Results tagged “gangs” from Crime & Courts

This bit of news didn't occur down here in the South Bay, but obviously it indirectly helps cut down crime in Southern California.

The FBI sent this release out today to announce charges against 17 members or associates of the Athens Park Bloods street gang of South Los Angeles for their alleged roles in narcotics sales and gun possession.

Here's the news release from FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller:

For Immediate Release

DATE: November 17, 2009

17 MEMBERS OR ASSOCIATES OF THE ATHENS PARK BLOODS
STREET GANG CHARGED WITH FEDERAL AND STATE NARCOTICS
VIOLATIONS IN FINAL PHASE OF "OPERATION BLOOD KLOT"

Hundreds of Sheriff's deputies and FBI agents executed arrest and search warrants this
morning in the final phase of a coordinated operation in which members of a violent street gang were taken into custody for their alleged roles in the distribution of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms in South Los Angeles.

I got this very important press release about a very important meeting to discuss THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Councilman Zine Convenes
Los Angeles Regional Paparazzi Task Force
What: A regional task force on paparazzi will convene to hear testimony from key stakeholders to develop proposals to consider in the legislative process. The meeting can be viewed live on Ch. 35 or via the following link: http://ita.lacity.org/lacityview35/.
When: Thursday, July 31st, 2008
9:30 AM Press Conference on the South Lawn Steps of City Hall

10:00 AM Meeting
Where: Los Angeles City Hall
Council Chambers (Room 340)

200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Who: Councilmember Dennis P. Zine
Sheriff Leroy Baca
Screen Actors Guild
City of Beverly Hills
City of Calabasas
City of Malibu
City of West Hollywood
State and County Representatives

Why: Paparazzi are becoming increasingly aggressive in their tactics, posing a clear danger not only to the people they are trying to photograph, but to the general public around them. Councilman Zine has already introduced a motion to curtail the reckless behavior of the so-called paparazzi and that motion is pending a public hearing in the Public Safety Committee. In the meantime, he has assembled a regional task force to develop concrete ideas and to determine the most effective legislation to move forward through the process.

I'm glad all these important people are keeping busy on this most important topic for all of us. Meanwhile, back to the gang problem, the hospital closures, schools that don't teach, roads that need repair and the housing crisis.

The Associated Press is reporting that the island get-away is now dealing with some serious big-city gang issues. So far, the problems are minor. But, as one merchant said, if nothing is done early-on, the problems will grow just like cancer.

Joe, the brother of the 16-year-old arrested for shooting his cousin in Harbor City on Wednesday, continues to dispute what police said about what happened.

"Your story is still messed up. First of all there wasn't an argument between my cousin and my brother. The f----- police don't know s---. They are just assuming of what happened. That's why the whole justice system here in Los Angeles is all messed up. Once again there was never any heated argument between them. They were close. It was just a stupid accident basicially kids being stupid."

Ray Gen, an El Camino College trustee, sent this recently about our coverage of the forum held after a student was sexually assaulted on campus. (I went on vacation and forgot to post this.)

"Thank you Mr. Altman for your coverage of the forum we had (June 3) I thought your article covered well our campus' response and the programs we have in place in regards to safety at El Camino College.

I wish to also thank Brad Graverson for his photos. I thought the photo of
the bike officer was especially compelling.

Again - many thanks."

Reader Bob Henning sent this about the Harbor City shooting:

"Very sad and tragic. Another gang banging piece of garbage may not make it. Chalk one up for the people. I have become so desensitized to the whole gang epidemic that I am actually GLAD when I read about them being killed. Good riddance."

We just received a report that the two Los Angeles police officers who contended that City Councilwoman Janice Hahn pressured the department to remove them from their foot beats in Watts because they were tough on gang members lost their federal lawsuit today.

According to City News Service, jurors ruled against officers Ryan Moreno and Chuck Garcia, who claimed they were taken off the gang detail for criticizing the department.

Garcia and Moreno maintained in their suit filed in U.S. District Court that they had kept gang members out of the Jordan Downs Housing Development in South Los Angeles and were responsible for more than 300 arrests, detentions and stops in a year.

That resulted in numerous complaints against them by gang members and their supporters, they said.

Hahn told Daily Breeze reporter Gene Maddaus in May that the task force the officers were assigned to was intended to help improve the relationship between the police and the community, but at least 20 complaints were filed against Moreno in a year.

 "The complaints that would come up the most were complaints about disrespect, even name calling," Hahn said. "You would hear from the community that it was very difficult to work with LAPD when these two officers are doing X, Y and Z - being antagonizing and disrespectful. It just kept coming up from everywhere."

