos Verdes. Prosecutors believe Brown, 48, threw the girl to avoid paying child support. He's also facing the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and killing for financial gain. He is facing the possibility of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum, who handled the first 2006 trial, said today that there will be some pretrial motions in the case's new home before Judge Michael Pastor on Thursday. Specifically, Pastor will decide if the jurors in the second trial, like those in the first, will take a field trip to Inspiration Point. Jury selection is expected to begin July 9. Trial should go through mid-September.

Our story on the first mistrial is after the jump.

Previously:

Question: Cameron Brown retrial?

Update: Cameron Brown RPV cliff-death case

Cameron Brown shank case dismissed

 

Here's a little extra fact about Alfredo Dempkey that arrived this morning from the state Department of Corrections. Unfortunately, it didn't come yesterday in time for the story about Dempkey's arrest in Hawthorne.  According to police, he found a lost dog, called the teenage owner and told her he wanted sex in exchange for the dog.

She agreed to meet him. Police did instead and arrested him.

I reported that Dempkey is listed on the Megan's Law Web site as a sex offender. He's violated his term for failing to register. The site lists him as a transient. Police said he resides in Lancaster.

I couldn't get his criminal history yesterday in time for the story, but it arrived via email today. Dempkey was convicted in San Bernardino County on Aug. 5, 2003 of oral copulation by force or violence, and causing great bodily injury.

He was sentenced to six years in prison. He was released on parole on March 23, 2008. He violated his parole on June 11, 2008 and was returned to prison.

He was again released on parole on Feb. 4, 2009.

Now he's back in jail. We'll see if he gets charged today and with what.

It seems, based on opening statements, that Miguel Magallon's defense will focus primarily on establishing he didn't have the intent and premeditation needed to commit first-degree murder, nor is their evidence to support the special circumstances allegations. Not too much was mentioned about the drive-by shooting allegation - maybe cause that might be a tough one to refute based on trajectory, coroner and ballistics evidence.

Magallon is also accused of killing during an attempted robbery. That might also be hard to disprove since his co-defendant admitted they were out looking to steal money from someone or somewhere.

Both sides are hitting really hard the last special circumstance: that Magallon killed someone he knew, or should have known, is a peace officer. A lot of evidence will be presented to show that Los Angeles Police Capt. Michael Sparkes was a meticulous officer who abided by his training and police protocols, both on and off duty. This included always carrying his badge where he could get to it quickly, as well as his gun.

Deputy District Attorney Darren Levine and defense attorney Victor Salerno both showed the jury excerpts from a letter Magallon wrote to a friend from jail in October 2004 that was intercepted by sheriff's deputies. In it, Magallon complained about his treatment by jailers: "Like if they knew the pig that got smoked. Yeah, I said it, pig pig pig. Fuck them bitches one less you got to worry about beaten the shit out of innocent people or killen a kid talken bout 'we thought he had a weapon' or shooten somebody in tha back."

Levine points to the letter as proof of Magallon's animous toward police officers, while Salerno said it's typical of young people whose only experience with police officers is negative.

The trial continues today with testimony from Sparkes' firearms trainer, the first emergency responder to the shooting scene, the officer who arrested Anthony minutes later and the reading of Anthony's preliminary hearing transcript. I, unfortunately, won't be there, but will watch to see if City News goes and we'll hopefully put their story up.

Previously: Courtroom Dispatch: Capital murder trial begins in death of County-Harbor UCLA Medical Center top cop 

 

Opening statements are underway in a downtown courtroom in the murder trial against Miguel Magallon, who is accused of killing Los Angeles Police Captain Michael Sparkes on a street corner near Gardena in 2004.

So far, Deputy District Attorney Darren Levine has laid out his case against Magallon, who is facing the death penalty. Magallon turned 26 today.

Before the jury was brought in, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy said she had some security concerns. Magallon, it seems, is not behaving himself in jail. Over the weekend, he slashed a jailer who was attempting to save another inmate from being killed by Magallon and another inmate. The deputy was slashed on the hand with some kind of razor that was flushed down the toilet before the cell could be searched. Magallon will spend the trial with one leg shackled, over his attorney's objections - who said Magallon has had no problems during the three weeks it took to pick a jury.

"The defendant hasn't attacked anybody in court ... yet," Kennedy replied, raising the ire of defense attorney Victor Salerno.

Magallon, who appeared in a blue dress shirt and a shaved head, looked back over his shoulder to someone sitting in the packed courtroom audience and smiled.

Opening statements began with Deputy District Attorney Darren Levine telling the jury that, really, the case is pretty simple:

-There's a co-defendant who told the whole story to the police and during a preliminary hearing. Orvis Anthony said they set out to do a robbery and Magallon saw Sparkes riding his bicycle and wanted to "jack" him. Anthony's previous testimony will be read to the jury.

-There's the AK-47 assault rifle, recovered from Anthony's gang "stash" car ouside his Gardena residence. Ballistics, DNA and gunshot residue all tie Magallon to the military-style assault weapon used by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

-Before dying, Sparkes fired off 16 rounds from his handgun - hitting Magallon in the torso and "marking him for life," Levine said.

-The jury will also hear Sparkes 911 call, made as he lay bleeding on the ground after the first round of shootings and before being fired on moments later from the same suspects on the car.

"Officer down!" Sparkes yelled. "Help me, Jesus.... Come on man, they had, they killed me."

Sparkes was the head of security at County-Harbor UCLA Medical Center, and was on his way to work on his red Schwin before dawn when he was killed.

Trial will resume this afternoon with Salerno's opening statement, The guilt phase is expected to last until late next week. If convicted, there will be a penalty phase.

From city news service

LAWNDALE - A man shot by a Redondo Beach police officer was
hospitalized today.

The shooting in the 4500 block of 170th Street occurred about 11:40 p.m.
Saturday, Deputy Byron Ward of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau said.

The wounded man was taken to a hospital, but his name and condition were
unavailable early today. What led to the shooting was not immediately
disclosed.

 Sheriff's detectives were handling the investigation.

Here's a little something for the REAL Lakers fans -- including me -- who were totally disgusted by the melee outside Staples Center the night the Lakers won the championship. Real fans celebrated with their friends and family at home and at the parade a few days later and made their city proud. Houligans set fires and embarrassed us all.

