LAPD Blog

Man Shot and Killed During Altercation

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Bureau Homicide detectives are asking for the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect responsible for murder.

On May 31, 2019, just after midnight, Van Nuys Area patrol officers responded to an ambulance shots fired radio call near the area of Aetna Street and Van Nuys Boulevard. Upon arrival, they discovered the victim who had been shot multiple times, lying on the sidewalk.

The investigation revealed that the victim was possibly involved in an altercation near Aetna Street when he was shot multiple times by the suspect. The victim ran approximately 50 feet and collapsed. The victim had no identification and has been listed as John Doe.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the victim to a local hospital where he passed away.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call Detective Frank Deperno, Valley Bureau Homicide, at (818) 374-1975. 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 the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an onlinetip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

City of LA Launches Competition to Find LA’s Safest Driver NR19145ne

Los Angeles:  The City of Los Angeles, in partnership with United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), announced today the launch of the LA’s Safest Driver Contest. The contest will run from June 3–July 26, and is open to people 18 years and older who currently reside or regularly travel though the L.A. area. Prizes totaling $70,000 will be awarded for safe driving behaviors.

To participate in the eight-week contest, contestants can start by downloading an app to their smartphone. The app runs automatically, activated based on phone movement and deactivated when the phone is turned off. Using mobile telematics, the app will track five key measures: speed, acceleration, braking, cornering, and distraction. The app will score each trip individually for a combined score of 100 possible points. Drivers will have the opportunity to win in various prize categories as they climb the leaderboard through demonstrated safe driving, including:

·         Safest Overall Driver: $20,000
·         Safest Military/Veteran Driver: $10,000
·         Least Distracted Driver: $7,500
·         Safest Youth Driver: $7,500
·         Safest Commercial Driver: $10,000

The full list of prize categories, an app demo, frequently asked questions and the contest’s official rules can be found at www.LASafestDriver.com.

“If we are going to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious accidents on our streets, we need to put an end to the epidemic of distracted driving,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Safe driving is a reward unto itself, but some friendly competition is a great way to drive home the importance of keeping our minds and eyes on the road.”

The contest is sponsored by USAA, a San Antonio-based financial services company that serves the military community and their families. The company recently sponsored San Antonio’s Safest Driver contest, which resulted in significant reductions in unsafe driving behaviors and distractions — including a 15% reduction in distracted driving and a 46% reduction in speeding.

“USAA has a long-standing commitment to roadway safety and encouraging and rewarding safe driving habits for our members and the public,” said Wayne Peacock, USAA President, Property & Casualty. “By investing in safe driving programs today in cities like L.A., we continue to honor that commitment and create safer roadway conditions throughout the country.”

“CMT is dedicated to making roads safer in LA and around the world,” said William Powers, co-founder and chief executive officer at CMT. “Our smartphone-based DriveWell platform helps individuals improve their driving by providing feedback on key elements such as phone distraction and speeding that can lead directly to accidents. We are proud to work in partnership with USAA and the City of L.A. to improve road safety.”

For more information on LA’s Safest Driver, visit www.lasafestdriver.com.

About USAA
The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to more than 12.8 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received a discharge type of honorable – and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

About CMT
Cambridge Mobile Telematics’ (CMT) mission is to make the world’s roads safer. CMT’s DriveWell platform measures driving quality, scores driving performance, incentivizes safer driving, and provides crash and claims services for insurers, rideshares, and fleets. Since its first product launch in 2012 that pioneered mobile usage-based insurance, CMT has become the world's leading mobile telematics and analytics company with its phone-only and phone+Tag solutions. CMT’s award-winning DriveWell platform is used by top insurers, commercial fleets, cellular carriers, and other organizations in more than 20 countries, improving safety for millions of users. To learn more, please visit cmtelematics.com and follow CMT on Twitter @cmtelematics.

