Friday, September 16, 2011

Another skinny, abandoned horse found in Inland Empire

Abandoned horse

Riverside County Animal Services officials said Friday that they have discovered yet another abandoned horse this week, this time a skinny 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare in a field near Perris.

This is the second starving horse found in the Inland Empire this week and is at least the 41st abandoned horse in Riverside County this year. Many of those abandoned have been malnourished.

Animal control officers discovered this horse by chance on Tuesday afternoon, as they were herding some wayward cows back onto a different property off Forrest Drive near San Jacinto Avenue.

The officers had left their horse-handling equipment in their trucks, so they fashioned a makeshift halter for the horse out of dog leashes.

Fortunately, the mare is "a real sweetie," said Officer Tiffany Fuller, and was easily handled.

Dr. Allan Drusys, chief veterinarian for Riverside County, said he believes the mare can be rehabilitated. 

A $15,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has enabled Riverside County Animal Services to respond to more emergency cases, such as this abandoned horse, authorities said.

ALSO:

Gang member charged in toddler killing faces 305 years

Unclear why eucalyptus tree fell on car in O.C., killing driver

Guinness World Records: SoCal resident has state's longest tongue

-- Jessica Garrison

Photo: Riverside County Animal Services Officer Tiffany Fuller with malnourished mare. Credit: John Walsh / Riverside County Animal Services

Still no answers in toppling of tree that crushed driver in Costa Mesa

Fallen tree in Costa Mesa

Authorities were still looking for answers Friday after a 10-ton tree toppled onto a car at a stoplight the day before, killing the driver.

Public safety officials, along with seismic and horticultural experts, were investigating the incident but so far had only theories to work with, from moist soil to trimmed roots to this week’s 3.5-magnitude earthquake in Newport Beach.

The quake that hit about 2:55 a.m. Thursday may have played a role, though there could have been other contributing factors, UC Irvine seismologist Lisa Grant Ludwig said. Hundreds of people in Costa Mesa reported feeling the temblor.

That's a "good indication right there that that location was shaken relatively strongly," Ludwig said. "It’s possible."

But soil conditions, whether the ground was wet or slanted, and the health of the tree are also potential factors in the collapse of the blue gum eucalyptus, she said.

Haeyoon Miller, 29, was crushed by the trunk of the 50-foot tree as she waited at a light at 17th Street and Irvine Avenue on Thursday afternoon. The Orange County coroner's officer said the cause of death was accidental blunt-force trauma.

Newport Beach, which has a contract with Costa Mesa to maintain the trees near the cities’ shared border, said in a statement that the trees on the median are inspected every six months and were last pruned in April and that the tree that fell showed no signs of illness.

Eucalyptus trees are known for shedding bark and branches but are not known to topple, said Laura Lyons, nursery manager at the UC Irvine arboretum.

Residents said a tree in the same median fell about a year ago, but no one was injured.

On Friday, flowers were tied with yellow ribbons to another eucalyptus near the spot where Miller died.

Potted plants filled the hole left by the tree, many with notes from residents.

Melissa Nesheim, an Orange Coast College student who lives about three blocks away, dropped off flowers.

"I know what it’s like to lose someone to an unfortunate accident," Nesheim said.

Miller was on her lunch break from her job as an executive assistant at a mortgage firm, DLJ Financial in Newport Beach, according to friends. She immigrated to the United States from South Korea as a 10-year-old violin prodigy. She attended the Juilliard School in New York and went on to perform at Carnegie Hall, according to George Osorio, 58, her boyfriend of five years.

She also attended San Clemente High School and USC, said Osorio, who shared a home with Miller in Tustin.

"I always referred to Haeyoon as a jack-of-all trades," said co-worker Glenn Toher. "She was kind of like Morgan Freeman in ‘Shawshank Redemption.’ She knew how to do everything."

"She had a reserved elegance,” said Casey Turner, 38, who worked with Miller for seven years. "Nothing was ever above her. She was always calm, always collected.... She was amazing. She was everything to everybody. One of the most selfless people I’ve ever known."

