July 2010 Archives

This photo would appear to be Passive Arts Studio owner John Lavine and his dog. Fired employee David Edward Albert allegedly shot him to death  set the building on fire. Lavine ran a bondage club on La Cienega in Lennox. The photo is on the club's MySpace site.

A transient driving a stolen car was arrested after leading police on a brief chase in Hawthorne, police said Thursday.

Jose Hernandez, 28, was arrested Wednesday in the 1600 block of 113th Street when police bumped the car and surrounded him, Hawthorne police Lt. Gary Tomatani said.

The chase began about 10:35 a.m. when police received a report that a Honda Civic was stolen from a house in the 4000 block of 139th Street and the victim was following the car.

Officers caught up at Imperial Highway and Western Avenue and tried to pull the car over. The chase lasted 25 seconds.

Hernandez ran, but was caught. He was carrying paperwork from a second vehicle that had been reported stolen, but already recovered.

Hernandez was held on suspicion of auto theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and failure to yield.

Two men and a teenage boy suspected of trying to rob a corn vendor at gunpoint in Hawthorne were arrested, police said today.

The attempted crime occurred about 5:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 3200 block of 139th Street, Hawthorne police Lt. Gary Tomatani said.

The victim told officers that three men in a white Chevrolet van tried to rob him. One had a handgun.

He ran, thwarting their success.

A witness provided police with a partial license plate number.

About 40 minutes later, officers spotted a minivan matching the description and license plate number at Rosecrans and Washington avenues, Tomatani said.

Officers pulled it over and detained the occupants.

The victim identified three of the occupants as suspects in the robbery. The victim said the fourth man was not involved and he was released
.
The gun was not found.

Booked into the Hawthorne jail on suspicion of attempted robbery were Johnny Elias, 22, of Hawthorne; Travonne Sykes, 21, of Hawthorne.

A 16-year-old Gardena boy was taken to Eastlake Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles.

A naked woman who fell out of a second-story apartment window in Hawthorne today might have been high on drugs, police said.

Although a man in the apartment was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, no crime may have occurred and he might be released, police said.

Investigators believe the woman is an escort hired from an ad on Craigslist. She allegedly smoked methamphetamine before she tumbled from the window, police said.

The fall was was reported at 4 a.m. in the 13700 block of Lemoli Avenue.

The woman, who might have broken a bone, was hospitalized.

Hermosa Beach residents can offer opinions of their city's police force before a panel deciding whether to accredit the department.

The public information session will be 7 p.m. Aug. 30 in the Hermosa Beach council chambers at 1315 Valley Dr.

Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will examine the department's policies, procedures, management, operations and support services beginning Aug. 28 to determine if they meet their standards.

Comments also may be made by telephone from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 30 at 310-318-0336.

Written comments may be sent to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Va., 20155.

Sorry if you already got your ticket, but you shouldn't be speeding anyway.

I got this last night from Hawthorne PD, but was working the Lennox bondage club killing and didn't realize this was today.

So you've been warned for the afternoon. Ride carefully:

The Hawthorne Police Department, Manhattan Beach Police Department, and Hermosa Beach Police Department will be conducting a specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010.  Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where crashes occur.  Officers will be cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists as well as other vehicle drivers that can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries, and fatalities.

Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent in the last decade, from 204 killed in 1998, to 560 killed in 2008. The City of Hawthorne has had 2 fatal motorcycle accidents and 10 motorcycle injury accidents since 2008.

Factors contributing to motorcycle crashes often include speeding and impairment due to alcohol and other drugs by motorcyclists. The Hawthorne Police Department is also reminding all motorists to always be alert and watch out for motorcycles, especially when turning and changing lanes.

Another major factor leading to motorcycle crashes is inexperience.  Riders, young and old, are encouraged to seek training and safety information.  Many people are riding motorcycles without the proper motorcycle license endorsement and without the skills necessary to ride safely. 

