latimes--2020-02-11--Mountain lion killed under state law that allows lethal action if livestock or pets are attacked

A young mountain lion monitored by the National Park Service since 2017 was killed last month near Camarillo , the first to be killed in the Santa Monica Mountains under a California law that allows a landowner to take lethal action against a big cat that has killed or injured livestock or pets if other deterrents have failed .
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area announced the death of P-56 on Monday .
The 4- or 5-year-old mountain lion was believed to be the brother of P-55 and the father of P-70 , P-71 , P-72 and P-73 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the western area of the Santa Monica Mountains .
Mountain lion hunting has been banned in California since 1990 .
An exception to the law , created in 2014 , allows lions that have killed a pet or livestock to be put down .
In those instances , a property owner may request a depredation permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife .
In the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains , where the mountain lion population is isolated and at risk , an individual must allow for a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect in 2017 , before taking action .
In the case of P-56 , a property owner in the Camarillo area reported nine attacks over two years that resulted in the loss of 12 animals , mostly sheep and a few lambs .
Before the mountain lion ’ s death in late January , the Department of Fish and Wildlife said the landowner tried to keep the lion from the animals , including by penning livestock close to a barn and house , using trained guard dogs , putting up hot-wire fencing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ P-56 ’ s most recent attack was just a day or so before he was killed , according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife .
“ The loss of a breeding male is a concern for the study , especially when the population is already very small , ” said Jeff Sikich , the lead field biologist for the mountain lion research project .
“ There are always animals out there that are not being tracked .
Currently , there is only one adult male in the Santa Monica Mountains that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” P-63 was caught and collared in February 2018 .
Joseph T. Edmiston , the 40-year executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy , said he ’ s willing to circumvent bureaucratic processes to take matters into his own hands to prevent the death of the last remaining male mountain lion in the area .
“ I ’ ve worked for 40 years .
To see one of the last two breathing mountain lion males shot for 12 sheep is so egregious .
I will spend my own personal money so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the mountain lion ’ s killing went “ under the radar ” until it was disclosed this week .
He fears what will happen if P-63 gets hungry near an area where livestock roam .
In such an instance , Edmiston is asking that any affected individual who loses an animal to a lion to contact him directly for monetary reimbursement , rather than going to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for a depredation permit .
He is also asking the conservancy ’ s board to ask the state Legislature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an indemnity fund .
“ My personal email is Email me , ” he said .
The mountain lions in the Santa Monica range have been part of a nearly 18-year national park study .
While the park service conducts research on local lions , the Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the state ’ s wildlife .
There are an unknown number of uncollared mountain lions that live in the Santa Monica range .
Tim Daly , an information officer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife , said when someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked by a mountain lion , the agency investigates the incident to confirm what happened , looking over the bite marks , animal tracks and other details .
Fish and Wildlife staff will also contact the National Park Service to ask it to check whether any collared mountain lions were in the area at the time of the attack , Daly said .
The agency staff will then communicate with the animal owners about how they can better protect their pets and livestock , Daly said .
The agency staff will look to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate and if not , explain how the owner can fix it .
Before the agency will considering granting a depredation permit , owners must show that they ’ ve done everything they can to protect their property and animals and discourage a wild animal ’ s return , Daly said .
The agency doesn ’ t disclose the method used to kill an animal through a depredation permit , but the method used is required to be humane and the most effective method possible , he said .
“ These are very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It breaks our hearts .
We ’ re in this for the right reasons .
We don ’ t like taking animals out of their existence , but there are times when , whether it ’ s a mountain lion in Southern California , or a bear in Northern California , sometimes they keep pushing and pushing , and the messages to discourage their visits are no longer working .
”

A young mountain lion monitored by the National Park Service since 2017 was killed last month near Camarillo, the first to be killed in the Santa Monica Mountains under a California law that allows a landowner to take lethal action against a big cat that has killed or injured livestock or pets if other deterrents have failed.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area announced the death of P-56 on Monday.
The 4- or 5-year-old mountain lion was believed to be the brother of P-55 and the father of P-70, P-71, P-72 and P-73 and was living south of the 101 Freeway in the western area of the Santa Monica Mountains.
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Mountain lion hunting has been banned in California since 1990. An exception to the law, created in 2014, allows lions that have killed a pet or livestock to be put down. In those instances, a property owner may request a depredation permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In the Santa Monica and Santa Ana mountains, where the mountain lion population is isolated and at risk, an individual must allow for a “three-strike” policy, which went into effect in 2017, before taking action.
In the case of P-56, a property owner in the Camarillo area reported nine attacks over two years that resulted in the loss of 12 animals, mostly sheep and a few lambs. Before the mountain lion’s death in late January, the Department of Fish and Wildlife said the landowner tried to keep the lion from the animals, including by penning livestock close to a barn and house, using trained guard dogs, putting up hot-wire fencing and using motion-activated lights and audio frequencies. P-56’s most recent attack was just a day or so before he was killed, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“The loss of a breeding male is a concern for the study, especially when the population is already very small,” said Jeff Sikich, the lead field biologist for the mountain lion research project. “There are always animals out there that are not being tracked. Currently, there is only one adult male in the Santa Monica Mountains that we are tracking and that is P-63.”
P-63 was caught and collared in February 2018.
Joseph T. Edmiston, the 40-year executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, said he’s willing to circumvent bureaucratic processes to take matters into his own hands to prevent the death of the last remaining male mountain lion in the area.
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“I’ve worked for 40 years. To see one of the last two breathing mountain lion males shot for 12 sheep is so egregious. I will spend my own personal money so that doesn’t happen again.”
Edmiston said the mountain lion’s killing went “under the radar” until it was disclosed this week. He fears what will happen if P-63 gets hungry near an area where livestock roam.
In such an instance, Edmiston is asking that any affected individual who loses an animal to a lion to contact him directly for monetary reimbursement, rather than going to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for a depredation permit. He is also asking the conservancy’s board to ask the state Legislature to appropriately amend the law and establish an indemnity fund.
“My personal email is jtedmiston@gmail.com. Email me,” he said.
The mountain lions in the Santa Monica range have been part of a nearly 18-year national park study. While the park service conducts research on local lions, the Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the state’s wildlife. There are an unknown number of uncollared mountain lions that live in the Santa Monica range.
Tim Daly, an information officer with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said when someone reports that their livestock or pet was attacked by a mountain lion, the agency investigates the incident to confirm what happened, looking over the bite marks, animal tracks and other details. Fish and Wildlife staff will also contact the National Park Service to ask it to check whether any collared mountain lions were in the area at the time of the attack, Daly said.
The agency staff will then communicate with the animal owners about how they can better protect their pets and livestock, Daly said. The agency staff will look to see whether the fencing or lighting is adequate and if not, explain how the owner can fix it.
Before the agency will considering granting a depredation permit, owners must show that they’ve done everything they can to protect their property and animals and discourage a wild animal’s return, Daly said.
The agency doesn’t disclose the method used to kill an animal through a depredation permit, but the method used is required to be humane and the most effective method possible, he said.
“These are very unfortunate situations,” Daly said. “It breaks our hearts. We’re in this for the right reasons. We don’t like taking animals out of their existence, but there are times when, whether it’s a mountain lion in Southern California, or a bear in Northern California, sometimes they keep pushing and pushing, and the messages to discourage their visits are no longer working.”


latimes--2020-02-10--California attorney general to investigate LAPD gang-framing scandal