ALSO:

Woman attacked in Long Beach City College restroom

Whitey Bulger tipster wants share of ‘secret’ $2-million reward

SpongeBob character's altercation with women caught on video


-- Lauren Williams

Photo: Firefighters on Thursday worked to lift the trunk of a eucalyptus tree off Haeyoon Miller's car. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

 

Search continues for suspect in attempted sexual assault at college

Sketch of suspect in attempted sexual assault Long Beach police Friday continued searching for a man suspected of an attempted sexual assault at Long Beach City College the day before.

Authorities released a composite sketch of the suspect, described as black, between 18 and 25 years old, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a thin build. He was said to have been wearing dark clothing at the time.

The man is suspected of forcing his way into a stall in a women’s restroom on the campus shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday and attempting to sexually assault an 18-year-old woman, who was able to fight him off.

The woman was treated at a hospital for minor physical injuries and released, according to police.

ALSO:

Rug store manager faces new charges

Child's author charged with abusing second girl

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

-- Rick Rojas

Illustration: Police sketch of suspect. Credit: Long Beach Police Department

Dogs and puppies: in the news again


Next week is Puppy Awareness Week

This week is Puppy Awareness Week


Did you see the headlines last week? The number of abandoned dogs has risen to the highest level in a decade, with the financial squeeze getting the blame for twenty healthy dogs being euthanased in the UK every day.


Everyone in the dog world is keen to address this issue, with the Kennel Club doing its bit by promoting the inaugural “Puppy Awareness Week” this week. This aims to highlight the importance of buying the right dog, from the right breeder or rescue home and ensuring that the puppy has the right care when it gets home.


There’s a lot to be said for this: one of the main reasons why people abandon dogs is that they should never have bought them in the first place. If people thought carefully about that initial act of taking the dog into their home, many of them would never do it. Instead, the typical sequence of events is something like this: “A dog would be cute. I’d love a dog. There’s one on the internet that I like. How much does it cost? Deal done.” It’s only several months later, when the dog has matured into a bouncy adolescent eating a hole in the family budget that the reality dawns: for many people, a dog is the wrong choice of pet. It isn’t easy to find a home for such half-grown animals, so they’re abandoned. The humans are allowed off the hook, but the dog is scooped up by the local authority dog pound, and you know the rest.


So yes, the Kennel Club is right to stress the message that new owners should think and plan carefully before leaping into dog ownership. And buying from a reputable breeder is far less likely to lead to complications than taking the cheaper and quicker option of buying from a puppy farmer. If you want to know more, in a “fun” environment, there's even a  “Pup aid” mini music festival in Brighton this weekend.


So far, so good, for the Kennel Club. But wait; trouble may be lurking. It’s three years since the BBC’s documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”  stirred up emotions in the dog breeding world.  There’s been plenty of activity since then, and the series producer, Jemima Harrison, has been commissioned to make a follow up, which will:


• reprise key sequences from the film and follow up on several of the stories from the original documentary


• tell the story of the reaction/response to the film


• include a few new stories


• conclude with an assessment of what more needs to be done


The Kennel Club has taken some significant steps towards addressing the issue of poor health in pedigree dogs, but the question is: has it done enough? If you want a brief promo of what Jemima thinks, visit her blog. And if you want a “vets’ eye” view of the issue of dog breeding, the British Veterinary Association is debating the issue at its annual conference next week. I’ll be there myself, and I’ll let you know what happens.



Marine from Camp Pendleton killed in Afghanistan

Marines A Marine from Camp Pendleton has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Friday.

Cpl. Michael Dutcher, 22, of Asheville, N.C., was killed Thursday in Helmand province. He was part of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

ALSO:

Rug store manager faces new charges

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

Child's author charged with abusing second girl

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 259

Click through for more photos of Southern California Moments

Splash: Family members don cardboard "armor" during a backyard water fight on Labor Day in Carlsbad in this photo by Kevin Mun.

Every day of 2011, we're featuring reader-submitted photos of Southern California Moments. Follow us on Twitter and visit the Southern California Moments homepage for more on this series.

LAPD interrupts gun battle in Harbor Gateway; 3 hurt

Shooting LAPD officers interrupted a shooting in progress in Harbor Gateway on Friday afternoon.

According to preliminary reports, no officers were hurt in the attack, which was reported around 2:40 pm at 121st and Figueroa streets.

Sources said LAPD officers arrived to find several people shooting at each other.

In all, three people were wounded, possibly in shootings that occurred before officers arrived.

ALSO:

Woman attacked in Long Beach City College restroom

Whitey Bulger tipster wants share of ‘secret’ $2-million reward

SpongeBob character's altercation with women caught on video

-- Andrew Blankstein

Image: Map shows location of the shooting. Source: Google Maps

Monument to POWs dedicated at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego

Photo: "The Liberation Moment'' at Miramar National Cemetery. Credit: Miramar National Cemetery A monument to all American prisoners of war was formally dedicated Friday at the entrance of the newly opened Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego.

The 15-foot-tall, 7-ton bronze statue is titled "The Liberation Moment" and depicts the joy of an emaciated POW emerging from captivity.

"American POWs from all wars have sacrificed in ways the rest of us can't even imagine," Steve Muro, undersecretary for memorial affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said in his keynote address. "This remarkable sculpture helps keep their stories and spirit alive."

The monument was the work of Poway artist Richard Becker, who sculpted it in clay and then had it cast in bronze.

Friday was National Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day.

ALSO:

Woman attacked in Long Beach City College restroom

Whitey Bulger tipster wants share of ‘secret’ $2-million reward

SpongeBob character's altercation with women caught on video

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: "The Liberation Moment'' at Miramar National Cemetery. Credit: Miramar National Cemetery

Brother arrested in North Hollywood text message slaying

Yepremyan 
A new arrest was made Thursday evening in the 2009 North Hollywood slaying of a teenager who was shot in the head just hours after sending an insulting text message about another teen.

According to authorities, 19-year-old Mike Yepremyan sent a text message to his girlfriend, calling her friend a “bitch.” The girl he insulted saw the text, authorities said, and asked her brother to beat up Yepremyan.

Soon after, Yepremyan began receiving phone calls from a stranger who asked him to meet him at a Sears parking lot in North Hollywood, according to witnesses.

Yepremyan and several friends drove to the parking lot and encountered two men; one struck the 19-year-old and the other pulled out a gun and shot him in the head, authorities said.

The alleged shooter and the woman who was insulted were previously arrested and charged, but on Thursday, authorities arrested the woman’s brother, saying he was an accessory to the crime.

Hovik Dzhuryan, 19, was taken into custody late Thursday evening at his Van Nuys home, said LAPD Det. Thomas Townsend.

An indictment released Friday accuses Dzhuryan of setting up the fatal parking lot meeting after getting the call from his sister. Authorities, however, say Dzhuryan was not in the Sears parking lot when the slaying occurred.

Dzhuryan and his sister, Kat Vardanian, have both pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

The alleged shooter, Zareh Manjikian, and the man who allegedly struck the victim, Vahagn Jurian, are charged with murder. Both have also pleaded not guilty.

Larvae of destructive beetle found at port

A giant shipment of rice that arrived last week from India is being sent back after U.S. customs officials detected the presence of the Khapra beetle, a destructive grain and seed pest, in the 20-foot-long container.

It is the fourth time the beetle has turned up at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex this year, and the 145th interception at a U.S. port of entry in 2011, compared with just 37 last year and an average of 15 or fewer in previous years.

The Khapra, whose scientific name is Trogoderma granarium Everts, is considered one of the world’s most destructive pests. Officials said it could be financially devastating if it established a foothold in the U.S.

The beetle feeds on stored grain, grain products, dried plants and animal products, including dog food. It can survive without food for long periods, requires little water and is able to hide in tiny cracks and crevices. It can also tolerate many insecticides and fumigants.

In the 1960s, California spent millions of dollars to eradicate a Khapra beetle infestation in the state.

In recent months, there has been a nationwide surge in detection of the beetle, officials said. In this case, officials didn’t even find a beetle: They detected dead larvae on the outer seam of a bag of rice. But that was enough for them to box the whole container back up, seal it and await further testing, which came back positive.

The beetle is known to be prevalent in Afghanistan, Egypt and India, among other places.

ALSO:

Woman attacked in Long Beach City College restroom

Whitey Bulger tipster wants share of ‘secret’ $2-million reward

SpongeBob character's altercation with women caught on video

-- Jessica Garrison

"So You Think You Can Dance" choreographer guilty of rape

Alex DaSilva booking photoA one-time choreographer on the Fox TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” was found guilty by a jury Friday of raping one woman and assaulting another female victim with intent to commit rape.