Anyway, the District Attorney's Office sent this over tonight:

LOS ANGELES -- A man was charged by the District Attorney's office today with arson in connection with a fire that erupted during a melee outside Staples Center earlier this month after the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship.

Paul Robert Loban, 25 (dob 3-15-1984), was charged in case No. BA 358323 with one felony count of arson of property of another. The defendant, who was arrested by Los Angeles Police on June 14, is free on $50,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled for July 7 in Department 30 of Los Angeles Superior Court.

Loban, whom the complaint said also is known as Paul Oban, was one of several people arrested after the melee outside Staples Center. Authorities said other cases were presented directly to the Los Angeles City Attorney's office for misdemeanor consideration.

The fire for which Loban was charged occurred in the Chick Hearn Court at the Nokia Theater.

The case was filed by Deputy District Attorney Kaarin Axelsen of the Central Complaints Division. A trial prosecutor has not yet been selected.

If convicted, Loban could be sentenced to a maximum up to three years in state prison.

Man, the guy allegedly set a fire on Chick Hearn Court. That's blasphemy!  Now he can go to Los Angeles Superior Court.

Remember when Coolio got busted at LAX for having cocaine in his luggage. Well, today he pleaded guilty.

Here's what the District Attorney's Office just sent:

LOS ANGELES - Rap artist Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of possession of a controlled substance, cocaine.

Ivey, 45, will enter an 18-month drug rehabilitation program, known as Deferred Entry of Judgment, said Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Inda. If he successfully completes the program, he can request that the judge dismiss his case at the end of 18 months.

Ivey entered the plea before Superior Court Judge Kathryn Solorzano. He was arrested March 6 at Los Angeles International Airport after authorities searched his luggage and found cocaine. At one point, Ivey allegedly grabbed a screener's arm to prevent the search.

In exchange for his plea, one misdemeanor count of battery and one misdemeanor count of possession of a smoking device were dismissed.

He is scheduled to return Sept. 28 at LAX Superior Court, Department D, for a progress report.

A man who wielded a knife in the South Bay Galleria parking lot to rob a mall employee will spend four years in prison, according to prosecutors.

Michael Thompson, 42, of Los Angeles, pleaded no contest to robbery on Monday in Torrance Superior Court just before his trial was set to begin, said District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison.

The victim testified at a preliminary hearing in November that Thompson had come into the Starbucks where he worked and caused trouble, including talking about drugs.

On Sept. 19, the victim said Thompson followed him to a bus stop outside the shopping center, brandished a knife and demanded money. The victim said he threw down $40 and ran.

David Roberts, 30, was sentenced to 13 years in state prison today for crashing into and killing Bill Cunha, a homeless man, in Carson on Aug. 12, 2007.

Roberts, who had pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run, tearfully apologized to Cunha's family at the Compton Superior Court hearing. He accepted a hug from Cunha's sister, Sheila Cunha, before he was taken to the court's lock-up. Family members of both men said they'd pray for each other.

Larry was in court and heading back. He'll have a full story later at www.dailybreeze.com.

Here's the story.

I'm working on a story about another rash of shootings of glass at businesses in Torrance and Redondo. They also hit about 25 cars last night.

I've been running all over the place talking to people. Story coming.

UPDATE: Because of the death of Michael Jackson and the amount of space that will be devoted to the story, the vandalism story will run over the weekend. Stay tuned.

Hey, those Blackhawk helicopters are flying over downtown Los Angeles too....L.A. Times has it.


Previous: What's all that clatter over San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes?

Here's a little commercial for a new blog we have at the Daily Breeze.

Check out "South Bay History."

Long-time Daily Breeze librarian and Internet dude Sam Gnerre  is posting items about well, South Bay history.

There's a new item today about the Chicago Cubs spring training site on Catalina Island.

Previous items include the wreck of the Katie Flickenger,  the South Bay surf music scene, Redondo Beach's Endless Pier, and water towers.

Q. Have they found the San Pedro/Redondo Beach Rapist? I live very close to Knob Hill, and saw the cars and helicopters out the day the man kidnapped the schoolgirl from San Pedro. I've been looking for news and updates as I walk the area all the time.

Do you know something? Have you heard anything?

Thanks in advance.

A. Unfortunately no. The last we had anything, the LAPD put out a surveillance video of the car they suspected was used in the crime. That came out about two days later.

We haven't heard anything otherwise.

I called detectives and left messages a couple of times in the days after the crime, but got no response. I haven't called this week because I don't figure to get a call back, but I will try again.

Wish I could tell you more. Hopefully they are working on this one pretty hard.

As soon as we hear anything, we'll report it 

Q. How come there was never a story in the Daily Breeze regarding a death/murder in San Pedro? Last Sunday on 19th/Grand? Police were there all night along with crime scene investigators?

A. I did ask Detective Jim Perkins at the LAPD's Harbor Division about this on Tuesday. He is the senior detective in the homicide unit.

The death at this residence was a suicide. Because it occurred privately inside someone's home, we didn't cover it the newspaper. As soon as Perkins told me "suicide," I didn't ask any more questions because I had no plans to write anything.

Sometimes a suicide becomes a more public event, such as the person who hanged himself on a Hermosa Beach lifeguard tower recently. Then I have to write something.

Homicide detectives respond to any death scene. They conduct a full investigation and determine whether a death is a murder, suicide or accident. That's why so many police were there.

From City News Service:

A public works inspector with the city of Hermosa Beach was ordered today to stand trial on nine felony charges for allegedly accepting or soliciting bribes.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Darrell Mavis denied the defense's request to dismiss charges against Victor Olando Jackson.

The 47-year-old defendant is accused of accepting bribes ranging from $150 to $600 between January 2006 and October 2008 in exchange for approving work.

Jackson posted $175,000 bail after surrendering to police last November and was put on paid administrative leave from his job.

He is scheduled to return to the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on July 8 for arraignment.

By CATHY FRANKLIN
City News Service
SANTA ANA - A prosecutor told a judge today that an ex-Boeing engineer hoarded 300,000 documents in and under his house as part of a plot to pass technology to China, but the defendant's lawyer said the Space Shuttle was his client's life's work and the subject of a planned book.

U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney heard the opposite views on the focus of Dongfan
"Greg" Chung's 30-year aerospace career during closing arguments in a non-jury trial
accusing him of passing secrets to China, beginning in 1979, when he allegedly
offered a series of technology exchanges.

