Crime Wave Hits the Beach - Men with guns steal property from
homeless
Around 2:30 am on Sept. 2, the Pacific Division
of the LAPD did a “homeless sweep” on the Ocean Front
Walk.
Groups of LAPD officers woke up, shined
flash lights in faces, and yelled “leave now, right now or you will be
arrested” at the homeless people on the beach. They were rushed to
leave and not allowed to gather their belongings. Some of them admitted to being
terrified. A man who had a custom bike cart with equipment for
his Boardwalk music act said that an officer told him that his things would
be there when he came back.
The
possessions were found later that morning - as the result of a tip - in at least
eight dumpsters adjacent to Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski’s office at
Lincoln and Manchester in Westchester. The eight dumpsters holding the homeless
property had already been picked through by equally destitute early risers.
Remaining items were identified by homeless people who were given rides to
Westchester.
Some of the effects were
salvaged. Other items looked as if they had been deliberately broken, including
the bike cart mentioned above. It appeared to have been torn up, two other
bikes had parts missing and the chain which had locked one bike had been cut.
Duffel bags with clothes,
including jackets, sweatshirts, shoes, and underwear were spread around in the
dumpsters. Also found in pieces were hand carts, a broken amplifier that
belonged to the man who owned the bike cart, roller blades, beach
umbrellas, folding chairs, blankets and much other personal
belongings.
Isn’t it hard enough
being homeless without having to suffer barbaric assaults by those who are sworn
to uphold the law?
Posted: Wed - September 1, 2004 at 03:42 PM