A downtown Los Angeles jury found Alex Da Silva, 43, guilty of raping a 22-year-old woman in August 2002 and assault with intent to commit rape involving another woman in March 2009, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Martha Carrillo. Jurors, however, were hung when it came to four other charges involving two more alleged victims of the salsa dance instructor.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy declared a mistrial on those charges. Prosecutors said they are still deciding whether to seek to retry the dancer on those four counts -- two counts each of sexual penetration by a foreign object and forcible rape.

Da Silva was charged with sexually assaulting four victims between the ages of 20 and 26. The assaults occurred between August 2002 and March 2009. The victims were either dancers or aspiring dancers who met him through his dance instruction classes.  

He is slated to appear again Nov. 8 for possible sentencing. He faces up to 14 years in prison on the charges he was convicted of Friday.

ALSO:

Rug store manager faces new charges

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

Child's author charged with abusing second girl

-- Richard Winton

Twitter.com/lacrimes

Accused meth smuggler, caught at LAX, is charged

LAX2011-09-0440_-_Pic_31  A Compton man bound for Japan has been charged with drug trafficking after Transportation Security Administration officials at LAX discovered nearly 5 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside TGI Fridays Potato Skins snack bags in his backpack.

Lemuel Giovani Espinosa, 21, of Compton appeared in federal court Thursday after agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him Wednesday.

TSA officers discovered the drugs in his carry-on bag during the X-ray screening process as he prepared to board a flight to Narita International Airport, outside Tokyo. U.S. customs officers seized the contraband and determined that it was, in fact, a controlled substance.

Espinosa planned to deliver the contraband to a person in Japan in return for a $6,000 payment, according to an affidavit in the case. Federal agents estimate the methamphetamine would have sold on the street in Japan for more than $200,000.

"Drug traffickers are always trying novel ways to conceal their contraband,” said Marlon V. Miller, an ICE deputy special agent in Los Angeles. Espinosa was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was ordered held without bond pending his arraignment, which is set for Oct. 3. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison

ALSO:

Rug store manager faces new charges

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

Child's author charged with abusing second girl

-- Richard Winton

Twitter.com/lacrimes

Photo: Methamphetamine in a snack bag.  Credit: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Bronze plaques disappearing in San Diego

San Diego police are investigating the apparent theft of more than two dozen bronze plaques from homes, historic sites and places of worship.

One man has already been arrested and more arrests are expected, police said.

The plaques began disappearing in the summer, many from some of the city's more historic areas, including Banker's Hill, Burlingame, Mission Hills, Inspiration Point and surrounding Balboa Park.

Police suspect the thieves were hoping to sell the plaques for scrap -- with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.

Plaques were stolen from in front of Temple Beth Israel and First Christian Science Church.

Residents and shop clerks in the area have been warned to watch for an orange truck or sports-utility vehicle, possibly driven by thieves. If a theft is spotted in progress, call the police and don't attempt to make an arrest, said Officer David Surwilo.

"We need good witnesses, not injured victims," he said.

City officials have promised to replace the plaques at historic sites.

ALSO:

Gang member charged in toddler killing faces 305 years

Unclear why eucalyptus tree fell on car in O.C., killing driver

Guinness World Records: SoCal resident has state's longest tongue

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Giving Okra a Second Chance

Okra is one of those foods you either love or hate, depending on your first experience with it. My first okra tasting was at a Texas barbecue joint, where the okra was rolled in cornmeal and fried. What’s not to like?

But okra has more than its share of critics, who complain it gets slimy when cooked. One of them was Martha Rose Shulman, until she discovered several Mediterranean dishes with okra.

Until lately, I hadn’t been a fan of okra. But then I learned how cooks in the eastern and southern Mediterranean treat this popular vegetable: They cook it whole, after tossing it with salt and vinegar and marinating it for an hour to make it less, well, slimy. Some regional cooks dry okra in the sun after salting it.

Martha builds on her Mediterranean okra experience with a variety of new ways to prepare okra. Some of her recipes roast or stew the whole okra, while others call for sliced okra. There’s even a variation on cactus salad with okra as the star. Here are five new ways to give okra a second chance.

Roasted Okra: When okra is roasted, there’s no need to marinate it in salt and vinegar.

