Mean Streets

Batman star Bale arrested in assault

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:32:07 -0800

Batman star Christian Bale was arrested Tuesday on allegations of assault, police said. dailynews.com

Court calendar

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:48:37 -0800

It's that time again: More court cases of interest to the San Fernando Valley, fresh off of the LA County District Attorney's calendar.

Today:

Criminal Justice Center

Preliminary hearing in the case of Michael Henschel and Alan Mitchell, Valley businessman and an associate charged in a widespread real estate fraud case.

San Fernando Courthouse

Trial status conference in in the case of Kimberly Carter, a Northridge woman charged with murder.
Testimony in the trial of Roberto Mendez Alba and Edwardo Medina, charged with kidnapping for ransom.
Arraignment for Ernesto Romero, Ritchi Palomo, Eddie Alvirez, Oscar Abdiez Andia, Victor Torres, Ronald Ruiz and Erik Viveros charged in a gang-related kidnapping for ransom.
Jury trial in the case of James Anthony Rojas, a Mission Hills man charged in widespread real estate foreclosure fraud case.

Antelope Valley Courthouse

Sentencing in the case of Christopher Anthony Hall, a Palmdale RV driver charged with murder and attempted murder.

Tuesday, July 22

Van Nuys Courthouse

Status hearing in the case of Jesse Bernard Winnick, a man charged with fatally stabbing his mother.

Wednesday, July 23

San Fernando Courthouse

Pretrial conference in the case of Jacquelin Linaras, charged in the death of an infant.

Thursday, July 24

Van Nuys Courthouse

Preliminary hearing in the case of Kevin Lamont Thomas, a former coach at Birmingham High School charged with sexually molesting four teenage girls in a private basketball camp he ran.
Pretrial conference in the case of Bennett Ira Goldberg, a man charged with animal cruelty after his dog died in a hot car.

Pasadena Courthouse

Jury trial in the case of Ezel Ethan Channel, a Nickelodeon employee charged with child molestation.

Results of survey of whether convicted killer Alvarez should be sentenced to death

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:15:21 -0800

The jury in the Juan Alvarez Metrolink train death case has spoken - He'll get life in prison without the possibility for parole. Readers of Mean Streets have also spoken through the nifty survey I set up here last week. So far 71 people have responded, 45 people saying Alvarez should be sentenced to death, 26 saying he shouldn't.

Thirty one people took the time to write comments about the case. Here they are:

thery (should) carry not the sword in vain :New Testament Wed, 7/16/08 7:37 AM
One thing for sure - he wont kill again! Wed, 7/16/08 5:15 AM
There is no forgiveness from the grave !!! Tue, 7/15/08 9:08 PM
Got to make an example of train wreckers or we'll have trains crashing everywhere Tue, 7/15/08 7:32 PM
he deserves the same treatment as he gave to his victims Tue, 7/15/08 7:23 PM
he had no right to take a life, but now is the time to heal! Tue, 7/15/08 10:17 AM
life in prison Mon, 7/14/08 4:15 PM
Cops are gang members too!So is Bush he's a skull & bones gang member! Mon, 7/14/08 1:55 PM
It was not premeditated Mon, 7/14/08 1:51 PM
He was being selfish when he decided to leave the vehicle on the tracks and had disregard for others. Mon, 7/14/08 1:46 PM
As an excon I know how difficult life in prison is. You are not in control of your daily life's activities, you live with people that are not of your caliber, sleep, eat (explitive), shave,and shower when some (explitive)(that is more than likely younger than you} uses their tranical dictitorial demeaner towords you , etc...... Is killing Alvarez going to bring back the 11 people? Does 11 wrongs make 1 right? Alsoif yeah are without sin cast the first stone!!!!!! Mon, 7/14/08 1:46 PM
he wanted to kill himself so now he can get his wish. Mon, 7/14/08 1:04 PM
death will not make him suffer, hard labor will,that what they give you in the millitary for killing someone Mon, 7/14/08 11:32 AM
pig Mon, 7/14/08 8:46 AM
harvest his parts so that those with failing organs can get a second chance at life Thu, 7/10/08 5:15 PM
I don't believe a life is justified by taking another life. Thu, 7/10/08 4:01 PM
It cost more to execute him then to keep him alive. Thu, 7/10/08 12:03 PM
his life is already destroyed why would you kill him on something he didn't really try to do? it will not bring back any of those lives. there gone face it. he will have to deal with it for the rest of his life that he killed people unjustly. people need to get a clue. people are always talking about when someone is put on deathrow or put to death how they have closure. what type of person are you then. my mother was killed brains blow out. if i had or the officials killed him would that make my pain easy? no i am a more compasionate person. because it really lets me know how precious life really is. Thu, 7/10/08 9:03 AM
give the idiot what he is a little prick... Wed, 7/9/08 1:36 PM
Grant his original wish and tie him to the tracks. Wed, 7/9/08 12:39 PM
If he was suicidal, maybe just a prison sentence will serve him good Wed, 7/9/08 11:51 AM
Wasn't he trying to kill himself in the first place? No, he should be kept alive to feel even a tiny bit of the torment the families are feeling. Wed, 7/9/08 9:42 AM
Costs more to keep him imprisoned. Wed, 7/9/08 9:41 AM
He won't be able to do it again to anyone. Wed, 7/9/08 7:15 AM
Let him suffer in prison (alive), since the victims families are all suffering without them. Wed, 7/9/08 7:13 AM
he is responsible for 11 deaths Tue, 7/8/08 8:31 PM
won't bring them back and killing is wrong and it's one of the ten commentments Tue, 7/8/08 8:24 PM
But only if the necessary elements for its imposition are met. Tue, 7/8/08 6:13 PM
Give him "Life" (Last part deleted by editor) Tue, 7/8/08 3:01 PM
All gang members should be sentenced to death. Tue, 7/8/08 12:51 PM
Let him suffer in prison. Tue, 7/8/08 12:45 PM

