August 2009 Archives

Hawthorne police released these results for the department's sobriety and driver's license checkpoint on Friday night:

7 DUI arrests
2 other arrests
71 citations for motorists either unlicensed or driving with suspended licenses
75 vehicles towed

Reader Dan Telles, a production artist in Carson, colorized this version of the sketch of the El Segundo Flasher.

Thanks Dan.

LAPD just just sent this one over:

A Hawthorne man who attended a church service with his niece was shot after

he drove her home and visited with family.

On Sunday, August 30, 2009, Eteuati, Puncho, a 32-year-old Samoan man was standing on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of Ronan Avenue, talking to members of his family. At around 10:30 p.m., an unknown suspect walked northbound on Ronan Avenue from "M" Street and fired numerous rounds at the victim. Victim Puncho was struck multiple times in the upper torso.  Puncho was transported to a local hospital where he died an hour and a half later. The motive of this crime is still unknown and the handgun is still outstanding.

 

Harbor Area Detectives handling the investigation are asking for the public's help to provide any information that may lead to the identification and the arrest of the suspect.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Harbor Area Homicide Detectives Rodriguez and Batres at (310) 726-7881.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247). Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD." Tipsters may remain anonymous.

A Hawthorne police officer and her dog were injured last night when they collided with a sport utility vehicle.

The crash occurred about 10:15 p.m. on El Segundo Boulevard at Yukon Avenue, Hawthorne police Lt. Mike Ishii said.

The officer was driving east on El Segundo Blvd to assist another officer at a routine traffic stop when a 2001 Toyota SUV going the opposite direction made a left turn in front of the officer.

"The two vehicles collided and the impact caused the officer's patrol car to ram a large power pole," Ishii said.

Each vehicle sustained major damage.

The officer and the SUV's driver, who was unlicensed, were taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The police dog suffered several cuts and possible internal injuries and was taken to a local emergency veterinary clinic for treatment.

The Gardena Police Department is investigating the crash for Hawthorne police.

Here's a new sketch released today of the El Segundo Flasher. If you recognize him, call El Segundo police Sgt. Scott Doukakis at 310-524-2261 or Detective Vince Martinez at 310-524-2263.

They had some shootings earlier this week in San Pedro that have apparently been deemed hate crimes. They involved Latino gunmen shooting at black people. I'm not sure if they are gang-related shootings.

Los Angeles police officers are having a town hall meeting tonight to discuss it with residents. Here's a flier they are passing around today:

I received a few calls today from family members of Angel Popoca, the 21-year-old man killed while attending a party in the 21300 block of Archibald Avenue in Carson early Saturday.

Sheriff's deputies said a dark-colored vehicle rolled by and someone inside opened fire. Popoca was hit and another man was wounded.

I was unable today to get in touch with a sheriff's lieutenant who was at the scene to ask some questions about what the family members told me about what occurred there.

Family members took exception to a line in the short article on page A7 in Tuesday's print edition which said that Popoca had been arrested on suspicion of vandalism at Torrance Park on Aug. 6.

Carlos Popoca, Angel's uncle, said the arrest had nothing to do with his nephew's death and should not have been reported. He said it made it appear as if the victim of the homicide was a criminal.

The uncle wanted everyone to know his nephew was not a gang member and that the tagging arrest had not gone to court.

Carlos Popoca said his nephew was an innocent victim at the party.

"I raised him," the uncle said. "He was a lovable kid. He loved everybody and everybody loved him."

The uncle said a woman at the party called gang members to attack a man there that she didn't like.

When the gunman showed up and fired the gun, Popoca was hit and killed.

Carlos Popoca said he arrived moments later to pick up his nephew from the party. He cradled the 21-year-old in his arms and drove him to the hospital.

Family members are devastated by the deathof the former Narbonne High School student.

"He was very lovable," the uncle said. "He was a victim of circumstance."

He previously has been described as white, in his mid to late 20s, 6 feet tall with blonde hair in a buzz cut. He previously drove what might be a 2006-2009 silver 4-door Honda Civic.

If you missed it, here's the story KCBS/KCAL did last week about Torrance police Officer Steve Kroesen, who was buried today at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Kroesen died last week following a long battle with cancer. He died two days after his father died of cancer.

Their story followed mine earlier in the Daily Breeze.

A Los Angeles police officer who used a knife and a gun to threaten a restaurant patron on the Redondo Beach pier was sentenced Tuesday to four years, four months in prison.

David Woon Chong, 39, had previously pleaded guilty to one assault count, and added a no contest plea of making a criminal threat before he was sentenced.

