LASDHQ

National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month

Millions of us will be traveling to visit friends and family over the holidays. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department encourages everyone to have a holiday game plan that includes a designated sober driver.

During the pre-Christmas and New Year’s holiday season Nov. 30 till well past the New Year, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on patrol looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Tragically, there is an uptick in impaired drivers during the holidays. During the 2019 Christmas (Dec. 24-Dec. 26) and New Year’s Day (Dec. 28, 2018-Jan. 2, 2019) holiday periods, there were more drunk-driving related deaths (210) throughout the country than during any other holiday period in 2019.

“We want everyone to enjoy the holidays and be safe,” Sergeant Robert Hill said. “The more people who plan ahead and find a safe, sober ride home from holiday parties and get togethers, the merrier.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers that a “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana can also impair, especially in combination with alcohol and other drugs. Driving under the influence (DUI) can have serious consequences. Call a friend, call a cab, or use a ride share app but make the right call. Don’t Drink & Drive!

There has been a recent trend in retail thefts

Incidents are occurring at high end retail businesses, primarily in the West side of Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley. Suspects are primarily concealing themselves with hoods and masks, and most are wearing gloves. Also, vehicles primarily used are either with paper plates or no plates. Many of our suspects are from the South Los Angeles area and some are linked to criminal street gangs.

In one incident, bear spray was used against security.  We did recover the bear spray and it is being tested for any potential DNA recovery.

Arrests and Investigative Efforts:

There have been 9 arrests over the past few days through traffic stops, probation rollback searches, and warrant services resulting from investigative leads. Large quantities of recovered merchandise have been seized during follow-up investigations. 

We have been leveraging our partnerships with the FBI Task Force to locate potential suspects. And aggressive filing strategy has been made to present for filing consideration. 

Enforcement and Preventive Strategies:

• Agencies are working closely with neighboring jurisdictions (LA County Sheriffs, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills) to pre-identify potential suspect crews and vehicles.
• Monitoring of social media for suspects posting planned crimes or bragging about recent seizures.
• Police vehicles parked strategically at businesses.
• High visibility patrols require police vehicles to have emergency lights on while driving.
• California Highway Patrol is assisting with extra patrols.
• Uniform foot beats at shopping locations.
• Overtime funding approved to augment uniform presence. 
• Aviation:  One dedicated helicopter to primary areas of occurrence has proven effective over the past few days as a deterrent.
• Mounted Unit Deployment:  Officers on horseback are assigned to high risk retail locations as a visible deterrent.

Business Strategies:

• It is encouraged to increased lighting and expanding security cameras. 
• Retail and business owners should work closely with law enforcement by providing updates via in-person or virtual meetings. 

If you see something, say something, report crime by calling 911 if it is an emergency, or contact your local Sheriff’s Station or police department, or remain anonymous by calling Los Angeles-Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or by visiting lacrimestoppers.org.

Here are some of the tips we regularly tell people:

• Hike with someone! (Most of our searches are for people who went hiking alone).
• Have a plan of where you’re going and when you expect to return.(LA Sheriff Hiking Plan – PDF). Fill out this form and leave a printed copy on the dashboard of your car.

TELL SOMEONE YOUR PLAN and have an agreed time when someone should consider you missing and call for help.

Take the ten essentials:

• Navigation:  Map, compass, GPS device and/or emergency beacon.
• Headlamp and flashlight with extra batteries.
• Sun protection.
• First aid.
• Knife.
• Fire starter.
• Shelter (can be a tent or simply an emergency blanket).
• Extra food.
• Extra water and purification tablets. (1 liter per hour while hiking).
• If you are hiking with your hiking K-9 partner, consider bringing more water.
• Extra clothes. (Layers with NO cotton).

Regarding the use of cell phones:

• When going into the mountains either turn off the phone or put it in airplane mode.
• DO NOT HESITATE to call 9-1-1. Calling 9-1-1 automatically sends your current position.
• IF YOU BECOME LOST: STAY WHERE YOU ARE!  Search teams will be looking for you based on your plan.
• Create a shelter.  Either what you brought, or use natural resources (branches leaves, etc).
• Make yourself visible from the air. Helicopters will be looking for you.
• Use brightly colored fabric.
• Create a large “X” with rocks or tree limbs.
• Ration your food and water.

Halloween is a fun night for kids and adults alike. It is a time when thousands of trick-or-treaters dress up in their favorite costumes and venture out to fill their bag and buckets with all the candy they can carry. Adults dress up in their best costumes to head to parties, local bars and restaurants to celebrate as well.

As with every Halloween, we urge you to be safe and watch out for one another. 

If you follow these safety tips, everyone will have a great night!  

Parents & Children:  

• Parents should plan their trick-or-treat route ahead of time and avoid busy streets.

