Former LAPD officer arrested for allegedly burglarizing Orange County church

A former Los Angeles Police Department officer who tried to evade deputies was arrested after allegedly burglarizing Saddleback Church in Orange County, KTLA News is reporting.

Charles Mottern, 45, of Irvine, was Tasered after he allegedly tried to flee from Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies, who were investigating reports of property stolen from the church,  according to authorities quoted by the station.

Mottern had been working at the church since August 2008 as a security guard, sheriff's officials say. Church officials reportedly noticed that items began disappearing, including cameras, computers and radios after Mottern had been hired.

Last Thursday, security guards at the church interrupted a burglary in progress and saw a suspect flee in a black BMW.

Sheriff's investigators, who were alerted by the church, obtained a search warrant for Mottern's home. They saw him driving a black BMW. He was Tasered after he fled in his car, parked the vehicle and then tried to escape on foot, authorities said.

Mottern was booked Tuesday on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, evading arrest and resisting arrest, authorities said. It was unclear when he worked for the LAPD.

--Robert J. Lopez

Photo: Charles Mottern. Credit: KTLA.

SWAT officers surround home in San Fernando Valley after gunshots fired

A Los Angeles police SWAT unit has surrounded a home in North Hollywood where a man who allegedly fired shots into the air has barricaded himself, authorities said.

The incident began about 5:15 p.m when the man, who family members say had been drinking, fired at least two rounds in the 11100 block of Valerio Street, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

"He's refusing to come outside," said LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh.

-- Robert J. Lopez

LAPD cruiser in fatal collision in Venice was not speeding, city officials say

A police cruiser involved in a fatal collision in Venice last month was traveling at a safe speed when it broadsided another vehicle that failed to yield the right of way, city officials said today.

Devin Petelski, 25, died after her BMW was struck by a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car Oct. 15. Petelski had entered the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Glyndon Avenue at the time of the crash.

Petelski's family and friends blame the police for causing her death. The officers, who suffered injuries in the crash, were speeding east on Venice with their headlights, sirens and flashing lights off as they slammed into her vehicle, according to Petelski's friends.

The posted speed in the area is 40 mph.

Bob Pallone, an assistant city attorney, said today that the officers were traveling between 41 and 45 mph when they struck the vehicle shortly before midnight.

Given the light traffic conditions at the time, Pallone said, "45 would be safe."

Witnesses chase skid row slaying suspect to police officer [Updated]

A woman who allegedly gunned down another woman on Los Angeles' skid row was arrested today after witnesses chased her into the arms of a police officer, authorities said.

Michelle Cato, 26, ran into the Los Angeles Police Department officer as she tried to escape from the witnesses and the dead woman's son. The officer was across the street from the LAPD's Central Division station when he grabbed Cato, police said.

Cato allegedly shot the 38-year-old victim shortly before 4 p.m. in the 500 block of San Julian Street.

"This appears to be a cold-blooded shooting," said Lt. Paul Vernon, commander of the station's detective unit. "The suspect shot this woman in full view of the victim's 23-year-old son and dozens of bystanders."

[Updated 10:46 p.m.: The victim was identified as Sheila Zaldana, 46, of South Los Angeles, Vernon said.]

The victim and her son were not residents of skid row, police said.

The witnesses chased the woman south on San Julian and then followed her as she fled westbound on 6th Street. Witnesses directed detectives to a small-caliber gun, which was found on the sidewalk where Cato had fled, according to police.

Cato, who is on parole for a prior narcotics conviction, was booked on suspicion of murder, police said.

Vernon said it was the fifth slaying recorded downtown this year, but added that homicides have dropped dramatically from previous years.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Beck begins assembling his team to run the LAPD [Updated]

[The post has been updated at 10:09 p.m..]

Less than a week after taking over the Los Angeles Police Department, Chief Charlie Beck announced a shakeup to the structure and make-up of the department’s command staff, including the demotion of two of the LAPD’s highest ranking officials and promotion of several others.

Beck, who was confirmed as chief by the City Council last Tuesday, promoted Deputy Chief Michel Moore to become one of the LAPD’s three assistant chiefs and assigned him to a newly-created post in charge of Special Services, according to an announcement released Monday. 

Man falls to death from downtown L.A. apartment

Police are investigating the death this morning of an elderly man who fell from his 10th-story apartment in the Alexandria Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Officers called to the 500 block of South Spring Street about 5:30 a.m. initially investigated the death as a suicide, said Officer April Harding, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. A recent string of suicides in the area, the city’s Old Bank District, has confounded residents.

