Category Archives: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Sheriff’s deputies focus extra resources on buses, trains during 9/11 anniversary

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Extra sheriff’s deputies and resources will keep an eye on the county’s buses and trains Sunday during the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for patrolling the buses and trains of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“Although there have been no specific threats against the transit system for 9/11, the sheriff’s department and Metro are committed to the safety of their patrons, will remain vigilant and exert every effort to curtail any potential threat to the system and the riding public,” sheriff’s Metro Transit Services Bureau Capt. Dan Cruz said in a written statement.
More than 723,000 people board Metro buses and trains on an average Sunday, officials said. Metro railways extend 79.1 miles through the county.
Cruz asked anyone who sees suspicious activity at any Metro station or on any train or bus to report it immediately by calling (888) 950-7233. Tips can also be left anonymously with L.A. Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-8477.

Sheriff’s Department to host golf tournament

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LA HABRA HEIGHTS — Sheriff’s officials are hosting a golf tournament Monday to raise money for youth drug education, officials said.
The tournament will begin with registration at 9 a.m. with an 11 a.m. shotgun start at the Hacienda Golf Club, 718 East Road, in La Habra Heights, organizers said in a written statement.
“This tournament is designed to be fun and unique, while raising funds for the STAR (Success Through Awareness & Resistance) program, which educates children on the dangers of drugs, gangs and violence,” according to the statement. The STAR program partners with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, school districts, teachers and parents throughout Los Angeles County. 
“This year we have some on-course surprises planned that are sure to have people talking,” tournament co-coordinator Deputy Robert Amstutz said. “I don’t want to give too much away, but we will be doing the longest drive competition with handcuffs.”
“We are trying to offer a golf experience that will be fun and challenging for all levels of golfers, while getting the message out about the importance of helping the youth in our communities,” tournament coordinator, Deputy Cesar Romero said. “This year, more than ever, we need to raise funds to keep the program running in our schools.” 
Player spots and sponsorships are available, officials said, with tee sponsorships beginning at $100. Player spots include golf, a tee bag, lunch, on-course prizes, a buffet dinner including tri-tip steak and chicken, a silent and live auction, a raffle and a comedy show.
For more information or to sign up for the tournament, call the sheriff’s STAR Unit office at 562-946-7263.

Los Angeles, San Bernardino county deputies accused molestation of minors

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As seen below, deputies in both the Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties sheriff’s departments are now facing allegations of committing sex acts with underage girls. In the Los Angeles County case, the alleged victim is a 16-year-old relative of the deputy. In San Bernardino County, two deputies are accused of having sex with a 17-year-old Explorer Scout:
Statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office:
LONG BEACH – A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy accused of engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl is expected to be arraigned this afternoon, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Deborah Escobar of the Justice System Integrity Division said Orlando Denison, 34 (dob 8/16/76), is charged with two felony counts of oral copulation of a person under 18.
Denison is expected to appear for arraignment in Department J of Long Beach Superior Court. The defendant was charged on May 5 in case No. NA088848 in a felony complaint for arrest warrant.
Officers of the Long Beach Police Department arrested Denison without incident at his residence yesterday afternoon. The alleged offenses, which occurred in July 2010, involve a female relative who was 16 at the time.
If convicted as charged, Denison faces a maximum sentence of three years, eight months in state prison. Bail for the defendant is recommended at $100,000.
From our counterparts at the San Bernardino Sun:
VICTORVILLE — Another San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of committing sex acts with a child in the department’s explorer program, officials announced today.

Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Benjamin, 30, a supervisor of the program in Victorville, was arrested late Wednesday and posted $100,000 bail this morning, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said.

Investigators suspect the sex acts occurred while the victim, a 17-year-old girl, was on ride-alongs with the deputy.

Sheriff Rod Hoops said the explorer ride-along program will be suspended for 60 days and the entire program will be fully reviewed and overhauled.

Benjamin is the second deputy in less than two weeks to be arrested on suspicion of having sex with a child in the program.