Rider's can get training through the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at www.CA-msp.org or 1-877 RIDE 411 or 1-877-743-3411.

The Hawthorne City Council approved a $300,000 payout Tuesday night to an austic teen, who was Tasered by a police officer, and his father.

The council members discussed the proposed settlement in closed session. Three members, Mayor Larry Guidi and councilmembers Angie English and Daniel Juarez, were present for the vote and approved it.

The boy, who is not being identified because of his age, was a 12-year-old Hawthorne Middle School student on Sept. 23, 2008, when he was shocked by a Taser from an officer responding to calls that he was being disruptive.

The boy and his father, Larry Matthews, claim excessive force, and that their rights were further violated when he was arrested and charged a week later for assaulting a peace officer - a charge that was later dismissed.

A police department representative has said that the officer was acting to protect the safety of the other students and that the boy attacked the officer.

Previous story here.

I've had this photograph of Irene Franco, left, in my drawer for nearly 20 years. She was with her boyfriend at a Carson drive-in in 1989 when three men beat him with a board and took turns raping her. She was found shot to death in a field the next day. Jesus Martinez survived.

The crime occurred about six months before I came to work for the Daily Breeze. On the crime's first anniversary, I decided to update the search for the killers. No reporter had ever talked to Martinez, so I contacted him. He agreed to talk, but the interview had to be at his attorney's downtown Los Angeles office. I had to drive him.

I picked him up and headed up the Harbor Freeway. This was difficult for him. He had not been out much after the crime. He was too afraid to leave his South Bay home.

When we parked near his lawyer's office, Martinez appeared to be frightened to walk down the street. I will never forget how he watched every person on the sidewalk..

He  didn't say much during the interview. It was too traumatic for him. I recognized it quickly and didn't press him. I drove him home and never bothered him again.

In 2006, DNA led to the arrests of three men. One is now on trial in downtown Los Angeles. Martinez described the horrible crime to a jury on Monday.

His testimony made me recall our walk on that downtown street, the brief interview and the silent ride home.

The guy who neighbors believed was hit by a car as he ran toward the fire at the bondage club in Lennox has been arrested on suspicion of murder and arson.

A reader contacted me today after reading my story about reentry programs for young criminal offenders who want to come back to the community, and be productive. She asked how to get in touch with the Day Reporting Center described in the article.

It is at 5811 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011. More information can be found through the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

More official information about the DRC can be found here: drc_component.pdf

 

The Clark Kent Bandit, who we featured here the other day as a man wanted for robbing a couple banks, was caught today at 2 p.m. I guess one of you out there recognized him from Wednesday's blog or Thursday's paper and Web site and called the FBI.

FBI agents sent over these photos of a bank robber they are calling the "Clark Kent Bandit."

(We've had a Clark Kent Bandit before. More later.)

This guy uses a note when he approaches the teller. So far, he hasn't pulled a gun or said he has one.

"The bandit goes in the bank and says, 'This is a robbery. Give me 100s, 50s, 20s. No alarms, keep your hands where I can see them,'" FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

In a July 9 robbery at a Bank of America branch at 118 W. Rosecrans Ave. in Willowbrook, the man wore thick-framed glasses reminiscent of Clark Kent, the mild-mannered reporter who becomes Superman.

In the second robbery at a Bank of America branch at 180 E. Carson Street on July 17, he also told the teller to "Hurry."

Anyone who knows him should contact the FBI at 310-477-6565.

If you recall a previous "Clark Kent Bandit" bank robber, that would be Roger Hoan Brady, who robbed banks before he killed Manhattan Beach police Officer Martin Ganz in 1993.

Inglewood police just put out this alert for a missing child:

The Inglewood Police Department is requesting the public's help in locating 14 year old Elizabeth Fuentes that was reported missing on Tuesday July 13, 2010.

Elizabeth was last seen on July 13, 2010 when her grandmother dropped her off at school in the City of Inglewood.