The California Department of Justice announced Monday it will conduct its own investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department ’ s use of a statewide database of alleged gang members after allegations that officers falsified records to enter people in it .
California Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra said his office has been in touch with the LAPD regarding its use of CalGang , an online index containing detailed information about more than 88,000 Californians suspected of being involved in street crime , and will independently audit some records entered by the LAPD , review the department ’ s internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retraining sessions for personnel on the use of the database .
Becerra said that someone ’ s erroneous placement in the database could lead to them being subjected to unwarranted scrutiny by law enforcement agencies .
“ Right now , the LAPD ’ s inputs are under the microscope , ” said Becerra .
The LAPD previously announced it was investigating up to 20 officers in its inquiry of officers that allegedly fabricated information from field interviews to enter people into CalGang .
Monday , LAPD chief spokesman Josh Rubenstein said 19 officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , LAPD has announced reforms for using the database , including greater internal oversight .
In a statement , LAPD Chief Michel Moore said that the gang database is a crucial tool to solve violent crime and that it would fully cooperate with the state attorney general ’ s office .
“ We are committed to holding anyone who falsified information accountable , ” he said .
The state action comes amid ongoing controversy over CalGang .
Beginning in 2018 , the California Legislature gave oversight of CalGang to the attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ database lacked meaningful state oversight and contained questionable records — including children who were entered when they were as young as 1 .
Becerra at the time froze additions to the database while it was reviewed , ultimately purging thousands of records .
But thousands more have since been added .
Becerra ’ s office was also tasked with crafting statewide regulations for the use of CalGang .
Those regulations have been the subject of intense debate between law enforcement and community activists , who have said CalGang lacks transparency .
Though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 , their finalization has been pushed until at least the summer .
At issue is how much and what kind of evidence should be required before someone is added to the database .
Currently , law enforcement add someone based on information such as the clothing a person is wearing , the neighborhood where the police encounter occurred and identification as gang members by “ reliable ” sources .
The public has no access to CalGang , though , and some community activists say those criteria are too loose and subject to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ database is comprised predominately of black and Latino men .
In a proposal last summer , Becerra suggested cutting back on the reasons a person could be added to CalGang .
In December , he reversed on tightening regulations after objections from law enforcement members , who argued their expertise in gang identification should be taken into account , and that such discretion was necessary because gangs have become more adept at evading scrutiny .
Becerra said Monday that his office was continuing to work on the regulations and would accept public comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , “ should help us build a system that is workable , accountable and helps us get it right.
” This is the first time since taking oversight of CalGang that the attorney general has investigated an agency over its use , Becerra said .
He cited the lack of finished regulations as one bar for implementing full oversight .
“ Until our regulations are actually implemented , we don ’ t have the infrastructure we will need to have in order to conduct these investigations , ” Becerra said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CalGang than any other law enforcement agency in the state .
From Nov. 1 , 2017 , to Oct. 31 , 2018 , the period covered by a 2018 report by the attorney general ’ s office , it was responsible for 20,583 records — more than 20 % of the records in the database .
The current scandal came to light after a Van Nuys mother received a letter early last year from the LAPD saying her son was identified as a gang member during an interview with officers .
She believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a supervisor at a nearby police station .
Officials then reviewed body-worn camera video and other information , and they found inaccuracies they attributed to the officer .
Moore has said the investigation into the alleged falsifications initially focused on three officers and expanded to others who worked with the original three , and then on to others associated with those officers .
He has recommended the criminal prosecution and firing of one officer and has referred that person ’ s case to the Board of Rights , an internal disciplinary appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Braxton Shaw , is already the subject of a review by the Los Angeles County district attorney ’ s office .
The LAPD ’ s data-driven culture has also come under scrutiny by critics who suggest that officers filled in the cards to artificially boost their statistics .
The Times obtained what is known as a platoon recap sheet for the Metro Division , which shows that officers were measured daily in 16 categories such as their confiscation of guns , citations and arrests .
Field interviews of gang members were among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have said there are no incentives for officers to complete more field interview cards .
“ There ’ s no target [ number ] , ” said LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank .
“ There ’ s no incentive for anyone to breach the law.
” The scandal already led the department to make changes to how it handles CalGang .
Now , body camera video is reviewed and compared with officers ’ reports of their field interviews before anyone is added to the database .
A more robust appeals process that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ databases is also being instituted with multiple layers of oversight .
Frank has said that the department has begun training its officers to be much more specific when identifying on a field interview card the evidence that may allow someone to be added to the database .
An officer will have to explain , for example , why a particular area should be deemed a gang location if that is a reason for inclusion .
“ We ’ re requiring our personnel be much more specific in their articulation of why some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Becerra said that his investigation will also include reviewing of body-worn camera video and other recordings , and will expand to records entered across the department , not just in the Metro Division .
Becerra said the recently passed reform legislation on CalGang gives his office the authority to suspend or revoke a law enforcement department ’ s use of the database if an investigation finds misconduct .
Becerra said he could not comment on how many people have been entered erroneously into the database because the investigation was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions about how far back his investigation would extend .
“ Our role is to make sure that good , accurate information is being entered into the database so that all the agencies that use CalGang … know that the system has integrity , ” Becerra said .
“ The CalGang database is only as good as the information that is put in it .
”

California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra says the California Department of Justice will conduct an independent review of the Los Angeles Police Department records and policies regarding use of CalGang, a criminal intelligence database used by law enforcement to share gang-related intelligence.
The California Department of Justice announced Monday it will conduct its own investigation of the Los Angeles Police Department’s use of a statewide database of alleged gang members after allegations that officers falsified records to enter people in it.
California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said his office has been in touch with the LAPD regarding its use of CalGang, an online index containing detailed information about more than 88,000 Californians suspected of being involved in street crime, and will independently audit some records entered by the LAPD, review the department’s internal controls and policies, and observe its retraining sessions for personnel on the use of the database.
Becerra said that someone’s erroneous placement in the database could lead to them being subjected to unwarranted scrutiny by law enforcement agencies.
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“Right now, the LAPD’s inputs are under the microscope,” said Becerra.
The LAPD previously announced it was investigating up to 20 officers in its inquiry of officers that allegedly fabricated information from field interviews to enter people into CalGang. Monday, LAPD chief spokesman Josh Rubenstein said 19 officers are currently under scrutiny. Along with the investigation, LAPD has announced reforms for using the database, including greater internal oversight. In a statement, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said that the gang database is a crucial tool to solve violent crime and that it would fully cooperate with the state attorney general’s office.
“We are committed to holding anyone who falsified information accountable,” he said.
The state action comes amid ongoing controversy over CalGang.
Beginning in 2018, the California Legislature gave oversight of CalGang to the attorney general after a scathing audit found the database lacked meaningful state oversight and contained questionable records — including children who were entered when they were as young as 1. Becerra at the time froze additions to the database while it was reviewed, ultimately purging thousands of records. But thousands more have since been added.
Becerra’s office was also tasked with crafting statewide regulations for the use of CalGang. Those regulations have been the subject of intense debate between law enforcement and community activists, who have said CalGang lacks transparency. Though the rules were slated for completion by Jan. 1, their finalization has been pushed until at least the summer.
At issue is how much and what kind of evidence should be required before someone is added to the database. Currently, law enforcement add someone based on information such as the clothing a person is wearing, the neighborhood where the police encounter occurred and identification as gang members by “reliable” sources.
The public has no access to CalGang, though, and some community activists say those criteria are too loose and subject to abuse — including racial profiling. The database is comprised predominately of black and Latino men.
In a proposal last summer, Becerra suggested cutting back on the reasons a person could be added to CalGang. In December, he reversed on tightening regulations after objections from law enforcement members, who argued their expertise in gang identification should be taken into account, and that such discretion was necessary because gangs have become more adept at evading scrutiny.
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Becerra said Monday that his office was continuing to work on the regulations and would accept public comment on the latest version.
The regulations, he said, “should help us build a system that is workable, accountable and helps us get it right.”
This is the first time since taking oversight of CalGang that the attorney general has investigated an agency over its use, Becerra said. He cited the lack of finished regulations as one bar for implementing full oversight.
“Until our regulations are actually implemented, we don’t have the infrastructure we will need to have in order to conduct these investigations,” Becerra said.
The LAPD places more people on CalGang than any other law enforcement agency in the state. From Nov. 1, 2017, to Oct. 31, 2018, the period covered by a 2018 report by the attorney general’s office, it was responsible for 20,583 records — more than 20% of the records in the database.
The current scandal came to light after a Van Nuys mother received a letter early last year from the LAPD saying her son was identified as a gang member during an interview with officers. She believed her son was misidentified and reported it to a supervisor at a nearby police station. Officials then reviewed body-worn camera video and other information, and they found inaccuracies they attributed to the officer.
Moore has said the investigation into the alleged falsifications initially focused on three officers and expanded to others who worked with the original three, and then on to others associated with those officers. He has recommended the criminal prosecution and firing of one officer and has referred that person’s case to the Board of Rights, an internal disciplinary appeal panel. Another officer, Metro Officer Braxton Shaw, is already the subject of a review by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
The LAPD’s data-driven culture has also come under scrutiny by critics who suggest that officers filled in the cards to artificially boost their statistics. The Times obtained what is known as a platoon recap sheet for the Metro Division, which shows that officers were measured daily in 16 categories such as their confiscation of guns, citations and arrests. Field interviews of gang members were among the categories used to measure productivity.
Department officials have said there are no incentives for officers to complete more field interview cards.
“There’s no target [number],” said LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank. “There’s no incentive for anyone to breach the law.”
The scandal already led the department to make changes to how it handles CalGang. Now, body camera video is reviewed and compared with officers’ reports of their field interviews before anyone is added to the database. A more robust appeals process that allows people to be removed from gang databases is also being instituted with multiple layers of oversight.
Frank has said that the department has begun training its officers to be much more specific when identifying on a field interview card the evidence that may allow someone to be added to the database. An officer will have to explain, for example, why a particular area should be deemed a gang location if that is a reason for inclusion.
“We’re requiring our personnel be much more specific in their articulation of why some of these criteria have been met,” he said.
Becerra said that his investigation will also include reviewing of body-worn camera video and other recordings, and will expand to records entered across the department, not just in the Metro Division.
Becerra said the recently passed reform legislation on CalGang gives his office the authority to suspend or revoke a law enforcement department’s use of the database if an investigation finds misconduct. Becerra said he could not comment on how many people have been entered erroneously into the database because the investigation was just beginning. He also could not answer questions about how far back his investigation would extend.
“Our role is to make sure that good, accurate information is being entered into the database so that all the agencies that use CalGang … know that the system has integrity,” Becerra said. “The CalGang database is only as good as the information that is put in it.”


