LAPD Blog

School Employee Arrested for Sexual Assault

Los Angeles: An employee of Sylmar High School was arrested for sexual assault in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles.

On September 14th around 1:00 p.m., 27-year-old Eduardo Colocho was arrested for sexual assault.  It was alleged while employed as an educational aid and assistant coach at Sylmar High School he may have assaulted students.

Colocho has been employed at the school for the past seven years.  The investigation is ongoing and will focus on the possibility there are multiple victims.

Colocho is being held on a $1,100,000 bail at Van Nuys Jail.

Detectives are interviewing witnesses and have reason to believe there may be other victims. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Juvenile Division at 213-847-5358.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).   

The identities of all callers will remain anonymous.

Japanese Photographer Missing in LA

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting the public's assistance in locating a Japanese photographer who has been missing since September 3, 2006. 

Go Masuda, 29 years-old,  5' 8", 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes was last seen wearing a dark blazer style jacket, white shirt and blue jeans.  He arrived from Japan and was scheduled to be in Los Angeles from September 1st through September 4th, 2006 for a music photo shoot.

Masuda's last known whereabouts on September 3, 2006, at 7:55 AM, was the northbound 405 Freeway at Montana Street, where he accessed a Call Box, requesting assistance because he had run out of gas.  On September 3, 2006, at 8:25 AM, Masuda's rented vehicle was found abandoned (out of gas) at the location.  As a California Highway Patrol officer was impounding the vehicle, he found photo equipment still in the vehicle.  There was no evidence of foul play, but Masuda is listed as missing under "unknown circumstances."   The vehicle has since been released to the rental agency.

Masuda's physical and mental health is described as good.  He has no prior history of missing.  Family and co-workers describe him as extremely responsible and insist his disappearance is out of character.  Previously Masuda has lived in the San Diego Area and is familiar with Southern California.  He speaks both English and Japanese. 

Missing Persons Unit will handle all press contacts.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Go Masuda contact the LAPD's, Missing Persons Unit Detectives Lydia Dillard or Bruce Kuehl at 213-485-5381. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855). 

 

Critical to Crime Fighting, DNA Faces Formidable Challenges

Southern California law enforcement leaders gathered to tout the importance of DNA analysis in crime fighting at the 5^th Annual DNA Awareness Week symposium. The daylong conference, held at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) on Sept. 14, drew more than 500 attendees, including police officers, deputies, prosecutors, and physicians.

Though some 400,000 DNA samples have been collected from convicted felons since the inception of the all-felon database, one of the most serious issues the criminal justice system faces is a backlog of 300,000 unprocessed samples. The structural backlog is attributed, in part, to critical staffing shortages at the Richmond California Department of Justice Lab in Sacramento.

"DNA is a phenomenal tool to reduce the number of murders and sexual assaults that occur, but there remains a lack of funding," said Chief Bratton.

The DNA database offers law enforcement personnel an opportunity to exonerate individuals, solve old cases, and prevent the commission of new crimes by repeat and serial offenders.

With so many offenders yet to be entered into the database, however, law enforcement officials contend that crimes are going unsolved and criminals—who could be behind bars—remain at large. While major cities, such as Los Angeles, have their own crime labs, smaller cities rely heavily on the Richmond lab.

"In Los Angeles, 46 out of every 100 murderers, and 80 out of every 100 rapists, are never brought to justice," Chief Bratton said. "As a result, the lives of innocent citizens are exposed to untold suffering, witnesses are intimidated, victims and families feel forgotten, and offenders believe they are immune to justice."

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley concurred with the Chief, urging the governor and state lawmakers to address this public safety matter.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Cold Case Homicide Unit attests to the crime fighting potential of DNA analysis. Since the unit’s inception in 2001, DNA is responsible for the solving of 27 homicides. More than 20 of those homicides were solved as a result of "cold hits," or database matches, in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index. The index, known as CODIS, contains DNA information collected from convicted felons and offenders arrested for rape or murder.

As a result of DNA "cold hits," the unit has 19 cases in the prosecution stage. DNA has also forensically identified five serial murder cases comprising a total of 20 victims where the perpetrators’ identities remain unknown.

In the Los Angeles region, law enforcement leaders remain optimistic as they await the 2007 opening of the Los Angeles Regional Crime Laboratory at CSULA. This state-of-the art facility will offer investigators sophisticated equipment to handle the backlog of DNA samples taken from prisoners.

