Lawrence Wolf - Part 24

Holiday Cheer Leads to Holiday Lockdown with Los Angeles DUI Arrests

Along with family gatherings and gift exchanges, the holidays bring an increased police presence on city streets and highways. This heightened presence also takes the form of multiple DUI checkpoints which Los Angeles motorists have to deal with. According to a Los Angeles Times blog, the week leading up to, and including Christmas weekend, saw hundreds of individuals arrested for operating motor vehicles while under the influence. Reportedly, more than 1,400 people (a slight increase from 2008 figures) were arrested in Los Angeles for DUI during the weeklong crackdown.

DUI checkpoints are meant to help curb the number of impaired drivers that are operating motor vehicles on California’s roads and highways. However, not all individuals deemed to be under the influence are in fact guilty of such action. That is, improperly calibrated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) devices can declare false positives, law enforcement can be improperly trained to handle such equipment, and field sobriety tests may not be properly administered. With the holidays such a prime time for law enforcement to utilize DUI checkpoints, all officers involved in manning the checkpoints need to be properly trained. They must also ensure that their BAC measuring devices are functioning as they’re supposed to.

Slight Rise in 2008 Santa Clarita Hate Crimes

In 2008, the number of hate crimes nationwide dropped. However, the Santa Clarita Valley actually experienced a slight increase in such crimes, with the number of reported incidents increasing from 27 to 30. According to the-signal.com, the increase in hate crimes has come at the heels of a decrease in the number of violent and other more common crimes. Compared to other county areas, Santa Clarita’s hate crime numbers are still relatively low, although current numbers are more than twice what they were in 2004. From 2007 to 2008, the Santa Clarita Valley saw an 11% increase in hate crimes, according to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Neighboring Los Angeles County meanwhile saw a 4% decrease in its number of hate crimes, although it still reported 729 hate crimes in 2008; a far cry from Santa Clarita County’s mere 30 incidents.

According to a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, the number of hate crimes “is increasing every year.” Hate crimes mostly center-around sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. The degree and severity of a hate crime can vary greatly, with crimes ranging from simple acts of vandalism to more serious instances of assault. Consequently, charges associated with hate crimes can also vary. However, regardless of the crime, all details need to be thoroughly examined in order to determine as accurately as possible what actually happened.

Arrests Made in West Hollywood Robberies

Police may have caught a break in a string of robberies that have recently occurred in West Los Angeles. According to a Los Angeles Times article, four suspects were observed driving a white Toyota Sienna around the robbery area late at night. Allegedly, the suspects fled on foot from a gas station once they were approached by police, who attempted to follow and locate the above mentioned vehicle for the better part of an hour.

Reportedly, one of the suspects, after brandishing a weapon, was shot in the leg and then apprehended by police officers. A second suspect was taken into custody a short time thereafter, but the two other suspects remain at large. Police initially decided to follow the suspects’ vehicle because of erratic driving in local area parking lots. No further details about the two remaining suspects were available.

Criminal Charges Still Pending in Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Case

The circumstances surrounding Michael Jackson’s death may have cleared up over the last few months, but details surrounding criminal charges are still being determined. Reportedly, decisions regarding criminal charges connected to the pop singer’s death will not be made before 2010. According to the Los Angeles Times, the evidence involved in the case, much of which is complicated medical data, is so extensive that outside medical experts have been called in to help determine the scope of negligent action that played a role in Jackson’s death.

Jackson died on June 25th, the official cause determined to have been “acute propfol intoxication.” Dr. Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, remains the primary suspect. While specific charges are still pending, manslaughter is one charge that will certainly be sought in connection to the death. Ultimately, this case is emblematic of the careful examination that should accompany all criminal investigations. Regardless of the circumstances or the scope of the investigation, every detail should be thoroughly examined to ensure that all available information is present during the trial process.

Grim Sleeper Resurfaces in Los Angeles After Years of Dormancy

According to an article in L.A. Weekly, a Los Angeles serial killer dubbed the “Grim Sleeper” has resurfaced over the past few years, rekindling his propensity for murder that originally began in 1985.

Reportedly, a composite drawing of the male suspect, as well as vehicle descriptions, have been re-released by the LAPD, in hopes that it might spark some clue as to the man’s identity. Police have been investigating the slayings for over two decades, and have connected both DNA and ballistics evidence to a slew of killings that have taken place over the years.The Los Angeles City Council has offered a reward of $500,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man.

Number of Sex Offenders Growing and Law Enforcement Can’t Keep Up

A CBS News report recently talked about the dilemma facing law enforcement agencies in regard to the ever increasing number of sex offenders. That is, with the number of registered sex offenders now teetering around 716,000, representative of a 78% increase since 2001 according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, it is becoming more and more difficult for law enforcement to keep a watchful eye over parolees that still may represent a high risk at repeat offending. The article mentions one such offender, released from prison on parole, who in a matter of months was once again apprehended and charged with child molestation.

