LAPD Blog

Woman Dies after Being Struck by Cyclist

Los Angeles:   A 70-year-old woman died early Wednesday morning after being hit by a cyclist.

On Oct. 22, 2008, at about 6:30 a.m, Judith Arend, was out for her morning walk, northbound on the east shoulder of Palisades Drive north of Sunset Boulevard.  A 15-year-old youth, riding his bicycle southbound Palisades Drive, collided with Arend.

LA City Fire personnel responded to the collision and pronounced Arend dead at scene.  The juvenile received moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact West Traffic Detectives, Detective M. Tucker or Officer O. Basulto at 213-473-0234.  After-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." All calls and contacts are anonymous.

Body of Fatally Shot Man Found in Apartment

UPDATE: Wilshire Homicide detectives arrested a suspect in the murder of Dong-Woo Shin, 31.  Tony Cho, a 34-year-old Los Angeles resident was arrested at 3 a.m. on October 23, 2024 and booked for murder.  He is being held on $1,001,588 bail. 

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting that appears to have occurred in an apartment in the Wilshire Division.  

On Oct. 21, 2008, officers from LAPD’s Wilshire Division responded to a call for service at an apartment complex in the 700 block of South Oxford Avenue.  When they arrived, officers were directed to a specific unit in the building where witnesses discovered a deceased male of Korean descent, lying in a pool of blood.  The victim appeared to have been physically assaulted and shot.  

Preliminary findings in the early stages of the investigation suggest the motive for the murder may be related to a robbery and/or narcotics.  Currently, detectives are interviewing a person of interest, a male of Korean descent and a resident of Los Angeles.  Investigators also continue to analyze evidence and are interviewing additional witnesses.   

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Wilshire Division homicide detectives at 213-473-0446.  After-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-247 (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.” All calls and contacts are anonymous.

Man Injures Two, Barricades Self, before Being Taken Into Custody

Los Angeles: A Los Angeles man was taken into custody after assaulting and injuring a postal carrier and assaulting an LAPD officer, then holding police at bay for over seven hours in the 120 block of South Rampart Boulevard.

On October 15, 2008, at around 12:50 p.m., Romeo Ramos assaulted a postal carrier who had been delivering mail to his home, with a rock, resulting in minor injuries to him.  The police were called and responding officers were assaulted by Ramos with a knife, though they were not injured.  Ramos then ran back into his house where he refused to surrender.

After hours of negotiations, SWAT Officers fired tear gas into Ramos’ residence.  Ramos responded by starting a small fire.  Officers were able to extinguish the fire and were able to determine that Ramos was still hiding in the house, still armed with a knife, and still refusing to surrender.

Police Officers Robert Cottle (18-years with the Department), Michael Messenger (15-years with the Department) and John Ray (14-years with the Department), armed with less lethal weapons were able to locate Ramos hiding in a bedroom closet and repeated orders for him to surrender.  When he continued to refuse to cooperate with the officer’s orders while continuing to brandish a knife, the officers believed that the incident could escalate to deadly force, and used their less lethal weapons to take Ramos into custody.  

Ramos suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital where he was admitted for treatment.

Force Investigation Division is responsible for conducting the investigation.

Persons with any information related to this incident are requested to call the 24 hour tip line at 1-877 LAWFULL (529-3855).  Those wishing to remain anonymous may use their cellular phones and text to “CRIMES” or by logging on to www.lapdonline.org and clicking on “webtips.”  When using a cell phone always begin the text portion of the message with the letters LAPD.  Texting or internet tips provided in this manner are anonymous.

22-Year-Old Man Shot and Killed

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the persons responsible for the shooting death of 22-year-old Filiberto Ramos Ramirez of Arleta.

On Tuesday, October 21, 2024 at about 4 p.m., Foothill patrol officers responded to a radio call of a shooting that occurred in the area of Woodale Avenue and Filmore Street in Arleta.  When officers arrived, they found a victim of a gunshot wound.

