latimes--2020-08-04--Feds add more charges against Ed Buck, including drug distribution and enticing prostitution

Ed Buck , who was indicted last year in connection with the overdose deaths of two Black men in his West Hollywood apartment , now faces four additional charges for allegedly distributing drugs over nearly a decade and enticing two people to engage in prostitution .
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment Tuesday , expanding upon allegations that Buck , a once prominent Democratic Party donor , provided the drugs that led to the 2017 overdose of Gemmel Moore and the 2019 overdose of Timothy Dean .
Buck , 65 , now faces a total of nine counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also faces additional charges in state court in connection with similar allegations of running a drug den .
His defense attorney , Christopher Darden , did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment .
The new indictment alleges that from 2011 to 2019 — a far longer period than was previously alleged by federal prosecutors — Buck used his apartment on Laurel Avenue in West Hollywood to distribute methamphetamine , clonazepam and the party drug GHB , gamma hydroxybutyric acid .
Buck was previously charged with providing the drugs that led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new indictment also accuses him of enticing and inducing Moore to travel across state lines to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution on July 17 , 2017 .
After Moore ’ s death — which drew headlines and outrage among community members — Buck is accused of enticing a second person , on Sept. 22 , 2018 , to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution , according to the new charges .
Federal prosecutors allege that Buck provided methamphetamine to that person , who is identified in court papers only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeats the allegations returned by a grand jury last year : that Buck “ engaged in a pattern of soliciting men to consume drugs that [ he ] provided ” and perform sex acts at his West Hollywood apartment .
Authorities allege he solicited victims on social media , including the gay dating platform Adam4Adam , and relied on a so-called recruiter to scout and proposition men on his behalf .
At his apartment , Buck is accused of injecting victims with syringes containing methamphetamine — with or without their consent — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they expected to ingest , according to court documents .
Sometimes , the documents said , Buck provided drugs to victims who were unconscious .
Buck remains in federal custody without bond .
His trial is scheduled to begin in January 2021 .

Ed Buck, who was indicted last year in connection with the overdose deaths of two Black men in his West Hollywood apartment, now faces four additional charges for allegedly distributing drugs over nearly a decade and enticing two people to travel to California for prostitution.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment Tuesday, expanding upon allegations that Buck, a once prominent Democratic Party donor, provided the drugs that led to the 2017 overdose of Gemmel Moore and the 2019 overdose of Timothy Dean.
Buck, 65, now faces a total of nine counts in federal court. He also faces additional charges in state court in connection with similar allegations of running a drug den.
His defense attorney, Christopher Darden, did not respond to a message seeking comment.
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The new indictment alleges that from 2011 to 2019 — a far longer period than was previously alleged by federal prosecutors — Buck used his apartment on Laurel Avenue in West Hollywood to distribute methamphetamine, clonazepam and the party drug GHB, gamma hydroxybutyric acid.
Buck was previously accused of providing the drugs that led to Moore’s overdose death, but the new indictment also accuses him of enticing and inducing Moore to travel across state lines to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution on July 17, 2017.
After Moore’s death — which drew headlines and outrage among community members — Buck is accused of enticing a second person, on Sept. 22, 2018, to travel across state lines to engage in prostitution, according to the new charges. Federal prosecutors allege that Buck provided methamphetamine to that person, who is identified in court papers only by initials.
The new indictment largely repeats the allegations returned by a grand jury last year: that Buck “engaged in a pattern of soliciting men to consume drugs that [he] provided” and perform sex acts at his West Hollywood apartment. Authorities allege he solicited victims on social media, including the gay dating platform Adam4Adam, and relied on a so-called recruiter to scout and proposition men on his behalf.
At his apartment, Buck is accused of injecting victims with syringes containing methamphetamine — with or without their consent — and also providing them with more narcotics than they expected to ingest, according to court documents. Sometimes, the documents said, Buck provided drugs to victims who were unconscious.
The death of Moore, 26, was initially deemed an accident, but activists and his family members pressed authorities to investigate further. A journal found among Moore’s possessions singles out Buck for his addiction to drugs, saying Buck “gave me my first injection of [crystal] meth.”
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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department revisited the case. Detectives presented the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office with four possible charges in connection with Moore’s fatal overdose: murder, voluntary manslaughter, furnishing and possessing drugs. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey declined to file a case, citing insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
In January 2019, the 55-year-old Dean died of a methamphetamine overdose, also in Buck’s apartment. At least 15 minutes passed before anyone dialed 911 to summon help, and his death revived outrage about Moore’s case and the absence of criminal charges against Buck.
Moore’s mother, Latisha Nixon, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in federal court against Buck, and also named Lacey and the county of Los Angeles, accusing them of failing to prosecute Buck because he is white and his alleged victims were Black. Earlier this year, Lacey was dropped from the case, and U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney dismissed the county from the case in March.
Buck remains in federal custody without bond. His trial is scheduled to begin in January 2021.


latimes--2020-08-04--Man charged with arson for setting fire at Pizzeria Mozza during George Floyd protests

A 42-year-old Sylmar man was indicted on federal arson charges Tuesday in connection with setting fire to the building that houses Pizzeria Mozza in late May , as unrest gripped Los Angeles and some protests were marred by vandalism and thefts .
Mario Ernesto Alvarado faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the charge that he set a fire inside the popular Hancock Park restaurant on May 30 , according to a media release from the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Los Angeles .
The incident occurred during the second of several nights of widespread protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
On May 30 , protests in the Fairfax district devolved into altercations between officers , peaceful demonstrators and others who vandalized businesses and set fire to police cars .
Federal prosecutors said Alvarado walked into the building on Melrose and Highland avenues known as the Mozzaplex , which houses Pizzeria Mozza , poured flammable liquid onto the ground and set a fire .
The blaze caused more than $ 500,000 in structural damage to the building , prosecutors allege .
Alvarado was arrested July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bond .
His public defender declined to comment .
Michael Krikorian — a former Times reporter and partner to Nancy Silverton , chef and owner of the four Mozzaplex restaurants — said earlier this year that the fire inside Mozza2Go left a table and some books charred .
Television footage from that night showed smoke billowing out of the building , however , and a row of firetrucks on Melrose Avenue .
The investigation was carried out by the SAFE LA Task Force , a joint effort between the FBI , the Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles , Long Beach , Santa Monica and Beverly Hills to identify and arrest those who caused property damage and set fires during the demonstrations .

A 42-year-old Sylmar man was indicted on federal arson charges Tuesday in connection with setting fire to the building that houses Pizzeria Mozza in late May, as unrest gripped Los Angeles and some protests were marred by vandalism and thefts.
Mario Ernesto Alvarado faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the charge that he set a fire inside the popular Hancock Park restaurant on May 30, according to a media release from the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles.
The incident occurred during the second of several nights of widespread protests against police brutality across the city that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. On May 30, protests in the Fairfax district devolved into altercations between officers, peaceful demonstrators and others who vandalized businesses and set fire to police cars.
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Federal prosecutors said Alvarado walked into the building on Melrose and Highland avenues known as the Mozzaplex, which houses Pizzeria Mozza, poured flammable liquid onto the ground and set a fire. The blaze caused more than $500,000 in structural damage to the building, prosecutors allege.
Alvarado was arrested July 16 and remains free on $25,000 bond. His public defender declined to comment.
Michael Krikorian — a former Times reporter and partner to Nancy Silverton, chef and owner of the four Mozzaplex restaurants — said earlier this year that the fire inside Mozza2Go left a table and some books charred. Television footage from that night showed smoke billowing out of the building, however, and a row of firetrucks on Melrose Avenue.
The investigation was carried out by the SAFE LA Task Force, a joint effort between the FBI, the Los Angeles Fire Department and police in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills to identify and arrest those who caused property damage and set fires during the demonstrations.


latimes--2020-08-04--Evacuations recommended in 2,500-acre Stagecoach fire in Kern County

Officials have kept recommended evacuations in place as firefighters continue to battle a 2,500-acre vegetation fire in Kern County .
@ @ @ @ @ Stagecoach fire , was first reported on the Kern County Fire Department ’ s Twitter @ @ @ @ @ , located off Stagecoach Drive and Old Ox Road , south of the community of @ @ @ @ @ 15 acres then .
As of late Tuesday morning , it had grown to 2,500 @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s fire department .
There is 0 % containment .
Evacuation recommendations were @ @ @ @ @ Caliente Bodfish Road in Piute Meadows , as well as those in the area east @ @ @ @ @ north of Walker Basin Road .
Officials also announced precautionary evacuations for the area off @ @ @ @ @ of Caliente Bodfish .
A temporary evacuation point has been established at a parking lot @ @ @ @ @ .
in Tehachapi .
The cause of the fire has not been determined .

