LAPD Blog

Scams Targeting the Spanish Speaking Community

Los Angeles: Spanish speaking suspects are duping unsuspecting victims into giving up large sums of money with the promise of earning a large return for their involvement.

Topanga Area Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating a group of suspects that are working in pairs to target Spanish speaking individuals, walking alone.  Once the suspects have engaged the victim in a conversation, they are using various scams to enlist the victim’s financial help in return for a substantial profit.  

One scam includes the claim that the suspects are in possession of a winning lottery ticket, but need the victim’s help to cash it.  Other ruses include: convincing victim’s that they have a sick relative and need money for their care; that they need help in cashing a check they are carrying; or telling the victim that they have gold bars worth thousands of dollars and will provide them to the victim in exchange for cash.  Ultimately the victim is scammed out of, in some cases, their entire life savings.  

The group has been working in the Canoga Park area and Detectives are warning the public to beware of strangers approaching them and claiming they are in need of large amounts of cash, or claiming to have a winning lottery ticket.  

The suspects range in age from mid twenties to mid fifties and are identified only as male Hispanics, and one female Hispanic.

Anyone with information on these suspects, or who believe they may have been a victim of this group, is asked to call Topanga Area Detective Pam Pitcher at 818-756-4820.  During off-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  

Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Thieves Impersonating Police Officers Arrested

Detectives Believe There May Be More Victims

Los Angeles: On May 30, 2009, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives arrested three suspects accused of impersonating police officers who entered victims’ homes and stole property.  Incidents have occurred in multiple areas of the city, including the San Fernando Valley.

On May 28, 2025 at 5:30 pm, three suspects posing as LAPD undercover narcotics officers knocked on an apartment door in the 400 block of N. Normandie Avenue in Los Angeles.  The victim answered the door and was asked by one of the suspects if “Juan Dominguez” lived there.  Before she could answer, one suspect pushed the door open and stated they were police officers who were conducting a narcotics investigation.  One suspect then handcuffed the victim and made her lie face down.  The suspect then called two other suspects into the apartment.  At that time, a second victim walked out to the living room from the kitchen to see what was happening.  One of the suspects demanded her purse, which she surrendered, and then directed her to lie face down as well. 

Another suspect proceeded to ransack the victims’ apartment while one of the three kept watch over both victims and the other posed as a lookout by the front door.  After looking for things to steal, the suspects left the location with currency and other items.

On May 30, 2025 at 7 p.m., two suspects followed two female victims into their apartment complex in the 8400 block of Cedros Avenue in Panorama City.  The suspects forced their way into the victims’ apartment, and one suspect identified himself as a police officer by showing a false police badge.  A struggle ensued between the suspect posing as a police officer and one of the victims as the suspect handcuffed the victim, and her cell phone fell to the floor.  The suspect took possession of her cell phone.  The second female victim left the apartment as the other suspect chased after her. 

After a short while, the handcuffed victim was able to free herself and left the apartment as well.  Later that evening, a third suspect, 28-year-old Carlos Guzman, was arrested when he arrived at the location and attempted to retrieve a false police badge from a vehicle parked in front of the victims’ apartment.  His arrest lead to the arrest of the other two suspects, 54-year-old Luis Guzman and 25-year-old Michael Bojorquez, both on June 4, 2009.  All arrested suspects were charged with robbery.

Since the victims of these robberies may have assumed the suspects were police officers, detectives believe there could be additional victims from similar incidents carried out by these suspects.

Anyone with information regarding these or other related robberies, as well as those who have been directly victimized under similar circumstances by these suspects, is asked to call Olympic Division robbery detectives at 213-382-9460 or Mission Division robbery detectives at 818-838-9461.  After hours or on weekends, calls may 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.  All tips may remain anonymous.

81-Year-Old Man Missing

Los Angeles: The family of an 81-year-old man and the Los Angeles Police Department are requesting the public’s assistance in locating the man, John McInally, who has been missing since June 10, 2009.

He is described as a white male with a thick Scottish accent.  He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds, with grey hair and blue eyes.  He takes diabetic medication and is believed not to have any in his possession.  

