LAPD Blog

Officer Fires Weapon Accidentally

Los Angeles: A Los Angeles Police Department officer accidentally discharged a shotgun in the West Valley police parking structure on August 16, 2007.

At about 4:15 p.m., Officer Geoffrey Carlson was conducting a safety check prior to deploying the shotgun into the police vehicle when it accidentally fired one shot into the ceiling.

There were no injuries.

West Valley Detectives are handling the investigation.

Officer Carlson is 29 years old and has been with the Department for over 2 years.

Help Needed in Identifying Hit and Run Victim

Los Angeles: A jogger wearing an I-pod ran into the traffic lanes and was struck by a car.  He is in extremely critical condition and detectives need the public's assistance in identifying him.

The jogger is either White or Hispanic and 20 to 30 years of age.  He has black hair and brown eyes and has a tattoo of a red and yellow flower on his right arm.  He stands 5’ 8” and weighs 175 pounds.

On August 15, 2007, at around 8:20 PM, a 1999 grey Chrysler 300, driven by a 23-year-old man, was eastbound on Franklin Avenue near Mariposa Avenue.  The jogger bolted in front of the Chrysler from between parked cars.  The driver of the Chrysler attempted to avoid the collision by swerving to his right but was unsuccessful and collided with the jogger. 

The jogger was taken to a local hospital where he remains on life support. 

The driver of the Chrysler was questioned and released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Felix Padilla, Central Traffic Division, at 213-972-1825.  After hours and on weekends, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAW-FULL (877-529-3855).

13-Year-Old Boy Missing

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating 13-year-old Fabian Rojas.

Fabian was last seen on August 14, 2007, at about 9:00 a.m., at his residence at 1418 Pleasant Street in Boyle Heights.  He left the house and has not been seen since. 

The investigation reveals Fabian called his uncle at 9:00 a.m., and stated that there were two men outside in front of his house.  The uncle told him to lock the doors and windows and do not let anyone inside the house.  He was concerned for Fabian's safety and sent over his girlfriend to check on Fabian.  The uncle's girlfriend checked on Fabian at about 10 a.m., and noticed the doors were unlocked, the windows open, and Fabian gone.

Officers from the Hollenbeck Station set up a command post, and began to look for Fabian who may have been possibly kidnapped. 

At about 2 p.m., Fabian's girlfriend called police and advised that Fabian had called her and said that he was on his way to the City of Bloomington in San Bernardino County to see her.

Fabian is 4 feet tall, weighs 75 pounds, and was wearing a white Hollenbeck Middle School shirt and light color shorts.  He has brown hair and brown eyes.

A photo of Fabian is available by e-mail from Media Relations Section.

Anyone knowing of his whereabouts is asked to contact Hollenbeck Division at 323-266-5964. During off-hours or on weekends call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

51-Year-Old Man Missing

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating 51-year-old Michael Thomas.

Mr. Thomas was last seen on August 6, 2007, at about 2:30 PM, at his residence in the 19800 block of Ingomar Street in Winnetka.  He left the house and has not been seen since.  He usually walks around the neighborhood and returns home.

Family members told officers that he suffers from schizophrenia and is a diabetic.  Mr. Thomas needs to take his medication, which was left at home.

Mr. Thomas is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 180 pounds, and was wearing a white/green shirt and blue shorts.  He has brown hair and brown eyes.

A photo of Mr. Thomas is available by e-mail from Media Relations Section.

Anyone knowing of his whereabouts is asked to contact Missing Persons Unit at 213-485-5381. During off-hours or on weekends call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855). 

89-Year-Old Woman Missing

 UPDATE
On August 13, 2024 at about 9:30 PM, Rampart Officers advised that Ms.Ponce was located by her family members safe and has returned home.

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating 89-year-old Rosa Ponce. Ms. Ponce suffers from Alzheimer and Dementia. Her mental condition is poor.

Ms. Ponce was last seen on August 12, 2007, at about 6:00 PM, at her home located at 921 North Bonnie Brae Street.   

Ms. Ponce is 4 feet 11inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has short Grey hair, last seen wearing purple blouse, and purple skirt. Ms. Ponce also has a distinct mole above her upper lip.