"He collected information while actively under control of the People's Republic of
China," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivy Wang said.

But defense attorney Thomas Bienert said his client had worked on the Space Shuttle
since he was hired by Rockwell International in 1973, and continued doing so when the
unit shifted to Boeing n Huntington Beach in 1996.

"It was a labor of love," Bienert said. "He's putting together information for his
own use, and he wants to write a book some day."

 

Former Morningside High star basketball and football player Stais Boseman won't face criminal charges.

He got arrested the other day in a carjacking case. DA says insufficient evidence.

Associated Press has the details.

We've gotten calls and e-mails about loud helicopters flying low over neighborhoods in San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes the last few nights.

One resident said it's been between 8 and 10:30 west of Western Avenue near Green Hills cemetery. That's the former Naval depot and housing area.

The choppers have red and green lights and fly right over the tree tops.
Some wondered if it's a movie production. Others wondered if something sinister is going on.

Here's the answer: It's military urban training.

Here's a release the LAPD put out June 11. It doesn't specifically say San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes, but apparently that's where it's happening.

Tell your neighbors.

Here's the statement:

Los Angeles: From June 15-27, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be providing support for joint military training exercises in and around the greater Los Angeles area.

The operations will be routine training exercises conducted by military personnel, designed to ensure the military's ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments and meet mandatory training certification requirements.

Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities do not interfere with the daily routines of the local populace. Safety precautions have also been taken to prevent risk to the general public, as well as to military personnel involved. The training is not open to the public.

A reporter from the Riverside Press-Enterprise tagged along with the detectives working the Cori Desmond killing and filed a story.

There's nothing new in it, but it shows the detectives are out working on various tips they've received.

Read the story

Detectives have reopened the Karen Klaas slaying case in Hermosa Beach, one of the South Bay's most high-profile unsolved homicides for more than three decades.

Klaas, the former wife of singer Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, died Feb. 3, 1976, four days after she was discovered nude, raped and unconscious on the floor of her 24th Street home.

"My partner and I have been actively working that for about a year," Sheriff's Department homicide Detective Larry Brandenburg said Tuesday. "We've developed some new infomration as far as reinterviewing people, going through the whole file."

DNA evidence, obtained long before the technology to identify suspects through science existed, has been run through the state's system to look for a match, several times over the years. Brandenburg said there have been no "hits."

Hey boaters.....Just received this news release about an increased patrol on the water this weekend. 

The Coast Guard and partner agencies to increase enforcement of Boating-Under-the-Influence laws

LOS ANGELES - The Coast Guard will have an increased presence on the water this weekend, June 26 to June 28, enforcing boating under the influence laws as part of a national coordinated effort of stepped-up enforcement known as "Operation Dry Water."

"The Coast Guard's participation in Operation Dry Water this weekend will be a surge operation to compliment our daily on-the-water operations" said Lieutenant Commander Christopher Boes, Chief, Incident Management Division for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles - Long Beach.

In addition to the Coast Guard, several other law enforcement agencies will be out in force on Southern California's waterways with increased enforcement on patrol, boating under the influence checkpoints as well as boater education.

Just got word that, as a result of the Michael Sweet case and maybe some other issues, Redondo Beach no longer participates in the Pacific Coast Conference Football and Cheer Corp. Redondo Beach, Torrance and Palos Verdes it appears have pulled away and are in the process or have completed making their own group.

A man was shot in an alley in San Pedro, police said today.

The crime occurred about 11 p.m. Monday in an alley in the 800 block of West Fifth Street as the victim stood next to a sport utility vehicle in an alley, Los Angeles police Detective James Perkins said.

Residents heard one shot.

The SUV drove away as the victim stumbled through the alley to a friend's house.
The friend drove him to Little Company of Mary Hospital in San Pedro. He was then transferred to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent surgery.

The motive was not immediately known.

This headline and story sparked some discussion between my co-blogger and myself. We know how important DNA testing is to catching and prosecuting criminals, and stopping tests on the genetic evidence could leave a lot of victims without justice.

But then Larry raised this point: This isn't the first time that Sheriff Baca has raised his fists and voice with threats in the face of budget cuts. He often says he's going to let some criminals go free to ease jail overcrowding. While that does happen to a degree, there is almost always some money found to keep the jail cells locked tight.

Let's hope, though, that funds show up for this important testing. As Gail Abarbanel, director of the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center told the Los Angeles Times: "There are rapists walking the streets of Los Angeles, who, if they tested evidence that is sitting on shelves, could be taken off."

I know very little about this, but I was told this morning that Harbor Division detectives arrested a man named Robert Brower near the 110 freeway and Pacific Coast Highway in Wilmington about 3 a.m. for allegedly setting three to four small fires.

Officer Sara Faden said the Fire Department also is investigating. I'm still trying to track down the information on what happened.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that ex-USC basketball player Stais Boseman was arrested
in connection with a carjacking in Los Angeles.

Boseman, 35, was taken into custody about 3 a.m. Sunday on Crenshaw
Boulevard and booked on suspicion of carjacking, said Los Angeles police
Officer April Harding.

He was held on $111,564 bail, Harding said.

Details of the crime were not immediately available.

Boseman was a two-sports athlete at Morningside High School in Inglewood
before playing at USC. After college, he
played with the Houston Rockets and with several minor league teams.

There was a lot of news today about a man in a wheelchair who was engulfed in flames and killed.

Some activists wanted an investigation into his death because they believed he was murdered. The LAPD says they believe the man accidentally set his clothes on fire.

Here's the news release that just arrived:

Los Angeles: About 2:45 a.m. this morning, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 77th Division officers and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics responded to a call about a man on fire in a wheelchair at Manchester and Western Avenues.

The incident began when a motorist was driving past a strip mall at Manchester Avenue and Saint Andrews Place where he observed a man in a wheelchair engulfed in flames. The motorist flagged down a passing Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff who notified the LAPD and LAFD. Shortly after, paramedics responded to the location and pronounced the man dead.

A 58-year-old's Mission Viejo man who apparently traveled to Catalina Island on Friday morning is missing and his disappearance might be suspicious, deputies said.

Richard Joseph Kemp's personal belongings were found on a Catalina Island Express boat that departed Dana Point Harbor at 7:45 a.m. Deputies, however, couldn't find him.

Orange County sheriff's deputies asked the public's help to find him.

