June 2010 Archives

I wrote a story the other day about the medical marijuana dispensaries that were told they had to shut down or face prosecution from the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

There's 439 on the list. Here's the entire list:

Marijuanadispensaries.pdf

The Los Angeles City Clerk's Office also has posted a list of 187 medical marijuana dispensaries that are allowed to remain open because they properly filed paperwork to be reviewed. The City Attorney's Office will investigate whether they are adhering to laws which require them to be certain distances from schools, parks, and other places.

Here's this list:

Medical_Marijuana_ Priority_Order.pdf

One of the guys arrested in Manhattan Beach on suspicion of breaking into cars has a history. Orange police arrested him for the same thing a couple years ago.

Thanks to Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Watch block commander John Gilmer for finding this story in the Orange County Register from two years ago.

I looked up his records. Looks like he got about two years. He's got other things on his record besides burglary, including assault, drug offenses and hit-and-run. He's also had a number of driving tickets.

The photo is from the Orange Police Department from two years ago. (via OC Register.).

This just in from the District Attorney's Office:

LOS ANGELES - Hawthorne Mayor Larry Guidi was charged today with stealing a commercial food mixer from Hawthorne School District because he allegedly needed more dough for his home pizza oven.

Guidi, 52, who works as a warehouse operations manager for the Hawthorne School District, allegedly stole the food mixer and a cart on March 25 from a school district warehouse. The theft was allegedly captured on video security camera.

The mayor of 17 years was charged in felony complaint No. BA372095 with one count each of second-degree burglary and grand theft, said Deputy District Attorney Ed Miller with the Public Integrity Division. Prosecutors will ask bail be set at $20,000.

Guidi is expected to be arraigned Wednesday morning at the Criminal Justice Center, 210 W. Temple St., in Department 30. If convicted, he faces up to three years in state prison.

A man was shot to death as he walked along an Inglewood street, police said today.

The Monday shooting appears to be gang-related, Inglewood police Lt. Oscar Serrano said.

Witnesses told police the victim was walking north on Crenshaw Boulevard near 109th Street at 5 p.m. when two men approached him on foot.

One opened fire with a handgun.

The victim, who suffered several gunshot wounds to his chest, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to contact detectives at 310-412-5246, or the 24-hour anonymous hotline number 888-41-CRIME.

A parolee is suspected of robbing two women in downtown Manhattan Beach, police said today.

Justin Tyson, 29, of Fontana, who served a sentence for carrying a loaded firearm, was arrested Sunday, shortly after he allegedly grabbed a woman's purse, Manhattan Beach police Officer Stephanie Martin said.

The victim, police said, was waiting for friends at Highland Avenue and 9th Street at 1 a.m. when Tyson approached and asked for a cigarette.

He then snatched her purse and ran, Martin said.

Police officers found Tyson 90 minutes later at Ocean Drive and First Street. He was held on suspicion of robbery and a parole violation.

Police suspect Tyson also grabbed a woman's arm and wrestled her purse from her on June 2.

That crime occurred at 10:25 p.m. as the woman walked with a male friend at Highland and 11th Street, Martin said.

In one of the crimes, Tyson claimed to have a gun, although he did not reveal it.

This isn't South Bay related, but it's something to see. Here's how a suspected drunken driver flew out of Dallas-Fort Worth airport.

Check it out.

I had a story today on the third-row seat thefts in Torrance. It's actually a crime that happens everywhere and has been happening for years.

This is on the Redondo Beach significant events list that I received today:

May 24, 2600 block of Fisk Lane, and 2700 block of Spreckles Lane: Officers responded to two separate vehicle burglary incidents at the locations. Unknown suspects forced entry into a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2007 GMC Yukon XL and removed the third row passenger seats from each vehicle.

A reader also wrote in to say that thieves broke into his son's GMC Yukon Denali in El Segundo and took the third row seat and two wetsuits.  He also had two friends whose Yukons were stolen out of the Home Depot/Toys R Us parking lot in Hawthorne.

This just in from the LAPD:

Top Cops Wager on Championship

Los Angeles - Boston: LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Boston Police Commissioner
Edward F. Davis made a friendly wager on the outcome of the NBA championship series.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck contacted Commissioner Davis and proposed a gentleman's bet. They agreed that the top cop from the first place city would host the top cop from the second place city. While in the host city, the top cop from the second place city will work a shift on patrol.

Chief Beck and Commissioner Davis set some basic rules. Both have agreed to use their own vacation time for the trip. The top cop who has to travel will work in their own uniform, but alongside local officers, since the visiting executive will not really have jurisdiction in the other state. Finally, both top cops have agreed that no matter the outcome, the traveling chief or commissioner will eat well.

Chief Beck said, "I'm not sure where I would have Commissioner Davis work, maybe Hollywood."

A motorist who crashed into a tree in Gardena had been shot once in the upper body, police said Thursday.

Police officers and firefighters discovered the wounded man when they responded to a traffic collision reported at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of 170th Street, Gardena police Lt. Steve Prendergast said.

Paramedics treated the shooting victim and he was taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Gardena detectives at 310-217-9607.

A motorist suspected of driving under the influence was arrested today after crashing into a traffic signal in Torrance, critically injuring his passenger.

David Lee, 21, of Torrance was driving his 2000 Suzuki Esteem west on Torrance Boulevard at 2:30 a.m. when he tried to turn south on Anza Avenue, Torrance police Sgt. Jeremiah Hart said.

Lee lost control of his car, left the road and crashed into the pole, Hart said.

The passenger was taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center with a large cut to his forehead. He was reported in critical condition.

Lee was treated for minor injuries and booked at the Torrance jail on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Traffic was diverted in all directions for about two hours for the investigation.

Police will conduct a driver's license checkpoint from 7 to 11 a.m. today in the area of 116th Street and Prairie Avenue and from 12:30 to 4 p.m. in the area of Hawthorne and El Segundo Boulevards.

Police said the checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders, get them off the street, and educate the public on the dangers of unlicensed drivers.