The lab, a collaboration between the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will enable both agencies to work in concert and share vital information. It will also expand DNA services for cold case investigations, provide faster turnaround in obtaining results, and eventually expand into solving property-related crimes.

In 2004, California voters passed Proposition 69, the "DNA Fingerprint, Unsolved Crime and Innocence Protection Act," to expand and modify state law regarding the collection and use of criminal offender DNA samples.

Passing of a Friend

Today Northeast Area and Department Personnel bid farewell to Sergeant J.J. Cernigilia.  JJ did not pass away in a hail of gunfire, or while saving someone from a fire; yet, he did give his life in the service of his country and city.  JJ recently lost his battle to a terminal illness.  JJ, as we knew him, was a former United States Marine and 30 year plus veteran of the Department assigned to Northeast Area.  As a sergeant and a good friend of his said, JJ was a "Sergeant's cop," caring and fighting for his officer's best interest.  Taking on the fight for the deployment of more officers.

He was described as a person of integrity, a family man, and dedicated husband.  Words that accurately capture the very essence of the man.  To his family and friends we extend our heart felt sympathies.  To the Northeast Community and City of Los Angeles we lost one of our better Assistant Watch Commanders.  We are all richer for have known him, but poorer for losing him. 

It was my privledge and luck to have worked with JJ.  I guess God needed a good AWC. 

Lieutenant Ruben De La Torre   

Police Seek Suspects in Shooting Death of Teen

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles police detectives have released the names and pictures of two suspects wanted in the afternoon death of Dazohn Tony Roberts, 17, who was shot yesterday in the 6500 block of Balboa Boulevard.

Detectives from the Van Nuys police station worked through the night to identify the shooter, 16-year-old Nanshon Williams, and a man who acted as a getaway driver, 38-year-old Bruce Williams.  The two are not related.

"The case came together very quickly," said LAPD spokesman Lieutenant Paul Vernon.  "The shooting appeared to be gang related."

The shooting occurred yesterday around 3:45 PM in the vicinity of Birmingham High School, but the school was not involved.  Neither Roberts nor Williams were enrolled in any school.

Williams and Roberts were both armed and both fired their weapons.  Roberts was wounded in the lower torso and died later at the Northridge Hospital.  Detectives believe Williams and Roberts were members of rival gangs.

After the shooting, witnesses saw Williams get into a black, four-door Acura about two blocks away.  It was driven by Bruce Williams, who is on parole for assault with a deadly weapon.  The license plate was California 4SLE618.

Detectives recovered Roberts' gun at the scene, a .25 caliber semi-automatic handgun.  They served a search warrant this morning at Nanshon Williams' home in Van Nuys, and Bruce Williams' home in Mission Hills.  Nanshon and Bruce Williams remain at large.

Photographs of Nanshon and Bruce Williams were released to aid in their capture.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Van Nuys Homicide Unit at 818-374-0040.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

$75,000 Reward Offered for Year-Old Murder

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles City Council has authorized a $75,000 reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of persons responsible for a brutal murder committed last year.

On September 28, 2005, around 9:30 p.m., 23-year-old Andy Abarca was playing basketball with friends at Lemon Grove Park, 4949 Lemon Grove Avenue, in Hollywood. Two unknown Hispanic gang members approached the group. Without provocation, one of the gang members drew a handgun and fired into the group. Abarca was hit and died instantly. His friends were also hit and injured.

Abarca was a loan officer for a local mortgage company and had no known ties to gangs. His passion was playing basketball at the park in the evening after work.

The suspects are described only as two Hispanic men.   

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hollywood Homicide Unit at 213-972-2910. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Activation of New Photo Red Light Equipment in Central Bureau

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department today announced the reactivation of a Photo Red Light (PRL) system at the intersection of South Soto Street and East Olympic Boulevard, in Operations-Central Bureau.  The new Photo Red Light (PRL), the fifth of its kind in the city, is a monitoring system which records the license plates of vehicles running red lights.  In the near future, 27 additional locations will be outfitted with comparable machinery, totaling 32 intersections Citywide.

In June 2005, after many years of contending with poor quality photographs from the previous PRL vendor, the City declined to renew the provider's contract.  In November 2005, the City Council approved a new vendor, Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc.  The new vendor's technology delivers significant improvements over former systems.  After a traffic signal has changed to red, Nestor's dual-digital video cameras record violators approaching and traveling through an intersection.  The vehicle license plate is photographed from both the front and rear.