Chong was off duty when he got into a dispute with two fellow diners at Old Tony's restaurant on March 15, 2008.

The 10-year department veteran used a knife to threaten one man, then left. However, he returned a short time later, kicked foot out of the man's hand and pointed the .45 caliber Glock semiautomatic handgun at his head.

He was arrested as he drove out of the parking garage, and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.11, above the state's legal limit of 0.08.

While at a rehabilitation program, he was arrested again for threatening a man during a treatment session.

This is from Larry, who is out in the field:

The funeral procession for Torrance Officer Steve Kroesen is set to get underway momentarily. The procession will go from the Torrance Police Station east on Maricopa Avenue to Crenshaw Boulevard. It will head south to Palos Verdes Drive North and go east to Rolling Hills Covenant Church.

Kroesen died last week after a lengthy battle with cancer.

If you see Gardena and other South Bay police officers answering calls in Torrance today, they are covering the city so their Torrance colleagues can attend Kroesen's funeral.

Some of you may be wondering why you're not seeing as much coverage in the Daily Breeze of Cameron Brown's retrial, especially compared to his first trial three years ago, for the November 2000 cliff death of his 4-year-old daughter, Lauren Sarene Key, in Rancho Palos Verdes.

There are two reasons for this: 1.) It's kind of like reporting on a "rerun." Although I'm sure there are plenty of people who didn't catch the plethora of stories on the 2006 trial, many have. I'm trying to stay abreast of any new developments or other interesting trial occurrences, but that's kind of hard - especially because of my second reason. 2.) The retrial is in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. That makes it difficult for me to pop in for shorter periods of time due to the 45 minute drive and all-around headache that is the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center (I've waited up to 20 minutes for an elevator some mornings).

At any time, I've got about 100 cases on my radar plus any number of long-term features and projects. Going downtown for a trial I've seen already takes me away from my other duties. Believe me, I wish I could do it all, and if I could clone myself, I would.

That being said, I did make it to the Brown trial late last week for the prosecution's last witness. Since there are people interested in this case who like to discuss it on the Internet, including one blogger who is trying to take down every word in her notebook, I took a peek over the weekend to see what the Interwebs are saying. Just so you know, I usually avoid it, since it seems a lot of the discussion centers on personal attacks of other commenters and players in the trial (myself included).

Some of what I saw raised some questions, so I called Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum to verify some points.

First of all, the trial is on a 10-day break until Sept. 2 due to Judge Michael Pastor's vacation. It will resume with the defense case, which has already started. Hum said he expects the jurors will do a "site visit" at Abalone Cove on Sept. 10, but that is subject to change.

I also asked Hum about some evidence that the blogger teased as "jaw dropping." He thinks she is referring sheriff's Detective Jeff Leslie testifying about a search he conducted at Brown's home, which he shared with his wife, Patty Brown, in Palos Verdes on Jan. 2, 2001. Leslie said that, under a bed, they found two cut-out photos of Lauren's mother, Sarah Key-Marer, in a suitcase - along with black candles and black ceramic figures. A follow-up question by Hum to Leslie about witchcraft books was objected to by the defense, and sustained by the judge.

While probably not a key piece of evidence in the overall case, my guess is the value of the information goes toward the animous Brown (and his wife) allegedly had toward Key-Marer during the heated custody and child support over Lauren. It's eyebrow raising, nonetheless. 

FILE - In this file photo taken July 20, 2009, Khaled Naji Hamdan, holds the photo of his father, Naji Hamdan in front of the Federal Supreme Court after a hearing of his father's trial in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Naji Hamdan, a 43-year-old American of Lebanese origin, is charged with supporting terrorism, participating in the work of terrorist organizations, and being a member of a terrorist group. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

This is an Associated Press article today, and includes quotes from Naji Hamdan to an AP reporter before he was taken from the United Arab Emirates courtroom:

UAE prosecutor claims US man had al-Qaida ties
BARBARA SURK,Associated Press Writer

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- A state prosecutor in Abu Dhabi claimed Monday that an American on trial in the Emirates had ties to a group backed by al-Qaida in Iraq.

Police have arrested two women -- one with her toddler son in tow -- on suspicion of stealing "Bluetooth" devices from an AT&T store in Hermosa Beach.

The women are additionally suspected of shoplifting cellular telephone equipment at AT&T stores in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Santa Monica and Huntington Beach during the last week, Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Robert Higgins said.

The women -- Trada Vashawn Williams, 23, of Los Angeles; and Donna Theresa Mathews, 19, of Compton -- were arrested about 4:40 p.m. Friday outside the AT&T Cellular store at 1100 Pacific Coast Highway, Higgins said.

