LAPD Blog

Chief’s Message - January 2009

As we enter a new year, your hard work and dedication continue to drive the Department to the forefront of the law enforcement community.  Through your innovative policing strategies and targeted crime fighting efforts, the City of Los Angeles has enjoyed an unprecedented seven straight years of crime decline.  As the country deals with a major recession and the City faces major budget problems, Angelenos can at least feel assured that if the Department continues with its plan to hire 1,000 additional officers, you will be able to continue to drive down crime, particularly gang crime.

Your achievements over the past year give you much to be proud of.  While the 2008 year end crime numbers have yet to come in, one thing is clear – you continue to have a major impact on crime.  Since 2002, violent crime is down 49%, property crimes have decreased 28% and Part I Crimes have fallen 34%.  In addition, there were over 1,600 fewer shooting victims this year in comparison to the same time period.  Over the past year alone, homicides have dropped 8.7%.  Without a doubt, cops count, police matter – you are the difference.  These reductions are no aberration.  They are the proud results of committed personnel dedicated to the communities it serves – personnel, both sworn and civilian, second to none.

Particularly impressive is your success in the battle against gang crime.  With reductions in nearly every category thus far, you have been able to cutback gang homicides by 27%, aggravated assaults by 15%, shooting victims by 23%, and decrease gang crime overall by 11% since 2007.   Anti-gang strategies such as the Department’s enactment of gang injunctions, establishment of the Top Ten Most Wanted Gang Members list and South Bureau Criminal Gang Homicide Group, and the identification of the City’s “Top Targeted Street Gangs” have proven to be highly successful.  To date, gang arrests have increased 107% since 2002.  The City’s Summer Night Lights anti-gang youth program also delivered the communities surrounding the Summer Night Lights parks remarkable declines after the program’s eight-week run.  In partnering with the community and collaborating with our neighboring local, county, state, and federal colleagues, together, you have delivered remarkable results.  With the announcement of the Department’s new 2009 gang initiatives later this month, I fully expect the numbers to drop even more.  

In the year 2009, we will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Los Angeles Police Department.  2009 will be a year-long commemoration of the LAPD legacy, a legacy which you are all now a part of.  Much like a spectacular fireworks show which slowly builds and intensifies into its grand finale, the Department’s festivities will include monthly celebrations highlighting some of the Department’s finest personnel and outstanding achievements, as well as the opening of the Department’s 20th and 21st area stations, Olympic and Topanga, in January followed by the openings of the Harbor and Hollenbeck replacement stations, new Metro Detention Center and Property Division and City’s Emergency Operations Center.  This year will culminate in November with the long-awaited, history making grand opening of the new Police Administration Building, the most expensive and technologically advanced police facility in the nation.  

What began as a small Department of six officers in 1869 has now grown to nearly 10,000 strong with a force world renowned for its leadership, accomplishments and professionalism.  The LAPD has developed a reputation of excellence among the law enforcement community and is a Department of many firsts, including the first Policewoman, first African American officer, establishing the first municipal crime lab and first Special Weapons and Tactical Unit in the nation.  For 14 decades the Los Angeles Police Department has faithfully and proudly protected and served the City of Los Angeles, and will continue to do so, leading the way as America’s 21st century model for professional and successful policing.

Two Men Shot at Home in the Valley

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the shooting death of 29-year-old Michael Noriega and injuring another.  

On Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at about 8:00 p.m., Noriega, along with a friend were inside a garage in the 8400 block of Amigo Avenue.  Unknown suspects approached the victims and asked what gang they were from.  Suspects then fired multiple gunshots striking both victims.   

Noriega was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.  The second victim was transported to a local hospital with multiple gunshot wounds and is in stable condition.

The suspects are described as two male Hispanics.    

Anyone with information is asked to contact Devonshire Homicide Detectives at 818-832-0537.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org.  All tips will remain anonymous.

