December 2011 Archives

Culver City police Detective Ryan Thompson saw the Daily Breeze article about El Segundo's bank robbery, and sent along this photo of what is believed to be the same guy committing a robbery in his city.

The crime occurred at 5:40 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Bank of America branch at 9453 Culver Blvd. Thompson said the man handed a teller a note demanding money and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

The robber was described as a Latino, in his early to late 20s, heavy set, with dark brown curly hair, a light mustache and light goatee.  He wore a white hooded sweatshirt with an "8" on the front.

Anyone with information about him should call Thompson at  310-253-6309, or email him at Ryan.Thompson@CulverCity.Org.

Here's the booking mugs of the people charged with breaking into a cemetery in Cerritos. Jason Fluharty, 29, of Torrance and Jolynn Ramirez, 29, of Artesia. The bottom photo is the cross they allegedly stole.

A man was shot to death Thursday evening as he walked with a woman in Lawndale, deputies said.

The shooting occurred in the 4500 block of Rosecrans Avenue at 7:45 p.m. The victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital, sheriff's Deputy Benjamin Grubb said.

Detectives said the man was walking with the woman when a mid-sized utility vehicle pulled up near them. The driver got out, confronted the man on the sidewalk and shot him several times. He then returned to the vehicle and drove away.

The woman was not hurt.

Deputies asked anyone with information about the killing to call 323-890-5500.

A task force of police officers from El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Redondo Beach and Torrance will scour the South Bay for drunken drivers on New Year's Eve.
The saturation patrol is among several operations to combat driving under the influence this holiday weekend.
In addition:

• Police will conduct a driver's license and sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday at a location to be determined in Torrance.
• Police will conduct a driver's license and DUI checkpoint from 7 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location in Redondo Beach.
• Sheriff's deputies will conduct DUI saturation patrols on New Year's Day in Carson.
• All regularly scheduled traffic and patrol officers will focus their efforts at stopping and arresting DUI drivers during their shifts.
• The California Highway Patrol will deploy all available officers through the weekend.
• Countywide law enforcement officers arrested 1,506 motorists on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from 12:01 a.m. Dec. 16 through midnight Dec. 25, deputies said.

Deputies found a wooden cross with a military insignia on it inside the backpack of a Torrance man suspected of burglarizing a cemetery in Cerritos, authorities said today.

Jason Fluharty, 29, and an alleged accomplice, Jolynn Ramirez, 29, of Artesia were arrested Tuesday walking away from Artesia Cemetery, sheriff's Lt. Geoffrey Deedrick said.

Cemetery employees called deputies when they discovered evidence of a break-in on the grounds between 3 and 3:30 a.m. Surveillance cameras recorded the act.

While deputies were collecting information, a cemetery employee said he recognized the suspects and saw them near a rear fence of the property, Deedrick said.

Deputies found the pair walking on Studebaker Road. Fluharty and Ramirez were arrested on suspicion of attempting to burglarize the cemetery office and for allegedly stealing the wooden cross from a storage yard.

Coroner's investigators are trying to identify the skeletal remains of a man discovered July 5 in Lancaster.

The remains were found at a vacant business located at 44679 Valley Center Way, Chief Coroner Investigator Craig Harvey said.

He is believed to be 30 to 50 years old, 5 feet 3 to 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Officials found brown, size XL boxer shorts at the scene.

The cause and manner of death were undetermined.

Investigators created a sketch of what the man might have looked like.

Anyone with information should contact Investigator Daniel Machian at 323-343-0754 or the Coroner Investigations Division at 323-343-0714.

Police in Manhattan Beach are looking for the burglars who drove away from a crime in a sport utility vehicle caught on camera.

The crime occurred at 7:40 p.m. Oct. 22 outside 24 Hour Fitness at 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Manhattan Beach police Officer Stephanie Martin said.

The victim parked her car and went inside to exercise. She returned 90 minutes later and found it had been broken into.

Her credit card was used later at a gas station in Hawthorne.

Surveillance cameras at the gas station captured images of the suspect vehicle. Police believe it was a 2-door 2000 to 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe or Yukon.

Police asked anyone with information to call Detective Mike Rosenberger at 310-802-5127.

A man shot to death in Rancho Palos Verdes took a "shooting stance" and pointed a metal object at deputies who had responded to a report that he had assaulted his elderly father, investigators said today.

Robert Evan Larue, 48, was killed in the Tuesday night confrontation in the 29300 block of Golden Meadow Drive.