A security guard watched the women enter the store with a male toddler.

"They walk in and they basically set this kid down and left him unsupervised in the store while they go cruising around the store," Higgins said.

The boy walked around the store alone as the women collected higher end "Bluetooth" handsfree devices and hid them, police said.

The security guard telephoned the Hermosa Beach Police Department with the suspect and vehicle description. Officers spotted the car and stopped the women a short distance away.

Officers found about $1,600 worth of "Bluetooth" devices in the car, Higgins said
.
A small quantity of narcotics and marijuana was also found inside the vehicle.

The women were arrested and booked at the Hermosa Beach police jail on suspicion of burglary. Mathews was held on $20,000 bail. Williams' bail is $87,000.

The toddler was released to a family member. The Department of Children and Family Services was notified to conduct an investigation.

Police did not identify which woman was the child's mother

You've probably seen or heard their advertisements, featuring former Diff'rent Strokes actor Gary Coleman, in which CashCall promises money to those needing it fast. All at the low interest rate of nearly 140 percent annually, according to California Attorney General Jerry Brown, who announced today that the Anaheim-based lending company was ordered to stop trying to collect debts with abuse.

Here's the press release (documents at the end, after the jump):

Brown Forces Predatory Lender to End Illegal and Abusive Debt Collection Practices

Los Angeles - Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today forced CashCall, Inc., an Anaheim-based fast-money lender, to stop using "loan shark tactics" in collecting debt, including abusive calls at all hours of the day and night and empty threats of law enforcement action.

The court-ordered judgment also forces CashCall to stop misleading consumers with deceptive advertising and pay $1 million in civil penalties and legal expenses. CashCall used former child actor Gary Coleman as its television spokesman.

"CashCall preyed on consumers desperate for cash, charging triple digit interest rates and using loan shark tactics to collect on their debts," Brown said. "This judgment forces CashCall to stop harassing its customers and should serve as a warning to consumers to be wary of fast-money lenders."

CashCall, owned by Paul Reddam, founder and former owner of DiTech mortgage company, currently charges 139.34% annual interest on the $2,600 loan it offers to consumers. This means that consumers who make the required $298.94 monthly payment over 36 months pay $10,761.84 over the life of the loan. That adds more than $8,000 in interest to the loan.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich is planning measures that would make taggers who hang out together, like gang members named in the popular injunctions, prone to arrest.

Ashley Nicole Lily, 24, was found slain in a Garden Grove hotel room earlier this week.

KTLA has the wrap-up on five different crimes that left a bunch of people dead and injured around Los Angeles last night. None in the South Bay.

A retired U.S. Marine allegedly stabbed and killed another man who confronted him on a Hawthorne street, police said today.

Michael Carter, 36, of Inglewood was standing with a female companion outside a residence in the 12500 block of Eucalyptus Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Friday when another man approached them, Hawthorne police Lt. Mike Ishii said.

Investigators believe the man was confronting Carter and the woman over relationship issues. When Carter and the woman tried to leave the residence, the two men got into an argument. Carter allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed the other man.

Police arrived to find the wounded man lying in the street. Carter identified himself as the person who stabbed him and was arrested, Ishii said.

The wounded man died later at a hospital. His name was not immediately released.

Hawthorne police detectives are investigating the death. Anyone with information about what occurred is asked to contact investigators at 310-349-2700.

Shortly after the killing, police said Carter was an active duty Marine. He is retired. 

Firefighters doused three small fires that broke out late Friday near the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities said.

The blazes were reported across the street and up the hill from the golf course at 1 Ocean Trails Drive about 4:45 p.m., witnesses and firefighters said.

"We noticed some smoke up the hill," said Brian Donnelly, a San Pedro resident who was picnicking at Founders Park. "We watched it and it got bigger and bigger."

About 140 firefighters arrived to put out the flames, described as 55 feet in diameter and 1000 feet apart, County fire Inspector Frederic Stowers said.

Donnelly said that at least one of two fire helicopters picked up water from one of the golf course lakes and dumped a couple loads on the flames.

No one was hurt and no injuries were reported.

David Matish, assistant professional at Trump, said the fires were directly across from the facility.

"They put it out. It was pretty well contained," Matish said. "It wasn't a scare. They were very quick."

The fire's cause was not immediately known, but Donnelly said that a sheriff's deputy drove by and "asked if I had seen a couple of 20 year olds."

Deputies had no immediate comment.

An active duty U.S. Marine allegedly stabbed another man Friday during an argument on a Hawthorne street, police said.

