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Suspect Arrested in 1996 Homicide – Extradited from Texas 380 569 SIB Staff

Suspect Arrested in 1996 Homicide – Extradited from Texas

Suspect Arrested in 1996 Homicide of Boyle Heights Girl, Extradited from Texas

After almost a quarter-century, the man suspected of killing a 17-year-old girl was identified and slated to face arraignment. On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Homicide Bureau detective, Lieutenant Hugo Reynaga, discussed the circumstances surrounding the young girl’s death, how they located the suspect and how he was brought back to face justice.

On Tuesday, January 30, 1996, the partially-clothed body of Gladys Arellano was discovered at the bottom of a ravine in the Topanga Canyon area of Malibu. The last time she was last seen was three days earlier at her Boyle Heights home, and she was reported missing by her family one day before her body was found.

The results of an autopsy concluded the teen was sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled to death. Serology evidence was collected from her body, and a DNA profile was uploaded into state and federal DNA databases as that of an unknown offender. Although an extensive investigation was conducted, no match was identified through the DNA databases, and the case remained unsolved.

On Sunday, November 10, 2019, virtually two and a half decades later, a man named Jose Luis Garcia, was arrested by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)-Mission Division personnel for a domestic assault charge. A DNA sample was collected from him during the booking procedure and uploaded into the state DNA database.

In December, 2019, detectives assigned to the Homicide Bureau-Unsolved Case Unit received an alert on the DNA collected during the LAPD-Mission Division jail booking, which returned as a match to the evidence collected in the Gladys Arellano homicide investigation. Detectives Joe Purcell and Shaun McCarthy contacted Garcia at his home in Fontana and asked about his knowledge of the Arellano murder; Garcia was 19 years old when it happened. They obtained a DNA sample from Garcia for comparison and submitted it for forensic testing. Serologists analyzed it and determined Garcia’s sample matched the unidentified donor’s sample obtained in 1996 from the body of Gladys Arellano.

After the detectives’ visit, and as the new DNA sample was processed, detectives learned Garcia relocated to Dallas, Texas. An arrest warrant for Garcia, 43, was obtained, and Detective Purcell notified U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Forces personnel in Dallas.

On Tuesday, September 29, 2020, Garcia was arrested by task force personnel in Dallas. He was extradited to California on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, arraigned for the charge of Murder on Monday, October 19, 2020, at Van Nuys court, and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Samantha Moreno, Gladys’ niece and goddaughter, spoke during the press conference, and thanked the detectives for arresting Garcia and not giving up on (finding) their Gladys.  “We are pleased to know that Jose Luis Garcia has been taken off the streets after 24 ½ years,” she said.  “We want nothing more than for him to pay for his brutal crime.  We recognize that this will not bring Gladys back, but we are relieved to know that there will be justice for Gladys, who would have celebrated her 42nd birthday on Saturday, October 24th.”

Elizabeth Arellano, Gladys’ older sister, also spoke at the press conference.  She and Samantha held hands tightly and stood shoulder-to-shoulder as they waited their turn to speak.  In Spanish, she also thanked the detectives and recalled the heartbreaking loss of her sister, ”It was very painful for everyone to lose her and to wait 24 ½ years without knowing who robbed her of life.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau-Unsolved Case Unit is comprised of twelve retired homicide detectives who returned to work on a part-time basis. They use their collective experience of more than 500 years to continue solving stale cases. These detectives hold in high regard that each case represents a life taken and accept the responsibility of tenacious pursuit to determine the circumstances surrounding the loss, no matter how long it takes. They pore over each investigation and take all the pieces of workable information and unexhausted leads as far as they will go. Newly-discovered witnesses, advancements in science and technology, and anonymous tips contribute to these investigators’ successes.  Each unsolved case remains active and available to them until it is fully concluded. The Unsolved Case Unit was furloughed due to budget cuts in July, 2020, but was refunded and reinstated when the Board of Supervisors allocated funding for it. With renewed funding, detectives can continue their efforts and progress toward solving other cases.


