Tag: West Hollywood Sheriff Department

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station is investing heavily in a drone pilot program that will have drones acting as first responders. The drones will gather information in real time, alerting authorities when suspects are on the move, if they changed clothes, or other details that can benefit their investigation.

The Drone as a First Responder program, or DFR, is a pilot program that will allow deputies to test the efficacy of drones aiding law enforcement in the real world. The pilot will be conducted over one year and will cost $750,000.

The decision was made during a West Hollywood City Council meeting on June 29. The program is anticipated to be up and running by late July.

West Hollywood will be the first sheriff’s station in Los Angeles County to implement such a program. West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station Captain Fanny Lapkin informed reporters the drone will act as law enforcement’s “eyes in the sky.”

The drones will give deputies an aerial view of events as they unfold, similar to a police helicopter. Officials say the drones will be cheaper, quicker, and easier to deploy than a helicopter. The drones will not be allowed to use facial recognition, carry weapons, or randomly surveil citizens, as outlined in the department’s policy.

By Milan Manesh

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Friday, June 12, deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station arrested Shawn Greene, 35, on suspicion of bank robbery. Greene is now being charged with two counts of bank robbery. He is accused of robbing a Culver City bank on June 2 and a West Hollywood bank on June 12 using similar tactics.

At 1:10 p.m., deputies learned of a bank robbery occurred on the 3800 block of Culver Center Drive. The suspect entered the bank, approached the teller, and presented a demand note claiming to be armed and walked out with cash. The West Hollywood robbery occurred within view of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. According to WEHOonline, deputies tracked Greene using over 60 surveillance cameras and a drone as he fled on foot.

After Greene’s arrest, Culver City detectives traveled to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station to interview him.

He later admitted to committing the June 2 Culver City robbery, according to the Culver City Police Department. The case has been filed with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on June 16, where Greene was charged with two counts of bank robbery.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Stulp at (310) 253-6312. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

By Milan Manesh

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On June 12, deputies from the Los Angeles County West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station announced a suspect was arrested in connection with a robbery that occurred at 1 p.m. at a bank in the 8600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.

According to WeHo online, it the U.S. Bank branch at 8631 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Rainbow District.  A man entered with a weapon and a note, which he showed to a teller, left on foot with money wearing a white shirt under a dark blue jacket, a dark baseball hat, and black glasses. The suspect was apprehended near Holloway Drive and La Cienega Blvd. with a weapon in his possession.

A deputy assigned to the Real-Time Watch Center used a DFR (Drone as First Responder) to track the suspect and a live camera feed to locate him.

According to the booking logs, the suspect was identified as Akira Toriyama, 35, who is unemployed.  He is being held at the station without bail for violating section 211 of the California Penal Code, which prohibits robbery of personal property by force or fear.

According to the West Hollywood Sheriff station, the investigation is being conducted by Detective Luna of the Major Crimes Bureau.

The stolen funds were recovered, and no additional details have been released. Anyone with information about the incident should call the station at 310-855-8850.  Those wanting to remain anonymous can instead send a tip to Crimestoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S).

By Daniel Diquinzio