Larue's 85-year-old father contacted deputies about 7:15 p.m. to report that he was assaulted by his son, deputies said.

The deputies tried to talk to Larue outside the house, but he was uncooperative and would not comply with their orders. The man told deputies he had a Glock, a type of handgun, and said he did not want to "Go back," deputies said.

"The suspect went behind a car, took a shooting stance with a metallic object in his hand and pointed it at the deputies, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred," the Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Larue was hit in the upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies did not reveal whether the metallic object was a gun.

County court records showed Larue was charged Feb. 24, 2010 with dependent/adult elder abuse and assault. He pleaded no contest to the elder abuse charge four months later and was sentenced to spend 40 days in jail, perform 45 hours of community service and serve five years on probation.

Records showed he was convicted of disturbing the peace in December 1997.

RANCHO PALOS VERDES (CNS) - An investigation was under way today into
the death of a man shot by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy in Rancho
Palos Verdes while allegedly holding a weapon after assaulting his 85-year-old
father.

The man, who was around 60, assaulted his father at a home in the 29300
block of Golden Meadow Drive around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, said Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Lt. Mike Rosson, adding that the victim called authorities from a
nearby home, then stayed there.

When deputies arrived in response to the complaint, they found the
alleged assailant uncooperative, Rosson told a camera crew at the scene. The
man told deputies he had a Glock, and, while they remained outside, kept going
in and out of the house, Rosson said.

The son told deputies that he would not go back, but it was not clear if
was referring to prison or something else, he said.

Deputies tried to talk to the man, but he continued going in and out of
the house, then emerged from the garage holding something in one of his hand,
drawing fire from a deputy fearing for life, Rosson said, adding that a weapon
was recovered at the scene.

The man was declared dead at the scene at 7:18 p.m., said Deputy Lillian
Peck of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau. No deputy was hurt.

Homicide detectives began investigating the circumstances of the
shooting around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Peck said. Some remained at the scene this
morning, providing an unusual sight.

``There aren't hardly any shootings in Rancho Palos Verdes,'' noted Sgt.
Keith Taylor, the watch commander at the sheriff's Lomita Station.

Sheriff's Department Capt. Mike Parker says the suspect shot at 7:18 p.m. in the 29300 block of Golden Meadow Drive was pronounced dead at the scene. We'll get more when we can, likely in the morning.,

LASD: Deputy just shot a man at 7:18 p.m. in 29000 block of Golden Meadow Dr, Rancho Palos Verdes..Suspect hit. Deputy not hit.

An elderly couple were hospitalized Tuesday after the husband passed out at the wheel of their car and crashed into a carpet store in Hermosa Beach.

The 84-year-old man was driving west on Aviation Boulevard with his 83-year-old wife at 11:08 a.m. when he passed out because of a medical emergency, Hermosa Beach police Lt. Garth Gaines said.

The 2000 Oldsmobile Alero crossed through the eastbound lanes, struck the curb and crashed into Carpet Spectrum near Ocean Drive, shattering the front window.

A manager in a rear office in the building was not hurt. No one else was inside.
The husband and wife were taken to a hospital. Their conditions were not available.

State authorities have revoked a Manhattan Beach restaurant's license to sell liquor because its employees sold alcohol to minors during three police sting operations, police said Tuesday.

The Sushi Sun & Moon Cafe at 1131 Manhattan Ave. is now in the process of transferring its alcohol license to a new owner, Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Chris Vargas said.

Police cited employees at the business in September during a sting in which minors were successful in buying liquor. It was the third violation in the last three years during a police sting operation, Vargas said.

Police conducted the stings in response to complaints from parents, Vargas said.

The state Secretary of State's website lists the Japanese restaurant's parent company as Cafe Bakery Com Inc. with the owner's name Junko Yatsuka.

Attempts to contact Yatsuka were unsuccessful.

ABC officials revoked the license on Dec. 9, but allowed the owner to sell the license. It is in escrow to be moved to Pier View Properties, which plans to do business at the site as Hampton's Bar and Grill.

A 30-day license suspension to sell alcohol at the site began Dec. 22.

The actions are the latest against South Bay businesses who sell alcohol to people under 21 years old.

Earlier this month, Redondo Beach city officials suspended the business license of Pierside Liquor at 310 Torrance Boulevard because of repeated sales of alcohol to minors, authorities said.

Police released photographs Tuesday of a man sought for breaking into the Raleigh Studios in Manhattan Beach.