Patricia Paine credits her son Michael’s efforts at clearing brush with saving her home. Two of her neighbors’ homes were destroyed.
Officials have kept recommended evacuations in place as firefighters continue to battle a 3,500-acre vegetation fire in Kern County.
The blaze, named the Stagecoach fire, was first reported on the Kern County Fire Department’s Twitter feed at 3:40 p.m. Monday, located off Stagecoach Drive and Old Ox Road, south of the community of Havilah. The fire encompassed 15 acres then.
As of 8 p.m. Tuesday, it had grown to 3,500 acres, with 5% containment, according to the county’s fire department. About 250 structures are threatened and two have been destroyed. Twenty-one engines, three helicopters and more than 200 personnel are fighting the fire.
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Evacuation recommendations were issued for residents west of Caliente Bodfish Road, as well as those in the area east of Caliente Bodfish Road and north of Walker Basin Road. Officials also announced precautionary evacuations for the area off Indian Oaks Road, east of Caliente Bodfish.
A temporary evacuation point has been established at a parking lot at 710 W. Tehachapi Blvd. in Tehachapi.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.


latimes--2020-08-04--Oil company Allenco and its leaders face criminal charges over deteriorating wells

Allenco Energy , which has operated a South Los Angeles drill site that spurred an outcry over nosebleeds and headaches suffered by neighbors , is facing criminal charges for allegedly flouting a state order and failing to properly abandon wells .
The “ charges show that we won ’ t allow Allenco to continue allegedly defying the law and disregarding its neighbors when it comes to environmental safety and health protections , ” Los Angeles City Atty .
Mike Feuer said in an announcement Tuesday .
“ This is a matter of environmental justice.
” The misdemeanor charges filed this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. Peter Allen and company Vice President Timothy Parker .
An Allenco representative reached Tuesday declined to comment .
Earlier this year , California regulators ordered Allenco to plug wells and decommission the drill site , which would permanently close the inactive facility .
State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk , formerly L.A. 's petroleum administrator , said the company had failed to fix leaking wells and effectively “ deserted ” the site .
The criminal complaint against Allenco and its leaders specifically cites their alleged failure to comply with a state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm to plan and carry out “ well killing ” to address leaks from deteriorating wells .
Allenco appealed the order , but Feuer said it was ultimately affirmed and “ to date , Allenco has not complied.
” Ntuk said Tuesday that “ the facility continues to be a potential risk to public health , safety , and the environment.
” The oil company and its leaders are also accused of violating a municipal code that requires idle wells to be either reactivated or properly abandoned , failing to take those steps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allenco faces more than two dozen new criminal counts for allegedly violating state and local laws .
Allenco had agreed to suspend its operations at the site nearly seven years ago , after federal and local investigations had already been launched and an environmental team touring the site had been sickened by toxic fumes .
Feuer then sued and obtained a court order imposing new requirements if Allenco wanted to restart operations .
In February , Parker told state regulators that Allenco was liquidating and planned to sell its portion of the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state had made it too difficult to reopen it .
“ We have spent tremendous amounts of capital trying to be compliant and prove that we are good stewards of compliance !
” Parker wrote .
Parker also said that Allenco was engaged in discussions with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles , which owns the property , and a possible developer to “ remove us from having any further business responsibilities at this site.
” Community activists have pushed to shutter the Allenco site permanently , arguing that petroleum facilities should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University Park neighborhood near USC .
The Stand L.A. coalition , which opposes neighborhood drilling , has advocated an end to drilling within a 2,500-foot “ buffer ” of homes and schools .
Nancy Halpern Ibrahim , executive director of Esperanza Community Housing , called the charges “ a welcome and long overdue victory , ” lamenting that residents had continued to see leaks even after the site was inactive .
Nalleli Cobo , who endured nosebleeds as a child living near the Allenco site , said she was grateful to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are held accountable for not doing the right thing.
” “ As a person that has gone through this , knowing that we still have to fight for the basic right to breathe clean air is really upsetting , ” said Cobo , 19 , an environmental activist with Stand L.A .

Allenco Energy, which has operated a South Los Angeles drill site that spurred an outcry over nosebleeds and headaches suffered by neighbors, is facing criminal charges for allegedly flouting a state order and failing to properly abandon wells.
The “charges show that we won’t allow Allenco to continue allegedly defying the law and disregarding its neighbors when it comes to environmental safety and health protections,” Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer said in an announcement Tuesday. “This is a matter of environmental justice.”
The misdemeanor charges filed this week also target Allenco Chief Executive Clifford E. Peter Allen and company Vice President Timothy Parker. An Allenco representative reached Tuesday declined to comment.
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Earlier this year, California regulators ordered Allenco to plug wells and decommission the drill site, which would permanently close the inactive facility. State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk, formerly L.A.’s petroleum administrator, said the company had failed to fix leaking wells and effectively “deserted” the site.
The criminal complaint against Allenco and its leaders specifically cites their alleged failure to comply with a state order issued last year that required the firm to plan and carry out “well killing” to address leaks from deteriorating wells. Allenco appealed the order, but Feuer said it was ultimately affirmed and “to date, Allenco has not complied.”
Ntuk said Tuesday that “the facility continues to be a potential risk to public health, safety, and the environment.”
The oil company and its leaders are also accused of violating a municipal code that requires idle wells to be either reactivated or properly abandoned, failing to take those steps for 21 wells.
In total, Allenco faces more than two dozen new criminal counts for allegedly violating state and local laws. The City Attorney’s Office said that the charges could be punishable with years in jail if the executives are convicted.
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Allenco had agreed to suspend its operations suspend operations at the site nearly seven years ago, after federal and local investigations had already been launched and an environmental team touring the site had been sickened by toxic fumes.
Feuer then sued and obtained a court order court order imposing new requirements if Allenco wanted to restart operations. In February, Parker told state regulators that Allenco was liquidating and planned to sell its portion of the South Los Angeles site, complaining that the state had made it too difficult to reopen it.
“We have spent tremendous amounts of capital trying to be compliant and prove that we are good stewards of compliance!” Parker wrote.
Parker also said that Allenco was engaged in discussions with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which owns the property, and a possible developer to “remove us from having any further business responsibilities at this site.”
However, the Archdiocese said Tuesday that Allenco was still in possession of the site to maintain the facility safely until it is decommissioned, and although alternative uses are being evaluated, “there are no immediate plans to transfer the site.”
Community activists have pushed to shutter the Allenco site permanently, arguing that petroleum facilities should not be operated close to homes and schools in the University Park neighborhood near USC. The Stand L.A. coalition, which opposes neighborhood drilling, has advocated an end to drilling within a 2,500-foot “buffer” of homes and schools.
Nancy Halpern Ibrahim, executive director of Esperanza Community Housing, called the charges “a welcome and long overdue victory,” lamenting that residents had continued to see leaks even after the site was inactive.
Nalleli Cobo, who endured nosebleeds as a child living near the Allenco site, said she was grateful to the city attorney for “making sure people are held accountable for not doing the right thing.”
“As a person that has gone through this, knowing that we still have to fight for the basic right to breathe clean air is really upsetting,” said Cobo, 19, an environmental activist with Stand L.A.


latimes--2020-08-04--Deputies accused of being in secret societies cost L.A. County taxpayers $55 million, records show

Los Angeles County has paid out roughly $ 55 million in settlements since 1990 in cases in which sheriff ’ s deputies were alleged to belong to a secret society , records obtained by The Times show .
The figure comes from a list that includes payouts in dozens of lawsuits and claims involving deputies associated with tattooed groups accused of glorifying an aggressive style of policing .
The report , prepared by L.A. County attorneys , lists nearly 60 cases , some of them pending , and names eight specific cliques .
The county has paid out nearly $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 10 years alone .
The high cost underscores how these deputy groups — with monikers such as the Vikings , Regulators , 3000 Boys and the Banditos — have operated out of several Sheriff ’ s Department stations for decades , exhibiting what critics have long alleged are the violent , intimidating tactics similar in some ways to criminal street gangs .
Over the years , a succession of elected sheriffs have failed to bring the subgroups under control despite multiple internal investigations and more recently , a federal probe by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and county watchdogs have accused the Sheriff ’ s Department of turning a blind eye .
The Board of Supervisors requested the list of payouts last year after The Times reported that members of the Banditos , which operate out of the East L.A. station , were accused of assaulting other deputies during an off-duty party in 2018 .
One deputy was knocked unconscious .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said that he put measures in place in February that prohibit deputies from participating in cliques .
Inspector General Max Huntsman said last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementation whatsoever ” of the policy and that his office can ’ t effectively investigate the secret societies “ because of the obstruction of the Sheriff ’ s Department.
” Huntsman said the criminal investigation in the off-duty beating amounted to a “ cover-up , ” noting that more than 20 deputies present during the incident were not required to give statements .
Defenders of the groups say they represent hard work and boost morale by fostering camaraderie .
Sean Kennedy , a member of the Civilian Oversight Commission and professor at Loyola @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he and his students have identified at least 17 gangs — some of them historical — in the department .
The largest payout on the list — $ 10.1 million — went to Francisco Carrillo Jr. , who spent 20 years behind bars before having a in 2011 .
Carrillo , who was 16 at the time he was charged in 1991 in a fatal drive-by shooting , maintained his innocence through two trials and in prison .
He sued later , claiming that deputies had improperly influenced witnesses to pick his picture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the case were members of the Lynwood Vikings , a white supremacist gang within the Sheriff ’ s Department .
Another lawsuit involving a bicyclist shot and killed by deputies in South L.A. was settled for $ 1.5 million in 2018 in part because one deputy had probably committed perjury when he denied that he was a member of the Regulators operating out of the Century station , officials said .
More recently , a sheriff ’ s deputy filed a claim alleging that the Executioners clique , which is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs the Compton sheriff ’ s station .
Austreberto Gonzalez ’ s claim , the precursor to lawsuit , alleges that the group numbers about 20 deputies , while 20 more are prospects or associates .
Many work at night , the claim says , and communicate through WhatsApp .
Black and female deputies are not allowed in the clique , the claim says .
The claim says the group sports tattoos of a skull with Nazi imagery and an AK-47 and celebrate deputy shootings and the induction of new members with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the claim says , its members were involved in illegal arrest quotas and threatened work slowdowns — which involve ignoring or responding slowly to calls — when they did not get preferred assignments .
Gonzalez alleges in his claim that members of the gang retaliated against him after he reported fellow deputy for assaulting a colleague .
On Tuesday , Compton Mayor Aja Brown called on state Atty .
Gen. Xavier Becerra and the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether Compton deputies have engaged in misconduct , excessive force , discriminatory policing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city has a $ 22-million contract with the Sheriff ’ s Department for patrols and other law enforcement services .
“ We demand the same treatment that deputies provide to the residents of Malibu , Rancho Palos Verdes and other affluent communities .
And , according to the size of our contract with the Sheriff ’ s Department , we have $ 22 million reasons to expect it , ” Brown said in a statement .