With installation of the new system's rear-facing cameras, officers anticipate a marked increase in the likelihood of convictions.  At the moment the light turns red, the new cameras record the precise position of a violator's vehicle in relation to the intersection signal light.

The digital video systems record 30 still frames-per-second for each violation, providing a greater opportunity to capture a clear photograph of the driver and vehicle.

The new systems also allow officers to monitor and adjust equipment remotely via satellite.  Live photographs of an intersection can be obtained during a breaking emergency.

The LAPD and Los Angeles Department of Transportation will monitor the new systems and analyze results to determine deployment locations for the 27 systems yet to be installed.

A sergeant and four officers will be assigned full time to administer the program.  They will use a laptop computer in court to present digital evidence during disputed cases.

Media inquiries regarding this system may be referred to Sergeant Matthew MacWillie, Traffic Coordination Section, at 213-847-1705.

A list of the current and former Photo Red Light intersections is available from Media Relations Section.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics September 9, 2024

VIOLENT CRIMES                 2006            2005            % Chg

Homicide                              337               350            -4.0%
Rape                                     624              651            -4.0%
Robbery                              9,916           9,108             9.0%
Agg Assaults **                  10,034          11,035           -9.0%
Total Violent Crimes        20,911         21,144           -1.0%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                             13,632           14,782          -8.0%
BTFV                                  16,718           18,490        -10.0%
Personal/Other Theft          20,499           22,852        -10.0%
Auto Theft                         18,932           21,598         -12.0%
Total Property Crimes      69,781          77,722        -10.0%
Total Part I Crimes           90,692          98,866          -8.0%

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

VIOLENT CRIMES                 2006            2005            % Chg

Homicide                              337               350            -4.0%
Rape                                     624              651            -4.0%
Robbery                              9,916           9,108             9.0%
Agg Assaults **                  10,034          11,035           -9.0%
Total Violent Crimes        20,911         21,144           -1.0%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                             13,632           14,782          -8.0%
BTFV                                  16,718           18,490        -10.0%
Personal/Other Theft          20,499           22,852        -10.0%
Auto Theft                         18,932           21,598         -12.0%
Total Property Crimes      69,781          77,722        -10.0%
Total Part I Crimes           90,692          98,866          -8.0%

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

Police Sergeant Ambushed, Suspects At Large

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police investigators released a photograph of a 1980's model gray Toyota Previa van, which is similar to the minivan used in the ambush assault of Sergeant Gabriel Kearney last Saturday.

"This investigation is of the highest priority," said Lieutenant Paul Vernon.  "It's rare that you see such a premeditated, sinister attempt to harm a police officer.  To think, they used the pretext of the sergeant helping someone to lure him into a trap."

Sergeant Kearney has provided detailed descriptions of the two men who attacked him, and forensic artists are putting together composite sketches, which will be released soon.

The ambush occurred on Saturday afternoon, September 9, around 2 PM, when a White man in his thirties flagged down Sergeant Kearney at a bicycle shop on Ventura Boulevard.  The man told Kearney that another man was unconscious in a nearby pedestrian tunnel.  Kearney drove his police car to the tunnel along Sale Avenue, between Del Valle Street and Avenue San Luis.  The man followed Kearney to the tunnel in a faded gray Toyota Previa van. 

Sergeant Kearney walked into the tunnel and saw another man lying on the ground.  Unbeknownst to Kearney, the first man followed him in the tunnel.  Kearney heard the man behind him say, "Hey, officer," then the man hit Kearney over the head with a beer bottle.

Kearney fell to his knees, stunned, then saw the second man, who had been on the ground, charging at him with a long kitchen knife.  Kearney fired two shots at the man, who turned and ran out of the tunnel.  His apparent accomplice ran out of the tunnel in the other direction.  When Kearney emerged from the tunnel, the van was pulling away.

Kearney thought he hit the second suspect with gunfire, but investigators found no evidence to confirm that.  They did find the suspect's knife and the beer bottle used to stun Kearney.

Kearney was treated at a local hospital for the bump on the head, but he returned to the scene to assist investigators.  Kearney is 34 years old and has over 9 years with LAPD.

Both suspects were White, in their thirties, thin, about 6 feet tall, and appeared to be dirty.  They had short, brown hair, cut in a crew cuts, and may be methamphetamine users. 