"At this time Mr. Kemp's disappearance may be suspicious," a special bulletin issued by the department said.

Kemp, who was last seen at 1 p.m. Thursday, is described as white, 6 feet, 185 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes. He was wearing beige shorts and a white tank top.

Anyone with information is asked to call deputies at 714-647-7055 or 714-628-7170.

I'm sure he had a good reason for this.

A 15-year-old boy was just caught running down the street with a gun around 12th and Mesa streets in San Pedro.

That's what the hullabaloo is over there with the helicopter and police cars.

LAPD caught him pretty quickly about 15 minutes ago without incident.

No word on what he was up to, but that area has been known for some gang banging.

As other reporters across the country lose their jobs, a cop reporter at the Boston Herald is alive and kicking. O'Ryan Johnson got arrested for kicking an old man in the chest in the laundermat.

(Maybe the Boston guy was upset that the Lakers won. Or maybe he's just upset that he's at a laundermat.)

I like that the article says the weapon was a "shod foot." In other words, a shoe.

Fortunately, as I've said in a previous post, my shoes are cheap crap from Shoe Pavilion. They couldn't hurt anyone.

Coroner's officials confirmed Friday that a Hermosa Beach man found dead in a house fire committed suicide.

Glenn Edward Beardsley, 50, died of a shotgun wound to the head, authorities said.

Neighbors said after the Tuesday fire that Beardsley set fire to his house in the 2100 block of Loma Drive before shooting himself.

Neighbors said Beardsley was having financial problems.

Cans containing a flammable liquid were found in the house.

The victim in the fatal crash on the Long Beach Freeway today has been identified as Melissa Rosales Dennis, 12/14/89, of Carson.

Our records show Dennis graduated with the Carson High School class of 2008.

Here's a good one:

A 19-year-old Carson woman was killed today when she crashed on freeway off-ramp in Long Beach, police said.

The woman was traveling south on the Long Beach (710) Freeway at 4:15 a.m. when she lost control of her 1993 Acura Integra, Long Beach police Officer Jackie Bezart said.

The car rolled over and came to rest on its hood on the Sixth Street offramp. No other vehicles were involved.

Long Beach fire paramedics responded and pronounced the driver dead at the scene.

Accident investigators are trying to determine what caused the crash.

The freeway was closed, but has reopened.

The woman's name was not immediately released pending notification of relatives.

Anyone with information about the crash should contact Long Beach Police Department traffic Detectives Sirilo Garcia or David Lauro at 562-570-7355.

Here we go once again with the "how low can you go" category of crime.

Our sister paper, the Long Beach Press-Telegram has a story about not just one, but two young women whose wheelchairs were stolen.

One woman lost hers while watching a movie. The other woman's was taken from her own back yard.

Read Joe Segura's story.

Tonight's checkpoint:

Police will conduct a driver's license and sobriety checkpoint from 8 tonight to 3 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of Sepulveda and Palos Verdes boulevards in Torrance.

Checkpoint result:

During a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint June 12 at El Segundo Boulevard and Weber Way in Hawthorne, police officers arrested two people on suspicion of driving under the influence, cited 55 drivers for suspended licenses or no licenses at all, towed 59 vehicles and arrested one person sought on a felony warrant.

Know when you're a DUI risk
From www.chp.ca.gov

(.01 - .04 percent) May be DUI: Anyone who has had one drink during a two-hour period; and people weighing 170 pounds or more who have had two drinks.

(.05 - .07 percent) Likely DUI: People weighing less than 170 pounds who have had two drinks; people weighing 150 pounds or more who have had three drinks; and people weighing 190 pounds or more who have had four drinks.

(.08 percent and up) Definitely DUI: People weighing less than 150 pounds who have had three drinks; people weighing less than 190 pounds who have had four drinks; and anyone who has had five drinks.

A motorist driving past a traffic stop in Carson crashed into the patrol car, causing minor injuries to the deputies inside, deputies said.

The crash occurred about 5:30 p.m. on Alameda Street south of Sepulveda Boulevard, deputies said.

A preliminary report indicated the deputies chased and stopped a stolen car. Before they could get out of their car, another car crashed into them.

No other information was immediately available.

The California Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for a San Pedro man convicted of carjacking and killing two Marymount College exchange students 15 years ago.

The court announced Thursday it had rejected defense claims trying to overturn the sentence of Raymond Oscar Butler, convicted in 1996 of killing film 19-year-old film students Takuma Ito and Go Matsuura on March 24, 1994.

Butler received a second death sentence in 1998 for helping two men kill a fellow inmate in county jail while awaiting his trial in the Ito and Matsuura case.

The sentence in the March 26, 1995, slaying of Tyrone Flemming, 23, of Los Angeles remains on appeal.

A judge denied bail to a former Hawaiian beauty queen accused of spending more than $160,000 with credit cards under other peoples' names.

Susan Shaw, 35, of Kailua, and who also had a residence in Manhattan Beach, is facing 122 counts of identity theft and related crimes in state court involving 11 Oahu residents. She has been in custody since her arrest May 7.

Deputy City Prosecutor Chris Van Marter argued on Wednesday that Shaw would pose a significant flight risk if she were released on bail. Court records show Shaw flew from Hawaii to China, Canada, California, Nevada, Kansas and New Jersey last year.

Shaw was named first runner-up in the Miss Hawaii International scholarship pageant in 1993. She took over the crown when the winner left to become a cheerleader for the then-Los Angeles Raiders professional football team.

A search of the room she rented in Manhattan Beach turned up potentially more evidence of additional crimes and victims.

Everytime we write about Dr. Lawrence Saks, the Torrance and San Pedro plastic surgeon who can't seem to avoid trouble with the law, we almost always hear from a former or current patient with their own tale of woe or, at the very least, reports of suspicious behavior.

In response to yesterday's story about new charges against Saks, a former patient who asked that her name not be used wrote this:

Hello Denise,

I was looking for some article that I wanted to catch up from last week, and happened to see your headline "Former Torrance Plastic Surgeon faces additional charges" ,   I immediately thought about Dr. Saks and sure it was.  I usually don't watch news or read papers regularly and I was away from the area for some years during the time so I didn't know about it until now (Dah).  It is interesting to know it caught up with him this far now.  It seems have been going on for a while too.  I was his patient around year 2000.  I knew they were doing something wrong but didn't do anything about it at the time because I feared the Dr. Saks would come after me for the ridiculous claims he was making with the insurance company (mine was Aetna) despite I thought he charged me too much for what he did from my pocket (tummy tack and breast augmentation).  I knew he was pocketing mega $$ so fast.  I wonder where the all beautiful Mac Chagall Lithographs are now that were at his clinic on PCH.

