Health Care

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

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:

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

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

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:

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 259

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

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:

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

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:

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

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:

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

A 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:

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

-- Richard Winton

Twitter.com/lacrimes

Accused meth smuggler, caught at LAX, is charged

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:

Retired priest accused of molesting 5 boys in 1970s

Gang member charged in toddler killing faces 305 years

-- 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:

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

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

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 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: