LAPD Blog

Van Nuys Teen Shot and Killed

Los Angeles: Police are asking for the public's help in capturing the gunman who shot and killed 18-year-old Pedro Alvarez, a Van Nuys resident.

Early this morning, at about 12:30 a.m., Alvarez, a construction worker, was walking near the 6300 block of Kester Avenue when two gunman drove alongside him.  One of the gunmen asked the victim a question and shot him in the chest.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Police have no leads and the motive is not clear.  Alvarez had no apparent gang affiliation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Van Nuys Homicide Detectives at 818-374-0094.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-our toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Radio Reporter Assaulted Near School

 Los Angeles: A Los Angeles radio reporter was assaulted this morning when a man drove a sedan at the reporter, then later tried to take the reporter’s recording equipment.

Alexander (Sandy) Wells, a reporter for McIntyre in the Morning on KABC 790 AM, was calling his station around 7:30 AM when he saw a sedan coming toward him out of his peripheral vision.

"Wells at first thought, ‘Why is this guy driving so fast with all these kids around?’" said Detective Charles Markel of the Hollenbeck Detective Division. "Then he realized the car was coming for him."

Wells had just finished trying to interview parents, students, and administrators at the Academia Semillas del Pueblo Charter School, which was across the street from where he was standing, in the 4700 block of Huntington Drive in El Sereno.

Wells was able to get out of the way of the nondescript silver sedan and ran to his nearby car. The sedan followed him and stopped. A Hispanic man in his twenties got out of the sedan and tried to take Wells’ recording equipment, which was slung over his shoulder.

Wells was able to fend off the assailant, who drove away with only the audio tape from Wells’ recorder.

"There were a number of witnesses to this assault," said Detective Markel.  "We’d like anyone who saw what happened to call us."

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Markel at 323-526-3008. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

92 Year-Old Man Missing

  Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating Mr. Pedro Velarde Batle, a 92-year-old man, who was last seen on May 22, 2006.

On Monday, May 22, 2006, at about 1:00 p.m., Mr. Batle was seen leaving his residence on the 800 block of Oxford Avenue, in Los Angeles. Mr. Batle is Filipino with gray hair, brown eyes, 5'5" tall, and weighs about 120 pounds. He was wearing a gray shirt and black pants. His mental and physical conditions are described as good.

If you have seen or have any information about the whereabouts of Mr. Batle, please contact Missing Persons Unit Detective Bruce Kuehl or Officer Medina at 213-485-5381. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24 hours toll free number at 1-877-LAW FULL (1-877-529-3855).

LAPD ANNOUNCES PROMOTIONS AND MOVEMENT AMONG SWORN AND CIVILIAN COMMAND STAFF

Los Angeles: In keeping with his philosophy to better utilize the talents and experience of Los Angeles Police Department Command Staff and to mentor and develop staff to fill multiple roles, LAPD Chief William J. Bratton announced several promotions and transfers.  The movement within the Department will also better prepare it for the future as key Command Staff members with specific Department expertise retire.

"Over the next several years the Department will be losing a great number of personnel who have become experts in their particular assignments," said Bratton. "It is important that we begin the process of transitioning sworn Command Staff early on so that those Department experts can pass on their knowledge and experience."

Deputy Chief Michael Hillman, Commanding Officer, Special Operations Bureau, will become the new Commanding Officer, Operations-West Bureau.

Deputy Chief Richard Roupoli, Commanding Officer, Operations-West Bureau will take over as Commanding Officer, Special Operations Bureau.

Mission Area Commanding Officer, Captain III Michael Moriarty will become the new Commanding Officer, Adminstrative Investigation Division, Internal Affairs Group.

Promoting from Captain I to Captain III is Jorge Villegas. Currently the Patrol Captain, West Los Angeles Area, he will become the new Mission Area Commanding Officer.

Lieutenant II Kevin McClure, Adjutant to the Commanding Officer, Consent Decree Bureau, has been promoted to Captain I, and will be assigned as the Patrol Captain, West Los Angeles Area.

Moving from his position as Commanding Officer, Administrative Investigation Division, Internal Affairs Group is Captain III John Egan, who becomes the new Rampart Area Commanding Officer.

Captain III Debra McCarthy has been promoted to Commander and leaves her current assignment as Commanding Officer, Rampart Area to become the Assistant Commanding Officer, Operations-South Bureau

Commander Mike Downing, former Commanding Officer, Operations-South Bureau, is now the Assistant Commanding Officer, Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau.

For additional information please refer to the www.lapdonline.org/newsroom. 

