September 2011 Archives

Perry Alexander Jr., the man who alleged that Gardena police beat him during a traffic stop in March, commented at the bottom of my story today. Here is what he said:

"At work reading, this article brought tears to my eyes. God knows the truth, I know the truth , and the 3 officers who brutally beat me know the truth. It makes me sick knowing that the Gardena Police are lying on me to millions of people. Since March 16 of this year my life has not been the same. As I sit here and contiue to write I think to myself how do the 3 officers sleep at night? How do you lie to your chief,staff and family? I guess you guys thought it was late night and you guys could get away with it hun? Officer Golf, you were 100 % wrong, I did everything you said, and you still beat me. I felt useless, I did not defend myself at all. Why in the world would I resist? For not having L's on me at that time, come on now lets be serious, I wouldnt I wont. I also ask myself why didnt you guys pull behind my car, instead of on the side of my car? I strongly belive that the brutal beating was planned, and you didnt want your dash cam to catch my nightmare"

Three Bishop Montgomery High School students have been arrested on suspicion of smashing more than 30 windows on vehicles, businesses and homes in Torrance and Lomita, authorities said.

Cody Lunde, 18, of Lomita and two 17-year-olds friends were arrested Friday on suspicion of felony vandalism, Torrance police Sgt. Steven Jenkinson said.

Police did not release information about Lunde or the other students, but Daily Breeze archives show he is a volleyball player at Bishop Montgomery.

Lunde and the teens, whose names were not released because of their ages, are suspected of using "wrist rocket" slingshots to shoot marbles or ball bearings from their car at windows on vehicles, businesses and homes primarily on the weekend of Sept. 16, police said.

Twenty-two people reported the vandalism in the southeast and west portions of Torrance, Jenkinson said. Damage was estimated to be between $5,000 and $10,000.

At least 10 similar crimes were reported in Lomita, Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates, sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Graf said.

Benjamin Ellis Freedland, the subject of my story today, has posted a long comment below the story to defend himself. New York's attorney general has told the Rolling Hills Estates man to stop soliciting donations for Hurricane Irene victims.

Here's his comment:

Hello everyone. This article was written about me. I am 100% innocent and this article is slanderous. I went to Prattsville NY on my own dime to help victems of Hurricane Irene. I run a disaster relief company which helps remove debris from disaster areas. I did not "steal" money from anyone. Rather, I posted on FB to my friends asking them to please donate to the disaster relief. I recived a total of $65. I recived money from a rabbi and 2 friends. As for my mother, she is the one that is mentally ill. If you would like to contact me to speak with me personally you can messege me on FB or contact my email at workfreedland@gmail.com I would be happy to speak to any interisted parties. Before you judge me you should take a look at the following photo albums:

http://www.facebook.com/me

dia/set/?set=a.875013029828.2330405.11707966&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.871678127998.2329399.11707966&type=1

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.822336194628.2317200.11707966&type=1

YOU BE THE JUDGE...

PLEASE RALLY IN MY SUPPORT!

I am actually not trying to scam ANYBODY! I came to Prattsville, NY on my own dime and I asked my friends and family on facebook to help donate to hurricane relief. I received $65 from personal friends and family Michelle Hart donated $10 and Glenn DePeralta donated $50.

I helped people for free! I never asked for a dime from anyone
...
GINGER ADAMS OTIS of the New York Post wrote the following slanderous and misinformed article about me:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/irene_fraud_hit_aps_ag_uE38wdgoYBr6OYw7yLRhvL

Since this article has been run I have received countless death threats via Facebook, email and Phone.

Is this a way for someone trying to help to be treated? I am appalled.

PLEASE RALLY IN MY SUPPORT. IF YOU ARE A FRIEND OF MINE ON FACEBOOK THEN RALLY BEHIND ME BY POSTING YOUR SUPPORT FOR ME.

A Rancho Palos Verdes man has pleaded no contest to smashing windows at gay establishments in Long Beach and Redondo Beach, police said Friday.

Olivier Rodrich Saintvictor, 23, could be sent to prison for up to nine years, Long Beach plice said.

Saintvictor was accused of smashing windows Dec. 17 at the Gay and Lesbian Center on Fourth Street and at Ripples Bar on Ocean Boulevard, and at the Dolphin Bar on Artesia Boulevard in Redondo Beach.

Saintvictor was charged Feb. 8. He entered his plea on Tuesday at the Torrance courthouse and faces sentencing on Oct. 11.

Saintvictor must pay restitution to the victims, police said.

From Gardena PD:

Robbery Suspect Shot and Killed by Store Owner

PRESS RELEASE

Robbery Suspect Shot and Killed by Store Owner

On Friday, September 23, 2011 at about 6:30 AM, Gardena Police Officers responded to a call of a shooting at Paisano's Meat located at 1523 W Rosecrans Avenue, Gardena.

When Officers arrived, they discovered two shooting victims. Upon further investigation, it was learned that one of the shooting victims was in fact an armed robbery suspect who was shot by the store owner as he attempted to rob the store. The other shooting victim was an apparent innocent bystander struck by gunfire.

The suspect fled the location and collapsed on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A handgun was located next to the suspect.

Detectives from the Gardena Police Department are conducting the investigation. If anyone has information related to this incident, please contact Detective Richard Reynaga at 310-217-9639.

A man walked into an Inglewood optometry office Wednesday, shot a woman to death and killed himself in a bathroom, police said.

The shooting occurred shortly before 11 a.m. at the Inglewood Optometric Center in the 200 block of North Market Street, Inglewood police Lt. Oscar Serrano said.

The suspect and victim knew each other, police said. Their names and relationship were not immediately released.

Police said the man shot the woman, entered the business and hid inside. Officers rescued the gravely wounded woman, evacuated the remaining occupants and surrounded the building.
The woman died at a hospital.

