Author: LAPD

01.26.10 01:42 PM

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are investigating therobbery and shooting of an employee at a medical marijuana clinic.

On Jan. 8, 2010, at about 2:10 p.m., LAPD Devonshire Division officerswere dispatched to the 8900 block of Reseda Boulevard where a33-year-old medical marijuana clinic employee was robbed of his walletand shot.  Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics also responded to theincident and transported the victim to a local hospital where hiscondition was listed as stable.

Although surveillance video footage of the robbery is available, thesuspect still has not been identified and detectives are hoping therelease of the footage will assist them in identifying him. The suspectwas last seen driving a dark-green, late-1990s, four-door ChevroletLumina.

Images of the suspect were captured by surveillance cameras within the clinic and are available at http://www.lapdtv.org.

Anyone with information about this robbery is urged to call DevonshireDivision detectives at (818) 832-0609.  During non-business hours or onweekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishingto remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS(800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting tophone 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 mayalso go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

LAPD News and Information …

01.26.10 08:44 AM
Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Topanga Area Detectives isasking for the public’s help in identifying two theft suspectsregarding two separate crimes involving the same department store.

On December 8, 2009, at around 4:30 p.m., a theft occurred in the 19700block of Vanowen Street.  Two suspects entered the department store. Once inside, the suspects filled a shopping cart with the merchandiseand left the department store without paying for the items.  

About a month later, on January 16, 2010, at around 7:10 p.m., the samesuspects returned to the same department store and filled a shoppingcart with merchandise.  Once again both suspects left the store withoutpaying for the items.

Thefirst suspect is described as a male, Hispanic, bald, 5’9” tall,weighing 210 pounds.  In December he was seen in with a goatee, wearinga black shirt and black pants.  In January he was seen with a mustacheand wearing a “Dodger” blue thermal with white lettering “LA” on theupper left portion of the shirt.

The second suspect is described as a male, 5’6” tall, weighing 170pounds.  He was last seeing wearing a multi-colored dark cap, blackshirt and black pants.

Photographs of the suspects are available through Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.

Anyone with information is urged to call Topanga burglary detectives at818-756-5850.  During non-business hours, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyonewishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS(800-222-8477).  Tipsters may contact Crimestoppers by texting thenumber 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All textmessages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go toLAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

LAPD News and Information …

01.25.10 03:45 PM
Los Angeles: Los Angeles police detectives arrested two men over the weekend, whichbroke up a downtown Los Angeles bicycle-theft ring and netted severalstolen bicycles and parts, drug paraphernalia, and counterfeit money.

“This is a significant break for us,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, who headsup the Central Detective Division.  “There were 123 bicycles stolendowntown in 2009.  That’s 45 more than the year before, and we knowthere is more than one ring of thieves who are preying on bicyclists.”

Police point to the increasing popularity of bicycling for sport andtransportation among downtown residents and have attributed theincrease in thefts to the proliferation of bicycles, many costing inthe thousands of dollars.

Friday, January 22, 2010, undercover detectives met a man in SantaMonica to buy a bicycle that he had posted on Craigslist.  The bike’sreal owner had reported the bike stolen on the same day, taken from the500 block of Olympic Boulevard.    Konstantin Rostovtsev, 51, listedthe $600 Sirrus bicycle for $300, and included the after-marketon-board computer in the asking price.  After agreeing on the sale,detectives arrested the Ukranian native for receiving stolen property.  

Detectives used information from Rostovtsev’s arrest to identify EdwardRene Arciga, 43, as another source of stolen bicycles.  “We calledArciga and asked him if he had bikes for sale,” Vernon said.  Saturday,undercover detectives met Arciga at the Olive Motel on SunsetBoulevard.  Arciga pulled a bicycle out of his Mercedes Benz’s trunkand showed it to the detectives.  When the detectives arrested Arciga,an accomplice opened the motel room’s door.  “The detectives called theman out and could immediately see bolt cutters and more bikes,” Vernonadded.  

“This latter arrest was a gold mine,” said Lt. Vernon.  “We found thetwo men were also bleaching money to counterfeit $100 bills.” Detectives found several counterfeit bills, a computer and a printerfor making money, and evidence of heroin use.  Secret Service agentsseized a laptop computer, the counterfeit bills and manufacturingmaterials.  Detectives booked Arciga for receiving stolen property, buthe may face additional federal charges for counterfeiting.  