The victim was transported to a local area hospital where he later died of his injury.  

Investigators believe that two suspects approached Ramirez and shot him.  These suspects approached and departed in a vehicle.  There is currently no description of the vehicle.

The suspects are described as male Hispanics and the motive of the shooting is unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Foothill Homicide Detectives Heather Gahry and Jose Martinez at 818-834-3115.  After hours and on weekends calls may be directed to the 24-hour toll free number, 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).  Callers may also text “CRIMES” with a cell phone or by logging on to www.lapdonline.org and clicking on Web Tips.  When using a cell phone always begin the message with “LAPD.” All calls and contacts are anonymous.

A Twice-Told Tale of Black, Brown & LAPD Blue

By Jerry Sullivan

This is a story of heartbreak and hope—and neither end of the tale made the news.
A curious combination of factors recently led me to these events on a street in South Los Angeles, where worn houses and skinny palm trees can sometimes trick you into seeing nothing much.
Then a crumpled baby bottle near a truck’s tire caught my eye and kicked me in the gut.
The bottle belonged to a toddler who had just been crushed to death. The mother lost track of the baby. The baby crawled behind the wheel of a neighbor’s truck. The neighbor didn’t notice the child there.
That’s how death came to this street, a place where African/Americans and Latino/Americans live side-by-side in a “Black-Brown” slice of the city—the sort of streetscape where so much of the potential and tension of our famed diversity resides.
The scene leaned toward tension for several reasons.
The mother of the baby was African/American.
The neighbor was Latino/American.
The mother was still in her teen years, and preliminary reports indicated that she had been having some trouble with the responsibilities that come with a baby.
It appeared that the neighbor—an immigrant—didn’t have a driver’s license.
It was hot and Santa Ana winds were blowing, sucking all the moisture out of the atmosphere, working the nerves.
African/American folks gathered on front walks, whispering among themselves. They peered toward the yellow tape that marked off the house down the block, where a distraught woman occasionally appeared on the porch.
There wasn’t a Latino/American neighbor in sight.
The tension hung there, deciding whether to shrink or grow. The drone of the Harbor Freeway provided a monotonous soundtrack, seemingly ready to drive its tempo crazy or cool.
Hope didn’t follow on to the scene naturally, but it did arrive to stake a claim. The first foothold came with uniformed cops and plainclothes investigators of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), who went about their grim duty quietly, efficiently, respectfully.
Authorities had transported the baby from the scene in hopes of some life-saving treatment. The mother of the child had gone along. Social service agencies had been notified. The sorry details of an autopsy and funeral arrangements would be handled from the hospital. The driver of the vehicle was in custody, also away from the scene.
Curiosity continued up the street, with neighbors now forming clusters, their whispers growing into not-quite-hushed tones. One group of youngsters started getting a bit louder.
That’s when hope went on the offensive, able to do so because word of this incident had already gone from the streets of South Los Angeles to the highest levels of LAPD.
A member of the agency’s command staff got there quickly. He received his briefing, took a measure of the situation, and headed back to his car. He stopped short of the vehicle, though, turning toward a group of five or six neighbors as they looked toward the scene. He approached them, ramrod straight, and asked if they knew what had just happened down the block on the street where they live.
No, they didn’t, they replied.
The high-ranking officer told them in clear, calm tones.
A collective gasp came from the neighbors. What a shame, they said, wondering aloud how such a thing could happen.
The gasp soon yielded to shaking heads. The tension eased toward sympathy.
I can tell you that the neighborhood could have gone either way until then. I know that LAPD’s work at this scene will go largely unnoticed in our workaday world. I can report that the beat cops and investigators presented themselves with a professionalism that held tension at bay. I saw the high-ranking officer make sure that clear, courteous communication on the street trumped skepticism.
The neighborhood stayed right-side-up in the face of the heartbreak at the end of the block. A baby died and folks felt the loss, leaving the Black-Brown dynamic out of the equation.
The whole thing was awful—but it could have been worse.
Things didn’t get worse, so none of this made the news.
I just happened to be there, and I thought you all should know.