Turkish Chicken and Okra Casserole: Okra stewed with lamb or chicken is a Turkish staple.

Okra, Avocado and Tomato Salad With Chili and Lime Juice: This lively combination is inspired by a favorite Mexican cactus salad.

Algerian Okra, Potato and Tomato Tagine: Make this stew in any sort of heavy casserole, but an earthenware tagine works best.

Mediterranean Okra and Tomato Stew: Okra is stewed with tomatoes and onions throughout the Middle East and in Greece.

Prescription drug vending machine comes to Pasadena

Pasadena urgent care center doles out drugs from vending machines
Vending machines dole out everything from candy bars to iPods. At the Pasadena Community Urgent Care Center, you can add prescription medications to that list.

The center installed a 2,000-pound machine that dispenses prescription drugs in its lobby. The vending machine has no window to display its wares, but is stocked with generic bottles of ibuprofen, antibiotics, cough syrup and other medications for temporary conditions.

Patients at the center -- which provides non-emergency outpatient treatment to all comers, insured or not, in an effort to relieve pressure on local emergency rooms -- have been hesitant to use the machine since it was installed last year, administrator Al Moreno told the Pasadena Sun.

"People don't understand the concept," Moreno said. "It's a soda machine for prescriptions."

One flaw is that the machine is not programmed to process insured claims, so covered customers can't get the same discounts they would at a pharmacy counter. Moreno said the city could not afford the option that would allow the machine to accept purchases covered by insurance.

Retired San Bernardino priest accused of molesting five boys in 1970s

A retired San Bernardino priest is facing accusations that he sexually abused at least five boys during his 24 years at St. Aquinas Catholic High School and has been stripped of his ministerial rights.

The Diocese of San Bernardino, in emails and letters sent this week to the school's alumni, revealed that Father Robert J. Donat, who now lives in retirement in L.A. County, was being accused by an alleged victim of that sexual abuse. Church officials deemed the accusation "credible." 

The diocese asked all former students who might have information to contact church or police officials. The alleged abuse mentioned in the emails and letters occurred on an out-of-state trip.

Donat reached at his Torrance home declined to comment.

Rebecca Rhoades, an attorney for one of the alleged victims abused in 1973, said she "spoke to five victims who were aged between 15 and 17 at the time of the abuse." Rhoades said those men also provided the names of other potential victims.

"He was at the school a long time," she said. "I would expect other victims will come forward."

The abuse allegedly occurred on road trips with the priest, as well as inside the rectory and in his car. "He would groom the boys, calling them his special friend," she said.

John Andrews, a spokesman for the diocese, said church officials were aware of only one alleged victim who was a student at the school in 1973. 

Donat was stripped of all priestly duties about a month and half ago after the diocese learned of the allegations.

According to the diocese, Donat served as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Montclair from 1993 to

Montrose farmers market in doghouse with too many pups

Montrose Harvest Market in trouble for dogs
Organizers of the farmers market in Montrose -- already in hot water regarding sponsorship rules -- have been told by public health officials to ratchet up efforts to keep animals out.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a notice of violation to organizers of the Montrose Harvest Market last month after counting more than 12 dogs in the market, far above the number usually seen during a random inspection, said Scott Hunter, an environmental health specialist with the agency.

"It's something we don't see often," he told the Glendale News-Press. "Maybe we see one [during an inspection]."

The Montrose Shopping Park Assn., a business group that sponsors the market on Honolulu Avenue, posted signs warning visitors that no pets are allowed in the market after getting the notice of violation at the end of August.

Animals, except for guide or service dogs, are not allowed within 20 feet of food, according to county health rules.

No more free Costa Mesa PD fix-it tickets for non-residents

Costa Mesa fix-it details
Costa Mesa police will begin charging non-residents to sign off on fix-it tickets later this month, police department officials announced.

Starting Sept. 27, anyone who isn't a resident and asks to get a fix-it ticket signed off will have to pay $10. The fee offsets the costs of approving the service, department officials said.

The policy change stems from City Council action in July. Costa Mesa signed off on anyone's fix-it ticket for free before, but after comparing the rates with neighboring cities -- most of which charge fees to non-residents and some to city residents -- the council opted to start charging people who don't live in Costa Mesa.