Ms. Ponce frequents the area of Sunset Boulevard and Park Street near "The Brite Spot Restaurant".

Anyone knowing of her whereabouts is asked to contact Rampart Division at 213-485-4061. During off-hours or on weekends call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

A photo of Ms. Campos is available by e-mail from Media Relations Section.

Notes from the Tuesday, August 14, 2024 Police Commission Weekly Meeting

•Assistant Chief Earl C. Paysinger reported there are currently 393 recruits in the Police Academy, with the ethnic breakdown of 8.65% Black, 51% Hispanic, 7.38% Asian/Pacific Islander, 31.55% Caucasian, 1.78% Filipino. 83.46% are male and 16.54% are females.

•A moment of silence was held for Police Officer III Bob Cantrell.

•The Executive Director reported on the regulation of tow operations within the City.

•The Inspector General reported that the investigation of the January 2006 officer involved shooting involving Matthew Powell is nearing completion. 

•Executive Director Richard Tefank introduced Lt. Doug Miller, the new Commanding Officer of Community Relations Section, to the Commission.

•The Department's report, dated August 9, 2007, relative to a donation of equipment in the amount of $36,356.80, to be used by the Chief of Police and senior staff members, from the Los Angeles Police Foundation, was approved.   

•The Department's report, dated August 7, 2007, relative to a request for Travel Authority for the Chief of Police to travel to Aspen, Colorado from August 23 through August 26, 2007, to participate as a speaker at the 2007 The Aspen Institute on the subject of “Policing Terrorism,” was approved.            

•The verbal presentation and discussion, relative to the Department's policy as it relates to participation in U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency enforcement at medical marijuana dispensaries, was given by Commander David Doan.

•The verbal presentation and discussion from the Department, relative to the process and methodology for deploying police resources, was presented by Sgt. Dan Gomez, OIC Field Deployment Unit, and Captain Robert Hauck, Special Assistant to the Assistant Director of Office of Operations.

•Commissioner Skobin outlined the joint efforts he and the Department have made toward improving the radio system now, and also in the future, as a high priority for the Police Commission.  First, a preventative maintenance program is now in place that serves all Areas to improve the reliability of Astro radios. Second, funding has been identified for the installation of 2,700 in-car radios.  Third, there is an effort to identify both short and long term funding sources to replace the current Astro radios. And fourth, Commissioner Skobin strongly urged to have each officer assigned his or her own radio, which will benefit the Department and community in many ways and serve as a “force multiplier.”  This item was continued for additional information and periodic status updates.

•The Department's report, in response to City Council request (Council File No. 07-1331), relative to methamphetamine related arrests and convictions, and strategies for suppression of methamphetamine production and trafficking, as set forth, was approved.

•The Executive Director's report, relative to Proposed Fee Changes for Renewal and Relocation Permits for Fiscal Year 2007/2008, was approved.

•The Department's report, in response to City Council request (Council File No. 06-0600S78), relative to Year-end Adjustment and Financial Status Report, was approved.

•The Department's report, relative to the Ethics Enforcement Section Quarterly Report, Second Quarter 2007, in accordance with the Annual Audit Plan, was approved.

•The Department's report, relative to the Amended Discipline Report, First Quarter 2007, Table L, in accordance with Paragraph 88 of the Consent Decree, was approved.

•The Department's report, relative to the Activity Report for the month of May 2007, was approved.

•The Department's report, in response to City Council request, relative to evaluating the feasibility and cost of using Senior Detention Officers for prisoner release at the Los Angeles County Courts, was approved.

Hit and Run turns into a Homicide

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is looking for witnesses that could provide information on the identity of a fatal hit and run motorist last Thursday afternoon.

On Thursday, August 9, 2007, at about 2:50 PM, Peter Anthony Martinez, 20, a resident of Van Nuys and his brother Alex Martinez, 18, were crossing White Oak Avenue at Wyandotte Street.

As they were nearing the center median, a male suspect driving a Honda Civic failed to yield to the pedestrians and sped past them northbound on White Oak Avenue.  The victims yelled at the suspect who had come close to hitting them.  The driver of the Honda Civic then made a U-turn and headed back southbound at a high rate of speed.  As the driver approached he intentionally veered to his left and struck victim Peter Martinez with the front of his vehicle.  The driver then fled southbound on White Oak Avenue.