But coroner’s officials say the death appears to be accidental, and that a section of the fire escape outside the man’s apartment apparently gave way and was found on the sidewalk near the man’s body, according to Investigator Mario Sainz of the coroner’s office. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

L.A. cold-case detectives arrest man in 1982 murder

More than 27 years after Hazel Hughes' body was found by her nephew inside her Koreatown apartment, Los Angeles cold-case detectives have arrested a suspect for capital murder.

Victor Alvarez was arrested and charged earlier this month for the Aug. 16, 1982, murder of Hughes at her apartment on 4th Street near Vermont Avenue. Alvarez sexually assaulted Hughes during a burglary at her apartment before killing her, prosecutors allege.

Because of those special allegations, prosecutors could pursue the death penalty against Alvarez.

Hughes, 65, was one of two women whose bodies were found inside the 60-unit apartment building within 12 hours. Alvarez is also being investigated in the killing of Cordella Ferguson, 67, whose body was found the same day as Hughes'.

Ferguson's body was found by a maid. Hughes was discovered by her nephew when relatives became concerned that the sickly woman, who used a wheelchair or walker, did not answer her telephone.

Hughes' apartment at the six-story building was ransacked during the break-in. Investigators plan to reveal at a news conference this afternoon how they identified Alvarez with the help of scientific evidence.

-- Richard Winton

More breaking news in L.A. Now:

Alleged scam aimed at African American churches in Southern California to be investigated

Delays expected on Metro Blue Line for track installation

Police seek attempted rapist in Thousand Oaks

Parts of 91 Freeway to be closed early next week

Ventura County man arrested for reportedly paying teens to spit on him

Vigil held for driver killed in crash with LAPD cruiser [Updated]

 

Marchers are hitting the streets of Venice tonight for a candlelight vigil to call attention to the death of Devin Petelski, whose car was broadsided last month by a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser.

Organizers said about 200 people are at the scene of the Oct. 15 crash on Venice Boulevard at Glyndon Avenue, and plan to walk several miles to the LAPD's Pacific Division station. Petelski was struck as her BMW entered the intersection shortly before midnight. She died two days later in a hospital, where she had been on life support.

[Updated at 9:12 p.m.: Marchers reached the Pacific Division station, where they spoke with Capt. Joseph Hiltner and Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose district includes Venice.]

Petelski's friends and relatives have accused  police of causing her death. Two officers, who suffered minor injuries, were in the cruiser and had been speeding along Venice Boulevard without their headlights, sirens or flashing lights, critics say.

The accident remains under investigation by the LAPD, but city officials say the preliminary police investigation indicates that the officers were using their headlights as they drove along Venice Boulevard.

Friends say Petelski was a Santa Monica resident who enjoyed yoga and trips to the beach. She was a graduate of Crossroads High School in Santa Monica and studied communications at UC Santa Barbara, friends said.

Man critically wounded in North Hollywood shooting

A man in his 20s was shot in neck tonight in North Hollywood and was in critical condition, police said.

"It's not looking good," Los Angeles Police Department Officer Karen Raynor said of the suspect's condition.

The shooting occurred about 9 p.m. in the parking lot of a Sears store in the 6400 block of North Laurel Canyon Boulevard near Victory Boulevard.

Police had cordoned off the area and were searching for evidence and suspects.

No additional details were available.

--Robert J. Lopez

Growers operated pot operation next to LAPD station for about eight months

For about the last eight months, several suspects operated a sophisticated marijuana operation in a warehouse just 25 feet from the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Station in Canoga Park, police said tonight.

Three men were taken into custody earlier today after officers served a search warrant on the warehouse in the 8400 block of Canoga Avenue.

Growers had built three rooms in the building -- one for seedlings, another for medium-sized plants and one where harvesting was apparently conducted, police said. The lights were controlled so they wouldn't overheat, watering systems were automated and oxygen levels were supplemented by carbon dioxide tanks, according to police.

"It was very sophisticated," said LAPD Officer Karen Raynor.

She said the growers used insulation material to seal cracks in the building. But about a week ago, officers in the station's parking lot noticed something out of the ordinary.

"They happened to catch a whiff of it," Raynor said.

A surveillance operation was launched, and officers obtained the warrant. The names of the three men, who appeared to be in their 30s, were not released because they had not been booked.