McInally was last seen around 6 p.m. on June 10, 2009, at his residence in the 800 Block of Rose Avenue near the Venice Beach area.  Later that evening, he apparently left his residence on foot and headed in an unknown direction.  His family is concerned because he suffers from dementia, high-blood pressure, diabetes, and is deaf.  

McInally was missing on two prior occasions and subsequently located in the Santa Monica area.  It is unknown whether or not he is carrying any identification, and it is believed he was last seen on a bus the evening of June 14, 2009, in the Santa Monica area.  He may be wearing a black/blue sweater, black pants, and possibly a black baseball cap.

Anyone who has seen McInally or has information regarding his whereabouts, is urged to contact the Missing Persons Unit of the LAPD’s Detective Support and Vice Division at 213-485-5381.  After-hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Few Clues in Double Homicide

Los Angeles: Two men were shot and killed on the sidewalk, in the early morning hours of Sunday.

On Sunday, June 15, 2009, at around 3:00 a.m., Felipe Villarreal, 42-years of age, and Rafael Padilla, 57-years of age, were found shot to death on the sidewalk in front of a bar in the 3400 block of East 1st Street.  Earlier the two had been inside the bar, drinking and playing pool.  After the bar closed Padilla and Villareal walked outside where they were seen talking as the bartender left, shortly after 2:00 a.m.  

At about 3:00 a.m. a person at a nearby location heard several gunshots.  When the individual looked outside their window they could see two victim’s down on the sidewalk and immediately called 911.

Detectives have few leads and are asking for the public’s help to solve this crime.  The motive is still under investigation, but Detectives are looking into the possibility that robbery was involved.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hollenbeck Homicide Detective Araceli Negrete at 323-526-3679.  After hours or on weekends, calls may 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.  All tips will remain anonymous.

Notes from the June 16, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Chief William Bratton was in Washington D.C. to speak on behalf of the Major Cities Chief’s Association in favor of a Crime Commission to a congressional panel.  He is going to return to Washington on July 1 to speak on counter-terrorism issues.

•    The verbal presentation by the Department and City Attorney’s office relative to Gang Injunction Guidelines was given by Mr. Bruce Riordan.  Mr. Riordan stated the 2009 gang injunction guidelines have been finalized and are ready for review.  Included in the guidelines is the incorporation of a removal process.  The goal of the 2009 version was to make the injunction targeted.  The injunction will be made publicly available.

•    The Department’s verbal presentation relative to the change of uniform to be worn by retired police officers employed by private entities to provide traffic and crowd control at filming locations was given by First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell.  Chief McDonnell said the Department would no longer allow retired personnel to wear an active duty uniform.  The issue at hand is the LAPD image, credibility and brand.  A public safety type uniform will be available which is not similar in any way to uniforms worn by the LAPD, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or the California Highway Patrol.  Retirees will be allowed to wear a gun with ammunition, however they must have all the necessary permits.

•    The Department’s report, dated June 3, 2009, relative to the Approval of Twenty-Fifth Amendment to Agreement No. C94580 with Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Inc. was approved and transmitted to the Office of the Mayor. 

•    The Department’s report, dated June 11, 2009, relative to the approval of First Supplemental Agreement to Agreement No. C-113412 between the City of Los Angeles and Serological Research Institute for Forensic DNA Analysis Services was approved and transmitted to the Office of the Mayor.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics June 13, 2025

VIOLENT CRIMES                2009**           2008**          % Chg

Homicide                             126*              185           -31.9%
Rape                                    341               369             -7.6%
Robbery                              5491             5680             -3.3%
Agg Assaults **                    5014             5398             -7.1%
Total Violent Crimes         10,972          11,632            -5.7%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                               8123              8558           -5.1%
BTFV                                  12912            13487           -4.3%
Personal/Other Theft           11823           12294           -3.8%
Auto Theft                           8171             9961          -18.0%
Total Property Crimes     41,029          44,300          -7.4%
Total Part I Crimes          52,001          55,932          -7.0%

* 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

2009 Essay Contest Winner

The 6th Annual LAPD Essay Contest was open to students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades enrolled in the Los Angeles Unified School District and schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  Students were asked to write what they would do that would have the greatest impact on the community if they were a Los Angeles Police Department officer for a day.  Each of the ten winners and their essay are featured on the Department’s website, one each week.  The following essay is one of the ten winning submissions.