More on Jereme Rogers, the skateboard star who was up on his roof naked and hallucinating a couple weeks ago, requiring Redondo Beach police to get him down: 

I spent more than two hours recently interviewing Lennox Academy valedictorian Francisco Hernandez about his acceptance into Harvard despite a lifetime of obstacles. Many of you told me the story inspired you.

But here's the life of a reporter: That same day, I had to write a story about a supposedly well-known skateboarder named Jereme Rogers, a 24-year-old high-school dropout who got stoned, stripped naked, and climbed onto his roof in Redondo Beach. It took at least three police officers to get the ranting man down.

I talked to the police, but needed to give Rogers a chance to speak. After an amazing afternoon with Francisco at school in Lennox, I stopped at Rogers' house. I figured he would refuse to talk to me and I'd be back in the office in no time.

I was surprised when I was invited inside. I went up to Rogers' room and found a young guy covered with tattoos -- a little different from Francisco.

Rogers admitted to ingesting the drug "mushrooms" and said he wouldn't do that again.

As we spoke, he pulled out a tube containing marijuana and began rolling a joint. "He's doing this in front of a reporter?" I thought to myself.

When I asked what he was doing, he answered, "Rolling weed" and that his fans knew he used it. The joint was ready for smoking by the time I left.

From Francisco the Harvard student to Jereme the skateboarder. All in one afternoon.

Dear Larry,

Before my son died I never read the paper, too much sadness too much ugliness very little good.

Then when Tyce (right) died I started to read the paper, mainly to try and find out stuff that might help catch his killers.  I can't tell you the amount of stories I have emailed or called the detectives on hoping it would solve the case.

Yet a year later here we sit, case is not solved. I had a lot of people send me stuff through MYSPACE, I put up a billboard, I met with people I shouldn't have met with, hoping that we could at least have some closure. With witnesses, cameras on surrounding buildings, and seconds from the police station how could this still go on?  When I read the stories it breaks my heart to know another family is going through the same hell that I am going through and that nothing will ever make us ok again.

 

Well the point of my email is to tell you how much your article about Francisco Hernandez touched me.  When I first started to read it I couldn't catch my breath I was crying so hard.  I had to start and stop reading it the emotion was so strong. I am so proud of this young man and the obstacles he over came.

He had a choice, a choice so many young people have nowadays and so many make the wrong one.  We need these stories to remind us that there is success, there is hope and most of all people can make a difference. We need people like you who remind us of those things. I know this young man is seeing the hurtful comments just like I saw over my son's death. People are ignorant and I guess they would have rather him become a gang member instead of going to school. 

Something that I promised myself is that I will help those who need it, in honor of my son's memory. Donating his organs was just the beginning, all the money I would be spending on buying my son stuff for the holidays or just because I set aside and then its there to help those in need. I will be putting a check in the mail for this young man who has touched my heart and put a ray of hope back in me.

Thank you for showing us there is still good out there.

Thank you,

Jennifer Riddle

Note: Tyce Riddle and Jaime Aguallo Sr. was shot to death July 1, 2008 in Lomita. If you have any information that can help solve the case, contact detectives at 323-890-5500.

Raphael Jakim was convicted this afternoon of one count of attending an arranged meeting with a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense. The Simi Valley married father traveled to Redondo Beach to meet a 13-year-old girl that was really Torrance Detective Dennis Brady.

Brady, the father of his own teenage daughter, was sure to punctuate his online chat with some well-placed kid verbage, including the word "like" and talk about the mall. It was hard imagining the burly, mustachioed police officer participating in a girlie talk. But, it apparently worked, for he caught the predator.

Jakim, who was out on bail, was taken into custody without bail pending his sentencing hearing Friday.

A new Website seeks to help Los Angeles homeowners and tenants who believe they were or are being victimized by predatory real estate or loan brokers.

At FightingMorgageFraud.com, Los Angeles City residents can report suspected cases of mortgage fraud and abuse and find resources to help them avoid foreclosure.

"This economic crisis has led to a spike in fraud that preys on homeowners' rapidly dwindling dollars as they desperately search for a way to keep their homes," City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said in an announcement released Tuesday.

"I believe it is our duty to rush to the aid of our most vulnerable residents in times like these," he added.

Detailed complaints can be submitted in English or Spanish.

The Hermosa Beach Police Department just sent me a note saying it has no comment on a man being found dead in a house that was on fire this morning.

Our reporter at the scene learned from his landlord that he had financial problems, set his house on fire and shot himself.

The Fire Department told us they responded to a fire, put it out and pronounced the man dead. Firefighters referred questions about the body to the police.

So I called the police. I get a note saying they have no comment.

No comment?

I've been covering crime for more than 22 years. A police agency has no comment on a body found in a house fire?  I mean, nothing? Nothing at all? Wow.

Previous: Hermosa Beach chief reacts to criticism over release of information for news stories

In beginning her closing argument Monday in Raphael Jakim's trial for allegedly meeting a minor for sex, Deputy District Attorney Delanee Hicks told the jury that the Internet offers many valuable opportunities - like making restaurant reservations, buying airline tickets and social networking. But it also gives pedophiles many ways to contact and groom their vulnerable victims anonymously and under the radar, she said, making online predators very hard to catch.

Hicks compared the "old" ways pedophiles operated versus the "new." The old way involved lines like, "Hey little girl, would you like some candy?" or "Hey little boy, I lost my dog. Can you help me find my dog?"

But because the new way makes it easy for child predators to find kids and even establish relationships with them with a few key strokes, the Internet needs a new way to fight crime.

Jakim's case is the result of a sting that was conducted by Torrance Detective Dennis Brady, who is a member of the Interent Crimes Against Children task force. If you've ever watched Dateline NBC's - To Catch A Predator, you have a pretty good idea how that works. To find out more about how to keep kids safe online, check out these useful sites:

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's NetSmartz411

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Protecting Our Kids page

The jury in Jakim's trial resumes deliberations this afternoon.