• Drive extra safely on Halloween. Drive below the posted speed-limit, especially in residential areas. Children are excited and may not be paying attention to vehicles when crossing the street. Do not pass another vehicle that has stopped in the roadway. They could be dropping off children.
  
  
• Children under the age of 12 years-old should trick-or-treat with an adult.

• Explain to your child the importance of looking both ways twice and listening to your surroundings before crossing the street. Remind them to continue to watch for cars even when they are crossing the street. Remind them not to cross mid-block.
• Trick or treat with a group and stay together.  
• Parents or responsible adults should accompany the children while trick or treating.  
• Children should wear visible costumes that are easy to walk in and see. Light-colored costumes are best. Use retro-reflective tape. 
• If you wear a mask, make sure you can see. Consider using non-toxic make up instead. Carry a flashlight so drivers can see you. 
• This is a night of heavy foot traffic, use a crosswalk when available or cross at intersections. Look both ways before crossing the street!
• Only approach well-lit homes that have their porch lights on.  
• Set up a meeting place in case you get separated from your group.
• Talk to your children about the 9-1-1 system and how to dial the number in the event of an emergency.
• Parents, after you are done collecting candy, please inspect the candy before allowing the children to eat it. If you find opened candy, discard it.
• Discard any type of treat that looks suspicious.  
• As you may have noticed, Fentanyl pills are being produced in different colors, and some dealers have attempted to smuggle these pills in candy packaging.
• Although we don’t believe children are the target of these smugglers, we want you to remain diligent to ensure these illicit products have not accidently been mixed in with your children’s candy.

Adults Planning to Party / Drivers  

• Decide before going out whether you plan to drink or drive. You can’t do both. 
• If you plan to drink, designate a sober driver, take a cab, ride-share or use public transit. Anything that doesn’t involve you getting behind the wheel.  
• Party hosts: Offer non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers and don’t allow anyone who may be impaired to leave. 
• There will be many kids out and about dressed up in costumes. This is another reason to slow down and be extra cautious. Obey all traffic signs and signals!  
• Avoid driving through residential areas where trick-or-treaters are likely to be. 
• Watch for children in costumes that may be harder to see at night. Look out for trick-or-treaters who may cross the street mid-block, or from behind parked cars. 

Halloween is a night child predators are looking for victims. Prior to going out, talk to your children about strangers. Instruct them to NEVER get into a stranger’s vehicle under any circumstance. If someone stops and asks your child for help or tries to lure your child into their vehicle, tell them to scream as loud as they can and run.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department wants everyone to have a fun, safe and most importantly, have a Happy Halloween! 

Fentanyl Awareness: Remember, one bad choice can cost you your life. 

Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical drug that was created to help patients with pain management.  It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. 

Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous and deadly substances ever produced.  Illicit drug manufacturers and distributors discovered fentanyl offers a very effective replacement filler or supplement to street level drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, in 2020, Los Angeles County had a significant increase in opioid deaths.  1,173 deaths involved fentanyl.  As of May 2021, there were 567 deaths in Los Angeles County related to fentanyl overdoses, which is an approximate increase of 57%, from the 395 fentanyl related deaths in the first five months of 2020. –  https://www.dea.gov/

The best way to help combat the Fentanyl drug problem is through awareness and education. #LASD asks that you please take the time to educate your children and loved ones on the dangers of not just Fentanyl, but all drugs!  Remember, one bad choice can cost you your life. 

For more information on research, training and topics about drug abuse, visit: https://www.drugabuse.gov/

Dead on Arrival: Fentanyl awareness Documentary

Detectives Seek Public’s Assistance in Locating Suspect Wanted for Murder

On Thursday, October 7, 2021, Homicide Bureau detectives held a press conference to ask for the public’s assistance in locating Joseph Dambra, who is wanted for shooting and killing a family member in the City of San Dimas. Dambra is a White, 62 year old, male, 5’10” and weighs 215 lbs.

On Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at approximately 7:02 p.m., Dambra drove to a family member’s residence located on the 200 block of Valley Center in the City of San Dimas, and shot and killed his brother Richard Dambra. After the shooting, he fled the location going southbound on Valley Center Drive and drove to another residence located on the 500 block of East Allen Avenue in the city of San Dimas an shot his brother’s unoccupied vehicle several times. After the second shooting, he fled the location in an unknown direction.  

Dambra was last seen traveling northbound on the 15 Freeway near the 210 Freeway driving a red and white Ducati motorcycle with a California license plate number 24T1111. Dambra is considered armed and dangerous. People should use extreme caution if they see him, do not approach. Instead, contact your local law enforcement authorities immediately.  

If you have information on his whereabouts, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau, Detective Blagg or Sergeant V. Choi at 323-890-5500.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

LASD will Never Forget 911!