latimes--2020-02-11--A firefighting first: LAFD orders an electric fire engine

A century ago , the Los Angeles Fire Department made a historic switch from horse-drawn fire engines to motorized vehicles .
This week , the department took the first step in a new phase of firefighting when it ordered an electric hybrid fire engine .
The vehicle will be the first of its kind in the country , officials said .
“ I am excited that we are the first department in North America to order this cutting-edge fire engine , ” LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas said in a news release .
“ The electric fire engine is an innovative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harmful diesel emissions while providing a flexible tool for firefighting and rescue operations from a technologically advanced platform.
” The department is spending $ 1.2 million on the Rosenbauer Concept Fire Truck , or CFT , the equivalent price of an LAFD aerial ladder truck , spokesman Brian Humphrey said .
Terrazas said the fire engine — which looks similar to a city bus — will probably be assigned to Hollywood Fire Station 82 .
“ We believe it ’ s a good fit there , ” he said .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roads , tight roads with all the congestion.
” Terrazas , who test drove the firetruck at Dodger Stadium last year while it was on a North American tour , said he enjoyed the vehicle ’ s tight turning radius .
The CFT will include two batteries with a 100-kilowatt capacity , meaning the fire engine can run for two hours on electric power before needing to use a diesel engine .
LAFD will install a rapid-charger at the truck ’ s eventual home .
“ The future firetruck is fundamentally different from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fire stations today , ” Dieter Siegel , CEO of Austrian-based Rosenbauer International , said in a release .
“ It is multifunctional , fully connected and its flexible interior can be used as a fully featured command center.
” The engine will be custom-made to fit both the needs of the LAFD and the standards set by the National Fire Protection Assn.
, officials said .
Though prototypes shown in Rosenbauer videos have show a white , yellow and blue fire engine , Humphrey said the LAFD ’ s model will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fleet .
When the electric engine hits the streets of L.A. next year , it will set the stage for the next century of firefighting , 100 years after the department abandoned horse-drawn fire engines , Humphrey said .
“ Up until 1921 , we still had horses pulling steam-driven fire engines , ” said Humphrey , who added that some fire crews at that time saw motorized engines as “ a passing fancy .
”

A century ago, the Los Angeles Fire Department made a historic switch from horse-drawn fire engines to motorized vehicles.
This week, the department took the first step in a new phase of firefighting when it ordered an electric hybrid fire engine. The vehicle will be the first of its kind in the country, officials said.
“I am excited that we are the first department in North America to order this cutting-edge fire engine,” LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas said in a news release. “The electric fire engine is an innovative tool that will help reduce noise and harmful diesel emissions while providing a flexible tool for firefighting and rescue operations from a technologically advanced platform.”
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The department is spending $1.2 million on the Rosenbauer Concept Fire Truck, or CFT, the equivalent price of an LAFD aerial ladder truck, spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
Terrazas said the fire engine — which looks similar to a city bus — will probably be assigned to Hollywood Fire Station 82.
“We believe it’s a good fit there,” he said. “We have the brush threat; we have narrow roads, tight roads with all the congestion.”
Terrazas, who test drove the firetruck at Dodger Stadium last year while it was on a North American tour, said he enjoyed the vehicle’s tight turning radius.
The CFT will include two batteries with a 100-kilowatt capacity, meaning the fire engine can run for two hours on electric power before needing to use a diesel engine.
LAFD will install a rapid-charger at the truck’s eventual home.
Advertisement
“The future firetruck is fundamentally different from the vehicles which are in service at the fire stations today,” Dieter Siegel, CEO of Austrian-based Rosenbauer International, said in a release. “It is multifunctional, fully connected and its flexible interior can be used as a fully featured command center.”
The engine will be custom-made to fit both the needs of the LAFD and the standards set by the National Fire Protection Assn., officials said.
Though prototypes in Rosenbauer videos show a white, yellow and blue fire engine, Humphrey said the LAFD’s model will be painted red to match the rest of the fleet.
When the electric engine hits the streets of L.A. next year, it will set the stage for the next century of firefighting, 100 years after the department abandoned horse-drawn fire engines, Humphrey said.
“Up until 1921, we still had horses pulling steam-driven fire engines,” said Humphrey, who added that some fire crews at that time saw motorized engines as “a passing fancy.”


latimes--2020-02-11--L.A. Black Lives Matter leader sues city, ex-LAPD Chief Beck, alleging wrongful arrest

One of Los Angeles ’ most well-known Black Lives Matter activists has filed a federal lawsuit alleging police and the city attorney ’ s office unfairly targeted her for arrest and prosecution because of her activism , according to documents filed in federal court Monday .
Melina Abdullah , a Cal State L.A. professor and permanent fixture at L.A. Police Commission meetings , accused the city and former Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck of wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution stemming from a fracas at a May 2018 commission meeting in downtown Los Angeles .
Abdullah and Sheila Hines-Brim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly threw a powdery substance at Beck .
Hines-Brim claimed the powder was the ashes of her niece , Wakiesha Wilson , who died in police custody in 2016 .
The incident prompted a response from a hazmat team , but no injuries were reported .
Both women were arrested on suspicion of battery .
Months later , the city attorney ’ s office filed a litany of additional charges against Abdullah , including four counts of unlawful assembly , one count of disturbing a public meeting and one count of interfering with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , city prosecutors said the charges resulted from a review of footage of “ all disruptions occurring at the Police Commission meetings ” in 2017 and 2018 .
The move drew a fierce backlash against City Atty .
Mike Feuer .
Demonstrators packed courtrooms for several of Abdullah ’ s appearances and staged a protest outside City Hall last year before delivering a petition with 11,000 signatures demanding Feuer drop the charges .
The city attorney ’ s office relented in February 2019 , dismissing all counts as part of a deal with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hines-Brim settled her case and entered into a diversionary program , officials said .
In the lawsuit filed Monday , Abdullah alleged Beck and the city targeted her for arrest “ because she has been a vocal advocate at Police Commission meetings for the rights of members of the Black and Brown communities , who frequently voices complaints against the Police Commissioners , and members of the LAPD.
” Abdullah alleges LAPD Det .
Jason Curtis falsely accused her of assault , shouting “ Get Melina !
” shortly after the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 2018 meeting .
She said she never touched Curtis .
Abdullah also claimed the detective reached past another activist — who was physically pushing past officers and had been warned she could be arrested — to get to her .
A spokesman for the city attorney ’ s office said the filing would be reviewed but declined to comment further .

Melina Abdullah addresses a Police Commission meeting at LAPD headquarters. Abdullah, a Cal State Los Angeles professor affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement, was arrested on suspicion of resisting a police officer.
One of Los Angeles’ most well-known Black Lives Matter activists has filed a federal lawsuit alleging police and the city attorney’s office unfairly targeted her for arrest and prosecution because of her activism, according to documents filed in federal court Monday.
Melina Abdullah, a Cal State L.A. professor and permanent fixture at L.A. Police Commission meetings, accused the city and former Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck of wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution stemming from a fracas at a May 2018 commission meeting in downtown Los Angeles.
Abdullah and Sheila Hines-Brim were arrested during the meeting after Hines-Brim allegedly threw a powdery substance at Beck. Hines-Brim claimed the powder was the ashes of her niece, Wakiesha Wilson, who died in police custody in 2016. The incident prompted a response from a hazmat team, but no injuries were reported.
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Both women were arrested on suspicion of battery. Months later, the city attorney’s office filed a litany of additional charges against Abdullah, including four counts of unlawful assembly, one count of disturbing a public meeting and one count of interfering with a public meeting.
In court filings, city prosecutors said the charges resulted from a review of footage of “all disruptions occurring at the Police Commission meetings” in 2017 and 2018.
The move drew a fierce backlash against City Atty. Mike Feuer. Demonstrators packed courtrooms for several of Abdullah’s appearances and staged a protest outside City Hall last year before delivering a petition with 11,000 signatures demanding Feuer drop the charges.
The city attorney’s office relented in February 2019, dismissing all counts as part of a deal with Abdullah and her attorney, Carl Douglas. Hines-Brim settled her case and entered into a diversionary program, officials said.
In the lawsuit filed Monday, Abdullah alleged Beck and the city targeted her for arrest “because she has been a vocal advocate at Police Commission meetings for the rights of members of the Black and Brown communities, who frequently voices complaints against the Police Commissioners, and members of the LAPD.”
Abdullah alleges LAPD Det. Jason Curtis falsely accused her of assault, shouting “Get Melina!” shortly after the incident involving Hines-Brim caused a disruption at the May 2018 meeting. She said she never touched Curtis.
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Abdullah also claimed the detective reached past another activist — who was physically pushing past officers and had been warned she could be arrested — to get to her.
A spokesman for the city attorney’s office said the filing would be reviewed but declined to comment further.


latimes--2020-02-11--Family's pit bull kills 5-year-old boy in Victor Valley

A 5-year-old boy was attacked and killed by his family ’ s pit bull in the Victor Valley on Monday afternoon , authorities said .
San Bernardino County sheriff ’ s deputies responded just before 3 p.m. to the 15100 block of Portland Street in Oro Grande , an unincorporated community a few miles outside Victorville , after a family member called and said the dog was attacking the child and would not let him go .
The boy died before law enforcement or fire officials arrived , authorities said .
Sheriff ’ s officials said the attack occurred after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and left the child alone with the dog .
No other children were present at the time .
San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control took custody of the dog after the attack , according to the Sheriff ’ s Department .
The outlook for the pit bull was not clear Tuesday morning , authorities said .
An animal care representative referred inquiries to the Sheriff ’ s Department , which did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Anyone with information is asked to call the Victor Valley Sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A 5-year-old boy died after being attacked by his family’s pit bull in the 15100 block of Portland Street in Oro Grande on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
A 5-year-old boy was attacked and killed by his family’s pit bull in the Victor Valley on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies responded just before 3 p.m. to the 15100 block of Portland Street in Oro Grande, an unincorporated community a few miles outside Victorville, after a family member called and said the dog was attacking the child and would not let him go.
The boy died before law enforcement or fire officials arrived, authorities said.
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Sheriff’s officials said the attack occurred after an adult stepped out of the room and left the child alone with the dog. No other children were present at the time.
San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control took custody of the dog after the attack, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
The outlook for the pit bull was not clear Tuesday morning, authorities said. An animal care representative referred inquiries to the Sheriff’s Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station at (760) 552-6800.


