LAPD Blog

Gun Fire Suppression

Los Angeles:  As people make their plans to celebrate the holidays, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have been working for the past few months on the New Years Eve Gunfire Reduction Campaign.
The Gunfire Reduction Campaign aims to educate people that it is illegal to celebrate the New Year by shooting a gun into the air.  Discharging a firearm into the air is a felony punishable by one year in state prison.  Anyone arrested for discharging a firearm will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The New Years Eve Gunfire Reduction Campaign consists of a news conference, media interviews, and a print, radio, online and outdoor advertising campaign.  The creative artwork was created by Robert Sallin, an LAPD Reserve officer and advertising and marketing veteran of more than 30 years.  The artwork features four individual pictures of smiling children on a white background with the words, “Love them don’t shoot them. Please don’t fire your gun into the air this New Years.”  Los Angeles Lakers Guard Kobe Bryant has lent his support to this campaign by recording a public service announcement reminding people that a bullet shot from a gun will come down and can kill an innocent person.
A scheduled news conference next Monday will showcase the Shot Spotter technology, a gunshot location system that provides wide-area acoustic surveillance that detects and pinpoints gunfire within seconds.
The LAPD’s Gun Fire Reduction committee is organized by Lt. Jorge Rodriguez, Operations Special Bureau, who also coordinated the Anti-Fireworks efforts for the 4th of July.

A SKID ROW COP’S OPINION 10

SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES OF SKID ROW AND BEYOND

Hello everyone and Happy Holidays.  I am Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph of LAPD Central Community Police Station.  Although crime is down due to the continued efforts of the Safer Cities Initiative, there are still many marginalized classes of individuals who are vulnerable to the harshness of Skid Row.  Mixed in with these vulnerable groups is the criminal element such as 400 registered sex offenders (and climbing), as well as sex offenders who have not been caught yet committing crimes of a sexual nature.

Over the years, one of the groups I have identified that is more vulnerable to sex crimes and domestic violence are the women of Skid Row.  Many of them have expressed to me that they have been victimized sexually, but never reported the crime due to misinformation they received from various sources about reporting crimes to the police.  

As you know one of my biggest missions in blogging my opinions, is to dispel myths and radically extreme negative perceptions of law enforcements.  One of the biggest myths preventing women from reporting crimes of rape or domestic violence to police is they can’t because they might be engaged in criminal activity, addicted to drugs, or are suffering from mental illness.  They believe that they may be criminalized or re-victimized by the police for reporting sexual crimes.  This is an absolute and complete falsehood.

I want to make it abundantly clear to the women of Skid Row and beyond, no matter what your social status, criminal activity past or present, or degree of mental illness, you have a fundamental right to report crimes committed against you by sexual predators without fear of being arrested for doing so.  I need you to know that we as law enforcement officers are not here to judge you, we are here to serve and to protect you whether you believe we care or not.

So if you are engaged in prostitution, and are raped, you can come to us.  If you are engaged in narcotics activity and are sexually assaulted, you can report it.  If you suffer from mental illness, you can come to us for assistance.  If you have minor warrants, you can still report crimes committed against you or other women in skid row.

I clearly understand that reporting these crimes can be a long tedious process.  Sometimes in reporting crimes committed against you, you may feel as if you are reliving the experience all over again. Yet you must understand that reporting these crimes will help us take these criminals off the streets so they cannot hurt you or anyone else in the skid row area.

One month ago, I launched an education seminar dubbed “Ladies Night” designed to inform women in skid Row about laws designed with them in mind.  I also provide realistic self-defense training designed to create distance from attackers, draw attention to the crime committed against them, provide an avenue of escape, and to buy time until the police can assist them.  I am more than willing to engage in this seminar with any group that requests it.  I will cover topics, such as Rape, Domestic Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and other common crimes that women in high crime areas are routinely exposed to.

In closing, please remember that a law enforcement agency is only as successful in crime reduction as the support they receive from the community they serve.  For the support thus far, I thank the Skid Row community.  Yet I strongly believe we can do more to work together in 2009 to drive down crime and create a safe environment conducive to change in your lives.  God Bless you all, and Happy Holidays.

If there is any interest in the “Ladies Night” seminar, you can contact me at (213) 793-0740 or Email me at 32511@lapd.lacity.org

LAPD Officers Make Substantial Weekend Arrests

Los Angeles:  High tech and good-old-fashioned police work combine for several outstanding arrests.

Newton Area
On Dec. 19, 2008, at about 7:30 p.m., officers assigned to Crime Reduction and Enforcement of Warrants (CREW) were attempting to conduct enforcement activities related to a pedestrian violation.  The officers heard several gunshots, abandoned their pedestrian-related enforcement activities and headed toward the area of the gunfire.  The officers observed two males running east on 46th Street and then continuing south on Broadway.  When the officers re-directed their attention to the point where they originally observed the two males running, a third man was seen running with a gun.  The officers chased the suspect with the gun, and during the chase, were fired upon in two separate single-shot incidents.  The officers took cover and monitored the suspect's position.  When the suspect lost his footing and fell to the ground, the officers approached and took him into custody.  The officers recovered the firearm used by the suspect in this crime.  A containment perimeter was established for the additional suspect seen running from the original scene.  With the assistance of Metropolitan Division K-9 Units, the additional suspect was arrested. 