The crimes occurred on Oct. 18. Multiple offices were burglarized, Manhattan Beach police Officer Stephanie Martin said.

Police said it appeared a lone man used a pry tool to break into the studio offices. A surveillance camera took his photograph, but police have not been able to identify him.

The man can be seen wearing a cowboy hat stolen during the burglaries.

Anyone with information was asked to call Detective John Nasori at 310-802-5133.

A woman found with stab wounds on a San Pedro sidewalk died a short time later, police said today.

The woman was discovered about 7:15 p.m. Christmas Eve in front of a building in th 1100 block of South Pacific Avenue. She had multiple stab wounds, police said

Witnesses told police they saw a man with dark baggy clothing running from the area.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died.

The motive for the crime is unknown.

Police asked anyone with information  to call Los Angeles police homicide Detectives David Alvarez at 310-726-7889 or Detective Patty Batts at 310-726-7879.  During non-business hours or on weekends, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7. 

 

The Harley-Davidson dealer thought something was odd last month when a man repeatedly tried to trade in a pickup truck for a motorcycle.

He was right. The pickup truck belonged to a Hermosa Beach firefighter. It was stolen, police said, from outside the Hermosa Beach fire station while the fireman was on a call.

According to police, video surveillance cameras showed Richard Pollock, 52, riding up to the Hermosa Beach fire station on Pier Avenue Nov. 30 just moments after firefighters responded to a 4:40 a.m. emergency call.

Pollock, police said, parked his bicycle in the bushes and walked into the station's open garage door. He entered the firefighter's living quarters, picked through their bags and belongings, and found some keys.

Pollock then went around back, used the remote to figure out which vehicle it opened, got in and drove off, Hermosa Beach police Detective Mick Gaglia said.

The firefighter learned his truck was gone when he tried to go home about 90 minutes later.
Gaglia said officers figured the thief was local. The beach cruiser contained stickers for local bands.

As detectives worked to identify him, Pollock drove to Victorville and allegedly tried to trade in the stolen truck at a Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership, Gaglia said.

Police were called and he was soon arrested.

Prosecutors have filed burglary, possession of stolen property and vehicle theft against Pollock.

Jail records show Torrance and Redondo Beach police officers, and Carson sheriff's deputies have arrested Pollock in recent weeks.

Gaglia said the crime was the first time he recalled where someone took a firefighter's vehicle, but "we've had other things taken from the Fire Department before, equipment inside the garage area."

Police released surveillance photographs on Wednesday of suspects sought for breaking into the Manhattan Beach Roundhouse Marine Lab on the end of the city's pier.

The crime occurred during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. A volunteer discovered the theft on Nov. 25, Manhattan Beach police Officer Stephanie Martin said.

Thieves kicked open a door and took two laptop computers.

Police asked anyone with information to call Detective John Nasori at 310-802-5133.

Police cited 11 people in a "shoulder tap" sting operation to nab adults willing to purchase alcohol for minors in Manhattan Beach and El Segundo, police said Tuesday.

Officers used minors to solicit adults outside liquor stores to buy alcohol for them during the operation Monday. Of 91 adults asked, eight made the purchase in Manhattan Beach. Three did so in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Chris Vargas said.

Each person was cited for furnishing alcohol to minors.

In each case, the decoy told the adult his or her true age.

The Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and El Segundo police departments, along with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control agencies, are conducting the operations to prevent alcohol sales to people under age 21.

A Los Angeles man led police at speeds reaching more than 100 mph Monday before crashing into a parked car in Lawndale, police said.

Marlin Moore, 34, was arrested on suspicion of evading arrest. Police were investigating why he fled.

The chase began about 1:15 p.m. after Hawthorne police officers tried to pull a Range Rover over because it had no registration tags and paper license plates, Hawthorne police Lt. Gary Tomatani said.

The driver stopped at Crenshaw Boulevard and Northrop Avenue in Hawthorne. He waited for the officer to get out of his patrol car and walk toward the Range Rover before taking off, Tomatani said.

The officer ran back to his car and gave chase on streets through Hawthorne and Lawndale.

Five minutes later, the Range Rover crashed in the 14600 block of Avis Avenue.

Moore ran, but was quickly caught.

Police on Monday were trying to figure out why a gunman shot a Lawndale man to death in San Pedro as he stood talking with friends.

The motive behind the Sunday morning slaying of 48-year-old Brayton Charles Crumb remained unknown, but a detective said investigators do not believe gangs were involved.