 
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives are seeking any victims of assault or sexual assault that may have been in contact with Jose Luis Garcia.
 
Anyone with information, please contact Det. J. Purcell or Det. S. McCarthy, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

Truth about LASD 680 380 SIB Staff

Truth about LASD

THE TRUTH ABOUT LASD
October 16, 2020

On December 3, 2018, I was sworn into office on a promise to Reform, Rebuild, and Restore the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  After twenty-two months, one pandemic, civil unrest, and an unsupportive political establishment, I can report that we have done exactly that: reform a massive operation where previous sheriffs failed.

ICE has been removed from the jails, patrol stations, and courthouses.  There is a permanent moratorium on all transfers of undocumented inmates to ICE custody.  Federal SCAAP grant funds, previously taken in exchange for selling out the undocumented inmate database, have been summarily rejected.  These milestones alone set me apart from my predecessors, but we didn’t stop there.

Body-worn cameras are now here to stay.  We created a financially feasible program, lobbied hard for its funding, and are now deploying the cameras in the field.  This was my commitment during the campaign and a cornerstone of the LASD’s transparency promise, which now puts all legally permissible information directly in the hands of the community.  The department’s website, sheriff33.lasd.org, now has all information previously hidden from the public’s view, including data on deputy-involved shootings, discipline, conditions of confinement in the jail system, and the impact of COVID-19, along with the entire organization’s rules and regulations.

In a bold departure from past practice, all deputy-involved shootings are thoroughly debriefed and made public at the earliest possible stage of the investigation, including video and physical evidence.  Even during these tragic events, the department reaches out and engages the families involved, along with local civic and religious leaders.  In an effort to ensure the department is a reflection of the community, I banned all out of state recruitment, focusing instead on recruiting and hiring from our own communities.

My efforts at diversity did not end at the entry-level, that was just the beginning.  We’ve redone the entire process to select station commanders, giving civic leaders a major role in the selection process.   All deputies are now required to serve a minimum of four years in their first patrol assignment before being eligible to promote or transfer, cementing my commitment to community policing and changing the culture of the LASD from an enforcement model to an engagement model.  This is a major shift in law enforcement thinking, where the old warrior mindset is now giving way to a focus on community engagement and collaborative problem-solving.

The LASD’s good ole’ boys network is officially DEAD.  I promoted the first two Latinas to the position of Assistant Sheriff and had both serving at the same time.  There are now four female division chiefs, another first, and for the first time in the history of the department, the leadership ranks are now a truly accurate reflection of the rich diversity of our community.  In 2019 alone, I hired over 1,100 deputy sheriff trainees, a huge turnaround for a recruitment and hiring effort that was dead in the water under my predecessor’s administration.  On January 1, 2021, the minimum education standard to apply to become a deputy sheriff will be raised to an Associate’s Degree, the first time this standard has ever been raised.

Before the pandemic struck in March, we took the initiative in February and started a deliberate effort to decompress the nation’s largest jail system.  Working in collaboration with all the criminal justice partners, we released five thousand inmates over the span of the next three months, and in the process established a template for the entire nation to follow.  As a direct result of our aggressive efforts in fighting the COVID-19 threat, we saw only a handful of fatalities and a small positivity rate, all the more remarkable considering the sheer size of our system.

The issue of deputy cliques has long befuddled my predecessors, with reports of misconduct by members of these subgroups stretching back fifty years.  As the first and only sheriff to hold employees accountable for participating in these harmful groups, I implemented a policy that bans their formation and participation in activities that harm the public or their fellow employees.  After transferring dozens of employees, I completed both criminal and administrative investigations that led to the suspension or termination of twenty-six department members.  To date, 68 employees have been terminated, and another 60 internal criminal investigations have resulted in 15 employees being charged by the District Attorney’s Office, based on our own investigations – accountability at its core.