Elizabeth is a Hispanic female, 14 years old, 4'9" in height with black hair and brown eyes.
 
Elizabeth suffers from a medical conditon that can lead to severe illness or death if untreated.

Police detectives, along with family have been unable to locate Elizabeth who requires medication.

Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Elizabeth is requested to contact Detective David Carrasquillo at (310) 412-5181, or the Inglewood Police Department Watch Commander at 310-412-5206.

Water service was shut down periodically Tuesday to businesses on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach after construction crews damaged an underground water main.

The 10-inch cast-iron main cracked in several places as heavy machinery pounded and compacted the soil above it during the street improvement project, said Dan Trejo, assistant district manager for Cal Water.

The damage occurred Monday and Tuesday on Pier Avenue between Monterey Boulevard and Valley Drive, city officials said.

"It's very heavy equipment we're running," said Rick Morgan, Hermosa Beach public works director.

Water service to business along Pier Avenue was turned off for about 45 minutes Tuesday afternoon.

Traffic was not disrupted.

Water service could also be affected Wednesday as construction crews work to mix cement and sand and lay down a base for the roadway.

"What we thought would be an easy quick fix, turned into somewhat of an ordeal," Morgan said.
                                                                                  -- Douglas Morino and Larry Altman

Crews were working this afternoon to repair a water main broken today on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach during the construction project.

The break occurred between Valley Drive and Monterey Boulevard.

Repairs should continue until about 8 p.m.

Water was supposed to be shut down during the repairs.

From City News Service:

The District Attorney's Office punted today on prosecuting three ex-UCLA football prospects and referred the case to the City Attorney's Office, which will decide if misdemeanor theft charges are warranted.

Paul Richardson, Shaquille Richardson and Joshua Shirley, all 18, were arrested June
23 in connection with allegations that they stole another student's purse.

UCLA police said officers responded to a theft report in Hendrick Hall dining area,
adjacent to the lockers used for storing belongings while dining, and took the trio
into custody.

The three -- who were incoming freshman -- were released from jail early the next
day, dismissed June 29 from the team and barred from enrolling at the university for
the fall semester.

"The three young men know they made a terrible mistake," UCLA head football coach
Rick Neuheisel said last month.

"We expect our players to behave a certain way and there are consequences when they
don't," he said. "Paul, Shaquille and Josh are paying a steep price for their lapse in judgment. They will not be allowed to enroll in school this fall and will not have the opportunity to begin their UCLA academic and athletic careers."

Still to be determined is whether the three will be allowed to enroll for the winter quarter, he said, adding the decision "will be based on several factors, including their behavior."

Paul Richardson was a wide receiver at Gardena Serra High School; Shaquille Richardson was a defensive back at Los Alamitos High School; and Shirley was a linebacker at Fontana Kaiser.

A 15-year-old boy was shot to death was shot to death on an Inglewood street, police said Monday.

Javier Sanchez of Inglewood was shot just before midnight Saturday at 65th and Long streets, police said.

Witnesses told police that Sanchez was walking with friends, who left him to walk in a different direction.

Several seconds later, the friends  heard gunshots and found him lying on the sidewalk.
Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

The motive for the shooting was not known.

Anyone with information should contact Inglewood police homicide detectives at 310-412-5246, or the 24-hour anonymous hotline 888-41-CRIME.

A Los Angeles motorcycle officer suffered a leg injury Monday in Wilmington when he collided with a sport utility vehicle, police and firefighters said.

The officer was traveling south on Avalon Boulevard about 3:20 p.m. when a 51-year-old woman made a left turn in front of him at E Street, police said.

The officer was unable to stop in time and struck the car. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

The woman, described as shaken up, also was taken to a hospital for an examination.

From the wires:

A judge in Santa Ana has rejected a bid for a change of venue for the trial of a man accused of the alleged drunken-driving killings of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, a Manhattan Beach man and a Diamond Bar woman.

Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey on Friday denied the motion by defendant Andrew Thomas Gallo's defense.

The judge says Orange County has millions of residents and a fair jury can be found.
Gallo is charged with three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Adenhart and friends Courtney Stewart 20, and Henry Pearson, a 25-year-old graduate of Mira Costa High School.

The crash also severely injured Pearson's former classmate, Jon Wilhite. Wilhite, 25, is recovering from injuries that separated his spine from his skull.

Police say Gallo's blood-alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit at the time of the April  9, 2009 crash in Fullerton. Adenhart was out with friends after pitching six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics in nearby Anaheim.

The group was in a Mitsubishi Eclipse on their way to a dance club when they were  hit broadside at Orangethorpe Avenue and Lemon Street in Fullerton.

Gallo has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A trial date has been tentatively set for July 26. 

The Redondo Beach Police Department's checkpoint will be conducted tonight in the 2800 block of Artesia Boulevard.

Police previously did not release the location. It begins at 8 p.m.

PAUL ELIAS,Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press

A reward of up to $50,000 was offered today for information leading to whoever gunned down a 21-year-old man outside an after- prom party in Venice last month.

Michael McGuire Jr. was standing on the sidewalk just blocks from Venice High School in the
2400 block of Louella Avenue just before 2 a.m. June 13 when a dark SUV drove by.

Someone in the vehicle fired several shots, hitting McGuire in the back of the head and
grazing an 18-year-old boy.

McGuire died about 12 hours later. The other victim survived.

One witness described the gunman as possibly a Hispanic male, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, dark sunglasses and a dark bandana over his face.<QA>
Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes Venice, proposed the reward, saying it
might compel more witnesses to come forward and aid the investigation.

Michael McGuire Sr. wept as he asked for help.
>
"I stand before you, a broken-hearted father," he told the council. "I ask you to grant this
money to take this killer off the street. I don't want to see another family go through this.

"My son was such a good young man. To have his life taken like that, at just 21 -- it's just not
fair," he said. "Please, I ask that you grant this money so you can get this kid (killer) off the
street. He doesn't deserve to live in our world."

The council voted unanimously to grant a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to
the identification, apprehension and conviction of the assailant.

Tips may be phoned in to (310) 482-6370 or (877) LAPD-24-7. Witnesses may choose to
remain anonymous. 

Los Angeles police have arrested a Hollywood middle-school teacher on suspicion of possession of child pornography. Investigators believe there are children out there who had inappropriate contact with him.

Barry Klein, 58, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, was arrested July 9.

Police say he possibly communicated with minors for sexual purposes on Yahoo Messenger. He used the screen name "mrredheadbear."

Anyone with any information about any of this should contact LAPD Officer Justin Malcuit at 213-473-0404 or e-mail him at 36275@lapd.lacity.org.

The California Administrative Office of the Courts announced this week that it is reaching out to the public via a Twitter feed and a YouTube Channel:

The California Courts YouTube Channel will offer news and information videos covering areas from self-help and local court news to courthouse construction projects and actions and activities of the Judicial Council of California--the policy making body for California's courts.

Those following the California Courts Twitter feed will receive "tweets" on topics including the announcement of Supreme Court opinions, news releases, and updates on new content and resources posted to the California Courts website.

"The judicial branch is committed to access to justice and government transparency serves that commitment," says William C. Vickrey, Administrative Director of the Courts. "These tools enable us to provide information in the formats the public expects and relies on. They complement work we are already undertaking with technology and online services."

Find the AOC on Twitter under the name CalCourts and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/californiacourts. 

The former executive director of the Gardena Valley Chamber of Commerce failed to convince an appellate court that she was wrongly sentenced to five years and eight months in prison for stealing from the organization.

The only issue Karen Sue Hale brought to the 2nd District Court of Appeal was that Torrance Superior Court Judge James Brandlin considered each of her five convictions as separate acts, and sentenced her accordingly, according to an opinion issued Tuesday.