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors requested the list of payouts after The Times reported on the Banditos deputy clique, which operates out of the East L.A. station.
Los Angeles County has paid out roughly $55 million in settlements in cases in which sheriff’s deputies have been alleged to belong to a secret society, records obtained by the Los Angeles Times show, illuminating the entrenched nature of a subculture that has plagued the Sheriff’s Department for years.
The figure comes from a list that includes payouts in dozens of lawsuits and claims involving deputies associated with tattooed groups accused of glorifying an aggressive style of policing. The report, prepared by L.A. County attorneys, lists nearly 60 cases, some of them still pending, and names eight specific cliques.
The county has paid out nearly $21 million in cases beginning in the last 10 years alone, according to the document.
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The high cost underscores how these deputy groups — with monikers such as the Vikings, Regulators, 3000 Boys and the Banditos — have operated out of several Sheriff’s Department stations and jails for decades, exhibiting what critics have long alleged are the violent, intimidating tactics similar in some ways to criminal street gangs. The cases involve incidents that date to 1990.
Over the years, a succession of elected sheriffs has failed to bring the subgroups under control despite multiple internal investigations and, more recently, a probe by the FBI. Many civil liberties advocates and county watchdogs have accused the Sheriff’s Department of turning a blind eye.
“I think it’s a willful failure,” said John Sweeney, an attorney who has represented families of people killed by deputies. “For some reason, they pride themselves, the Sheriff’s Department, on having these violent cliques I guess to show the public who’s the boss. But, you know, what it does is just fosters a horrible relationship between the community that these sheriffs serve.”
The Board of Supervisors requested the list of payouts last year after The Times reported that members of the Banditos, who operate out of the East L.A. station, were accused of assaulting other deputies during an off-duty party in 2018. One deputy was knocked unconscious.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said that he put measures in place in February that prohibit deputies from participating in cliques.
“The fact that I’ve had to address these issues which have been festering since 1990 is an illustration of the failure of past sheriffs from addressing the issue head on,” he said in a statement, adding that he transferred leadership personnel from at least one station to combat the clique problem and was holding employees accountable if they failed to uphold the new policy.
Inspector General Max Huntsman said last week that he was “aware of no implementation whatsoever” of Villanueva’s new measures and that his office couldn’t effectively investigate the secret societies “because of the obstruction of the Sheriff’s Department.” Huntsman said the criminal investigation in the off-duty Banditos beating amounted to a “cover-up,” noting that more than 20 deputies present during the incident were not required to give statements.
Lt. John Satterfield said investigators conducted more than 70 interviews as part of an administrative investigation of the Banditos claims and were sharing information from reviews under the new clique policy with the FBI.
“The IG continues to further this distorted narrative that his office is not provided documents or information in order to ‘investigate’ or provide oversight,” he said, adding that in the last 13 months the oversight office has had access to more than 500 documents. “Despite his misleading statements, the sheriff continues to provide him with access and continues to welcome oversight.”
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Defenders of the deputy cliques say they represent hard work and boost morale by fostering camaraderie.
Sean Kennedy, a member of the Civilian Oversight Commission and professor at Loyola Law School, said last week that he and his students had identified at least 17 gangs — some of them historical — in the department.
The largest payout on the list — $10.1 million — went to Francisco Carrillo Jr., who spent 20 years behind bars before having a murder conviction overturned in 2011. Carrillo, who was 16 at the time of the 1991 fatal drive-by shooting, maintained his innocence through two trials and in prison.
He sued later, claiming that deputies had improperly influenced witnesses to pick his picture from a photo lineup and that deputies involved in the case were members of the Lynwood Vikings, a white supremacist gang within the Sheriff’s Department.
“This has been a cancer of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for decades,” said Ron Kaye, an attorney who represented Carrillo. “The only reason that this type of illegal activity and lawlessness under the color of law can survive is if the department and its administration looks the other way.”
Another lawsuit involving a bicyclist shot and killed by deputies in South L.A. was settled for $1.5 million in 2018 in part because one deputy had probably committed perjury when he denied that he was a member of the Regulators operating out of the Century station, officials said.
Several of the payouts involve the 3000 Boys and the 2000 Boys at Men’s Central Jail. A top jail official had described exclusive gangs of deputies who would “earn their ink” by breaking inmates’ bones.
Richard Drooyan, the court-appointed monitor of jail reforms in the Sheriff’s Department, said the agency had taken steps to address the problem in the jails, where deputies are rotated into different assignments more frequently to prevent the formation of cliques.
More recently, a sheriff’s deputy filed a claim alleging that the Executioners clique, which is not named in the county report, essentially runs the Compton sheriff’s station.
Austreberto Gonzalez’s claim, the precursor to a lawsuit, alleges that the group numbers about 20 deputies, while 20 more are prospects or associates. Many work at night, the claim says, and communicate through WhatsApp. Black and female deputies are not allowed in the clique, the claim says.
The claim says the group sports tattoos of a skull with Nazi imagery and an AK-47, and celebrates deputy shootings and the induction of new members with “inking parties.”
In recent years, the claim says, its members were involved in illegal arrest quotas and threatened work slowdowns — which involve ignoring or responding slowly to calls — when they did not get preferred assignments.
Gonzalez alleges in his claim that members of the gang retaliated against him after he reported that a deputy who belonged to the Executioners assaulted a colleague, Thomas Banuelos.
Banuelos filed a claim Tuesday alleging that the deputy who attacked him warned him not to cooperate with investigators and to lie about the assault or he would be labeled “no good” by the clique, said his attorney Alan Romero.
Also on Tuesday, Compton Mayor Aja Brown called on state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether Compton deputies had engaged in misconduct, excessive force, discriminatory policing and improper stops, searches or arrests. The city has a $22-million contract with the Sheriff’s Department for patrols and other law enforcement services.
“We demand the same treatment that deputies provide to the residents of Malibu, Rancho Palos Verdes and other affluent communities. And, according to the size of our contract with the Sheriff’s Department, we have $22 million reasons to expect it,” Brown said in a statement.


latimes--2020-08-04--San Francisco warns residents not to drop guard even as coronavirus cases decline

The public health director of San Francisco on Tuesday urged residents to remain vigilant about face coverings and physical distancing , even as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and daily count of new cases have dropped .
Dr. Grant Colfax , speaking at a virtual news conference , said about 90 new cases are found among residents every day , a number that has dropped “ a bit ” from a high point two weeks ago .
“ But it is still very concerning , ” the director said .
“ Anything above 50 cases a day continues to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high alert , and we have been there for about the last six weeks.
” He praised residents who are covering their faces properly and practicing social distancing , but he added that some are not .
If 80 % of residents wore masks and socially distanced , outbreaks of COVID-19 could be prevented , he said .
San Francisco requires face coverings for those ages 10 and older inside stores and other businesses and outside when individuals are unable to maintain six feet of distance from others .
Colfax reminded residents that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth .
“ For some people , it is just not a habit yet , ” he said .
He noted that he remembers to grab his mask along with his wallet and keys every time he leaves his home .
“ It is a habit we will need to have with us for a long time , ” he said .
He said 6,989 residents had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning , and 61 had died .
There were 92 residents in San Francisco hospitals Tuesday , “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 75 % more than in June , he said .
San Francisco continues to lead the state and nation in the rate of coronavirus testing , he said , and is working to target tests to those who are particularly vulnerable because of their age or underlying conditions and to workers who face the greatest risk of exposure .
The city will continue to “ pause ” reopening despite the “ slight slowdown ” in new cases , he added .
Demand for food has risen in San Francisco over the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday urged anyone in need to call 311 .
Lines to pick up groceries from city and community providers sometimes stretch several blocks in the city .
“ Ensuring people have access to nutritious food during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is one of our top priorities , ” Mayor London Breed said in a news release .
“ The city has really stepped up to the challenge with our meal and grocery delivery programs.
” On Tuesday , Breed extended until September a program that delivers three meals a day to seniors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Great Plates Delivered SF program has delivered 350,000 meals to elderly residents since May 18 .
The city has also delivered nearly 45,000 meals to residents forced to isolate because they tested positive for the virus or were living with someone who was infected .
Nearly 115,000 meals have been delivered to homeless individuals since April , the city said .