The men were fighting about 3:30 p.m. in the 12500 block of Eucalyptus Avenue, Hawthorne police Lt. Mike Ishii said.

Witnesses said they saw one of the men chasing the other down the street, Ishii said. One man pulled out a knife and stabbed the other.

The victim was taken to a hospital. His condition was not released.

Police described the crime as a "major stabbing incident."

The Marine, whose name was not released, was arrested and taken for questioning. The argument was described as a domestic dispute.

Daniel Ramsey, aka Victor Martin, convinced an appellate panel that he was over sentenced by two years for two gun enhancements. Otherwise, the justices rejected all his other arguments, including that his convictions should be overturned because they were based on faulty identifications. The full 8-page 2nd District Court of Appeal opinion, issued Thursday, is here.

After the jump is the last story I did on the case, when Ramsey was sentenced to 156 years to life.

The Adminstrative Office of the Courts warned Californians today about the proliferation of a scam where potential jurors are phoned and asked to give personal information:

AOC Warns Jurors of Identity Theft Scam

Thieves Use Bogus Jury Phone Calls to Obtain Personal Information

SAN FRANCISCO--The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has seen a recent resurgence of a juror identity theft scam. In response, California, joining more than a dozen other states, is issuing public warnings about telephone calls from people posing as court officials asking for personal and financial information.

Scammers contact Californians claiming to be with a court and threatening citizens with arrest for failing to comply with jury service. This scam is an attempt to steal or use your identity and potentially apply for credit cards, apply for loans, or empty bank accounts to defraud you.

The AOC and staff of the superior courts will never ask the public--whether past or prospective jurors--for financial details, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or other personal information such as social security number and date of birth. Do not provide this type of information to anyone claiming to be associated with the courts.

In 2007, jury offices across the state mailed more than 10 million jury summonses. The summons includes details about time and location to report for jury duty, including a telephone number and Web site address for the local jury office, for anyone wishing to contact the court about the summons.

Official court personnel may contact prospective jurors by telephone but will not request personal information. If you receive a telephone call, e-mail, or other form of communication, from someone identifying him- or herself as a court employee and requesting financial information or a social security number, immediately contact the fraud unit of your local police department and the jury service office of your local court.

For more information about the jury scam, go to the California Courts Web site at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jury/scamalert.htm. For jury information see www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jury/index.htm.

 

 

Torrance Superior Court Judge Eric Taylor sentenced Brian Foucher, 32, to 20 years and eight months, plus four life terms, this morning for kidnapping and raping one woman - and trying to do the same to three others - in the South Bay in 2002.

Foucher's history of mental illness, which did not come into play during his jury trial, was the focus of today's hearing.

We'll have a full story up later.

Previously:

Guilty verdicts in South Bay rape/kidnapping trial

How reading the Daily Breeze can get you into trouble

Mona Lisa makes a cameo in South Bay rape/kidnapping trial

I don't know why we can't just all get along, but a cop is set to beat up Rodney King again.

Ok, so maybe that's a bit harsh, but King didn't fare too well the last time he entered the national spotlight.

If you recall, a bunch of cops beat him to a pulp at the end of a chase, touching off a mess for the LAPD, cop trials, and eventual riots in the city.

Well, now King is set to battle former Chester, Pa. police officer Simon "The Renegade" Aouad in a celebrity fight next month. Get your tickets now.

This just can't be a good idea. We all know what happened to King's face last time.

Aouad is 6-feet and 215 pounds and has a 36-0 record in tough man fights. Oh, and that includes 34 knockouts.

King is 6 foot 4, 250.

They are calling this the "Battle for Justice."

KNBC has the full story on its Web site.

Inglewood has added three more red light cameras to catch traffic scofflaws.

Readers are offering condolences and prayers today in the user comments section after my story on the death of Torrance police Officer Steve Kroesen.

Kroesen died of Hodgkin's Lymphoma just two days after his father, Gus, died of lung cancer.

You might take a look.

And, maybe it's just a coincidence, but I find it interesting that on the same day we have the story of the Kroesens' deaths, we have a story about a baby who wouldn't wait to get to the hospital. Check that out too. They are both on our print edition front page.

Cycle of life.

I get e-mails:

      Mr. Altman,

The Daily Breeze headline on Wednesday left such a vivid picture in my mind that I didn't even want to read your article.  In this time of distress on so many levels....fear of job loss, home loss, retirement, terrorism....is it really necessary to draw such a frightful connection.

And, I never even saw Psycho, but the thought scares the hell out of me.