Anyone with information on this assault is asked to call Detective Marks, Force Investigation Division, at 213-485-6475.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

Paris Hilton Recent Arrest

On September 7, 2006, at 12:25 am, Los Angeles Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of Ms. Paris Hilton. The subsequent investigation led to Ms. Hilton's arrest for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). A review of the officers actions and the events following Ms. Hilton's arrest indicate that there was no deviation from Department policy.

Ms. Hilton was booked and released as required by law and Department protocol. I concurred with the Hollywood Area Watch Commander’s decision to release her on her own recognizance to a responsible party as permitted by law. In doing so, we were able to ensure that there ws no extended disruption of Hollywood Station operations or public safety.

JOSEPH A. MARIANI, Captian
Commanding Officer
Hollywood Patrol Division

Two Men Shot to Death, Pregnant Woman Injured in North Hollywood

Los Angeles: Sunday night two men were shot to death, and a pregnant woman was shot and injured, while they sat in their car in North Hollywood.

On September 10, 2006, around 10:00 PM, officers responded to a shooting call at the 7-11 convenience store in the 7500 block of Lankershim Boulevard.  When they arrived, police found three victims lying in the parking lot next to their 1997 BMW.   

Joel Cortez Alonso, 19, Alejandro Perez, 19, and Rocio Caliz, 20, were rushed to a local hospital by paramedics from the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

Alonso and Perez died at the hospital, and Caliz, who is 8 months pregnant, was treated for gunshot wounds to her abdomen and right thigh.  Both she and her unborn child are expected to survive. 

The investigation revealed that the victims had just driven into the parking lot and were still inside their vehicle when a man with a handgun approached them.  The suspect fired multiple shots into the car, striking all three victims. 

The man with the gun then entered into a tan or silver 1980-1990 compact foreign sedan and fled the scene. 

The suspect is a male Hispanic, 18-23 years old, with a shaved head.  He was 5'7" to 5'10" tall and had a slight moustache.

The motive for the shooting has not been determined.  The victims are not gang members. 

Anyone with information is asked to call North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4016 or 818-623-4075, during normal business hours.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

The identities of callers wishing to remain anonymous shall be protected.

Former Police Commissioner Dies in Traffic Accident

Los Angeles:  A former Los Angeles City Police Commissioner died Sunday after the car she was driving overturned near her driveway.

On September 10, 2006, around 7:45 p.m., Melanie Lomax, 56, of Hollywood, was backing her Jaguar down the driveway of her residence on Outpost Drive, north of Senalda Road.  Before the vehicle reached the street, it left the paved driveway and overtuned down a steep adjacent embankment, coming to rest upside down on Outpost Drive.

A neighbor heard the accident and hurried to help.  When he reached the car, Ms. Lomax was unresponsive, still suspended in her seatbelt.  Los Angeles City Fire Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment. They determined Ms. Lomax to be in full cardiac arrest.  Paramedics rushed her to Cedars Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 8:37 p.m.

Ms. Lomax sustained no obvious, visible injuries.  The official cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

Melanie Lomax served as a Police Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles in the early 1990s.

The collision is being investigated by West Traffic Division. Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

Chief's September Message

COPS COUNT

I recently delivered a keynote speech at the annual
National Institute of Justice Conference in
Washington, DC.  This gave me a chance to speak
frankly about my beliefs on the factors involved
in controlling and reducing crime, and my observations
regarding the relationship between the practitioners—
the cops on the street—and the researchers,
academics, and sociologists.

Because the audience included researchers and social
scientists, as well as police professionals, I
challenged them all to begin working together in a
more synergistic manner than in the antagonistic
manner we have shared in the past.  But the main
point that I wanted to make was that cops count,
and that cops are the most essential component of
the equation when it comes to fighting and reducing
crime.

In my remarks I spoke about the importance of debate
and the exchange of opposing ideas.  But I made it
clear that I stop short when I hear the contentious
opinion, commonly put forth by researchers, that
fluctuations in crime are due to socioeconomic
factors, such as demographics and economic
disparity, while dismissing the role of police
officers in crime prevention and reduction.

