Air Rifles Cause Major Police Response in Historic Core
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — LAPD officers detained three men inside the Huntington Hotel this afternoon after their use of air rifles on the roof of the hotel brought out a major police response.
The whole ordeal was over within 45 minutes, but unless the men have existing warrants, they are unlikely to receive any charges. While shooting air rifles at targets in the middle of Downtown isn't smart, it's also not illegal.
Officers responding to multiple reports of shooters atop the hotel treated the situation with extreme caution.
"That's one of the most dangerous situations police can respond to," explained Lt. Paul Vernon, head of Central's detectives division.
Police must treat the entire building as dangerous, not just the roof area.
The incident was first reported around 4pm, and was resolved by 4:40pm.
michael baffico (@bromike666) on March 08, 2010, at 05:02PM – #1
Take it to the range bozo's. Even if it's not illegal it ain't smart.
Fernando Diaz on March 08, 2010, at 05:25PM – #2
How is that legal?!
Robert Banuelos on March 08, 2010, at 06:37PM – #3
Stupidity should be punishable, at least a fine.
Guest on March 08, 2010, at 06:38PM – #4
At the old Huntington Hotel, of course! That place needs a good police raid at least once a week. Always have to cross the street when I walk by. I've seen all kinds of things fall or thrown out those windows.
film rob on March 08, 2010, at 08:21PM – #5
I watched the whole thing from the chapman (before any cop ever arrived), those KIDS always play on that roof (with the guns). They played the whole time (2 helicopters 40-50 police, street closers, swat, snipers) until someone yelled at them then they ran inside. Not saying that they are smart but any lazy cop could see the completely visible orange head that toy makers are require to put on the guns. This was a complete waste of money. FYI everyday the drug dealers sell drugs infront of that building, we all laughed because those guys slipped around the corner durning the ordeal. They are out front right now selling.
Guest on March 08, 2010, at 08:55PM – #6
If I may, let me point out a couple things some persons may not have considered: 1) While ordinances exist to require toy gun manufacturers to paint their guns with orange paint on the muzzles, a crook could certainly paint a real gun with orange paint to make people think the gun is a toy; 2) Terrorists, the domestic type or otherwise, could "play" on a roof with "toy" guns as a dry run to test police response, and to lull observers into thinking, "oh, that's just those guys who play with the toy guns," only to have them use the real thing when the time is right; 3) Police responding to this situation had to consider all the guns as potentially real. One of these "gunmen" leaned over the roof with his Tec-9 just as the team of search officers approached the building. It's was fortunate for him that a) the sniper watching him had the patience and training to wait, and b) the man with the gun did not point it directly at the approaching officers."
The public does not often get to see tangible results of things that DON'T happen, that is, how close this man came to being shot, but was not. Most of the public are only aware of the situations when someone is shot, and in 20/20 hindsight learn the guy had a "toy gun." While some people accept the outcome, others will criticize the police asking, "Why did they shoot if it was a toy?"
I was in that very situation 20 years ago and did not shoot as the man brought the gun's sights on me. At that last moment, I realized I did not need to shoot my shotgun, and prayed that my fellow officers saw the same thing I did. They did. We shook our heads and took the guy to the drunk tank.
It happens more often than anyone realizes.
And no, this was not a waste of money. All those officers were getting paid to be at work anyway. That was a great training exercise for them and their supervisors. Downtown had a chance to see how professional and well trained its officers are.
It was an inconvenience to traffic, but safety trumps traffic.
Finally, as to the Huntington Hotel. Our narcotics units works that location almost daily. And when they are not there, our officers are there everyday, as are parole agents. Last year, we maded nearly 300 arrests on Main Street, between 3rd and 8th Street, much of it tied to activities at the Huntington Hotel. The city attorney has been working toward abating the hotel for several years.
Lt. Paul Vernon, LAPD
Don Garza on March 08, 2010, at 10:31PM – #7
Just to let people know , at tomorrow night's Neighborhood Council Meeting the subject of drug dealing in low income hotels ,even those places operated by skid row housing trust is going to be an issue. ON the agenda is a resident who reported drug dealing who lives at the Produce Hotel , the building that houses the Administrative Offices of Skid Row Housing Trust, was allegedly retaliated against with eviction due to reporting drug deals in the hotel.
Many of us who have reported drug dealing , pimping out of hotel rooms by residents ,even sexual predators who are still preying on the people who found themselves on the streets of skid row , and those who have worked closely with LAPD have become targets of retaliation by Landlords and their managers .. Why is this? Residents are afraid to speak up ... for two reasons , retaliation by the criminals and retaliation by the landlords..but also because managers of these hotels happen to be the same people that used to live on the streets of skid row.
The Huntington may be out of control, but bringing in non profit developers that have already lost grants that pay for security staff and are organizations that already own more than 23 properties respectively , we should seriously reconsider allowing huge structures such as the Huntington and Rossylyn from being handed over to these developers.
Tomorrow night you will hear how their buildings are out of control. And the CRA and the City wants to hand over these huge structures which are out of control to them.