This to me is irresponsible sensationalism, and I have cancelled by subscription.

Just curious....did this sell more papers OR lose customers???

Laurie Hughes

Executive Director

Gateway to L.A.

From the District Attorney's Office:

COMPTON - The pastor of the Double Rock Baptist Church in Compton was arrested today on charges he embezzled more than $800,000 from the church.

Eugene Joshua Sims, 47 (dob 10-3-61), was arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives. He is being held on $1.2 million bail.

Deputy District Attorney Tracey Stevens said Sims allegedly set up a private bank account and diverted offerings that members gave to the church into his private account. The alleged embezzlement occurred between March 1, 2000 and Sept. 30, 2008. When church members raised questions, he allegedly threatened members not to say anything in sermons.

The felony complaint for arrest warrant, filed Tuesday, charges Sims with one felony count each of grand theft by embezzlement, dissuading a witness and money laundering. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in state prison.

Sims is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at Compton Superior Court, Department 12 in case TA107904.

The Redondo Beach Police Department's 31st Citizen Police Academy will begin Sept. 9.

Participants learn about police training, the special weapons team, criminal investigation, the canine unit, gangs and narcotics.

Classes are usually comprised of residents and business community members.

The class includes 14 sessions over 12 Wednesday nights and two Saturday mornings.

To obtain an application, click here or contact Community Police Officer Ian Miesen at ian.miesen@redondo.org or at 310-379-2477, ext. 1-2493.

Most Los Angeles Superior Court employees will be on furlough today, meaning that operations at all courthouses will be drastically reduced.

This is the second mandated day off without pay for the court. They will continue to fall on the third Wednesday of every month as a cost-cutting measure in the face of severe budget shortfalls.

People are encouraged to visit the court's Web site to find out more information or conduct some transactions, like paying tickets, at www.lasuperiorcourt.org.

For more information, please refer to last month's Daily Breeze article regarding the first court furlough day.

From the District Attorney's Office:

VAN NUYS - A salsa dance instructor who worked as a choreographer on the FOX television show "So You Think You Can Dance" was arrested today on a felony warrant charging him with sexually assaulting four female victims.

Alex Da Silva, 41, was arrested at his North Hollywood home this morning by LAPD officers. The complaint for arrest warrant filed Monday by the District Attorney's Office charges him with eight felony counts, including four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object. He is being held on $6.2 million bail.

Deputy District Attorney Rosa Alarcon with the Sex Crimes Division said alleged assaults involve four victims between the ages of 20 and 26. The assaults occurred between August 2002 and March 2009. The alleged victims are either dancers or aspiring dancers who met him through his dance instruction classes.

Da Silva is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at Van Nuys Superior Court, Department 100, on case No. LA062814. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

If you're hungry for more about the former Coral Princess head waiter's explanation as to what happened on board the ship between himself and a passenger after reading today's update, take a look at his motion to suppress, attached below.

The motion itself is only a dozen or so pages, but is followed by the approximate 100-page transcript of Jorge Teixeira's conversation with two FBI agents. Note: Sexually explicit matter.

Teixera statement suppression.pdf

I just got another one of those mass e-mails that alerts us all to a "crime." Most of these things are urban legends, but they get forwarded around like a virus. I often check these "crime alerts" at Snopes.com to see what's true and what isn't.

This one involves department store employees stealing cash from your account when you use your check card at the cashier stand. Even though you push "no" to getting cash back, somehow they push "yes," and they take the money. At least that's what the e-mail says.

This one gets a ruling of "undetermined" on Snopes.

The memo is after the jump in its entirety.

My point in all this is how much I enjoyed reading the list of recipients of this e-mail. I'm not sure how I got into this grouping. It's funny to see my name included with such notables as Alan Colmes, Dick Morris, Glenn Beck, Greta Van Susteren, Larry Elder, John McCain and Rush Limbaugh.

And the best one of all: Pope Benedict....(Seriously, who e-mails the Pope with a crime alert?)

I've been on other mass e-mailings with people like Janice Hahn, Jane Harman and even President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

But Pope Benedict is a new one.

A San Bernardino man has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a man of $2,800 in El Segundo, police said Monday.

Arturo Vera, 22, who also went by the name Arturo Ramirez, was arrested Aug. 12 in Glendale, El Segundo police Sgt. Scott Doukakis said.

The robbery occurred Aug. 8 at the victim's  home in the 700 block of East Grand Avenue.
Police said Vera knew his victim, pulled a semiautomatic handgun on him while at his home, and robbed him.

