LAPD Blog

Van Crew’s Botched Robbery, Caught on Tape

Los Angeles:  LAPD detectives released video today of a 6-man robbery crew who beat a clothing wholesaler on August 30, 2024 in an attempt to rob him of his merchandise in the Fashion District.  The crime was caught on video tape from the alley and the business.

“We think this crew is responsible for other cargo thefts in the Fashion District,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division.  “We’ve been looking for suspects in a white van who steal merchandise from wholesalers’ delivery vans on the street.  If the same crew, it appears they’ve escalated their crime to armed robbery.”

Around 6:35 PM, the owner of Fashion 2000 was unloading his van behind his business, which is adjacent to an alley behind 124 E. 11th Street.  Four Hispanic men approached him, grabbed him and forced him into the business, where another employee was working inside.  Two of the suspect ripped the shirt off the victim’s back and struggled with him for some time.

“The struggle spills out into the parking lot again, with the victim fighting for his life against two men,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “Another suspect runs from the business, holding a gun.  He returns a moment later and tells a fourth accomplice inside, who is pistol whipping an employee, that it’s time to go.”

Surveillance video showed the planning involved in this botched robbery.  A silver Nissan Altima cruises the alley before the robbery.  A white Ford cargo van pulls in behind the business and several men get out.  The van and sedan disappear, and moments later, four men can be seen running down the alley: one wearing a red shirt; one in a dark green shirt, who was armed with the gun; one with a green-striped shirt, also armed with a gun; and one in a long-sleeve shirt.  The suspect in the dark green shirt has distinctive large ears.

“We are trying to enhance the license plates of the vehicles to help identify them, but the public can save us a lot of time by telling us who these guys are,” Lt. Vernon added.  “The suspects got away with nothing but their freedom, but we’d like to take that away from them now.”

The business owner was not seriously injured.  His employee was hospitalized for several days.  

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Al Rasch, Central Robbery Unit, at 213-972-1245.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

Video of the crime is available for viewing at the Central Police Station.

Missing Person

Update
Last night Lovett returned home in good health.

Los Angeles:  The family of Darryl Lovett and the Los Angeles Police Department requests the public’s

assistance in locating Lovett.

Lovett was last heard from on Sunday September 5, 2010.  He was last seen leaving work after attending a meeting.  Lovett did not show up for work on Tuesday morning, after having the Monday Labor Day Holiday off.  Lovett had never missed work prior to Tuesday according to his boss. Family, friends and his co-workers are extremely concerned.

Lovett is described as a 49-year-old male Black with black hair, brown eyes, 5 feet 9inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds. 

If you have seen, or have any information regarding the whereabouts of Lovett, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Persons Unit, Detective Merrill 213-996-1800.  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.

Graduation Ceremony Class 3A-10

Chief Charlie Beck at Graduation podcast part 1

Chief Charlie Beck podcast part 2

Friday, September 10, 2024 – Please click on the link above to hear the podcast of LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck addressing Officer Graduation Ceremony Class 3A-10. The graduation class consists of 26 police officers, 19 males and seven females. The ethnic breakdown of the class is as follows: 9 Caucasians, 11 Hispanics, three African American, and three Asians (two of which are Korean). Graduating officers have completed 920 hours of training over the course of 24 weeks.

Sexual Predator Arrested Detectives Seeking Additional Victims

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD), Abused Child Unit Detectives have arrested 44-year-old Leonel Pelayo, a resident of Carson, and church pastor, for the sexual assault of an underage girl.  Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet reported being victimized by Pelayo, and Detectives are hoping any additional victims will come forward.

On September 9, 2010, at around 1 p.m., Juvenile and Fugitive Task Force Detectives arrested Pelayo for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.  The pastor befriended the victim in a church youth group and took her to several vacant locations where he sexually assaulted her.  Pelayo owns properties in areas throughout the City and County of Los Angeles and possibly used some of the locations to commit his crimes. The sexual assaults took place over a period of several months.  

Pelayo is a Church Pastor of a local church on 99th Street and Vermont Avenue in the South Los Angeles
area.  

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has filed multiple charges of Lewd Acts with a Child
against Pelayo and he is being held on $140,000 bail.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department Abuse Child Unit, Juvenile Detectives at 213-486-0570.   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.

LAPD Officer Involved in Shooting of Man Armed With Knife

Los Angeles: A man who attempted to stab a woman and threaten others with a knife on the streets in West Lake Village was shot and killed by a Los Angeles Police Department Officer.

On Sunday, September 5, 2010, around 1:00 p.m., Officers assigned to the Rampart Bicycle Unit, Officer Frank Hernandez, 13-years 5 months with the Department, Officer Steven Rodriguez, 5-years 3 months with the Department, and Officer Paris Pineda, 5-years 3 months with the Department, were flagged down by a person who informed them there was a man in the vicinity of 6th Street and Union Avenue armed with a knife threatening people.

