LAPD Blog

Woman Believed Kidnapped, Forced into Car Trunk

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is searching for a woman possibly abducted, tied up and forced into a car’s trunk this morning in South Los Angeles.  The LAPD is asking for the public’s help in finding the vehicle and the suspects.

Witnesses told 77th Area patrol officers that around 10:50 this morning, they saw a white 4-door Honda with no license plates going south on Halldale Avenue near 91st Street.   As the car passed, they saw an African American woman, in the trunk, tied up and screaming for help.  As the car was driving down the street, the trunk was unlocked and was flapping open.

Police described the driver of car as a female African American, heavy set with a light complexion.  She is in her 40s and was last seen wearing a brown shirt with yellow stripes.  

The passenger was only described as an African American. It is unknown what gender the passenger suspect was.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact with 77th Crimes Against Person Unit detectives at 213485-4175.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

7-Year-Old Boy Abducted by Mother

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is searching for a 7-year-old boy who was abducted by his mother yesterday in Van Nuys.

At around 11:30 p.m., police received information from the abducted child’s relative that her nephew, Edgar Contreras was at home in the 14200 block of Calvert Street in Van Nuys when he was abducted by his biological mother identified as 25-year-old Ana Perez.  The boy’s custody was awarded to his aunt due to his mother’s drug problem.  

Last night, a black 1999 GMC Jimmy with a license plate “4GFA101” pulled up near the boy’s residence.  When the boy saw his mom inside the vehicle, he ran out of the house to greet her.  The child entered the vehicle and it took off, detectives said.

Investigators were able to contact Perez by phone and she told them she took her son because she felt the aunt was not taking good care of him.  The relative believes that Perez and the child may be heading to Mexico.

Contreras is described as a male Hispanic with black hair, brown eyes, 4 feet tall, and 50 pounds.  He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt, blue jeans, and white and grey shoes.

Perez is a female Hispanic with brown hair and brown eyes.  She stands about 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 115 pounds.  

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Edgar is urged to contact LAPD
Van Nuys Division at 818-374-0040.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

2010 LAPD & LAFD SAFE SUMMER TIP-OFF YOUTH BASKETBALL EVENT

Click here to view flyer

Standing side-by-side, Police Chief Charlie Beck and Fire Chief Millage Peaks held a press conference to kick-off and promote the inaugural LAPD & LAFD Safe Summer Tip-Off Youth Basketball Event.  With each Chief proclaiming a premature victory, the spirit of competition is alive and well between the two agencies.

The Safe Summer Tip-Off will be held this Saturday June 12, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Los Angeles Sports Arena located at 3939 South Figueroa Street in Los Angeles.  Along  with the basketball game, there will be static displays by both agencies including Bomb Squad, SWAT, Air Support, Fire Truck, Ladder Trucks and much more.  Lunch will be served and there will be special celebrity guest appearances.  Best of all it is free to those in attendance.

Come out and enjoy a family fun filled day and Tip-Off the Summer in grand fashion.

LAPD Arrests Three for Murder in South Los Angeles

Los Angeles: Three suspects have been arrested for the assault and murder of South Los Angeles resident Francisco Garcia Ortega.

According to investigators, on June 8, 2025 at 5:55 p.m., 31-year-old Francisco Garcia Ortega was being assaulted by three suspects in the front yard of a residence in the 1100 block of West 54th Street.  77th Gang Enforcement Detail Officers responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call.  Once they arrived they immediately arrested the adults, and after searching the area, located a juvenile subject whom they also arrested.    

Los Angeles City Paramedics transported Ortega to California Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

The suspects involved in the murder are 22-year-old John Ramirez, 20-year-old Paul Gaspar and a 17- year-old juvenile.  The two adult suspects are from Los Angeles and the juvenile is from the state of Texas.  Both Ramirez and Gaspar have been charged and later booked for murder under Penal Code Section 187(A).  Both were held without bail.  The juvenile involved in the murder was also charged and later booked under the Welfare and Institutions Code 602, Penal Code Section187 and transported to Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.  All incarcerated juveniles are held without bail.  

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call Criminal Gang/Homicide Division Detectives John Ferreria or Roger Guzman at 213-485-1383.  During non-business hours or weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800)-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most key pads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “web tips” and follow the prompts.

LAPD Assists Federal Agency in Drug Investigation of One of Its Own

Los Angeles:  After a nearly two month investigation, a Los Angeles police officer is arrested for selling narcotics.

In April 2010, investigators from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informed the Los Angeles Police Department that a Los Angeles police officer was suspected of off-duty involvement in the sales of narcotics.  At that time, the LAPD launched an internal administrative investigation and cooperated fully with the DEA to support their criminal case.

As a result of the investigation, Police Officer II Yoshio Romero, a five year veteran of the Department, was arrested on June 7, 2025 in Riverside County for a federal arrest warrant charging sales of methamphetamine.  Romero was appointed to the Department in September of 2005 and is currently assigned to Southeast Division patrol.  The investigation is ongoing.  

For more information, contact Public Information Officer Debra Hartman United States Attorney's Office Southern District of California at 619-557-5275.

