Recently in Domestic Violence Category

There are so many things to say about the 1736 Family Crisis Center - I couldn't possibly fit it all into one newspaper story. If I tried, my editors would ream me, anyway.

But I wanted to make sure everyone knew that the organization is here to help domestic violence victims, and it needs help from everyone to ensure that their mission is accomplished. One way they're doing that is by raising funds at a Texas hold'em poker tournament at Hollywood Park Casino.

Here are some things I learned while reporting this story:

• People who wish to donate items for children can do so through a program set up at Kids Double Time at 715 Torrance Blvd., Redondo Beach. Clothes (including maternity), toys and accessories in good shape can be given to the consignment store and, if you mention 1736, they make a donation to the organization when the item is sold.
• The help they give goes beyond shelter and counseling. For example, in job training, they found that a key hurdle for victims is the inability to look people in the eye. They work with victims on that and have found true success.
• Every penny they spend on every bite of food, diaper or clothing item must be accounted for to their donors and funding sources, keeping the organization honest and it's number crunchers on their toes.

They're hoping to get a final head count to Hollywood Park today for the tournament. So if you're interested in going, let them know.

If you go, write me back and tell me how it was!

If you or anybody you know needs help, call one of their 24-hour hotlines, which you can find by clicking on the 1736 link above.

 

Here are some local, state and national domestic violence resources for anyone who needs help, would like to help, or just find out more:

• Rainbow Services in San Pedro, 24-hour English and Spanish hotline: 310-547-9343 or to give your support: 310-548-5450
• 1736 Family Crisis Center in the South Bay, 24-hour hotlines: 310-370-5902 and
  310-379-3620. Information on how to donate is available at their Web site, or you can contact Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link, head of the Torrance sex crimes unit, who has organized a drive to run through the end of the month for everything from toiletries and money or gift cards for groceries to games and toys and children's and adult's clothing. She can be reached at 310-222-3548.
• California Dept. of Public Health has information about the state's battered women's shelters and many more clickable resources.
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-779-SAFE (7233)
• The California Attorney General's Office has a domestic violence prevention and information page

If you or anybody you know is immediately at risk, please call 911.

 

A Redondo Beach man was charged today for two attacks on his girlfriend, including one with a knife earlier this month. John Christopher Mielke, 31, is facing two counts of corporal injury on a cohabitant and one count of assault with a deadly weapon for attacks on Oct. 11 and Aug. 28, according to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link.

In the more recent incident, it is alleged he caused the victim great bodily injury when he stabbed her several times in the arms and legs with a kitchen knife. If convicted, Mielke faces up to 12 years in state prison, according to Link. Police began looking for Mielke after he promised to turn himself in early last week, but didn't. He was arrested on Thursday.

Looking back at the hundreds of murder cases I've covered during my career, I would guesstimate that a good one-third of them involved men killing their spouses/girlfriends/baby mamas. During lunch with some former colleagues yesterday, we began talking about the murder earlier that day in Carson of Veronica Reyes, purportedly by her estranged husband, Carlos Reyes (left), who remains at large. We concluded that, yes, more often than not, it is the husband.

It brought to mind a preliminary hearing I watched that morning while waiting for another case to be called at the Long Beach Courthouse. The basic story was that a San Pedro couple of seven years, who have two young children together, were on the outs. She woke up one night in May to a tapping on her head and a shotgun in her face. Her 29-year-old boyfriend pointed the gun away quickly, she said, and they argued. A week before, he hit her and, she said, accidentally hit their 3-year-old, as they slept. In a different incident, he pulled up next to her in his car as she was trying to leave with their children and put a gun in his mouth.

The woman tearfully testified she was not afraid of him - only that she was afraid he would hurt himself, which is why she went to the police. She said the police told her he will hurt her, but she didn't believe them. Judge J.D. Lord did not find there was enough evidence to hold the boyfriend for trial on an assault with a deadly weapon charge, but acknowledged that he - like the police and prosecutor - recognized the domestic violence pattern that was emerging in their relationship.

"I'm not minimizing," Lord said about the case. "I recognize there is significant danger to the victim that just testified ... But I can't hold him to answer because I'm predicting the future, and it could be grim."

The prosecutor was going to file a different charge against the boyfriend, but sheriff's records indicate he was released from custody Wednesday evening.

