Crime & Courts

UPDATE: Gunman's name changes

2009-11-05T18:14:56Z

The gunman shot to death in the shootout with deputies and police in Lawndale is now identified as Juan Carlos Aguiar.

The Coroner's Office sent a message this morning taking the 'L" out of Aguilar....It's Aguiar.

Family wanted Lawndale man arrested before shooting

2009-11-05T04:45:23Z

A gunbattle that wounded a sheriff's deputy and killed a parolee in Lawndale could have been avoided if a state parole officer had arrested the man at his family's request for being under the influence of drugs, his cousin said Wednesday.

The parole officer, however, chose not to arrest Juan Carlos Aguilar, 29, about 5 p.m. Tuesday and instead scheduled an appointment to meet Aguilar on Wednesday morning, Margarita Fox said.

"If the parole officer would have done her job, this would have never happened," Fox said. "He would have been in jail."

Read the full story.

UPDATE: Man shot to death in Lawndale identified

2009-11-04T19:58:58Z

The man shot to death by sheriff's deputies in Lawndale has been identified as Juan Carlos Aguilar, 29. Not yet sure where he lived.

Watch out for this groper if you drive in Mid-City area of LA

2009-11-04T18:16:34Z

If you find yourself driving in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles, be aware of this one. The LAPD sent this out this morning:

Sexual Assault Suspect Dubbed "Sparking Brakes" Suspect

Los Angeles: A sexual assault suspect has been targeting lone females driving in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles. The suspect uses a ruse to get women to pull their cars to the curb and then offers to help them before he sexually assaults and gropes them.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives have released a composite sketch of a male Hispanic they believe is responsible for six sexual assaults, with the likelihood of additional, unreported assaults. The suspect drives a late 1990's white compact car.

The first incident occurred back in August of this year, and there were five similar assaults reported last month. Generally, the suspect pulls up next to a woman driving alone in her car and communicates with her that her car tire is sparking. He instructs the victim to pull to the curb and then offers to check the victim's brakes and tires. Once he is in close proximity to the women, he sexually assaults them.

All of the incidents have occurred on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Investigators are asking for the public's help to identify this suspect and are also warning people to be aware of this scam to avoid being victimized. The suspect's behavior is becoming more aggressive and detectives are hoping to capture him before he seriously injures someone. So far, none of the victim's have required medical treatment.

Documentary: Battered women behind bars

2009-11-03T23:51:24Z

On Tuesday, a documentary about battered women who are incarcerated for killing their husbands will be screened at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The event will include one of the women featured in the film and the filmmakers. All the information is here if you want to go, just be sure to RSVP: TORRANCEflyer2 (2)1.pdf

Car hits Torrance house; driver reportedly bails

2009-11-03T23:13:28Z

So, officially, here's what I got on this:

Torrance police said Tuesday they are investigating an alleged hit-and-run involving a car crashing into a house late last week.
The car hit a home in the 200 block of Paseo De Las Delicias about 8 p.m. on Thursday night, according to Sgt. Bernard Anderson.
A suspect was scheduled to be interviewed by investigators Tuesday afternoon and the investigation is continuing, Anderson said.
He would not give any more details about the incident or the suspect.

Of course, you, me and everyone knows there's more to this story than that. Unfortunately, as a news reporter, I'm obligated to report only what I can confirm. We do this to protect ourselves from liability and our subjects from untrue accusations. It's fair and it's right.

Now, there are two problems: 1.) Our readers are not bound by the same obligations, and can anonymously and freely say whatever they want in the user comments underneath our stories. 2.) Law enforcement and other officials are not always forthcoming with information, leaving us with unfilled holes in our reports, and can take some time getting back to us once we've made inquiry.

It appears there is nothing we can do about either of these problems. So when you wonder why the Daily Breeze didn't report this or that on this story, or any others, now you know why.

Lawrence Saks trial underway

2009-11-03T19:05:57Z

Just got word that opening statements were this morning at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in downtown Los Angeles, and that the first witness is on the stand. Lawrence Saks, whose medical license was taken away last December, is on trial before Judge Consuelo Marshall for two indictments - one alleging he worked while collecting disability payments and the other claiming he double-billed insurance companies for procedures.

