LAPD Blog. What are the police up to doing?

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February 21, 2008

Belligerent Man Dies in Police Custody

Los Angeles: A 53-year-old man died at a local hospital after being transported by paramedics.

On February 16, 2008, at around 9:40 a.m., North Hollywood Area patrol officers responded to a Fire Department assistance call in the 11300 block of Camarillo Street at a methadone clinic. Patrol officers assisted the firemen with Eddie Scott, who was lying on a bathroom floor, incoherent, belligerent, and unable to get up, because he had an amputated leg and had not taken his medication. Officers managed to carry Scott and place him onto a gurney.

Scott continued to be aggressive and violent, and tried to get off the gurney after being placed on soft restraints by the firemen, consequently Officer Bryan Hoefler and Officer Franklin Geraty handcuffed Scott’s hands to each side of the gurney to prevent him from breaking free. A rescue ambulance transported Scott to a local hospital.

Once at the hospital, the officers removed the handcuffs and the emergency room personnel treated Scott for his medical condition. Scott failed to respond to his treatment and was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

The cause of death is unknown, pending an autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

Force Investigation Division personnel are investigating this incident as an In-Custody Death.

February 21, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Man Pointing Gun at Officers is Shot

Los Angeles: Police shot an attempted robbery suspect as he pointed a handgun at officers.

On Saturday, February 16, 2008 at around 3:45 p.m., Rampart Officers responded to a radio call of an attempted robbery suspect at 6th Street and South Park View Street. The officers spoke with the victim and were given a description. While searching the area, the officers saw the suspect pointing a black semi-automatic handgun at a man and woman standing on the sidewalk. Officers got out of their police car and ordered the suspect, in both English and Spanish, to drop the gun and put his hands up. The suspect refused to drop the weapon and Officer Kevin Beard fired one round. The suspect was struck once and fell to the ground.

The suspect was taken to USC Medical Center where he failed to respond to treatment and died from his injuries.

No officers were injured during the incident.

The suspect's weapon, a replica semi-automatic pistol, was recovered at the scene.

Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation.

February 21, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
2008 LAPD Essay Contest Kicks off for the 5th year

This morning, Officer Sandra Gonzalez, Public Information Office, Public Relations Unit, was a featured guest on Primera Edición, Univision’s KMEX 34 weekday morning show. Officer Gonzalez was in-studio to launch the 2008 LAPD Essay Contest. Now in its fifth year, the LAPD Essay Contest is conducted through middle schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 350 words or less, students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are asked to answer: If you were a Los Angeles Police Department officer for a day, what would you do that would have the greatest impact on the community?

The contest begins this Monday, February 25, 2008, and is open for four weeks. The entry deadline is Friday, March 21, 2008.

Submissions are read by volunteer judges that consist of police officers and community members. Essays are judged on topic significance, creativity, content, and writing style, including spelling and grammar. Judges look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized.

The purpose of the LAPD Essay Contest is to allow youth to contemplate and express their opinions about the community problems that may have affected their quality of life; enhance students’ perception of law enforcement officials and their role in the community; promote serious discussion among middle school students, teachers, and parents about quality of life issues and to provide problem-solving solutions today and in the future; complement existing curricula and other scholastic activities; and strengthen students’ research, writing, and reasoning skills.

The content of the students’ submissions range from ideas about how to improve the quality of life in the City, to personal stories of how crime has affected their lives.

A total of ten winners will be selected, five students from LAUSD schools and five students from Archdiocese of Los Angeles schools. The winners will be invited to a breakfast ceremony on Thursday, May 29, 2008. They will also make a live television appearance on Primera Edición, Univision’s KMEX 34 weekday morning show, prior to the breakfast ceremony. Each winner will also receive:

· A new bicycle safety helmet, courtesy of Safe Moves

· Two vouchers good for four seats to a summer concert at the Hollywood Bowl, courtesy of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. (www.hollywoodbowl.org)

· A Polaroid instant camera, courtesy of Polaroid Corporation, (www.polaroid.com)

· Two ticket vouchers to Universal Studios Hollywood (www.universalstudioshollywood.com)

· Four admission tickets to Aquarium of the Pacific (www.aquariumofpacific.org)

· Four vouchers good for four seats to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, performing at the Staples Center July 16-July 20, courtesy of Feld Entertainment, (www.ringling.com)

· One $20 voucher valid towards racing, golf or video games at Speedzone (www.speedzone.com)

· One all day play pass valid towards attractions and golf at Boomers Park (www.boomersparks.com).

February 21, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
February 20, 2008

Narcotic Suspect Injured in Struggle with Police

Los Angeles: A narcotic suspect suffered a fractured shoulder as she struggled with officers who were taking her into custody for a narcotic violation.

On Saturday, February 16, 2008 at around 8:00 p.m., Police Officer Nily Gabriel and his partner were in the area of 660 South Stanford Avenue conducting a narcotics investigation. The suspect, Larri Lynne Calkins, had been detained as part of the investigation.

As Officer Gabriel and his partner were taking Calkins into custody for a narcotic violation, she began to struggle by pulling herself away from the officer’s grasp, in an attempt to avoid arrest. Officer Gabriel had control of Calkins left arm and as he was placing it behind her back to handcuff her, both officers heard a loud “pop.â€