With such an influx of individuals being released into the general public, law enforcement is allegedly ill-prepared to effectively monitor them all. This has led some to question whether or not offenders on parole are any different than individuals that simply haven’t been caught yet.

Man Convicted of Murder in L.A. Has Appeal Denied

The Los Angeles Times recently reported that a 28-year-old man’s request to have his death sentence removed was denied by a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge. The man was convicted for the murders of two past girlfriends, the second of which occurred because the second victim, the man’s girlfriend at the time, refused to help him cover up the murder of his first girlfriend. The judge labeled that man as “coldblooded” as he denied him a reduction in his prison sentence.

Allegedly, the convicted man was motivated by jealousy in the first slaying. The second slaying apparently occurred simply because the victim refused to assist in covering up the first murder. According to the report, the man’s defense attorney argued that the man was mentally retarded, suffered damage from his mother drinking alcohol while pregnant, and was a habitual cocaine user since the age of 11. The judge however dismissed the arguments, citing the man as “cunning” and quite capable of having committed the murders while knowing what he was doing.

Medical Marijuana Shops Marred By Profit Seekers

Medical marijuana shops have posed an interesting dilemma for marijuana users, shop proprietors, and law enforcement officers alike. There is definitely a fine line between allowed and disallowed activity taking place within these shops, and any accusation of illegal activity needs to be thoroughly investigated before charges are filed against innocent individuals. However, a tendency to assume rather than investigate has led some individuals to question whether or not their legal rights are being infringed upon by overzealous officers of the law.

According to a reuters.com article, the number of medical marijuana shops in Los Angeles has greatly increased over the last few years, with reportedly 1,000 shops now operating in the area. Marijuana was decriminalized in the state of California in 1996, and a ballot measure was passed in 2003 that allowed the substance to be cultivated and distributed to those individuals with medical prescriptions. These marijuana dispensaries are not intended to turn a profit, but are instead allowed to accept small donations that are meant to help curb the costs of cultivating the marijuana and other overhead costs. However, some of these dispensaries are allegedly making a profit. This is due to patrons who frequent the dispensaries who have valid prescriptions to fill along with so-called recreational users that acquire prescriptions. The latter users are thought to receive prescriptions from doctors who fill such prescriptions all day while operating out of make shift offices set up specifically for such a purpose.

Car Fleeing from Bellflower DUI Checkpoint Injures Children

A three-car traffic accident in Bellflower has left a 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old boy in critical condition. The children’s grandparents, who were also in the vehicle with the children, only sustained minor injuries. According to the Los Angeles Times, the traffic collision occurred on Artesia Boulevard. The vehicle that caused the crash was reportedly fleeing from police after the driver of the vehicle failed to stop at a DUI checkpoint. The three men in the fleeing vehicle, which was also reportedly stolen, left the accident scene on foot, but were later apprehended by law enforcement. The occupants of the third car involved in the crash suffered minor injuries as well.

There was no report of whether or not the individuals in the stolen car were under the influence of alcohol, or were simply worried that the traffic checkpoint would somehow reveal to authorities that the car was in fact stolen. Regardless of the situation, it is never a good idea to flee from law enforcement officials. Essentially, had the individuals simply gone through the DUI checkpoint and by chance been apprehended, they would only be facing theft charges relating to the car, and possibly DUI charges if in fact the driver was impaired while operating the vehicle. Now though, the occupants of the vehicle are responsible for an accident that led to personal injury, property damage, evading arrest, and other charges that the article may not even have touched on.

White-Collar Medicare Fraud Lands 20 in Custody

Instances of white-collar crime involving Medicare have resulted in the indictment of 331 people across the country since March of 2007. According to the Associated Press, 20 people have recently been charged with filing fraudulent Medicare claims that amounted to the astronomical amount of $26 million. Reportedly, the fraudulent claims took the form of billing for pricey medical equipment that was not required to help any individual with his or her rehabilitation. In some instances, Medicare was billed for equipment that was never received, and in some cases billed for equipment that was supposedly purchased by individuals who were no longer even alive.

Medicare fraud is a problem that has plagued the health care industry for some time, costing the nation an estimated $60 billion each year. What makes many of these cases different though is the involvement local gangs have taken on as of late. That is, according to the article, one individual was accused of recruiting relatives and individuals linked to a Southern California gang to act as owners for fraudulent medical equipment companies. Furthermore, gang involvement has also resulted in acts of violence being enacted against individuals, typically to settle debts owed stemming from the funds collected on behalf of the fraudulent activity.

White-collar crime in Los Angeles is often non-violent, and involves either the theft of intellectual property, embezzlement of some kind, or defrauding a person or group out of money or services. White-collar crime can carry with it significant monetary fines, jail time, and can ultimately affect an individual’s ability to secure gainful employment even years after the alleged offense took place. In all instances where an individual is accused of crime, a white-collar defense attorney should be immediately retained in order to provide the accused with the strongest possible defense that their case warrants.