ALSO:

Woman attacked in Long Beach City College restroom

Whitey Bulger tipster wants share of ‘secret’ $2-million reward

Guinness World Records: SoCal resident has state's longest tongue

-- Joseph Serna, Times Community News

Photo: Costa Mesa police on patrol. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Suspect in toddler killing pleads not guilty

Suspect in toddler death pleads not guilty
Brandon Barnes, the 19-year-old gang member charged with a shooting that left a 3-year-old girl dead and a pregnant mother and her young daughter wounded, pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder Friday morning in a San Bernardino County courtroom.

Barnes was charged with one count of murder and seven counts of attempted murder in Monday's shooting. He allegedly shot a dozen rounds at a family living in the 1300 block of D Street in retaliation against a male resident who -– an hour earlier -– stopped the suspect from beating a woman on a sidewalk a few doors away.

He appeared handcuffed and wearing jail-issued red and yellow shirt and pants and said little during the brief hearing before superior Court Judge Kenneth Barr.

Barnes waved to family members in the back of the packed, busy courtroom after entering his plea and was quickly led away by sheriff's deputies.

His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 26.

ALSO:

Four hospitalized after bee attack in Santa Ana

FBI investigating allegations of celebrity phone hacking

Alleged bank robber leads police on chase, tosses cash on freeway

-- Phil Willon in San Bernardino County

Photo: San Bernardino Police Department officials release the name and photograph of Nylah Franco-Torrez, 3 who was shot to death Monday night. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Laguna Beach rug store manager now charged in 8 sexual assaults

Photo: Saeid B. Maralan. Credit: Orange County District Attorney's office.

The manager of a Laguna Beach rug store was charged Friday with sexually assaulting four more women inside the store, doubling the number of alleged victims.

The new charges against Saeid Boustanabadi Maralan, 53, of Laguna Niguel, were the result of women coming forward after publicity after his arrest Sept. 1. 

Maralan, a registered sex offender who is being held on $2-million bail, now faces two felony counts of sexual battery by restraint, one felony count each of forcible rape, sexual penetration by a foreign object by force, attempted forcible oral copulation, false imprisonment and one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison.

Maralan manages the store, Sirous & Sons, in Laguna Beach. For more than a year and half, Laguna Beach police struggled to build a case against Maralan, who was convicted of molesting several woman in Los Angeles County in 1999 and 2002.

The investigation began when a 40-year-old woman reported on April 10, 2010, that he took her into a storage closet where he grabbed and kissed her. As she tried to flee, Maralan allegedly pulled down the victim’s pants and attempted to rape her, according to prosecutors.

An employee then alleged she was raped May 15, 2010, in a storage room when Maralan pushed her against a stack of rugs and assaulted her. The woman told a friend that night and reported the attack to Laguna Beach police the next day.

Lt. Jason Kravetz said the first two victims reported the crimes but shortly after refused to cooperate with investigators, and even went as far as to ask the department to drop the investigations. The police tried to corroborate the women’s reports by sending an undercover female detective into the

Crime alerts for Westlake, Echo Park and eight other L.A. neighborhoods

Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 10 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times’ Crime L.A. database.

Three neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Westlake (A) was the most unusual, recording 24 reports compared with a weekly average of 16.7 over the last three months.

Echo Park (D) topped the list of seven neighborhoods with property crime alerts. It recorded 23 property crimes compared with its weekly average of 13.4 over the last three months.

Alerts are based on an analysis of crime reports for Sept. 6–Sept. 12, the most recent seven days for which data are available.

Ben Welsh, Thomas Suh Lauder

More Accidental Drug Poisonings of Children

The growing use of prescription drugs by adults, from pain relievers to sleep aids and heart medications, has led to an increase in accidental drug poisonings of children, new research shows.

Despite childproof caps and safety warnings, the number of accidental drug poisonings among young children surged 22 percent from 2001 to 2008, according to a new study in The Journal of Pediatrics. The reason, say researchers, is that prescription drug use by both adults and children is on the rise, and there are simply more bottles of pills in the home that can potentially be accessed by curious children.

Researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati analyzed national poison control center data on 544,133 children ages 5 and younger who had visited an emergency department between 2001 and 2008 after an accidental medication poisoning.