latimes--2020-02-11--Murder charge dropped against O.C. woman who fatally stabbed attacker

Orange County prosecutors on Monday dismissed a murder charge against a woman who authorities say was assaulted by the man she fatally stabbed in 2017 .
Amber Angelovic , 24 , had been facing a felony count of murder and a possible sentencing enhancement for personal use of a weapon in the stabbing death of 32-year-old Derek Valentine inside his Costa Mesa home in March 2017 .
But prosecutors said Tuesday that evidence discovered during the investigation revealed that Angelovic was acting in self-defense when she stabbed Valentine .
In light of the new evidence , Senior Deputy Dist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week to request that a judge dismiss the charge against Angelovic .
“ The people have obtained additional evidence and are now convinced Ms. Angelovic had a lawful right to self-defense and therefore are unable to proceed , ” Brown said in a news release , adding that the motion to dismiss was made based on a “ lack of sufficient evidence and in the interest of justice.
” Angelovic ’ s defense attorney , John Barnett , told The Times on Tuesday that he does not have a comment about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very relieved that this ordeal is over.
” After a night of drinking at a local bar on March 11 , 2017 , Angelovic and Valentine took an Uber to Valentine ’ s condominium on Shasta Lane .
The two had been on one date before that night , prosecutors say .
About 5:30 a.m. , Angelovic called 911 from Valentine ’ s bedroom to report that Valentine had tried to prevent her from leaving and had hit her in the face and thrown her to the ground .
Fearing that she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a knife that she carried with her for personal protection and engaged in a drill she learned in a self-defense class , prosecutors said .
Police found Valentine dead at the bottom of the stairs near the front door of his condo with two stab wounds to his chest .
At the time , then-Senior Deputy Dist .
Atty .
Matt Murphy filed a motion in court to allow prosecutors to take photos of any bruising or injuries on Angelovic ’ s body that were either “ consistent or inconsistent ” with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Murphy wrote in the filing there were “ no significant visible marks or injuries on her face or body at the time of her initial statements.
” However , when authorities searched Valentine ’ s home and electronic devices , they found drug paraphernalia , books on how to get women to have sex , a whiteboard with handwritten notes about how to stalk women and numerous text messages in which he denigrated women and discussed overcoming women ’ s reluctance to have sex .
A search of his computer also revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors said .
Orange County Dist .
Atty .
Todd Spitzer said a review of all the evidence in the case revealed there was insufficient evidence to prove murder to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt .
“ After going through all the facts of the case , there ’ s no doubt in my mind the defense of self-defense would have resulted in an acquittal , ” Spitzer said in an interview Tuesday .
“ We have a duty not to prosecute this case .
Just because we file charges doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence all the way through the trial .
”

Orange County prosecutors on Monday dismissed a murder charge against a woman who authorities say was assaulted by the man she fatally stabbed in 2017.
Amber Angelovic, 24, had been facing a felony count of murder and a possible sentencing enhancement for personal use of a weapon in the stabbing death of 32-year-old Derek Valentine inside his Costa Mesa home in March 2017.
But prosecutors said Tuesday that evidence discovered during the investigation revealed that Angelovic was acting in self-defense when she stabbed Valentine. In light of the new evidence, Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Heather Brown appeared in court this week to request that a judge dismiss the charge against Angelovic.
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“The people have obtained additional evidence and are now convinced Ms. Angelovic had a lawful right to self-defense and therefore are unable to proceed,” Brown said in a news release, adding that the motion to dismiss was made based on a “lack of sufficient evidence and in the interest of justice.”
Angelovic’s defense attorney, John Barnett, told The Times on Tuesday that he does not have a comment about the case but said his client is “very relieved that this ordeal is over.”
After a night of drinking at a local bar on March 11, 2017, Angelovic and Valentine took an Uber to Valentine’s condominium on Shasta Lane. The two had been on one date before that night, prosecutors say.
About 5:30 a.m., Angelovic called 911 from Valentine’s bedroom to report that Valentine had tried to prevent her from leaving and had hit her in the face and thrown her to the ground. Fearing that she would be raped or killed, Angelovic grabbed a knife that she carried with her for personal protection and engaged in a drill she learned in a self-defense class, prosecutors said.
Police found Valentine dead at the bottom of the stairs near the front door of his condo with two stab wounds to his chest.
At the time, then-Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Matt Murphy filed a motion in court to allow prosecutors to take photos of any bruising or injuries on Angelovic’s body that were either “consistent or inconsistent” with her statements to officers that Valentine attacked her.
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Murphy wrote in the filing there were “no significant visible marks or injuries on her face or body at the time of her initial statements.”
However, when authorities searched Valentine’s home and electronic devices, they found drug paraphernalia, books on how to get women to have sex, a whiteboard with handwritten notes about how to stalk women and numerous text messages in which he denigrated women and discussed overcoming women’s reluctance to have sex. A search of his computer also revealed internet searches for date rape drugs, prosecutors said.
Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer said a review of all the evidence in the case revealed there was insufficient evidence to prove murder to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.
“After going through all the facts of the case, there’s no doubt in my mind the defense of self-defense would have resulted in an acquittal,” Spitzer said in an interview Tuesday. “We have a duty not to prosecute this case. Just because we file charges doesn’t mean we stop looking at additional evidence all the way through the trial.”


latimes--2020-02-11--Harvey Weinstein defense flips the script: Accusers are opportunists, not victims

As Harvey Weinstein ’ s attorneys interrogated a key accuser in the film producer ’ s rape trial last week , they repeatedly nudged the jury to consider what the aspiring actress stood to gain from her on-again , off-again relationship with Weinstein .
They pointed to the numerous invitations to Hollywood awards show parties Jessica Mann received from the producer , which she accepted .
They showed the jury emails that demonstrated how Mann turned to Weinstein for help several times over their four-year correspondence .
And they noted that as Mann struggled to establish an acting career , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 film “ Vampire Academy.
” While cross-examining Mann and other accusers , Weinstein ’ s attorneys have worked to upend the narrative of abuse the prosecution has built .
They have asserted that not only were the alleged encounters with Weinstein consensual , they were part of a calculated effort by the accusers to siphon connections , acting roles and other favors from the former Hollywood titan .
This tactic is commonly used by the defense in sex crime cases , experts say , particularly when the accused holds much more power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start focusing on the victim and her motives , we stop focusing on the perpetrator and what he ’ s been accused of doing , ” said Colby Bruno , senior legal counsel at the Victim Rights Law Center .
“ It ’ s a great red herring.
” Prosecutors depicted Mann as a young , naïve woman from rural Washington state who met Weinstein at a Hollywood Hills party in 2013 .
She was waiting tables at the time but wanted to be an actress .
Mann said Weinstein reminded her of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the mogul ’ s validation .
But Mann emphasized in her testimony that she never took advantage of him financially .
“ He offered to give me things , I refused them all , ” she told the jury .
The strategy was repeatedly deployed during Mann ’ s testimony .
For nearly four hours , Mann detailed her allegedly abusive relationship with the mogul , who is charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and faces life in prison .
Mann said Weinstein violently raped her at a Manhattan hotel in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said , the Hollywood titan bullied her into a bedroom at the Beverly Hills Hotel and forced oral sex on her .
Defense attorneys showed several emails in which Mann reached out to Weinstein after the alleged assaults .
Her last sexual encounter with him was in late 2016 , she said .
Mann turned to Weinstein when her father died and during a difficult breakup , emails show .
“ The person you chose to reach out to was the person you claimed sexually assaulted you , ” Defense attorney Donna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Harvey because you wanted to see him.
” “ I always had mixed feelings , like — why ’ d I do that ?
” Mann replied .
“ Well , you did it , ” Rotunno said .
Rotunno also suggested that Mann used her relationship with Weinstein to help make connections in Hollywood .
“ It is true that knowing him ... it can open doors , ” Mann said .
People want to get to [ Weinstein ] through you.
” In another email sent after the alleged assaults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invite her to a private club in New York .
Mann explained that she was trying to fulfill a request from her boss , who wanted access to the club , and Weinstein was the only member she knew .
“ Are you saying that the person you wanted to sponsor you to this exclusive club was your rapist ? ''
'' Rottuno asked Mann .
“ I do want the jury to know he is my rapist , ” Mann said , appearing frustrated .
She added that the request was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times does not usually publish the names of alleged victims in sexual assault cases unless they identify themselves publicly , as Mann and some other accusers of Weinstein have done .
It ’ s common for survivors of sexual assault to maintain contact with their abusers , said Dan Schorr , a former prosecutor who now directs a sexual misconduct investigations firm .
This can happen if victims are dependent financially or emotionally on the people who assaulted them , if they fear retaliation , or if they blame themselves for the assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is alleging sexual abuse and maintains seemingly positive contact does not mean the abuse did not happen , ” Schorr said .
Bill Cosby ’ s defense team similarly suggested that two women who accused the actor of drugging and raping them were not victims , but opportunists .
Andrea Constand and Beverly Johnson both accepted free comedy show tickets and small amounts of money from Cosby , the defense said .
Cosby ’ s attorneys also noted that Constand took a meeting arranged by the comedian as she attempted to break into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jury she didn ’ t want to kindle conflict with Cosby by cutting off ties with him .
Likewise , Mann said she stayed friendly with Weinstein in order to protect herself .
Cosby was convicted in 2018 of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Constand in 2004 .
A defense team will use whatever tools they can to impeach the credibility of a complaining witness , said Dmitriy Shakhnevich , a New York defense attorney .
In the case of Weinstein , a wealthy man with countless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , building the narrative that his accusers were seeking favors from him is an obvious tactic .
“ Typically there ’ s a powerful/powerless relationship in rape cases , ” Shakhnevich said .
“ In this case , you have the most powerful person in Hollywood.
” The tactic may not have broad appeal when a jury considers all six women who testified against Weinstein , however .
Annabella Sciorra , the Brooklyn actress who says Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s , was already established in Hollywood at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was working as a production assistant on the Weinstein Co.-produced “ Project Runway ” before the date of the 2006 rape she alleges Weinstein committed .
Similarly , the three women who testified as “ prior bad acts ” witnesses did not see any upward mobility in their Hollywood pursuits after their interactions with the mogul .
Still , the defense focused on other benefits some of the women could have reaped from their association with Weinstein .
While cross-examining Haley , defense attorney Damon Cheronis noted that she emailed Weinstein to pitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show after the date of the alleged assault .
The defense rested its case on Tuesday .
Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday and Friday , with deliberations expected to begin next week .
Framing accusers as opportunists has historically been effective as a defense strategy , Schorr said .
But that argument has become less persuasive in recent years as society has become more aware of the complex dynamics that often exist between abusers and their victims , he said .
Even so , it could help the defense plant doubt in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defense is able to string together such a story , it feels believable , Bruno said .
But “ no matter what happens , ” Bruno added , “ I don ’ t think people will be deluded into thinking those women had a choice.
” Times staff writer James Queally in Los Angeles contributed to this report .
ontinue reading the

