LAPD Blog

84-Year-Old Man Missing

***UPDATE***

Roberson was located around 5:30 p.m. near Dodgers Stadium.  He is in good condition and has been reunited with his family.

Los Angeles:  The family of Ira James, Roberson and the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for the public’s help in finding Roberson.

On April 23, 2012, around 8 a.m., Rampart officers received a radio call of a “Missing Adult” in the 4450 block of Lockwood Avenue.  Roberson left the residence and has not returned home.  His family is extremely concerned for his welfare because he suffers from Alzheimers, dementia and heart trouble.

A search of the immediate area and local hospitals were unsuccessful.

He was previously reported missing on April 19, 2012 in the San Pedro area.  He was found later the same day approximately 10 miles from where he was last seen.

Roberson is described as an 84-year-old Black male, with grey hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall, large build, light complexion and weighs approximately 200 pounds.  He was seen wearing glasses, a white hat, tan shirt, and blue jeans.  Roberson walks with a limp and has an arched back.  He has a tattoo of a nurse on his top right arm.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ira James Roberson is asked to contact Rampart Division at 213-484-3400. During non business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

101-Year-Old Critical Missing Senior Citizen

Los Angeles:   The family of Lazaro Gamez and the Los Angeles Police Department Rampart Division are asking for the public’s help to locate Mr. Gamez.

Mr. Lazaro Gamez is 101 years of age and lives alone in 4300 block Willowbrook Ave.  He is cared for by a Care Giver who has not seen or heard from him since April 18, 2012, at 10:00 a.m..   This evening around 6:30 p.m., the Care Giver responded to Mr. Gamez’ residence and knocked on his door with no results.  When Mr. Gamez did not answer the door, the caretaker contacted Rampart Division for assistance.  Officers responded to the location and discovered that Mr. Gamez was nowhere to be found.

Lazaro Gamez suffers from Dementia and is in poor mental condition.  His full name is Lazaro Alfonso Gamez.  Mr. Gamez is a male Hispanic with gray hair and brown eyes.  He is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weights 110 pounds with a thin build.  Mr. Gamez walks with a cane and likes to ride the bus.  He frequents the 99 Cent store at 3600 West Sunset Boulevard  as well as the Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles.  There is no evidence of any foul play at this time.

Anyone with information on Gamez’ whereabouts is asked to contact the LAPD Rampart Division at 213-484-3400. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Sexual Assault Suspect Sought

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Devonshire area detectives are asking for the public's help in locating a man who attempted to kidnap and sexually assault a 17 year-old-girl who was in the area of Monroe High School in Chatsworth.

On April 17, 2012, around 11:30 a.m., the young female was walking in the area of Plummer Street and Haskell Avenue when the passenger in a red compact car got out of his car.  As young female walked past the car, the suspect removed his shirt and used it to cover the license plate of the car.  The suspect ran up behind her completely naked and grabbed her buttock.  The victim screamed and it caused the suspect to flee in the vehicle, which was driven by a second male.

The primary suspect is described as a male Hispanic, about 30 years of age with a thick mustache. He stands about five feet and six inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. The driver was described only as a male.

Investigators believe that this incident is related to a series of incidents which recently occurred around Arleta High School.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call LAPD's Devonshire Division detectives at 818-832-0609.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-800-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD".  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Class 11-11 Graduates

Today, thirty nine newly appointed police officers marched across the Los Angeles Police Academy field with the sun shining off their brims.

Chief Charlie Beck addressed the class and their families with a warm welcome to the Los Angeles Police Department.  He started his speech by recalling that this month is the 20^th anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.  He stated, “53 people were killed over 6 days of violence, 1100 buildings were burned, 11, 000 people were arrested, and 10,000 national guards responded with a total lost over a billion dollars”.

He spoke directly to the new officers stating, “Every day when you work you will interact with the people in the City of Los Angeles. You will have to preform to the best of your ability and generate good will.  You will have to prove that you are an efficient and fair police officer.  I will train you to be efficient but the ability to be fair is innate”.