 

My colleague Melissa Evans went out the fire scene today and filed this report. We are still waiting for a statement from the Hermosa Beach Fire Department. Here's what the neighbors said:

A Hermosa Beach man having financial problems set fire to his house and shot himself to death early today, his landlord said.

The man, in his 40s and 50s, was a toy designer who had trouble making the rent in May, the first time he had ever had a problem, his landlord, Marcia Roberts, said.

The fire broke out about 4:10 a.m. in the back house of Roberts' property in 2100 block of Loma Drive.

"We woke up and saw flames shooting out of the window," said neighbor, Lisa Marie Roed. "We ran out to see what happened."

I've posted some e-mails I received about my story Sunday on Francisco Hernandez, the Lennox student who has made his way to college despite some tough obstacles.

They are over on the South Bay Pipeline blog.

Former Daily Breeze staff photographer Branimir Kvartuc, who now freelances and does lots of other amazing things, was outside Staples Center last night chronicling fans' reactions to their favorite basketball team. It starts out harmless enough with the gold and purple jersey wearing smiling and pumping fists in the air. Police Chief William Bratton is even seen looking relaxed and smiliing.

Of course, as night falls and the team clinches its victory, the celebrating takes an ominous turn. Officers' faces, partially obscured by their riot helmets, look serious as they stand in smoke from small fires set by the crowd and hold back the group. The mini mart inside a gas station is trashed as people loot and someone else is captured hurling a trash can at a patrol car.

Yeah, good times. Woo-hoo. Way to go.

Losers.

When all was done, eight officers were injured and 18 people were arrested.

 

The Desert Sun is running a story from City News Service about a 62-year-old respiratory therapist from Torrance who was dragged several feet by a car as someone tried to snatch her purse in a La Quinta parking lot a couple months ago. The woman says she has some head trauma, but was also told she'll lose her job at Torrance Memorial Hospital if she doesn't return by July 9.

As most of you regular readers know, Daily Breeze education reporter Vu Nguyen died suddenly last month at 34 years old.

At the time, Vu had interviewed a young Lennox man for what we call a "Sunday package," a longer read for the Sunday paper.

It focused on Francisco Hernandez, a Lennox Mathematics, Science and Technology Academy student. Francisco has been through quite a bit in his 18 years, including the recent death of his mother.

But somehow with the aid of those around him, he has worked his way into college. That's all I'm giving away.

Vu, I'm told, was quite moved by Francisco's story. Unfortunately, he never got to tell it.

My editors asked me to take it over. Apparently, Vu had not begun to write it, so I started from scratch. Francisco understood the circumstances, but was apprehensive about a second interview. It wasn't easy for him.

We sat down for more than two hours a couple weeks ago. I had no idea what he was going to tell me. It was a pretty amazing tale.

I went to Francisco's graduation Friday, watched him give a speech and finished writing the story.

It's a change of pace for what I normally do around here. It has absolutely nothing to do with crime. I'm glad I was chosen to write it. Francisco is someone I will always remember.

Look for it Sunday.

Not sure how it took me this late in the day to hear this, but some Lakers fans got a bit too rowdy last night celebrating the team's victory.

If you think you will act violently in the South Bay if the Lakers win the championship Sunday, just know that I have the Sunday shift and I will mock you for all the Internets to see. Be warned.

Here's an update from Torrance police Lt. Steve D'anjou on the shooting Wednesday afternoon at the apartment in the 1600 block of Gramercy Avenue. Two men were wounded.

• Several hundred pounds of marijuana were recovered in the apartment. The estimated street value of the marijuana is one-quarter of a million dollars
• Preliminary investigation indicates that the apartment is a storage location or large amounts of marijuana
• There was a confrontation inside of the apartment between the residents and possible narcotics customers
• A gunfight occurred in the hallway of the complex
• 2 people have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds
• Multiple guns were recovered at the location

D'anjou asked anyone who saw anything to contact Torrance PD detectives at (310) 618-5570.

Them crooks are everywhere these days! An NPR All Things Considered blogger has shared his first-hand experience with a would-be thief posing as a Facebook friend online.

The California Highway Patrol is asking motorists to help them catch CHEATERS as part of their program Californians Help Eliminate All The Evasive Registration Scofflaws. Apparently, the law is that out-of-state license drivers must replace their license plates with California plates within 20 days of establishing residency or employment. Read the Orange County Register's story here.

Torrance Superior Court Judge Michael Vicencia was elected president of the California Judges Association at the group's executive board meeting Tuesday in Sacramento.

Vicencia, a former civil attorney who now handles civil and probate matters, will become the organization's 78th president for a one-year term beginning Sept. 13.

The University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law graduate has served on the CJA Executive Board since 2007 and is currently vice president.

Vicencia was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2002.

The CJA is a non-profit professional association that represents the interests of the judiciary through lobbying and outreach programs.

The CJA's news release is here.

Look no further:

The music producer turned convicted murderer is now taking up residence at North Kern State Prison. Incoming photos courtesy of the Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Apparently someone has been shot in the 1600 block of Gramercy Place in Torrance.

No word on what happened yet.

Sexual assault in the morning and a shooting in the afternoon. It's a job.

Port of Los Angeles High School Principal Tom Scotti put out this letter to parents today after one of his students was abducted and sexually assaulted on the way to school.

Dear Students and Parents,

It is with deep regret that we have confirmed that a POLA High student was abducted this morning while on her way to school. The abduction took place near the Peck Park area of San Pedro. The assailant released the student a short while later in Redondo Beach and she is currently safe and with her family.

The school will have counseling available for any students who need it. This tragic incient underscores the need for students to be extra cautious and always vigilant when making their way to and from school. We hope that all parents will speak with their children about how to best protect themselves while traveling without adult supervision.

Tom Scotti
Principal

Inglewood police are asking the public for leads to find the driver who killed a 58-year-old man and drove away.

Gilbert Carranza of Inglewood was killed on Prairie Avenue near 107th Street. A van driving south hit him at 10:20 p.m., police said.

Police believe the van was a 1995 or newer Ford Aerostar. It should have front-end damage.

Call Detective Jeff LaGreek at 310-412-5134 or 888-412-7463 if you know who did it.

I'll have this in the print edition tomorrow:

City News Service was at Los Angeles City Hall today and filed this report:

The Los Angeles City Council today approved a $50,000 reward for information leading to whoever killed a Wilmington man over Fourth of July weekend last
year.