As Harvey Weinstein’s attorneys interrogated a key accuser in the film producer’s rape trial last week, they repeatedly nudged the jury to consider what the aspiring actress stood to gain from her on-again, off-again relationship with Weinstein.
They pointed to the numerous invitations to Hollywood awards show parties Jessica Mann received from the producer, which she accepted. They showed the jury emails that demonstrated how Mann turned to Weinstein for help several times over their four-year correspondence. And they noted that as Mann struggled to establish an acting career, Weinstein got her an audition for the 2014 film “Vampire Academy.”
While cross-examining Mann and other accusers, Weinstein’s attorneys have worked to upend the narrative of abuse the prosecution has built. They have asserted that not only were the alleged encounters with Weinstein consensual, they were part of a calculated effort by the accusers to siphon connections, acting roles and other favors from the former Hollywood titan.
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This tactic is commonly used by the defense in sex crime cases, experts say, particularly when the accused holds much more power than the accuser.
“Once we start focusing on the victim and her motives, we stop focusing on the perpetrator and what he’s been accused of doing,” said Colby Bruno, senior legal counsel at the Victim Rights Law Center. “It’s a great red herring.”
Prosecutors depicted Mann as a young, naïve woman from rural Washington state who met Weinstein at a Hollywood Hills party in 2013. She was waiting tables at the time but wanted to be an actress. Mann said Weinstein reminded her of her father and that she was desperate for the mogul’s validation.
But Mann emphasized in her testimony that she never took advantage of him financially.
“He offered to give me things, I refused them all,” she told the jury.
The strategy was repeatedly deployed during Mann’s testimony.
For nearly four hours, Mann detailed her allegedly abusive relationship with the mogul, who is charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and faces life in prison. Mann said Weinstein violently raped her at a Manhattan hotel in March 2013. In another instance, she said, the Hollywood titan bullied her into a bedroom at the Beverly Hills Hotel and forced oral sex on her.
Defense attorneys showed several emails in which Mann reached out to Weinstein after the alleged assaults. Her last sexual encounter with him was in late 2016, she said.
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Mann turned to Weinstein when her father died and during a difficult breakup, emails show.
“The person you chose to reach out to was the person you claimed sexually assaulted you,” Defense attorney Donna Rotunno said. “You reached out to Harvey because you wanted to see him.”
“I always had mixed feelings, like — why’d I do that?” Mann replied.
“Well, you did it,” Rotunno said.
Rotunno also suggested that Mann used her relationship with Weinstein to help make connections in Hollywood.
“It is true that knowing him ... it can open doors,” Mann said. People want to get to [Weinstein] through you.”
In another email sent after the alleged assaults, Mann asked Weinstein if he could invite her to a private club in New York. Mann explained that she was trying to fulfill a request from her boss, who wanted access to the club, and Weinstein was the only member she knew.
“Are you saying that the person you wanted to sponsor you to this exclusive club was your rapist?”” Rottuno asked Mann.
“I do want the jury to know he is my rapist,” Mann said, appearing frustrated. She added that the request was “irrelevant” to her allegations.
The Times does not usually publish the names of alleged victims in sexual assault cases unless they identify themselves publicly, as Mann and some other accusers of Weinstein have done.
It’s common for survivors of sexual assault to maintain contact with their abusers, said Dan Schorr, a former prosecutor who now directs private sector sexual misconduct investigations. This can happen if victims are dependent financially or emotionally on the people who assaulted them, if they fear retaliation, or if they blame themselves for the assault.
“The mere fact that someone is alleging sexual abuse and maintains seemingly positive contact does not mean the abuse did not happen,” Schorr said.
Bill Cosby’s defense team similarly suggested that two women who accused the actor of drugging and raping them were not victims, but opportunists.
Andrea Constand and Beverly Johnson both accepted free comedy show tickets and small amounts of money from Cosby, the defense said. Cosby’s attorneys also noted that Constand took a meeting arranged by the comedian as she attempted to break into the broadcasting industry.
Constand told the jury she didn’t want to kindle conflict with Cosby by cutting off ties with him. Likewise, Mann said she stayed friendly with Weinstein in order to protect herself.
Cosby was convicted in 2018 of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Constand in 2004.
A defense team will use whatever tools they can to impeach the credibility of a complaining witness, said Dmitriy Shakhnevich, a New York defense attorney. In the case of Weinstein, a wealthy man with countless connections in the film industry, he said, building the narrative that his accusers were seeking favors from him is an obvious tactic.
“Typically there’s a powerful/powerless relationship in rape cases,” Shakhnevich said. “In this case, you have the most powerful person in Hollywood.”
The tactic may not have broad appeal when a jury considers all six women who testified against Weinstein, however. Annabella Sciorra, the Brooklyn actress who says Weinstein raped her in the early 1990s, was already established in Hollywood at the time of the alleged assault. Mimi Haley was working as a production assistant on the Weinstein Co.-produced “Project Runway” before the date of the 2006 rape she alleges Weinstein committed.
Similarly, the three women who testified as “prior bad acts” witnesses did not see any upward mobility in their Hollywood pursuits after their interactions with the mogul.
Still, the defense focused on other benefits some of the women could have reaped from their association with Weinstein. While cross-examining Haley, defense attorney Damon Cheronis noted that she emailed Weinstein to pitch him an idea for a reality television show after the date of the alleged assault.
The defense rested its case on Tuesday. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, with deliberations expected to begin next week.
Framing accusers as opportunists has historically been effective as a defense strategy, Schorr said. But that argument has become less persuasive in recent years as society has become more aware of the complex dynamics that often exist between abusers and their victims, he said.
Even so, it could help the defense plant doubt in the minds of jurors. Any time the defense is able to string together such a story, it feels believable, Bruno said.
But “no matter what happens,” Bruno added, “I don’t think people will be deluded into thinking those women had a choice.”
Times staff writer James Queally in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-02-11--Women drugged and robbed men they met at upscale restaurant, police say

Detectives are searching for two women they say stole expensive watches from a pair of men they ’ d met hours earlier at an exclusive Los Angeles restaurant .
The women , who police say are 20 to 30 years old , met the men while they were dining at a West Hollywood restaurant about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28 .
All four later returned to one of the men ’ s homes in the 6500 block of Lindenhurst Avenue .
When they arrived at the house , the women mixed alcoholic beverages , which both men drank , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by police as having blond hair and being 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-5 , stayed inside the house with one of the men .
The other woman , described by police as wearing a red wig and having tattoos of hearts and butterflies on her stomach , went outside with the man ’ s friend .
At some point , she went inside to use the restroom .
When the woman didn ’ t return , the man who ’ d been outside went to check on her and discovered both women were gone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downstairs bedroom , police said .
Video from the home ’ s Ring camera showed the women running barefoot from the house .
Two wristwatches were missing from the home , police said .
It was not immediately clear how much the watches are worth .
Paramedics responded to the house and took the unconscious man to a hospital , where he was listed in serious but stable condition , police said .
Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD Det .
Manny Pedroza at ( 213 ) 486-6940 .
Anonymous tips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 800 ) 222-8477 .

Detectives are searching for two women they say stole expensive watches from a pair of men they’d met hours earlier at an exclusive Los Angeles restaurant.
The women, who police say are 20 to 30 years old, met the men while they were dining at a West Hollywood restaurant about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 28. All four later returned to one of the men’s homes in the 6500 block of Lindenhurst Avenue.
When they arrived at the house, the women mixed alcoholic beverages, which both men drank, police said.
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One of the women, described by police as having blond hair and being 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-5, stayed inside the house with one of the men. The other woman, described by police as wearing a red wig and having tattoos of hearts and butterflies on her stomach, went outside with the man’s friend. At some point, she went inside to use the restroom.
When the woman didn’t return, the man who’d been outside went to check on her and discovered both women were gone and his friend was lying unconscious in a downstairs bedroom, police said.
Video from the home’s Ring camera showed the women running barefoot from the house.
Two wristwatches were missing from the home, police said. It was not immediately clear how much the watches are worth.
Paramedics responded to the house and took the unconscious man to a hospital, where he was listed in serious but stable condition, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD Det. Manny Pedroza at (213) 486-6940. Anonymous tips can be directed to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.


latimes--2020-02-11--Hospital beating ends in death of 73-year-old patient, authorities say

A 37-year-old Long Beach man accused of assaulting a 73-year-old patient he shared a hospital room with could face new charges after the older man died from his injuries , authorities said this week .
Francisco Sanchez-Reyes of Long Beach died Sunday morning — nine days after he was attacked at the College Medical Center on Pacific Avenue , according to the Long Beach Police Department .
Sanchez-Reyes suffered major injuries to his upper torso and was taken to another hospital in critical condition , police said .
Reginald Daniel Panthier was arrested Jan. 31 , the day of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 4 with assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm and producing great bodily harm against a senior citizen , to which he has pleaded not guilty .
But authorities say they now will discuss amending the charges , given Sanchez-Reyes ’ death .
Sanchez-Reyes was hospitalized at 5:30 a.m. Jan. 31 after seeking treatment for a urinary tract infection , his son , Ramon Sanchez , wrote in an online fundraising page .
Police said he was attacked in the hospital about 12:30 p.m. the same day .
Sanchez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ badly that “ the nurse found him [ on ] the floor bleeding to death.
” He added that : “ We still don ’ t know , to this day , what was the reason for this individual to beat up my father.
” “ He was my first teacher , coach and mentor , ” Sanchez wrote of his father .
“ He came here from Mexico to give us more opportunity and a better life .
He was the one that taught me about work ethic , respect and being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God and to get along with others.
” Panthier remains in custody on $ 155,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday , records show .
Sanchez ’ s GoFundMe page had raised about $ 6,000 as of Tuesday morning .
In a statement Tuesday , College Medical Center characterized the attack as “ a tragic and unforeseeable incident ” and said the hospital “ is fully cooperating with law enforcement in regards to the criminal investigation and prosecution of the assailant for this random act of violence.
” “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along [ with ] the provision of superior care , remain our highest priority ” and “ College Medical Center ’ s deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the deceased , ” the hospital added .

Francisco Sanchez-Reyes, 73, of Long Beach died nine days after he was attacked by another patient at the College Medical Center in Long Beach, authorities said.
A 37-year-old Long Beach man accused of assaulting a 73-year-old patient he shared a hospital room with could face new charges after the older man died from his injuries, authorities said this week.
Francisco Sanchez-Reyes of Long Beach died Sunday morning — nine days after he was attacked at the College Medical Center on Pacific Avenue, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Sanchez-Reyes suffered major injuries to his upper torso and was taken to another hospital in critical condition, police said.
Reginald Daniel Panthier was arrested Jan. 31, the day of the reported assault. He was originally charged Feb. 4 with assault with a deadly weapon that is not a firearm and producing great bodily harm against a senior citizen, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
But authorities say they now will discuss amending the charges, given Sanchez-Reyes’ death.
Sanchez-Reyes was hospitalized at 5:30 a.m. Jan. 31 after seeking treatment for a urinary tract infection, his son, Ramon Sanchez, wrote in an online fundraising page. Police said he was attacked in the hospital about 12:30 p.m. the same day.
Sanchez wrote that his father was beaten so badly that “the nurse found him [on] the floor bleeding to death.”
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He added that: “We still don’t know, to this day, what was the reason for this individual to beat up my father.”
“He was my first teacher, coach and mentor,” Sanchez wrote of his father. “He came here from Mexico to give us more opportunity and a better life. He was the one that taught me about work ethic, respect and being a good human being — love for God and to get along with others.”
Panthier remains in custody on $155,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, records show. Sanchez’s GoFundMe page had raised about $6,000 as of Tuesday morning.
In a statement Tuesday, College Medical Center characterized the attack as “a tragic and unforeseeable incident” and said the hospital “is fully cooperating with law enforcement in regards to the criminal investigation and prosecution of the assailant for this random act of violence.”
“The safety and well-being of our patients, along [with] the provision of superior care, remain our highest priority” and “College Medical Center’s deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the deceased,” the hospital added.


latimes--2020-02-11--New Occidental College president hailed for diversity efforts

A Stanford University vice provost hailed for promoting diversity and rethinking undergraduate education has been named the new Occidental College president , the Eagle Rock campus ’ trustees announced Tuesday .
Harry J. Elam Jr. , who joined Stanford in 1990 as a faculty member in theater and performance studies before serving as vice provost for undergraduate education and in other senior positions , will succeed current President Jonathan Veitch as the college ’ s 16th president .
That drama background has influenced his administrative style , which faculty and students on both campuses have described as warm , open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plays — an endeavor he has continued for more than 25 years — to university administration , saying that directors must lay out a vision but collaborate deeply with artists to bring it to life .
“ The play works best when everyone feels that they are working to their fullest , that they are contributing to the whole , and that it ’ s going to become this great thing as they go forth — the play , ” he told the Stanford Report in 2010 .
“ All of those things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills at bringing people together were hailed by Occidental leaders , who have weathered turbulent campus protests over racial inequity and sexual assaults during the last decade .
In 2015 , scores of students occupied the administration building for a week , demanding increased efforts to diversify the school .
The college has since launched a black studies program , hired a vice president for diversity and inclusion , increased the number of women on its faculty and boosted funding for diversity programs .
In 2013 , Occidental drew national headlines when 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal complaints alleging the college had fostered a hostile environment for sexual assault victims .
The U.S. Department of Education ’ s civil rights office ultimately found that Occidental had failed to promptly address some sexual misconduct complaints , but did not violate civil rights laws .
The university voluntarily agreed to reforms .
Occidental Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Rountree praised Elam ’ s “ genuine ability to connect with people ” in addition to his leadership skills , understanding of undergraduate education and commitment to access and excellence .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job to Elam , who will take the helm on July 1 .
“ Dr .
Elam is a champion of all that Oxy stands for , ” John Lang , associate professor of sociology , Faculty Council president and search committee member said in a statement .
“ His lifelong commitment to promoting diversity and equity , supported by his scholarly pursuits in social justice are a natural fit with Oxy ’ s own mission ... he can help people coalesce around a shared purpose.
” Elam , who started a student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office on undergraduate education , won a thumbs up from students on the Occidental search committee .
“ He is someone who has experience in community building and will consider the voices of his constituents when developing a way forward , ” Alejo Maggini , a second-year student in diplomacy and world affairs , said in a statement .
Elam said the college ’ s mission to promote liberal arts with a focus on excellence , equity , community and service deeply resonated with him .
Occidental is one of the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with students of color making up 41.8 % of its approximately 2,000-member student body : Black students represent 4.0 % , Asians 14.7 % , Latinos 14.1 % , Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders 0.2 % and two or more races 8.8 % .
The college , however , has sought to address calls for a more inclusive campus climate .
“ Over the past years I have , in effect , operated a liberal arts college within the structure of a research university , ” Elam said in a statement .
“ Occidental represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arts , and the work of collaborating with faculty , students and staff to lead the college into the next phase of its evolution is a truly exciting opportunity.
” Elam 63 , grew up in Boston during the tumult of that city ’ s court-ordered school desegregation .
His father served as the first black chief justice on the Boston Municipal Court , his mother was co-director of library programs in the city ’ s public school system and his younger brother Keith rose to fame as rap artist Guru and founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying of complications from cancer in 2010 .
Elam helped create a black theater troupe at his high school , researched theater as a mechanism for social justice for his doctoral dissertation and started several programs at Stanford aimed at supporting underserved students .
He created the university ’ s Institute for Diversity in the Arts , initiated a summer program to help students transition to Stanford and worked to increase graduate students of color in STEM fields .
Elam ’ s scholarship has significantly influenced the study of contemporary American theater , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & Sciences .
His first book , “ Taking It to the Streets : The Social Protest Theater of Luis Valdez and Amiri Baraka , ” helped inaugurate critical race studies in connecting African American and Chicano theater , the academy said .
Elam is author or co-editor of six other books and has won several teaching and scholarly awards .
A graduate of Harvard College , Elam earned his doctorate in the dramatic arts at UC Berkeley .
As a Stanford vice provost , Elam spearheaded efforts to reshape undergraduate education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , aimed to help them steer away from a standardized testing mind-set of focusing on right and wrong answers .
Instead , students learn to formulate rigorous questions that would lead to scientific experimentation , literary interpretation or social policy analysis .
His wife , Michele Elam , is William Robertson Coe Professor in the Humanities at Stanford and an associate director of the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence .

A Stanford University vice provost hailed for promoting diversity and rethinking undergraduate education has been named the new Occidental College president, the Eagle Rock campus’ trustees announced Tuesday.
Harry J. Elam Jr., who joined Stanford in 1990 as a faculty member in theater and performance studies before serving as vice provost for undergraduate education and in other senior positions, will succeed President Jonathan Veitch as the college’s 16th president.
That drama background has influenced his administrative style, which faculty and students on both campuses have described as warm, open and collaborative.
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Elam has compared directing plays — an endeavor he has continued for more than 25 years — to university administration, saying that directors must lay out a vision but collaborate deeply with artists to bring it to life.
“I came to understand early on that a director succeeds when he or they or she are not autocratic but collaborative, collective, working with everyone ... to empower their best work in listening to what they do and their ideas,” he said in an interview Tuesday. “And I think the notion of shaping a collective and cohesive vision is something that works in administration as well.”
Those skills at bringing people together were hailed by Occidental leaders, who have weathered turbulent campus protests over racial inequity and sexual assaults during the last decade.
In 2015, scores of students occupied the administration building for a week, demanding increased efforts to improve the campus climate for diverse students. The college has since launched a black studies program, hired a vice president for diversity and inclusion, increased the number of women on its faculty and boosted funding for diversity programs.
In 2013, Occidental drew national headlines when 50 students, alumni and faculty members filed federal complaints alleging the college had fostered a hostile environment for sexual assault victims. The U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights office ultimately found that Occidental had failed to promptly address some sexual misconduct complaints, but did not violate civil rights laws. The university voluntarily agreed to reforms.
Occidental Board of Trustees Chairman Stephen Rountree praised Elam’s “genuine ability to connect with people” in addition to his leadership skills, understanding of undergraduate education, and commitment to access and excellence. He said the board voted unanimously to offer the job to Elam, who will take the helm on July 1.
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“Dr. Elam is a champion of all that Oxy stands for,” John Lang, associate professor of sociology, Faculty Council president and search committee member, said in a statement. “His lifelong commitment to promoting diversity and equity, supported by his scholarly pursuits in social justice are a natural fit with Oxy’s own mission.... He can help people coalesce around a shared purpose.”
Elam said his first priority would be listening to the campus community. He said that he planned to meet with student groups immediately to hear their concerns and that he would continue his Stanford practice of regular office hours for students, faculty and staff.
Elam said the college’s mission to promote liberal arts with a focus on excellence, equity, community and service deeply resonated with him. The selection committee, for its part, wanted someone who could work well with students, build strong campus relationships and take the college to the next level of excellence, he said.
Occidental was ranked 39th among 223 national liberal arts colleges evaluated last year by U.S. News & World Report and is also one of the most diverse. Students of color make up 41.8% of its approximately 2,000-member student body: Black students represent 4.0%, Asians 14.7%, Latinos 14.1%, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders 0.2% and two or more races 8.8%.
Elam, who started a student advisory group at Stanford to advise his office on undergraduate education, won a thumbs up from students on the Occidental search committee. “He is someone who has experience in community building and will consider the voices of his constituents when developing a way forward,” Alejo Maggini, a second-year student in diplomacy and world affairs, said in a statement.
Elam 63, grew up in Boston during the tumult of that city’s court-ordered school desegregation. His father served as the first black chief justice on the Boston Municipal Court, his mother was co-director of library programs in the city’s public school system and his younger brother Keith rose to fame as rap artist Guru and founder of the hip-hop group Gang Starr before dying of complications from cancer in 2010.
Elam’s experience with racial inequities came at a young age. As a first-grader in an all-black public elementary school, he said, he felt he wasn’t learning. A white teacher saw his potential and advised his parents to move him to a private school, he said. He was able to escape, he said, but never forgot his classmates who could not.
In high school, Elam began using art as a tool of social justice by creating a black theater group and using performance proceeds for scholarships for needy students. Later, he researched the power of theater to mobilize social action for his doctoral dissertation and started several programs at Stanford aimed at supporting underserved students. He created the university’s Institute for Diversity in the Arts, initiated a summer program to help students transition to Stanford and worked to increase graduate students of color in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, fields.
Elam’s scholarship has significantly influenced the study of contemporary American theater, according to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. His first book, “Taking It to the Streets: The Social Protest Theater of Luis Valdez and Amiri Baraka,” helped inaugurate critical race studies in connecting African American and Chicano theater, the academy said.
Elam is author or co-editor of six other books and has won several teaching and scholarly awards. A graduate of Harvard College, Elam earned his doctorate in the dramatic arts at UC Berkeley.
As a Stanford vice provost, Elam spearheaded efforts to reshape undergraduate education. One program for first-year students, for instance, aimed to help them steer away from a standardized testing mind-set of focusing on right and wrong answers. Instead, students learn to formulate rigorous questions that would lead to scientific experimentation, literary interpretation or social policy analysis.
His wife, Michele Elam, is William Robertson Coe professor in the humanities at Stanford and an associate director of the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
Elam said he has received calls of congratulation from Occidental alumni around the country. How about the school’s most famous student, former President Obama?
“I haven’t heard from him yet,” Elam said with a laugh, “but who knows?”


latimes--2020-02-11--Strong winds flip trucks like toys, blow down trees in Southern California

Strong winds that buffeted Southern California overnight , toppling trees and overturning big rigs , are expected to continue through Tuesday .
Northeast winds from 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are expected for Los Angeles County coastal regions including downtown L.A. , Malibu , Santa Monica , Beverly Hills and Long Beach through at least noon , forecasters say .
Higher elevations are expected to see gusts up to 65 mph , said Lisa Phillips , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ It ’ s going to be tapering off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ Wednesday should not be too bad.
” The weather service issued a wind advisory , warning that driving could be difficult , especially for high-profile vehicles , and tree limbs could fall , potentially causing power outages .
The 101 and 405 freeways and Pacific Coast Highway could be affected by strong crosswinds , the weather service said .
The winds , which began Monday , picked up strength overnight , reaching 54 mph in Malibu Hills , 58 mph near Camp Nine in the Angeles National Forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Escondido Canyon .
Strong gusts flipped at least two big rigs traveling on the 15 Freeway through Fontana early Tuesday .
In Yucaipa , firefighters responded to a home overnight after a massive tree fell onto a Nissan Sentra , crushing the vehicle .
Temperatures are expected to hover in the high 60s to low 70s across much of Los Angeles County this week .
Long-term models suggest no significant precipitation across California over the next two weeks , raising concern among experts that the already large precipitation deficit will continue to grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s wettest month , bringing an average rainfall of 3.8 inches to downtown L.A .
But there have been only trace amounts of precipitation in downtown so far this month , according to National Weather Service data .
From a wildfire risk perspective , the “ worst possible sequence would be continued dry February followed by brief burst of wet conditions in spring , ” Daniel Swain , a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research , wrote on Twitter .
The reason , he says , is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grow rapidly , but an accumulated precipitation deficit would prime older vegetation to burn .

A truck lies on its side after being overturned by high winds on the southbound 15 Freeway near Duncan Canyon Road on Tuesday morning in Fontana.
Strong winds that buffeted Southern California overnight, toppling trees and overturning big rigs, are expected to continue through Tuesday.
Northeast winds from 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph are expected for Los Angeles County coastal regions including downtown L.A., Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Long Beach through at least noon, forecasters say. Higher elevations are expected to see gusts up to 65 mph, said Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“It’s going to be tapering off through today and then into overnight,” she said. “Wednesday should not be too bad.”
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The weather service issued a wind advisory, warning that driving could be difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles, and tree limbs could fall, potentially causing power outages. The 101 and 405 freeways and Pacific Coast Highway could be affected by strong crosswinds, the weather service said.
The winds, which began Monday, picked up strength overnight, reaching 54 mph in Malibu Hills, 58 mph near Camp Nine in the Angeles National Forest and 71 mph along the coast near Escondido Canyon.
Strong gusts flipped at least two big rigs traveling on the 15 Freeway through Fontana early Tuesday. In Yucaipa, firefighters responded to a home overnight after a massive tree fell onto a Nissan Sentra, crushing the vehicle.
More wind damage in the City of Yucaipa. Firefighters have been busy again with multiple calls for service due to the strong & gusty winds that are expected to continue through tomorrow afternoon. Be cautious of potential damage or injuries due to high wind gusts around you. pic.twitter.com/rQUZvoUjjr — CAL FIRE BDU (@CALFIREBDU) February 11, 2020
Temperatures are expected to hover in the high 60s to low 70s across much of Los Angeles County this week.
Long-term models suggest no significant precipitation across California over the next two weeks, raising concern among experts that the already large precipitation deficit will continue to grow.
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February is typically the state’s wettest month, bringing an average rainfall of 3.8 inches to downtown L.A. But there have been only trace amounts of precipitation in downtown so far this month, according to National Weather Service data.
From a wildfire risk perspective, the “worst possible sequence would be continued dry February followed by brief burst of wet conditions in spring,” Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, wrote on Twitter.
The reason, he says, is that late rains allow seasonal grasses and brush to grow rapidly, but an accumulated precipitation deficit would prime older vegetation to burn.