The public health director of San Francisco on Tuesday urged residents to remain vigilant about face coverings and physical distancing, even as the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and daily count of new cases have dropped.
Dr. Grant Colfax, speaking at a virtual news conference, said about 90 new cases are found among residents every day, a number that has dropped “a bit” from a high point two weeks ago. “But it is still very concerning,” the director said. “Anything above 50 cases a day continues to put us in the red zone, on high alert, and we have been there for about the last six weeks.”
He praised residents who are covering their faces properly and practicing social distancing, but he added that some are not. If 80% of residents wore masks and socially distanced, outbreaks of COVID-19 could be prevented, he said.
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San Francisco requires face coverings for those ages 10 and older inside stores and other businesses and outside when individuals are unable to maintain six feet of distance from others. Colfax reminded residents that masks must cover both the nose and mouth.
“For some people, it is just not a habit yet,” he said.
He noted that he remembers to grab his mask along with his wallet and keys every time he leaves his home. “It is a habit we will need to have with us for a long time,” he said.
He said 6,989 residents had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, and 61 had died. There were 92 residents in San Francisco hospitals Tuesday, “a slight drop from last week” but 75% more than in June, he said.
San Francisco continues to lead the state and nation in the rate of coronavirus testing, he said, and is working to target tests to those who are particularly vulnerable because of their age or underlying conditions and to workers who face the greatest risk of exposure.
The city will continue to “pause” reopening despite the “slight slowdown” in new cases, he added.
Demand for food has risen in San Francisco over the course of the pandemic, and city officials on Tuesday urged anyone in need to call 311. Lines to pick up groceries from city and community providers sometimes stretch several blocks in the city.
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“Ensuring people have access to nutritious food during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is one of our top priorities,” Mayor London Breed said in a news release. “The city has really stepped up to the challenge with our meal and grocery delivery programs.”
On Tuesday, Breed extended until September a program that delivers three meals a day to seniors who are unable to buy or prepare food. The Great Plates Delivered SF program has delivered 350,000 meals to elderly residents since May 18. The city has also delivered nearly 45,000 meals to residents forced to isolate because they tested positive for the virus or were living with someone who was infected. Nearly 115,000 meals have been delivered to homeless individuals since April, the city said.


latimes--2020-08-04--Coroner confirms the death of Frank Ocean's brother, 18, and the tributes pour in

Mourners left bouquets of flowers , lighted candles and a football where the Tesla had crashed .
Some embraced , unable to hold back tears ; others just stared at the scene in tragic disbelief .
A black and white picture left at the memorial had a hand-drawn heart in the corner and the initials of the two young men who had been in the car .
The note on it read : “ We love you forever.
” Ryan Moore , the 18-year-old brother of singer Frank Ocean who went by the name Ryan Breaux , died from blunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collision early Sunday morning in Thousand Oaks , the Ventura County Medical Examiner confirmed Tuesday .
Ezekial “ Zeek ” Bishop , 20 , who was driving at the time of the crash , also died of blunt force injuries , the medical examiner said .
Ventura County sheriff ’ s deputies arrived at the fiery scene just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday near Westlake Boulevard and Skelton Canyon Circle .
According to authorities , Breaux and Bishop were traveling south on Westlake when their car collided with a tree in the median , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two were pronounced dead at the scene , and the medical examiner said toxicology test results are pending .
Breaux and Bishop graduated from Oaks Christian High School in 2019 .
Bishop was a track and field athlete as well as a football player who went to attend Cal State Northridge .
Bishop ’ s personal has been turned into an online memorial , offering a place for loved ones to leave their condolences .
Breaux was the younger brother of Ocean , the acclaimed musical artist born Christopher Breaux .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their 14-year age gap .
Much like his famous brother , Breaux lived a largely private life yet often was the public muse for his brother ’ s music .
Ocean penned the song from his 2011 “ Lonny Breaux ” mixtape for his younger brother .
In it Ocean sings : And it ’ s no pressure , man Cause you ’ re special I know you wan na get big and strong quick But don ’ t skip one second ( Orion ) Breaux also was featured in Ocean ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” released in 2016 .
Breaux ’ s then-11-year-old voice can be heard in the outro where he responds to a series of questions that capture the youth and nostalgic memories of the song .
After the release of “ Blonde , ” Breaux tweeted about his brother ’ s creative process , revealing that Ocean had spent 16 hours a day perfecting the project .
He also said how relieved he was once the album was finished .
He tweeted , “ Im glad its out tho bc when im @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feed me and bring me home.
” Breaux was creative in his own right .
He had dreams of pursuing a fashion career , and his Instagram account , which has more than 32,000 followers , offered a glimpse into his life .
His last from a week ago featured him in the passenger seat of a car wearing a shimmering black shirt , staring into the distance .
While friends , family members and Ocean ’ s fans have taken to social media to offer their condolences , Ocean has not @ @ @ @ @

Mourners left bouquets of flowers, lighted candles and a football where the Tesla had crashed. Some embraced, unable to hold back tears; others just stared at the scene in tragic disbelief.
A black and white picture left at the memorial had a hand-drawn heart in the corner and the initials of the two young men who had been in the car. The note on it read: “We love you forever.”
Ryan Moore, the 18-year-old brother of singer Frank Ocean who went by the name Ryan Breaux, died from blunt force head injuries in a single vehicle collision early Sunday morning in Thousand Oaks, the Ventura County Medical Examiner confirmed Tuesday. Ezekial “Zeek” Bishop, 20, who was driving at the time of the crash, also died of blunt force injuries, the medical examiner said.
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Ventura County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the fiery scene just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday near Westlake Boulevard and Skelton Canyon Circle. According to authorities, Breaux and Bishop were traveling south on Westlake when their car collided with a tree in the median, ripping the vehicle in half. The two were pronounced dead at the scene, and the medical examiner said toxicology test results are pending.
Breaux and Bishop graduated from Oaks Christian High School in 2019. Bishop was a track and field athlete as well as a football player who went to attend Cal State Northridge. Bishop’s personal website has been turned into an online memorial, offering a place for loved ones to leave their condolences.
Breaux was the younger brother of Ocean, the acclaimed musical artist born Christopher Breaux. The two were reported to be close, despite their 14-year age gap. Much like his famous brother, Breaux lived a largely private life yet often was the public muse for his brother’s music.
Ocean penned the song “Orion” from his 2011 “Lonny Breaux” mixtape for his younger brother. In it Ocean sings:
And it’s no pressure, man
Cause you’re special
I know you wanna get big and strong quick
But don’t skip one second (Orion)
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Breaux also was featured in Ocean’s song “Futura Free” off his critically acclaimed “Blonde,” released in 2016. Breaux’s then-11-year-old voice can be heard in the outro where he responds to a series of questions that capture the youth and nostalgic memories of the song.
After the release of “Blonde,” Breaux tweeted about his brother’s creative process, revealing that Ocean had spent 16 hours a day perfecting the project. He also said how relieved he was once the album was finished. He tweeted, “Im glad its out tho bc when im @ the studio he gets focused and forgets to feed me and bring me home.”
Breaux was creative in his own right. He had dreams of pursuing a fashion career, and his Instagram account, which has more than 32,000 followers, offered a glimpse into his life. His last post from a week ago featured him in the passenger seat of a car wearing a shimmering black shirt, staring into the distance.
While friends, family members and Ocean’s fans have taken to social media to offer their condolences, Ocean has not made a public statement.


latimes--2020-08-04--California's coronavirus test result data may be flawed, says top health official

