LOS ANGELES, Posted 11:50 a.m. September 22, 1999 -- Credibility issues raised by the Los Angeles Police Department corruption investigation has now led judges to suspend two separate injunctions against the 18th Street gang.
The court orders limiting the gangs' activity had been imposed based on declarations by some of the same officers now caught up in the corruption case, and prosecutors asked for the suspensions.
The requests to suspend comes amid a growing corruption scandal involving the LAPD's Rampart Station.
Prosecutors say they are concerned about the credibility of sworn statements that police officers delivered to help secure the injunctions, and they want time to investigate.
The internal LAPD investigation centers on allegations by former undercover Officer Rafael Perez, who pleaded guilty to stealing cocaine being held as evidence, then agreed to cooperate with detectives as part of a plea bargain.
He told his superiors that his former partner's account of the shooting of a rifle-wielding gang member was a lie. That account was used to get an injunction against a set of the 18th Street Gang.
The alleged gunman was Javier Ovando, who was shot after supposedly pointing a weapon at Perez and his partner, then charged, convicted and entenced to 23 years in prison on the strength of what Perez now says was perjured testimony.
Perez now says Ovando was unarmed and handcuffed when he was shot, and that a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle was planted on him to justify the shooting, according to a writ of habeas corpus filed by the District Attorney's Office last week. Ovando was released from state prison Thursday.
The first injunction was imposed ten months ago on gang activity in a crime-ridden area near downtown L.A. That injunction was suspended yesterday until at least Oct. 22.
The second injunction, governing gang activity in another area, was suspended this morning. An Oct. 7 hearing on whether to make it permanent was rescheduled for Dec. 7.
After today's hearing, Assistant City Attorney Martin Vranicar Jr. told a news wire that despite the fact the injunctions have been put on hold, there will still be a strong law enforcement presence in the two gang-riddled areas.
Court Orders Limiting Gang Activity Suspended
Request Comes Amid LAPD Corruption Scandal
Homicides |
Maps |
Prison Connection |
California Prisons | Contact
Copyright © Streetgangs.com, All RIGHTS RESERVED. Disclaimer
All trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.