LAPD Blog

Public's Help Needed for Missing 14-Year Old Girl

(UPDATE)

On September 5, 2008, at around 3:00 a.m., a CHP patrol unit found missing person Andrea Wilson-Smith near Foothill Boulevard and Michillinda Avenue, in Pasadena.  She was taken to LAPD's Northeast Division, where she was picked by her parent.  Investigators still haven't determined why the teen ran away from her home.

Los Angeles:  The family of Andrea Wilson-Smith and the Los Angeles Police Department request the public's help in locating 14-year old Andrea.

Andrea was last seen on September 2, 2008, in the 10500 block of Saint Andrews Place in Los Angeles.

Andrea has black hair and brown eyes.  She is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds.  She was last seen wearing a black tank top, white basketball shorts and black Nike tennis shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call 77th Street Detective Harry Lee at 213-485-4156.  On weekends or after hours, call the toll free 24-hour anonymous number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Publics Help Needed for Missing Family

Los Angeles:  The Nguyen and Sanez family and the Los Angeles Police Department request the public's help in locating Johnny and Jessica Nguyen and their two children, Joshua and Jacob.

The Nguyen family resides in Woodland Hills and was last seen traveling to Laughlin Nevada in a 2008 4-door white Chevy Cobalt with a California License Plate of 6CDS719.

The investigation has revealed that the Nguyen family may be staying at various hotels on the Las Vegas strip, most recently Planet Hollywood and the Rio Hotel.

The Nguyen family is described as:

• Johnny Nguyen,  6' 2", 165 lbs, 28 years old
• Jessica Nguyen, 5', 130 lbs, 30 years old
• Joshua Nguyen, 4', 65 lbs, 8 years old
• Jacob Nguyen, 2' 5", 35 lbs, 2 years old

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Cletus Carlton at 213-485-5381.  On weekends or after hours, call the toll free 24-hour anonymous number at 1-877-LAWFULL
(529-3855).

Sexual Battery Suspect Caught, Police Seek Victims

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles police have arrested a man on charges of sexually assaulting a female on a Metro bus in the San Fernando Valley and are seeking additional victims to come forward.

Samson Gebremariam, 26, of Van Nuys, was arrested on August 30, 2008, without incident.  He was charged with sexual battery and false imprisonment.  His bail was set at $50,000.00.

On August 24, 2008, Gebremariam approached a woman on a bus and engaged her in a short conversation.  He told the victim he was from Ethiopia.  Shortly after the conversation, he tried to befriend the victim and fondle her breast.  The suspect then followed the victim off the bus, impeded her movement and continued to sexually assault her against her will.

Detectives believed similar incidents either occurred on the bus or after getting off the bus in the San Fernando Valley area. 

Anyone who has information or been victimized by this suspect is asked to call Foothill Sexual Assault Unit at 818-834-3115.  On weekends or during off-hours, calls may be directed to a  24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Officers Quick Response Results in Capture of Two Murder Suspects

Los Angeles:  A 16-year-old was gunned down amid gang shooting yesterday in the Westlake area of Los Angeles.

On September 3, 2008, at around 4:15 p.m., Miguel Angel Guzman was walking on the sidewalk near 5th Street and Bonnie Brae Avenue, when a tan Saturn with three occupants inside pulled up.  An unidentified man seated in the front passenger seat, asked Guzman what his gang affiliation was.  After Guzman revealed his gang name, the man got out of the vehicle armed with a handgun and fatally shot him in the chest.  The gunman returned to the Saturn and drove off.

Guzman was taken to University of Southern California Medical Center where he died a short time later.

As the shooting call was broadcasted, Rampart patrol officers quickly flood the area and spotted the suspects’ Saturn in the 400 block of Witmer Street.  Officers detained Norma Cortez, 43, and a juvenile who stood near the car.  A third suspect ran away and remains at large.