A steep decline in California ’ s coronavirus infection rate announced this week by Gov .
Gavin Newson may not be accurate , according to the state ’ s top public health official who said Tuesday that the state ’ s data system used to process COVID-19 test results is marred with technical issues .
The snafus have caused delays in analyzing test results and cast doubt on Newsom ’ s announcement Monday of a 21.2 % decline in the seven-day average rate for positive infections compared to the average from the week before .
California Health and Human Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seven-day positivity rate is absolutely affected ” by the issue .
It ’ s unclear to what extent and for how long cases have been undercounted , and how this situation differs from the more routine delays when test reporting lags over weekends .
The news comes as officials have expressed guarded optimism that the surge of COVID-19 cases in California might be peaking .
A Los Angeles Times analysis found that its first weekly reduction in new confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time in 12 weeks .
For the seven-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 59,697 new cases , a drop of 9 % from the previous week of 65,634 cases , which was a pandemic record .
On Tuesday , Los Angeles County public health officials reported an additional 1,901 coronavirus cases and 57 related deaths .
In a statement , the health department said it learned of new technical issues related to the collection of test results during an emergency meeting Monday night with state officials .
“ This issue has undercounted the county ’ s positive cases and affects the number of COVID-19 cases reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the county said .
The health department is working to contact at least 81 laboratories to obtain test results from July 26 through the present in order to determine the accurate count .
The update follows the county ’ s warning last week that it was expecting a backlog in cases “ due to previous reporting delays in the state electronic lab system.
” The following day , the county reported highs of 4,825 new coronavirus cases and 91 deaths .
Other counties , including Sacramento , Placer and Orange — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two deaths — have recently included a warning on their dashboards that case counts may not be accurate .
“ The state ’ s electronic disease reporting system has been experiencing issues processing incoming reports .
Therefore , recent data published on the Sacramento County Public Health COVID-19 dashboards are likely to be an underestimate of true cases in the County , ” Sacramento Public Health Department said .
The undercount issue does not affect hospitalization and intensive care data , Ghaly said .
Those numbers recently plateaued across California after the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week and surpassed 9,000 coronavirus-related deaths .
Some counties continue to be hit hard as others see a decline in severity .
On Tuesday , San Bernardino County reported 59 additional deaths — its highest single-day count to date .
Hospitalization data are collected differently from the state ’ s test result numbers , which is gathered through CALredie — an electronic system that feeds information from laboratories to the state and local health systems .
California Department of Public Health officials are trying to determine “ where data is getting stuck , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not sure when we ’ ll have a definitive fix to the problem.
” In the meantime , the health department is implementing manual processes to retrieve the information .
Ghaly stressed the importance of focusing on long-term trends over snapshot data during a news briefing Tuesday afternoon .

A steep decline in California’s coronavirus infection rate announced this week by Gov. Gavin Newson may not be accurate, according to the state’s top public health official who said Tuesday that the state’s data system used to process COVID-19 test results is marred with technical issues.
The problems have caused delays in analyzing test results and cast doubt on Newsom’s announcement Monday of a 21.2% decline in the seven-day average rate for positive infections compared with the average from the week before.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said that “the seven-day positivity rate is absolutely affected” by the issue. It’s unclear to what extent and for how long cases have been undercounted, and how this situation differs from the more routine delays when test reporting lags over weekends.
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The news comes as officials have expressed guarded optimism that the surge of COVID-19 cases in California might be peaking.
A Times analysis found that California has now experienced its first weekly reduction in new confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time in 12 weeks. For the seven-day period that ended Sunday, California reported 59,697 new cases, a drop of 9% from the previous week of 65,634 cases, which was a pandemic record.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County public health officials reported an additional 1,901 coronavirus cases and 57 related deaths. In a statement, the health department said it learned of new technical issues related to the collection of test results during an emergency meeting Monday night with state officials.
“This issue has undercounted the county’s positive cases and affects the number of COVID-19 cases reported each day and our contact tracing efforts,” the county said.
The health department is working to contact at least 81 laboratories to obtain test results since July 26 in order to determine the accurate count.
Tracking the coronavirus in California The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in California.
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The update follows the county’s warning last week that it was expecting a backlog in cases “due to previous reporting delays in the state electronic lab system.” The following day, the county reported highs of 4,825 new coronavirus cases and 91 deaths. Other counties, including Sacramento, Placer and Orange — which reported 263 additional cases Tuesday and two deaths — have recently included a warning on their dashboards that case counts may not be accurate.
“The state’s electronic disease reporting system has been experiencing issues processing incoming reports. Therefore, recent data published on the Sacramento County Public Health COVID-19 dashboards are likely to be an underestimate of true cases in the County,” Sacramento Public Health Department said.
The undercount issue does not affect hospitalization and intensive care data, Ghaly said. Those numbers recently plateaued across California after the state saw two days of record-setting fatalities last week and surpassed 9,000 coronavirus- related deaths.
Some counties continue to be hit hard as others see a decline in severity. On Tuesday, San Bernardino County reported 59 additional deaths — its highest single-day count to date.
Hospitalization data are collected differently than the state’s test result numbers, which are gathered through CalREDIE — an electronic system that feeds information from laboratories to the state and local health systems.
California Department of Public Health officials are trying to determine “where data is getting stuck,” Ghaly said.
“We’re not sure when we’ll have a definitive fix to the problem.”
In the meantime, the health department is implementing manual processes to retrieve the information. During a news briefing Tuesday afternoon, Ghaly stressed the importance of focusing on long-term trends over snapshot data.


latimes--2020-08-04--Earthquake: 3.2 quake felt near Coalinga, Calif.

A magnitude-3.2 earthquake was reported Tuesday afternoon at 2:28 p.m. 11 miles from Coalinga , Calif. , according to the U.S. Geological Survey .
The earthquake occurred 22 miles from Avenal , Calif. , 26 miles from Mendota , Calif. , 27 miles from Lemoore , Calif. , and 28 miles from Kerman , Calif..
In the last 10 days , there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby .
An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada , according to a recent three-year data sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1.6 miles .
Did you feel this earthquake ?
Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS .
Even if you didn ’ t feel this small earthquake , you never know when the Big One is going to strike .
Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit .
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot , a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS .
A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published .
If you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , visit our list of frequently asked questions .

The quake was reported at 2:28 p.m. 11 miles from Coalinga, Calif., according to the USGS.
A magnitude-3.2 earthquake was reported Tuesday afternoon at 2:28 p.m. 11 miles from Coalinga, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake occurred 22 miles from Avenal, Calif., 26 miles from Mendota, Calif., 27 miles from Lemoore, Calif., and 28 miles from Kerman, Calif..
In the last 10 days, there has been one earthquake of magnitude 3.0 or greater centered nearby.
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An average of 234 earthquakes with magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 occur each year in California and Nevada, according to a recent three-year data sample.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 1.6 miles. Did you feel this earthquake? Consider reporting what you felt to the USGS.
Even if you didn’t feel this small earthquake, you never know when the Big One is going to strike. Ready yourself by following our five-step earthquake preparedness guide and building your own emergency kit.
This story was automatically generated by Quakebot, a computer application that monitors the latest earthquakes detected by the USGS. A Times editor reviewed the post before it was published. If you’re interested in learning more about the system, visit our list of frequently asked questions.


latimes--2020-08-04--Fishing the L.A. River is more than a quarantine hobby. For some, it's therapy