There have been unprecedented challenges, from the tragedy of the helicopter crash that took the lives of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others in Calabasas.  I created a new policy that protects the dignity of the deceased at crash sites, and sponsored AB 2655, which was signed into law by Governor Newsom last month.  This legislation makes it a crime to take photos of the deceased from accident sites without an authorized purpose. 

We have experienced the tragic Saugus High School shooting, several controversial deputy-involved shootings, and the horrific ambush of our two deputies at the Compton Pax, which captured the attention of the nation due to the heroic efforts of our deputies in overcoming adversity.  In all of these challenges, we rose to the occasion as a team.

The civil unrest that followed the senseless murder of George Floyd resulted in widespread arson, looting, and vandalism across Los Angeles County, but damage was conspicuously absent from all areas patrolled by deputy sheriffs.  This was not by chance.  While protecting the rights of peaceful protestors to assemble and march, we were able to identify and detain those who were using the protests as a cover for riotous actions.

In closing, I will say to those members of the political establishment who wish to lead the charge and demand my resignation, let’s start working together to build a brighter future for all.  To that end, I will continue to maintain laser-focused on serving the community and would love to be joined by the Board of Supervisors in better serving our communities.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

If you have concerns regarding the above, share your voice.  You may contact your Board of Supervisors at the below:
 County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors

Hilda L. Solis
Supervisor, First District
Phone: (213) 974-4111
[email protected]

Mark Ridley-Thomas
Supervisor, Second District
Phone: (213) 974-2222
[email protected]

Sheila Kuehl
Supervisor, Third District
Phone: (213) 974-3333
[email protected]

Janice Hahn
Supervisor, Fourth District
Phone: (213) 974-4444
[email protected]

Kathryn Barger – CHAIR
Supervisor, Fifth District
Phone: (213) 974-5555
[email protected]

Not sure who your Supervisor is?  Click Link to Find Out: http://bos.lacounty.gov/About-Us/Board-of-Supervisors

PEACEFUL PROTESTS OF SOLIDARITY 680 380 SIB Staff

PEACEFUL PROTESTS OF SOLIDARITY

PEACEFUL PROTESTS OF SOLIDARITY

October 16,2020

“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is monitoring the violence unfolding between Azerbaijan and Armenia which, while, 7,200 miles away from Los Angeles, is of extreme and immediate importance to so many within our community. We hear you and we understand.

In fact, Los Angeles County is home to more people of Armenian descent than anywhere in the world outside of Armenia itself.

We witness, denounce and condemn the violence and attacks occurring upon civilians in Artsakh. 

We welcome peaceful protests of solidarity here in Los Angeles and stand with you in our shared demand for peace.

LASD Sheriff's Department Logo
COC CALLS FOR SHERIFF RESIGNATION 800 170 SIB Staff

COC CALLS FOR SHERIFF RESIGNATION

COC CALLS FOR SHERIFF’S RESIGNATION… AGAIN!

OCTOBER 15, 2020

Sheriff Villanueva has lawfully responded to all subpoenas from the COC, and has just recently met with the COC Chair to discuss building a better working relationship. A LASD captain, and a subject matter expert when requested, has attended every COC meeting. This meritless politically motivated attack is unsupported by real facts and remains a shameless repeat of the same spectacle played out on September 17, 2020. Despite this political theater, Sheriff Villanueva will continue being the most accessible and transparent sheriff in the history of Los Angeles County.

MAX HUNTSMAN OMITS THE FACTS ONCE AGAIN 680 380 SIB Staff

MAX HUNTSMAN OMITS THE FACTS ONCE AGAIN

MAX HUNTSMAN OMITS THE FACTS ONCE AGAIN

October 5, 2020

Today, I learned of the latest Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.  Conspicuously absent from the report is the fact the OIG had multiple opportunities to address the “Banditos” issue during the four years under my predecessor but chose to remain silent.  This is because his job as a political appointee is to do whatever the Board instructs him to do.  Mr. Huntsman now claims the past is the present, while willfully omitting all of the progress which has been made.  His actions are purely politically driven and an attempt to undermine the reputation of the Department.