Los Angeles Police Department 2009 Gang Initiatives January 2009

2009 Gang Initiatives podcast

The City of Los Angeles is the birthplace of the most notorious and violent street gangs in America. We have exported this brand of urban terrorism throughout the world and become infamous for our contribution to humanity's collective misery. Now is the time to change that image. Just as we became known as the origin of the problem, it is now time that we are recognized as the source of the solution.

In order to create this solution, the Los Angeles Police Department must do two things better than ever before: First, we have to restructure our organization so it can more effectively focus resources on the problem, and we must continue to include our federal and local law enforcements partners in the process. Second, we have to embrace the total solution to gang violence and recognize that just as law enforcement did not create the problem, we cannot view ourselves as the sole solution. That total solution involves prevention to stop the flow of our youth into gangs, intervention to rescue those already involved and interrupt the violence that rocks our communities, suppression to deter criminal acts through effective law enforcement and re-entry to provide an alternative future to gang members returning from incarceration.

We have a convergence of opportunity that may never occur again. There is strong political leadership from Mayor Villaraigosa who has created the Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) under the Reverend Jeff Carr. Collaborative efforts are being formed in the County of Los Angeles driven by Sheriff Lee Baca, the Board of Supervisors and their Chief Executive Officer Bill Fujioka. Connie Rice and the Advancement Project have not only provided us with a plan of action, but are working with all our partners developing many of the programs described in these initiatives. And most importantly, the Chief of Police, William J. Bratton, has set the sights of the Department squarely on this problem and declared that these initiatives will be our top priority throughout the coming year.

These initiatives are:

Reduction of Gang Crime
Since 2007 gang crime in Los Angeles has dropped by 11 percent. Even though this is an impressive achievement we continue to see the devastating effects of gang violence in our community. In 2009, the Department reaffirms its commitment to reduce gang violence by 15 percent. Achieving this goal will mean 26 fewer murders and over 1,000 fewer victims of gang crime.

Strategic Operations Commander and RACR
A newly designated Strategic Operations Commander will work with our Real Time Crime Center (RACR) to deploy our considerable discretionary resources to emerging gang crime and trends. This will focus the hundreds of officers assigned to our Gang units, Metropolitan Division, Crime Reduction and Reduction of Warrants (CREW) Task Force and others on problems as they develop. This is a measure aimed directly at the prevention of gang retaliation murders, stopping the next killing. This Commander will be assigned during evening hours and work with RACR to identify gang trends or incidents as they occur and move resources throughout the City to address them.

Gang and Narcotics Division
Gangs, guns and drugs are a deadly combination. Beginning January 4, 2009, our Detective Bureau combined our Narcotics Division and Gang Operations Support Division into the new Gang and Narcotics Division. Combining these two entities will bring together over 300 detectives who will be specifically focused on disrupting violent gangs who support their lifestyle through the trafficking of narcotics and guns. This division will also expand the successful High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force concept to address violent gang crime.

COMPSTAT

COMPSTAT has proven to be the Department's most effective tool to set priorities and change culture. Every COMPSTAT session will focus on gang crime reduction and the emphasis of the priorities established in these initiatives. Effective use of gang injunctions, partnerships with intervention, ongoing prevention or re-entry programs are but a few of the strategies to which commands will be held accountable.

Gang Intervention
We recognize that not only must intervention be approached from a professional standpoint and become responsive to crime as it occurs, but that the Department must learn to value intervention as an asset in violence interruption. To achieve these goals we will continue to support the initiatives developed by the Mayors GRYD Office as well as the development of a Gang Intervention Academy. We will also provide training on gang intervention and its protocols to all of our officers who deal with gang crime as part of their normal assignment.

Expansion of Community Law Enforcement and Recovery (CLEAR) Sites
Over the years, CLEAR has proven to be an effective tool in reducing violent gang crime. Each CLEAR team is a true partner with the LAPD, District Attorney's Office, City Attorney's Office and Probation Department. In 2009, it is anticipated that the California Department of Corrections will commit dedicated resources to CLEAR. In addition, the Mayor's Office has secured funding to support additional CLEAR sites.