Peter Martinez was taken to a local hospital where he was admitted in extremely critical condition. 

On Saturday, August 11, 2007, at 3:55 PM, Peter Anthony Martinez died as a result of the massive trauma caused during this incident.

West Valley Homicide detectives are seeking the public's assistance in locating the vehicle and suspect involved in this tragic event.

The suspect is described as a Male Hispanic or Middle Eastern, 30-40 years, black hair, short and nicely groomed.

The vehicle is described as a 1995/1996 Honda Civic, 4 door, Black, with tinted rear windows.  The vehicle would have sustained moderate damage to the front end and possibly a broken windshield.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is encouraged to call West Valley Homicide detectives at 818-374-7725 or 818-374-7721. On weekends or during off-hours call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Bank Robber Shot By Officers

Los Angeles: A woman bank robber who had a hostage, was shot and killed by officers.

On Thursday, August 9, 2007, at around 12:40 PM, Mission Area patrol officers responded to a "Robbery in Progress" call at the Bank of America located at 13953 Foothill Boulevard.  As the officers took up positions outside the bank, additional information was received regarding the suspect having a hostage.  The suspect, a Hispanic woman, left the bank with a female hostage whom she was holding at gunpoint. Shortly after exiting, the hostage broke free and re-entered the bank. The woman did not comply with officers' commands and pointed her gun at the officers.  An officer involved shooting occurred.  The woman received multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation revealed the woman had presented a demand note prior to taking the hostage.  She is approximately 39 years of age.  Her name is being withheld pending notification to her family.

No officers were injured as a result of the incident.  Officer Walter Boyle, 42, with six years on the Department and Felipe Martinez, 25, one year and three months with the Department, were involved in the shooting. 

A plastic semi-automatic replica was recovered at the scene.

Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating the shooting and the FBI and Robbery-Homicide Division personnel are investigating the bank robbery.

Playboy Mansion Update

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department has concluded its investigation of an alleged sexual assault that occurred at the Playboy Mansion.  The case was submitted to the District Attorney's Office and no charges will be filed.  The Los Angeles Police Department will release no further information regarding this matter.

Man Stabbed to Death Downtown

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police detectives are asking the public's help in solving the stabbing death of a Black man in his thirties.  The heavily tattooed man died at the Los Angeles County USC Medical Center around 2 AM.

"No one initially reported the crime to police," said Lieutenant Paul Vernon, who supervises detective operations for the Central Police Station.  "We're questioning a man who claims to be a good Samaritan. We're not sure of his involvement, nor his motives for helping the victim."

According to the witness, he came upon the stabbed man on Seaton Avenue, just south of 5th Street, in the warehouse district of downtown around 1 AM.  The witness stopped at the Valero gas station nearby and decided to rush the bleeding man to a hospital.  He noticed a fire ambulance returning to its firehouse on North Spring and flagged down the paramedics for assistance.

Paramedics heroically sustained the man's life for the ride to the hospital, but the chest wound proved fatal.  The paramedics reported the incident to police.

The victim bled profusely in the good Samaritan's van, which detectives impounded.  They also found signs of two stabbing victims on Seaton Avenue.  Another man had been taken to the hospital around 4 PM from a stabbing inflicted in almost the exact spot.  That man is expected to live.

"It's odd that two stabbings would occur in nearly the same place and not be related," Vernon said.  "We expect that someone will come forward soon.  You'd be surprised how often locals step up with information."

Despite last night's stabbing death, major crime in Central Area remains down 30 percent from last year.  No one has been killed within Skid Row for the entire period of the Safer Cities Initiative, which began nearly one year ago, this September, with the Mayor and Chief Bratton's assignment of fifty extra officers.

Moreover, this is only the third homicide this year in Central Area. This time last year, downtown had experienced 9 murders.  The last two murders downtown happened in January and March, both stabbings. Detectives solved both those cases.  With the 78% drop in murders, the detectives spent their time, until last night, on cold cases, clearing three more murders from prior years.  "It's the rare and select homicide unit that can claim a 150-percent clearance rate," Vernon added.