“ It ’ s my new therapy , ” Bryant Recinos says before raising his fishing rod and whipping a hook tipped with a single corn kernel — plunk !
— into the swirling blue-brown water of the Los Angeles River on an early Saturday evening .
Recinos , 24 , exudes calm and patience .
At the beginning of the shutdown , he bought his first fishing rod and other gear , and started coming to Elysian Valley ’ s verdant stretch of the 51-mile river a couple of times a week .
Despite its concrete casing , installed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once-frequent flooding , signs of the natural river persist .
Besides birds of many feathers , it ’ s home to beefy carp , small-mouth bass , tilapia and — once upon a time — steelhead trout .
If you tilt your gaze in just the right way , away from the overpasses and concrete shores , it could be Georgia .
There are grander digs to fish — rushing rivers with glittering trout in Mammoth Lakes and Kern County — but they lack one of the L.A. River ’ s greatest strengths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 minutes for Recinos to trek from his Glendale home to his preferred spot under the 2 Freeway .
Recinos says he knows the world is a mess .
“ But for like two to three hours a day , I just don ’ t want to hear about it.
” Early in the pandemic , mass closures and fear of the coronavirus drove people to at-home hobbies , like gardening , working puzzles , baking and pouring one too many quarantinis .
Just as Los Angeles began reopening , an alarming spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city — and much of the state — back to an approximation of Square One .
After being inside for so long , “ even the trees look cute , ” said Summer Yang , of the San Gabriel Valley .
It was her first time at the river , and she looked on cheerfully as her fiancé and some friends collected crayfish in a white bucket .
Some , like Recinos , have found fishing the L.A. River to be a peaceful respite from COVID-19 , political and social turmoil and malaise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been fishing the river for years say it ’ s a new experience amid the new normal .
Destiny Reyes , 13 , asks my colleague and I if we want a sizable carp .
Maybe she pities us .
We ’ re both new to fishing and haven ’ t caught a thing for hours .
We open a plastic bag and she drops it in , still wriggling .
We first met Reyes on the river several days before , along with her dad , Omar , and brother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7th birthday , and the three were spending quality time fishing together , as they do two to three times a week .
Omar Reyes , who lives in Culver City with his family , said he had long resisted his brother ’ s invitations to fish .
Less than four months ago , he relented .
Now — pardon the pun — he ’ s hooked .
“ It takes everything away from you — all the problems , all the stress , ” said Reyes .
“ And especially with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to forget for a little bit.
” Long after last light , Maggie Harris is dragging a net into the shallow murk under a pedestrian bridge connecting Silver Lake and Atwater Village .
She shines a small light onto a crawfish lounging underwater — then another here , there , everywhere .
Her son learned all about the small lobster-like creatures in summer school , and they ’ re here to observe them doing their thing in the wild .
Echo Park resident Harris has long fished the river , and other nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the practice ’ s quietude .
“ With everything going on — it ’ s not going too far away from home , but , you know , we still get a little bit away from each other , ” Harris says .
In pre-COVID times , Kyle Ng and Tucker Phillips , two friends in their early 30s , would likely be at the climbing gym on a Tuesday evening .
But with gyms closed again and outdoor spots jam-packed by like-minded folks , they ’ re turning to a new hobby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time fishing in 10 years — and the first time he ’ s gone fishing at the L.A. River .
Muscles remember , though : He ties a hook on his line and readies his equipment .
It might be nice to go somewhere more challenging at some point , but “ this is a perfect place to practice because there ’ s not a lot of trees to get your line snagged on and — actually , I ’ m not too sure .
I haven ’ t fished it yet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m just going to be catching trash all day.
” Although Ng fishes with some frequency in other parts of the city , he recently discovered fly fishing : “ This is a new venture for us.
” Karen Barnett , a member of the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council , is catching tiny fish after tiny fish after tiny fish .
She has tapped into a veritable wellspring of baby bluegill , recognizable by a shimmering splash of its eponymous color on its cheek .
Robert Blankenship and Jim Burns , her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to see what the commotion is about .
The two have been squishing through river muck — with mud-covered toes and a rotten-egg odor to prove it — to seek out the “ big fish.
” Nothing substantial is biting this morning .
Blankenship , chapter president of Trout Unlimited , a conservation group , got Barnett into fishing her river-next-door a few years ago .
Burns , a teacher who runs a blog about fly fishing on the L.A. River , met Blankenship virtually in 2014 .
He was commenting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles Times accidentally hooking a sock while seeking out the elusive steelhead trout , which once populated the river but hasn ’ t been seen there since 1948 .
Blankenship initially bristled at what he perceived as criticism of his fishing skills .
They ’ ve been friends ever since .
“ The good part of what we ’ ve experienced is the possibility to get outside and how to maybe slow down and take advantage of what we have in Los Angeles .
And one of the things that we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burns says .
“ For me , that ’ s a big upside of this whole terrible crisis.
” As a seafood warehouse worker , 27-year-old Alex Mendoza is regularly inundated with fish from China , Peru , Ecuador “ and all parts of the world.
” He processes and distributes the bounty from nearby ports and helps ship the products locally and throughout the country .
So it ’ s perhaps a little surprising that the South Los Angeles resident spends his leisure time with fish too .
About twice a month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mind — and maybe a carp or two .
On a recent Saturday evening , with daylight fading , Mendoza has yet to snag a fish .
But he ’ s content passing the time with a friend , who sits next to him on a concrete slab .
“ This is a nice distraction for me , ” he says .
“ I spend so much time just stuck at home during these times thinking about the bills and the virus .
It ’ s really stressful.
” Not a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish out of the river , except Michael Atkins , communications and impact manager with the nonprofit Friends of the L.A. River .
“ I ’ m interested to try it , under the right circumstance , but I don ’ t think anyone would officially advise it , ” Atkins said .
Most people queried said they catch-and-release or offer the fish to those who live in nearby homeless encampments .
The river was designed to collect runoff from a 900-square-mile watershed , meaning the fish essentially swim in whatever comes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , the water quality is “ actually pretty good , ” said Sabrina Drill , an expert in urban ecology and aquatic invasive species , last year .
A 2007 toxicity study found all the fish were under the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment ’ s limit for several contaminants , including mercury and PCB .
With no particular toxins or explicit danger , it ’ s the unknowns that make fisherfolk wary , according to Atkins .
But for the brave or culinarily brazen , Night + Market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles River carp larb recipe , a hyper-local version of a traditional Thai meat salad .

“It’s my new therapy,” Bryant Recinos says before raising his fishing rod and whipping a hook tipped with a single corn kernel — plunk! — into the swirling blue-brown water of the Los Angeles River on an early Saturday evening.
Recinos, 24, exudes calm and patience. At the beginning of the shutdown, he bought his first fishing rod and other gear, and started coming to Elysian Valley’s verdant stretch of the 51-mile river a couple of times a week.
Despite its concrete casing, installed in the late 1930s to rein in once-frequent flooding, signs of the natural river persist. Besides birds of many feathers, it’s home to beefy carp, small-mouth bass, tilapia and — once upon a time — steelhead trout. If you tilt your gaze in just the right way, away from the overpasses and concrete shores, it could be Georgia.
There are grander digs to fish — rushing rivers with glittering trout in Mammoth Lakes and Kern County — but they lack one of the L.A. River’s greatest strengths: convenience. It takes less than 20 minutes for Recinos to trek from his Glendale home to his preferred spot under the 2 Freeway.
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Recinos says he knows the world is a mess. “But for like two to three hours a day, I just don’t want to hear about it.”
A man fishes the Los Angeles River in late July. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Early in the pandemic, mass closures and fear of the coronavirus drove people to at-home hobbies, like gardening, working puzzles, baking and pouring one too many quarantinis. Just as Los Angeles began reopening, an alarming spike in virus cases and hospitalizations sent the city — and much of the state — back to an approximation of Square One.
After being inside for so long, “even the trees look cute,” said Summer Yang, of the San Gabriel Valley. It was her first time at the river, and she looked on cheerfully as her fiancé and some friends collected crayfish in a white bucket.
Some, like Recinos, have found fishing the L.A. River to be a peaceful respite from COVID-19, political and social turmoil and malaise of all flavors. Even those who have been fishing the river for years say it’s a new experience amid the new normal.
The Reyes family
The Reyes family, with their fishing gear, on a warm afternoon. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times)
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Destiny Reyes, 13, asks my colleague and I if we want a sizable carp. Maybe she pities us. We’re both new to fishing and haven’t caught a thing for hours. We open a plastic bag and she drops it in, still wriggling.
We first met Reyes on the river several days before, along with her dad, Omar, and brother, Daniel. It was Daniel’s 7th birthday, and the three were spending quality time fishing together, as they do two to three times a week.
Omar Reyes, who lives in Culver City with his family, said he had long resisted his brother’s invitations to fish. Less than four months ago, he relented. Now — pardon the pun — he’s hooked.
“It takes everything away from you — all the problems, all the stress,” said Reyes. “And especially with this pandemic, it’s so nice to forget for a little bit.”
Maggie Harris
Maggie Harris, an Echo Park resident, fishes three to four times a week. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Long after last light, Maggie Harris is dragging a net into the shallow murk under a pedestrian bridge connecting Silver Lake and Atwater Village. She shines a small light onto a crawfish lounging underwater — then another here, there, everywhere. Her son learned all about the small lobster-like creatures in summer school, and they’re here to observe them doing their thing in the wild.
Advertisement
Echo Park resident Harris has long fished the river, and other nearby urban oases, but quarantine has emphasized the practice’s quietude.
“With everything going on — it’s not going too far away from home, but, you know, we still get a little bit away from each other,” Harris says.
Kyle Ng and Tucker Phillips
In pre-COVID times, Kyle Ng and Tucker Phillips, two friends in their early 30s, would likely be at the climbing gym on a Tuesday evening.
But with gyms closed again and outdoor spots jam-packed by like-minded folks, they’re turning to a new hobby.
It’s Phillips’ first time fishing in 10 years — and the first time he’s gone fishing at the L.A. River. Muscles remember, though: He ties a hook on his line and readies his equipment.
Advertisement
It might be nice to go somewhere more challenging at some point, but “this is a perfect place to practice because there’s not a lot of trees to get your line snagged on and — actually, I’m not too sure. I haven’t fished it yet. I don’t know if I’m just going to be catching trash all day.”
Although Ng fishes with some frequency in other parts of the city, he recently discovered fly fishing: “This is a new venture for us.”
Karen Barnett, Bob Blankenship and Jim Burns
Bob Blankenship and fiancee Karen Barnett live in Atwater Village and go to the river several times a week. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Karen Barnett, a member of the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council, is catching tiny fish after tiny fish after tiny fish. She has tapped into a veritable wellspring of baby bluegill, recognizable by a shimmering splash of its eponymous color on its cheek.
Robert Blankenship and Jim Burns, her fiancé and friend, respectively, walk over to see what the commotion is about. The two have been squishing through river muck — with mud-covered toes and a rotten-egg odor to prove it — to seek out the “big fish.” Nothing substantial is biting this morning.
One of the many baby bluegills Barnett caught on a morning fishing outing. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times )
Blankenship, chapter president of Trout Unlimited, a conservation group, got Barnett into fishing her river-next-door a few years ago. Burns, a teacher who runs a blog about fly fishing on the L.A. River, met Blankenship virtually in 2014. He was commenting on a 2014 photo of Blankenship in the Los Angeles Times accidentally hooking a sock while seeking out the elusive steelhead trout, which once populated the river but hasn’t been seen there since 1948. Blankenship initially bristled at what he perceived as criticism of his fishing skills. They’ve been friends ever since.
“The good part of what we’ve experienced is the possibility to get outside and how to maybe slow down and take advantage of what we have in Los Angeles. And one of the things that we have is the Los Angeles River,” Burns says. “For me, that’s a big upside of this whole terrible crisis.”
Alex Mendoza
Alex Mendoza fishes at the Los Angeles River on a Saturday evening with a friend. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times )
As a seafood warehouse worker, 27-year-old Alex Mendoza is regularly inundated with fish from China, Peru, Ecuador “and all parts of the world.” He processes and distributes the bounty from nearby ports and helps ship the products locally and throughout the country.
So it’s perhaps a little surprising that the South Los Angeles resident spends his leisure time with fish too. About twice a month, Mendoza comes out to find peace of mind — and maybe a carp or two.
On a recent Saturday evening, with daylight fading, Mendoza has yet to snag a fish. But he’s content passing the time with a friend, who sits next to him on a concrete slab.
Advertisement
“This is a nice distraction for me,” he says. “I spend so much time just stuck at home during these times thinking about the bills and the virus. It’s really stressful.”
Chow down or throw ’em back?
Edgar Alvarez, 23, of Cypress Park, taught himself to fish about four years ago by watching YouTube videos. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Not a single person interviewed said they would eat a fish out of the river, except Michael Atkins, communications and impact manager with the nonprofit Friends of the L.A. River. “I’m interested to try it, under the right circumstance, but I don’t think anyone would officially advise it,” Atkins said. Most people queried said they catch-and-release or offer the fish to those who live in nearby homeless encampments.
How to fish the L.A. River legally Get a sport fishing license: It is required for anglers over the age of 16.
Cost: About $50 for an annual license. About $16 for a one-day license.
Where to buy: Annual and short-term licenses can be purchased online, through an authorized agent (including some bait shops and outdoor retail stores), or at one of the CDFW sales offices. Buy a license
The river was designed to collect runoff from a 900-square-mile watershed, meaning the fish essentially swim in whatever comes in from our streets, rooftops and driveways. Still, the water quality is “actually pretty good,” said Sabrina Drill, an expert in urban ecology and aquatic invasive species, last year. A 2007 toxicity study found all the fish were under the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s limit for several contaminants, including mercury and PCB.
With no particular toxins or explicit danger, it’s the unknowns that make fisherfolk wary, according to Atkins. But for the brave or culinarily brazen, Night + Market chef-owner Kris Yenbamroong has developed a Los Angeles River carp larb recipe, a hyper-local version of a traditional Thai meat salad.