Response to State’s Report Regarding Working Conditions at Central Division

Los Angeles: We are currently reviewing the California Department of Industrial Relation's report regarding working conditions at our Central Division. The State's report is concerning and we are taking steps to ensure the men and women who work for the Los Angeles Police Department can come to work in a healthy environment. We are collaborating with the city's General Services Department, Personnel Division, Facilities Management Division, and Central Bureau facilities personnel to address the concerns of our employees and mitigate any possible exposure to diseases at all of our facilities. We are committed to creating and maintaining healthy communities in Los Angeles, including our own places of work.

Home Invasion Robbery Captured on Video Surveillance NR19148ti

Sherman Oaks: Los Angeles Police Department's Van Nuys Division detectives are seeking the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the identification and arrest of three robbery suspects.

On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, around 4:00 a.m., a home invasion robbery occurred near the 14000 block of Mulholland Boulevard. The suspect hopped a fence, skirted a fence line and entered a pool patio area at the rear side of the residence. The suspect walked up to a door and kicked it in to gain entry. Two additional suspects joined the initial suspect, all three entered the house and confronted victims inside at gun point. The three suspects ransacked the house and fled to an unknown waiting vehicle on Mulholland Boulevard.

First suspect is described as a male Black, 20-29 years old, wearing dark clothing. He had a black mask and was armed with a semi-auto handgun.

Second suspect is described as a male Black, 20-29 years old.

Third suspect is described as a male Black, 20-29 years old, wearing a grey hoodie with matching sweatpants.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Van Nuys Robbery Detective Pete Barba at 818-374-0087. During non-business hours, or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-247(877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

LAPD Employees Contract Salmonella Typhi NR19146jr

Update

The second Central Division employee listed below, instead of typhus like symptoms should read, has salmonella-typhi like symptoms.

Los Angeles: The Department has learned about an employee from our Central Division, who has contracted salmonella typhi and is currently being treated for the condition. A second employee has typhus-like symptoms but a specific diagnosis has not been determined.

Our Facilities Management Division is working with the city's General Services Department to disinfect any work areas that may have been exposed and that work is expected to be completed this evening.

The health and well-being of every LAPD employee is vital and we will be working diligently to ensure we are create a safe work environment.

Unfortunately, our police officers often patrol in adverse environments and can be exposed to various dangerous elements. We have notified the Police Protective League as well as all of our employees working at Central Division, about the outbreak and we have further provided them with strategies to stay healthy while we mitigate this issue.

Anti-theft Campaign “Leave It And Lose It”

Devonshire Division Launches Anti-theft Campaign "Leave It And Lose It"

Northridge- Nobody wants to be a victim of crime, but if you leave your purse, computer, other valuable items in plain sight, you're increasing the risk that you will become a theft victim. To combat these crimes, the Los Angeles Police Department's Devonshire Division has launched a campaign with local business owners to help curtail theft. The antitheft campaign called "Leave It and Lose It": features three different posters that business are posting.



It takes less than 4 seconds to grab valuables left in plain sight. Recently, the Devonshire Division has seen an increase in theft at coffee shops, supermarkets, shopping centers, and public areas when people leave their valuables in plain sight and walk away for just moments.

These crimes can be prevented with a few simple actions. The most important is never leave your valuables unattended. Thieves take advantage of laptops, cellphones, purses and other valuables left in plain sight. The LAPD offers a simple tip to prevent becoming a victim: don't leave valuables in plain sight or slightly hidden and don't use valuables to save a seat.

Detectives Seek Additional Victims of a Dating Scam

Los Angeles: Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Commercial Crimes Division are asking for the public's help in locating victims of a dating scam.

Wilson Edward Jackson, 37-years-old, was arrested today in Van Nuys Division for multiple felony charges, all resulting from a dating theft investigation involving dozens of female victims. Jackson has been the subject of numerous identity theft, forgery, and grand theft reports received by the Los Angeles Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, in and out of state, for the past several years.

Jackson targeted single women via social media and other websites seeking a dating relationship. After meeting with his victims, Jackson would ask them for a loan, claiming he was having issues with his bank, or that his car was impounded with his wallet inside. Jackson would promise to repay with cash, but instead would provide the victims with checks written on closed personal bank accounts.

Victims that visited Jackson's Woodland Hills apartment were victims of identity theft, as Jackson stole their credit card information and checks from their checkbooks while they slept or used the restroom. Jackson would use their stolen information to buy clothes for himself, pay personal bills, or make travel arrangements for other victims of his scam.