The City of Los Angeles is now experiencing its
lowest crime numbers in 50 years, earning L.A.
the title of second safest large city in the nation.
That was not caused by some demographic or
socioeconomic glitch or downward trend.  It was in
direct response to the hard work of the men and
women of the LAPD.  From the end of the year 2001,
to the end of the year 2005, homicides have declined
17.2 percent.  That, in human terms amounts to 101
fewer people murdered.  I don’t know of any other
major U.S. city that has been as successful, and it
was done with half the ratio of officers to residents
as compared to New York City.  Who says cops
don’t count?

Reductions in crime and disorder in this City attest
to the Department’s innovative strategies and its
consistent, compassionate, and constitutionally-
appropriate style.  While social issues may have a
slight bearing on the rise and fall of crime, I
prefer to think of them as meager influences.  The
quickest way to impact crime is through a well-led,
properly managed, and appropriately-resourced police
force; a police force that embraces risk-taking
and not risk-adversity.  This police agency must
also include accountability-focused COMPSTAT
management principles, “Broken Windows” quality of
life initiatives, and problem-oriented community
policing that is transparent and accessible to the
public, the media, the profession, and the research
community.

Getting to the issue of causes, I believe strongly
that the single most important cause of crime is
human behavior.  One thing that I have learned and
strongly advocate is that the police, with proper
resources and appropriate direction, can control
behavior to such a degree that it will change
behavior.  I have seen nothing in the way of hard
evidence to dissuade me from the simple truth that
we are the difference.

Cops count, as they are the essential catalysts in
the reduction and prevention of crime.  On a daily
basis, Los Angeles police officers are making the
difference, out there in a  real world that is far
removed from sterile and controlled academic and
research environments.  Cops are the difference,
they count, and no one, regardless of their academic
credentials, should attempt to persuade anyone
otherwise.

Medal of Valor

Speaking of cops counting and truly making a
difference, this month 13 Los Angeles police
officers will be receiving the Department’s highest
honor, the Medal of Valor.  These individuals
include:

Sergeant Hector Feliciano
Detective Richard Record
Officer Christopher Vasquez
Officer Carlos Figueroa
Officer Matthew Cundiff
Officer Mario Cardona
Officer Carlos Ocegueda
Officer Osvaldo Delgadillo
Officer Ralph Camarillo
Officer Laurissa Hulsebus
Officer Abel Muñoz
Officer Edwin Marron
Officer Mark Mireles

For Officer Mireles, this will be the second time he has received
this distinguished honor.  If you know any of these
officers, please make the effort to congratulate them
on their achievement. These outstanding officers are
representative of all of the dedicated men and women
of this Department and representative of the type of
officers we want to hire, as policing today requires
smart, aggressive, and creative men and women who
police with measured action, consistently,
compassionately, and constitutionally.  Cops count,
and they do make the difference when it comes to
making LA a safer city.

WILLIAM J. BRATTON
Chief of Police

9/11 Remembered

Civic leaders gathered today at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center in Elysian Park to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton, LA Fire Chief William Bamattre, and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were among those at the remembrance ceremony. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was also in attendance.

Chief Bratton, a former New York police commissioner, shared personal reflections of that tragic day 5 years ago. He and his wife, Rikki Kleiman, lived in New York at the time of the attacks.

"At the end of the day, the World Trade Center Towers were no longer there," Chief Bratton said. "But the Empire State Building was. On its spire were red, white, and blue lights. They would shine in the weeks ahead. They gave hope to us all that—while we had been damaged, while we had been injured, while we had been attacked—America would survive, and we would rally, and we would go forward. I am reinvigorated by that day and those memories, even as I mourn those who are lost."

Deeply moved by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and wanting to again be in a position to make a difference, Bratton left his job in the private sector and returned to law enforcement in 2002. As Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Bratton has established a Counter terrorism Bureau, was instrumental in helping to form a Joint Regional Intelligence Center, and continues to be very involved in national anti-terrorism efforts.

The commemorative ceremony was followed by a news conference at which city officials spoke of counter-terror, disaster-management and preparedness initiatives.

Earlier this year, a group of civic advisors—including Chief Bratton—was assembled to identify and address concerns relating to counter-terrorism.

Advisors have been tasked with researching methods employed by cities worldwide to prevent and respond to terrorist events. The group is also working to improve evacuation plans and emergency preparedness, ensuring that Los Angeles first responders have access to cutting-edge technology for prevention, response, and recovery.

The long-term goal is to strengthen ties with other municipalities, state and federal agencies, in order to share intelligence, improve communication and coordination resources and response.