The report alleges investigators did not conduct a thorough investigation into the Kennedy Hall deputy on deputy fight.  This is false.  Both criminal and administrative investigations were conducted where investigators interviewed over 70 involved parties and witnesses in the case.  In addition, this case was submitted to the District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division (JSID) for their review and their office concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The facts are that immediately after taking office, I relieved the East Los Angeles Station captain of his command, overhauled the entire leadership of the station, and transferred 36 personnel.  In February of 2020, I became the first and only sheriff to successfully implement a policy specifically addressing employee groups which violate the rights of other employees or members of the public.

On August 13, 2020, at the conclusion of the Kennedy Hall fight between deputies investigation, I held a press conference to publish the results of the investigation for the public.  Twenty-six deputies involved in that early morning fight were either suspended or terminated.  As has become his pattern, Mr. Huntsman seems to have once again intentionally omitted facts which do not further his political agenda. 

Please view our August 13, 2020, press conference: 

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

If you have concerns regarding the above, share your voice.  You may contact your Board of Supervisors at the below:

Hilda L. Solis
Supervisor, First District
Phone: (213) 974-4111
[email protected]

Mark Ridley-Thomas
Supervisor, Second District
Phone: (213) 974-2222
[email protected]

Sheila Kuehl
Supervisor, Third District
Phone: (213) 974-3333
[email protected]

Janice Hahn
Supervisor, Fourth District
Phone: (213) 974-4444
[email protected]

Kathryn Barger – CHAIR
Supervisor, Fifth District
Phone: (213) 974-5555
[email protected]

Not sure who your Supervisor is?  Click Link to Find Out: http://bos.lacounty.gov/About-Us/Board-of-Supervisors

COUNTY CONTINUES TO DEFUND LAW ENFORCEMENT 680 380 SIB Staff

COUNTY CONTINUES TO DEFUND LAW ENFORCEMENT

THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO DEFUND LAW ENFORCEMENT

October 1, 2020

On September 29, 2020, the Board of Supervisors continued their campaign to defund the LASD by approving a supplemental budget which eliminates an additional $105M from an already depleted budget.  This money is being diverted to support criminal offender support programs such as the Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) initiative, at the expense of patrol, detective, and custody resources that keep the community safe.

The Board has a long history of underfunding the Department’s budget. This $105M budget cut follows last year’s cuts and has resulted in the elimination of 1,281 budgeted positions.  Some of the positions defunded were Youth Activities League (YAL) Deputies, School Resource Deputies, Crime Prevention Teams, and Detective positions.  The reductions applied to Custody will now result in the closure of a medium security jail and the transfer of 700 inmates to other facilities, increasing the risk of COVID-19 exposure throughout the entire jail system.  Additionally, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas made a motion to defund our budget an additional $23.9M and eliminate the presence of our deputies in all Los Angeles County parks, which will have a devastating impact to public safety and the community’s willingness to use our parks.

Bottom Line: Major cities all over the U.S. are being vandalized and burned by those committed to violence; it is against all logic and common sense for our elected officials to defund public safety.  I believe the “defund movement” is the priority of a small number of radical special interest groups, not the majority of Los Angeles County residents. 

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

Sheriff Announces arrest in Compton Ambush 1024 683 SIB Staff

Sheriff Announces arrest in Compton Ambush

Sheriff Villanueva Announces Arrest of Suspect in Compton Deputy Ambush

Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference today, Wednesday, September 30, 2020, to announce the arrest of the suspect who deliberately attempted to kill two deputies in an ambush-style shooting, while they sat in their patrol car. 

Sheriff Villanueva noted the cowardly act was followed with bystanders celebrating and cheering the despicable act.  He relayed how he saw the worst in humanity when a crowd made its way to the hospital and chanted for the deputies to die while they fought for their lives.  In juxtaposition, he saw the best of humanity when the entire Sheriff’s Department worked together to bring justice to the deputies.  The outpouring of support from the community, the nation, both presidential candidates, people from all walks of life, including children, was a source of support, not only for the injured deputies, but for all law enforcement personnel.