Antonio Ortega Jr., 29, was sitting in a car July 6 in front of his mother-in-law's house when a
man walked up and shot him in the chest without provocation about 8:30 a.m., according to
police. Ortega died before reaching a hospital.

Police are searching for two males who pulled up to a teenager, asked where he was from and shot him in Hawthorne, deputies said today.

The killing occurred about 9 p.m. Monday in the 13300 block of Cordary Avenue, sheriff's Deputy Ed Hernandez said.

Deputies did not release the name and age of the victim, but said he was a juvenile.

Investigators said the shooters were in a dark-colored vehicle that drove up to the victim as he stood outside. The killers got out, asked where the victim was from, and searched his pockets.

The question is a common phrase uttered by gang members to determine gang affiliation, and often occurs before a shooting.

One of the men pulled out a handgun and shot the victim in the upper body. They jumped back in their car and drove north on Cordary out of sight.

The victim died at a hospital.

A former South Bay man who ran an online prostitution rating service was sentenced to four years in prison for violating probation.

David William Elms, 38, a former Hawthorne and Torrance resident, was arrested Thursday as he crossed the border from Mexico.

He was wanted for more than two months for failing to appear in an Arizona courtroom on charges that he tried to have a prostitute killed and a man injured.

Elms already was on probation for a 2006 drug and weapons conviction stemming from a run-in with a prostitute in Manhattan Beach.

Elms appeared in Torrance court and admitted to violating the probation and will serve four years in prison before being extradited to Arizona, Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link said.
Elms possibly will do the time in Arizona.

Elms operated TheEroticReview.com, which provides reviews of prostitutes.

**Updates with correct name of suspect

A Wilmington man stabbed his wife and two stepdaughters Sunday when they returned home from church, police said Monday.

Willliam Velazquez, 44, was arrested about 8:30 p.m. at his home in the 1000 block of East O Street, Los Angeles police Officer Norma Eisenman said.

Velazquez was home drinking while his family was at church. When they returned, he stabbed his wife for an unknown reason, and the stepdaughters when they intervened for unknown reasons, Eisenman said.

The wife's brother also was home and tried to help. Velazquez lunged at him, but he was able to avoid injury and ran and called 911.

Police arrived and arrested Velazquez, who could face four counts of attempted murder.

The wife and the daughters, ages 18 and 12, were taken to hospitals. They were expected to recover.

Prostitution maven-turned-fugitive David Elms didn't make his Torrance Superior Court hearing Friday because he missed the bus from the downtown jail.

It's not uncommon for defendants in custody to get delayed at the jail. The Torrance and Hawthorne resident is expected to appear Monday.

Elms, 38, was arrested Thursday as he crossed the border from Mexico after being on the lam for more than two months. He failed to appear in an Arizona courtroom for charges that he allegedly tried to have a prostitute killed and a man injured.

The man behind the popular prostitution rating service TheEroticReview.com was on probation for a 2006 drug and weapons conviction stemming from a run-in with a prostitute in Manhattan Beach.

He is to appear first on a possible probation violation, which could send him to prison for up to four years, before being extradited to Arizona.

Previously: South Bay prostitution guru back behind bars

More: Man wanted in Phoenix arrested at Calif.-Mexico border (Arizona Republic)

Police: Sex Trade Power Broker Caught (KPHO.com) 

And this, from a reader, which is not verified for accuracy - but being posted as an interesting hypothesis:

"He flew to Canada, Dubai, then Armenia to wait for his Iranian visa to clear.  David Elms returned to the United States because Iranian authorities was told that he's a United States spy and a wanted fugitive.  He wasn't trying to enter the U.S. under the radar but knew he could not be on the run anymore.  He'd much rather serve time in a U.S. prison than in Iran."

This just in about a hold-up this morning.

We got word today that David Elms, a former Hawthorne and Torrance resident who was on the run after failing to appear in an Arizona courtroom, was apprehended crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and is now in custody in Los Angeles. The founder of the online prostitution rating service TheEroticReview.com is likely to appear in Torrance Superior Court Friday for a possible probation violation.

A full story on his re-arrest will be up later at dailybreeze.com.

All the details on his case can be found in my earlier story, posted after the jump.

This letter arrived this morning:

The story featured in this morning's Daily Breeze, "Skateboarder says 'sorry' for naked rooftop incident" has no value what so ever. I can't believe that an award winning journalist would actually submit a piece of crap like that.

What are you thinking? There is absolutely no merit in that article. You've got to be kidding me!  That naked, tattooed, illegal drug ingesting piece of shit is given multiple column space to fly his drug induced escapade flag in that rag called Daily Breeze. Dude, you need more to do.

My subscription arrives daily in my driveway with 2.....................2 sections and now I'm rewarded with crap journalism. Nice job. He's a generation X scumbag of society. A non-story wasting ink and space. Front page, inset with photo, captions and followed on page 15. I'm not blaming you so much and I blame your idiot editor.

I'm wondering what kind of journalistic award will be given for that story. How about NONE. The cops should've capped that dude or at least lit him up by wire. It's really too bad that he didn't fall and break his neck. If you ever wonder why print is dying, here ya go.

Bob Coleman
Lomita

A tearful Ernesto Murillo apologized to a young boy and his family today, and was then sentenced to 110 years to life for a shooting in the Harbor Gateway that left the boy with a bullet in his head.

Murillo, 26, a Harbor Gateway gang member, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges in March, a year after the shooting.

No one from 7-year-old Lavareay Elzy's family spoke during the hearing in Long Beach Superior Court, but Deputy District Attorney John Lonergan led Lavareay by the hand to the front of the courtroom so that Judge Gary Ferrari could meet him.

Murillo fired into a car full of people on March 4, 2008, hitting Lavareay.

Like me, you probably never heard of Jereme Rogers until today. He's a 24-year-old skateboarder who was high and naked on a Redondo Beach roof the other morning. Police Lt. Jim Acquarelli had to climb up to talk him down. (They grabbed him after about 15 minutes so he didn't fall off.)

Read my story.

Here's a video of Jereme at work. He's pretty talented. (But lay off the shrooms dude. And maybe it's not too smart rolling a joint in front of a reporter during an interview.)

Deputies arrested a man suspected of holding up check cashing business in Carson on Wednesday.

The crime occurred about 12:40 p.m. at Check 'N Go, 22005 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson sheriff's Sgt. Yvette Christopher said.