Today’s ceremony was held next to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s 23-ton 9/11memorial, a steel column formerly part of the World Trade Center lobby structure. The memorial honors the 343 New York firefighters killed in the attacks.

Believed to be the largest remnant of the attacks on the West Coast, the column now rests at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center.

Police Car Collides with Toyota, Two Injured

Los Angeles: The driver and passenger of a Toyota Corolla were seriously injured just after midnight this morning when a police car swerved to avoid another car, which had stopped abruptly in a South Los Angeles intersection. 

"This is a tragic accident," said LAPD spokesman Lieutenant Paul Vernon.  "We pray for the speedy recovery of the driver and her passenger."  Both persons remain hospitalized. 

The collision occurred Saturday, September 9, at 12:10 AM, when a Los Angeles police officer, assigned to the Southeast Police Station, was traveling westbound on Imperial Highway.  As the police car approached the intersection, two cars were stopped in tandem at the stop sign at Success Avenue.  The car in front moved into the intersection, then the driver hesitated and stopped abruptly when he saw the police car.

The police officer swerved to avoid hitting the first car and struck the second car, the Toyota Corolla.  The force of the collision severely injured both occupants.

The driver, a 40-year-old woman, was taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital in Long Beach.  She remains in critical condition.  Her passenger, a 46-year-old man, sustained serious injuries, but was listed in stable condition.  The police officer's leg was injured.  He was also listed in stable condition.

The first car, which the officer swerved to avoid, was not directly involved in the collision.

The Specialized Collision Investigation Division (SCID) will investigate the circumstances of the accident.

LAPD Trick Task Force Operation

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles police officers arrested 13 persons on September 8, 2006, related to prostitution activities near Sepulveda Boulevard and Rayen Street in North Hills. The operation began around 8:00 p.m., and ended at 1:30 a.m., the next morning. Undercover female police officers posed as prostitutes on the street and arrested violators, or "Johns," who stopped and solicited them for sex. Officers also impounded the "John's" cars, using city ordinance 41.70 LAMC that was enacted in 2005. In total nine cars were seized. The City Attorney's Office will determine what fines will be levied against the arrestees to enable them to get their cars back. In some cases, the cars may qualify to be forfeited permanently.

Operations-Valley Bureau vice units conduct periodic prostitution task forces in areas prone to blatant, chronic prostitution and other vice activities. This a full spectrum approach to the problem that seems to be effective at reducing individuals who are prone to soliciting prostitutes in the San Fernando Valley.

The following people were arrested for 647(b) PC- Prostitution.

Name                         Age        City of Residence
Arouchian, Harout        45             North Hills   
Hernandez, Miguel       19              North Hills
Garcia, Efrain              42             North Hills
Gutierrez, Pascual        35             North Hills
Aguilar, Adrian             35             North Hills
Gonzalez, Noe              21             Van Nuys
Thomas, Dennis           50             Canyon Country   
Amador, Marcus           24             Newhall
Aguilar, Fernando         26             North Hills
Castellon, Antonio        18             Panorama City
Roque, Rodrigo            35             Granada Hills
Martinez, Mario            50            North Hollywood
Castaneda, Luis            55            North Hills

Note: The arrest of any person does not imply guilt, nor does it guarantee prosecution for the charge. All arrests are referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

Media questions on this release may be referred to Sergeant II Rob Nakamura, Officer in Charge, Mission Area Vice, 818-838-9910.

Murder-Suicide Attempt in Hansen Dam Recreation Center

Los Angeles: An apparent murder-suicide attempt occurred in the parking lot of the Hanson Dam Aquatic Center.

On Friday, September 8, 2006, at about 3:30 PM, Foothill Area patrol officers responded to a shooting call at the 11700 block of Foothill Boulevard, in the Lake View Terrace area.  Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered a couple in a pick up truck with gunshot wounds. The couple was taken to a local hospital. 

The woman was identified as 29-year-old Guadalupe Castaneda.  She was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.  Her husband, Irineo Castaneda, 33, is listed in critical condition from self-inflicted gunshot wound.  The couple lived in Lynwood.

The initial investigation revealed the motive was possibly a domestic dispute.

The weapon is in custody and it is unknown if there are additional persons involved in the incident.

Detectives are asking witnesses come forward with information regarding the shooting.  Anyone with information is requested to contact Foothill Area Homicide Detectives Brownell or Martinez at 818-834-3115.  On weekends and during off-hours, call 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).