LAPD Blog

Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested

Los Angeles: Northeast Sex Crime Detectives arrested a sexual assault suspect believed to be responsible for an attack that had occurred a month ago.

On July 26, 2008, at around 5:30 AM, a 23-year old woman was kidnapped from a bus stop at the intersection of Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards.  The suspect forced the woman into his car and drove her to a secluded area.  The suspect then sexually assaulted the victim, took her property, and drove off.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic, 18 to 22 years of age, with a mustache.  He stands 5’ 7” to 5’ 8”, and weighs approximately 140 lbs.  The suspect’s car was a dark blue, 4-door, 2006-2008 Honda Civic.

Northeast Detectives disseminated a composite drawing of the suspect along with his description and the vehicle information on August 7, 2008. 

On August, 2008, two Northeast Area patrol officers observed a vehicle, which matched the description of the vehicle used by the suspect on the day of the crime.  The owner of the vehicle was subsequently identified and interviewed regarding this matter.  During the interview, Northeast Detectives asked the suspect to provide a DNA sample.  The suspect agreed and a sample was collected.  A DNA comparison was made, resulting in a match. 

On Thursday, August 28, 2008, Northeast Detectives along with personnel from the Northeast Criminal Apprehension Team arrested the suspect at his work location.  The suspect’s vehicle was also recovered and is being held as evidence. 

The suspect has been identified as 25-year old Sergio Hernandez Linares, a Los Angeles resident.  He was booked for 261 P.C. Rape.  His bail was set at $1,100,000.   

Scheme to Sell Fraudulent Section 8 Vouchers Exposed Police Arrest Three Suspects

Los Angeles: This morning, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Rampart Division detectives arrested three people for operating a confidence scheme to sell fraudulent Section 8 housing vouchers. The arrests were part of a joint operation involving LAPD and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

The scam, which was advertised on the Internet at the Craigslist website, promised Section 8 vouchers to renters in exchange for a cash payment of $2,500. Victims were instructed to call a phone number and were then interviewed by someone posing as a HACLA official. Later, if the victim agreed, the “official” would arrange a meeting that was often staged at or near a HACLA facility.

During the meeting, the suspect(s) would show the victim an authentic-looking HACLA identification card and provide a document resembling a Section 8 receipt or voucher in exchange for $2,500. After the transaction, the suspect would vanish and change the listed telephone number. If the victim couldn’t provide the entire $2,500 in one payment, the scheme would continue until all partial payments were made, after which the phone number would be disconnected.

Potential victims may have been quite vulnerable to the scheme because genuine Section 8 vouchers are very much in demand and valuable, enabling those with low-incomes to rent housing for rates far below current market levels.   

To date, at least five of these crimes are known to have been committed, with one of the five occurring in Inglewood. Detectives believe the suspects could be responsible for many more similar crimes because their scheme was advertised on the Internet. Anyone who believes he/she has been a victim or has information about other potential victims, is asked to call LAPD Rampart Detective Division at 213-484-3450. After hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

Possible Robbery Suspect Attacks Officers

Los Angeles: A possible robbery suspect is shot after he hits an arresting officer several times in the head with the handle end of a knife. 

On August 27, at around 12:50 p.m., Northeast Area Patrol Officers Paul Marquez and his partner received a radio call of a “Robbery Just Occurred” at the L.G. Electronics Store in the area of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.  When the officers arrived, they saw a man fitting the description of the robbery suspect walking northbound on Vermont Avenue towards Sunset Boulevard .  The officers ordered the man to stop, but he refused and ran away.  After a short foot pursuit, the officers caught up with the suspect. 

While attempting to take him into custody, the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Anthony Mayfield, pulled out a knife and hit Officer Marquez several times in the head with the handle end of the knife.  Fearing for his safety, Officer Marquez fired several rounds, shooting Mayfield once in his lower body.  Mayfied was transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.  He was booked for Attempted Murder on a Police Officer.  Mayfield’s connection to the robbery is still under investigation.

One of the rounds fired lodged into an MTA bus.  A male passenger on the bus received minor cuts from possible glass fragment and was treated and released at the scene.  Another female passenger was transported to a local hospital for symptoms of anxiety.   

There were no serious injuries to either officer.  Officer Marquez has been with the Department for three years.          

LAPD Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation.   