Police Seized Counterfeit Merchandise

Los Angeles: Police along with investigative consultants and the Fashion District Security shut down a major counterfeiting operation in downtown Los Angeles.

During a two-day raid, authorities seized $18.4 million worth of counterfeit designer brand merchandise from two downtown locations.  On May 23, 2006, police raided a swap meet located at 500 South Los Angeles Street and found fake Tiffany jewelry worth about $6.4 million and arrested two adults.  On May 24, 2006, police also raided and seized 12 million worth of counterfeit handbags, clothes, sunglasses, shoes and wallets etc. from the Fashion District Santee Alley between 12th Street and Olympic Boulevard.

Most of the designer brand products were: Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach, Bebe, Oakley and Gucci.

Authorities have been investigating the operation for several months and wanted to combat the rampant illegal counterfeit that has grown rapidly in the downtown area.

Chul Kim, 46, and Angie Kim, 50, were both arrested and booked for willfully manufacturing, intentionally selling, or possessing for sale any counterfeit of a trademark registered with the Secretary of State or registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  Bail amount was set at $25,000 and $20,000 respectively.   

If you have any questions regarding this incident, please call Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Request for Public's Help in Identifying Attempt Kidnap Suspect

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding an attempt kidnap suspect.

On Monday, May 22, 2006, a student was walking north on Selby Avenue from Emerson Middle School, toward Ohio Avenue. He saw a Hispanic man exit the passenger side of a van that was parked along the curb.

When the victim walked past the van, the man grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the van. The victim managed to break free and run away. As the victim fled, he heard the suspect get into the van and yell "Go!Go!Go!." The van made a U-turn and drove southbound on Selby Ave.

The suspect is described as a 35 year-old Hispanic man with a shaved head, goatee and tattoo on the front of his neck, possibly of a dragon. He is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. He was in a black van with tinted windows.

Anyone who sees a person matching the above description is asked to not approach the suspect and call 911 immediately. All other suspicious activities should be directed to West Los Angeles Community Police station at 310-575-8441, or Detective Macias at 310-444-1589, or 310-444-1520. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-our toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

LAPD RESPONSE TO DAILY NEWS COLUMN

Original Column, Los Angeles Daily News, May 28, 2025

Why am I not surprised?  Just 15-days after the Department launched LAPDBlog.org, a Daily News columnist has decided the “LAPD blog just bogs down net.”  To read the May 28th column one would think the LAPD had committed some horrible blogosphere crime.

When we re-launched the Department’s website last March, (check your facts Daily News, taxpayers don’t pay for LAPDOnline or the separate blog, the Los Angeles Police Foundation does and the redesign of the site cost $382,000…the blog only costs $15 a month) Chief Bratton did commit to stepping into unchartered blog waters.  I say unchartered because some time spent researching Google confirms there are no universal hard, fast rules when it comes to blogging.

So we designed the blog to do a number of things, respond to criticism without having our responses edited, gauge the pulse of the public, let people know what’s happening in the Department, both good and bad, and yes even plug the positive contributions of its men and women.  The audacity of this LAPD “flack” to actually want people to know that yes, cops are people too and they do good things.  They don’t, as the writer would have you believe, spend the majority of their time going from one fast food restaurant to another. Transparency goes both ways you know.  Why, even the Daily News prints some “good news” stories. And don’t even suggest we are making up personalities to praise ourselves.  If papers like the Daily News committed to even a weekly column listing all of the heroic acts of officers (I won’t hold my breath) we probably wouldn’t even need a blog.  But we do.

And then there is this line from the column; “I want to imagine that when The Man is not meting out firm but fair justice, he is sipping lattes and updating his blog,” (I don’t even want to imagine the future headline on that one).  Now, while the Columnist may want officers to sip and blog, most cops I know want nothing more than to go out and put lawbreakers in jail, save lives and survive so they can go home to their own families. 

They also want people to have the opportunity to tell us like it is, bad and good.  Will the blog, as you say “reverse years of secrecy and conflict with the community?”  Our hope is that in time the dialogue will help to heal old wounds.  But come on, you’ve got to give us more than two weeks!

Mary Grady
LAPD Public Information Director

LAPD ESSAY CONTEST

LAPD, in conjuction with the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles held the Third Annual Essay Award Ceremony, at the Los Angeles Police Academy.  The contest was open to students in the grades 6th, 7th, and 8th. Over 750 students participated in this year's event.

The LAPD Essay Contest intends to address three areas: allow our youth to contemplate and express their opinions on social issues, highlight the students perception of police officers, and promote serious discussion with their peers, teachers, and parents about quality of life issues.

Assistant Chief George Gascon, along with emcee Mr. Francisco Pinto, Univision KMEX 34 News Anchor, presented the ten winners with City Certificates honoring their achievements.  Students were also awarded other prizes. 

Students were asked to write in 350 words or less on how as LAPD officers they would help to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime. Short excerpts of the student's ideas are as follows:

Mr. Esteban Aguilera, James A. Fosha Learning Center, wrote about talking to young people about how their lives would be affected if they broke the law.  He also suggested providing teenagers with tours of juvenile hall.   

Miss Eidah Hilo, George K. Porter Middle School, wrote how as an LAPD officer she would make a documentary film about prisoners' lives and show it at student assemblies. 

Mr. Chandler Hudson, Valley Alternative Magnet School, described how he would have prisoners and former gang members share their experiences with teenagers.

Miss Stephanie Orozco, Our Lady of Lourdes School, indicated she would speak and listen to young people who have broken the law to prevent them from repeating their mistakes. 

Miss Eliana Portillo, South Gate Middle School, wrote that teenagers who have a good relationship with their parents were less likely to be involved in crime. She would hold seminars where parents could learn to develop open relationships with their teenage children.

Mr. Michael Raynis, Chaminade College Preparatory, wrote that the best way to keep a teenager from becoming a career criminal is by offering them a second chance in the form of counseling and guidance to help them become productive.

Miss Clarissa Rodriguez, Our Lady of the Rosary School, wrote how as an LAPD officer she would serve as a mentor where open communication would be the key to helping teenagers stay away from drugs and violence.

Mr. Patrick McGonagle, Chaminade College Preparatory wrote about the importance of police officers forging alliances with young people to address today's social problems.

Ms. Carissa Lamas,Ramona Convent Secondary School would seek the advise of Chief William Bratton to develop after school programs.

Miss Jennefer Romero, Hollenbeck Middle School, wrote how she would interact with teenagers and stress the importance of parental guidance.    

Once again thank you to all of the participating students, not only for your hard work, but your commitment.  The future is bright in Los Angeles.  A special thank you to the sponsors of the event, Wells Fargo Bank, Safe Moves, California Science Center, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Dodgers, Polaroid Corporation, Feld Entertainment, La Opinion, Univision, Los Angeles Unified School District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Officers Targeted by Gunman in Watts

Los Angeles: Southeast Area officers on patrol in Watts shot at a suspect who pointed a handgun at them Friday.  This incident is the fourth armed assault in six days on LAPD officers in South Los Angeles. 

On May 26, 2006, around 10:40 p.m., Police Officer Peter Bueno, 31, and his partner Police Officer Christopher Reza, 31, were responding to a shooting call in the 10300 block of Wilmington Avenue.  As they drove south on Graham Avenue, they saw three suspects, one who was holding a rifle, walk across Graham Ave toward 105th Street.

When the officers drove east on 105th Street, the suspect, a juvenile, tossed the rifle over a fence onto a vacant lot.  A second suspect, Monte Parker, ran east on the north sidewalk, holding a pistol in his hand.  The third suspect ran west.

The officers stopped on 105th Street and exited from their patrol car, when Parker turned and pointed his handgun at them.  Officer Bueno responded by firing his handgun at the armed suspect.  Parker was not hit and ran north between the homes. A subsequent K-9 search located Parker hiding in an attic of in the 10400 block of Graham Avenue. 

For more information regarding this incident please refer to www.lapdonline.org/newsroom.   

A 36-year old man killed, Another injuried at a Gang Party

Los Angeles: Southwest Homicide Detectives are investigating the murder and attempt murder of two men in Southwest Los Angeles.

On Saturday May 27, 2006, at about 11:40 p.m., two victims were attending a Rolling 30's party in the 1600 block of West 39th Place.  The first vicim, Kenneth Osteen, a 36 year-old male black, and the second victim, Lathario Dixon, 32 years-old were involved in an argument with unknown suspect(s), and were shot in the chest.

Osteen ran from the party and headed west on 39th place, collapsing on a porch in the 1600 block of West Leighton Street.  Osteen failed to respond to treatement provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department, and was pronounced dead at the scene.  Dixon was transported to a local hospital and admitted for medical treatment.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southwest Homicide Detectives Rick Gordon or Vince Carreon, at (213) 485-2417, during normal business hours.  After hours and on weekends, call the 24-hour toll free Dectective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL (877-529-3855).

For additional news releases covering the Memorial Holiday Weekend please click on to www.lapdonline.org/newsroom.