What:
News Conference to Honor LAPD Officers

Where:
Parker Center (in front), 150 N. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles

When:
Friday, September 13, 2002, 12:30 p.m.

Los Angeles: In May 2002, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Air Support Flight Officers Angela Krieg and Brian Shipstad picked up the silent signal of a stolen vehicle as they lifted off the LAPD heliport. They tracked the beacon on the Hollywood Freeway and pinpointed the signal coming from a small automobile repair shop in the 600 block of Virgil Avenue.

As the Air Ship circled the location, the vehicle was observed backing out from the repair shop and accelerated away at a high rate of speed. A short distance away, the suspect pulled to the curb, got out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Officer Kevin Webb, assisted by Officers George Diaz, Jason Ahn, Rene January, and Christine Maraio initiated a foot pursuit and caught the suspect as he attempted to climb over a wall. He was taken into custody without further incident. The capture of the suspect and recovery of the vehicle could not have been done without the assistance of Communications Division personnel Eleonor Medina and Tia Texiere.

The suspect, who was on parole, was booked at the Rampart Station for violation of Vehicle Code Section 10851 (Driving Without Owner’s Consent), Evading Arrest and Parole Violation. The vehicle was recovered undamaged.

Shortly after this vehicle recovery utilizing LoJack technology, representatives from LoJack Corporation advised the Department that it was the 50,000^th recovery in the nation since LoJack and law enforcement joined forces approximately 16 years ago.

The partnership between the LAPD and the LoJack Corporation has benefited the citizens of Los Angeles by enabling the LAPD to readily identify stolen vehicles, recover them and arrest car thieves.

All of the officers and civilian personnel involved in this vehicle recovery will be honored in a brief ceremony.

This media advisory was prepared by Sergeant John Pasquariello, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.