-- Robert J. Lopez

 Photo: Interior growing room of marijuana warehouse. Credit: KTLA

Candelight vigil planned for woman killed in Venice crash with LAPD cruiser

Devin Petelski's BMW had just entered a Venice intersection shortly before midnight Oct. 15, when she was broadsided by a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser. She died two days later in the hospital, where she had been on life support.

In the weeks following the collision, friends and relatives of the dead 25-year-old have accused police officers of causing her death. The two officers, who suffered minor injuries, had been speeding along Venice Boulevard without their headlights, sirens of flashing lights, critics allege.

The accident remains under investigation by the LAPD, but authorities deny allegations that the officers were driving without their headlights on. 

Still, the circumstances of Petelski's death have generated outrage among some local residents.

Tomorrow evening, mourners plan to hold a candlelight march from the accident site at Glyndon Avenue and Venice Boulevard to the LAPD's Pacific Division.

They've also created a Facebook page, which has more than 2,600 members, to provide updates on the case and seek witnesses to the crash.

Friends say Petelski was a Santa Monica resident who enjoyed yoga and trips to the beach. She was a graduate of Crossroads High School in Santa Monica and studied communications at UC Santa Barbara, her friends say.

Although she had struggled with alcohol abuse, Petelski had turned her life around, according to friend Sheyla Molho. Petelski was driving home from her job as a substance abuse counselor at a Venice rehab clinic when she was hit, Molho said.

"She had changed her life," Molho said. "It's just tragic."

Marijuana-growing operation found behind LAPD's Topanga Station

Police discovered a marijuana growing operation this afternoon on a property just 25 feet from the back door of the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Station, authorities said.

The marijuana plants were discovered after a search warrant was served about 3 p.m. on the property in the 8400 block of Canoga Avenue, LAPD officer Gregory Baek said.

He said officers launched an investigation about a week ago after smelling marijuana. Investigators were at the scene, and no additional details were available.

--Robert J. Lopez

Charlie Beck named L.A.'s new chief of police

The Los Angeles City Council today appointed Charlie Beck as the city's new police chief.

The council unanimously approved Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's nomination at a hearing this morning. There was no organized opposition to the nomination of Beck, currently an LAPD deputy chief, but the stakes are high.

The choice comes at a time of uncertainty for the department as Beck will be given the task of sustaining former Police Chief William J. Bratton’s hard-won gains amid dwindling city budgets. Beck, 56, has risen quickly through the department’s command ranks in recent years and was viewed widely as the favorite to be selected by the mayor.

From his success in rehabilitating the Rampart Division, which had been at the center of a corruption scandal, and later as head of the LAPD’s forces in South Los Angeles, he has earned praise from police and civic leaders for blending a tough stance on crime with a progressive approach to improving the police department’s relationship with the public.

Beck's role in mismanagement at L.A. police relief group comes under scrutiny

A Times review of court records found one incident over his 32-year career in which Charlie Beck, who is the mayor's choice to be L.A.'s new police chief, was accused of mishandling a crisis, stifling reform and covering up the misuse of taxpayer money.

The allegations, which Beck denies, were never proved. They involved Beck's role as a board member of the Los Angeles Police Relief Assn., a nonprofit that receives millions of dollars a month in city subsidies to manage health benefits for most of the city's police officers.

Beck was president of the board -- a volunteer position -- nearly a decade ago when two former employees filed whistleblower lawsuits alleging that they were pushed out after uncovering mismanagement and misconduct.

In an interview Friday, Beck acknowledged there were administrative problems at the association. He said he had acted properly, and he pointed out that a city audit and police internal affairs investigation cleared him and others of any wrongdoing.

Police Relief eventually settled the lawsuits out of court for more than $1.2 million, according to sources familiar with the terms, which are covered by nondisclosure agreements.

Asked why the cases were settled, Beck said it was on the advice of the board's attorneys: "Sometimes it's in the best interests of the organization."

Read the full story here.

--Jason Felch

Photo: LAPD Deputy Chief Charlie Beck, left, picked by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to be the next police chief, says "you can mandate change from the top ... but the only way an organization really changes is from the roots up; that's much more powerful." (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / November 3, 2009)

Man killed in drive-by shooting in Boyle Heights

A man was killed in a drive-by shooting tonight in Boyle Heights, police said.The shooting occurred about 8:40 p.m. near La Puerta Street and Union Pacific Avenue.

The victim was about 25 years old, police said.

The suspects were in a vehicle that may have been white, according to police. No other details were available.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Mike Tyson booked on suspicion of battery in Los Angeles

Boxer Mike Tyson was booked on suspicion of battery tonight after an altercation with a paparazzo at Los Angeles International Airport, according to authorities.

The incident occurred at Terminal 7 in front of numerous witnesses about 4:30 p.m., according to Los Angeles Airport Police. The photographer, who suffered a minor cut to his forehead, was not identified.

Tyson, 43, told investigators that the photographer struck him in an apparent attempt to provoke him, according to a police source who asked not to be named because the matter involved an open investigation.

The photographer told investigators that Tyson punched him in the face and tried to take his camera, the source said.

Meanwhile, a Tyson spokesperson told the website TMZ.com that the boxer was accompanied by a 10-month-old child and that he was trying to protect her.

Both men wanted to press charges of battery against each other, said Sgt. Jim Holcomb of the airport police. Trying to determine exactly what had happened was a difficult because of the varying accounts of witnesses.

 “There’s a lot of different versions to the story,” Holcomb said.

Tyson was initially held in the airport station’s lockup, but he was later transferred to the LAPD’s 77th Street Station, where he was booked and released on his own recognizance at 8:10 p.m.
“He was very cooperative,” said LAPD Lt. Aaron McCraney. “There were no issues.”

The photographer was taken to a hospital for treatment. He may be booked on suspicion of battery following a medical evaluation, according to the law enforcement source.

Today's episode was the latest clash between celebrities and paparazzi at LAX.

On Sept. 12, 2008, rapper Kanye West was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and his road manager, Don Crowley, was arrested on suspicion of vandalism and battery after they reportedly confronted a photographer and smashed his camera.

An L.A. court commissioner dismissed all charges against both men last month.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Photo: Mike Tyson. Credit: Getty Images

3 shot, wounded in San Fernando Valley

Three people were wounded in a shooting in the San Fernando Valley tonight and were being treated after flagging down an officer.

The three were shot in the legs at Oso Avenue and Saticoy Street in Winnetka,police said. They then drove several blocks and flagged down the passing officer in Reseda about 8:35 p.m at Vanowen Street and Wilbur Avenue.

They were receiving medical treatment at the scene, according to police, who had no additional details.

"Nothing life threatening," said Officer Karen Rayner of the Los Angeles Police Department. "Looks like they're all going to be fine."

--Robert J. Lopez

Police hunt for left-handed bandit in South Los Angeles

Los Angeles Police Department detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying an armed man who has robbed more than a dozen sandwich and retail shops in South Los Angeles.

The man, whom authorities have dubbed the “Left-Handed Eyeglass Bandit,” typically walks in the front door of a business, draws a small-caliber revolver with his left hand and demands money from the clerk. The robberies have all taken place in the last three weeks.

Police described the robber as an African American man in his 30s, who is 5 feet 10 and weighs between 160 and 190 pounds. He wears eyeglasses and dresses casually. He may be driving a 1990s four-door dark blue or black car with a hard-shell tire cover on the trunk.
 
The robberies occurred between Oct. 21 and Monday and included at least three Subway sandwich shops and three Metro PCS stores.

Anyone with information is asked to call 77th Street Division detectives at (213) 473-4862. After-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at (877) LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).

-- Monte Morin

Photo: Left-Handed Eyeglass Bandit. Credit: LAPD

Hollywood Spider-Man impersonator caught in legal web

A Spider-Man impersonator was arrested on outstanding criminal warrants today after an incident in which he allegedly slugged a man near the Hollywood and Highland complex, Los Angeles police said.

It was not immediately clear what led to the altercation, which was reported about 12:30 p.m. in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard. But it's the latest in a string of incidents involving movie characters and celebrity lookalikes who vie for space -- and attention -- along the tourist-filled corridor that includes Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Christopher Loomis, 39, was being held on outstanding misdemeanor warrants in lieu of $5,500 bail, police said.

LAPD Chief-Designate Beck to appear at Mar Vista town hall

Residents on the Westside will have an opportunity to question Charlie Beck, the LAPD chief designate, at a community forum Tuesday evening in Mar Vista.

The forum will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Mar Vista Recreation Center, 11430 Woodbine Avenue, officials said tonight.

Beck will be joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Bill Rosendahl, whose Westside district includes Mar Vista.

Beck, 56, a 32-year LAPD veteran, was unanimously confirmed today by the City Council's Public Safety Committee. He must still be approved by the full council, which is expected hold a vote next week.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Man surrenders after standoff in Highland Park

A man in his 20s barricaded himself for hours inside a Highland Park apartment building tonight after being pursued by officers, Los Angeles police said.