Accident Results in Multiple Deaths and Injuries

*UPDATE: On August 29, 2008 at around 9:45 a.m., 15-year-old Andrew Cordova died at Huntington Memorial Hospital as a result of the injuries he sustained after Wednesday night’s traffic collision.  The LA County District Attorney filed four counts of Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence against 19-year-old Rostislav Shnayder. *

Los Angeles: A late night traffic collision claimed three lives and an unborn child and critically injured two others.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2008, at around 10:35 p.m., the traffic collision occurred at Colorado Boulevard and Highland View Avenue in Eagle Rock.  As a result of the collision, the driver, 19-year old Cristyn Nicole Cordova, of Eagle Rock, was killed instantly, as was Tony Marie Cordova, the driver’s 16-year old sister, who was riding in the left rear seat of the Nissan Maxima that Cristyn was driving.  Jason Timothy Gomez Hernandez, 19, a family friend, who was seated in the center rear of the Nissan, was ejected from the vehicle and killed instantly.  Toni Cordova, 16, was killed from blunt force trauma.  Andrew Cordova, 15, who had been seated in the right rear of the vehicle, was also ejected and sustained multiple serious injuries.  He is currently listed in critical condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Carlos Alberto Campos, Cristyn’s 19-year old boyfriend, and the father of her unborn child, was riding in the right front seat of the Maxima, and was also ejected from the vehicle.  Carlos Campos suffered multiple fractures and is in critical condition at Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Another vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Eclipse, driven by 19-year old Rostislav Shnayder, of Eagle Rock, was also seenspeeding while travelling westbound on Colorado Boulevard, near the Nissan Maxima.  A contact occurred between the Nissan and Mitsubishi immediately prior to the fatal collision.  Shnayder remained at the scene and attempted to render aid to the occupants of the Nissan.

The investigation of the traffic collision is ongoing.  Preliminary witness statements and physical evidence indicate that the Nissan and the Mitsubishi were speeding as they travelled westbound on Colorado Boulevard.  Although we believe that excess speed was a primary factor in this collision, there is no evidence that the involved persons or vehicles were engaged in an organized speed competition.  There is no indication that Shnayder was impaired by drugs or alcohol.

Shnayder has been arrested and booked for 187 PC (Murder). 

Anyone with information is requested to contact Central Traffic Division, Detective Padilla, at 213-972-1825.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics August 27, 2008

VIOLENT CRIMES                2008**             2007**          % Chg

Homicide                             240*                261             -8.0%
Rape                                    497                 591           -15.9%
Robbery                              8316               8743             -4.9%
Agg Assaults **                    7907               8460             -6.5%
Total Violent Crimes       16,960           18,055            -6.1%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                             12093              12755            -5.2%
BTFV                                 18921              19977            -5.3%
Personal/Other Theft         17186              17697            -2.9%
Auto Theft                         14181              15262            -7.1%
Total Property Crimes    62,381            65,691           -5.0%
Total Part I Crimes         79,341            83,746           -5.3%

* Numbers reflects a change in reclassification for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) guidelines and numbers are adjusted accordingly.

** Prior to 2005, Aggravated Assaults included Child/Spousal Simple Assaults

Police Capture South Los Angeles Serial Robber

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police arrested 25-year-old Nicholas Reid, who had been identified as a suspect in a series of armed robberies in South Los Angeles, on Friday, August 22, 2008.

The crimes occurred from August 8th to the 21st in Baldwin Village.  Reid was known to approach victims on the street and demand their money and property at gunpoint.  The victims ranged in age from 33 to 61.  Reid robbed four men and four women, all of the victims were Baldwin Village residents.

On August 22, 2008 at about 10:35 p.m., Reid struck again.  The suspect attempted to rob a woman at gunpoint.  Officers responded to Baldwin Village and officers saw a man matching the suspect description from community alert fliers and the radio broadcast.  He was detained and was identified by a victim as the person who tried to rob her at gunpoint.

The vehicle used in one of the robberies was found unoccupied with the engine running.  A handgun was also recovered from the street.  Several robbery victims identified the gun or a similar type gun used by Reid during the robberies. 

Reid, a Baldwin Village resident himself, was booked for attempt robbery and is being held on $100,000 bail.  On August 26, 2008 the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed four counts of robbery, four counts of attempted robbery and seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon (a handgun) against Reid. 

Investigators believe there may be additional victims or witnesses and are asking for anyone with information to call Detective Richard Record at 213-485-2415.  After hours and on weekends, please call the 24-hour Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

Suspect Resists Arrest, Is Bit by Police Dog

Los Angeles: A suspect attempting to elude police was bitten by a police dog (K9), while resisting arrest.

