LAPD Points Fingers at Occupy LA for Rise in Crime

The LAPD in riot gear line Broadway near 3rd in Downtown during Thursday's second, and non-permitted, march (Photo via @rcrsv via Twitpic)

The LAPD reports that crime has dramatically increased in Downtown Los Angeles since Occupy L.A. set up camp. Not only are police busy arresting protesters, they're also combating a surge in incidents from robbery to grand theft auto to aggravated assault. Whether or not the LAPD's claim serves as anything but an attempt to discredit the movement is debatable, but the numbers do speak for themselves.

When compared to last year's crime rates, arrests have doubled in the area from 2nd Street to Temple and from Hill to Alameda. Officials say serious crime has almost tripled in the areas surrounding the occupation. CBS L.A. posted the following numbers: "From Oct. 1, to Nov. 14, there have been 27 crimes reported - that's up 10 this time last year. For the same time period, there have been 102 arrests (mostly from minor offenses) as compared to 60 in 2010."

The CVS Pharmacy at the Los Angeles Mall, located across the street from tent city, reported "a lot of theft" of items like syringes, toilet paper ($700 worth!), liquor and cosmetics.

Clark Davis, Occupy L.A.'s media coordinator, feels the numbers are skewed but noted that people coming off the streets and taking advantage of the movement have proved problematic.

Occupiers will be asked to sign the good neighbor policy, one that asks participants to refrain from acts of violence and drug and alcohol consumption on the premises. "If you don't want to sign the good neighbor policy, then we're going to ask you to leave," said Davis.

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on November 21, 2011 10:00 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

uzernam

ShakinBoats is right. I think most of us know it.

ShakinBoots

In response to Mr. Bean's comment.
This is mostly just in answer to Mr. Beans weak claim that i'm "making shit up".

I don't necesarily expect anyone to be interested in what Mr. Beans shattered ego is huffing and puffing about now, but if he wants to call me a liar and CLAIM I SAID SOMETHING I DIDN'T BY CREATING FAKE QUOTES, it's no problem for me to point out the truth with link to original convo. Mr. Bean is just someone with a bruised ego.

So if anyone's interested in knowing the truth about Mr. Bean, or if you just want to check out the articles, here you go.

Link to orig convo starting 4 days ago. When Mr. Bean decided to first challenge me.
http://mobile.laist.com/2011/1...

Reg How much money does OWS have to work with do to good.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Reg OWS impact on local small business/lay offs:
http://www.ibtimes.com/article...

Reg OWS donations skyrocketing after claims of abuse:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ch...

Reg preplanned arrests and the use of an elderly woman to call for outrage, i.e. more support and donations.
http://mobile.reuters.com/arti...

James Bean

"I answered you and brought up the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash donations ows, and I suggested they do something positive with it."
Like I said, it was YOU who changed the subject. Not me.

Need to march out any more straw men?

I'll repeat what you never answered. You seem to think that non-violent protestors deserve to be pepper sprayed, or as in New York, worked over with batons. It is not a cop's job to administer punishment. That comes after the arrest and occurs in a courtroom with a judge and sometimes a jury.

Just a little civics 101 for you.

Challenge you? I was correcting you. You really think an awful lot of yourself, don't you? I suppose someone has to.

ShakinBoots

You are looking a bit desperate. You asked me this: "So what YOUR solution SB? Sit on your ass and assume the top 1% is going to fair and equitable to the bottom 99%?
Be sure and hold your breath buddy!". Yes, I answered you suggesting they do something w/the money they have. Not exactly a radical idea, but you have some personal problem and keep challenging me, yes "challenging" with dumb responses and claims of "making shit up". Im not going to be pasting the same convo u can go back and read for yourself. You need to get youself together because you are sounding a little OCD with this. Now you came to this thread claiming to quote me, which I've shown were more of your lies, and now your trying to pass it off as if you were just asking me a question? Lol give me an f*n break. That amature shit might work on someone else, but i'm ahead of you dude. You cant fool me w/your weak combacks. You are in NO position to be trying to correct anyone. And it's not so much that I think so highly of myself (but yes I do), its more that I think so little of you.