"Much of the credit for crime reduction goes to the local residents," Vernon added.  "We probably solve more crimes, including murders, from local tipsters than any other police area.  That's a credit to the locals for their willingness to do the right thing, but it's also a sign our officers are building trust with the residents downtown. We're very proud of that!"

Lieutenant Vernon can be reached at 213-972-1203.

Ringleader Arrested in Fashion District Burglary Spree

Los Angeles: Twenty-four hours after seizing $50,000 worth of stolen clothing, Los Angeles police detectives arrested 39-year-old Jose Luis Del Rincon near the same North Hollywood apartment complex where the property had been stored.

Detectives from the Central Police Station received a reliable tip that Rincon, known as " Chuy," had returned this afternoon to the one-bedroom apartment in the 7300 block of Lankershim Boulevard.  He had another large load of new clothing he wanted to store at the location.

"Coincidentally, two more large-take break-ins occurred last night in the Fashion District, after business hours," said the head of Central Detectives, Lieutenant Paul Vernon.  "Some of the items seized today are similar to the property stolen last night.  We think we have our ring leader."

After comparing dozens of recent property crimes, detectives booked Rincon on a charge of car burglary, and they believe they can support additional charges of car stealing and grand theft.  Rincon's bail was set at $20,000.

Detectives seized another $5,000 worth of stolen clothing from among Rincon's delivery to North Hollywood.  Like last night's stash, today's items were children's clothing, T-shirts, and women's lingerie. 

"Arresting Rincon should have an immediate and significant impact on the loss of merchants' property in the LA Fashion District," Vernon added.  "Now the fun comes, bagging and tagging it all, but it will be nice to return most of the items to their rightful owners."

Rincon is only one in a group of three or four men responsible for dozens of thefts over the last ten weeks.  Rincon claimed to be homeless, living out of the truck he used to transport his loot. Detectives estimated recent burglaries totaled over $500,000 in stolen merchandise.

Upon hearing the news this morning of last night's seizure, Kent Smith, executive director of the Los Angeles Fashion District Business Improvement District, expressed his gratitude for the detectives' hard, in particular Detective Supervisor ET Gibson and Detective Steve Stranak.

Lieutenant Paul Vernon can be reached at 213-972-1203 on Monday.  Over the weekend, make media inquiries to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Detectives Uncover Downtown Burglary Ring

Los Angeles. After two months of looking, Los Angeles detectives connected a North Hollywood apartment to a series of downtown Fashion District break-ins, going back about two months.  The detectives are asking other Fashion District businesses to come forward with any recent losses, as well.

"We think we've identified a ring of thieves responsible for burglaries going back to May or June," said Lieutenant Paul Vernon, who heads up the detective division at the Central Police Station.  "We're estimating this ring is responsible for a dozen or more thefts, totaling over half a million dollars in stolen clothes."

Beginning around late May, merchants in the Fashion District reported thefts of clothing from delivery trucks, each theft amounting to tens-of-thousands of dollars in loss.  Detectives had little to go on until they linked two recent reports, July 31 and August 6.  In the latter, a car break-in, a witness provided a license plate and description of a suspicious van.

On August 9, 2007, Detective Steve Stranak and his partner, Police Officer Dave Deltoro, checked out an apartment at 7350 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood.  While the van's registered owner was not home, a woman inside answered the officers' knock.  "When she opened the door, we could see no end of boxes, stacked up in this little one-bedroom apartment," Stranak, a 27-year veteran, said.  "It looked like the jackpot!"

The woman cooperated with detectives, who got a warrant to seize the property.  It took 10 detectives about two hours just to load the still-sealed boxes of jeans, socks, underwear, and T-shirts onto a flatbed truck.  They estimated the haul's value at $50,000.  "That's only a tenth of what we think this ring of burglars might be good for," Stranak said.

Detectives did not release the names of any suspects, though they think they'll be able to identify them soon.  Detectives will analyze more thefts and try to match them to the persons and vehicles the detectives have linked to the ring.

Lieutenant Vernon can be reached at 213-972-1203.  The stolen merchandise will be on display at Central Police Station for one hour, beginning at 10 AM.  Still photographs will be available by email.