Deputy Nathan Gastineau, 30, based at the sheriff’s Highland station, was arrested in late April on suspicion of committing lewd acts with a child. Jason Anguiano, 27, of Rialto, suspected of having sex with the same girl, also was arrested.

Deputies involved in Christmas party brawl in Montebello file suit against sheriff’s department

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From City News Service:

LOS ANGELES — Two Los Angeles County deputies allegedly attacked by other deputies at a Christmas party allege the department fosters an atmosphere of “lawlessness” among staffers at Men’s Central Jail, according to their federal civil rights lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The complaint by deputies Chris Vasquez and Elizario Perez alleges that the sheriff’s department is “inadequate” in disciplining and controlling deputies, “particularly with respect to illegal acts and acts of excessive force.”
The lawsuit names Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles County and seven deputies, most of whom were apparently assigned to the third floor of Men’s Central Jail, where a gang-like clique of employees had formed, the plaintiffs claim.
The complaint stems from a Christmas party last year at the Quiet Cannon banquet hall in Montebello, where Vasquez and Perez were apparently involved in a fight with a half-dozen deputies.
The seven deputies named in the suit are Alfonso Andrade, Hernan Delgado, Joseph Gonzalez, Juan Navarro, Jeffrey Rivera, Mauricio Rodriguez and Jason Snyder.
As a result of the Christmas altercation, Vasquez and Perez suffer from lasting physical injuries and “mental anguish,” according to the lawsuit.
Sheriff’s department spokesman Steve Whitmore said the department has dealt with the incident “expeditiously,” adding that “six people are facing termination.”
He also denied allegations that the department encourages “lawlessness” among jail staffers.
“There is absolutely no atmosphere of violence” among deputies, Whitmore said.
“We are looking forward to telling the whole story (in court),” he said.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages and court costs.

Sheriff’s online crime info unavailable as department replaces software

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Online public crime information from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is temporarily unavailable as the agency switches to a new crime reporting software, officials said.
For more than a year, the sheriff’s department has provided limited information about the type, time and locations of crimes reported to the department via the website Crimereports.com. Several other Los Angeles County agencies, including the Baldwin Park, Covina and Whittier police, also provide crime information to the public via Crimereports.com.
The department has elected to start using a new system, effective this weekend, officials said, and the process has had the unintended consequence of no online crime information being posted on Crimereports.com since April 18.
“We don’t know what the glitch was, but we’re going to get it fixed,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Michael Parker said.
“It was supposed to be seamless,” Parker added of the transition between crime reporting systems.
The sheriff’s department has paid for services from Crimereports.com through Saturday, Parker said, so it was unclear why crime data is no longer being updated. Once informed of the issue, authorities began looking into it.
Starting this weekend, Parker said, sheriff’s officials will post crime data on the website Crimemapping.com, which is already used by agencies including Pasadena, Los Angeles, Arcadia and Sab Gabriel police.
When sheriff’s data begins to show up on Crimemapping.com this weekend, Parker said, it will likely take a week or two to work out all the bugs.
“We expect glitches, because that’s what happens when you do a big transition,” he said.
Once in place, Crimamapping.com will retroactively pull all crime data from the previous six months
The switch is designed to provide better information to the public at a reduced cost to the sheriff’s department, Parker said.
“We have changed systems because we found a system that was less expensive and was able to provide more information to public,” he said.

Sheriff’s crime maps go missing

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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has apparently stopped updating the public about crime via Crimereports.com.
The online system, which allows residents to view maps indicating what crimes have been reported in a selected area, has been hailed by community members and officials alike as a way to keep the public informed about the activities of the sheriff’s department and state of crime in their own neighborhoods.
After many months of consistent data, which officials explain is sent automatically from station computers to the Crimereports.com servers, the information has dried up.
A search of Crimereports.com over the past seven days indicated not a single call for service or reported crime in areas patrolled by the sheriff’s department.
Other police agencies who make use of Crimereports.com continue to be updated as usual.
No information about the change was available late Wednesday, and it was not clear if the data is being omitted intentionally or because of technical problems.