latimes--2020-02-11--Homeless man sues L.A. over Facebook pages used by police, alleging harassment

Rex Schellenberg said he was appalled when he found out that a police officer had been sharing information about him and other homeless people on Facebook .
“ Telling them who we were and what we were doing .
Our personal problems , ” said Schellenberg , 81 , who has lived on the streets of the San Fernando Valley for years .
“ It ’ s like putting a target on our back.
” Now Schellenberg and his attorney Carol Sobel are taking the city to court over a phenomenon that has divided Angelenos : Facebook pages where Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues and shared their concerns with police , sometimes including photos of people on the street .
In the lawsuit , they accuse the city of allowing a police officer to target and harass Schellenberg with the help of those Facebook groups , sharing sensitive and sometimes erroneous information about him and his physical and mental state .
The lawsuit asserts that online posts led to Schellenberg being harassed by police and that his van was illegally towed .
City officials did not immediately respond to the allegations in the lawsuit .
Rob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mike Feuer , on Monday said , “ We will review the lawsuit and have no further comment at this time.
” The legal claims are tied to events that occurred before police were told to stop taking part in the online groups , said Sobel , a civil rights attorney who has repeatedly sued Los Angeles over the rights of homeless people .
Last year , LAPD officers were ordered to stop participating in Facebook pages such as “ Crimebusters of West Hills and Woodland Hills ” and “ Homeless Transient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid complaints that comments there had promoted violence and harassment of people living on the streets .
An August post by a resident on one of the closed pages showed someone lying on a sidewalk , followed by comments such as , “ Have you tried a spray bottle ?
” and “ Cattle prods are affordable and effective too , ” according to screenshots viewed by the Los Angeles Times .
That post appeared to have later been deleted .
In another post a year earlier , a member urged residents concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night to “ make them as uncomfortable as possible , hopefully that will make them go back to wherever they came from , ” according to emails obtained through a records request by blogger Adrian Riskin .
At a community meeting in September , LAPD Deputy Chief Jorge Rodriguez said he had ordered officers to stop posting on the Facebook pages because the sites had included troubling comments about poisoning or shooting people .
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the reputation of his department was at stake .
It wasn ’ t the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : In 2018 , homeless advocates lodged a complaint with the state attorney general , arguing that such Facebook pages spread private and potentially defamatory information about homeless individuals , making them more vulnerable to harassment .
They named several LAPD officers active on the pages , including senior lead officer and recent Los Angeles City Council candidate Sean Dinse .
Many residents at the September meeting complained that the Facebook pages were being unfairly maligned and said police should remain involved , arguing that the pages helped them reach officers promptly about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the community when Dinse could tell people that someone could be violent and should not be approached .
Both groups have posted rules that “ vigilante ” comments are not allowed , but page administrator Fern White “ can not catch every inappropriate statement as soon as it is made , ” her attorney Michael Saltz said in an email last year .
Saltz also provided screenshots of posts in which officers and residents had expressed sympathy or sought help for homeless people in the area .
He said that , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared photos of people on the street , “ the purpose of such posts is to document certain activity to pass on for evaluation and proper action.
” Most group members “ are mindful of maintaining certain privacy guidelines ” when dealing with homeless people , but “ there is no expectation of privacy by anyone who is in the process of committing a crime or violating the law , ” Saltz said .
The new lawsuit names Dinse as a defendant , alleging that he posted information about where Schellenberg was staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving officers a “ pretextual basis ” to force him to move or seize his property .
Dinse also shared other information about the man : In a post from a few years ago included in the suit , Dinse stated that Schellenberg had been evicted from housing , probably due to “ drug addiction/mental illness.
” The lawsuit said Schellenberg was not a drug addict and did not suffer from mental illness , “ other than the ordinary stress and trauma of living on the streets.
” Schellenberg also accuses the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towing , including one instance that occurred weeks after someone posted an image of him on the Crimebusters page , according to the lawsuit .
Dinse declined to comment on the claims in the lawsuit , referring questions to the city attorney ’ s office .
At the September meeting where community members sparred over the Facebook groups , the officer said he wanted to be on the pages to soak up information about what was happening on the streets and assist residents .
Saltz did not immediately respond Monday to requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t the only case that Schellenberg has filed against the city : He sued Los Angeles over a year ago , alleging that city employees had violated his rights by seizing and destroying his property , including a laptop , his bicycle and a housing voucher .
The city denied his claims , saying it returned any property “ not deemed a public health and safety hazard .
”

Rex Schellenberg, a homeless man who is suing the city of Los Angeles, at a site where he was living on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills in 2018.
Rex Schellenberg said he was appalled when he found out that a police officer had been sharing information about him and other homeless people on Facebook.
“Telling them who we were and what we were doing. Our personal problems,” said Schellenberg, 81, who has lived on the streets of the San Fernando Valley for years. “It’s like putting a target on our back.”
Now Schellenberg and his attorney Carol Sobel are taking the city to court over a phenomenon that has divided Angelenos: Facebook pages where Valley residents have complained about encampments and other issues and shared their concerns with police, sometimes including photos of people on the street.
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In the lawsuit, they accuse the city of allowing a police officer to target and harass Schellenberg with the help of those Facebook groups, sharing sensitive and sometimes erroneous information about him and his physical and mental state. The lawsuit asserts that online posts led to Schellenberg being harassed by police and that his van was illegally towed.
City officials did not immediately respond to the allegations in the lawsuit. Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for City Atty. Mike Feuer, on Monday said, “We will review the lawsuit and have no further comment at this time.”
The legal claims are tied to events that occurred before police were told to stop taking part in the online groups, said Sobel, a civil rights attorney who has repeatedly sued Los Angeles over the rights of homeless people.
Last year, LAPD officers were ordered to stop participating in Facebook pages such as “Crimebusters of West Hills and Woodland Hills” and “Homeless Transient Encampments of our West Valley,” amid complaints that comments there had promoted violence and harassment of people living on the streets.
An August post by a resident on one of the closed pages showed someone lying on a sidewalk, followed by comments such as, “Have you tried a spray bottle?” and “Cattle prods are affordable and effective too,” according to screenshots viewed by the Los Angeles Times. That post appeared to have later been deleted.
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In another post a year earlier, a member urged residents concerned about people gathered in a park at night to “make them as uncomfortable as possible, hopefully that will make them go back to wherever they came from,” according to emails obtained through a records request by blogger Adrian Riskin.
At a community meeting in September, LAPD Deputy Chief Jorge Rodriguez said he had ordered officers to stop posting on the Facebook pages because the sites had included troubling comments about poisoning or shooting people. LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the reputation of his department was at stake.
It wasn’t the first time that such concerns had arisen: In 2018, homeless advocates lodged a complaint with the state attorney general, arguing that such Facebook pages spread private and potentially defamatory information about homeless individuals, making them more vulnerable to harassment. They named several LAPD officers active on the pages, including senior lead officer and recent Los Angeles City Council candidate Sean Dinse.
Many residents at the September meeting complained that the Facebook pages were being unfairly maligned and said police should remain involved, arguing that the pages helped them reach officers promptly about concerns. One resident said it helped protect the community when Dinse could tell people that someone could be violent and should not be approached.
Both groups have posted rules that “vigilante” comments are not allowed, but page administrator Fern White “cannot catch every inappropriate statement as soon as it is made,” her attorney Michael Saltz said in an email last year.
Saltz also provided screenshots of posts in which officers and residents had expressed sympathy or sought help for homeless people in the area. He said that, in general, when members of the groups shared photos of people on the street, “the purpose of such posts is to document certain activity to pass on for evaluation and proper action.”
Most group members “are mindful of maintaining certain privacy guidelines” when dealing with homeless people, but “there is no expectation of privacy by anyone who is in the process of committing a crime or violating the law,” Saltz said.
The new lawsuit names Dinse as a defendant, alleging that he posted information about where Schellenberg was staying so that residents would contact police, giving officers a “pretextual basis” to force him to move or seize his property.
Dinse also shared other information about the man: In a post from a few years ago included in the suit, Dinse stated that Schellenberg had been evicted from housing, probably due to “drug addiction/mental illness.” The lawsuit said Schellenberg was not a drug addict and did not suffer from mental illness, “other than the ordinary stress and trauma of living on the streets.”
Schellenberg also accuses the officer of repeatedly targeting his van for improper towing, including one instance that occurred weeks after someone posted an image of him on the Crimebusters page, according to the lawsuit.
Dinse declined to comment on the claims in the lawsuit, referring questions to the city attorney’s office. At the September meeting where community members sparred over the Facebook groups, the officer said he wanted to be on the pages to soak up information about what was happening on the streets and assist residents.
Saltz did not immediately respond Monday to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
This isn’t the only case that Schellenberg has filed against the city: He sued Los Angeles over a year ago, alleging that city employees had violated his rights by seizing and destroying his property, including a laptop, his bicycle and a housing voucher. The city denied his claims, saying it returned any property “not deemed a public health and safety hazard.”