Homicide Bureau unit commander, Captain Kent Wegener, gave a summary of the ambush and events which led to the arrest of the suspect.  The shooting occurred Saturday evening, September 12, 2020, north of the Metro Blue Line Station, located at 101 East Palmer Street, in Compton, as two deputies sat in a marked patrol car. The suspect surreptitiously approached the passenger side of the patrol car and fired multiple rounds through the open window.  Both deputies suffered gunshot wounds to their heads and extremities. The suspect fled the scene in a black sedan, and a monetary reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

Through review of video and witness statements, investigators determined the armed suspect drove from the scene of the attack in a black Mercedes Benz.  In the following hours, investigators learned that on September 1, 2020 -eleven days prior to the attempted murder of the deputies- a carjacking occurred on Bradfield Avenue, in Compton.  The suspect shot the carjacking victim in the leg with a high-powered rifle and stole a black Mercedes Benz. The suspect was a male Black adult.  The carjacking case was investigated and an arrest warrant was obtained for Deonte Lee Murray, 36, of Compton.

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at approximately 11:30 A.M., units from the Major Crimes Bureau – Surveillance Apprehension Team located the suspect and attempted to stop him in a vehicle.  The suspect fled in a 2006 Toyota Solara and a vehicle pursuit was initiated.  During the pursuit, the suspect threw a pistol from his car, which was recovered and held as evidence.  The pursuit lasted until the suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot near the 3100 block of Carlin Avenue in Lynwood. 

Around 9:50 P.M., the suspect was located, hiding in the bushes; he was detained and arrested for the carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon warrant.  The stolen Mercedes Benz was recovered a short distance from the containment and impounded as evidence.

In the days following, a forensic firearms report was published by the crime laboratory, which compared ballistic evidence from the scene of the ambush to the pistol discarded by the suspect during the pursuit.  It was determined through ballistic comparison that the pistol recovered was the same gun used to shoot the deputies.  The gun in evidence was a .40 caliber, 80% non-serialized pistol, loaded with eight rounds, five rounds short of its 12-round capacity. The number of missing rounds coincides with the five rounds fired at deputies during the ambush attack.  Murray has a criminal history to include multiple felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

Dozens of video clips were collected, and witnesses are still being identified and interviewed.  As a part of the interviews, photographic lineups may be conducted, involving the suspect’s image.  In consideration of the ongoing investigation, and to avoid any compromise of the case, photographs of the suspect are not yet being released to the public.  Investigators believe Murray acted alone in the attempted murder of the deputies and are not looking for any other suspects at this time.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced that, earlier this morning, her office charged Murray with two felony counts of Willful, Deliberate and Premeditated Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer.  Murray also faces charges of Attempted Murder, Carjacking, Robbery, and Assault in relation to the carjacking.  If convicted as charged, he faces life in state prison.  His bail was set at $6,155,000.   

Press Conference: Sheriff Villanueva to Provide Update on Compton Ambush Shooting Investigation

Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, to announce the arrest of the suspect who deliberately attempted to kill two deputies in an ambush-style shooting, while they sat in their patrol car. Sheriff Villanueva noted the cowardly act was followed with bystanders celebrating and cheering the despicable act. He relayed how he saw the worst in humanity when a crowd made its way to the hospital and chanted for the deputies to die while they fought for their lives. In juxtaposition, he saw the best of humanity when the entire Sheriff’s Department worked together to bring justice to the deputies. The outpouring of support from the community, the nation, both presidential candidates, people from all walks of life, including children, was a source of support, not only for the injured deputies, but for all law enforcement personnel.Homicide Bureau unit commander, Captain Kent Wegener, gave a summary of the ambush and events which led to the arrest of the suspect. The shooting occurred Saturday evening, September 12, 2020, north of the Metro Blue Line Station, located at 101 East Palmer Street, in Compton, as two deputies sat in a marked patrol car. The suspect surreptitiously approached the passenger side of the patrol car and fired multiple rounds through the open window. Both deputies suffered gunshot wounds to their heads and extremities. The suspect fled the scene in a black sedan, and a monetary reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.Through review of video and witness statements, investigators determined the armed suspect drove from the scene of the attack in a black Mercedes Benz. In the following hours, investigators learned that on September 1, 2020 -eleven days prior to the attempted murder of the deputies- a carjacking occurred on Bradfield Avenue, in Compton. The suspect shot the carjacking victim in the leg with a high-powered rifle and stole a black Mercedes Benz. The suspect was a male Black adult. The carjacking case was investigated and an arrest warrant was obtained for Deonte Lee Murray, 36, of Compton.On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at approximately 11:30 A.M., units from the Major Crimes Bureau – Surveillance Apprehension Team located the suspect and attempted to stop him in a vehicle. The suspect fled in a 2006 Toyota Solara and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. During the pursuit, the suspect threw a pistol from his car, which was recovered and held as evidence. The pursuit lasted until the suspect abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot near the 3100 block of Carlin Avenue in Lynwood. Around 9:50 P.M., the suspect was located, hiding in the bushes; he was detained and arrested for the carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon warrant. The stolen Mercedes Benz was recovered a short distance from the containment and impounded as evidence.In the days following, a forensic firearms report was published by the crime laboratory, which compared ballistic evidence from the scene of the ambush to the pistol discarded by the suspect during the pursuit. It was determined through ballistic comparison that the pistol recovered was the same gun used to shoot the deputies. The gun in evidence was a .40 caliber, 80% non-serialized pistol, loaded with eight rounds, five rounds short of its 12-round capacity. The number of missing rounds coincides with the five rounds fired at deputies during the ambush attack. Murray has a criminal history to include multiple felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Dozens of video clips were collected, and witnesses are still being identified and interviewed. As a part of the interviews, photographic lineups may be conducted, involving the suspect’s image. In consideration of the ongoing investigation, and to avoid any compromise of the case, photographs of the suspect are not yet being released to the public. Investigators believe Murray acted alone in the attempted murder of the deputies and are not looking for any other suspects at this time.Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced that, earlier this morning, her office charged Murray with two felony counts of Willful, Deliberate and Premeditated Attempted Murder of a Peace Officer. Murray also faces charges of Attempted Murder, Carjacking, Robbery, and Assault in relation to the carjacking. If convicted as charged, he faces life in state prison. His bail was set at $6,155,000.

Posted by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Updated Info – Deputy-Involved Shooting in South Los Angeles 774 435 SIB Staff

Updated Info – Deputy-Involved Shooting in South Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva Provides Update on the Dijon Kizzee Investigation

Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference today, Thursday, September 17, 2020, to announce the latest developments surrounding the death of Dijon Kizzee.

Sheriff Villanueva gave a perspective of the community of where the shooting occurred and showed a series of PowerPoint slides depicting a one-mile radius where Suspect Dijon Kizzee was shot. A total of 12 homicides, 163 aggravated assaults, and 115 offenses with weapons have occurred since January of 2020. Sheriff Villanueva added that although it appears to be a high crime area, most of the residents are law-abiding citizens. The Sheriff’s Department is trying to protect the community. The Sheriff further stated most youth programs in the community had been eliminated due to budget cuts, and that has an impact when it comes to crime.  

The Captain of Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, Kent Wegener, gave a detailed briefing of the shooting. On August 31, 2020, at 3:14 p.m., deputies attempted to detain Suspect Kizzee for a traffic violation, but he refused to stop and fled on his bicycle. He fell off the bicycle, abandoned it, and ran from deputies on Budlong Avenue. Deputies returned to their patrol and began checking the area for Kizzee.