In 95 percent of the cases, the poisoning occurred because the child ingested the drug, as opposed to a labeling or dosage error by a parent or health care worker. Prescription drugs were a bigger problem than over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drugs accounted for 55 percent of the drug-poisoning visits to the emergency room, but represented nearly three quarters of serious injuries. In fact, 43 percent of the children admitted to the hospital after accidentally ingesting a prescription drug ended up in intensive care.

The biggest culprits were opioid drugs for pain relief, like oxycodone and codeine; sedatives, like muscle relaxers and sleep aids; and prescription heart drugs.

The sheer ubiquity of prescription drugs in the home is most likely contributing to the increase in accidental poisonings, said the study authors.

“It is also possible that some types of medications previously less available in the environment of young children have become more available,” the authors wrote. “As obesity and the metabolic syndrome have increased in prevalence and affected younger adults, more homes of small children may have antihypertensive and antidiabetic medicines prescribed for parents or siblings.”

Changes in drug technology may also be contributing to the increase. For instance, the increase in sustained-release medications may be contributing to more severe poisonings. Shifts in prescribing practices may also be leading to more toxic drugs in the home. For instance, heart patients who in the past took diuretics for blood pressure are now prescribed beta blockers and calcium channel antagonists, which can lead to more toxic overdoses.

Parents may also be becoming less vigilant about poisonproofing homes by storing drugs in locked cabinets.

“All medication users find it inconvenient to store medication in locked cabinets, particularly medications that are used once or several times daily,” the authors wrote. “They may not understand the life-threatening impact of some medications in just one dose, discount the potential toxicity of O.T.C. medications, or underestimate the likelihood that it will happen in their home with their children.”

The authors said the best solution would be to design new packages for both adult and pediatric drugs that would not only be difficult to open but also make it more difficult for a young child to ingest large quantities. For instance, liquid medication bottles can be designed to restrict flow. Pill bottles can be made to dispense only one tablet at a time.

Gang member charged in toddler killing faces 305 years

Suspect in toddler death charged with murder
Prosecutors on Friday charged a teenage member of a Los Angeles-based street gang with murder and seven counts of attempted murder in Monday's revenge shooting in San Bernardino that killed a 3-year-old girl and wounded her mother and another young girl.

"As the district attorney, let me be clear about one thing. The killing of babies in our community will not be tolerated," San Bernardino County Dist. Atty. Michael Ramos said. "The defendant in this matter will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

If convicted, Brandon Taray Barnes faces 305 years to life in prison.

The 19-year-old San Bernardino man allegedly shot a dozen rounds at a family living in the 1300 block of D Street in retaliation against a male resident who -– an hour earlier -– stopped the suspect from beating a woman on a sidewalk a few doors away.

Investigators with the San Bernardino Police Department, aided by eyewitness accounts of the shooting, identified the suspect within 24 hours and the agency's gang unit tracked him down Wednesday evening, two blocks from the crime scene.

"I make a commitment: He will never come out to harm another citizen in this county again," Ramos said.

The shooting occurred as relatives at the home of Sophia Cardona were about to sit down for dinner.

Nylah Franco-Torres, 3, was shot in the head and pronounced dead at a hospital. Cardona said her granddaughter La-Donna Howie, 21, and Howie's 4-year-old daughter Justine, were wounded in the gunfire.

Howie, who is five months pregnant, was listed in stable condition at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton. Her fetus was unharmed and in good condition, police said.

Justine was in extremely critical condition at Loma Linda University Medical Center with a head wound.

Relatives said she has regained consciousness and is "a real fighter," Cardona said.

ALSO:

Four hospitalized after bee attack in Santa Ana

FBI investigating allegations of celebrity phone hacking

Alleged bank robber leads police on chase, tosses cash on freeway

-- Mike Anton and Phil Willon

Photo: Close family friend Imelda De La Rosa of San Bernardino can't hold back her tears as San Bernardino police announce an arrest in the shooting death 3-year old Nylah Franco-Torrez. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Lifeguards Going Gray, but Still Going

An estimated 10 percent of the lifeguards who work New York’s public beaches and parks are over the age of 50. Their secret? Intense winter exercise so they can stay in shape to pass the lifeguard fitness test year after year.