If you were a police officer for a day, what would you do to help the community?  I have never really thought about it until now.  Police officers are just everyday heroes that can’t fly, unless they get into a helicopter of course.  If I were a police officer for a day, I would attempt to abolish gang violence that threatens the citizens of our society.  I will also prevent children from joining gangs.  It’s better to live in happiness than to live in sorrow.

I would first attempt to abolish gang violence by rounding up gang members, and instead as an alternative I will send them to create my own type of boot camp where they will be trained and treated like a soldier; instead of sending them directly to prison.  The boot camp will be based on a program called devil pups.  It is a youth program that teaches teamwork, confidence, and admiration for others as well as yourself.  Most gang members don’t understand the prison they have unleashed upon our society.  It’s like a hazardous chemical that has been discarded into a lake, and now it has affected every living organism within that body of water.

My second proposal is to instruct children and adolescences about the consequences for joining gangs.  This program will be based on the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program, which teaches about drugs and gangs.  Instead of teaching the program to 7th graders, it will be taught to 5th graders who will be attending middle school the following year.  According to my research, students join gangs at a younger age.  It’s better to educate the youth ahead of time so they make secure and dependable decisions.  “A team is where a boy can prove his courage on his own.  A gang is where a coward goes to hide.”  Mickey Mantle wrote this quote; he was a former gang member.

I believe this alternative proposal could alleviate the public by primarily reducing the amount of gang violence, and then teaching the youth to make accountable decisions.  I have read about many people who have tried to pull away from their old gang life and start new, but most of the time you don’t get a second chance.  Imagine what could occur if we don’t stop aggression in our social order.  We could all be petrified to walk outside our residence.

I remember Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “It isn’t enough to talk about peace.  One must believe in it.  And it isn’t enough to believe in it.  We must work at it.”  We can’t be situated in one place; we must act to achieve what we planned.  My mother once told me she could walk along the streets without any worry.  Now, when I walk to school, I have to be aware of my surroundings and I have to call her once I get to my destination.  In essence, anything can be accomplished if we set our minds to it, and if I were a police officer for a day, I would dedicate my life to my community as I should.  I must follow the motto, “To protect and serve.”

Chief Bratton Testifies Before National Criminal Justice Commission

Washington DC: At 3 p.m. EDT today, Chief William J. Bratton, in his capacity as the President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, testified before the National Criminal Justice Commission (NCJC) to make recommendations for improvements to the criminal justice system.

The NCJC was formed recently as a result of the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009, introduced by Virginia Senator Jim Webb in March of this year.  The commission is charged with a comprehensive 18-month review of the country’s entire penal system.  Its purpose is to:

• Propose concrete, wide-ranging reforms designed to responsibly reduce the overall incarceration rate;
• Improve federal and local responses to international and domestic gang violence;
• Restructure the established approach to drug policy;
• Improve the treatment of mental illness;
• Improve prison administration, and
• Establish a better system for reintegrating ex-offenders.

Senator Webb and other respected leaders have demonstrated a compelling need for reforms to address the incarceration rate, which is the world’s highest, skyrocketing costs, an inability to curtail street drug use, poor successes with prisoner re-entry into society and more.

In support of the Criminal Justice Commission’s formation, Chief Bratton offered his perspective on law enforcement developments over the last 40 years and made recommendations on the composition and scope of inquiries of the newly formed commission.

Chief Bratton’s presentation was based on two premises: first, that the government and its law enforcement agents have an obligation to safeguard the rights of both the victims of crimes and those who are accused and/or incarcerated; and second, that continued crime control and improving the quality of life in neighborhoods and communities can only be achieved if law enforcement focuses on preventing crime, instead of merely waiting for crime to happen and attempting to arrest and incarcerate the offenders.
Chief Bratton emphasized that there hasn’t been a comprehensive study of the entire criminal justice system since the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration and Justice, which was formed in 1965, and that the country’s criminal justice system is still operating on those findings and recommendations.