Chief Beck stands on the belief that character is the most important traits  a Police Officer must process. He stated, “You can never break the law to enforce it.  If you stay true to your character, if you become a fair and an efficient police officer, we will never suffer again as we did 20 years ago.  As Chief I am the face of the Police Department but you are the heart and soul.”  He ended by congratulating the officers and wishing them well in their careers. 

 

Police Searching for Attempt Kidnap Suspect

Los Angeles: LAPD Devonshire Area Detectives are investigating the attempt kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl in Granada Hills.

On April 16, 2012, around 3:45 p.m., the young female was grabbed from behind while walking in the area of Chatsworth Street and Aldea Avenue in LAPD’s Devonshire area. A male suspect began to drag her toward some bushes. The masked suspect ran away from the scene on foot when a passerby appeared.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic with light brown eyes and a silver capped tooth. He stands about six feet tall. He was last seen wearing a dirty long sleeve thermal, jeans and black tennis shoes.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Devonshire Division detectives at 818-832-0609. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

84-Year-Old Critical Missing Man

UPDATE

On April 20, 2012, Mr. Robertson was found in good health.

Los Angeles:   The family of Ira James Robertson and the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division are asking for the public’s help to locate Robertson.

On April 19, 2012, around 11 a.m., Robertson left his residence on foot in the 360 block of Miraleste Drive in LAPD’s Harbor Area. Robertson never returned home and has not been seen or heard from since. His family is extremely concerned for his welfare because of his medical condition.

Robertson is described as a 84-year-old male African American with black hair and brown eyes. He stands about six feet four inches tall and weighs about 230 pounds. He is wearing a white shirt, blue hoodie, blue jeans, white socks and blue slippers. He wears prescription glasses with a thin black metal frame.  He also has a tattoo of a female on his left arm.

Anyone with information on Robertson’s whereabouts is asked to contact the LAPD Harbor Division at 310-726-7700.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Los Angeles Man Arrested in 1990 Cold Case Murder

Los Angeles: Detectives from the Cold Case Homicide Special Section of Robbery-Homicide Division are announcing the arrest of a Los Angeles man for an unsolved 1990 Los Angeles Murder.

LAPD detectives have been investigating the murder of 31-year-old Ann Yao, a Los Angeles resident and the Attempted Murder and Vehicle Theft of a Santa Monica resident for over 22 years.  Yao was murdered, while the other victim was seriously injured as they were seated in Yao’s vehicle which was parked on Lucerne Avenue south of Wilshire Boulevard on February 10, 1990.

The cause of Yao’s death was attributed to a gunshot wound to the head.  The motive for the murder was robbery, as property was taken from both of the victims, including the other victim’s vehicle.

Cold Case Homicide detectives linked Michael Tharrington to the murder after a review of the case, along with re-interviewing several of the witnesses.

On April 17, 2012, around 7:50 a.m., Tharrington was asked to meet detectives at the Wilshire Area Police Station.  Tharrington was arrested and booked for murder with a one million dollar bail into the 77th Area Jail and will be arraigned on April 19, 2012.

Detectives handling the investigation are Detectives Michael Pelletier and Richard Bengtson, Robbery-Homicide Division, Cold Case Special Section at 213-486-6831 or 213-486-6819.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Community Involvement Helps Police Make Significant Arrest of Vehicle Burglary Suspect

Los Angeles:  Detectives from LAPD’s Hollywood Division and others attended a press conference this afternoon to acknowledge community members who helped police solve at least one crime, recover thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen property and make an arrest.

On April 10, 2012, around 2:30 p.m., a vehicle was burglarized in the 900 block of Seward Avenue.  Hollywood Division auto detectives were able to find surveillance video of the crime, which included the suspect and his vehicle.