A special weapons team entered the building about 1:30 p.m. and found the shooter dead in a bathroom. He shot himself, Serrano said.

A Canadian man has been arrested on suspicion of drug possession after detectives discovered five kilograms of cocaine in his room, police said Wednesday.

Cameron Olsen, 20, of White Rock, B.C. was arrested Saturday when he came to the attention of Torrance police narcotics detectives, Torrance police Lt. Michael Jezulin said.

The investigators were in the 3400 block of Highland Avenue in Manhattan Beach when they saw a man acting suspiciously.

Jenkinson said the man was discarding several items in a trash container that detectives determined to be related to narcotics sales, Jezulin said.

The investigators served a search warrant on Olsen's room, where they found the cocaine estimated to be worth about $400,000.

Prosecutors charged Olsen with one count of possession for sales of a controlled substance. He was held in county jail without bail and had a "hold" placed on him by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, jail records show.

Olsen is scheduled to appear before a judge Oct. 4.

Three men have been charged with the August robbery of a Lowe's home improvement store in Torrance, police said Tuesday.

Officers arrested Charles Fantroy, 40, of Inglewood, below, shortly after the Aug. 10 crime in the 22255 Western Ave., Torrance police Sgt. Steven Jenkinson said.

Detectives on Sept. 14 arrested Larry Owens, 36, of Colton (above, left); and Willie Newman Jr., 40, of Los Angeles.

Two of the men are suspected of entering the business with handguns and escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Someone inside set off a robbery alarm.

The robbers fled in a gray sport utility vehicle, which officers found on Denker Avenue near 223rd Street in Harbor Gateway.

Fantroy was arrested in the vehicle. His name was not released until the others were caught.

   WILMINGTON (CNS) - A 23-year-old man was stabbed to death today in
Wilmington, police said.
   The fatal stabbing occurred around 5 a.m. in the 1100 block of West
Anaheim Street, said Officer Cleon Joseph of the Los Angeles Police Department.
   Officers arriving at the scene found a man on the ground with multiple
stab wounds, Joseph said. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
   Detectives believe the victim, identified as Rogelio Alvarado, was
standing behind a building in the 800 block of Wilmington Avenue with friends
when a suspect, or suspects, walked up to him and asked for a beverage.
   ``When Alvarado declined to provide a beverage, the suspects stabbed
him,'' Joseph said in a statement. ``Alvarado ran to a courtyard ... where he
collapsed.''
   Joseph said it was unknown if the stabbing was gang-related.
   Police urged anyone with information regarding this stabbing to contact
Harbor Area homicide detectives at (310) 726-7889 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7

Police cited clerks at five businesses in El Segundo during an undercover operation to prevent the sales of tobacco to minors.

Officers conducted the operation Monday with an underage decoy attempting to purchase tobacco products from 19 businesses in the city, El Segundo police Lt. Ray Garcia said.

Five businesses sold tobacco:

• Dough Boy Donuts, 204 E. Imperial Ave.;
• Lucky's Donuts, 964 Main St.;
• Old Town Patio, 115 Richmond St.;
• Rite Aide, 220 E. Grand Ave.;
• Village Wine & Cigar Shop 601 Virginia St.

Businesses that complied with the law were: 7-Eleven, 100 W. Imperial Ave.; Airport Five Star Inc., 603 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Bob's Union Gas Station, 770 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Chevron Gas Station, 101 S. Sepulveda Blvd.; Cooke's Market, 121 W. Grand Ave.; Chevron Gas Station 232 Main St.; Hollymain Liquor,  404 Main St.; Leonard's Liquor Store, 630 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Mobil Gas Station, 765 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Ralph's 500 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Hacienda Hotel Gift Shop, 525 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Travel Traders of Nevada, 1440 E. Imperial Ave.; Village Liquor,  506 Center St.

From Mike Cruz of our sister paper, The Sun, in San Bernardino:

Tony Lopez Perez of Redondo Beach gets 25 to life in prison for killing Cori Daye Desmond, a 28-year-old Torrance resident, in 2009.

This occurred in San Bernardino County Court.

Apparently there's more today, but here's why last night. Can't keep up.

SAN PEDRO (CNS) - A shooting in a San Pedro alley left two men with
bullet wounds from a .40-caliber pistol, police said today.

The shooting near the 300 block of West Sepulveda Street was reported
about 11:45 p.m. Saturday, said Los Angeles police Sgt. Richard Gabaldon of the Harbor Station.

A white sport utility vehicle rolled up, and three young men walked over
to it, he said.

"Words were exchanged, and one of the men fired six rounds from a .40-
caliber semiautomatic handgun,'' he said.

One man was wounded in an arm, and the other was shot in the lower back
and left foot, he said.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics took both victims to Harbor-UCLA
Medical Center, where they were reported to have stable vital signs, Gabaldon said.

No immediate arrests were made.

Police have a arrested a parolee on suspicion of breaking into The Lakes Golf Court pro shop in El Segundo.

Dennis Eugene Wladyka, 53, of El Segundo was taken into custody on Sept. 4 in connection with the 1 a.m. crime at 400 S. Sepulveda Blvd., police said.

Officers responding to an audible burglary alarm discovered a smashed window at the pro shop.

A short time later, officers stopped a bicyclist on El Segundo Boulevard and Nash Street. The bicyclist was identified as Wladyka, who was carrying 116 boxes new golf balls.

Wladyka, who was on active parole following a burglary sentence was arrested on suspicion of burglary, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property and identity theft.

Detectives investigating the burglary asked that anyone with information about the crime or similar crimes to contact them. Police are interested in speaking with anyone who might have previously purchased golf equipment from Wladyka, believing it was legitimate.

People with information should call Detective Luke Muir at 310-524-2263.