Feel free to take the survey by clicking here.

Gangs in the NFL?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:07:58 -0800

So you have heard about gangs in schools and in the military. But the National Football League?
I don't know, but here's an interesting article today in the LA Times that really shows just how wide the sphere of influence for gangs are.

Now let me just state for the record that I don't believe just because you are in a gang or have friends that are gang members you are a criminal or commit crimes. But a lot of law enforcement disagree and they view gang members as part of a "criminal syndicate."

Here's the article

Hand signals captured on videotape are once again being scrutinized around the NFL. Only this time, it's not the New England Patriots studying them for a competitive advantage, but league officials in search of a more sinister message.

The NFL, concerned that some players might celebrate by flashing the hand signals of street gangs, has hired experts to examine game tapes and identify the gestures.

"There have been some suspected things we've seen," said Milt Ahlerich, the league's vice president of security. "When we see it, we quietly jump on it immediately, directly with the team and the player or employee involved to cease and desist. Period."

Ahlerich says the league has long warned its players about the influence of gangs and other forms of organized crime, but that those admonishments have intensified since the 2007 killing of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams, who was gunned down after an altercation involving known gang members.

Cops collar SoCal burglary ring

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:53:18 -0800

My colleague, Larry Altman, over at the Daily Breeze in Torrance got the scoop today of a ring of burglars busted in some 40 cases from the South Bay to Tarzana. Check out the Crime and Courts blog for more.

Cops to IndyMac customers: Remain calm or face arrest

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:55:24 -0800

There's a police angle to the IndyMac takeover deal.

Police ordered angry customers lined up outside an IndyMac Bank branch to remain calm or face arrest Tuesday as they tried to pull their money on the second day of the failed institution's federal takeover.

The Court Calendar

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:48:16 -0800

Starting this week, I'm going to start posting status updates for criminal court cases of interest to the San Fernando Valley, courtesy of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. I'll also post a bit of information I might have on each case. The especially newsworthy court happenings will probably be covered in a full Daily News story. Check back here every Monday, and check back for extra information during trials as details come in.

Today:

San Fernando Courthouse

Jury selection in the case of Roberto Mendez Alba and Edwardo Medina, charged in kidnapping for ransom.
Pretrial conference and motions in the case of Antonio Rodriguez and Debby Saravia, charged with child abuse, murder in death of 5-year-old girl, alleged abuse of 6-year-old boy. Saravia and Rodriguez were arrested in November 2004 after paramedics were called to a home in the 28000 block of Sturbridge Drive in Castaic and found the girl in convulsions, sheriff's officials said shortly after the two were taken into custody.

Tuesday, July 15

Van Nuys Courthouse

Preliminary hearing setting in the case of Pedro Ortiz, who was charged in San Fernando Valley child molestations.

Wednesday, July 16

Van Nuys Courthouse

Pretrial conference in the case of Jay Selznick, who was charged with carjacking.