Detectives are looking at "all kind of motives," including whether the death is related to something personal or narcotics, Los Angeles police Detective Lou Paglialonga said.

County court records show Crumb was charged on Aug. 2 with possession of methamphetamine. The case has not been resolved.

Crumb was convicted in 2006 of possession of drug paraphernalia, the records show.
Crumb was shot at 12:45 a.m. Sunday as he talked with friends on the sidewalk on Mesa Street near 22nd Street.

Police said a gunman in a light-colored sport utility vehicle pulled up. A gunman got out, shot Crumb multiple times with a handgun, returned to the vehicle and drove away.

Crumb was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Ten drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence during a sobriety checkpoint in Torrance, police said Monday.

Police checked drivers heading east in the 5300 block of Torrance Boulevard from 8 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, Torrance police Lt. Chris Kozak said.

Police said more than 2,400 vehicles passed through the checkpoint. In addition to making the DUI arrests, officers arrested three motorists on suspicion of driving on a suspended license, and cited 12 motorists for driving while unlicensed.

Officers impounded 18 vehicles.

A gunman in a sport utility vehicle shot and killed a 48-year-old man talking with friends on a San Pedro street, police said today.

The gunman pulled up in the vehicle as the victim talked with friends on the sidewalk on Mesa Street near 22^nd Street at 12:45 a.m. Sunday, police said.

The killer got out, walked up to the victim and shot him multiple times with a handgun. He then got back into the SUV and drove away

The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The motive for the shooting was unknown, police said. The victim's name was not released, pending notification of relatives.

Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to call Los Angeles police Harbor Division homicide Detectives Julie Scruggs or Mike Villareal at (310) 726-7888 or (310) 726-7880.  

 

Here's this weekend's local efforts to combat drunken driving:

• Torrance police officers will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint from 8 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location in the city.
• Inglewood police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint from 7 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday on Manchester Boulevard at Kareem Court.
• Harbor Area officers will conduct a saturation patrol in search of drunken drivers on Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

The Los Angeles Police Department today announced its holiday efforts to combat drunken driving.
Don't say I didn't warn you. Just don't drink and drive.

• Friday - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at Roscoe Boulevard at Noble Avenue in Mission Hills;
• Friday - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday in Los Angeles;
• Friday - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at Sunset Boulevard and Spaulding Avenue in Hollywood;
• Saturday - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at La Brea Avenue and Rodeo Road in Los Angeles;
• Saturday - Sobriety checkpoint from 6 p.m. to midnight at Imperial Highway at Main Street in Los Angeles;
• Sunday - DUI saturation patrol from noon to 8 p.m. in Harbor Area;
• Dec. 22 - Sobriety checkpoint from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Imperial Highway at Main Street in Los Angeles;
• Dec. 22 - DUI saturation patrol from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 23 in North Hollywood;
• Dec. 23 - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 24 at Ventura Boulevard and Big Oak Drive in North Hollywood;
• Dec. 23 - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 24 at Sunset Boulevard at Coronado Street in Los Angeles;
• Dec. 23 - Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Santa Monica Boulevard at Bronson Avenue in Hollywood;
• Dec. 23 - Sobriety checkpoint from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Western Avenue at Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles;
• Dec. 29 - Saturation patrol from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 30 in the Olympic station area in Los Angeles;
• Dec. 30 -- Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 31 at Figueroa Street at 9th Street in Los Angeles;
• Dec. 30 -- Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 31 at Van Nuys Boulevard at Haddon Avenue in Pacoima.
• Dec. 31 -- Sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Lincoln Boulevard at Maxella Avenue in Marina del Rey;
• Jan. 1, 2012 - DUI Saturation Patrol from 2 PM to 10 PM in Mission Area.

Two possible smugglers were arrested this morning when another panga fishing boat was discovered on a San Pedro beach, police said.

The discovery was made about 7 a.m. near Barbara Street below Point Fermin Park.
Police located a Pelican briefcase on the boat. It was unclear what it contained.

"The boat's been located, officers are clearing the boat and securing it as a crime scene," said Rachel Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Port of Los Angeles police.

On Wednesday, authorities arrested 12 suspected drug smugglers and discovered 31 pounds of marijuana aboard a panga fishing boat at Abalone Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes.

Smugglers -- carrying people or drugs -- have increasingly used 25-foot skiffs to enter the United States in recent months to avoid tighter land border crossings.

Police previously found pangas in Palos Verdes Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes.