Latest news with #DowneyPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cop fatally hit pedestrian and drove away. Victim's family says Downey police covered it up
The family of a man killed by a Downey police officer in a car-on-pedestrian crash in October is suing the city of Downey and alleging that officials attempted to cover up a fatal hit-and-run. Raymond Lavalle, 48, was hit by a Downey Police Department officer near the San Gabriel River Trail in Santa Fe Springs on Oct. 2, according to the Whittier Police Department, which is responsible for policing in the area. The crash took place about 8:42 p.m., and Lavalle was pronounced dead shortly after Whittier police arrived at the scene at 9 p.m. Lavalle's family says the Downey police officer knowingly fled the scene of the crash, while the city of Downey states that the officer was unaware a person had been hit. On Thursday, Lavalle's mother, Luisa, and his three sons, Joseph, Raymundo and Matthew, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The Whittier Police Department investigated the crash and recommended that the officer involved be charged with vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run causing death, according to department spokesperson Officer Emily Armstrong. Lavalle was unhoused and living in the riverbed at the time of the collision. The L.A. County district attorney's office declined to file criminal charges, concluding that the crash was a tragic accident, according to a statement provided by Downey. The office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more: Bakersfield detective accused of trying to coerce girl to send explicit material over Instagram Lavalle's family alleges that the officer, whose identity it does not know, was speeding when Lavalle was hit and that the officer was not responding to any emergency or call for service. The family alleges that the officer fled the scene without stopping to render aid, as is required by law, and that Downey then attempted to cover up the incident by failing to issue a news release or notify the family. "This family was kept in the dark for many months about the circumstances of the death of their father from this department because they never contacted this family to let them know that a Downey Police Department officer, while on duty, struck, killed and left him there to die like a dog," attorney Michael Carrillo said at a Tuesday news conference announcing the lawsuit. The city pushed back on the family's allegations, saying that the police officer was pursuing a suspect at the time of the crash and was unaware that a pedestrian was struck. "The collision occurred at low speed in a dark area with poor visibility while the officer was pursuing a suspect who was actively evading the police," the city said in the statement. "After turning southbound from Telegraph Road into an entrance to the San Gabriel River Trail, the officer's vehicle struck a pedestrian seated in the roadway. The officer was not aware of the collision, and the victim was later pronounced deceased on the scene." In the statement, the Downey Police Department extended condolences to the victim's family and friends. The family alleges that the officer hit Lavalle while he was walking with his bike down a driveway toward the San Gabriel River, causing Lavalle to be temporarily lodged underneath the vehicle. The L.A. County medical examiner ruled his cause of death as blunt force trauma. "I know my father would give you his last dollar, give you the clothes off his back, give you his last meal, whatever it was, he'd give it to you because he cared that much about everybody," Joseph Lavalle said at Tuesday's news conference. "I know whether he was in the same situation, he would have definitely stopped and cared for him like it was his own brother." The family is seeking compensatory, general and special damages in an amount to be determined at trial, according to the complaint. It is also seeking punitive damages against the Downey police officer once his or her identity becomes known. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
‘Extremely worried': Downey teen missing for over 6 weeks may have left state
A 16-year-old boy from Downey has been missing for more than six weeks, and concern is continuing to grow for his safety. On Wednesday, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a national nonprofit organization that helps communities locate missing children and raise awareness about child abuse and abduction cases, released a plea to the public for information regarding the disappearance of Justin Tran. Tran went missing from his Downey home on March 7, officials said, and his father tells the NCMEC that no one has heard from him since then. 'He vanished and [his father] is extremely worried for his safety,' NCMEC said in its release. 'He misses his son deeply and wants nothing more than for him to come home.' Justin is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall and 140 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. Authorities tell NCMEC that they believe Tran may still be in the area, but there is concern he's traveled to San Diego County or as far as Indianapolis, Indiana. A missing poster has been uploaded and featured on the Neighbors by Ring app, a community tool from the home surveillance company that helps reach millions of users and can assist with locating missing children in real time. Anyone with information about his location or the circumstances of his disappearance is urged to contact the Downey Police Department at 561-861-0771, or the NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Grandmother with dementia missing for 2 days, loved ones search in L.A. County
A beloved wife, mother and grandmother has been missing for two days, and her family is asking the public's help to bring her home. According to police, 75-year-old Carmen Bird was talking with her husband at their home on the 12000 block of Marbel Avenue around 4 p.m. on March 20 before she disappeared. 'When her husband returned from the other room, Bird was gone,' explained the Downey Police Department in a release. 'She has no known destination.' Police noted that Bird suffers from dementia and is required to take medication daily, but she left her medication behind. She also has a history of leaving places without her husband. Bird's family members and other loved ones are extremely concerned about her well being and have since shared posts on social media, asking neighbors to keep an eye out in nearby cities and neighborhoods in Southeast Los Angeles County. 'My mom slipped away from my dad,' Bird's daughter said in a Facebook post. 'She left her tracking device and bracelet at home.' The post also said Bird was last seen on the section of Lakewood Boulevard that lies between Stewart and Gray Road and Imperial Highway. Another poster circulating on social media mentioned that while Bird was last seen on foot, those close to her believed she may have taken a bus. Bird is described as a critically missing elderly woman who stands 5 feet and 5 inches tall, weighs about 140 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Police said she was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweater over a purple sweatshirt and blue jeans. 'While we are currently investigating several tips from citizens, we are still seeking the public's help in locating Bird,' said the department. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Downey Police Department at 562-861-0771 or Detective Roberts at 562-904-2386 or eroberts@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