latimes--2020-08-04--AIDS nonprofit sues to halt L.A. real estate projects tied to Huizar and Englander

AIDS Healthcare Foundation , a global nonprofit that has been a pugnacious player in local politics , sued the city of Los Angeles on Tuesday to stop some real estate developments vetted under Councilman Jose Huizar from moving forward .
Huizar has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that include bribery , money laundering and racketeering in an ongoing pay-to-play probe .
Federal prosecutors have accused him of heading up a criminal enterprise fueled by cash bribes and lavish gifts from real estate developers seeking to build new skyscrapers in his downtown district .
In its lawsuit , AHF argues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the building projects that were vetted under a council committee that was headed by Huizar and included Mitchell Englander , a former councilman who admitted to lying to federal investigators about cash and other gifts he had received from a businessman seeking to meet developers .
The nonprofit wants the court to stop the city from spending any money or taking further action to “ facilitate , review , process , or see to completion ” projects in which Huizar or Englander were allegedly engaged in violating California ’ s Political Reform Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from making decisions in which they have a financial interest .
Although AHF mentioned four projects tied to the federal case , the lawsuit leaves the door open to blocking other projects , saying that “ it is highly likely that the approvals of other real estate projects are similarly tainted.
” “ If we believe that this was a systemic problem , then it seems like a deeper investigation is required , ” AHF President Michael Weinstein said , calling for a “ top-to-bottom review ” of whether committee decisions were corrupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulling this weed out by its roots.
” Weinstein said his group hadn ’ t determined how that investigation might occur but said it should be independent and start with projects with community opposition .
AHF ultimately wants the court to toss out any city approvals for projects where it is shown that there has been a violation of the state law and the project may not have otherwise been approved .
“ The laws need teeth — and it ’ s important for the city to truly enforce the law , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a news conference Tuesday , applauding the filing of the lawsuit .
Rob Wilcox , a spokesman for Los Angeles City Atty .
Mike Feuer , said their office would review the complaint and had no further comment Tuesday .
Several L.A. City Council members have called to reassess city approvals for projects involved in the criminal case , but whether the city can legally stop those building plans could depend on a long list of factors , including how far along developers are in the building process and what kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles projects have been mentioned in the Huizar indictment as being tied to alleged bribery schemes .
Real estate developers behind those projects have not been publicly charged or even named in the federal case ; The Times and other media outlets have identified them based on key details included in the criminal complaint and indictment .
The AIDS nonprofit works globally to treat and advocate for patients but has also become known as a vocal force on housing and development issues in Los Angeles and across the state .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles and suffered several defeats in such cases .
Three years ago , it campaigned unsuccessfully for an L.A. ballot measure to crack down on “ mega projects.
” Some critics questioned whether its newest lawsuit was simply a gambit to slow or stop local development regardless of its merits .
“ This seems to be a convenient excuse for them to say , once again , ‘ We need to stop development , ’ ” said Michael Lens , a UCLA associate professor of urban planning and public policy who opposed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also sharply criticized how the city handles housing for homeless people and has started providing housing itself , drawing concerns from some tenants about building conditions .
It is also pushing to expand rent control : AHF unsuccessfully backed a state ballot measure two years ago that would have repealed state restrictions on rent control and is now championing a new , narrower state measure that would allow local governments to expand which units are covered .

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a global nonprofit that has been a pugnacious player in local politics, sued the city of Los Angeles on Tuesday to stop some real estate developments vetted under Councilman Jose Huizar from moving forward.
Huizar has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that include bribery, money laundering and racketeering in an ongoing pay-to-play probe. Federal prosecutors have accused him of heading up a criminal enterprise fueled by cash bribes and lavish gifts from real estate developers seeking to build new skyscrapers in his downtown district.
In its lawsuit, AHF argues that the city should pause some of the building projects that were vetted under a council committee that was headed by Huizar and included Mitchell Englander, a former councilman who admitted to lying to federal investigators about cash and other gifts he had received from a businessman seeking to meet developers.
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The nonprofit wants the court to stop the city from spending any money or taking further action to “facilitate, review, process, or see to completion” projects in which Huizar or Englander were allegedly engaged in violating California’s Political Reform Act, which includes a provision barring officials from making decisions in which they have a financial interest.
Although AHF mentioned four projects tied to the federal case, the lawsuit leaves the door open to blocking other projects, saying that “it is highly likely that the approvals of other real estate projects are similarly tainted.”
“If we believe that this was a systemic problem, then it seems like a deeper investigation is required,” AHF President Michael Weinstein said, calling for a “top-to-bottom review” of whether committee decisions were corrupted. “Otherwise you’re not pulling this weed out by its roots.”
Weinstein said his group hadn’t determined how that investigation might occur but said it should be independent and start with projects with community opposition. AHF ultimately wants the court to toss out any city approvals for projects where it is shown that there has been a violation of the state law and the project may not have otherwise been approved.
“The laws need teeth — and it’s important for the city to truly enforce the law,” attorney and council candidate Grace Yoo said at a news conference Tuesday, applauding the filing of the lawsuit.
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Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer, said their office would review the complaint and had no further comment Tuesday.
Several L.A. City Council members have called to reassess city approvals for projects involved in the criminal case, but whether the city can legally stop those building plans could depend on a long list of factors, including how far along developers are in the building process and what kind of approvals they have obtained.
Four downtown Los Angeles projects have been mentioned in the Huizar indictment as being tied to alleged bribery schemes. Real estate developers behind those projects have not been publicly charged or even named in the federal case; The Times and other media outlets have identified them based on key details included in the criminal complaint and indictment.
The AIDS nonprofit works globally to treat and advocate for patients but has also become known as a vocal force on housing and development issues in Los Angeles and across the state.
It has sued to challenge numerous projects in Los Angeles and suffered several defeats in such cases. Three years ago, it campaigned unsuccessfully for an L.A. ballot measure to crack down on “mega projects.” Some critics questioned whether its newest lawsuit was simply a gambit to slow or stop local development regardless of its merits.
“This seems to be a convenient excuse for them to say, once again, ‘We need to stop development,’” said Michael Lens, a UCLA associate professor of urban planning and public policy who opposed the ballot measure championed by AHF.
AHF has also sharply criticized how the city handles housing for homeless people and has started providing housing itself, drawing concerns from some tenants about building conditions. It is also pushing to expand rent control: AHF unsuccessfully backed a state ballot measure two years ago that would have repealed state restrictions on rent control and is now championing a new, narrower state measure that would allow local governments to expand which units are covered.


latimes--2020-08-04--L.A. County D.A. Jackie Lacey's husband charged with assault in gun-waving incident

