Recently in Torrance Category

Yeah, so do I. But, we won't.

Citing two California Government Code sections that don't seem to make sense, but a California Vehicle Code section (20012) that could apply, the City of Torrance records administrator sent me a letter denying my public record request for the report regarding the Sept. 26 incident involving Sgt. Michael Mastick.

V.C. Section 20012 says that such reports are confidential to everyone except those with a "proper interest" in information. Apparently, I don't have such an interest.

I had originally sent my request to the Inglewood Police Department, since they were the agency that investigated the incident. However, they sent me to the Torrance Police Department, saying they no longer had the report.

Last I checked, there were nearly 300 comments (not counting the ones we had to kill)following last week's story on Torrance police Sgt. Michael Mastick, who will not be charged for allegedly causing a collision and bailing - possibly because he had alcohol in his system.

Aside from what follows the article, I've received some responses in my email inbox, too. While most the user comments criticize the decision to not file charges against Mastick, and are overwhelmingly anti-police, the emails are a bit more balanced. For example, Lynda writes:

"Denise, Really, would it have hurt you to write a more positive article about Sgt. Mastick since the charges were dropped instead of perpetuating the hate against police officers?  Shame on you." I also heard from Andrew, who counters some of the comments that this was NOT news: "Denise, Thank you very much for reporting on this issue. I will make sure to never set foot in that city again. Keep up the good work on reporting the real issues and not some stupid puff piece from fox news." What do you think?

Robbery convictions were upheld this week for a man who stole $25 from four teens as they headed to Torrance's South High School homecoming game.

Skiler Gascon, 22, argued to the 2nd District Court of Appeal that Torrance Superior Court Judge Eric Taylor erred by allowing the jury to consider evidence of his flight as consciousness of guilt.

Gascon said the evidence didn't apply to the robberies since it was later, when he was being confronted by a police officer, that he struggled and ran.

But the appellate court issued an opinion Tuesday found there was no error in the 2008 trial.
The 15 and 16-year-old boys were walking near Pacific Coast Highway on Nov. 2, 2008, when Gascon called to them, showed them a gun and demanded money.

Two men convicted in Great Britain for disseminating anti-semitic speech on the Internet are appealing on the grounds that they sent their messages to a Torrance Web server. They claim that, since the U.S. has broader free speech laws, they didn't do anything wrong.

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. 

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.

Three West Torrance homes were burglarized in one afternoon, probably by the same suspect, police said Tuesday.

The break-ins were Oct. 15 between 2 and 4 p.m.

They were in the 5500 block of Halison Street, the 20000 block of Saltee Avenue and the 4100 block of Konya Drive.

In two of the burglaries, the perpetrator removed screens and slid windows open.
For the third, he entered through an unlocked front door after knocking. However, the resident was home and the suspect fled.

The burglar is described as a black man in his mid 20s with a mustache. He is about 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds.

Investigators believe he was driving a gold newer Nissan Pathfinder, which he backed into the third victim's driveway.

He got away with small electronics, a wallet and jewelry.

Police want residents to pay attention to strange people and cars, and warned that a common technique by burglars is to knock on a front door before trying to get inside through a side or back door or window.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity is urged to call the police.

The Los Angeles Superior Court's delinquent juror round-up show is once again stopping in the South Bay. Starting this Friday, and for the following three Fridays, citizens who did not respond to their last three juror summons are expected to appear before Torrance Superior Court Judge Alan Honeycutt to explain themselves.

Chances are, for those who appear, they'll be slapped with a fine (it can be up to $1,500 but is usually $200) and Honeycutt will set a new jury duty report date.

"Sanctions are a last resort, but even at that late date, monetary sanctions may not be imposed if a person agrees to serve," said Presiding Judge Charles McCoy Jr. "The court's priority is having the people cooperate with us to ensure that jury service is shared by all elgible citizens in Los Angeles County, as mandated by the Legislature."

McCoy added: "The court has no interest whatsoever in using these sanctions as a source of money."

Failure to respond to the order to appear can only make things worse.

When the court established its One Trial Jury Service (formerly One Day, One Trial) in 1999, the need for available citizens to sit in judgement of others rose. Under the program, citizens need only be present at the courthouse for a single day or one trial. Those not a prospective juror or a seated panelist by the end of the first day are excused for a year.

For more information about jury duty, visit the court's Web site.

Details from officials are scarce today regarding an alleged hit-and-run Saturday night in Torrance that involved a department employee. Sources have identified the driver as Sgt. Michael Mastick, a 19-year-department veteran. Torrance police say they handed the investigation off to the Inglewood Police Department, and a spokesman there was also brief with his information.

We have confirmed that the officer rear-ended another car near Robert Road and Pacific Coast Highway around 9:45 p.m. Saturday. He obviously left, since it's being called a "hit and run." Members of the South Bay DUI Task Force were called to assist, and an Inglewood police officer was one of those to respond.

No injuries. No arrests. No more information yet.

My story will be up later on dailybreeze.com and in tomorrow's editions.

For those of you who call and e-mail, then call and e-mail, then call and e-mail some more about the case against former Torrance Parks and Recreation Director Supervisor Dan Halladay and three others - the case is over. Each pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft for the payroll and kickback scheme that netted more than $53,000. They each got three years probation and community service.

There will be a full story later on dailybreeze.com and in Saturday's newspaper.