In order to return for another season of sun, surf and rescues, the experienced lifeguards have to pass a state-administered rehire test every spring. The exam is meant to test their speed in the water and on land. The test consists of a 100-meter pool swim that must be completed in 1 minute, 20 seconds and a quarter-mile run in 2 minutes, 10 seconds.

“If you don’t pass, it doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been there,” said Bruce Meirowitz, 60, a retired high school art teacher from Sound Beach, N.Y., who has been a lifeguard since he was 17. “To stay in this Peter Pan, Never Never Land we live in as lifeguards, you have to pay your dues.”

That means training — much of it done over the winter, which is when older adults tend to slack off. By contrast, in early November, Mr. Meirowitz and about a dozen of his colleagues from Robert Moses will hit the pool at the Brentwood campus of Suffolk County Community College.

You can see some of their exercises in the slide show “Staying Fit to Stay on the Job.” Read the full article, “Keeping Themselves Fit for Going to the Rescue,” and then please join the discussion below.

Body found near Seal Beach believed to be missing swimmer

Missing Seal Beach swimmer
The Orange County coroner on Friday was working to identify a body found in the water near Seal Beach, where a 24-year-old man went missing two weeks ago.

Authorities said they believe the body, found Thursday at the west jetty of Anaheim Bay, may be that of Jowayne Bindford.

The Long Beach man was among four men who went into ocean off the gated community of Surfside on Aug. 31 during a high surf and strong rip tide advisory. Three of them made it to shore; Bindford did not.

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search but called it off the next day.

ALSO:

LAPD arrests suspect in shooting of USC students

San Bernardino prosecutor vows justice in toddler shooting

Unclear why eucalyptus tree fell on car in O.C., killing driver

-- Mike Anton

Photo: Gail Benford, right, is comforted by her daughter, Jody, as the two walk on the morning after Benford's son, Jowayne, went missing in the waters off Sunset Beach. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

Homicide detectives investigating death of 18-month-old toddler

Los Angeles police are investigating the death of an 18-month-old child in El Sereno.

Officer Cleon Joseph said homicide detectives are responding to a report of a dead toddler in the 4700 block of Catalpa Street. Authorities were initially called about 7 a.m.

No other details were available.

ALSO:

Suspect in toddler shooting has ‘no conscience,’ family says

SpongeBob character's altercation with women caught on video

Redmond O'Neal in custody, faces prison after using meth in rehab

-- Richard Winton

Twitter.com/lacrimes

Counting the cost of meningitis


Meningitis is particularly common in student halls.

Meningitis is particularly common in student populations


As this year's intake of students begin to arrive at their various universities, check into their halls of residence (apart from the University of Lincoln which appears not to have matched rooms to students and temporary accommodation is required) and begin the mad social whirl that is Freshers' Week, I am reminded of my son's experience at university some thirteen years ago.


Within a couple of weeks of the beginning of his first term, several cases of meningitis were discovered among the students – and other universities had similar clusters.


Needless to say, parents were extremely alarmed and anxious for their children and it was a very worrying time. The university student health department went into immediate action and the newspapers carried pictures of students lining up for the Men C inoculation. Luckily for us, my son had the jab and did not contract the disease – but I often wonder what happened to those students who were not so fortunate.


Since then – and because of such large numbers of students being affected in the outbreak – the Men C jab has become part of the vaccination package for all young people. However, this only offers protection from one strain of the infection. There are no vaccines for the other types – A, B, W135 and Y – all of which are extremely serious illnesses. Viral meningitis is not so serious and rarely proves fatal.


Meningitis occurs when the lining of the brain and spinal chord becomes inflamed – and septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the disease.


The after-effects can be devastating – if the patient recovers, it may be with the loss of limbs, sight or hearing.


Next week – 19th-25th September – is Meningitis Awareness Week. "Counting the Cost of Meningitis" is the current campaign run by The Meningitis Research Foundation. The campaign spells out only too clearly the possible results of contracting meningitis. The charity is calling on the government to "introduce a Men B vaccine to the Childhood Immunisation Schedule – as soon as a safe and effective one becomes available". Researchers have a result in their sights, which makes the appeal to the government all the more important.


For more information about meningitis, please log onto www.meningitis.org or for MRF's viral video, which explains why your support is vital and asks you to sign the petition, log onto www.meningitis.org/sign



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