When Vera was arrested, detectives found two $100 bills taken from the victim during the robbery, Doukakis said. More evidence was found at his home.

Anyone with information about similar crimes should contact El Segundo police Detective Marco Lemus at 310-524-2284 or Doukakis at 310-524-2261.

Burglars broke into two stores in the 1000 block of North Catalina Avenue early Sunday.

Police responded about 3:40 a.m. to an alarm at Redondo Marine Hardware. The two front glass doors of the store were smashed.

The adjacent business, Hogties Motorcycle Shop, also had its front door smashed. Police said burglars apparently backed a vehicle into a glass door.

Owner Bryan Singer said five Honda generators worth $30,000 and motorcycle leather apparel was taken.

The Czuleger family established the store in 1923.

Singer, who served five months in the Air Force in Afghanistan, posted this video of the burglars in action. It's hard to see their faces. Apparently there are several burglars because there's a guy in a red shirt in one store, but not in the other.

Call Redondo Beach police if you know anything.

Redondo Beach police Officer Ken Greenleaf and his dog, Valor, have won another competition.

Greenleaf and Valor were the overall champions at the 2009 World Police and Fire Games in Vancouver, B.C. on Aug. 6-7.

Twenty-five police officers and dogs from Canada and the United States competed in categories including obedience, agility, searching, protection and narcotics detection.

Greenleaf and Valor took gold medals in protection, box search and obedience, as well as the overall gold.

Redondo Beach also was represented by Officer Kevin McCamy and Kona, and Officer Corey King and Dak.

Palos Verdes Estates police Cpl. Joe Hall and his dog, Grim, also competed.
Hall and Grim took the silver in box search.

A Westchester man who allegedly threatened to blow up the White House and engaged in a daylong standoff with police was charged today with making a false bomb threat and attempted criminal threats.

Joseph Moshe, 56 is scheduled to be arraigned after 1:30 p.m. at the Airport courthouse. Arrested Thursday evening, he is held on $70,000 bail.

Prosecutors said Moshe called the Los Angeles Police Department's Command Division on Wednesday and threatened to blow up the White House. He also threatened an LAPD communications employee after she refused to give him her name.

U.S. Secret Service agents and Los Angeles police officers tried to talk to Moshe the next day at his home on Creighton Avenue, buthe drove away.

He stopped near the Federal Building in Westwood and refused to come out of his car, withstanding four doses of tear gas.

Police finally shot him with a Taser gun to subdue him.

Moshe also faces two cases at the Airport courthouse in which he is charged with trespassing, violating a restraining order and making terrorist threats against his mother.

**UPDATE: Moshe pleaded not guilty his arraignment at the Airport courthouse. He was held on $70,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court Sept. 14.

From the Associated Press today:

GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former Roman Catholic priest imprisoned for sexually molesting children has been called to testify before a federal grand jury investigating how the Archdiocese of Los Angeles handled claims of abuse, a person with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person, who requested anonymity because the probe is ongoing, said former priest Michael Baker was transferred into federal custody at least three months ago and took the Fifth Amendment before the grand jury.

The person did not know if Baker was still in federal custody but said one other former priest was also involved in the probe.

Baker, 61, pleaded guilty in 2007 to molesting two boys and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

 

I just stopped at Cristian Madrigal's home in Carson. He is the 13-year-old boy killed at a friend's house Thursday in Carson.

The boys were playing video games, but got into a locked cabinet and pulled out a loaded gun. It went off, killing Cristian.

I met Cristian's aunt and brother. They were friendly to me, but said they did not want to talk. His parents were inside, but did not come to the door.

I offered my condolences and said that if they changed their minds, I'd be glad to talk to them later.

Martino Byrd, a 13-year-old boy, was skateboarding in Carson Park, across from where the shooting occurred. He said he knew Cristian at Carson Elementary School and at White Middle School. He described Cristian as a "nice guy."

Meanwhile, a man who answered the door at the house where the shooting occurred said the family was not home.

Reporter Chris Blatchford and his Fox 11 crew were parked across the street to do the news story at 11.

CARSON (CNS) - An autopsy was pending today on the body of a teenage boy
killed while playing with a handgun in Carson.
   The incident in the 21400 block of Orrick Avenue, near Main and Carson
streets, was reported about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, said Deputy Aura Sierra of the
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.
   The victim and another boy had been playing video games but then got
into a locked gun cabinet inside the home and brought out a handgun, Sierra
said.
   ``As the victim and his friend played with the handgun, it accidentally
discharged, striking the victim,'' Sierra said.
   The boy, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene.
   Family members at the scene told a Newsreel camera crew that the other
boy was ``very traumatized'' over what happened.