The husband of Los Angeles County Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey has been charged with multiple counts of assault in connection with a March incident recorded on video in which he waved a gun at protesters outside the couple ’ s Granada Hills home , according to court filings made public Tuesday .
The California attorney general ’ s office filed three counts of misdemeanor assault with a firearm against David Lacey on Monday , records show .
Lacey had been under investigation for several months after video surfaced of him brandishing a handgun on his doorstep on March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aug.13 , the attorney general ’ s office said .
David Lacey is not currently in police custody , a representative for the district attorney ’ s reelection campaign said .
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department but will be prosecuted by the California Department of Justice to avoid any conflict of interest .
David Lacey previously worked as an investigative auditor in the district attorney ’ s office .
The chaotic scene , much of which was captured in cellphone video , unfolded when protesters affiliated with Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descended on the Laceys ’ Granada Hills home for a predawn protest .
The group had banged on drums and gathered in the street before three of them approached Lacey ’ s home and knocked on the door .
Footage shows David Lacey open the door and point a handgun in the direction of the protesters .
“ I will shoot you .
Get off of my porch , ” he said in the video .
Melina Abdullah , one of the city ’ s most visible Black Lives Matter activists and among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was among those David Lacey allegedly aimed the weapon at .
At a news conference after the incident , Jackie Lacey apologized and said her husband was reacting in fear , as she had received death threats during a contentious reelection campaign .
Lacey will face former San Francisco Dist .
Atty .
George Gascón in the November general election .
In a statement Tuesday , Lacey again cited the vitriolic campaign as a reason for her husband to be worried about their safety .
“ The events that took place earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain .
My husband acted in fear for my safety after we were subjected to months of harassment that included a death threat no less than a week earlier , ” she said .
“ Protesters arrived at my house shortly after 5 a.m. while I was upstairs .
My husband felt that we were in danger and acted out of genuine concern for our well-being.
” In March , The Times asked the district attorney ’ s office to provide additional information about threats faced by the Laceys .
At the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family had received “ numerous documented threats … including a death threat ” in recent weeks .
A protester also rushed toward the stage shouting at Lacey during a January debate .
Only one of the threats to Lacey was serious enough to be referred to an outside law enforcement agency , however , and Long Beach police told The Times in March that investigators did not “ believe the suspect intended to carry out the reported threat.
” David Lacey ’ s defense attorney , Samuel Tyre , said his “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and always to protect his wife and his family and to keep them safe from physical harm.
” He declined to comment on the facts of the case .
Carl Douglas , the civil rights attorney representing Abdullah and two other protesters named in the complaint , described the Laceys ’ explanation that they were in fear for their lives as “ laughable.
” He said that the Laceys ’ home has a doorbell equipped with a camera that would have made clear the protesters at their doorstep were unarmed .
“ Rarely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this space , have I ever been so pleasantly surprised to see justice in action , that [ Atty .
Gen. ] Xavier Becerra and his team would understand the wrongfulness and the maliciousness of David Lacey pulling a handgun on peaceful protesters , ” he said .
Abdullah said she was thankful for Becerra ’ s decision , but also questioned why felony charges weren ’ t filed , suggesting David Lacey was given preferential treatment due to his status .
Abdullah also scoffed at the idea that the Laceys felt threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with her and the other two protesters at the door .
“ I would think that if you ’ re afraid you would stay in the house and call the police because you were in fear , ” said Abdullah , a professor at Cal State L.A. “ They weren ’ t in fear .
They were agitated.
” Laurie Levenson , a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor , said felony charges would have been excessive .
Several circumstances — David Lacey ’ s knowledge of the prior threats against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was at his home and his lack of a criminal record — were all likely mitigating factors the attorney general ’ s office considered , Levenson said .
“ I don ’ t know whether he is thinking particularly clearly at 5 a.m. when people are on his doorstep and there has been increasing harassment of his wife , ” she said , adding that she did not condone David Lacey ’ s behavior .
“ It ’ s easy to say he shouldn ’ t have been so afraid , he should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unwise decision .
But making an unwise decision doesn ’ t always end up with a felony or even a criminal charge.
” Protests at Lacey ’ s office and home demanding that she resign for failing to prosecute police killings have become more frequent in the run-up to her November contest with Gascón .
During one event in late June , demonstrators and police officers had a brief standoff down the block from her home after some protesters began to pile mattresses and other debris on top of LAPD cruisers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ descended on the neighborhood , but the confrontation ultimately ended without arrests or injuries .
Lacey is in a tough reelection battle amid nationwide calls for criminal justice reform that have ramped up following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor .
Gascón has picked up endorsements from progressive luminaries such as Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in recent months , while prominent politicians such aslike U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff and Ted Lieu have withdrawn their support from Lacey .
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has also signaled that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incumbent .

The husband of Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey has been charged with multiple counts of assault in connection with a March incident recorded on video in which he waved a gun at protesters outside the couple’s Granada Hills home, according to court filings made public Tuesday.
The California attorney general’s office filed three counts of misdemeanor assault with a firearm against David Lacey on Monday, records show. Lacey had been under investigation for several months after video surfaced of him brandishing a handgun on his doorstep on March 2.
An arraignment is scheduled for Aug.13, the attorney general’s office said. David Lacey is not currently in police custody, a representative for the district attorney’s reelection campaign said.
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The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department but will be prosecuted by the California Department of Justice to avoid any conflict of interest. David Lacey previously worked as an investigative auditor in the district attorney’s office.
The chaotic scene, much of which was captured in cellphone video, unfolded when protesters affiliated with Black Lives Matter L.A. and other local organizations descended on the Laceys’ Granada Hills home for a predawn protest. The group had banged on drums and gathered in the street before three of them approached Lacey’s home and knocked on the door.
Footage shows David Lacey open the door and point a handgun in the direction of the protesters.
“I will shoot you. Get off of my porch,” he said in the video.
Melina Abdullah, one of the city’s most visible Black Lives Matter activists and among the district attorney’s loudest critics, was among those David Lacey allegedly aimed the weapon at.
#BREAKING This morning Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s husband pulled a gun out on Black Lives Matter activists who protested his wife in front of their house. @BLMLA pic.twitter.com/wnCFMMvaWV — Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) March 2, 2020
At a news conference after the incident, Jackie Lacey apologized and said her husband was reacting in fear, as she had received death threats during a contentious reelection campaign. Lacey will face former San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascón in the November general election.
In a statement Tuesday, Lacey again cited the vitriolic campaign as a reason for her husband to be worried about their safety.
“The events that took place earlier this year have caused my family immense pain. My husband acted in fear for my safety after we were subjected to months of harassment that included a death threat no less than a week earlier,” she said. “Protesters arrived at my house shortly after 5 a.m. while I was upstairs. My husband felt that we were in danger and acted out of genuine concern for our well-being.”
In March, The Times asked the district attorney’s office to provide additional information about threats faced by the Laceys. At the time, a spokeswoman for the office said the family had received “numerous documented threats … including a death threat” in recent weeks. A protester also rushed toward the stage shouting at Lacey during a January debate.
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Only one of the threats to Lacey was serious enough to be referred to an outside law enforcement agency, however, and Long Beach police told The Times in March that investigators did not “believe the suspect intended to carry out the reported threat.”
David Lacey’s defense attorney, Samuel Tyre, said his “client’s human instinct is forever and always to protect his wife and his family and to keep them safe from physical harm.” He declined to comment on the facts of the case.
Carl Douglas, the civil rights attorney representing Abdullah and two other protesters named in the complaint, described the Laceys’ explanation that they were in fear for their lives as “laughable.” He said that the Laceys’ home has a doorbell equipped with a camera that would have made clear the protesters at their doorstep were unarmed.
“Rarely, in 40 years of toiling in this space, have I ever been so pleasantly surprised to see justice in action, that [Atty. Gen.] Xavier Becerra and his team would understand the wrongfulness and the maliciousness of David Lacey pulling a handgun on peaceful protesters,” he said.
Abdullah said she was thankful for Becerra’s decision, but also questioned why felony charges weren’t filed, suggesting David Lacey was given preferential treatment due to his status. Abdullah also scoffed at the idea that the Laceys felt threatened, noting that Jackie Lacey was familiar with her and the other two protesters at the door.
“I would think that if you’re afraid you would stay in the house and call the police because you were in fear,” said Abdullah, a professor at Cal State L.A. “They weren’t in fear. They were agitated.”
Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor, said felony charges would have been excessive. Several circumstances — David Lacey’s knowledge of the prior threats against his wife, the fact that he was at his home and his lack of a criminal record — were all likely mitigating factors the attorney general’s office considered, Levenson said.
“I don’t know whether he is thinking particularly clearly at 5 a.m. when people are on his doorstep and there has been increasing harassment of his wife,” she said, adding that she did not condone David Lacey’s behavior. “It’s easy to say he shouldn’t have been so afraid, he should have called the police, he made an unwise decision. But making an unwise decision doesn’t always end up with a felony or even a criminal charge.”
Protests at Lacey’s office and home demanding that she resign for failing to prosecute police killings have become more frequent in the run-up to her November contest with Gascón.
During one event in late June, demonstrators and police officers had a brief standoff down the block from her home after some protesters began to pile mattresses and other debris on top of LAPD cruisers in the area. Officers in riot gear descended on the neighborhood, but the confrontation ultimately ended without arrests or injuries.
Lacey is in a tough reelection battle amid nationwide calls for criminal justice reform that have ramped up following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Gascón has picked up endorsements from progressive luminaries such as Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in recent months, while prominent politicians such as U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff and Ted Lieu have withdrawn their support from Lacey. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has also signaled that he is reconsidering his endorsement of the incumbent.