Chief Bratton also discussed the danger of excessive parole agent caseloads, as well as overall policing improvements that began in the 1990s, including more and better problem-solving tactics, more quality-of-life initiatives and the development of COMPSTAT with its emphasis on accountability and use of timely, accurate intelligence to conduct “smarter” policing.

“The main criminal justice concerns for policy makers today revolve around the threat posed by gangs rather than traditional organized crime, continued problems with the corrections system in general and with the seemingly intractable problem of mass incarceration, a fractured and unrealistic national drug policy and a lack of protection of the individual rights and treatment of the mentally ill,” said Chief Bratton. In reference to the imprisonment of drug abusers and the mentally ill, Chief Bratton told the Commission that treatment should be favored over incarceration.

Additionally, Chief Bratton recommended addressing the “precursors” of violence in the home, such as domestic violence, negative parenting and acceptance of gang culture.  He acknowledged that policing in a free society has become much more complicated and demanding as law enforcement attempts to meet the diverse expectations of citizens and elected leaders, and copes with policing changes since the attacks of September 11, 2001.

In spite of the challenging work ahead, Chief Bratton is very supportive of the commission. “At the end of the Commission’s work, it is my hope that we will have carefully studied the role of policing in the United States from all angles and all perspectives,” he said.  “The commission’s report back to Congress and the American people should anticipate future challenges to policing and issue clear and strong recommendations to enhance the safety and security of the people of the United States.  In that way, the Commission’s work will help the entire criminal justice system become stronger and function better for society.”

Chief Bratton’s testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Baby in Need of Medical Attention

Los Angeles:  Two adults brought a baby in distress into a medical center, but left before care could be given.  The Los Angeles Police Department needs the public’s help to locate the child to ensure his well-being.

Earlier today, at around 11:10 a.m., officers from Southeast Division responded to a “Child Abuse Investigation.”  When they arrived to the Watts Health Care Center located at 10300 Compton Avenue in Los Angeles, they met with the medical staff who said that a woman, man, 4-year-old boy and an infant male entered the location seeking medical treatment for the baby.  When the adults were asked for identification, they replied that they left their information in the car but that they lived in Nickerson Gardens, an apartment complex in Los Angeles.

Observing that the infant was lethargic and having trouble breathing, the nurses from the medical center took the baby’s vital signs and told the adults that the child was in critical condition and needed to be transported by ambulance to a hospital for immediate care.  The suspects became upset, took the baby from the nurses and left the medical center.  It is not known if the suspects left the area by car, or on foot.  

The suspects are described as:

• Suspect #1 - Female Black with black hair and brown eyes.  She stood approximately 5’1”, weighed about 180 lbs, had a light complexion and her hair in a ponytail.  She was last seen wearing blue “Anime” (Japanese animated cartoon) print pajama bottoms and a grey jacket.
• Suspect #2 – Male Black with black hair and brown eyes.  He stood approximately 5’5”, weighed about 180 lbs, wore a do-rag head cap on his head, black shorts and a white t-shirt.  

Due to the baby’s urgent need for medical attention, the LAPD immediately sent out a broadcast announcing the description of the involved parties.  Notifications to local hospitals, the Department of Children Family Services, the Department of Transportation and other resources were also made to help look for the adults and children who left the medical center.

Anyone who may have information about the suspects, the baby and the 4-year-old, are asked to call 9-1-1, or the Southeast Division Area Community Police Station at 213-972-7828.  During off-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  

Tipsters may remain anonymous.

For additional information, please call Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

LAPD Supports Urban Military Training Exercises

Los Angeles:  From June 15-27, 2009, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be providing support for joint military training exercises in and around the greater Los Angeles area.

The operations will be routine training exercises conducted by military personnel, designed to ensure the military’s ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments and meet mandatory training certification requirements.  

Training sites have been carefully selected so that activities do not interfere with the daily routines of the local populace.  Safety precautions have also been taken to prevent risk to the general public, as well as to military personnel involved.  The training is not open to the public.

Questions or concerns may be directed to Officer Steve Scallon at 213-305-4685.