12-03-2025
- CBS News
"This is our biggest bust yet," CA attorney general says of fentanyl seizure in Los Angeles County
While announcing criminal charges in the case, Attorney General Rob Bonta said the recent seizure of more than 50 pounds of fentanyl in Los Angeles County is the largest bust of its kind the California Department of Justice has seen. "We're here today to announce the arrest of three major fentanyl traffickers involved in cartel activity and the seizure of 14 million — yes, you heard that right — 14 million lethal doses of fentanyl," Bonta said Tuesday. "This is our biggest bust yet." "This powdered fentanyl would've been turned into pills," he said. On Jan. 22, police found the more than 50 pounds of fentanyl and nearly 12 pounds of opium inside a car and apartment in the city of Downey, according to prosecutors. Bonta said investigators also came across 5 kilograms of heroin, one kilogram of cocaine and two firearms suppressors during the searches, with state officials working alongside the Downey Police Department. Three defendants, including a pair of siblings, are facing the following criminal charges in the case. Priscilla Gomez, 43, of Torrance: three counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count sale/transportation/offer to sell controlled substance. Gustavo Omar Gomez, 47, of Huntington Park: two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance. Carlos Manuel Mariscal, 38, of Huntington Park: two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a silencer and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition prohibited by a prior conviction. If convicted of all charges, Mariscal faces up to 31 years and eight months in prison while Priscilla Gomez faces a maximum possible sentence of 28 years and eight months and Gustavo Gomez faces up to 24 years in prison. Prosecutors asked the court to set bail at $60,000 for Mariscal, $35,000 for Priscilla Gomez and $10,000 for Gustavo Gomez. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman gave some perspective on the 14 million doses within the seizure, comparing it to the sprawling county's population of more than 10 million. "This one seizure could've killed, literally, every resident in LA County by itself," Hochman said. "And to give you an idea and a perspective: In 2024, across the U.S.-Canadian border, there was less than 50 pounds of fentanyl seized. So they seized, in one afternoon, more fentanyl than was seized in the entire U.S.-Canadian border in an entire year — in one apartment." Bonta spoke on the significance of the seizure given how little pure fentanyl it takes for a fatal dose — the DEA estimates 2 grams, equivalent to just a few grains of salt — and how it's become a leading cause of death nationwide. Fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death of among U.S. adults age 18 to 45, surpassing car accidents, gun violence and suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "No community is untouched by this crisis, unfortunately — rural or urban, high or low income, Republican or Democrat, children or adults," Bonta said. "Everyone has been touched." The California Department of Justice's Fentanyl Enforcement Program was launched in 2021. Bonta said the special task force has made more than 480 arrests in the less than five years since then. In the same span of time, district attorneys across Southern California have cracked down on crimes linked to fatal fentanyl overdoses, filing murder charges in a growing number of cases. Even more politically progressive prosecutors have begun filing murder charges in these cases. Last year, former LA County DA George Gascón, who had campaigned on a platform against heavy penalties for drug-related crimes, charged an alleged fentanyl dealer with murder for the first time.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
$55 million worth of fentanyl seized in Southern California; 3 suspects facing decades in prison
Three alleged fentanyl dealers – including a brother and sister – are facing decades in prison for their roles in a major drug trafficking scheme, local and state officials announced on Tuesday. The trio is accused of possessing more than 50 pounds of fentanyl with an intent to sell, according to L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's office. It is further alleged that the weight of the substance containing fentanyl is more than 20 kilograms. They were caught after a joint investigation between the California Department of Justice's Fentanyl Enforcement Program and the Downey Police Department turned up the large cache in an apartment within the city of Downey on Jan. 22, authorities said. '#goteem': Southern California police go full Gen Z with arrest report The DOJ added that, in the Jan. 22 bust, five kilograms of heroin, ten pounds of methamphetamine, a kilogram of cocaine, narcotics packaging and two firearm suppressors were also located. The 50 pounds seized is more than all the fentanyl seized at the U.S.-Canada border in 2024, officials said; a total of 43 pounds was seized at the border last year, and a single kilogram of fentanyl is enough to kill 500,000 people. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the seizure equates to 14 million lethal doses of the drug. The approximate street value of the seized fentanyl, if sold by the gram, would be between $453,000 and $1.36 million. 'This one seizure could have killed literally every resident in L.A. County by itself,' DA Hochman said at Tuesday's press conference. The suspects were identified as Carlos Manuel Mariscal of Huntington Park, Gustavo Omar Gomez, also of Huntington Park, and Priscilla Gomez of Torrance. The latter two are siblings, the DA's office confirmed. Mariscal, 39, is charged with two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a silencer and another count of unlawful possession of ammunition prohibited by a prior conviction. He is being held on $60,000 bail, and if convicted as charged, he faces 31 years and eight months in prison. Thousands at risk due to volcanic eruption in Guatemala 44-year-old Priscilla Gomez faces two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance as well as a single count of sale, transportation or offer to sell a controlled substance. She is being held on $35,000 bail and could spend 28 years in prison if convicted as charged. Her brother Gustavo, 48, is charged with two counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance and faces 24 years in prison if convicted as charged. His bail was set at $10,000. The preliminary hearing for Mariscal and Gustavo Gomez is set for March 20. Priscilla Gomez remains in federal custody. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