Moran-Ortiz, Hilario
-Age: 19
-Location of Arrest: Alley West of 4500 Block of South Broadway
-Charge: 664/187 Attempt Murder
-Bail: $1 million

Valencia, Deyve
-Age: 20
-Location of Arrest: Alley West of 4500 Block of South Broadway
-Charge: 664/187 Attempt Murder
-Bail: $500,000

Wilshire Area
On Dec. 19, 2008, at about 9:20 p.m., officers assigned to CREW were on uniformed patrol in the area of 21st Street and Palm Avenue.  The officers approached an occupied vehicle and nearby pedestrians.  One pedestrian who had been standing at the window of the parked car ran away in a manner that led the officers to believe that he was possibly concealing a weapon.  The officers chased the suspect.  At a point in the chase, when the suspect had scaled a fence, the suspect fired one shot at the officers.  Officers took cover and requested resources for containment.  With the assistance of Metropolitan Division K-9 Units, the suspect was arrested and the gun was recovered. 

Moton, Andre
-Age: 18
-Location of Arrest: 4626 West 21st Street
-Charge: 664/187 Attempt Murder
-Bail: $ No Bail

Van Nuys Area
On Dec. 21, 2008, just before 7 p.m., Van Nuys Area Gang Enforcement Detail officers working in the 14000 block of Lanark Street in Van Nuys were conducting a follow-up investigation related to a single victim shooting that occurred earlier in the month.  On Dec. 18, 2008, gang members shot a non-gang member in an apparent case of mistaken identity.  On Dec. 21, gang officers observed suspects believed to be involved in the Dec. 18 shooting. When officers approached them, they tried to run away; so officers established a containment perimeter, and a K-9 unit was called if for assistance.  A total of four arrests ensued.  The gang members arrested were as follows:

Mory, Bryant
-Residence: Van Nuys, CA
-Age: 20
-Location of Arrest: 14201 Lanark St
-Charge: 245(a)(2) ADW with a firearm gang enhancement
-Bail : $100,000

Lara, Alvaro
-Age: 19
-Location of Arrest: Roscoe Boulevard/Ventura Canyon
-Charge: 12031A2 Poss of Firearm-Enhanced
-Bail: $110,000

Lara, Yunan
-Age: 18
-Location of Arrest: Woodman Avenue/Ventura Canyon
-Charge: 487(d) GTA w/Enhancement
-Bail: $85,000

Conseca, Eugenio
-Age: 20
-Location of Arrest: 9000 Block of Bardwell Avenue
-Charge: 487(d) GTA
-Bail: $85,000

West Los Angeles Area and 77th Street Area
Just before 10 p.m. on Dec. 21, an armed robbery occurred in West Los Angeles at the 52 Market in the 12000 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.  Two suspects were involved and no vehicle was seen.

Later that evening at about 10:15 p.m., another armed robbery occurred at the Tochma Market at 74th and Main Streets in Los Angeles.  In this incident, two suspects were involved and seen leaving the scene in a red vehicle. Officers determined that one of the suspects was on parole and under court order to wear a global positioning device.  Officers followed the electronic signal and their investigative insight to a motel in the city of Inglewood where they arrested the suspect and recovered a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo and a handgun.  Detectives believe the suspect, 29-year-old Chelminski Walker of Inglewood, were involved in the previous robbery on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Walker, Chelminski
-Age: 29
-Location of Arrest: 11700 Block of Aviation
-Charge: 211 Robbery
-Bail: No Bail

Van Nuys Area and Hollywood Area
Also on Dec. 21, just before 11:15 p.m., Hollywood Division police officers initiated a pursuit of a stolen car containing a suspect they believed was armed and dangerous, because the vehicle had been carjacked at knifepoint earlier that day.  Minutes before midnight, the pursuit terminated in the 2400 block of Glendale Boulevard, and the suspect, 26-year-old Joshua Messian, was arrested.  Messian is a resident of Sherman Oaks and has been charged with carjacking.  Subsequent investigation revealed that the true identity of the suspect was Rueban Elazar Messian, who had used his brothers identity and provided a false name during the arrest process.

Messian, Elazar Rueban
-Age: 26
-Location of Arrest:  2450 Glendale Boulevard, City of Glendale
-Charge: 215 PC Car Jacking
-Bail: $120,000

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics December 20, 2024

VIOLENT CRIMES                2008**             2007**          % Chg

Homicide                             362*               395               -8.4%
Rape                                    771                904             -14.7%
Robbery                            12914             13067              -1.2%
Agg Assaults **                  11651             12521              -6.9%
Total Violent Crimes       25,698          26,887             -4.4%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                            18814              19013           -1.0%
BTFV                                 28955              29527           -1.9%
Personal/Other Theft         26360              26720           -1.3%
Auto Theft                         21631             22673            -4.6%
Total Property Crimes    95,760           97,933            -2.2%
Total Part I Crimes       121,458         124,820            -2.7%

* Numbers reflects a change in reclassification for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) guidelines and numbers are adjusted accordingly.

