Anniversary of murder of Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Jerry Ortiz

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Killed June 24, 2005


Deputy Jerry Ortiz was shot and killed after knocking on a door during an investigation.

Deputy Ortiz had gone to an apartment complex in the city of Hawaiian Gardens to question a woman about a shooting that had taken place the previous day. As he spoke to the woman at the door of the apartment, the suspect in the previous day’s shooting appeared and shot him in the head. The man then fled into an apartment three doors away. Deputies found him hiding in a bathtub three hours later.

The suspect, who was on parole and had prior arrests for convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, burglary, as well as for gun and drug crimes, was charged with first degree murder and faces the death penalty.

In April 2007 the suspect was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death.

Six months prior to this incident, Deputy Ortiz’s brother-in-law, Corrections Officer Manuel A. Gonzalez, of the California Department of Corrections, was stabbed to death by a gang member inmate at California Institution for Men in Chino.

Deputy Ortiz had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for 15 years and was assigned to the Anti-Gang Unit. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and mother. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.



The Jerry Ortiz Memorial Boxing Gym and Fitness Center, founded in honor of Deputy Ortiz, stands as a permanent memorial in El Monte. He was an El Monte native. Related Story.

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Man killed in Pasadena motorcycle crash identified

PASADENA — Authorities have identified a 45-year-old Pasadena man who died in a motorcycle crash Saturday afternoon.
Stephen Brian Day was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which took place about 6:25 p.m. on Walnut Street at Meridith Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said. A city of residency was not listed at the coroner’s office, however Pasadena police described him as a local man.
Day was traveling east on Walnut Street when his motorcycle collided with a sedan that was making a left turn from Meridith Avenue onto Walnut Street, Pasadena police Lt. Cheryl Moody said.
Nothing criminal was initially suspected, though the case of the fatal collision remained under investigation.
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Pasadena man killed in motorcycle crash

PASADENA — A Pasadena man died Saturday in a motorcycle crash on Walnut Street, authorities said.
The motorcyclist, a man in his mid-40s, died following the 6:25 p.m. crash in the intersection of Walnut Street and Meridith Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Cheryl Moody said.
He was eastbound on Walnut Street when he collided with a small sedan that was making a left turn from Meredith Avenue onto Walnut Street, the lieutenant said.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, she said, however nothing criminal was initially suspected.
The driver of the car, a Pasadena man who appeared to be in his 60s, was not injured, Moody said.
The intersection remained closed Saturday night at police investigated the scene of the crash.
The fatal collision was the first motorcycle fatality in the city in more than a year and a half, officials said.
On Sunday, Pasadena police will crack down on motorcycle safety during a pre-planned enforcement campaign.
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UPDATED: Pasadena police to crack down on motorcycle safety Sunday

PASADENA – Police will field extra officers Sunday in a crackdown targeted at motorcycle safety, officials said.
“Additional officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur,” Pasadena police said in a written statement.
“Officers are looking for drivers and riders who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists as well as other vehicle drivers that can lead to motorcycle collisions, injuries and fatalities,” the statement said.
A Pasadena man died Saturday evening after colliding with a car on his motorcycle at the intersection of Walnut Street and Meredith Avenue, according to Lt. Cheryl Moody.
It was the first motorcycle fatality in the city in more than a year and a half, officials said. The safety crackdown was planned prior to the crash.
Following a steady decade of increasing motorcycle fatalities statewide, from 204 in 1998 to 560 in 2008, the trend is reversing, officials said.
Officials saw a 29.6 percent decrease in motorcycle fatalities across the state in 2009, down to 394. Preliminary data from 2010 indicates motorcyclist deaths continued to drop another 10 percent to 353.
For information on motorcycle safety training, visit the California Motorcyclist Safety Program online at www.CA-msp.org, or call 877-743-3411.
Funding for Sunday’s enforcement campaign is being provided by a grant from California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Man stabbed near Azusa

AZUSA — A man showed up at a hospital late Friday following a stabbing in a residential neighborhood in an unincorporated county area near Azusa, authorities said.
Few details were available regarding the 11:45 p.m. attack in the area of Renwick Road and Rockvale Avenue, as the the victim did not appear to be fully cooperating with investigators, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Kirk Smith.
He told investigators he was standing outside when he was approached by four attackers, described only as male, Smith said. One of them stabbed him.
The victim suffered a stab wound to his abdomen and was taken by a friend to an area hospital, the sergeant said.
The investigation was ongoing.
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Pasadena police talk suicidal woman down from Colorado Street Bridge

PASADENA — Two officers convinced a despondent woman not to jump off the Colorado Street bridge Friday night.
The 32-year-old Pasadena woman was taken to a hospital for observation, according to Lt. Cheryl Moody.
A friend of the woman called Pasadena police around 7:30 p.m. Moody said the woman had called her friend to say she was on the bridge.
The woman was standing on the other side of the safety gate when police showed up, Moody said. The department’s crisis negotiation team was called in.
She said Officers Darryl Harris and Marco Tudic, who are members of the team, arrived and began talking to the woman.
“The negotiation lasted two hours. She came back over the fence and (to) safety,” Moody said.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Cyclist robbed of bike at Charter Oak Park

COVINA — A bicyclist lost his blue BMX bike to a robber in a gray hat on Friday.
The robbery happened at 4:49 p.m. at Charter Oak Park, 20261 E. Covina Blvd. which is in the unincorporated county area near Covina.
Sheriff’s Lt. David Vega said the bicyclist was pulled off the bicycle by the suspect. The victim hit his head when he fell, Vega said.
The robber was last seen with the bicycle heading south on Bonnie Cove Avenue.
Vega said the bicyclist wasn’t taken to a hospital.
The suspect was described as a Latino, 15 to 18, 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 150 pounds. He wore a dark gray shirt, blue jeans and a gray hat.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Authorities search for missing man in Angeles National Forest

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST — The Montrose Search and Rescue looked for a missing Bakersfield man after a sport utility vehicle was discovered Friday afternoon at Stonyvale picnic area in Big Tujunga Canyon.

Sheriff’s Lt. Brian Fitch said a gray Mitsubishi Outlander was found about 2 p.m. which turned out to be associated with Ergun Ertug, 32, who was reported missing out of Bakerfield on June 20.
The Outlander is listed to a company called Incremental Oil and Gas, according to Fitch.
He said the team called off the search Friday night but will resume looking Saturday morning assisted by scent dogs.
A LinkedIn profile for an Ergun Ertug lists him as a petroleum engineer for Incremental Oil and Gas.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Corruption case wiretap details sex, drugs and other scams in tiny town of Cudahy

I like to call the region surrounding the 710 Freeway “The Corruption Corridor.”

Towns in the region include Montebello, Bell, Southgate, Mayhwood, Huntington Park, Bell Gardens and Vernon.
Then there’s tiny Cudahy. Never been there? Well that’s probably because you weren’t looking for  prostitutes, marijuana or trying to scam customer of your tow company.
The FBI on Friday announced a corruption probe into three member of the Cudahy City Council. All were accused of taking bribes in exchange for approving the establishment of a Medical marijuana dispensary. A lot of the dirt is in a affidavit filed in support of the case. Take a look.  Here’s a link. It’s great reading and a fascinating window into public corruption in Los Angeles County:
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