The officers said the complaints were an orchestrated effort to remove them from their beats.

Jurors sided with the city and department.

Gene's earlier story follows:

I spoke earlier today with the older brother and a sister of the 16-year-old boy who allegedly shot his 21-year-old cousin in the head Wednesday in Harbor City.

They disagreed with the police account of what happened and said neither the teen nor the cousin is a gang member.

As I reported earlier, police said the teen and cousin were arguing about their neighborhood gangs. The teen, police said, was an associate of a Harbor City gang, and the cousin is a member of a Wilmington gang.

During the dispute, the teen pulled the trigger and shot his cousin in the temple, police said.
The teen admitted to the shooting, but said it was an accident.

I'll have a story up soon on a shooting that occurred earlier today in an apartment in the 1600 block of Lomita Boulevard in Harbor City.

Police told me two cousins got involved in an argument over their gang affiliations. One is an associate of a Harbor City gang and the the other is a member of a Wilmington gang. I guess each figured one is better than the other.

Anyway, the 16-year-old pulled the trigger on his revolver and shot his 21-year-old cousin in the temple. The wounded man is in extremely critical condition and likely won't survive, police said.

The teen claims it was an accident, but LAPD investigators aren't so sure. They arrested the on suspicion of attempted murder.

I know, I know. You can't throw a tagger around here without hitting some anti-gang initiative or another. The L.A. City Council today is considering measures that would literally hit gang members where they live and how they operate.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn responded over the weekend to a FOX 11 News report that said she provided money to gang members and helped them get out of jail.

"Everyone must know that the allegations that I have assisted or funded gang members, which ran on Fox 11 last week are outrageous, ridiculous and false. The entire story was based on statements made by desperate criminal gang members that would say anything to avoid going to jail. I have never paid these gang members, never had them work for me nor have I ever helped them to get out of jail."

Read Hahn's full blog entry

Here's the second part of Chris Blatchford's investigative report on FOX  11 News. In the Thursday night broadcast, two Los Angeles police officers who are suing the city for transferring them out of their jobs battling gangs in Watts, claimed City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and department brass forced them out after listening to gang members.

Here's part 2 

In the report, Hahn denounces allegations made against her in Part I.

"The allegations in the story that was run by Fox 11 last night are outrageous, ridiculous and false. The entire story was based on statements made by desperate criminal gang members that would say anything to avoid going to jail. I have never paid these gang members, never had them work for me, nor have I ever helped them get out of jail. My office records are public information and I invite Fox news to review them before making false accusations."

Here's Part 1

*The Daily Breeze reported on March 17, 2006 that rapist Steven Myrick claimed to be on Hahn's payroll. Hahn denied the allegation at the time.

Just received this press release from the District Attorney's Office: (The victim was 19.)


LOS ANGELES -- A murder charge was filed today against an alleged female gang member in connection with the killing of a Los Angeles International Airport employee, shot to death at an intersection in South Los Angeles.

Authorities said the victim was on her way home from work and the shooting appeared to be unprovoked.

Assistant Head Deputy Peter Cagney of Hardcore Gang Division said Jessica Ortega, 30 (dob 09/28/77), is charged in case No. BA339084 with one count of murder. The count carries two special allegations that the principal intentionally discharged a firearm causing death and that the offense was committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in association with a criminal street gang.

Ortega is due to be arraigned this afternoon at Los Angeles Superior Court, Department 30. Prosecutors allege that Ortega, whose moniker is "Gorda," is a member of the Playboys Gang.

On April 10, just after midnight, victim Samantha Padilla, right, was on her way home from work when she exitedthe northbound 110 freeway at Slauson Avenue. While stopped at a traffic signal, Padilla was shot and killed in her car.

Bail for Ortega was recommended at $2 million. If convicted as charged, Ortega faces a maximum state prison sentence of 50 years to life.

(Photo from KTLA.com)

The alleged gang member and his associate who are charged with shooting 6-year-old Lavareya Elzy in the Harbor Gateway last month were in court for arraignment today. Ernesto Murillo, 25, and Ismael Torres, 26, pleaded not guilty to nine felony counts each, including attempted murder. They will return to court April 28 to have a preliminary hearing scheduled. Lavareya, who has a bullet in his head, is reportedly doing better ... although it's still not clear what kind of damage the bullet caused.

Check out tomorrow's Daily Breeze or dailybreeze.com for the full story.

Two alleged gang members charged with shooting and critically wounding a 6-year-old boy and shooting at his family while they drove through the Harbor Gateway last month are scheduled to be arraigned later today at the Long Beach Courthouse. We'll tell you what happens, and try to get an update on Lavareya Elzy's condition. 

