Surveillance Cameras Unveiled in Watts
To hear the news conference, click here: Jordan Downs News conference
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To hear the news conference, click here: Jordan Downs News conference
Like the police officers that patrol Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles, I am truly disappointed with American Civil Liberties Union President Ramona Ripston's complete distortion of our efforts to stem the lawlessness, suffering, and human misery that was commonplace on Skid Row a few months ago. I am deeply disturbed Ms. Ripston implied our officers violate the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold and protect. I am also perplexed, because just last year, Ms. Ripston herself walked Skid Row streets with our officers, rode around in a Black and White, and personally witnessed the horrific conditions under which our most vulnerable citizens survived. How soon she forgot!
She forgot that 3800 parolees, 300+ registered sex offenders, convicted murderers, rapists, and robbers call the 50 square blocks of Skid Row home. She forgot the dealers dangling drugs in front of people trying to "kick" drugs, the myriad of predators hiding among the street dwelling population, preying on the weak, addicted, and mentally ill. Fortunately, the terrible culture of lawlessness that was once the norm on Skid Row is quickly becoming a nightmare of the past.
Despite the thwarting efforts of the ACLU and other self-appointed "champions," the LAPD will continue to protect the weak and vulnerable on Skid Row, and end the culture of lawlessness. We are succeeding in every dimension. Fewer people are dying of overdoses, Paramedic calls for service are down, crime has plummeted 36% so far this year, and on top of an 18% reduction in 2006, no person wanting a bed has been left on the streets. Furthermore, missions report that more people are seeking beds and treatment, and our Streets or Services (SOS) program is diverting misdemeanor arrestees away from jail into treatment and housing programs. The people living on the street and the people living in the missions, hotels, and apartments in the area report feeling safer, because they are safer. These results show the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI) in Skid Row is working.
Ms. Ripston tells stories of several people on Skid Row who claimed that they were stopped and "harassed" for no reason, and also decries the "jaywalking tickets" written by our officers. Yes, we write jaywalking tickets, just like police throughout Los Angeles. We write traffic tickets to change the behavior of people who choose to ignore the law, not to harass the homeless or anyone else for that matter. Consider that in 2006, 4 out of 6 traffic deaths in downtown (Central Area) were caused by pedestrians in the roadway. So far in 2007, 3 out of 3 traffic deaths downtown were cause by pedestrians in the roadway. When you stand over the dead body of a homeless man, killed because he was jaywalking, suddenly the idea of police officers changing behavior by issuing jaywalking tickets makes sense. I offer no apologies for the traffic enforcement conducted by efforts our officers make to save lives of people. The expectation is that people will obey the law, just like they do in Van Nuys, West LA and San Pedro.
Just a few months ago, the streets of Skid Row were a place where "anything goes." It was a free-for-all, from the open-air drug bizarre with people smoking crack and injecting heroin, to the blatant outdoor acts of prostitution. Today, approximately 1200 people who were dealing (selling heroin or rock cocaine) are in jail. Hundreds of parolees in violation or with open charges are back in prison.
Ms. Ripston asked, "Where did all the homeless people go?" I am sure some people have chosen to go to other communities where they can get continue their criminal behavior. Many other people who used to hang around Skid Row actually had a place to stay; they just chose to stay on Skid Row because of the cheap and plentiful drugs, alcohol and prostitution.
Who would come to Skid row just to hang out? How about Jason Johnson? An Azusa gang member, who last year at 2 A.M. on a Thursday morning, stabbed a Skid Row homeless man to death in a dispute over a bicycle? Johnson lived in Azusa, and had a home, but chose to "hang out" on Skid Row because he liked to smoke rock cocaine and liked the "party" atmosphere. Yes, he is one of the people in prison, where he belongs.
How about Kristi? a woman from a prominent family who found herself addicted to drugs living on the streets of Skid Row. Despite every effort by her family and outreach workers to get her back home or into an apartment, she chose to live on the sidewalk at 5th Street and San Julian, right next to an open shelter with empty beds. She was killed last year: beaten to death on the sidewalk by a drug dealer, probably over a drug debt. He was arrested at the scene by our officers. Her family is devastated.