When the deputies located Suspect Kizzee on 109th Place, west of Budlong Ave., the passenger deputy exited the patrol vehicle and attempted to detain him. Suspect Kizzee briefly raised his hands; he had a green towel in one hand and a black and red jacket in the other hand, as the deputy approached him. Suspect Kizzee lowered his hands, then struggled with the deputy before punching the deputy in the face. During the struggle, the handgun Suspect Kizzee was carrying fell to the ground. Seeing the handgun fall, Deputies drew their pistols as Suspect Kizzee stopped, bent over, reached back, and picked up the pistol. Deputies fired and struck him several times, causing the gun to fall again. Paramedics responded, and Suspect Kizzee was pronounced dead at the scene.                    

At the time the deputy-involved shooting occurred, Suspect Kizzee was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his status as a convicted felon. The handgun he had was a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol. 

Protocols were followed, and the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau responded to the scene. Representatives from the Internal Affairs Bureau, the Inspector General’s Office, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Justice System Integrity Division, also responded. Witnesses were interviewed, and their testimony was recorded. Several videos were obtained, and some of those videos were shared by users on social media. An autopsy was performed on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, and the report has not yet been completed.

During the investigation, it was discovered the pistol in Suspect Kizzee’s possession at the time of the shooting was reported stolen during a residential burglary in Las Vegas, Nevada, back in February of 2017. When it was recovered at the scene, it had 15 live rounds.

 The cellular phone of Suspect Kizzee was forensically reviewed, and videos were discovered, which show him in possession of the same handgun.

During the news conference, several videos of the shooting incident were shown.

From the beginning of the investigation, Sheriff Villanueva assured a thorough, transparent, and objective investigation, no matter how long it would take. Once the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office to determine if the force used by the deputies violated any criminal laws.

Pico Rivera Cancer Survivor Gets Backpack and Special Celebrity Visit 800 600 SIB Staff

Pico Rivera Cancer Survivor Gets Backpack and Special Celebrity Visit

Pico Rivera Cancer Survivor Gets Backpack and Special Celebrity Visit

Matthew “Matu” Ignacio is just 11 years old and eager to get back into the swing of things, now that he’s surviving cancer.  At age six, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and had two tumors removed.  Now, with medication and monitoring, Matu can get back to the good stuff of childhood.

Part of growing up is going to school.  Assistant Sheriff Gross and deputy personnel from the Vital Intervention Directional Alternatives youth program, known as VIDA, came to Matu’s house and presented him and his two older brothers with backpacks and school supplies.

Matu has a connection with the VIDA deputies; they mentored him and have been in his life over the past few years, through all the ups and downs.  Matu also regularly speaks to at-risk kids participating in the program and offers words of perspective about uncertain tomorrows.  Life is precious and not guaranteed, which is why we must cherish each minute.  Even in Matu’s short time on earth, he has a great understanding of this concept, considering the circumstances he faced.

In an exciting moment at the event, Matu was appointed as an honorary Sheriff’s Explorer and presented with their uniform shoulder patches.  His face beamed with happiness and pride as he accepted the gift.

Actor Cody Walker also attended this special occasion and offered his support and encouragement as Matu continues his journey to improved health.

LASD Sheriff's Department Logo
RESPONSE TO THE COC MOTION CALLING FOR SHERIFF VILLANUEVA’S RESIGNATION 800 170 SIB Staff

RESPONSE TO THE COC MOTION CALLING FOR SHERIFF VILLANUEVA’S RESIGNATION

RESPONSE TO THE COC MOTION CALLING FOR SHERIFF ALEX VILLANUEVA’S RESIGNATION

September 17, 2020

The Sheriff’s Department received word that several members of the Civilian Oversight Commission are calling for the resignation of the sheriff, who is an elected public servant.  The fact this motion is even being considered, particularly when two members of our department are recovering from a life-threatening ambush, is morally repugnant and emblematic of the political animosity of the politically-appointed commission.

It is becoming painfully obvious this commission is acting in retaliation against the sheriff for his efforts in investigating potential criminal conduct from county officials and for challenging the legality of subpoenaing the sheriff himself versus the LASD.  The sheriff will remain focused on serving the residents of Los Angeles County as he leads the department in investigating the ambush, overseeing the response to the Bobcat Fire evacuations, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s impact to the jail system.