Detectives notified local residents of the crimes and showed them the video of the possible suspect.  The tactic paid off when an alert community member was in the area where several burglaries from motor vehicles had occurred and saw a man that looked like the same person seen in the video.  As the citizen watched the suspect, later identified as Sean Ray, he saw Ray walk up to a Porsche with a crowbar in his hands.  After a short time, Ray returned to his own car, a late-model luxury sedan, identical to the one the suspect was seen entering on the video.  The watchful citizen wrote down the license plate number and turned it over to police.  It is unknown if the Porsche had been broken into.

Hollywood auto detectives worked diligently and determined the license plate number belonged to a luxury sedan that had been rented on the day of one of the burglaries.  Detectives were also able to identify the person who rented the vehicle as Sean Ray.

On April 17, 2012, Hollywood officers from the Parole Impact Team conducted a probation compliance search at Ray’s residence in the 100 block South Virgil.  Ray was located inside the residence trying to hide from officers and was taken into custody without incident.  During a search of his apartment, numerous items believed to be stolen property were recovered:

• $24,000 in US currency
• Laptop computers
• iPad and tablet devices
• Cameras (ninety high-end and consumer-grade cameras) and camera equipment
• Video cameras
• Jewelry, watches

Ray has a criminal history that includes theft, burglary, and grand theft auto. He served state prison sentences for those crimes and was on formal probation at the time of his arrest.

Anyone with information or who may have been a victim of Ray is asked to call Officer Michael Klee at 213-972-2947. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Sears Maintenance Man Arrested for Secretly Filming Women on Hidden Video Cameras

Los Angeles: North Hollywood sex detectives have arrested a Sears Department Store maintenance man after it was discovered he had placed hidden video cameras throughout the store to surreptitiously film woman in fitting rooms and women’s restroom.

On April 12, 2012, around 6:30 p.m., North Hollywood Area Sexual Assault detectives arrested 27-year-old Alejandro Gamiz after discovering that Gamiz had placed hidden cameras behind the walls of the store located at 12121 Victory Boulevard.

Gamiz was arrested and booked for Burglary, for the Surreptitious Filming of Unsuspecting Women.  Evidence supporting the charges was recovered from the department store’s security personnel and also with the cooperation of Gamiz.

Gamiz posted $20,000 bail and was released from custody while the Los Angeles District Attorney reviews the case.  Investigators are not seeking the identity of additional victims at this time, because the statute under which Gamiz has been charged does not require the specific identity of individuals as victims.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact North Hollywood Sexual Assault Detectives, Detectives Martin Pinner or Karen Crawford at 818-623-4090 or 818-623-4045.  A Sears representative, Kim Freely, may be contacted at 847-286-6093.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Notes from the April 17, 2012 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

• Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman attended the Chief’s LGBTQ Forum last week with Police Commission President Richard Drooyan.  Commissioner Saltzman stated the discussion on policy regarding the treatment of transgenders and the creation of a pod to house transgenders in the detention center, were productive.  He added the Department is a national leader in this area and commended the Department for their efforts.

• Police Commissioner Alan Skobin said he attended the Reserve Officer Appreciation Day BBQ held at the Police Administration Building over the weekend.  He added he went on a ride along last Friday and said he was amazed at what officers are able to accomplish.

• Police Chief Charlie Beck thanked Commissioners Skobin and Saltzman for attending Department events this week and added he was glad he could honor Department Reserve Officers for all the hard work they do.

• The verbal presentation and update from the Commanding Officer and Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) representative regarding community initiated problem solving, crime strategies, and other programs and goals within the Topanga Area was given by Captain Thomas Brascia and Mr. Robert Basch.  Captain Brascia informed the Board the Topanga Area C-PAB currently has 26 members which has good representation from throughout the area.  He said they also have a Youth Board which consists of 43 Cadets, 52 DAP’s, and 11 in the Jeopardy Program. Some of the committees which exist within the C-PAB include a Teen C-PAB, Nixle outreach, media contacts, and a Hispanic outreach committee.