Twenty-eight Harbor Area teenagers are taking part in a five-day retreat at the Simon Wiesenthal Center to work out solutions to problems including discrimination, bullying and hate crimes.

The teens, primarily from Harbor Area high schools, are members of the Harbor Area's Teen Community Police Advisory Board, which works with police officers on issues involving their age group.

The teens toured the Center's Museum of Tolerance and are engaging in discussions "to increase community dialogue and support especially between adults and teens, and community members.

"It's our hope that the teenagers can connect with their peers," Harbor Division Senior Lead Officer Joe Buscaino said. "It's our hope they can talk some sense into their peers and do the right thing in respecting everyone."

The teens are 14 to 18 years old, primarily from Port of Los Angeles High School, Banning High School and San Pedro High School.

"Through interactive processes and using the immersive Museum of Tolerance exhibits and assets students will understand their responsibility and ability to confront bias-based behavior," police said in a statement. "They will practice and develop strategies to combat bullying, racism, and violence and will walk away with their own plans for next steps in addressing these issues."

Manhattan Beach police Capt. Derrick Abell sent this over. If you want to help, you have to sign up by tomorrow.

I'm proud to tell you that I'm being locked up...that's right, I'm going behind bars to help Jerry's Kids© and MDA. To be released on good behavior I have to raise bail and I need your help!

All you have to do is click here to make a secure, online donation before 08/12/09. Your donation will help families living in our community and help guarantee me an early release. I can't wait to add you to my list of contributors.

Thanks in advance for your help. Don't hesitate to call or email me with any questions.

Together we'll make a difference,
Derrick

If the link above does not work, please cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your Internet browser. https://www.joinmda.org/2009southbaylockup/dabell/

Probably not a good day to be Shane Mahoney. That's him over there.

The Manhattan Beach man was arrested last night after a child saw him urinate on a police car in a Hermosa Beach parking lot, police said.

Mahoney, 22, was taken to jail about 8:45 p.m. after two officers saw him walking away from their black-and-white car dampened with urine, Redondo Beach police Sgt. Phil Keenan said.

"There's two things you don't want to do in this world -- pee on a rattlesnake and pee on a police car," Keenan said.

A memorial service is planned for Thursday for U.S. District Court Judge Robert Takasugi, who died last week at the age of 78.

The service will be at 4 p.m. at Town and Gown, 665 Exposition Blvd., on the University of Southern California campus just north of the Law School.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made to the Robert M. Takasugi Pro Bono Bar Review. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the "JEF - Pro Bono Bar Review," c/o Japanese American Bar Association, P.O. Box 86063, Los Angeles, Calif. 90086.

Takasugi, an internment camp survivor, served on the the Central District of California bench since 1976. He is believed to be the first Japanese American federal bench officer.

Sometimes, it's not good to cruise Twitter while eating lunch. While I found Newsweek's tweet about a map of strange crimes from around the globe intersting enough to click on, reading what was there made me lose my appetite. My advice: wait until you're done with lunch for this one. I wish I had.

The jury deliberated a little more than a day before deciding to recommend to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy that 26-year-old Miguel Magallon deserved a lethal injection for the Aug. 10, 2004, murder of off-duty Los Angeles County Police Capt. Michael Sparkes.

Full story coming later.

Previously:

A South Bay killer and The 48 Laws of Power

Gang member convicted of killing Harbor-UCLA Medical Center police captain

 

Plea deals were made this week for the last three defendants remaining in a massive bank fraud case uncovered by Manhattan Beach police officers.

Luiz Ceron, 37, and Jose Ortiz, 32, were each sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday in Torrance Superior Court, according to Detective Joe Aiello.

Using a computer, Ceron manufactured fake identifications, including Mexican Consular cards, which he sold to others.

The others opened up bank accounts with the cards.

Then, they wrote checks from one account, deposited them into another and then withdrew the non-existent funds.

The operation cost four banks more than $140,000, Aiello said.

Ortiz was the "runner" in the operation who acted as a middleman between Ceron and others in the ring.

Also taking a deal was 35-year-old Adriana Camacho, Ortiz's wife, who was not charged for the bank fraud but for using a fake identification to work at a hotel.

From the District Attorney's Office:

INGLEWOOD - The District Attorney's office filed charges today against a South Los Angeles man accused of the hit-and-run death of a 14-year-old boy on a street in Inglewood on Sunday.

Andre Thompson, 40 (dob 9-2-1968), was scheduled to appear for arraignment this afternoon in Department 5 of Inglewood Superior Court. He was arrested by Inglewood police on Tuesday.