Suspect Points Gun at Officers

Los Angeles: Last Thursday in the early evening, an officer-involved-shooting occurred in the Adams area of Los Angeles.

On June 3, 2010, at about 6:23 p.m., Southwest Area plainclothes vice officers were in a city car in the area of Lucerne Avenue and Adams Boulevard.  The officers saw two individuals in what appeared to be a verbal argument.  Both individuals were yelling at each other from opposite sides of Adams Boulevard.  At this time, a car approached and the driver immediately produced a handgun and opened fire on the individual on the south side of Adams Boulevard.  The individual, who was also armed with a handgun, simultaneously fired back.  The car then drove westbound on Adams Boulevard.  

The armed individual ran southbound on Vineyard to an alley south of Adams Boulevard where the officers identified themselves and ordered the suspect to stop.  As the officers got out of their car, the suspect, armed with a small caliber semi-automatic pistol turned and pointed the gun at the officers and an officer-involved-shooting occurred.  The suspect was not struck by the gunfire and was ultimately taken into custody without further incident.  

A loaded, small-caliber pistol was recovered and no officers were injured.  Neither the car nor the second individual was located.

The LAPD Force investigation Division responded and is handling the officer involved shooting.

Notes from the June 8, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Chief Charlie Beck informed the Board the Department is preparing for the final results of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.  He said the Department is prepared should there be a championship parade in the City.  Chief Beck also announced the Safe Summer Tip-off Basketball game between the LAPD and the Los Angeles City Fire Department taking place this Saturday at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

•    The Department report, dated May 24, 2010, relative to the proposed addition to Council-Approved records retention schedule-PDX 40, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

•    The Department’s report, dated June 2, 2010, relative to the destruction of obsolete original records, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

•    The Department’s report, dated May 27, 2010, relative to the DNA monthly report for March 2010, was approved and transmitted to the City Council.

•    The Department’s report, dated May 25, 2010, relative to proposed Bureau of Street Services special event staffing procedures (City council Motion 09-0600-S46) as given by Commander Michael Williams, was approved.  Commander Williams informed the Board the issue at hand was the reimbursement to the Department for events which were not First Amendment rights issues.  Events such as parades with street fairs which would require police service over and above normal deployment would now require event organizers to reimburse the Department.  In order for this to happen, the Department went to City Council and requested an amendment to the City Charter.  The Department will now go through the Bureau of Street Services to request reimbursement. Organizers will only be charged only for the number of officers who are over and above normal deployment. 

•    The Department report, dated May 24, 2010, relative to the Transmittal of the grant application for the 2010 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Continuation Program, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor and City Council.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics June 5, 2025

VIOLENT CRIMES                  2010**           2009**          % Chg

Homicide                              134*                126             6.3%
Rape                                     290                 361          -19.7%
Robbery                               4768               5261            -9.4%
Agg Assaults **                     4015               4720          -14.9%
Total Violent Crimes            9207             10468           -12.0%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                                 7131             7827           -8.9%
BTFV                                    12248           12382            -1.1%
Personal/Other Theft           10866           11855            -8.3%
Auto Theft                             7311             7769            -5.9%
Total Property Crimes       37,556         39,833           -5.7%
Total Part I Crimes            46,763         50,301           -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

54-Year-Old Man Found Dead in His Car

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Wilshire Area Homicide Detectives are asking the public to provide information that could lead to the arrest of a suspect wanted for the murder of 54-year-old Otto Paiz, a resident of the Mid City, found shot to death in his car early Sunday morning.

On June 6, 2010, at around 5:35 a.m., Wilshire Area patrol officers responded to a radio call at a residence in the 2100 block of South 2nd Avenue after the victim was found dead in his car by a young woman.  When officers arrived, they found Paiz in the car with a gunshot wound.  Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced Paiz dead.  According to detectives, Paiz was shot while seated in the driver’s seat of his car. The motive of this homicide is unknown.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Wilshire Area homicide detectives at 213-473-0446.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Off-Duty Officer Involved Shooting Occurs in South Los Angeles

Los Angeles: Last Friday in the early evening, an officer-involved-shooting occurred in the 1800 block of West 78th Street.

On June 4, 2010, at about 5:48 p.m., an off-duty South Traffic Division police officer was cleaning his car in the 1800 block of west 78th Street in 77th Area.  A white van which had at least two occupants approached the officer.  The driver exited the van, armed with a hand gun, walked up to the officer and asked for his gang affiliation.

The officer was able to arm himself and an exchange of gunfire ensued.  It appeared that the suspect was struck.  The suspect re-entered the van and drove away out of view.  The officer was not injured.

Several police units responded and area hospitals were notified of a possible injured suspect.  A wounded person was reported to have been dropped off at a hospital in the city of Inglewood.  Inglewood and LAPD personnel responded to the hospital.  

The van was located at the hospital and the individual who was wounded by the officer was identified as the suspect.  

Further investigation implicated two additional suspects.  Both were identified as having transported the wounded suspect to the hospital.  The suspect is in stable condition.

Force investigation Division (FID) responded and are handling the officer involved shooting.  FID Criminal Apprehension Team is investigating the crime against the officer.