LAPD Blog

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 79-year-old Henry Williams.

Mr. Williams was last seen on August 29, 2007, at about 1:15 p.m., at South La Peer Drive and Gregory Way in Beverly Hills, California.

Mr. Williams is African American stands, 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs 170 pounds and was last seen wearing a tan shirt, white T-shirt, light green baseball cap with the Huntington Library logo.
Mr. Williams suffers from dementia and is unable to speak.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Persons Unit, Detective Lydia Dillard at 213-485-5381. During after hours and on weekends, phone the 24-hour toll free Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating 21 year old Gilbert Macatangay.

Mr. Macatangay was last seen on August 22, 2007, at about 10:00 p.m., at his residence in the 15000 block of Parthenia Street Avenue in the city of North Hills.

Mr. Macatangay suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and had recently been released from the hospital where he had been taking his medication and was stabilized.  Gilbert has the mental capacity of a child and may not know his way home.  Gilbert speaks Tagalog and limited English.

Gilbert is a 21 year old male Filipino, 5 feet tall, weighs 100 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black shorts and sandals.

Anyone with the whereabouts is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Persons Unit, Detective Mullins, at 213-485-5381. During after hours and on weekends, phone the 24-hour toll free Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

  Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting the assistance of the public in identifying two suspects caught on surveillance video burglarizing a Bel Air home.

On August 1, 2007, at about 7:50 p.m., two suspects drove up to the victim's residence in a 1998 to 2000 black Lexus LS400, 4-door vehicle. They got out of the vehicle, jumped over the gate, and entered the house.

After burglarizing the victim's residence the suspects returned to the vehicle and left the area. 

The first suspect is described as a White man, 6 feet, 150-160 lbs., in his 30's. The second suspect, and driver of the vehicle, was also a White man, 5'8" to 5'10", 150-180 lbs., in his 30's wearing glasses.

This crime is not connected with the burglaries where a reward was offered earlier on July 19, 2024 in West Los Angeles.

Anyone with information is asked to contact West Los Angeles Detectives Steve Bucher and Tom Vettraino at 310-444-1566. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

A copy of the surveillance video is available at Media Relations Section 213-485-3586.

Crime Statistics August 25, 2024

VIOLENT CRIMES                 2007*            2006*         % Chg

***UPDATE: Suspect in Robbery/Homicide was arrested on Saturday, August 25, 2024 at around 4:20 p.m., as he walked down the street near his home.

Suspect:  Rodney Bourgeois, 18, 5'2", 115 lbs., was booked for 187 PC-Murder is being held without bail***

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police detectives have released video footage of a robber who fatally shot a man and critically injured a second victim during an attempted liquor store robbery in Hollywood.

The robbery occurred at the Limelight Liquor Store on July 19, 2007. Just before 6:30 p.m., a Black man posing as a customer walked into the store in the 1600 block of La Brea Avenue.

The clerk, Vladimir Akkerman, 69, was standing behind the counter near the cash register when the man asked him the price for a half gallon of milk.  The suspect returned the milk to the refrigerator case and walked back to the stock room.  There the suspect grabbed 39-year-old Pulod Davlatnazarov by the back of his shirt and walked him at gunpoint to the front counter.

The surveillance footage showed the gunman making demands and Akkerman trying to reason with him.  Moments later, Akkerman reached to activate the alarm button and put his hands up.  The suspect shot Akkerman in the stomach, then shot Davlatnazarov in the head.  After the shootings, the suspect ran out of the store without taking anything, police said.

Davlatnazarov died at the scene.  Akkerman was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

The suspect is 18-22 years old, 5'6" tall, 180 pounds.  He had a short afro and was wearing wire rim prescription glasses.  He was wearing a black oversized short sleeve T-shirt with a white T-shirt underneath.

Video footage of the crime is available to media outlets through Media Relations Section. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Hollywood Homicide Detectives Vicki Bynum or Larry Cameron at 213-972-2902 or 972-2910 during normal business hours.  On weekends and during off-hours, phone the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

***UPDATE: The CARE Alert has been cancelled.  The child has been located and is in good condition and is being cared for by family members.***

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a 1-year-old boy taken from the 5100 block of Denny Avenue in North Hollywood after a domestic violence incident.

On August 26, 2007, at around 1:20 a.m., Jose Roberto Leon got into a dispute with his girlfriend, with whom he lives.  During the dispute, it is alleged that Leon committed battery against her. 

After the incident, Leon, described as a Hispanic man, 19, 5ft 6 in, 120 lbs., left the location with the couple's young son, Angel Leon. 

Angel is described as Hispanic, with black hair, brown eyes, weighting about 26 lbs., last seen wearing an orange shirt with camouflage and iguana markings, and a diaper. 

Leon is believed to be driving a green, Toyota, Celica.