Hale, who was found guilty in March 2009 of one count of grand theft and four forgery counts, argued that the grand theft sentence should have been stayed.

Hale, 54, maintains that the forgeries were done as part of the grand theft.

But the appellate court found that each count stemmed from separate crimes, at separate times and locations.

Hale stole more than $35,000 from the nonprofit organization by making bank deposits - and later withdrawals - on an account that board members had directed her to close in June 2005.
She also forged the signature of a former board member on several checks that she cashed.

From the DA's Office:

LOS ANGELES - A West Los Angeles man pleaded no contest today to stealing jewelry from "Catwoman" actress Julie Newmar, the District Attorney's office announced.

Robert Ouriel, 49, pleaded no contest to one felony count of grand theft before Airport Superior Court Judge Mark Windham and was sentenced to three years probation and 45 days of community service, said Deputy District Attorney Emily Baker.

Ouriel, an acquaintance of Newmar, stole several items of jewelry between Oct. 25 and Nov. 3, 2008. He then shipped the items to an Illinois pawn broker, who posted them for sale on Ebay.

Newmar recognized three items for sale on Ebay last year and notified police. Ouriel was arrested Nov. 19, 2009 and charged in December.

Newmar estimated the loss at $150,000. Baker said a restitution hearing is set for Sept. 14 at the Airport Court

A San Pedro woman was charged Tuesday with killing her 10-year-old daughter at their home at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, the District Attorney's Office said.

Bong Sook Chavez, 49, who tried to take her own life during the Friday stabbing attack, was hospitalized Tuesday at the County-USC Medical Center jail ward.

It was unclear when she would be physically able to be arraigned on one count of murder.

Police said Chavez allegedly stabbed her daughter, Quesi, about 2:30 a.m. Her husband heard the commotion and found her in the child's bedroom attempting to kill herself.

He disarmed her and called the police.

Quesi died several hours later. Coroner's officials listed the cause of death as "sharp force injury to the neck."

The Coroner's office has determined that 10-year-old Quesi Chavez died of a "sharp force injury to her neck."

Quesi's mother, Bong Sook Chavez, 49, allegedly stabbed her to death in their home on the Ft. MacArthur base in San Pedro. Chavez then stabbed herself in an attempt to take her own life.

We are waiting for word on whether Chavez will be charged today with murder and whether she is physically able to go to court.

The mother was transferred from County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center to County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, which has a jail ward.

A mother who allegedly stabbed her 10-year-old daughter to death and tried to commit suicide  was placed under arrest over the weekend, police said Monday.

Bong Sook Chavez, 49, was arrested on suspicion of murder while hospitalized in critical condition at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, detectives said.

Chavez, who was known as "Bonnie," is expected to be moved to the jail ward at County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles when she is physically able.

Tough, long day today working the story of Quesi Chavez, the 10-year-old girl allegedly killed by her mother on Fort MacArthur base in San Pedro.

I wasn't allowed on the base to talk to their neighbors. If anybody knows anything about this little girl and her family, please contact me at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com or call my desk at 310-543-6655.

Police are trying to identify two men who stole a woman's wallet from her purse at a Hermosa Beach bar and used her credit cards.

The crime occurred about 6 p.m. July 2 at Patrick Molloys on Pier Avenue. Two men sat down at a table directly behind a woman, who had placed her purse over the back of her chair.

One man acted as a lookout while the other reached into the woman's purse, using his jacket to conceal his actions. The thief took the woman's wallet and he and his friend took off. The victim was unaware her wallet was gone for about an hour.

The thieves later used the victim's credit card at two locations in El Segundo.

A surveillance camera recorded the crime. The video can be viewed at http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/. If you watch it closely, about 2 1/2 minutes in, you'll see the guy in the white shirt at the table in the left corner take the woman's wallet from the woman sitting next to the guy wearing the "24" jersey.

Contact Detective Dave Bohacik at 310-318-0330 if you know anything.