Anyone who thinks they may have been victimized by this suspect, or anyone with additional information about this suspect's activities, is asked to call Detective Stephanie Krajchir, Commercial Crimes Division Financial Crimes Section, at (818) 374-9420.

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 the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit ww.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

Shooting in West Hills Leaves Two Dead

West Hills: On May 22, 2019, around 8:50 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department Topanga Area patrol officers responded to a radio call of a "Shots Fired Investigation" in the 22600 block of Vanowen Street at Shadow Ranch Park.

Upon officer's arrival, they observed two males down in the park suffering from gunshot wounds. Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics responded to the location and pronounced Victim-1 dead at scene. Victim-2 was transported to a local area hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. After several hours, Victim-2 succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

Detectives have determined that the suspect and both victims were acquaintances and engaged in a verbal argument. Suspect produced a handgun and fired several shots striking both victims, ultimately causing their deaths. This double murder was not random or gang related.

Victim-1 is a twenty-seven-year-old male Hispanic and a resident of the San Fernando Valley.

Victim-2 is a forty-two-year-old male Hispanic and a resident of the San Fernando Valley.

Detectives are still attempting to locate victim-1's family. The identities of both victims will not be released until the next of kin is notified.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call Detective Dave Peteque, Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau Homicide, at (818) 374-1934. 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 the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit ww.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

Southeast Area Traffic Stop Results in Officer-Involved Shooting

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department's understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

South Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department's Force Investigation Division is investigating an officer-involved shooting which occurred during a traffic stop.

On May 20, 2019, around 11:03 p.m., Police Officer III Windle Hawkins, Serial No. 25889 and Police Officer I Rudy Lucero, Serial No. 43804, assigned to Southeast Area Patrol Division, conducted a traffic stop to the rear of 10819 S. Broadway. During the traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Norvell Cooper, was found to have a handgun secreted in the map pocket of the driver's door. Cooper suddenly exited the vehicle and began to struggle with Officer Hawkins. During that struggle, officers believed that Cooper had armed himself with the gun, resulting in an Officer-Involved-Shooting.

Cooper was struck by gunfire several times, and fled on foot. He was later taken into custody near 109th Street and S. Broadway. Cooper was treated at scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and was transported to a local area hospital, where he is currently listed serious but stable condition.

No officers were injured during this incident and a handgun was recovered from Cooper's vehicle.

LAPD's specialized Force Investigation Division responded to the scene and began interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic evidence. Representatives from the Office of the Inspector General and Los Angeles County District Attorney's Justice System Integrity Division responded and monitored the investigation.

The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners and the Office of the Inspector General to determine the thoroughness and accuracy of the investigation and whether the use of deadly force complied with the LAPD's policies and procedures. Additionally, representatives from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office who responded to the scene will review the subsequent FID investigation; evidence collected and witness statements to determine if the force used by the officer(s) violated any criminal laws.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged to call the LAPD at any of the following numbers:
• During business hours at (213) 486-5230;
• During non-business hours or on weekends at (877)-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247);
• Anonymously 24-hours a day to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or by texting "LAPD" and your tip to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S); or
• Online at www.lapdonline.org and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.

Hit and Run Driver Injures Bicyclist

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department's Central Traffic Division are asking for the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect involved in a hit and run collision that injured a bicyclist.

On May 11, 2019, around 3:20 a.m., a bicyclist was travelling westbound through the intersection of 7th Street and Bonnie Brae Street when a light-colored SUV made a left turn from 7th Street and struck a bicyclist. The bicyclist landed on the windshield, rolled off and landed on the street.

The driver drove around the bicyclist, failed to stop, render aid or identify themselves as required by law.

The Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and transported the bicyclist to a local hospital where he was treated for a broken leg.

On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit and Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $25,000 is available to community members who provide information leading to the offender's identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.



Anyone with information is asked to contact the Central Traffic Division, Detective Juan Campos at (213) 833-3713 or Detective Moses Castillo (213) 486-0752. 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 the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.