James Bean

You need to cool out little buckaroo. This is just a discussion board. You'll give yourself a brain hemorrhage.

All I did was say that you seemed to think that the pepper spraying cop was justified in doling out punishment to the non-violent protestors at UC Davis.

I pointed out that having a non-violent demonstration is a right, and that it's not a policeman's job to dish out punishment to anyone. You marched out your straw men and called me a fool, so I came over here to confront you again.

Now you go all ballistic about it.

I haven't childishly called you names. I've even tried to some what civil unlike yourself.

So cool the fuck out, enjoy the TG holiday, and maybe we can have a civil discussion when we come back. Me? I'm out of town and away from a computer for a few days.

Seriously have a Happy Thanksgiving.

ShakinBoots

Lol little buckaroo? Ok.

I appreciate your trying to take the high road now...A little late after continuosly insulting me and trying to make people believe your lie that I was just "making shit up". I guess it's never to late to change your bad attitude. The first comment you made to me, you accused me of "sitting on my ass" and said my argument was "bullshit". You waited to call me names until later, but you did.

You followed me here all kinds of pissed off crazy like. Go ahead and tell ME to calm down, if it helps heal your ego. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. It's an arrogant attitude especially considering you have been bent all out of shape over my little buckaroo comments.

Have a nice Thanksgiving.

Until we meet again....

ShakinBoots

Yawn
Apparently your ego has been beaten to a pulp and it isn't pretty.
If you REALLY wanted people to read my previous rsponses, you would have given them the link. This is just a sorry attempt to claim I'm "making shit up". I have given you accurate quotes and links backing up EVERYTHING i've said. Now for your "lets examine what you said" crap yeah lets do that. Again, I will post the link FOR you. Your little recap has nothing to do with what i've said and the fact you start it off with "you seem to think..." Tells anyone reading that it is YOUR interpretation of what I said, and NOT even close to accurate. Links in next post.

BoulderBay

My understanding is that 7% of the Occupy camp are homeless campers not associated with the movement. This could account for the increase in crime. Has there been a drop in crime in other areas of downtown? Skid row for example? Are they including arrests for non-impact crimes like pot smoking in public?

ShakinBoots

This is a good question. I'd be curious to know the answer to this. The problem with the camps and the movement in general, imo, is that they've let any other groups join them purely for numbers sake. The anarchists, communists, anti-semites are all there too. Nobody can tell them apart anymore and on the whole, has hurt their credibility.

James Bean

Me again. Making more shit up SB?

destroy_all_humans

maybe its because they are too busy worrying about some camping protesters and not doing their jobs. These numbers can be created in many ways and I just dont trust cops these days.

ShakinBoots

What part of "the numbers do speak for themselves" don't you understand? The increase in crime is verifiable.

I love how people attempt to minimize the protester's negative impact on the city. "...worrying about some camping protesters". Oh yeah, they're all good little Scouts just camping and toasting marshmellows. Lol OK.

destroy_all_humans

The part where the cops come up with the numbers, they are also the cause/solution

James Bean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...

ShakinBoots

You again? You don't learn do you? I'm way ahead of you "buddy". I saw and commented on the vid days ago. They are covering their heads long before he's even in front of them. They were given the warning and knew they would get sprayed, as you can see in the vid. They made the choice to stay and get sprayed, but make sure those cameras are rolling so people like you can claim brutality and use it for propaganda and raising more "outrage" i.e. support and donations.

You are becoming a bore.

James Bean

Yea me again. I just wanted everyone to read the same responses you made the first time I posted the video.

Let's examine what you just said. You seem to think that non-violent demonstrators deserve to have "less than lethal" weapons deployed on them. You are very wrong for two reasons I can think of. A policeman's job is to keep order, and if necessary, arrest and detain. It is not a policeman's job to administer punishment, as this one with the pepper spray was clearly doing. Also "less than lethal" means just that. Note that I don't say "non-lethal". People have died from rubber bullets, tasers, and even pepper spray, so you can't call them "non-lethal".

You called me a fool and said I was "taken in" by the video. Well, I guess I'm in good company. The UC Davis Chancellor was too.