Detectives from the North Hollywood Area Community Police Station want to locate Leon and his child to verify the safety of the child.  Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the North Hollywood Area Watch Commander at 818-623-4016.

Los Angeles:  North Hollywood Area in partnership with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Unified School District Police, Burbank Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, California Department of Corrections and Los Angeles County Probation focused on gangs and tagging crews linked to criminal activity in the North Hollywood and Sun Valley communities.

On August 24, 2007, around 6:00 a.m., the North Hollywood Area Multi-Agency Task Force launched Operation Heat Wave, a joint effort to target gang members involved in criminal activity and/or are on active parole or probation.  One primary goal of the task force is to immediately impact the incidents of crime in the community, while acting as a future deterrence.

The North Hollywood Area Multi-Agency Task Force comprised of more than 100 law enforcement officials from the various agencies served multiple Probation and Parole Compliance Checks, Arrest and Warrant Searches at approximately 58 locations.  Those gangs and tagging crews that were targeted include Vineland Boys, 18th Street, North Hollywood Locos, North Hollywood Boys and Clanton (C-14).  One of the gangs, 18th Street, is listed as one of the Department's Top Targeted Gangs. 

This massive effort will be under way through the evening.  Preliminary results are 12 arrests (4 whom are juveniles), recovery of; three firearms, two machetes, narcotics including methamphetamine and marijuana, several shaved keys believed to be used to steal cars and a wealth of intelligence of recent gang related criminal activity. 

Dividends of this and similar task forces, including patrol and detective functions are beginning to be realized with gang related crime having decreased in North Hollywood Area by 54.5% over the past 4-week period. Overall, year to date gang crime in North Hollywood is up 24%.

As of July 30th, gang crime in the Valley is up 5.9%, a total of 47 additional crimes.  While gang homicides are down 4.3%, 22 through July 30th compared to 23 during the same time period last year, some of the increase in gang crime can be attributed to more assaults against police officers.  This time last year, there had been 7; so far this year there have been 22, an increase of over 200%.

Overall the Valley is a safer place today than it was one year ago. Through August 18, 2024 crime is down 1.7%. That includes a 24% reduction in homicides, 42 vs. 55.

The credit has to go to the men and women of the LAPD who are on the front lines and our other law enforcement partners.  Because gang crime accounts for 22% of all crime in the Valley, we intend to keep the heat on the gangs.   

This news release was prepared by Lieutenant Ruben De La Torre, Officer In Charge of Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.

Los Angeles: A pedestrian, who was walking outside of the crosswalk, was struck by a vehicle and died.

The collision occurred on Thursday, August 23, 2007, at around 8:30 p.m., at Jefferson Boulevard near 5th Avenue in the Jefferson Park area.  The pedestrian, later identified as Constance Russell, 57, of Los Angeles, was crossing Jefferson Boulevard northbound when she was hit by a 2001 Lexus SUV, which was being driven westbound on Jefferson Boulevard.  The driver of the Lexus stopped and identified himself as required by law. 

Ms. Russell was transported to California Hospital with serious injuries and despite treatment, died early Friday morning at around 3:30 a.m. 

The driver has been identified as movie director John Singleton.  The preliminary investigation revealed Mr. Singleton was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  He was questioned and released.

For more information concerning the incident, contact Detective Jimmy Render, South Traffic Division, at 323-290-6364.  

Los Angeles: An 18-year-old Los Angeles man was shot and killed and another unidentified man was injured in a gang related shooting yesterday afternoon in Hollywood. 

At around 2:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to the corner of Beverly Boulevard and Normandie Avenue and found Fernando Isaias Castellanos suffering from a gunshot wound.

Paramedics responded to the location and pronounced Castellanos dead at the scene.  His companion was taken to a local hospital where he is listed in stable condition.

Police have no suspect information. 

The motive appears to be gang related.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hollywood homicide Detectives Scott Mc Neil or Chris Mayberry at 213-972-2913. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a 1-year-old boy taken from the 5100 block of Denny Avenue in North Hollywood after a domestic violence incident.

On August 26, 2007, at around 1:20 a.m., Jose Roberto Leon got into a dispute with his girlfriend, with whom he lives.  During the dispute it is alleged that Leon committed battery against her. 

After the incident, Leon, described as a Hispanic man, 19, 5ft 6 in., 120 lbs., left the location with the couple's young son, Angel Leon. 

Angel is described as Hispanic, with black hair, brown eyes, weighting about 26 lbs., last seen wearing an orange shirt with camouflage and iguana markings, and a diaper. 

Leon is believed to be driving a green, Toyota, Celica.

Detectives from the North Hollywood Area Community Police Station want to locate Leon and the child to verify the safety of the child.  Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the North Hollywood Area Watch Commander at 818-623-4016.

Photos of Leon and Angel are attached.