Executive Ad Hoc Committee on Gangs
Our Department will continue this highly successful police management accountability session convened to provide executive law enforcement officials a means to evaluate the progress of our collaborative crime abatement efforts. In these sessions, decision-makers from all our law enforcement partners will examine and adjust the enforcement initiatives that were implemented to address gang trends in our City.

Graffiti
The impact of graffiti is more than a visual eyesore. The effects of graffiti, especially gang graffiti, can paralyze and intimidate an entire community. As a result, the Department will work aggressively in 2009 to reduce graffiti vandalism by establishing a staff officer as the Department's graffiti coordinator and developing a tracking system to gauge our impact on the issue.

Top-Targeted Street Gangs
  Click here to view chart
1. 18th Street Westside (Southwest Area)
2. 204th Street (Harbor Area)
3. Avenues (Northeast Area)
4. Black P-Stones (Southwest, Wilshire Areas)
5. Canoga Park Alabama (West Valley Area)
6. Grape Street Crips (Southeast Area)
7. La Mirada Locos (Rampart, Northeast Areas)
8. Mara Salvatrucha (Rampart, Hollywood, and
Wilshire Areas)
9. Rollin 40s (Southwest Area)
10. Rollin 30s Harlem Crips (Southwest Area)
11. Rolling 60s (77th Area)
12. Toonerville (Northeast Area)
13. Florencia 13 (77th, Newton)
14. Barrios Van Nuys (Van Nuys Area)

Top-Ten Gang Members
Continue the Top-10 Gang Member program and emphasize its importance in COMPSTAT.

Gifts for Guns
Partner with the Mayor's Office and Los Angeles Sheriff's Office in "Gifts for Guns"program.

Expanding Gang Expertise
Our success with remaining in front of gang crime trends is directly proportional to whether our Department is prepared to invest in additional resources devoted to preventing these crimes. To that end, an additional 400 specialized uniformed officers will receive dedicated training in gang history, culture and trends. Although these personnel are not Gang Enforcement Detail officers, they will nevertheless be offered more sophisticated training that will enable them to work more effectively in various regions frequented by gang members.

Bureau Authority
The Department's Office of Operations director has tasked each Operations Bureau Chief to design a set of proposals that will address gang problems that are intrinsic to their individual commands. This will allow each commanding officer the opportunity to modify the gang prevention approach in their Areas as the situation warrants.

Growth of Gang Enforcement Details
Our renewed commitment to eradicate gangs in our communities now also compels us to realign our enforcement posture in a way that will allow us to regulate criminal gang behaviors. In the coming months, each of the Area Gang Enforcement Details will have the ability to assign additional personnel to gang enforcement duties without negating our obligation to our primary service delivery system – patrol.

Deployment of the Violent Crime Motor Enforcement Team
Although many of the crimes committed by gang members occur from the confines of moving vehicles they operate, we have yet to focus our enforcement efforts specifically at the type of transportation identified and used in violence episodes. The Violent Crime Motor Enforcement Team will be a platoon-sized cadre of motor officers deployed in high crime areas throughout the City. The primary objective of these personnel will be, through the enforcement of select California Vehicle Code statutes, to help significantly reduce the number of drive by shootings and other major assaults that occur in gang-infested areas.

Development of a "Secure Gang Blog"
In an effort to increase the "velocity" with which we identify, decipher and respond to occurrences that are gang-related, our Department is developing a secure internal "cyber blog"into which Area watch commanders will have the ability to record gang crime abstracts and other relevant information for immediate sharing with others throughout the City. Plans for the future include making this information instantly available to officers in the field as well as other police jurisdictions who may wish to participate.

Support of Prevention and Re-Entry Programs
The Department has developed many successful programs that deter our youth from entering gangs. We will continue to support those initiatives, and continue to work on the expansion of re-entry programs already being conducted in our Operations-South Bureau and other parts of the City.

     

Notes from the January 27, 2009 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

• Police Commission Vice President John Mack returned to duty after a brief stint away.  He expressed his gratitude to his fellow Commissioners during his hiatus.