Jerry Sullivan is the Editor & Publisher of the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen, a weekly community newspaper that covers Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding districts(www.garmentandcitizen.com)

Gang Shooting Leaves One Dead

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and one injured in the Department's 77th Division.

On Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at about 9 p.m., both victims were standing in front of a residence at the 600 block of West 68th Street.  The victims were approached by two males on foot who yelled out a gang reference and fired multiple shots at the victims.  Both victims sustained several gunshot wounds and tried going back into the residence.  The suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction.

Victim Damon Lamont Jones, 38, was transported by paramedics to a local hospital where he later died.  The second victim was also transported to a local hospital by paramedics, where he was treated and expected to survive.  

The suspects are described as male Blacks and their weapons are still outstanding.  The motive for the shooting is believed to be gang related.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact LAPD South Bureau Detectives E. Crossnon or M. Kellum at 213-485-1383.  After-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855). 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." All calls and contacts are anonymous.

16-year-old Shot and Killed

Update: The male victim has been identified as Jay Quan Johnson

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 16-year-old Los Angeles resident.

On Monday, October 20, 2024 at about 9:30 p.m., officers responded to a radio call of a shooting at the 5100 block of Pickford Street.  When officers arrived, they found a victim with gunshot wounds.  

Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel provided medical treatment to the victim at the scene and transported him to a local area hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

The victim had been standing on the sidewalk with friends when a vehicle with several suspects drove along side them and opened fire.  The victim was hit by the gunfire as he and his friends ran for cover.  The suspect's vehicle collided with other parked vehicles as they fled the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wilshire Homicide Detectives Mark Holguin and Ron Kim at 213-473-0446.  After hours and on weekends calls may be directed to the 24-hour toll free number, 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).  Callers may also text "CRIMES" with a cell phone or by logging on to www.lapdonline.org and clicking on Web Tips.  When using a cell phone always begin the message with "LAPD." All calls and contacts are anonymous.

Notes for the October 20, 2024 Police Commission Weekly Meeting

• The Police Commission held a special meeting at Southwestern Law School in an effort to reach out to the Pico Union, Silver Lake, MacArthur Park and Filipino Town communities.  Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco took the opportunity to thank the school and members of the community for allowing them to hold the meeting there. 
• After introductions, President Pacheco discussed the myriad of issues which had been prevalent in the news that day.  He spoke about the recent issue with the Scientific Identification Division’s Latent Print Unit by stating the problem was of considerable concern but added that after extensive discussions with Police Chief William Bratton, he considers it a non-issue for the future.  He stated he was pleased with Chief Bratton reaching out to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for assistance and said that this was a very defining moment for the Department in many ways.
• President Pacheco then spoke on the back log of DNA rape kits.  He said he was encouraged by City Controller Laura Chick’s report on the issue and that it is of critical importance to the Police Commission.
• Finally President Pacheco said that he was still in the process of thoroughly reviewing the report released by the American Civil Liberties Union.  This is an issue which the Commission has looked at in the past and President Pacheco welcomed the report.
• Police Chief Bratton then offered his report.  He again touched on the issues which President Pacheco had raised. He stated the Latent Print Unit has a number of dedicated employees and announced the formation of a task force to be headed by Deputy Chief Charlie Beck. He also announced that the unit would be moved from the command of the Office of Support Services to the Detective Bureau.  It is his goal to come out with best practices.
• Chief Bratton then announced that the death of Mr. Kazuyoshi Miura while in Department custody was found to be a suicide.  He said contrary to Mr. Mirura’s attorney’s statements, he was very comfortable with the Use of Force division’s preliminary report and that the coroner’s report will confirm the internal investigation.
• The Executive Director of the Police Commission, Mr. Richard Tefank, and the Inspector General, Mr. Andre Birotte, then offered a brief synopsis on each of their responsibilities and functions as it pertains to their respective positions.
• The final speaker of the evening was Captain John Egan of the Rampart Community Police Station.  He offered up a brief overview of the area including population, communities, youth programs and new facility particulars. 
• Once the speakers were done, the Commission opened the floor up to public comment.  Members of the community were able to speak on the issues that were closest to them.  Many offered their sincere gratitude to the officers who patrol the area and others voiced concern over various issues.  The public comment portion of the meeting is the primary reason for holding the Commission meetings at special locations.
• The Police Commission holds these special meetings a few times a year and anticipates continuing to reach out to the residents of the City of Los Angeles.  