Pasadena Courthouse

Mental competency report in the case of Song Nam Chang, who was charged with the murder of his son.

Thursday, July 17

Pasadena Courthouse

Pretrial conference in the case of Ara Grigoryan, who was charged with murder.

San Fernando Courthouse

Pretrial conference in the case of Jacquelin Linaras, charged in the death of an infant.

Friday, July 18

San Fernando Courthouse>

Pretrial conference in the case of Anthonio Llerenas, accused of using a child as a shield.

On the beat ...

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:13:37 -0800

Rachel Uranga takes us into the streets with the LAPD's domestic violence unit.

Police blotter

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:45:47 -0800

A couple of robberies to report from overnight ...

Yesterday at 11:40 a.m. in the 5200 block of Lindley Ave., a man described as white entered the business, pulled a shotgun and demanded cash, before he took off in a stolen tow truck. Police recovered the stolen vehicle and weapon in an alley off of Lindley, but found no suspect.

At 1:10 a.m. today in the 21600 block of Roscoe Blvd., possibly two suspects entered and demanded beer and money from the store clerk. The suspects then attacked the clerk, who pulled out a billyclub and engaged the suspects, who took off. One of the suspects was later located suffering from a head injury as a result of the struggle with the store clerk and was taken to Northridge Hospital. He was booked on a robbery charge. Police were searching for a second person.

Ex-LAPD cop on quest to keep gangs out of Simi

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:15:04 -0800

Ex-LAPD cop, Danny Mastro, spent 26 years seeing firsthand what gangs can do to the city of Angeles. Now as a retiree, he's planning anti-gang efforts in Simi Valley to make sure that the gang problem doesn't come over the hill into Simi from L.A. by expanding schools' intervention and prevention programs.

Updated Valley Crime Map

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:04:04 -0800

Check out the updated San Fernando Valley Crime Map plotting out the locations of significant crimes reported by the LAPD since May.

Alvarez survey results

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:54:18 -0800

I put a survey up yesterday asking readers of Mean Streets, "Should convicted murderer Juan Manuel Alvarez get the death penalty?"

Twenty nine people responded. Thank you. Here's how you voted - 19 people said yes; 10 said no.

Here are the comments:

he is responsible for 11 deaths
won't bring them back and killing is wrong and it's one of the ten commentments
But only if the necessary elements for its imposition are met.
Give him "Life" (ergo: being anally raped in prison)
All gang members should be sentenced to death.
Let him suffer in prison.

Click Here to take the survey

Should Juan Alvarez be sentenced to death?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:07:31 -0800

I've created a Web survey to gather responses on whether Juan Manuel Alvarez, who was convicted of killing 11 in the 2005 Metrolink train disaster.

Click Here to take survey

Serial murderers among us......

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:26:58 -0800

The FBI gathered investigators, psychologists and crime analysts from across the country to come up with profiles of serial killers.

Their study released today from the Behavorial Science wing of the bureau is supposed to help cops detect those killers. Along the way it busts some of those myths that serial killers are freaky loners like Hannibal Lecter, or that they simply want to get caught, like the Zodiac Killer.

It's an interesting read, with background on where the phenomenon of serial killers began and even a letter from Jack the Ripper.

Dear Boss I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good luck. Yours truly Jack the Ripper

Here's the report.

......And a few "myth busters" from the press release:

1) Serial killers are not all dysfunctional loners: some have had wives and kids and full-time jobs and have been very active in their community or church or both.
2) Serial killers are not all white males: the racial diversification of serial killers generally mirrors the overall U.S. population.
3) Serial killers do not want to get caught: over time, as they kill without being discovered, they get careless during their crimes.

Bird's-eye view of crime

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:48:10 -0800

Unveiling the city's latest crime-fighting gadget, the LAPD announced plans to create a real-time tracking system Monday that will give officers a bird's-eye view of violence as it happens.
Housed in the department's Regional Crime Center and partly funded by Target, the digital maps will display where radio calls originate and arrests and crimes occurs, along with GPS devices worn by paroles. It will go online in October.
"We will be able to provide information a lot faster. Before it was officers going in blind," said Lt. Sean Malinowski of the LAPD's Regional Crime Center. "Now, we will be able to provide leads to them."
For instance, if there is a shooting at a Van Nuys building, the crime center can tell responding officers how many shootings occurred in the area over the past weeks, if there are nearby shootings and if parolees live in the apartment.
Now, officers must wait to return to the office to research similar information. It will also provide real-time deployment information.