Cortez and the juvenile were arrested and will be charged with murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call Rampart Homicide Detectives John Motto or Michael Arteaga at 213-484-3650.  On weekends or after hours, call the toll free 24-hour anonymous number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

Echo Park, Pico-Union and Westlake Communities Receive New Rampart Police Station

Podcast for grand opening.MP3

The new and improved Rampart Community Police Station was unveiled this morning to a crowd of dignitaries, neighborhood leaders and community members.  The audience cheered on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Ed Reyes, Councilmember Tom LaBonge and Police Chief William Bratton as they cut the ceremonial ribbon, inviting all to come in and tour the new station.  The ceremony presided by Captain John Egan, Rampart Commanding Officer, included a presentation by Council District 1 Councilmember Ed Reyes and the proud announcement of Los Angeles City Engineer Gary Lee Moore that the new state-of-the-art facility had received the prestigious gold-certification by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Commenting on the station's open design and accessibility, Chief Bratton stated, "This station symbolizes the openness of this Department to work with and in the communities it polices."

In March 2002, the voters in Los Angeles passed a $600 million dollar public safety measure to improve, renovate and expand public safety facilities.  The original Rampart Station was established in 1966 and was located at 2710 West Temple Street.  The Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division serves communities to the west and northwest of Downtown Los Angeles, including Echo Park, Pico-Union and Westlake.  Its name is derived from Rampart Boulevard, one of the principal thoroughfares in its patrol area.  Rampart's 380 police personnel provide service to about 375,000 inhabitants in a compact eight-square-mile area. 

77th Annual Uniform Inspection and Memorial Dedication Ceremony

Podcast for inspection
Podcast for memorial dedication

Los Angeles:  On Wednesday, September 3, 2008, Chief William J. Bratton and command staff were joined by Former LAPD Police Chief Darryl Gates to conduct a uniform inspection of all 77th Area personnel.  At the conclusion of the inspection, the ceremony continued with a memorial  dedication to 77th Area officers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.  A plaque bearing the names of the officers was unveiled next to the memorial fountain.  Also in attendance were Councilmember Jan Perry and the families of the slain officers

Shooting Victim Dies One Week after Shooting

Los Angeles:  A man, who was shot multiple times one week ago, died Sunday from his injuries.

On August 23, 2008, at around 8:40 p.m., Melvin James Comeaux Jr., 28, was walking in the area of 94th Place and Normandie Avenue.  An unknown suspect, described only as a male Black, standing in the middle of the street in the 9400 block of Normandie Avenue, began firing a handgun at Comeaux. 

Comeaux was hit numerous times and was transported to a local hospital where he died on August 31, 2008. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to call South Bureau Homicide Detectives Myra Kellum or Eric Crosson at 213-485-1383  After business hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to the 24-hour, toll-free number at1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

Valley Pedestrian Hit by Commuter Train

Los Angeles: This morning at approximately 7:20 a.m., an eastbound Metrolink commuter train struck a pedestrian in Northridge who was apparently crossing railroad tracks in the vicinity of Nordhoff Street and Corbin Avenue.

The pedestrian, a white male in his 70s who was killed in the incident, was a resident of West Hills.  It remains unclear as to why he was on the railroad tracks.

Until immediate relatives of the deceased are notified, his identity cannot be disclosed. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division are investigating the incident.   

Any witnesses or others with information about the pedestrian or the incident may contact Valley Traffic Division Detective William Bustos at 818-644-8021 or Police Officer III Daniel Menesez at 818-644-8026. After business hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

Police Seek Public’s Help in Identifying a Hit and Run Driver

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a Hit and Run driver. 

On September 2, 2008, at about 5:20 a.m., an unidentified man, about 40-years-old, was walking in a southeasterly direction on 55th Street when he was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound on 55th Street at Alba Street. 

The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. 

There is no description of the hit and run vehicle or driver.  The hit and run vehicle and suspect were believed to have traveled eastbound on 55th Street. 

Anyone with information about the vehicle, or was a witness to the accident is asked to contact Central Traffic Division, Detective Josephine Mapson at 213-972-1825 or the Central Traffic Division Watch Commander at 213-972-1853.  During weekends and off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

LAPD Detectives Investigate Homicide in Southeast

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person(s) responsible for the shooting death of a 21-year-old man.

On Saturday, August 16, 2024 at about 11:30 p.m., LAPD Southeast officers went to investigate a shooting at 98th Street and McKinley Avenue.  They found Aaron Lopez with multiple gunshot wounds.  Lopez was transported to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

There is no suspect(s) or vehicle description at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Bureau Detective Sal LaBarbera at 213-485-4341.  After hours and on weekends calls may be directed to the 24-hour toll free number, 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).