Chief Bratton Calls News Conference to Address Concerns

podcast DNA.MP3

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief William Bratton spoke to the media Monday evening at a news conference held in Los Angeles to respond to several issues that have received recent media attention, including: the Department’s handling of backlogged DNA cases, latent fingerprint issues, racial profiling and the death of Kazuyoshi Miura in the Parker Center Jail. 

DNA Testing

On October 20, 2008, at about 5:30 p.m., Bratton spoke to the media just prior to a previously scheduled Community Police Commission Meeting at the Rampart Division.  During the news conference, Bratton acknowledged Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick’s just released audit on the Department’s backlog of more than 7000 sexual assault kits. Each kit contains evidence in various forms, including DNA and other biological elements.  Chick called for a three-year plan to reduce the backlog and to take measures that will ensure that the Department’s ability to keep pace with this type of evidence collection.

Bratton thanked Chick for helping to make this issue a top priority for City leaders.  The problem has been that the accumulation of the DNA kits has accelerated to a point where police personnel cannot keep pace with analyzing them, a nationwide problem that many law enforcement organizations are struggling to handle.  To address the problem, LAPD has initiated a two-prong plan.

Firstly, the Department has proposed a three-phase plan to hire new DNA analysts and equipment to keep pace with the incoming evidence and prevent further backlog.  Phase 1 has already been completed and includes the expansion of DNA analytic capacity through the hiring of new criminalists and lab technicians who are housed in a new state-of-the-art facility. Phase 2, currently unfunded, is slated to add 16 new criminalists and lab technicians, and Phase 3, also unfunded, would add 17 more.

Secondly, LAPD would establish contracts with accredited labs across the country to reduce the backlog to zero by 2013 at an annual cost of $2.1 million.

There is also a current effort to raise money through private donations in order to get the backlogged kits tested.

The challenge of analyzing DNA kits in a timely manner is not a recent issue and goes back to at least 2002 when the importance of DNA testing became apparent and the backlog of testing began to accumulate. At that time, the Department requested $4.1 million to address the increasing workload, but the request was denied.  Since then,  multiple requests have been denied, exacerbating the problem and causing the backlog. 

The Department acknowledges the undeniable value of DNA testing, the importance of every case and the potential for DNA evidence, even on seemingly minor cases, to lead to additional evidence and the unlocking of many other cases.

Since 2004, the LAPD has received nearly $4 million in federal grant funds. Unfortunately, mistakes have been made, including an administrative error that caused $500,000 earmarked for DNA analysis to be reallocated to another jurisdiction. 

Latent Prints

Bratton acknowledged that recent personnel actions have been taken as a result of human errors resulting in erroneous fingerprint identifications.  He emphasized that the overwhelming number of cases, handled by nearly 100 employees in the Department’s fingerprint unit, regularly meets the high standards of its prosecutorial partners.

In addition, a taskforce has been established to address all of the latent print issues. It will be headed by Deputy Chief Charlie Beck, LAPD Detective Bureau Commanding Officer. The co-chair of the taskforce will be Police Administrator Gerald Chaleff of the Consent Decree Bureau. The LAPD Inspector General and representatives from the district attorney’s office will round out the taskforce.

Bratton has also consulted with his counterparts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding a partnership to establish a “best practices” model for fingerprint identifications.  To help facilitate this process, FBI Executive Assistant Director of Science and Technology Lou Grever will be working with the Department to establish audits and initiate protocols for random testing, which will incorporate new management systems to help ensure excellence.