The officers continued westbound 6th Street on their bicycles to Union Avenue where they saw the suspect holding a knife in a threatening manner.  The officers dismounted from their bicycles and approached the suspect.  He was ordered several times in both English and Spanish to drop his knife.  The suspect did not follow the officer’s orders and raised the knife over his head and lunged at Officer Hernandez who fired two shots.  The suspect fell to the ground where he was taken into custody without further incident.  The suspect’s knife was recovered at the scene.  No officers were injured.  Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and determined the suspect was deceased.  

The suspect’s name has not yet been released because of ongoing efforts to notify next of kin who reside outside of the United States.

LAPD’s Force Investigation Division (FID) responded and are handling the officer involved shooting.  Over the next several months, FID will complete an exhaustive investigation.   A preliminary investigation has revealed that several people were threatened by the suspect with the knife just prior to the officers’ arrival. Although blood was found on the knife, investigators have not conclusively determined whether or not the man injured anyone with it during the incident.

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use of force policy which states that officer’ use of force actions must be objectively reasonable.  Additionally the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the Officer Involved Shooting.

If anyone has any information that would be helpful in this case please contact Force Investigation Division at 213-486-5230.

Body Found in Burned Vehicle Firefighters discover body while extinguishing vehicle fire

Update

September 8, 2024

The Los Angeles County Coroner has identified the victim found in the burning car as 50-year-old Russell Rathert of Van Nuys, California.

The cause of death will continue to be listed as Undetermined until the Coroner’s Office receives the final toxicology report.  During the initial autopsy examination, no injuries were found on Mr. Russell and evidence indicated he was deceased prior to the fire.

This case is NOT being handled as a criminal homicide at this time pending the results of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determination as to a cause of death.

If you have further questions, please contact North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4075.

Studio City: At about 3:07 a.m. this morning, Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to a call of a vehicle fire on Radford Street under the 101 Freeway overpass.  Firefighters arrived and found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames.  After extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered human remains in the rear of the vehicle.  The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was notified and responding officers determined that the death was of a suspicious nature.  

The LAPD’s North Hollywood Division detectives are handling the homicide investigation.  No determination has been made as to the identity of the decedent at this time.  

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 818-623-4075.   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.

Notes from the September 7, 2024 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Commissioner Debra Wong Yang thanked members of the Department as well as the Fire Department over their quick response to a brush fire that broke out near the 405 Freeway and Mulholland Drive.  She said their actions in evacuation procedures and fire extinguishing were excellent and very professional.

•    Police Chief Charlie Beck briefed the members of the Board on the Officer Involved Shooting which took place at 6th Street and Union Avenue over the weekend.  He said there would be an extensive review of the incident through the Department’s Force Investigation Division and the Board would get to rule on the matter as well.  Chief Beck also said there was an unlawful assembly near the Rampart Division which resulted in 3 injuries and 4 arrests. Chief Beck added in light of scrutiny of the Sheriff’s Department’s response times by the media, he released the Department’s figures saying the average response time is 5.7 minutes, down from 6.2 minutes last year.

•    The verbal presentation and update from the Commanding Officer and Community Advisory Board (C-PAB) representative regarding community initiated problem solving, crime strategies, and other programs and goals within the Southwest Area was given by Captain Steve Zipperman and C-PAB Co-Chair Mr. Johnnie Raines.  Mr. Raines informed the Board the Southwest Area C-PAB has many partnerships including the Urban League and Neighborhood Council.  Some of the programs the C-PAB has are the Block Club, Youth Advocates Program, Teen C-PAB and the Boot Camp.  The Boot Camp is the most successful program offered by the C-PAB with 300 youth having gone through the program.  The next Boot Camp is set to begin in October.

•    The Department’s report, dated August 26, 2010, relative to DNA monthly report for July 2010, was approved and transmitted to the City Council. 

•    The Department’s report, dated July 30, 2024 relative to 2009 Use of Force – Annual report, as given by Lieutenant Brian Pratt, was accepted and filed. Lieutenant Pratt said the total number of officer involved shootings decreased this year as compared to last. Out of approximately 900,000 contacts, less than 1% involved a use of force.  That number works down to two out of every 1000 contacts.  The complete report will be made available to the community and via the Department website at LAPDOnline.org.

•    The Department’s report, dated August 23, 2010, relative to Non-Categorical Use of Force Investigative Audit (IAID No. 10-067) was approved.  The audit reviewed cases from August 1, 2024 – March 31, 2010.

70-Year-Old, Alzheimer Man Missing

Los Angeles: A local family and the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for the public’s help in finding a 70-year-old man missing from the LAPD’s Northeast Division area.

Jose Leal Sanchez was last seen on September 1, 2010, when he left his home, located in the 1500 block of Hepner Avenue.  It is believed he may be driving a 2006 Nissan, Sentra, blue in color, license number 5TMC758.  Sanchez suffers from Alzheimers and is in need of his medication.

Sanchez is described as a male Hispanic, grey hair and brown eyes.  He stands about five feet seven inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds.  He was last seen wearing green Docker pants and a Hawaiian print shirt