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A 53-year-old retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer faces multiple sex crime charges after allegedly using a social networking site to contact children. According to The Daily Breeze, the Burbank man was arrested the morning of April 29. Officials say he allegedly identified himself as a teenage girl on Tagged.com to meet an 11-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl. He was charged with two counts each of possession of child pornography, contact with a minor for sexual offense, and sending harmful matter to a minor. He retired from the CHP in 2012. You do not have to make physical contact… Read More
A 36-year-old Los Angeles man was recently arrested on suspicion of using methamphetamine and possessing prescription drugs without a prescription. According to a news report in The Burbank Leader, the man was arrested in front of the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in downtown Burbank. Officials approached him because he was smoking, which is a municipal code violation. They say he acted nervously and admitted to using methamphetamine. He then allegedly consented to a search that resulted in the seizure of Norco and Vicodin. In addition to drug possession charges, he also faces identity theft charges because officials say they… Read More
A DUI conviction in Los Angeles can result in a lengthy license suspension and increased insurance premiums. There are many other potential criminal and civil penalties that can result from a conviction as well. If you have been charged with driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol in Los Angeles, it is absolutely vital to your case that you contact an experienced DUI criminal defense attorney. You could be facing severe criminal penalties and devastating civil litigation from anyone who may have been affected by the incident. Under California Vehicle Code 23152, it is illegal to drive with a… Read More
An 18-year-old Los Angeles high school student has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female classmate. According to a KABC news report, the young man was arrested at Valley High School in North Hills. Officials say he pulled a 17-year-old girl into the boys’ bathroom and attempted to take her clothes off. She informed a teacher who called the authorities. Since he allegedly held her against her will, he faces kidnapping charges as well as intent to commit rape. California law states that an individual does not actually have to commit a crime in order to be charged… Read More
If you have been arrested in southern California, you have a number of rights that are protected by law. If you have ever been arrested, or have ever watched a cop drama on television, you have probably heard about “Miranda Rights.” This is when the arresting officer informs you about your right to remain silent and your right to have a lawyer present while you are being questioned. From that point on, everything you say can and will most likely be used against you in court. Once you have been read your rights, the authorities can ask you questions about… Read More
A number of drivers were arrested at a Los Angeles County DUI checkpoint that was conducted over an eight-hour period. According to a report in The Los Angeles Daily News, the checkpoint began the evening of April 5 on Lyons Avenue at Wheeler Road in Newhall. Officials arrested three motorists on suspicion of drunk driving and a fourth driver for felony possession of narcotics. During the checkpoint, five vehicles were towed, seven drivers were cited for various vehicle code violations, and 12 drivers were sent to court for driving without a license or on a revoked or suspended license. There… Read More
A review of the overall crime in the South Bay and Harbor Area of Los Angeles County shows that crime has increased by one percent in the year 2012. According to an assessment of the California Crime Index by The Daily Breeze, homicides dropped from 54 to 45, including a drop of 12 homicides in the Harbor Division. Overall Robberies were up four percent, primarily because of significant increases in Carson and Gardena. In the year 2012, there were 836,350 people living in South Bay. During that year there were: 45 homicides; 122 rapes; 1,177 robberies; 2,295 assaults; 3,996 burglaries;… Read More
A 25-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after police saw him running to his car suspiciously. According to a news report in The South Pasadena Patch, the DUI arrest occurred on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena. Officials followed the man after watching him run to his car late at night. After observing him drive, they decided to pull him over. It is not clear from the report as to what signs of intoxication he exhibited before the traffic stop. He faces charges of driving under the influence and driving with a revoked… Read More
Undercover Hawthorne policewomen recently apprehended 11 men on suspicion of soliciting prostitutes. The Daily Breeze reports that the five-hour operation took place on Imperial Highway from Inglewood Avenue to Crenshaw Boulevard in Hawthorne. While posing as prostitutes, the female undercover officers waited for men to drive up to chat with them. After they allegedly arranged a deal, the men parked their cars and walked with the undercover officer to a motel room where they found officers who were ready to arrest them. A similar operation last year also resulted in 11 arrests. The Daily Breeze reports that the Hawthorne police… Read More
California police officers commonly use field sobriety tests to determine if a driver is impaired. Field sobriety tests such as the walk-and-turn test a driver’s coordination, balance, and motor skills all at once. These types of tests can occasionally show that a driver is impaired, but they are subjective exercises that are prone to errors. There are many reasons why even sober drivers can fail a field sobriety test and it is common for officers to see signs of impairment when there are none. Under California law, field sobriety tests are voluntary. It is common, however, for officers to encourage… Read More
