LAPD Blog

DWP Telephone Customer Scam

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) want to warn the public about a scam where customers are told they must pay their bill with a pre-paid cash card or face immediate service termination. During the last few months the LAPD and LADWP has observed an increase in the frequency telephone scam reports.  The scam involves imposters posing as utility personnel, contacting customers by telephone and informing them they are behind in payment of their bill, threatening immediate service termination as a means of forcing the customer into remitting payment for a fictional account balance.  The imposter provides a phone number and instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid cash card for the fictional balance, then collects the card information to pay their fictional bill. LADWP offers customers numerous options to pay their bills. Customers who choose to pay by phone may only do so through the voice automated payment system. LADWP personnel cannot accept payment information verbally over the phone. LADWP personnel will not contact customers by phone and ask for verbal payment. For customers whose accounts may have fallen behind, the Department offers payment plans and other assistance upon request. If a customer is facing possible service termination for non-payment, LADWP will have made contact with the customer on numerous occasions, well in advance of the actual shut-off. It is unlikely a customer will be facing immediate service termination without prior knowledge. Any customer who has a question about a phone call or in-person contact with a DWP employee may call 1-800 DIAL DWP to confirm employment and purpose of contact. Anyone wishing to report a crime may remain anonymous by calling 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 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. Alert- Click here for info:

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Notes from the February 5, 2025 Weekly Police Comission Meeting

• Police Commission Vice President John Mack said he attended the Black History Month luncheon held by the Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives.  He said City Councilman Bernard Parks spoke on the history of blacks in the LAPD, which he found enlightening. 

• Police Chief Charlie Beck said he attended the funeral services for Sergeant II Joseph Bilodeau which were held last week. He said there was a nice turnout of fellow officers who paid their final respects.  Chief Beck completed his comments by saying there are 9,998 sworn officers and 2,863 civilian employees on the Department.

• The Department’s report, dated January 16, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records – for Mission and Wilshire Areas, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 16, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete original records for Harbor Area, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

28-year-old Man Stabbed to Death in North Hollywood

Los Angeles:  Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s North Hollywood Division are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect(s) wanted for stabbing a man to death. On February 3, 2013, around 10:30 p.m., North Hollywood patrol officers responded to a radio call of an “ADW stabbing” at a bar located in the 12100 block of Vanowen Street. When they arrived the officers found 28-year-old Daniel Farelo suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper body. During the investigation it was learned that the victim, Mr. Farelo was at the bar and walked outside to the rear of the tavern.  When he returned to the bar he had multiple stab wounds and a knife protruding from his torso.  Personnel from the Los Angeles Fire Department responded immediately to provide emergency treatment.  Mr. Farelo was pronounced dead as the scene. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call North Hollywood Homicide Detective Richard Wheeler at 818-623-4075. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should 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 keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”

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Middle School Teacher Arrested

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department Juvenile Division's Sexually Exploited Child Unit (SECU) has been involved in an investigation involving a teacher at Portola Middle School in Tarzana.  SECU Detectives assumed the investigation on June 19, 2012, after a crime report for child annoying was generated on June 18, 2012.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of 32-year-old Jason Leon on February 4, 2013; his bail was set at $35,000.00.  The City Attorney has filed 4 misdemeanor counts of Child Annoyance (647.6 (A)(1) PC) and 2 counts of Battery (242 PC) against Mr. Leon involving 3 victims, between the ages of 13 and 14 years-old.

Throughout this investigation, LAPD Detectives have worked consistently with the LAUSD Administrators to ensure that Mr. Leon was not in a position to be in contact with students.  

***photograph of the suspect is attached on the second page of the news release***








Anyone with information regarding this crime, or know of possible witnesses or victims is urged to contact Juvenile Division Detective Aguirre at 213-486-0580. Anyone wishing to report a crime may remain anonymous by calling 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 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.

Motorist Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver NR13029am

Los Angeles:  Detectives are investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a motorist who was attempting to turn into a driveway. On February 1, 2013, around 10:40 p.m., a motorist driving a silver 2000 Mercedes-Benz C500 was travelling south on West Boulevard when it overtook an uninvolved vehicle at a high rate of speed and collided with a blue 1981 Dodge pick-up being driven by 72-year-old Douglas Jerald Welch, a resident of Los Angeles, driving northbound on West Boulevard, attempting to turn left into a private driveway. After the collision, the driver of the Mercedes-Benz fled the scene without stopping to render aid or wait for a report to be completed.  The driver of the Mercedes-Benz has been identified, but his name is being withheld at this time due to an ongoing criminal investigation. The Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the collision scene and transported Welch to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Anyone with information regarding this traffic collision can contact West Traffic Division, Detective Section at 213-473-0234 during the weekdays between 7 am – 5pm.  After hours and weekends, please contact West Traffic Division’s front desk at 213-473-0222 or a toll free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should 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 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.

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Marijuana and Weapons Seized During Warrant Service NR13028bb

Los Angeles:  LAPD Narcotics officers served a search warrant at a location near Downtown Los Angeles Thursday afternoon, netting a large amount of marijuana, and several guns. On January 31, 2025 around 11a.m., officers from the Olympic Division Narcotics Enforcement Detail (NED), along with agents from the Homeland Security Investigations, Los Angeles Gang Group, executed a search warrant at a warehouse located in the 2000 block of East 15th Street.  The location housed a large marijuana cultivation operation, where officers and agents seized over 1500 pounds of dried marijuana and marijuana plants.  The officers also seized two assault rifles, a rifle, 2 shotguns and 3 pistols. Officials from the Department of Water and Power and Building and Safety also responded to the location because the warehouse was using dangerous amounts of electricity.  They noticed that electricity lines attached to the building were charred from the amount of power going through the lines which placed the building at extreme fire risk.  There were families living in this warehouse as well as legitimate businesses who were placed at risk by this enormous operation. Investigators believed that this marijuana operation was producing an estimated street value of $7.6 million every 60 days and was supplying marijuana to numerous stores throughout the Southern California region as well as shipping marijuana to the Midwest and the East Coast.  Four suspects were arrested and more arrests are anticipated. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Olympic Division NED Detectives, at 310-382-6615.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should 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 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.

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