September 2010 Archives
[BYNAME]By Tracy Manzer
<MC>Staff Writer
[BODY]LONG BEACH -- With prescription drug abuse and theft rates soaring police and city health officials are joining a national effort to reduce the number of expired and stray pills that clog home medicine cabinets and cupboards.
The Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services will hold a pill disposal program as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Pharmaceutical Take-Back initiative.
The initiative seeks to combat prescription drug abuse and theft through the collection of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescriptions, said Nancy Pratt, an LBPD spokeswoman.
"Many Americans are not aware that medications that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse," Pratt said. "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs."
Pratt said studies show the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. In addition, many people don't know how to properly dispose of unused medications, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both of which pose safety and health hazards.
To reduce the risks the LBPD and the DEA will hold a free drive-through style collection of medications, no questions asked, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Health Department's Headquarters, 2525 Grand Ave., in Long Beach.
<MC>Staff Writer
[BODY]LONG BEACH -- With prescription drug abuse and theft rates soaring police and city health officials are joining a national effort to reduce the number of expired and stray pills that clog home medicine cabinets and cupboards.
The Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services will hold a pill disposal program as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Pharmaceutical Take-Back initiative.
The initiative seeks to combat prescription drug abuse and theft through the collection of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescriptions, said Nancy Pratt, an LBPD spokeswoman.
"Many Americans are not aware that medications that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse," Pratt said. "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs."
Pratt said studies show the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. In addition, many people don't know how to properly dispose of unused medications, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both of which pose safety and health hazards.
To reduce the risks the LBPD and the DEA will hold a free drive-through style collection of medications, no questions asked, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Health Department's Headquarters, 2525 Grand Ave., in Long Beach.
LONG BEACH -- Police have issued a warning to residents these these are no longer the good old days, when one could leave their doors and windows unlocked without concern.
The warning comes on the heels of a trio of break-ins in Belmont Shore where suspects gained easy entry to the unsecured homes of women who were alone.
"During each of the incidents the victims were home alone when they discovered a male suspect inside their residence," said Nancy Pratt, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman. "The suspects fled the location without taking anything or attempting to sexually assault the victims."
The first two cases occurred near Second Street and Termino Avenue with the first reported on July 24, at about 7 p.m.
The suspect in that incident was described as a male African-American in his late 20's to early 30's, approximately 5'6" tall and with a stocky build.
The second incident occurred on Sept. 4, at approximately 3:15 a.m. That suspect was described as a male African-American, approximately 30-years-old and 5'8" tall with a medium build and short hair.
"Based on the physical description and circumstances of the crime, detectives believe these two incidents may be connected," Pratt said.
The third incident was on Monday at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the area of Second and Bayshore Avenue. The suspect in that case was described as a male Hispanic, 30 to 40 years-old, 5'6"tall, with a stocky build and brown eyes.
In all three cases the suspect fled when the victim began to yell or scream, Pratt said.
The motive for the break-ins are unknown, she said.
To guard against such crimes residents are strongly encouraged to:
* Keep doors and windows secured at all times
* Purchase devices for your windows that will allow adequate ventilation without jeopardizing your safety
* Install security lights with motion sensors outside your home
* Prevent hiding spaces by keeping bushes and shrubbery trimmed
* Know your escape routes
* Immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911 regardless of how insignificant you may feel it is; let police determine its importance
Anyone with information regarding these incidents should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.
The warning comes on the heels of a trio of break-ins in Belmont Shore where suspects gained easy entry to the unsecured homes of women who were alone.
"During each of the incidents the victims were home alone when they discovered a male suspect inside their residence," said Nancy Pratt, a Long Beach Police Department spokeswoman. "The suspects fled the location without taking anything or attempting to sexually assault the victims."
The first two cases occurred near Second Street and Termino Avenue with the first reported on July 24, at about 7 p.m.
The suspect in that incident was described as a male African-American in his late 20's to early 30's, approximately 5'6" tall and with a stocky build.
The second incident occurred on Sept. 4, at approximately 3:15 a.m. That suspect was described as a male African-American, approximately 30-years-old and 5'8" tall with a medium build and short hair.
"Based on the physical description and circumstances of the crime, detectives believe these two incidents may be connected," Pratt said.
The third incident was on Monday at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the area of Second and Bayshore Avenue. The suspect in that case was described as a male Hispanic, 30 to 40 years-old, 5'6"tall, with a stocky build and brown eyes.
In all three cases the suspect fled when the victim began to yell or scream, Pratt said.
The motive for the break-ins are unknown, she said.
To guard against such crimes residents are strongly encouraged to:
* Keep doors and windows secured at all times
* Purchase devices for your windows that will allow adequate ventilation without jeopardizing your safety
* Install security lights with motion sensors outside your home
* Prevent hiding spaces by keeping bushes and shrubbery trimmed
* Know your escape routes
* Immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911 regardless of how insignificant you may feel it is; let police determine its importance
Anyone with information regarding these incidents should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.
ALISO VIEJO -- An Orange County animal rescue organization is asking for donations to help pay for the care of a German shepherd that was found wandering the streets of Downey with his ears chopped off, an apparent victim of a dog-fighting ring.
Coastal German Shepherd Rescue's Tiffany Norton says the dog, named Phoenix, was picked up as a stray in Downey on Tuesday and taken to Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Dr. Matthew Wheaton, who describes Phoenix as "very sweet, but very scared," says the dog apparently was used for bait in a dog-fighting ring.