On August 19, 2008, at around 12:30 p.m., Newton Area Officers responded to a radio call of an assault with a deadly weapon that had just occurred in the area of 42nd Street and Ascot Avenue.  When the Officers got to the scene they saw two possible suspects in a car.  As the Officers began to approach the suspects in the 1000 block of 43rd Place, both suspects jumped out of the vehicle and began running from the police.

Christian Daniel Garcia, 18, was immediately captured and taken into custody without incident.  The second suspect, Ranseri Estrada, 20 years old, was found only after a perimeter was established and Metropolitan Division K9 and handlers responded to assist in the search. 

During the search, Officer Dave Stambaugh, 19 years, 4 months with the Los Angeles Police Department, and his K9 Partner "Kevin" located the suspect hiding inside a storage shed to the rear of 1015 East 43rd Place.  When the suspect refused to submit to arrest,"Kevin" made contact with the suspect who was then taken into custody without further incident.

Estrada was transported to a local hospital where he received medical treatment for injuries to his right arm.  He and Garcia were both arrested and booked for attempt murder.  Their bail was set at $500,000.

Neither Officer Stambaugh nor his K9 partner were injured.

Force Investigation Division is handling the use of force investigation.  Newton Area Detectives are investigating the crime of Assault with a Deadly Weapon. 

Off-Duty Officer Involved in Shooting

Los Angeles: An off-duty LAPD officer was involved in a shooting in an unincorporated area of Lake Elsinore.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, on Monday, August 25, 2008, at around 3:45 p.m., Police Officer Antonio Mendez, 2 years with the Department, was involved in a traffic collision with a man driving a gray Toyota Tundra.  The traffic collision took place on the northbound I-15 freeway near Indian Truck Trail. After the impact, the Toyota Tundra continued to accelerate at a high rate of speed as Mendez followed.  The Toyota exited the freeway at Dos Lagos Drive and pulled into a parking lot at Temescal Canyon Road.  Both drivers exited their vehicle and a verbal confrontation ensued.  Mendez attempted to detain the suspect and there was an officer involved shooting.  A single round was fired striking the Toyota’s driver in the upper body.

Officer Mendez is currently assigned to the Office of Operations.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department, Force Investigation Division is handling the Administrative Investigation and the California Highway Patrol is handling all traffic related investigations.

Police Nab Home Invasion Robbery Suspect

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police have captured a man suspected in 15 home invasion robberies throughout West Los Angeles.

Acting on information supplied by the Beverly Hills Police Department, detectives from Robbery Homicide Division focused on Jefferey Langford, 53, as a person of interest.  Langford had an extensive criminal record and was known to target his victims in the West Los Angeles area.

On August 22, 2008, at around 3:30 a.m., Special Investigation Section (SIS) detectives observed Lanford casing locations within the target area and arrested him.  Evidence recovered at the arrest scene was analyzed and linked Langford to previous robberies.

Since May 27, 2008, Langford is believed to be responsible for 15 robberies.  All of the victims were between the age of 70 and 97, most living alone.  The majority of the robberies occurred between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and were perpetrated by an African American man wearing a ski mask and gloves. The suspect made entry by prying open windows with a screwdriver.  Once he entered the home, he awakened his victims, demanded cash, jewelry, and other small items of value, and then fled.

At least 12 of the robberies occurred in West Los Angeles, and several others in neighboring cities of Santa Monica and Culver City.

The investigation is ongoing and detectives look to link Langford to more robberies.

Langford was booked for robbery and is being held on $2,700,000 bail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Robbery Homicide Division Detectives Tracey Benjamin or Jason DeLaCova at 213-485-2511.  On weekends and off hours, call the toll free Detective Information Desk at 1(877) LAWFULL (529-3855).

Reseda Park Shooting Suspect Sought

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are asking for the public's help in locating a violent murder suspect.

On Saturday, August 23, 2008 at about 10:30 in the morning, West Valley Division officers responded to a call of a shooting in progress at Reseda Park located at Reseda boulevard and Victory Boulevard.  The officers found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.  One victim, identified as 28-year-old Kyree Rasheen McCray was transported to Northridge Medical Center where he died.  The second victim, a 20-year-old male was struck in the stomach and underwent surgery.  He remains hospitalized in stable condition. 

The suspect involved in this shooting has been identified as 20-year-old Andrew Lee Thomas Jr. Thomas is described as a male, black, 5'8" tall and weighs about 150 pounds. 

Thomas is considered armed and dangerous. A possible weapon used is a .38 caliber revolver. 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of this suspect or involving this case is asked to contact West Valley Homicide Detectives at (818) 374-7725.  After hours and on weekends calls may be directed to the 24-hour toll free number, 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).