• Police Commissioner Andrea Ordin stated she was in Washington D.C. for the inauguration of the new President of the United States. 

• Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman welcomed back Police Commission Vice President John Mack and offered his well wishes.

• Police Commissioner Skobin reported there has been a strong outpouring of support from both officers and the public for the creation of the Purple Heart or Purple Shield Award by the Police Commission.  He stated there has been more spontaneous support for this project than any other issue he has been involved with over the past 5 1/2 years.

• First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell participated in the 2009 Global Torch Run which he said was well attended.  He added the Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest fundraiser for the Special Olympics.  Chief McDonnell added the crime stats for the week were not yet available due to a glitch after the new Topanga and Olympic Community Police Stations came online.  He informed the board the stats would be available by week’s end.

• The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Department’s 2008 Officer Involved Shootings was continued until next week due to Police Chief William Bratton wanting to attend.

• The City Personnel Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Police Officer Selection Process was given by Chief Personnel Analyst John Dunlop, Chief Personnel Analyst Gail Thomas and Assistant General Manager of the Personnel Department Gloria Sosa.  Ms. Thomas stated in July of 2005, the City started the process of hiring 1,000 new police officers with an emphasis on reaching out to females.  She added personnel is working closely with recruitment section and the Department holds “meet & greets” every week for potential candidates.  With regards to background standards, the Department has six areas of emphasis. Intrapersonal skills and respect for others, decision making and judgment, maturity and discipline, honesty and integrity, setting and achieving goals, and records check. 

• The Department’s report, dated January 15, 2009, relative to the Revocations and Updated Home-Garaging Authorities – Fiscal Year 2008/2009, was removed.

• The Department’s report, dated November 14, 2008, and Inspector General’s Report, dated January 22, 2009, relative to the Department’s Discipline Report for the Third Quarter of 2008, was approved.

Topanga Area Community Police Station Grand Opening

In a ceremony befitting a new facility, the Los Angeles Police Department ushered in its 21st community police station.  Topanga, which is a Shoshone Indian name believed to mean "a place above," covers the south west portion of the San Fernando Valley including the Canoga Park, Winnetka, West Hills, and Woodland Hills areas.

Thank you for continuing your commitment to the Department" said Police Chief William Bratton. "Thank you for all of this."

Built with funds from Proposition Q, which voters approved in March of 2002, Topanga Community Police Station is 54,000 square feet in size and boasts a 9,000 square foot vehicle maintenance facility that sits on 6 and half acres. This leaves it plenty of room to grow.  The station includes a roll call room, a gun cleaning/shoeshine room, a uniform maintenance room, a weight room and a police community meeting room. The functions that will be contained in this station include patrol, detectives, specialized units, commanding officers' offices, community relations, records and crime analysis.

The opening of the Topanga station marks the start of the Department's year long 140th Anniversary Celebration.  With a number of new facilities to be come online in the next year, 2009 will indeed be the year of the LAPD.

Three Vehicle Collision Kills One

Los Angeles: A traffic accident at busy Los Angeles intersection results in one fatality.

On January 27, 2009, at around 1:10 p.m., West Traffic Division officer's responded a three vehicle traffic collision at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and La Brea Avenue. The collision occurred when the 85-year-old woman driver of a 2002 Jeep Cherokee travelling westbound on Olympic Boulevard collided with a 2004 Toyota Corolla travelling southbound on La Brea Avenue. The impact caused the Toyota to travel westbound Olympic Boulevard and collide with a 2007 Porsche Caymen driven by a 35-year-old man.

The 34-year-old woman driving the Toyota was pronounced dead at scene by the Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics. The driver of the Jeep was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries and was treated and released. The Porsche driver was not injured.

The investigation is being conducted by West Traffic Division Officer Kenny Talbert and Detective Nelson Hernandez. They can be reached at 213-473-0222. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD. Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. All tips are anonymous.

Man Dies in Head-on Collision

Los Angeles: A traffic collision on a heavily travelled City street killed a man late this afternoon.