Redondo Beach police tell us what they've been up to:


Monday 09/15
12:00 hrs - Torrance Police requested assistance from adjacent agencies for containment of a stolen vehicle suspect that had just fled from them on foot. One of the RBPD units that responded was a K-9 unit and the K-9, Dak, was eventually utilized for a building safety search. Dak discovered the suspect hiding under a desk, seized and held him for officers. Suspect was booked by Torrance Police on suspicion of vehicle theft and related charges.

19:06 hrs - A twenty-eight year old female committed suicide by hanging herself over the edge of a railing at her home on Avenue "A." She was discovered by her mother, who called 911. Paramedics attempted to revive her with negative results. She was transported to Little Company of Mary where she was pronounced deceased.

Wednesday 09/17
00:42 hrs - A vehicle that was described by witnesses as being involved in a purse-snatch robbery at the Galleria last week was observed by Sheriff Deputies in the City of Lennox. Deputies detained the juvenile occupants of the vehicle and notified RBPD. We took custody of the juveniles and impounded the vehicle. One of the juveniles, a female, admitted to involvement in the Galleria robbery to the interviewing officer. She was detained and transported to a juvenile detention facility. This juvenile was also wanted for a previous robbery by another jurisdiction. The investigation continues.

Thursday 09/18
23:42 hrs - Officers were dispatched to a fight involving 2-3 subjects fighting inside of Old Tony's. Officers arrived in the area and contacted one of the subjects as he was leaving the pier on foot south bound on the bike path. As officers were talking to the detained subject, the suspect's brother approached in an aggressive manner. He was ordered several times to stay back. The subject refused to back away and instead pushed against one of the officers.

Officers attempted to take him into custody and he became combative. He was ultimately Tased so that he could be controlled. A third subject approached officers, this time a female, the girlfriend of the first subject detained. She began yelling at officers and interfering. She was ordered several times to back away, but refused.

The female then threw her shoes at one of the officers and kicked towards her. This subject was then Tased and eventually taken into custody. The arrested female continued to be uncooperative even while in RBPD jail and had to be restrained. She was secured in a sobering cell for her safety. When it was later discovered that she was bleeding from abrasions on her arm and hands, paramedics were requested. Paramedics examined her and determined that medical attention was not required. Felony vandalism charges were later added to her booking when it was discovered that she had torn away a large area of padding from the interior of her cell.

The FBI has released stats showing crime is down in 2007, but check out this clock that's within the press release. It shows how often crimes occur across the country:

There wasn't room to get this into the story today about Torrance's crackdown on the methamphetamine business in the South Bay.

These agencies assisted them in the busts:

Gardena Police Department
Redondo Beach Police Department
LAPD Harbor Division
LAPD Gun Detail
LAPD Organized Crime Unit
LASD Carson station
LA IMPACT
Long Beach Police Department narcotics unit
LA County District Attorney's Office major narcotics unit
LA County Probation department
LA County Department of Children and Family Services
California Department of Corrections -- state parole
Southern California Edison Loss Prevention Unit (for indoor marijuana grows)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Federal Drug Enforcement Administration
FBI Gang Task Force and Joint Terrorism Task Force
U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Reporting on courts and crime over the years, one of the things that has always stood out is how different domestic violence is. Victims are placed in horrendous situations, often feeling they have no choice but to stay with their abuser because of emotional, physical and financial ties - as well as fear because many abusers threaten their partners or their families with violence if the victim leaves.

The Daily News has a feature today about an LAPD unit that reaches out directly to the victims during domestic violence calls. The program is not city-wide and is pretty unique.

A man suspected of stabbing a female friend in Hawthorne was arrested Wednesday when he tried to obtain medication to treat his recent kidney transplant, police said.

Gustavo "Gus" Plascencia, 36, was arrested when hospital employees at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance, Hawthorne police Lt. Mike Ishii said.

Plascencia was sought since Sunday when he allegedly stabbed the woman at a residence in the 4800 block of 120th Street. Police released his photograph to the Daily Breeze and notified hospitals that he medical attention. He had a kidney transplant about a month ago.

Ishii said the woman was asleep when he plunged a knife into her.

"It appears his intent was to kill her and himself afterward due to some type of domestic quarrel," Ishii said. "She was able to fight back and protected herself and he took off."

Police have not determined if the victim is his girlfriend. She remains hospitalized at the same medical center where he was caught. He apparently was spotted there on Monday.

Plascencia was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was taken to the county jail medical ward.