LAPD uses Facebook, Twitter, videos to find Lakers violence suspects

Los Angeles authorities plan to use hundreds of images taken from police videos, business surveillance cameras, TV news footage, Twitter posts and Facebook pages to identify people who committed crimes after the L.A. Lakers NBA championship win last week.

Local police have already arrested 46 people but expect that number to grow. Officials warn it could take months to identify and arrest the suspects.

The Los Angeles Fire Department's arson unit on Friday released onto YouTube video of people smashing and setting fire to a taxi cab -- asking the public for help identifying those responsible for the damage. As of Monday, that video had gotten almost 200,000 views, and officials said they’ve gotten several solid tips.

LAPD officials said they believe it's worth the effort to track down the assailants -- even if it takes weeks or months.

“In the age of phone cameras and digital video devices, it has in essence deputized the public in fighting camera,” said Lt. Paul Vernon. “It has added to the maxim that police are the public and the public are the police.” 

After unrest following the 2009 Laker’s celebration, police decided to pursue several long-term investigations. Several videos captured a mob swarming a Shell station at Grand Avenue and Olympic Boulevard, shouting, “Free soda, free soda” and grabbing merchandise that included water, chips, candy, six-packs of soda and energy drinks. Detectives spent months working to identify alleged looters and making arrests.

Last Thursday, some people roamed the streets of downtown Los Angeles, breaking windows, thrown objects at police, vandalizing public and private property and setting a taxi cab on fire.

While the crowd scattered when police arrived, detectives now have images of many of these incidents and believe they can make more arrests if they can identify those in the videos and photos. 

--Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton

Photo: L.A. Times file

Comments

[XPX]

This is awesome.

[mesting]

OOPS cut on tape, you think that you could get away for what you did...noooo now you pay for your crime a championship is for peace not to do damage to someone else, at least LAPD are doing something about it and I hope all those disturb ant go to jail and get punished for what they did to innocent people that is insane and this should be an example for everyone nationwide

[Jennifer]

Good. I'm glad that the police are using the web and posted self promoting video's against those who chose to commit violence and vandelism against our city and communities. There is no victory for the Lakers when Angelino's act like raging animals.
I hope that any of those caught who have may have criminal backgrounds that their DNA is taken and those who are anchor babies themselves will be deported along with their parents for raising animals.

[Chris]

Go get 'em!

[Woody McBreairty]

I was disappointed when the police chief said "It's going to happen next year". Period. I don't think that showed much leadership ability or problem solving. I am glad to see they will be aggressive in apprehending the street thugs who spoiled things for everyone and that they catch every last one and they get they punishment the deserve and not just a slap on the wrist. They should be stopped now because I think they have a criminal mentality and will go on to become menaces to society. Hopefully some of them can be stopped now.

[Joel]

Go get 'em!

[kevc21]

LAPD should...
1. Create a website and post the videos they've got.
2. Offer $1000 rewards (or more).
3. Get the public's help
4. Nab the criminals inside a month.

The more anonymous they make it, and the bigger the reward... the faster the criminals will be caught. The few videos I watched, showed all kinds of folk capturing the mayhem on camera phones. Naturally, they went about boasting to their homies and so on...

Everybody will get busted in a matter of DAYS!
Go Lakers!

[Phil]

Stay classy, Lakers fans.

[Tehachapian]

Methinks Lt. Vernon was concerned about "fighting crime" rather than "fighting cameras" as the story currently reads. And way to go, LAPD!!

[Wow]

Did anyone bother to copyedit this news article? Glaring typos...

[My opinon means nothing]

I wonder if the girl in the picture that accompinese this story will show it to her family and future children as an exmaple of stupidity? HOW EMBARISSING!

[Marilyn Marino]

Profiling Lakers fans!!! Somebody's gonna sue.

[mike]

how long will these guys be put away?

[DonV]

Fantastic! Catch those hoodlums. Garner their paychecks & welfare checks! It is time these people understand the public will not stand for these actions! Celebrate correctly!

[George Garrigues]

“In the age of phone cameras and digital video devices, it has in essence deputized the public in fighting camera,” said Lt. Paul Vernon.

Fighting CRIME, I think it should be.

[Joe]

I am pretty sure they LAPD will find all of these knuckleheads. After all, people post a lot of things in the typical social network. I am pretty sure that there is some idiot who is posting it right now and bragging about it. Any body still remember that one idiot who posted his tagging on myspace and was later arrested for vandalizing property?

[Dennis]

Its great to finally see how people are realizing what cops have to go through with these gangsters. This was an embarrassement to our city on a national level. Those violent acts were posted on web sites all over the U.S. I'm shocked not one Laker player came out and said anything about the violence. Not one city council member or the failure of a Mayor said anything about the violence. Shame on all of them. They are contributing to having these fans think it was their way to celebrate. The City Attorney already filed on 10 of these losers. Everyone forward the story. Someone has to know these idiots

[Istok]

If Mexico wins the world cup they will just change their jerseys and do the same thing.

[food for thought]

Is it not obvious that the world-wide web can be used and seen by thousands of people? And to add that any information can be seen by whomever? I mean even if you have things on "private" mode any computer genius can brake the code.
For those who vandalized innocent company property's or individual property's: I hope you all get what you deserved because sooner or later you will and if you were really excited and hammered why don't you vandalize your home and set your car on fire?! Moral of the story: IF you wouldn't like that to happen to you don't do it to others.

Keep up the good work police force I hope you find those outlaws.

[TheBigPicture]

She must have been a pretty dangerous desperado, it took 5 officers and a horse just to walk with her after she was already handcuffed...

No wonder they needed so many officers for the parade...It takes a lot of them to arrest an unarmed female...

Typical city workers...one to walk with her and 4 to watch, plus a horse...

[Kathleen Carson]

And I tell my kids to be careful on Facebook for a reason. Not surprised to see this, and I expect to see more and more of this happening as Social Media develops more.

On the other side, the man that got acquitted because of a Facebook status update is pretty interesting... I wonder when the first FourSquare case will happen.

[jacko]

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