LAPD Blog

A Market Robbery Suspect Captured on Camera

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Robbery detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of a suspect who robbed a local market with a knife.

On December 24, 2012, around 10:30 a.m., the suspect went inside a market located in the 600 block of Breed Street in the Boyle Heights area. The suspect walked in the enclosed cash register area, brandished a knife and demanded money from the cash drawer. In fear for her safety, the employee complied with the suspects’ demands.  The suspect exited the store and was last seen riding away on a bicycle.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 25 to 35 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches and weighs about 200 pounds.  He was wearing a black beanie, blue bandana, light blue sweater, blue shorts and black/white shoes.  

If anyone has any additional information regarding this crime contact Hollenbeck Area Robbery Detective Miguel Barajas at 323-342-8991. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 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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Help Identify the Red Car Flasher

Los Angeles.  Detectives have released a second sketch of a man they have dubbed, the Red Car Flasher, who has exposed his naked body to teen-aged Hispanic girls near Arleta and Panorama City middle and high schools over a dozen times since August 2011.  Detectives have attributed the latest incident to the same suspect.  This most recent incident occurred at Woodman Avenue and Lassen Street.

(Sketches: Right: March 2012; Left: January 2013)

“Two victims in separate incidents have given us descriptions that have resulted in two nearly identical sketches,” said Detective Luz Montero, an investigator at LAPD’s Mission Area Police Station.  “We think the suspect lives in the area he prowls.”  

On the afternoon of December 22, 2012, an 18-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk near Woodman Avenue and Lassen Street, when she noticed a red compact car parked at the curb with the passenger door open.  A fair-skinned man unexpectedly jumped out from the open car door, completely naked, and extended his arms toward the girl as if to hug or grab her.  The girl ran away, and the suspect drove away in the red car.

“We want to warn the public again with this latest incident before the school session resumes, and we want everyone to be on the lookout for the Red Car Flasher,” Detective Montero explained.  “We’re calling him a flasher, but since he has tried to grab victims, the stakes are much higher.”  So far, no victims have been physically harmed.

The red compact car is a commonality among all the cases, as is the suspect’s light complexion and close-cropped, receding hair with a bit of gray.  Victims have ranged his age between 25 and 40 years and height from medium to tall.  He may have a scar on one cheek, and one victim thought his name may be Paul.  The red car may be an older import like a Honda, Toyota, or Nissan.  In some cases he may have tried to hide the license plate of the car with a towel or shirt.  All the victims have been Hispanic girls in their teens.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call LAPD Mission Detectives, at 818- 838-9975. Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) 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.

Detectives will release a map showing the location of all the incidents and proximity to schools.

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Officer-Involved Shooting in 77th with No Hits

Los Angeles:  On January 1, 2013, at around 12:15 a.m., Criminal Gang and Homicide Division (CGHD) were working a gunfire suppression detail in 77th Street Area.  

The officers heard gunfire coming from the rear of the 750 block of East 78th Street and tactically deployed on foot down the driveway from 78th Street.  The officers observed suspect Gilbert Alan Silver III, armed with an assault rifle, fire one round into the air in an easterly direction.  The officers ordered Silver to drop the weapon at which time he turned and ran towards the southwest corner of the property with the rifle.  Suspect Silver while being pursued by officer Medina, pointed the weapon and an officer-involved shooting occurred.

Silver was not struck by the gunfire and fled into an adjacent residence at the 740 block of East 78th Street.  A perimeter was established and an extensive search was conducted by CGHD and 77th Street officers.  After about two hours, Silver exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.  Neither Silver or the officers were injured.

Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the incident and will be handling the investigation of the officer-involved shooting.  

The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, Office of the Inspector General and The Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s 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.

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230. 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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Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) in Mission

Los Angeles:  On Saturday, December 29, 2012, at around 9:30 p.m., a victim (a security guard) encountered a male Hispanic suspect with a gun, on the street, in the 8600 block of Willis Avenue in Mission Area.

The suspect ran from the location on foot to some nearby apartment buildings.

Immediately after this had occurred, officers assigned to the VCTF (Valley Crime Task Force) were driving down Willis Avenue and were flagged down by the victim, who advised them he had just been a victim of an ADW (Assault with a Deadly Weapon) and the suspect with a gun had just ran from the scene.   

The officers broadcast the information and a nearby LAPD airship arrived and began searching for the suspect and located him.

The airship was directing the officers to the suspect's location when the suspect ran into the street, where he encountered the officers.   At this time an officer-involved shooting occurred.  

The suspect was wounded and transported to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics and is in critical condition.  No officers were injured.  