Wheaton says the dog's ears were completely cut off, and he has scars all over his face and chest.
Coastal German Shepherd Rescue also is looking for potential foster and adoptive homes for Phoenix.
For more information or to donate money for Phoenix's care check out Coastal German Shepherd Rescue's website at http://coastalgsr.org.
Coastal German Shepherd Rescue's Tiffany Norton says the dog, named Phoenix, was picked up as a stray in Downey on Tuesday and taken to Alicia Pet Care Center in Mission Viejo where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Dr. Matthew Wheaton, who describes Phoenix as "very sweet, but very scared," says the dog apparently was used for bait in a dog-fighting ring.
Wheaton says the dog's ears were completely cut off, and he has scars all over his face and chest.
Coastal German Shepherd Rescue also is looking for potential foster and adoptive homes for Phoenix.
For more information or to donate money for Phoenix's care check out Coastal German Shepherd Rescue's website at http://coastalgsr.org.
LONG BEACH -- Long Beach K-9 units found the real "McCoy" early Monday while searching for a stolen car suspect.
It was like a scene out of the TV shop "COPS" when officers went to the 1300 block of Michelson Street around 5 a.m. Monday to arrest a 26-year-old Long Beach man wanted for stealing a car.
The suspect, identified as Patrick McCoy, was known to the victim, said Officer Israel Ramirez, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.
When police went to the home on Michelson where McCoy was believed to be staying the suspect bolted out of the back of the residence and hopped a fence into a neighbor's yard before disappearing from view, Ramirez said.
Police officers at the scene set up a perimeter and locked down the neighborhood, bringing in K-9 units to search for the suspect, Ramirez said.
The dogs' noses led them to a parked car in the same block. McCoy was found cowering under the vehicle and immediately arrested, Ramirez said.
He was booked on several counts, including auto theft, burglary, defacing/damaging property and an outstanding warrant for auto theft.
McCoy was being held in lieu of $70,000 bail Tuesday and scheduled for arraignment Wednesday.
It was like a scene out of the TV shop "COPS" when officers went to the 1300 block of Michelson Street around 5 a.m. Monday to arrest a 26-year-old Long Beach man wanted for stealing a car.
The suspect, identified as Patrick McCoy, was known to the victim, said Officer Israel Ramirez, a Long Beach Police Department spokesman.
When police went to the home on Michelson where McCoy was believed to be staying the suspect bolted out of the back of the residence and hopped a fence into a neighbor's yard before disappearing from view, Ramirez said.
Police officers at the scene set up a perimeter and locked down the neighborhood, bringing in K-9 units to search for the suspect, Ramirez said.
The dogs' noses led them to a parked car in the same block. McCoy was found cowering under the vehicle and immediately arrested, Ramirez said.
He was booked on several counts, including auto theft, burglary, defacing/damaging property and an outstanding warrant for auto theft.
McCoy was being held in lieu of $70,000 bail Tuesday and scheduled for arraignment Wednesday.
LONG BEACH -- The public is invited to discuss
the touchy subject of the sex industry Wednesday at a public forum
hosted by City Church at the Long Beach Art Theatre.
The forum will include expert panelists from different perspectives: one who is currently in the sex industry, one who left and one who who has chosen abstinence.
The discussion will focus on awareness for parents to avoid their children falling victim to the sex industry, to humanize those who work in the sex industry, to redeem sex and sexuality, to understand those who support the sex industry and to create a conversation between friends, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, and with the whole sex industry in general.
"City Church's hope is that men and women will take greater precautionary steps to refrain from financially supporting this industry. Also, we hope that this will spark conversation that sex isn't just casual," said one of the event's organizers, Michelle Kim.
The event is scheduled from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Long Beach Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., in Long Beach's Retro Row.
For more information on the City Church or the event check out their web site at www.lbcitychurch.org.
LONG BEACH -- Everyone is invited to discuss the touchy subject of sex Wednesday at a public forum hosted by City Church at the Long Beach Art Theatre.
The forum will include expert panelists from different perspectives:one who is currently in the sex industry, one who left and one who who has chosen abstinence.
The discussion will focus on awareness for parents to avoid their children falling victim to the sex industry, to humanize those who work in the sex industry, to redeem sex and sexuality, to understand those who support the sex industry and to create a conversation between friends, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, and with the whole sex industry in general.
"City Church's hope is that men and women will take greater precautionary steps to refrain from financially supporting this industry. Also, we hope that this will spark conversation that sex isn't just casual," said one of the event's organizers, Michelle Kim.
The event is scheduled from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Long Beach Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., in Long Beach's Retro Row.
For more information on the City Church or the event check out their web site at www.lbcitychurch.org.
The forum will include expert panelists from different perspectives:one who is currently in the sex industry, one who left and one who who has chosen abstinence.
The discussion will focus on awareness for parents to avoid their children falling victim to the sex industry, to humanize those who work in the sex industry, to redeem sex and sexuality, to understand those who support the sex industry and to create a conversation between friends, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, and with the whole sex industry in general.
"City Church's hope is that men and women will take greater precautionary steps to refrain from financially supporting this industry. Also, we hope that this will spark conversation that sex isn't just casual," said one of the event's organizers, Michelle Kim.
The event is scheduled from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Long Beach Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., in Long Beach's Retro Row.
For more information on the City Church or the event check out their web site at www.lbcitychurch.org.