What kind of other people are our officers arresting on Skid Row? How about Jimmy Lee Smith, who we caught two weeks ago hiding among the homeless on Skid Row? He was arrested for being a parole violator. You may remember him as The Onion Field Killer, and responsible for the murder of LAPD Officer Ian Campbell in the 60s. Or how about Demond Little, an East Coast Crip gang member who was also arrested by our Safer Cities Task Force. Mr. Little was convicted of a home invasion, rape, and murder, and was hiding out on Skid Row as an unregistered sex offender.
Do you want to find out the truth about Skid Row? Do you want to see if our officers are trampling on the civil rights of homeless people? Come down and see for yourself. Walk around and talk to people like our LAPD officers do every day. We take members of the public, City officials and members of the media out to see the reality of Skid Row. And don't take my word on how the homeless are being treated, ask them yourself. Or ask one of the 400 courageous men and women working LAPD's Central Area about life on Skid Row, and the human suffering they see every day.
We are proud of our officers who work the area of Skid Row. We will continue to provide training on all the important issues in dealing with the troubled and troublesome population on Skid Row. Do we need more money for housing, supportive services, and mental health care? Of course we do. Yet, until such resources are available to make a difference, it is the job of the police department to make the Skid Row area safe for the most vulnerable members of our community, and give them the opportunity to recover from their addictions in a supportive environment.
Chief William Bratton has the courage to push forward the Safer Cities Initiative and the courage to take on the problems of Skid Row, despite the constant criticism from people like the ACLU. Chief Bratton's increase of narcotics officers and foot-beat officers in Skid Row is making the community safer than ever. Your LAPD officers are making a difference every day and night walking the walk, protecting the weak, mentally ill, and less fortunate. When I "walk the walk" with my officers on Skid Row, I like to remind them of the quote from President Teddy Roosevelt, "It's not the critic who counts." The reality is…. LAPD Central Officers are the ones that count, and make a difference to the community on Skid Row every day.
Captain Andrew Smith
Central Area Commanding Officer
Los Angeles: Detectives announced the February 1, 2007, arrest of a San Pedro man for possession of child pornography. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed one count of distributing child pornography, and nine counts of possessing material depicting minors engaging in sexual conduct.
A search warrant and arrest at Michael Dennis Hecker’s San Pedro apartment ended a three-month investigation against the 52-year-old manager for a local gas distributor.
“What’s different about this case is how we caught him,” said LAPD spokesman
Lieutenant Paul Vernon. “Computer software have extended the long-arm
of the law to place that child predators might otherwise think they are
safe to operate.”
The LAPD’s Juvenile Division has a specialized unit called the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICACU). Detectives recently began using a file-sharing network program that allows them to monitor persons who log into internet websites. Detectives were able to watch as Hecker downloaded known child pornography. Detectives were able to get a search warrant for Hecker’s IP address, from which they found his home address and obtained a second search warrant.
Detectives seized 47 DVDs and 37 CDs containing thousands of movies and still photography of children engaged in sexual acts with other children and adults. On the day of his arrest, Hecker posted the $20,000 bail and was released. His bail was raised to $100,000 on March 13, after the charges were filed. Hecker was able to post the additional bail immediately and remains free pending a preliminary hearing.
Media interested in a demonstration of the monitoring program can see a demonstration of it by calling Detective Brian Arnett at 213-847-5358.
Los Angeles: A 13-year-old boy from South Los Angeles was charged yesterday with dog fighting, a felony punishable with up to three years in prison. It is the first felony filing for the Los Angeles Animal Cruelty Task Force (LAACTF), which is a joint operation between city Animal Services, the LAPD and the City Attorney's Office.
"This was a serious example of animal cruelty," said Detective Susan Brumagin, who is part of the LAACTF. "What makes it more tragic was that children were the organizers and spectators at this dog fight. The scariest part is that animal cruelty by children often morphs into human cruelty as adults."
Two days ago, March 12, patrol officers from the Southeast Police Station came upon a dog fight in an alley near 113th Street and Grape Street in Watts. "What made this a crime was that it was a staged blood sport."