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

Shooting Occurs When Officers Encounter a Suspect

Los Angeles: An investigation by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Rampart Division Patrol Officer II Frank Hernandez (11 years, eight months with the Department) and Patrol Officer I John Gallagher (one year, six months with the Department) resulted in an officer involved shooting (OIS) when a man suddenly pointed a handgun at them.

The incident occurred on Dec. 12, 2008 at about 9:30 a.m. as Officers Hernandez and Gallagher assisted with containment of a perimeter resulting from an assault with a deadly weapon (ADW) on an officer near Kellam Avenue and East Edgeware Road.  At that time, the officers observed two possible assault suspects, one of whom was later identified as 18-year-old Joseph Wolf, standing in front of a residence in the 1300 block of Kellam Avenue.

When officers approached Wolf and the other suspect, both initially tried to run away.  Then Wolf produced a handgun and pointed it directly at the officers, resulting in an OIS.  After he was shot, Wolf immediately went inside a residence but later submitted to arrest without incident. He was transported to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center with a single gunshot wound and was listed in stable condition.

Wolf is not believed to be the suspect officers were seeking in the original ADW incident. However, a search warrant was served at the residence where Wolf briefly eluded capture, and two replica handguns were recovered from inside that location.

No officers were injured during the encounter, and LAPD Force Investigation Division detectives are responsible for the investigations related to the OIS and the crimes against the officers.

2008 Helping Badge Christmas Toy and Food Giveaway Program

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department, Harbor Area Community Police Station, is announcing its 2008 “Helping Badge” Christmas Toy and Food Giveaway Program.  The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 21, 2008, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.  This year’s theme is a “Harbor Winter Wonderland.”  The event will be held at the Harbor Pistol Range, 2981 North Gaffey Avenue, in San Pedro.   

The Harbor Area Community Relations Office developed the “Helping Badge” Christmas Toy and Food Giveaway Program” as a means to provide for less fortunate families in the Harbor Area during the Holiday Season.

“The best part of the holiday season is the giving,” said Captain William P. Hayes, Commanding Officer Harbor Area.  “And for years Harbor Division police officers have given away toys and food to local youngsters who might otherwise see the New Year without receiving a gift.”

350 families (nearly 2000 people) from Harbor Gateway, Harbor City, San Pedro and Wilmington communities will receive toys, food baskets, clothing and goodie bags, distributed by members of the LAPD’s Community Relations Office and Harbor Area Volunteer programs.

The event includes activities for the children such as a train ride through “Reindeer Forest,”  pictures with Santa Claus, toboggan down a real snow hill, Christmas Movies, live carolers and plenty of Christmas Refreshments.

For additional information contact Harbor Community Relations at 310-522-2042.

Gunfire Kills Two People Including Innocent Bystander

Los Angeles.  Los Angeles police need the public’s help in identifying the killer who fatally shot two people yesterday evening in South Los Angeles.  One of the victim’s was an innocent bystander.

At around 9:15 p.m., police were called out to the scene of a double shooting in the 1200 block of East 50th Street and found 34-year-old Adriana Pizarro suffering from a gunshot wound.  Pizarro was rushed to University of Southern California Medical Center, where she died an hour later.  

Pizarro stood 150 yards from where the actual shooting occurred.  Detectives believe she was not the intended target but merely an innocent bystander when she was struck.  Detectives also believed that the shots were likely aimed at 23-year-old Alexander Castro as he drove his car down the street.  Police found him inside of his car after he crashed into several parked cars.  Paramedics pronounced Castro dead at the scene.

Detectives are in the initial stages of their investigation and have yet to determine what prompted the shooting.  They have few leads and no suspect description.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newton homicide detectives at 323-846-6556 during normal business hours.  After hours and on weekends, phone the 24-hour toll-free Detective Information Desk at 1-877-ASK-LAPD (529-3855).  Persons can also send anonymous tips by texting CRIMES (274637) and typing LAPD to start the message.

Multi-Million Burglary at Paris Hilton Home

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Detectives are investigating a burglary at the home of Paris Hilton in Sherman Oaks.

On December 19, 2008, at around 5 a.m., Van Nuys Area patrol officers responded to a report of a burglary in the 3300 block of Clarendon Road.  Burglary Special Section detectives immediately responded and began the preliminary investigation

Detectives have determined that the burglary occurred between the late evening hours on December 18 and December 19 at about 4 a.m.  Based on very preliminary investigation, a lone suspect entered Hilton’s home and removed approximately $2 Million dollars in jewelry.

The investigation is on-going.

Anyone who may have information regarding this case is asked to call Detectives Harvey Martin or John Clark at 213-485-2524.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website, www.lapdonline.org.  Tipsters may remain anonymous.