As they surrounded the building, officers evacuated residents in neighboring apartments as well as patients in a nearby convalescent home, said LAPD Sgt. Douglas Bowler.

"He forced his way into someone else's apartment," Bowler said. "We didn't know if he was armed or not. We evacuated them because we didn't know what his situation was."

The incident began shortly after 5:30 pm at Figueroa Street and Avenue 40, where officers attempted to stop the driver of a minivan with stolen license plates. Three others jumped out of the minivan as police attempted to pull the vehicle over, Bowler said.

The driver then went into a building near Figueroa Street and Woodside Drive, Bowler said.

He surrendered about 11 p.m.

-- David Zahniser

Rodney King says boxing keeps him sober

Famed beating victim Rodney King says that brawling has helped him to stay sober for well over a year.

King is currently traveling the country as part of a D-list celebrity boxing league, and said the experience has kept him focused and dry for 17 months. During an interview in Massachusetts tonight, King told an Associated Press reporter that he hoped to one day square off in the ring with Laurence Powell, one of the LAPD officers involved in King's videotaped beating in 1991.

King said Powell pulled out of an exhibition that was planned five years ago, but said he hopes something can be worked out this time.

“I could see the bigger picture in this,” King said. “I could see me and him going around, educating people on that night, and then just sit around and chop it up. Me and him could turn it into a very educational moment.”

Police arrest one suspect, search for others after patrol car is hit by gunfire

Los Angeles police have arrested one suspect and are still searching for others after gunfire struck a police vehicle Thursday night in the North Hills area of the San Fernando Valley.

The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. in the 8500 block of Cedros Avenue near Parthenia Street, LAPD spokesman Richard French said.

Officers were in the area investigating a vehicle theft when they heard gunfire and saw that their vehicle had been struck, he said. No officers were injured.

A suspect was taken into custody at about 4:15 this morning, and police remain at the scene.

-- Baxter Holmes

4 reputed gang members held in Santa Monica slaying

Four reputed gang members were booked on suspicion of murder today in connection with a shooting at a Santa Monica park that left one man dead and prompted police to beef up patrols in the area, authorities said.

The shooting occurred shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday at Virginia Avenue Park, next to a police substation and recreation center where the city's Police Activities League sponsors sports programs to help keep youths out of trouble.

Santa Monica police said they had teamed up with Los Angeles Police Department detectives to determine whether the attack was connected to a deadly shooting several hours earlier in Venice. One of the alleged gang members taken into custody was from Venice, Santa Monica police said.

"Our detectives are working with LAPD detectives to see if there was any commonality between the two shootings," said Sgt. David Hunscke of the Santa Monica Police Department.

Authorities identify convicted killer as suspect in 1997 double homicide [Updated]

A felon serving time in state prison for killing of a North Hollywood woman in 2001 has been linked through DNA evidence to a double homicide four years earlier in the same neighborhood, authorities said today.

Rafael Martinez was convicted in the 2001 fatal stabbing of Luz Nieves in her home. He was in prison when detectives submitted DNA evidence from the double slaying of Nancy Boehm, 57, and her mentally impaired son, Shawn, 23.

The victims were found in separate bedrooms of their home in the 5700 block of Riverton Avenue in North Hollywood.

[Updated at 2 p.m.: Police believe that Nancy Boehm was selling drugs to supplement her income and that the killing was narcotics-related.

DNA was collected at the time, but testing found no match.

"During that time, we did not possess the technology that was necessary to conduct a thorough investigation," said Lt. Alan Hamilton of the LAPD's North Hollywood Division.

The case was revisited a few months ago at the behest of Det. Thomas Townsend, who asked that a DNA analyst to look over the case for possible clues. DNA collected from under Nancy Boehm's fingernails was retested, and police got a partial match with Martinez.

That partial match, combined with the proximity of the 1997 and 2001 killings, led them to Martinez, Townsend said.

"Although it is often described as a cold case, we've stayed with this case because of ... the particularly brutal nature of this murder," Hamilton said. "You basically have two people in a house and they're basically slaughtered."

Martinez is still in the custody of the state Department of Corrections and is expected to be transferred to a Los Angeles jail to be charged in the near future.]

Neighbors said Nancy Boehm was an assembly worker for General Motors until she was laid off several years before her death. Shawn Boehm, who had played basketball in the Special Olympics, was often seen riding his bike or walking along the street, neighbors said at the time.

-- Raja Abdulrahim and Andrew Blankstein