Los Angeles - On Sunday, February 11, 2001, at approximately 2:20 a.m., officers assigned to Rampart Community police Station were traveling southbound on the 110 Harbor freeway at Olympic Boulevard, when they observed a vehicle, also southbound on the 110 Harbor freeway. The officers noted that the vehicle was traveling at approximately 35 miles per hour in a 65 miles per hour zone. Subsequently, the officers conducted a Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) check of the vehicle’s license plates, which revealed that the vehicle was reported as stolen; a felony crime. The officers requested the response of additional units and a helicopter, and conducted a high risk stop.

The driver, later identified as Mr. Angelo Gousse, was taken into custody without incident and transported to Rampart Community Police Station for further investigation. The officers’ investigation revealed that Mr. Gousse had rented the vehicle from Budget-Rent-a-Car. The incorrect license plates had been affixed to the vehicle. The vehicle operated by Mr. Gousse had the plates for another Budget Rent-a-Car vehicle, which was reported stolen. Since the investigation revealed that Mr. Gousse had committed no crime, a supervisor met with Mr. Gousse, discussed the incident with him and gave him a ride to a hotel in the Los Angeles Airport area, where he was staying.

With regards to the issue of racial profiling, the Department reiterates its long-standing position that its officers not engage in any practice of "race-based policing."

Chief Bernard Parks has stated, "The practice of racial profiling is a harmful presumption that encourages incorrect stereotypes about people. It is a violation of an individual’s civil rights and it flies in the face of every principle and practice for which the Los Angeles Police Department stands".

This press release was prepared by Lieutenant Horace Frank, Officer in Charge, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.