On January 27, 2009, at around 4:10 p.m., West Traffic Division officer's responded to a traffic collision on Vermont Avenue just south of Pico Boulevard. A 66-year-old man, driving a 2006 Mitsubishi cargo truck southbound on Vermont Avenue crossed over the double yellow lines into the northbound lanes for unknown reasons and collided head-on into a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560, driven by a 40-year-old man.

Los Angeles City Fire personnel responded to the scene and transported both drivers to a local hospital for treatment. The Mitsubishi driver was treated for minor injuries and released. The Mercedes driver however, did not respond to treatment and was pronounced dead a short time later.

The investigation is being conducted by West Traffic Division Officer David Suh, David Chandra and Detective K. Garcia. They can be reached at 213-473-0222. After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD. Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. All tips are anonymous.

Seven Family Members Found Dead, Apparent Murder Suicide

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Detectives from Harbor Division are investigating the deaths of seven people, believed to be victims of apparent murder suicide, that has left an entire family dead.

On January 27, 2009, at around 8:30 a.m., LAPD Harbor Division Patrol Officers and Los Angeles City Fire Department rescue personnel responded to the 1000 block of McFarland Ave. after receiving a call of a suicidal man there.

The preliminary investigation found that sometime before 8:00 a.m. Ervin Antonio Lupoe faxed a two page letter to KABC Channel 7. The letter detailed an employment grievance that Lupoe and his wife were having with their former employer, Kaiser Permanente of West Los Angeles. The letter also contained a suicide threat. Lupoe then called the news station and said he was going to kill himself. News station employees phoned the LAPD Harbor Division Watch Commander, while simultaneously LAPD 911 operators were taking a call from a man who said that he had just returned home and found all of his family members murdered.

LAPD Officers entered the home to ensure that there was not an active shooter and secured the crime scene. Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics determined the seven people found inside the home were all dead and had all sustained gunshot wounds. A handgun was found at the scene.

The adult male was identified as Ervin Antonio Lupoe. The identities of the female victim and five children had not been immediately released pending the outcome of the Los Angeles County Coroner's investigation. The children ranged in ages from 2 to 8 years of age; three girls and two boys. The adult female and two of the children were found in the master bedroom of the home. In another room described as a 'bonus room' the bodies of Lupoe and three children were found.

Detectives from Harbor Area Station and Robbery Homicide Division are working together to investigate this tragic case.

In immediate response to this tragic event LAPD Harbor Division and Councilmember Hahn held a Community Meeting at the Holy Family Parish, 1011 East "L" Street, Wilmington, CA 90744, to discuss what happened, what's being done, and how the community can partner to help. The discussion identified resources in our communities available to persons and families faced with economic issues or suicidal thoughts. The Los Angeles Police Department wants to reassure and encourage citizens that there is help available. There is no need to suffer alone; help is just a phone call away.

The Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has assembled a helpful list of resources that is attached to this news release. It can be used by families or individuals who find themselves in difficult situations.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Harbor Homicide Detectives at 310-513-2106. After hours or on weekends, call the 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-800-LAPD 24-7. Callers may also text "CRIMES" with a cell phone or by logging on to www.lapdonline.org and clicking on Web Tips. When using a cell phone always begin the message with "LAPD." All calls and contacts are anonymous.

RESOURCES IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH
Residents who are facing homelessness should call the LA County hotline 2-1-1. Through this number they will be routed to the most appropriate homelessness related service to address their situation.

City and County Hot Line: 800-854-7771

LA County General Hot Line: 800-339-6993

Los Angeles County Mental Health Referral Line: 800-854-7771

Suicide Prevention Crisis Line, Available at all hours of the day and night at:877-727-4747

THE L.A. FORECLOSURE RESPONSE NETWORK
A partnership between the Mayor's Office, Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services, the Community Development Department and the City of Los Angeles WorkSource Center system, the L.A. Foreclosure Response Network brings foreclosure prevention resources to six strategically located WorkSource Centers.