Moving this plan forward, effective Nov. 9, 2008, Bratton will relocate the Department’s Scientific Identification Division operations to its Detective Bureau, under the command of Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.  This reorganization will provide for a more synergistic relationship between analysts and detectives as it relates to the processing of evidence.

Report on Racial Bias

Bratton addressed a report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that accused the LAPD of racial profiling.  Bratton reiterated the point that because police officers are human beings they may come to the Department with certain biases. However, as in the past, the Department will continue to focus on its commitment to prevent racial profiling and eradicate it when it surfaces.

Serious consideration is given to the issue of racial bias during recruitment, selection, training, and the continuing education of officers.  Bratton also noted that much of the criteria used for the ACLU’s findings were faulty for the purpose of establishing whether or not racial profiling has occurred.  For example, the use of census data is inappropriate in a highly mobile city like Los Angeles, where people often don’t live and work in the same area and are constantly on the move by numerous means of transportation.  Similarly, in studies conducted during ride-alongs with officers on patrol, findings showed that 21 percent of the time during daylight hours and 32 percent during hours of darkness, it was not possible to determine the race or ethnicity of people driving.   Additionally, using the officer’s race compared to the race of the person the officer detains is equally inappropriate.  This theory presupposes that there is only one officer making the determination. However, in the vast majority of these situations, two officers are involved in the decision.

Death of Murder Suspect Kazuyoshi Miura

Bratton acknowledged an allegation in regards to the death of extradited murder suspect Kazuyoshi Miura being a homicide.  Bratton stated that based on the evidence, Miura’s death was a suicide.  He went on to remind everyone that “the Los Angeles County Coroner has not yet released the scientific findings; but based on what we know to be true, we have every reason to believe that it could only have been a suicide.”

The Chief, along with the men and woman of the LAPD, are committed to providing the highest level of service to the citizens of Los Angeles and will constantly strive to uphold the highest ideals of the Los Angeles Police Department.

For further information, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Kelley Key Award 2008

On Thursday, September 25, 2008, Officer Tony Salazar and Detective Daniel Hanabusa, Hollenbeck Narcotics Enforcement Detail (NED), were awarded the Kelly Key Award by the Inner City Games Los Angeles and Hollenbeck Police Business Council, also known as the Hollenbeck Youth Center, during its 27th Annual Salute to the Los Angeles Dodgers Luncheon.  Captain Blake Chow, Commanding Officer of the Hollenbeck Division, presented the award to the two officers who were both recently injured in separate incidents in the line of duty.  Awards were also presented to business leaders for their contributions to the center and children who participate in the center’s programs.

Officer Tony Salazar has made numerous arrests ranging from murder to parole and narcotics violations.  His commitment to the community has lead to the reduction in crime in the Hollenbeck Area.  Officer Salazar was recently involved in a highly volatile situation where the NED was in the process of arresting active narcotics dealers when he was struck by a suspect’s vehicle.  Officer Salazar was knocked to the ground and suffered numerous injuries to his legs and head.  He is now recovering from his injuries and continues to be an inspiration to the community for his dedication and work ethic in making the community safer from drug dealers.

Detective Daniel Hanabusa is a recipient of the Kelly Key Award because of his continuous efforts to improve the quality of life for the people living in the Hollenbeck Area and his dedicated service to the community.  As impressive as his crime-fighting credentials, equally impressive are his other personal attributes.  He is sympathetic when dealing with the community and even the suspects generally do not bear him any personal animosity due to his professional conduct with them.  Daniel was shot during a narcotics arrest in June of 2008.  He suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and is recovering rapidly from his injury.

Hollenbeck Youth Center with LAPD’s Hollenbeck Division is an example of community involvement deterring at-risk youth from getting involved in gangs, drugs and violence.  The Hollenbeck Youth Center creates opportunities for inner-city youth to participate in athletic, educational, cultural, and community enrichment programs.