Deputies searched the surrounding area until 3:50 p.m., arresting one suspect.

His name was not immediately available. It was unclear how many other robbers were involved.

L.A. judges agree to voluntarily give up a bit of pay: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_12504090

By CATHY FRANKLIN
City News Service

SANTA ANA (CNS) An FBI agent testified Tuesday that a search of the Orange home of a former Rockwell and Boeing engineer accused of economic spying
turned up letters he wrote to Chinese officials expressing his desire to help his
native country.

Agent Kevin Moberly, called during the first day of trial of 73-year-old Dongfan
"Greg" Chung, said searches turned up correspondence dating as far back as 1979 in
which Chung offers a series of "technology exchanges" in order to help "the
motherland."

In one letter, Chung allegedly wrote: "It is a great honor. I'm excited to be making
a contribution to the modernization of the motherland."

In an earlier one, Chung allegedly wrote, "I am ashamed for not having made the
slightest contribution personally ..."

Moberly testified that a letter dated Aug. 6, 1979, that was received by Chung,
contained the reply, "We are all moved by your patriotism. Your activity in putting
your efforts toward the motherland joins your hands with overseas compatriots."

Chung is accused of passing to the Chinese government Boeing trade
secrets relating to the Space Shuttle, the C-17 military transport aircraft and the
Delta IV rocket during decades of employment in the aerospace industry.

Chung is the first person to go to trial under the Economic Espionage Act, passed by
Congress more than a decade ago, although five others were also charged under the
statute, according to a trial memo by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The other cases
resolved prior to trial.

Here's some stuff from Redondo Beach, as written by Capt. Tom Krafick

05-21-09 (Thursday):

2000 Block of Artesia Boulevard: At about 2:00 a.m., a victim walking east on the north sidewalk was approached from behind. One of the suspects pushed the victim to the ground. The other suspect removed the victim's wallet from his pants pocket. Both suspects ran in a westerly direction from the incident. The victim did not report the crime for about 30 minutes. Officers were not able to locate the persons responsible for this crime.

5-23-09 (Saturday):

1880 S. Pacific Coast Highway (Longs Drugs): At about 2:30 p.m., an unidentified suspect, observed inside the store on several previous occasions, selected numerous display items including alcohol. The suspect concealed the selected items and left the store. Employees confronted the suspect outside the store. The store manager attempted to take the suspect into custody; however, the suspect resisted, pulled free, and ran. A retired police officer, seeing the initial scuffle, gave chase to the fleeing suspect but lost him. Responding officers contained the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

A man accused of shooting his father three times in Gardena was charged Tuesday with attempted murder, according to prosecutors.

Albert Almaraz, 35, made his first appearance in Torrance Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon, but his arraignment was postponed until June 9, according to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link.

He is also facing special allegations that he caused great bodily injury and used a firearm during the shooting Friday at the family's flower shop, Link added.

He remains jailed on more than $2 million bail, Link said.

Michael Norris, said his client was concerned about his father.

"The police believe my client discharged a firearm during the incident," Norris said. "However, in my investigation to this point, I have not been able to locate any witnesses to support that assumption by the police."

Almaraz allegedly shot Robert Almaraz, 67, during a dispute involving family problems at Colors Flowers and Gifts at 1858 Marine Ave., police said.

The elder Almaraz was shot three times and is expected to survive.

City News is reporting that the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has posted 68 short videos
promoting same-sex marriage on a Web site today as part of a contest in which the
grand prize winner will get $2,500.

The videos posted at www.equalityvideo.org are part of Project Pushback, a bicoastal
effort to win hearts and minds in the struggle to legalize gay marriage.

The winner of the popular vote will get $1,000, and the grand prize winner, chosen by
a panel entertainment industry experts, will get $2,500.

All entrants will have a chance to win a video camera valued at $1,000. The local Gay & Lesbian Center partnered with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City to sponsor the contest.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescued a fisherman who fell off a cliff Monday at Golden Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes.

The 50- to 60-year-old man was lifted from the base of the cliff and taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Lt. j.g. Stephanie Young said.

His condition was not available.

Three Coast Guard officers -- Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Mitch Latta, Aviation Survival Technician Third Class Gabe Humphrey and Avionics Electrical Technician Brad Young -- witnessed the fall as they went diving at Golden Cove, Young said.

They called for help, but paramedics were unable to reach the man because of the terrain.
Instead, the Coast Guard sent its HH-65C Dolphin helicopter, which lowered a basket to the beach. The fisherman was loaded into the basket and hoisted into the helicopter.

A Gardena man shot his father three times during an argument that turned violent at the family's flower shop, police said Monday.

Albert Almaraz, 35, allegedly shot Robert Almaraz, 67, shortly after noon Friday at Colors Flowers and Gifts, 1858 Marine Ave., Gardena police Sgt. Russ Temple said.

The father was expected to survive wounds to the back of his head, right shoulder and left wrist.

"They were arguing about family problems," Temple said.

The father and son got into an argument that lasted about 30 minutes. It turned into a physical battle.

"At some point, Albert pulled a .22-caliber handgun and he shoots his dad," Temple said. "Dad yells, 'You shot me!' and they kept fighting."

The struggle spilled over to an adjacent garage.

Police officers arrived and arrested the son on suspicion of attempted murder. He was held at the Gardena jail on $1 million bail and scheduled to appear in Torrance court on Tuesday.

The father was taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He suffered non-life threatening wounds because of the small caliber bullets.

The LA Weekly last week launched its Murder was the Case blog. It's introductory paragraph says it aims to write about every homicide in the City of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Times took on a similar charge a couple years ago with its Homicide Report, which attempts to document every homicide in the County as reported by the Coroner's Department. The Times' blog proved very successful in its first year, and very tiring for it's original keeper. Now, it seems several people contribute.

 

Around the South Bay, Kenneth Kahn, 66, was well-known in legal circles for not only his representation of high-profile criminals like Andrew Daulton Lee, but also because he became the quasi poster boy for court security after he was stabbed in the chest by one of his clients at the Torrance Courthouse in 1987.

The Los Angeles Times has his full obituary.

The jury announced they were deadlocked and Torrance Superior Court Judge James Brandlin declared a mistrial on Friday in the murder case against Gorgonio Vidaca Gonzalez. My story didn't mak it to dailybreeze.com until this morning, but you can now read it here.