The participating centers are located in or near those communities that have been hardest hit by the on-going foreclosure crisis. They serve as conduits through which Angelenos can conveniently access foreclosure prevention resources, including basic information about available services, foreclosure counseling, and foreclosure prevention clinics. The WorkSource Centers' staffs have been trained by Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services to provide basic intake to new clients and to steer them to the right sources of information and the right resources.

The participating WorkSource Centers are:

West Adams–Baldwin Hills
WorkSource Center
5681 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, 90016
323-525-3740 | TTY: 323-931-9076
www.laul.org

Metro North WorkSource Center
342 San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles, 90031
323-539-2000 | TTY: 323-539-2057
www.goodwillsocal.org

Southeast LA–Watts WorkSource Center
10950 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, 90059
323-563-4702 | TTY: 323-563-5684
www.wlcac.org

Van Nuys–North Sherman Oaks
15400 Sherman Way, Suite 140, Van Nuys, 91406
818-781-2522 | TTY: 818-374-7024
www.worksourcecalifornia.com

Sun Valley WorkSource Center
9024 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Sun Valley, 91352
818-504-0334 | TTY: 818-504-1974
www.wscalnetwork.org

South LA WorkSource Center
7518 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, 90044
323-752-2115 | TTY: 323-752-9215
www.cciworksource.org

UNFAIR EVICTIONS AND DISCRIMINATION
For residents who feel they are being evicted unfairly, they can call the L.A. Housing Department's rent hotline at 1-866-557-RENT.

Residents who live in apartments subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance have certain legal protections from eviction if their building is foreclosed. In fact, foreclosure is not a legal reason for eviction under the City's Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Residents who feel they may be victims of an illegal eviction from a Rent Stabilized unit should call the City's rent hotline at 1-866-557-RENT.
Residents who feel they may be the victim of housing discrimination should call the Housing Rights Center at 1-800-477-5977.

Woman Missing for Six Days, Public's Help Needed

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department and family of Susan Szegedi are requesting the public's help to find Ms. Szegedi.

Susan Szegedi was last seen on January 20, 2009, when she left her residence in the 400 block of North Gower Street in Los Angeles, (LAPD Olympic Area).  Szegedi requires medication, which she has been without since she vanished.  Her family believes she may be distraught over the recent loss of a friend.  Szegedi has uncharacteristically not made contact with her friends or family.  

Szegedi is a forty-five year old Caucasian woman with brown hair, brown eyes, 5'7” and approximately 145 pounds.  She is known to wear a pearl necklace.

Szegedi is believed to be driving her 2001 gray Honda Civic, California license number 4KYW571.

If you have seen or have any information regarding the whereabouts of Susan Szegedi, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Persons Unit, Detective Bruce Kuehl at 213-485-5381.After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website  www.lapdonline.org. All tips are anonymous.

Man Arrested for Series of Robberies

Los Angeles: A 45-year old man was arrested for committing a series of robberies in Los Angeles and Burbank.

On January 17, 2009, Robbery-Homicide detectives assumed investigative responsibility for a series of 8 robberies in the San Fernando Valley and Central Bureaus.  The same suspect was linked to 2 additional robberies in the City of Burbank.  The suspect, now identified as Timothy Allread, entered 7-11 stores during the early morning hours, armed with a dark colored “Mac-10” type pistol. Allread would point the pistol at the clerk, take money, and run away.

Witnesses reported that the suspect had a distinctive goatee and wore a hooded sweatshirt that partially concealed his face.  

On January 23, at around 3 a.m., officers assigned to the Foothill Area Hype Unit were conducting surveillance at one of the previously targeted 7-11 stores when they saw an individual matching the suspect’s description.  The officers recognized him as the suspect from the surveillance videos in the previous robberies.

Allread, 45, of Los Angeles, was arrested and booked at Foothill Jail.  His bail has been set at $400,000.  Allread was in possession of a replica pistol at the time of arrest.

Since Allread is in custody, the surveillance footage depicting him will not be made available.

Anyone with information about this case, is asked to contact Robbery-Homicide Detectives at 213-485-2511.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website  www.lapdonline.org.  Tipsters may remain anonymous.