Sheriff Lee Baca thanks emergency dispatchers

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Statement from Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca:
Often Heard But Not Seen: National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
The challenging work of public safety telecommunicators is being acknowledged this week during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
Telecommunicators efforts to protect the public are heard but not seen every day when members of the community call their local sheriff’s or police station seeking help. Dispatchers and 9-1-1 operators are the ‘behind the scenes’ link between those in need and those that can help.
At least one week every year, we celebrate and honor our Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department dispatchers by recognizing their contributions to helping keep the people of the Los Angeles County safe.
Please take a moment and say thank you if you happen to talk to a telecommunicator.
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (April 10-16, 2011) was established by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office in 1981 to raise awareness of the hard work and dedication of 9-1-1 calltakers, dispatchers and other telecommunications staff. These include the technicians that maintain radio and emergency phone systems, those that train communications staff and the supervisors and managers of communications centers across the country. Telecommunicators provide a vital link to the public safety services on which Americans rely every day.
Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Retired sheriff’s deputy pleads no contest to embezzling towing fees from City of La Puente

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Statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office:


LOS ANGELES - A retired sheriff’s deputy accused of embezzling half a million dollars from the City of La Puente pleaded no contest today and will be sentenced to three years in state prison, the District Attorney’s office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Amy Pellman Pentz with the Justice System Integrity Division said Joseph Dyer, 56, pleaded no contest to one felony count of public officer crime before Judge Stephen Marcus. He returns to court on May 31 for sentencing.

Dyer and his wife, Lydia Dyer, 47, were indicted in July 2009 on charges that he stole nearly $500,000 in tow fees from La Puente and they failed to report that money on their tax returns.

As a sheriff’s deputy, Dyer supervised the impound program at LASD’s Industry Station and collected towing fees from residents. Between June 2001 to December 2007, he stole money that should have been paid to the City of La Puente.

The indictment charged Dyer with grand theft, embezzlement and public officer crime. In addition, he and his wife were charged with five counts of filing false tax returns.

Pentz said Lydia Dyer pleaded no contest today to a reduced charge of misdemeanor filing a false tax return. She was immediately sentenced to 12 months summary probation.

As a condition of their plea, Pentz said the couple today repaid the Sheriff’s Department $554,588, which included the loss plus $100,000 to help reimburse the LASD for the cost of the investigation.

They also paid $44,149 in back taxes to the state Franchise Tax Board on March 10.

Jailed con-artists running phone scams from behind bars

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Being locked up behind bars is apparently not stopping some criminals from victimizing innocent members of the public, authorities said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials warned the public Saturday to be ware of jail inmates who have been tricking people into paying for collect and long distance calls.
By conning unsuspecting victims into dialing *72, followed by a phone number being used by the inmate, inmates have been able to have collect and long distance phone calls forwarded to their own phones at the victims’ expense, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
“The increasing pattern was noticed by deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who have been receiving an increasing number of phone calls from people who have been scammed,” officials said.
In the scam, an inmate calls a victim pretending to be a sheriff’s deputy, officials said.
The imposter then claims that a family member of the person has been arrested or in an accident, and that the victim was listed as an emergency contact.
The inmate then instructs the victim to call *72, and then a phone number, for more information.
Upon calling the number, the victim is told they have the wrong number.
With many phone carriers, dialing “*72″ with a phone number causes calls to be forwarded from your phone to the phone number entered afterward, investigators said.
If it goes unnoticed, the inmates can build up costly phone bills by taking their via forwarding from a victim’s phone number.
“Do not dial *72 unless you want to forward your calls,” according to the sheriff’s statement.
In addition to sheriff’s officials, the California Public Utilities Commission has also issued a warning about the scam.
The commission and sheriff’s officials advised those who have been received the scam calls to immediately cancel call forwarding services on their phone lines and dispute the charges with their phone company.
The calls can be reported on the California Public Utilities Commission’s consumer hotline at 800-649-7570.