The former plastic surgeon and Rolling Hills resident, who had offices in Torrance and San Pedro, served six months in a federal penitentiary for a 1990 tax evasion case.

Hurst murder convictions for beating and stabbing death of step-father in Torrance upheld

2009-11-03T17:43:17Z

Many of the issues raised in Ashton Hurst's appeal were litigated at the trial level. And re-litigated. And litigated some more. Click here for my very brief brief on the 2nd District Court of Appeal's opinion issued yesterday. For those wanting to see more, the 25-page opinion is here.

Report: Beck selected as Los Angeles police chief

2009-11-03T15:53:09Z

The Los Angeles Times is reporting this morning that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has picked Deputy Chief Charlie Beck to be the new chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Doctor guilty of deliberately hurting two bicyclists in Brentwood

2009-11-03T00:01:10Z

The LA Times just posted a story saying an Airport courthouse jury has convicted Dr. Christopher Thompson of assault with a deadly weapon and other charges for deliberately injuring two bicyclists by slamming on his brakes in front of them in Brentwood.

A lot of you have been interested in this one.

According to Jack Leonard's story, Thompson bowed his head as the verdicts were read.

Here's the Times story.

Verdict expected momentarily in Brentwood bicycling assault case

2009-11-02T23:18:40Z

City News Service reports that a verdict is expected to be read soon in the trial of Christopher Thomas Thompson, the former emergency room doctor accused of deliberately ramming his car into two bicyclists in the Brentwood area. He is charged with reckless driving and battery.

I'll post it as soon as I see it.....

Inglewood police to offer 'Gifts for Guns' on Saturday

2009-11-02T19:30:25Z

The Inglewood Police Department will hand out gift cards in exchange for guns on Saturday.

The "Gifts for Guns" program will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. behind the Target and Home Depot stores at 3471 West Century Blvd.

Police officers will issue a $100 gift card while supplies last to the person that brings in the weapon.

The program is designed to make Inglewood a safer community.

Participants should enter the parking lot through the entrance on Village Drive. They will be directed into the designated gun exchange area by uniformed police officers.

Police will give a maximum of three gift cards per person, but will accept additional or unwanted firearms that are brought to the exchange site.

Police issued these guidelines for safety:

All firearms should be unloaded before being brought to the gun exchange site.
People who drive should place their firearms in the trunk or rear compartment of the vehicle. No more than three firearms should be transported in one vehicle.
People who walk should place their guns inside a sturdy bag, such as a gym bag or suitcase and brought to the exchange site. No more than three guns should be placed in one bag.

For more information contact the Inglewood Police Department's Community Affairs Section at 310-412-5530.

Thompson vs. bicyclists trial goes to jury

2009-11-02T18:10:28Z

I posted a couple blog items a while back about Dr. Christopher Thompson, who was charged with trying to purposely injure bicyclists on Mandeville Canyon Road. That area isn't a part of our coverage area, but the entry drew quite a bit of interest and I've been getting emails asking what's going on with the case.

The trial began last week. Jack Leonard of the Los Angeles Times has been covering it. He's written four stories. If you haven't read them, here they are:

Story 1

Story 2

Story 3

Story 4

Torrance courtroom shuffle

2009-11-01T21:56:19Z

The retirement Friday of Torrance Superior Court Judge Bob Hight triggered some movement in the Torrance Courthouse. See if you can follow along here:

Judge Hight sat in Dept. D. on the 3rd Floor.

Dept. D, along with it's caseload, are traveling to Judge Michael Vicencia on the 5th Floor, to take over what was Dept. 1.

The old D will now become Dept. 1, where Judge Laura Ellison, who has handled preliminary hearings in Div. 3 for many years, will preside over limited jurisdiction (small civil) cases.

Judge Michael Guzman will leave his Dept. 2 bench to sit in Div. 3, and hear the prelims.

Retired Judge Francis Hourigan will return to the court on assignment in Dept. 2 to handle Guzman's previous assignment of misdemeanor criminal matters originating from Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Lomita, Lennox and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

UPDATE: Inglewood Halloween shooting

2009-11-01T21:14:58Z

Just got word from City News Service that the two people shot early this morning outside a Halloween party have died.

Still no one in custody.

Previously:

Two seriously wounded in Inglewood Halloween shooting