The argument will be that SRO and SHRT will be able to control who moves into the buildings.. Sorry folks to burst your bubbles , but all one has to do to qualify to be in project based section 8 Housing is to prove you are low income or no income and drug dealers do not have reportable income.. Their free ticket into the low income non profit hotels.
Kevin Lynn on March 09, 2010, at 05:30AM – #8
"I know we've come a long way, We're changing day to day, But tell me, where do the children play?"
Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens
Susana Benavidez on March 09, 2010, at 08:26AM – #9
They should pay a fine for all the trouble and TRAFFIC they caused. It took me forever to get home yesterday. I imagine that the police response that it generated will cost tax payers a hefty bill- the least they can do is community service.
Guest on March 09, 2010, at 08:29AM – #10
The LAPD deserves a lot of credit for the work they do downtown, which has to be one of the most challenging areas of the city. Lt. Vernon and his fellow officers should be commended for the work they do to keep us safe. You have the support of this downtown resident!
Guest on March 09, 2010, at 09:24AM – #11
Thanks for your post Lt Vernon. As a single female living Downtown, I certainly appreciate police response to threatening situations.
Robyn on March 09, 2010, at 12:02PM – #12
There should be some punishment. Just as skiers can get fined for skiing out of fenced boundaries and requiring search and rescue (helicopters, SUVs, rescue dogs, paramedics, etc). So should "kids" who really know right from wrong and know that shooting a gun (real or air) is wrong. And since they are "kids" that would lead me to believe a parent or guardian would be subject to a fine or punishment, too.
Guest on March 09, 2010, at 01:08PM – #13
I agree with Lt. Vernon's comment. It is better to be safe than sorry especially if it is at all associated with that hotel. We see all kinds of crap coming out of that place, we hope you finally just tear it down. Thanks for keeping us safe, if this were real and they were real guns I could be one of those people that got hurt or worse. I'm glad that this was just a training experience. Thank you again.
Amy on March 10, 2010, at 04:04AM – #14
Thank you, Lt. Paul Vernon. I appreciate your post, and all the work you do.
Guest on March 10, 2010, at 07:04AM – #15
I've seen a dog thrown out of the huntington as well as diapers and people just going off on pcp binges. I'm tired of the place.
DawnC on March 10, 2010, at 07:43AM – #16
What about putting cameras up in the places the drug dealers do their business and at the entrance of the Hotel? Wouldn't that deter crime and help out the people who really just need to live there? The LAPD can't watch the place all the time so maybe they some electronic help.
It won't do much to keep the toy guns off the roof but I doubt that will happen again after all of this.
Guest on March 11, 2010, at 01:01PM – #17
We teach kids to play with guns from the earliest age.
We also celebrate kids who carry arms in war so that we can be "free."
Those young guys playing with guns on a roof aren't to blame but our culture of celebrating guns is to blame. White kids playing with guns on a suburban street in Covina wouldn't cause an ordeal like this one.
It's obvious that the cops over-reacted and were turning up the theatrics to create a spectacle to justify going millions of dollars over budget on their new downtown mothership.
Guest on March 11, 2010, at 06:24PM – #18
In this situation the LAPD responded in a correct and necessary way. I do have a comment that I would like to make about the Huntington situation. The excuse that the LAPD does not have enough resources to keep a sharp eye trained on the Huntington and similar establishments is flawed. Every day I watch the police department doing things that, as downtown citizen and tax payer, I feel are far less important than monitoring narcotics activity in Los Angeles.
For example, if the motorcycle cops were not so busy with movie shoots, they could do constant block patrols around the Huntington - keeping a watchful eye and using less gasoline than squad cars. I understand the value that these shoots provide to the Los Angeles economy. I also do not know what arrangements are made and prices paid for the police departments to support shoots. However I do know that downtown needs every last police officer for fighting crime. That is what they are trained and paid to do. Let the production companies hire someone else, and the police focus on cleaning up downtown.
Nancy Richardson (@nanorich) on March 11, 2010, at 06:38PM – #19
Those cops at movie shoots are retired cops...
Don Garza on March 11, 2010, at 08:54PM – #20
A movie cop saved me from someone who had been menacing me .... a cop is a cop
Robert Moran (@RobertMoranLA) on March 15, 2010, at 06:29PM – #21
My question is why those idiots were up on the roof in the first place? I'm glad that the LAPD responded in such a professional manner. Its a sorry state of affairs when a bunch of idiots on a roof can cause so many problems for so many people. Also if the sale of th hotel is blocked what alternatives are there as to who can own the building. I do want to disagree about Section 8 qualifications. In order to qualify for Section 8 one must qualify for SSI, SSDI or Social Security meaning they have to be disabled, or a retired senior citizen.
Guest on April 24, 2010, at 03:35PM – #22
They didnt do anything wrong or illegal they were shooting a BB gun on the roof of a building, seems like a logical place to me. Cant shoot one indoors and its not practical to go to a range for a damn bb gun. The moron who called the police should be the one to pay any fines. People are so damn paranoid about everything today. Drives me nuts.