La Espiga Bakery tagged… again
We noticed a worker painting over the remnants of overnight tagging on the front and sides of the La Espiga Bakery, located on the corner of Glendale Boulevard and Scott Avenue. We’ve seen it get tagged up before, but they really did a number on the bakery this time around.
While you were sleeping: Weekend shootings keep Rampart busy
This went under the radar for us, but police need your tips so we thought we’d pass it along anyways.
Last Saturday night just before 2:00 am, Rampart officers responded to a call about a shooting along the 400 block of North Westlake Avenue and found a man with a gunshot wound in his leg (he told them it came from a car driving by). The man was taken to the hospital where he was treated.
Minutes later, another shooting on the radio at Glendale Boulevard and Park Avenue. Officers found an abandoned tan colored Mercury van on the southeast corner. Then, minutes after that, another shooting victim was reported to be at a hospital on the 1700 blog of West Temple Street. Unfortunately, that person died.
More from the LAPD Blog:
Zooming in on Echo Park: LA Times crime map
The LA Times recently added a new facet to the website’s mapping project – a detailed map of daily crime reports for cities and neighborhoods that allows “users to analyze crime statistics, search historic crime patterns and receive alerts when several crimes occur in an area over a short period of time.”
The LA Times maps use data from the LAPD and the Sherriff’s Department to create report for cities and neighborhoods. This map comes after the LA Times criticized the LAPD crime map database for having quite a few errors that led to serious misinterpretations of crime data. Some time since the publication of the LA Times crime map, the LAPD crime map page says the following:
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Crime Map page is currently undergoing technical renovations in preparation for a new crime mapping system which will include expanded crime data from adjacent agencies, and will accommodate our growing viewer data base. Until such time as the new crime mapping system is fully functional, you may view Part One crime data provided to the Los Angeles Times by the Los Angeles Police Department at http://projects.latimes.com/mapping-la/crime/. We apologize for any inconvenience during this process and thank you for your patience and understanding.
No word on whether or not (and when) the map will be functional again on the LAPD website, but for now you can click on the map image above to scroll through the crime data for Echo Park. It’s supposed to be updated daily, so keep an eye out on the map and see if you can tell if everything’s being reported.
Authors note: the Echo Park map does not include the greater Echo Park/Elysian Park and Historic Filipinotown areas that many residents consider to be Echo Park boundaries. To learn more about Echo Park boundaries, click here.
Suspect shot and killed by police in Echo Park
Photo from the NBC LA website
The Eastsider LA is reporting that a suspect was shot and killed by police at around 4:30 pm today on the corner of Temple Street and Union Avenue.
Police were pursing the vehicle after a check on the license plate determined that the occupants were armed and dangerous. After being cornered by police, the suspect got out of his car and started firing the rifle at officers, [LAPD spokeswoman April] Harding said. She had no other details about the incident.
No police were injured, but reports are saying the suspect shot at police with an AK-47, and the car may have been stolen. KTLA is reporting the police were following a “convicted felon” through the Downtown LA area.
UPDATE:
Don’t try to drive up Temple in Echo Park tonight – Temple Street is closed at Glendale Blvd. all the way to Burlington, and traffic has gotten a little messy in those areas.
In addition to the AK-47 (“or a similar weapon”), LA Now is reporting the suspect also had a handgun in his back pocket. The name has not yet been released, and it’s not yet known whether or not officers were fired upon.
Neighborhood Crime Update for Echo Park
The following crime report about Echo Park comes from Captain Bill Murphy of the Northeast Division in an email today:
Echo Park
Had a few property crimes last week (BTFV/Car break-in). This week looks real good – only two BTFVs associated with Dodger Stadium. Pay attention to tow trucks. We have arrested several tow truck drivers who have taken vehicles without having proper paperwork/permission (say from an owner of a parking lot who posts no parking signs). This is a scam as the charge the vehicle owners $300 to get their car back.
Elysian Valley
Very clear since September 12th – no crimes.
Historical Crime Data:
Captain Bill Murphy’s email address is 26152@lapd.lacity.org
Other Northeast Division news:
- On Saturday October 2, 2010, between 10 am – 2:00 pm, Please come and celebrate the renewal of the neighborhood – free food and entertainment will be provided.
- On Saturday October 30, 2010, between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, take a tour of the police station and see the many exhibits on display. They will have a “Halloween” theme with a pumpkin patch and a Halloween costume contest (prizes to the winners). The entire event is free so come on down with the kids and enjoy.
- The Northeast Division will sponsor a carnival in November – date and times TBD. The proceeds from the carnival will support Northeast Youth Programs.
Just in from Northeast Division: Robbery in Echo Park
This just came in from the Northeast Division E-Policing Newsletter, and it’s a little scary. Be careful out there!
On September 7th, 2010 at approximately 12:05 AM a street robbery occurred in the Echo Park area. The victim, a female, was walking near Laveta Terrace and Scott Avenue with a male friend. Two suspects appraoched on foot, one armed with a baseball bat. They demanded the victims property then struck the victims friend on the leg with the bat. The victim complied and surrendered her property. The suspects then fled the area by vehicle.
Approximately 50 minutes later near Ames Street and Ben Lomond in the Franklin Hills area, a lone male was walking home when he was approached by two suspects that were armed with baseball bats. The suspects demanded his property. When the victim refused and began to scream for help, he was struck on the head with the bat. The suspects fled on foot.
The suspects are described as being male hispanic, approximately 16 to 20 years of age and wearing dark colored hoodies. In one incident their vehicle was described as a white 4 door sedan, possibly a 1980′s model.
While both crimes occurred miles apart , they have a variety of similarities that have led us to believe that they were committed by the same suspects. The investigations continue, and at this time there is nothing that indicates that the victims were chosen based on sex, descent, race, or sexual preferance. It does appear that the most common factor is the location of each crime and time of day. Both areas were dark with little vehicle or foot traffic. It has not been determined if the incidents are gang related.
Anyone with any information on these two incidents is urged to contact the Northeast Robbery Detectives at ( 213) 485-2566 or after hours, the Northeast Watch Commander at (213) 485-2563. (DR#101119069 and 011119139)