“We think Arciga and Rostovtsev are just one of several rings workingdowntown,” Lt. Vernon warned.  “All bicyclists need to protectthemselves with good locks, record their bike’s serial number, and keepa receipt of the bike’s purchase price to prove its value; andremember, don’t leave a bike in a public place, even locked up, forlonger than is necessary.”

For more information, or interviews about this case, please contact Lt. Paul Vernon, Central Area Detectives at 213-972-1203.

Tipsters can call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may contact Crimestoppers by texting the number 274637(C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messagesshould begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go toLAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

LAPD News and Information …

01.25.10 10:44 AM
Los Angeles: Attached, is a copy of the letter addressed to the California ParoleBoard from Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck.  The letter stronglyurges that the Board deny the option of parole to Gregory Powell.

Gregory Powell was convicted on March 9, 1963, for the brutal murder of Los Angeles Police Officer Ian Campbell.

For further questions, please call Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910, or visit: http://www.lapdonline.org.

To read the letter Chief Charlie Beck wrote to California Parole Board click here.

LAPD News and Information …

01.25.10 10:52 AM
Los Angeles: Later this evening, on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department(LAPD) Media Relations Section, Chief Charlie Beck will accept theFreedom of Information Award from the Radio and Television NewsAssociation of Southern California (RTNA) at the 60th Annual GoldenMike Awards Dinner to be held at the Hilton Universal City.  LAPD isonly the second recipient of the award in RTNA’s history and thefirst-ever law enforcement organization.

“We are at a place in our history when the leadership at every level ofthe LAPD really understands how important it is to work with themedia,” said Chief Beck. “The media has an immense responsibility toinform and educate people, and we will continue giving them the accessthey need to do the job.  I couldn’t be more proud of our MediaRelations Section personnel.”

RTNA President Rebecca Nieto talked about the significance of the awardand why LAPD was selected to receive it. "The Freedom of InformationAward is given to individuals and organizations on special occasionswho have demonstrated exceptional efforts with broadcast reporters topromote transparency and facilitate news coverage related to theirorganizations," she said. “We’ve seen remarkable improvement incommunication between LAPD and broadcast reporters in the last fewyears."

Established in 1946, the RTNA’s core mission is to champion the FirstAmendment rights of the free press in an effort to improve lines ofcommunication between news media personnel, law enforcementorganizations and other government agencies.

LAPD News and Information …

01.25.10 11:03 AM
Los Angeles: A 28-year-old man was fatally shot in an apparent gang-related shooting in South Los Angeles.

The shooting occurred shortly after midnight on Jan. 24, in the 1600block of West 60th Place.  Detectives say a man later identified asDontae Cotton, had just returned home and was walking from his parkedvehicle toward his home.  A suspicious vehicle stopped in the street; agunman emerged, confronted Cotton and shot him several times.  Mr.Cotton was hit and collapsed on the side of his residence.  Los AngelesFire Department paramedics rushed him to a local hospital where hedied.  The suspect was last seen driving westbound on 60th Place.

The suspect and vehicle description remain unknown.   

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 77th CriminalGang/Homicide Division at 213-485-1383.  During non-business hours oron weekends calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyonewishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS(800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting tophone 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 mayalso go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

LAPD News and Information …

01.25.10 10:02 AM
Los Angeles:  The family of Maria Angelica Ruiz Alegria, missing person, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) are requesting the public’s help in locating the 72-year-old woman who went missing eight days ago.

Maria Angelica Ruiz Alegria, was last seen on Thursday, January 14, 2010, at approximately 8:00 a.m., in the area of 10100 block of Bromont Avenue, Sun Valley.  Due to multiple medical conditions, the family is concerned for her safety and reaching out to the public for help.

Maria Angelica Ruiz Alegria is described as a female Hispanic with brown hair, brown eyes, 5’2”-5’5” tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds.  She walks with a cane and speaks only Spanish.  She may be going under either the last name of “Ruiz” or “Alegria.”

If you have seen, or have any information regarding the whereabouts of Maria Angelica Ruiz Alegria, please contact Detective Ciuffetelli, LAPD Missing Persons Unit, at 213-996-1800. During non-business hours, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may contact Crimestoppers by texting the 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 News and Information …