South American gangs target US luxury homes; police say it’s part of a larger network

burglary-in-progress

Important Takeaways:

  • Luxury home burglary wave: LAPD, Scottsdale police intensify efforts against organized South American gangs
  • The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has initiated a task force to combat the increasing incidence of Latin American gangs targeting upscale residences in Southern California.
  • LAPD’s Chief Dominic Choi stated that there has been a significant uptick in burglaries carried out by organized groups primarily originating from Chile, with individuals also originating from Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.
  • Meanwhile, in Scottsdale, Arizona, law enforcement has made three arrests linked to “dinner-time burglaries,” part of a broader series of thefts attributed to South American crime rings.
  • Scottsdale residents have expressed concern over the professionalism and strategic nature of these criminal operations.
  • The criminal groups are known for targeting homes situated adjacent to natural features such as washes or golf courses, typically gaining entry through windows and focusing on valuables in primary bedrooms and closets.
  • Despite law enforcement efforts, authorities believe that additional suspects may still be at large, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by South American organized crime groups operating within the United States.
  • Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther detailed more on the trio’s arrests on March 12 during a press conference.
  • “During questioning, again, not only did they admit to why they were here, they also admitted to the interstate component of that and that they were doing burglaries in the state of California,” he said.
  • “All three. All three came here legally on the visa waiver program,” he said.
  • “It’s a big deal. It’s impacting Scottsdale, it’s impacting the Valley, it’s impacting the state, it’s impacting the country,” he said.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Website has been removed for posting 9,300 photos of officers with bounties

Defund the Police

Mathew 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Important Takeaways:

  • A new low: Anti-cop group sued by LAPD for posting 9,300 photos of officers with bounties
  • Three Los Angeles police officers are suing the owner of killercop.com, accusing him of publishing their photos on his website and putting out a “bounty” on them.
  • It is the first legal action stemming from the Los Angeles Police Department’s release of the names and photos of almost every sworn officer — more than 9,300 officers, including some who work undercover — as part of a public records request.
  • In a tweet mentioned in the lawsuit, Steven Sutcliffe, who posts under the handle @KillerCop1984, allegedly wrote, “Remember, #Rewards are double all year for #detectives and #female cops.” The tweet included an image of a monetary reward for killing an LAPD officer, the lawsuit says.
  • According to the suit, a later tweet allegedly included a link to a database of officer photos, along with the caption, “Clean head-shots on these #LAPD officers. A to Z.”

Read the original article by clicking here.

Los Angeles police investigating allegation of drug planting

Los Angeles police investigating allegation of drug planting

By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Los Angeles Police Department will investigate allegations of misconduct against at least one officer, the department said on Friday, after an attorney said video captured police putting cocaine in his client’s wallet before arresting him.

The allegations threaten to embarrass the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) at a time when civil rights activists, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, are pressuring it to more routinely release body-camera footage.

“The LAPD takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and, as in all cases, will conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether the alleged actions are supported by reliable evidence,” the department said in a statement.

Body-camera footage played in court on Thursday showed police planting drugs on an African-American man when they detained him after a vehicle collision in April, said Steve Levine, the man’s attorney.

The man, Ronald Shields, 52, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine, illegally having a gun in his car and a hit-and-run vehicle collision, Levine said.

Local television station CBS 2 first reported the attorney’s allegation of drug planting and broadcast the footage.

In body-camera video from one officer, which was shown on CBS 2, the officer appeared to pick up a small bag of white powder from the street and tuck it into the suspect’s wallet.

The same officer could also be seen and heard approaching other officers to tell them cocaine was found in the wallet.

“I still don’t understand why he did it, other than maybe he just wanted to brag about it and move his career along at my client’s expense,” Levine said by phone.

The police report for the arrest said the cocaine was found in the suspect’s front pocket, not the wallet, according to CBS 2, which showed the document.

Levine could not provide the full name of the officer who he said was caught on video putting the bag of white powder in the suspect’s wallet. The attorney added he believes multiple officers were complicit.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, a labor union for officers, disputed Levine’s allegations.

“A criminal defense attorney’s selective use of body worn camera footage does not tell the entire story,” it said. “We believe the truth will be uncovered upon the completion of the internal review and we believe the officers will be vindicated.”

In Baltimore this year, prosecutors re-examined dozens of cases and dismissed some after body-worn camera footage showed police officers apparently staging the discovery of evidence.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Stephen Coates)