Thompson was charged in case No. YA 075765 with one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident. It was alleged that Thompson personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim, Semaj Spencer. The defendant also was charged with one misdemeanor count each of vehicular manslaughter and driving when his privilege was suspended or revoked.

The complaint alleged two prior drug convictions. Bail was recommended at $80,000.

Inglewood police said Spencer was hit and killed shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday while crossing Imperial Highway east of Crenshaw Boulevard. The car that hit the boy sped away.

The case was filed by Deputy District Attorney Christine Johnston of the Inglewood office. It has not yet been assigned to a trial prosecutor.

If convicted of the felony charge and enhancement, the defendant faces a possible maximum seven-year state prison term. The misdemeanor charges carry a possible maximum sentence of one and a half years in county jail.

I listened to U.S. District Court Judge Robert Takasugi speak at some rubber chicken lunch or another about 15 years ago when I was a reporter at the Los Angeles Daily Journal. His story was one of those riveting ones that begins with the hardships of an internment camp and ends with a career of community service.

In deciding if someone should live or die, a jury learns a lot about the person whose fate rests in their hands. During the death penalty trial for Miguel Magallon, the prosecutor introduced them to a book that was found in Magallon's jail cell, which he ordered from Amazon.com.

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, whose jacket bills itself as a good read for anyone "interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control," uses historical figures and references to break down the nearly 50 ways to avoid being victimized by power.

Magallon made stars next to certain laws, and underlined passages in his copy. Deputy District Attorney Darren Levine encouraged the jury, which began deliberating today, to flip through the book, note what caught the killer's attention and see how the law that interested Magallon manifested itself in his actions and behavior in the five years since he gunned down off-duty Los Angeles County police Capt. Michael Sparkes.

From the book's table of contents:

Law 3-

Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions.  If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense.  Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

While on the 9th Floor of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center downtown today for closing arguments in the Miguel Magallon death penalty trial, I popped into the Cameron Brown murder retrial to see what's been going on.

I had apparently just missed a bit of drama. According to Deputy District Attorney Craig Hum, proceedings were postponed for about an hour because Brown, 47, refused to come out of his jail cell. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor was set to sign an extraction order that would give deputies permission to physically extract him when Brown came out on his own.

Then, defense attorney Pat Harris asked that 4-year-old victim Lauren Sarene Key's mother, Sarah Key-Marer, who has watched the entire trial, be excluded from the courtroom because her presence was jeopardizing his client's right to a fair trial. Hum argued against it, and Key-Marer addressed the judge, asking that she be allowed to remain - as she's been looking for answers for nine years. In the end, Pastor allowed her to stay.

In the two weeks since the trial began, jurors have heard from Key-Marer, witnesses who were around Inspiration Point on Nov. 8, 2000, the first emergency responders to the scene, Lauren's pre-school teachers, a pediatrician and direct questioning of the investigating officer, Jeff Leslie, who is expected to undergo cross examination for much of the remainder of the week.

LOS ANGELES - District Attorney Steve Cooley will throw out the first pitch Wednesday at Dodger Stadium as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cooley was invited to throw the first pitch to honor and celebrate the Hollenbeck Youth Center.

For more than 30 years, the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Boyle Heights has provided free educational, cultural and recreational after-school programs in a safe environment. The mission is to keep youths out of gang and criminal activities. HYC is home to the L.A. Inner-City Games, which marked its 20th Anniversary in 2008.

The story on the two Hermosa Beach residents who went to trial on a public urination citation is getting a lot of comments (big surprise) from our readers - most of who think the pair were in the wrong. Yes, they were convicted, but some of the issues they raised were very legitimate, including the lack of "evidence" of such urination. No pictures of the puddle, no witness statements from any of the passers-by and not indication that either Mark Weber or Mario De Obregoso were untucked, unzipped or exposed. They mentioned to me that the jury was mostly senior citizens, which studies show tend to be more conservative and trusting of police officers.

I wasn't there. I'm just sayin'.

Some of the commenters chastised me for reporting what they believe is a non-story. I felt that a week-long trial at tax-payers expense (no matter whose at fault for getting it to that point) plus the city's efforts to clean-up it's image was worthy of coverage. I'm curious, what do you think? You can respond in the comments section below.

For those of you wanting to know more, I've attached a transcript of the conversation between the two and the police officers:

Weber Case.pdf

Semaj Spencer, 14, of Inglewood was killled early on Imperial Highway just east of Crenshaw Boulevard by a hit-and-run driver.