The Los Angeles Police Department Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the incident and will be handling both the investigation of the officer-involved shooting and the investigation of the “ADW” on the victim.  The investigation will ultimately be reviewed by the Chief of Police, the Office of the Inspector General and The Board of Police Commissioners for compliance with the Department’s use-of-force policy which states that an officer’s 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.

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230. 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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Man with Gunshot Wounds Found Lying on the Street

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Homicide Detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of a suspect who killed 33-year-old John S. Lee.

On December 30, 2012, at 9:18 p.m., Northeast Division patrol officers responded to an “Ambulance Shooting” call at Russell Avenue and Talmadge Street in the Franklin Hills Community of Los Angeles.  The officers found a man, later identified as 33-year-old John S. Lee, lying on the street in the 4200 block of Russell Street with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to his body.  

Los Angeles City Fire Rescue Ambulance responded to the location and transported Lee to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment where he remained in critical condition.  

On December 31, 2012, at 11:13 p.m., Lee died as a result of his injuries.

The motive for this incident is undetermined at this time, and investigators do not have any information on the suspect(s).

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Detectives Carrillo or Castro at
(323) 344-5744, during normal business hours or the Northeast Watch Commander at (323) 344-5701. 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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Paparazzo Killed in Traffic Collision

Los Angeles:  A pedestrian who was taking photographs of a traffic stop Tuesday evening died after being struck by a vehicle on Sepulveda Boulevard near the Getty Center Drive exit of the 405 Freeway.

On January 1st, 2013, around 5:50 p.m., a fatal traffic collision occurred involving a 2007 Toyota Highlander and a pedestrian who was in the roadway.  The collision occurred on Sepulveda Boulevard south of the Getty Center drive exit from the 405 freeway.  The driver of the SUV was headed south on Sepulveda Boulevard, approaching the Getty Center Drive exit when she collided with a pedestrian.  The 29 year old-old male pedestrian was crossing eastbound on Sepulveda Boulevard when he was struck by the vehicle.  

The pedestrian was a photographer and was photographing a traffic stop on the adjacent 405 freeway just prior to crossing the roadway.  The pedestrian's identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.  The 69 year-old female driver of the Toyota did not show any signs of drug or alcohol impairment while at the scene of the collision and remained at the collision site until officers arrived.

City of Los Angeles, Rescue Ambulance 19 responded and transported the pedestrian to UCLA Westwood Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.  Officers from the West Traffic Division and the LAPD Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team (MCIT) responded to the scene of the collision and conducted the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team (MCIT) at 213-486-0690.  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.

Hollenbeck Theft Suspect NR13001rh

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Division detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of a suspect who took clothes from a local clothing store in the Hollenbeck area. On December 17, 2012, around 5:15 p.m., a male Hispanic, wearing a green work uniform entered a clothing store in the 1200 block of South Lorena Street.  The suspect grabbed several items of clothing from a display rack and ran out of the front door. The suspect entered a getaway vehicle described as a tan, 1990’s Honda 4-door and left the area. If you have seen, or have any information regarding the identity of the suspect, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollenbeck Detectives, Detective Adams at 323-342- 8986.  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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Rescued by the LAPD – 2013 Calendar

The Los Angeles Police Department not only rescues people, they also rescue animals. This year Voice For The Animals Foundation created a calendar featuring LAPD officers with their rescue animals. Each month features an LAPD officer with their adorable rescue animal. Proceeds will go to the medical treatment, food and shelter of abandoned animals in need.

Calendar will ship within 7 to 10 days.To order please click the donate button below or call 310-392-5153 ext. 1 http://vftafoundation.org/lapdcalendar2013/

Voice For The Animals Foundation is a non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation, and advocacy. We run several programs dedicated to saving animals’ lives and educating the public about the humane treatment of all living creatures. Voice For The Animals is a 501(c)(3) non profit tax ID # 95-4754776.

 

Man Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease Goes Missing in West Los Angeles. The 74-year-old Man was Last Seen Riding a Light Blue Bicycle

Los Angeles:  The family of  Manuel Palma and the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for the public’s help to locate the 74-year-old man.

Mr. Palma was last seen on Friday, December 28, 2012, around 9:00 a.m., while riding a light blue bicycle in the 9100 block of Gibson Street in West Los Angeles.  Mr. Palma is in need of daily medication and suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Mr. Palma is described as a male Hispanic with green eyes and grey hair.  He stands 5’ 5” tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds.  He was last seen wearing a hat, a multi-colored Christmas sweater, a dark blue jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.

In addition, Mr. Palma’s primary language is Spanish.

If you have seen, or have any information regarding the whereabouts of Manuel Palma, please contact the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Los Angeles Station at 310-444-0701. 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 www.LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.