A 13-year-old boy was arrested as he tried to run away with an injured Pitbull on a chain. Another boy was trying to lift a second injured Pitbull over a wall. Animal Control officers rescued both dogs, but the dozen-or-so spectators got way.
Both dogs were treated for severe bite injuries to their heads, necks, and legs. Both are expected to recover.
The young arrestee was detained at Los Padrinos Juvenile Detention Facility, and he will remain there for now since the District Attorney's Office filed the detention petition. He will be tried in juvenile court.
Blood sports, like dog fighting and cock fighting, are illegal in California. Persons with information about blood sports or mistreated animals are encouraged to call the LAACTF at 213-847-1417. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
Los Angeles: Chief of Police William Bratton today announced the following transfers and promotions of LAPD Command Staff:
• Captain Bill Fierro, currently Commanding Officer at Hollenbeck Area, has been promoted to Commander. He will become Executive Officer of the Office of Support Services (OSS).
• Captain Jerry Szymanski, currently Commanding Officer of Narcotics Division, has been promoted to Commander. He will become Assistant Commanding Officer of Operations Valley Bureau (OVB).
• Captain Joan McNamara, currently Commanding Officer of Harbor Area, has been promoted to Commander. She will become Assistant Commanding Officer at Counter Terrorism Bureau.
In addition, the following officers have been promoted to the rank of Captain:
• Captain I Thomas Brascia
• Captain I Justin Eisenberg
• Captain I Beatrice Girmala
• Captain I Lenny Hundshamer
• Captain I Dave Lindsey
• Captain I Evengelyn Nathan
• Captain I Rigoberto Romero
• Captain I Steve Ruiz
• Captain I William Scott
Finally, the command officers listed below have been upgraded to the ranks indicated:
• Captain III Dave Baca
• Captain III Joel Justice
• Captain III Bob Green
• Captain III Greg Hall
• Captain III William Hayes
• Captain III Jose Perez
• Captain III Anita Ortega
• Captain II Joe Hiltner
• Captain II John Incontro
• Captain II Fabain Lizzaragga
• Captain II Joe Mariani
• Captain II Regina Scott
• Captain II Mike Williams
Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.
Los Angeles: Detectives arrested two men and one woman yesterday after solving an Echo Park robbery in which 3,000 scratcher lottery tickets were taken from a small store. The suspects were identified in an unusual way when the woman tried to redeem some of the tickets the same day, but at a different store in Cypress Park.
"High-quality surveillance video played a big roll in identifying the suspects," said Lieutenant Tom Brascia of the Central Police Station. "But it was a clever detective who thought to take the footage of the woman redeeming the tickets to a local elementary school."
Just after 6 PM on February 20, 2007, two men robbed Sunny's Market, located at 1033 Alpine Street, just above China Town. Video of the robbery showed the robbers' brutality and brazenness. They beat the elderly owner as his wife watched and took $400 in cash and 3,000 lotto tickets.
Unbeknownst to the robbers, the tickets have serial numbers, which were reported to the Lottery Commission. A few hours later, a woman tried to redeem a $15 winning scratcher ticket in Cypress Park. The lottery system alerted the store owner, who called police.
Footage from the Cypress Park store showed a small boy accompanying the woman. Police assumed it was the woman's son. Detective Peter Lee took a novel approach and showed the picture to officials at local elementary schools. One school administrator recognized the child and identified the mother, too. After a few days of confirming the information, detectives got a search warrant and served it on March 13, 2007.
The family lived near the school. When detectives searched the home, they found scratched lottery tickets discarded behind the couch and others yet to be scratched. The mother was identified as Leticia Garcia, 29. Her husband turned out to be one of the robbers from Sunny's Market, 32-year-old Jesus Gonzalez. Further investigation led detectives to the second robber, Alberto Hernandez, 32, who lived a few blocks away.
Hernandez, Gonzalez, and Garcia were booked for robbery. Over 60 lotto tickets were seized, along with a starter's pistol. One suspect appeared to be armed in the robbery video.
Garcia's children were placed with relatives by social workers with the Department of Children and Family Services.