 

The user comments section on my story "Police: Gunman sought revenge" and its two sister articles on the subject sizzled Friday and over the weekend. Together, the three received hundreds of comments.

Some believe David Sedillo got what he deserved. Others blamed the police. There was the usual racism and "send all the Mexicans home" stuff. Some gang members even chimed in, creating a strange 21st Century online gang war.

But as the comments wound down Sunday, someone identifying himself as "Latino Marine" had a poignant reaction to everything said before him. (I do believe the writer is in the military based on his IP address.)

Here it is if you missed it. It has a few problems grammatically, but I didn't change anything. You'll get his point. I'm glad he commented and I hope he can send me an email to let me know who he is.

"As I sit in my room in japan, I like keeping in touch with my HOME!.. I took the time and read the article.

Well it seem's everyone has different point of view's! maybe it's based on how you lived your youth, or the struggles you have come across. Well Im 22 years of age mexican, both of my parents where illegal at one point. I was raised in Gardena my whole life!

No reporter likes being sent to dangerous crime scenes... at the end of their shift... in the rain. Our colleague, Sandy Mazza, took on such a task yesterday when word broke late in the day of the officer-involved shooting in Wilmington. While waiting for the officials to officially say what officially happened, Sandy did what any reporter on such an assignment should do: tried to get some comments from witnesses or family members to add to her story.

While we're all used to negative responses from the members of the public, she got a bit more than she bargained for when one man she approached dropped the F-bomb on her, called her and all the news media "punk-ass bitches," then briefly lifted his shirt to flash the gun snuggled securely in his waistband. Another guy made a slashing motion on his throat to her and the other reporters.

Despite being pretty shaken up, Sandy hung in there to get the official word from the officials.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Hardcore Gang Division released a 50-page report this week on the prevention and prosecution of gang-related crimes. The report was meant as a follow-up to a similar endeavor the office took on in 1992 that painted a portrait of gang members, including sociological and psychological factors that contribute to gang culture and behavior. It detailed the "intimate connections between drugs, guns and gangs" and proposed several ways to combat gang violence.

Noting how gangs and their crimes continue to "plague or communities," District Attorney Steve Cooley asked his staff to review the 15-year-old report to see if the findings still apply. They do. What stands out, of course, is the need for more money to fund anti-gang programs for children and teens, as well as tough-on-crime legislation. The one thing that did change is the use of collaborative efforts between different law enforcement agencies, which the report deemed successful.

Included in the report were some interesting statistics, including a Los Angeles map detailing gang crimes in different areas (no surprise that Lawndale and Hawthorne fared worst in the South Bay with 1,001-1,500 gang crimes between 2003 and 2006 and Carson and the Harbor Gateway experienced moderate gang activity with 601-1,000 gang crimes in that same period). 

The entire report can be found here on the District Attorney's Web site.

 

 

We here at the Crime & Courts Blog - and at the Daily Breeze in general - are all for an end to the senseless killing that's plagued our streets, especially in recent weeks. Every murder is a tragedy, and its painful to watch the homicide rate tick, tick, tick its way up to frightening levels.

But, we can't help but wonder if the Los Angeles City Council's plea to residents to stop killing during a 40-hour period beginning Friday at 6:01 p.m. will be effective. Will gang members pace around Saturday, wringing their hands as they quash their thirst for blood until Sunday? Will the armed drug addict wait one day before hitting the 7-Eleven for cash to fuel his habit? Will the abusive spouse put off until Sunday what could just as easily be done Saturday night during the climax of a 12-pack fueled fight?

It would be a nice tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. on the 40th anniversary of his assasination if everyone put down their guns, linked arms and sang Kum Ba Yah. But we're pretty sure the hoodlums and thugs are too busy being hoodlums and thugs to keep themselves up-to-date on the doings of local leaders. However, if they do adhere to the murder moratorium and take the message literally, Sunday's gonna be a bloodbath.  

 

This afternoon, a whole host of top law enforcement and political types are holding a press conference to announce "cooperative efforts in confronting gang violence." Um... does this mean no one was cooperating before? The announcement doesn't give much detail on how everyone is planning to cooperate, but we're willing to bet it will include measures, crackdowns, injunctions and targeting.

Let's wish Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien and Police Chief William Bratton the best in their cooperative efforts.

LAPD officers were involved in two shootings last night with bad guys in Wilmington. One of the suspects, a guy on a bike who pulled a gun on two gang officers, was killed.

No officers were hurt.

Here's what the overnight reporter at City News Service put together: OIS shootings