Los Angeles: Detectives identified 34-year-old David Weisman as the man police shot after he charged officers with a twelve inch knife, Monday morning, March 13, 2007. Weisman later died at a local hospital.
The confrontation occurred at around 12:45 AM when two police officers from the North Hollywood Police Station were called to a residence in the 5000 block of Cahuenga Boulevard for a domestic violence incident in which the suspect was reportedly armed.
Officer Jeff Beck, 36, 11 years and 7 months with the Department, and his partner, Officer Paul Tajii, 25, 1 year 9 months with the Department, met with a person at the location who said Weisman had assaulted him. The Officers attempted to contact Weisman who refused to open the door. After obtaining a key from the apartment manager, Officer's Beck and Tajii entered the apartment and encountered Weisman who was armed with a large knife. Weisman refused to comply with the Officers commands to drop the knife and instead lunged toward Officer Beck holding the knife. Officer Beck fired two shots striking Weisman in the upper torso. Weisman was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Hospital at 1:20 AM.
Police recovered the 12-13 inch knife used by Weisman at the scene. Neither officer was injured in the incident.
Force Investigation Division will investigate the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at 213-485-4011. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department announced the culmination last February of a major narcotics investigation, which netted 31 arrests, nearly a dozen guns, and narcotics by the pound, including heroin, valued at over $1 million on the street.
"Our target was the 5th and Hill criminal street gang," said LAPD Captain Andrew Smith. "With these arrests, we have cut off the gang's head. Local heroin addicts are finding it much harder to find someone to sell them a balloon."
Local narcotics and gang officers worked for 10 months, focusing on the gang and its leadership. They identified Pedro Sanchez-Limon as the gang's presumptive leader and major supplier; Alberto Blanco, "El Morro," as its transporter; Jamie Chacon Diaz, "Archie," as the gang's accountant; and Abel Flores, "Barbas," as the gang's enforcer. In addition, detectives arrested two women, Lourdes Valdez and Ruth Segura, who processed and packaged heroin for the gang.
Sanchez-Limon and Diaz had been deported previously but reentered the US illegally. Blanco had been twice deported. All four gang leaders have long criminal histories dating back to the 1980s.
The 5th and Hill gang formed in the 1970s from a group of day laborers and transients who began robbing pedestrians near 5th and Hill Streets in downtown Los Angeles. The gang transitioned to heroin sales in the 1980s and has been the major suppliers of heroin in Skid Row and the surrounding blocks since then.
In addition to arresting the major leadership, detectives arrested 25 more members and associates for a variety of narcotics and weapons-related charges. Police seized six handguns, 2 shotguns, and 2 rifles. They also booked $250,000 in cash, 85 pounds of tar heroin, most of it packaged into 45,000 balloons ready for sale. Detectives also nabbed 3 pounds of methamphetamine and 5 pounds of cocaine. The heroin alone was valued at $1.5 million on the street.
Los Angeles: Two Crenshaw High School students were hit by a car and seriously injured Tuesday morning while crossing the street.
On March 13, 2007, at around 7:35 a.m., a 14-year-old male juvenile and his 19-year-old female friend were crossing the street at Slauson Avenue and 11th Avenue. According to eyewitnesses, the pair were walking inside the marked crosswalk.
The motorist was identified as a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles. He was interviewed and released. Detectives say the investigation is ongoing.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital. The youth was listed in critical condition and his companion was said to be in stable condition.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call South Traffic Division, Detective Jones at 323-290-6064. On weekends or during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
Los Angeles: Los Angeles police detectives are asking for the public's help in finding any witnesses who may have seen the shooting death of a Glendale man.
On March 12, 2007, at about 5:55 AM, officers responded to a radio broadcast of a dead body at the 6700 block of Mulholland Drive.
Upon their arrival, officers met with Fire Department personnel who advised them that the victim had received multiple gunshot wounds and had died from his injuries.
The victim was identified as Akop Akopyan, a 24-year-old resident of Glendale, CA.
No suspects were seen and the motive for the murder is unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to call Hollywood Division Homicide Detectives at 213-972-2910. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
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