This morning while riding to put new trash can liners in the new trash cans on Windward, I saw quite the film crew situation setting up on 19th Ave. Buzz at the scene was that the film crew was setting up to film a live performance of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the roof. Surprising for a Saturday, and also because having done many graffiti patrols this week, I didn’t see any Film LA buck slips stating that any filming was going on. I ran into Sgt. Vasquez… and LAPD was not aware of any filming, but more importantly they were not aware that one of the most famous bands on the planet was going to be doing any kind of live performance or filming either. Given the recent near riot at Hollywood and Highland, and the history in 2011 of flash mobs, out of control crowds and violence… LAPD and especially Venice Beach doesn’t need any surprises.

After requesting a copy of the permit and getting a lot of buck passing and a bit of run around… the film crew generated a permit. The problem was that the permit was only for playing live music, not filming. And, it was for a different address in Venice. A contact at Rec and Parks informed me that film crews are almost always denied permission to shoot on the boardwalk on the weekend ever, especially in the middle of the Summer. Additionally, they had a film crane in the park next to Muscle Beach, and had NO safety tape or anything. Pedestrians were walking around it and underneath it, they didn’t even have people around to direct safety at all. LAPD made them remove the crane from that area immediately.

In short order, Captain Peters orchestrated 140 officers and units to descend on Venice Beach to ensure the situation was handled safely and professionally. The fire marshal was called also, and soon the permit debacle was uncovered. Because so many resources had been applied to the situation, after consulting with the film crew and to put it nicely, ripping them and all involved a new one… LAPD and LAFD felt they had enough of a handle on the situation to let them film, which in turn would probably stave off a potentially greater problem since the performance had already hit the twittersphere. The request was that the noise be kept within city ordinance, which they did. It was all actually quite pleasant.

Ironically, the performance space in front of 205 Ocean Front Walk which generates 6+ police calls per day for noise and performance violations, was melting down with fights and complaints. The Chili Pepper Performance went off like an evening at the opera. Band is exiting to tour bus… Welcome back RHCP.

LAPD just descended upon a film crew set up at 19th and OFW which had a giant crane rolled into the muscle beach recreational area for the filming of a video later today. They did not have a permit to be in the park, but they gave it a good shot… LAPD made them evacuate the whole street to move the crane out which was teetering above the crowd and the paddle ball courts with pedestrians walking along the whole time. Big fat no-no and this is a pro-crew… they should have known better but it chimes in with the general disregard people have in Venice with the “get away with it if you can” attitude. They do have a permit to be on the street only on 19th and the rooftop of the building.

LAPD is patrolling the area to make sure things go along smoothly.

Girl sees car. Guy gets ticket. Girl gets guy. You have to watch the video…

At 5 a.m. on the morning of July 27th, while most of us were sleeping, a male and female were spotted attempting to break into a home at Shell & Milwood. The GREAT part is that many local residents have been installing video surveillance cameras and officers recognized them from footage provided by residents in other crimes. Per Detective Porche of the Pacific Division of LAPD, the duo were taken into custody and initially charged with attempted burglary. Pacific Division detectives expect the City Attorney to file several additional felony charges against the pair for other related crimes.

If you have had property stolen, please ALWAYS report the crime to the police. As in this case, they may have recovered your items and without a filed report they would have no way of getting the property back to you.

Also, per the video shown below… LOCK UP YOUR STUFF! Venice gets hit very hard by burglars and part of the reason is that in this community we make it easy for them by leaving out property out, unlocked, or even leaving doors and windows open and unlocked. The most disturbing are “hot prowl” crimes where a naughty burglar enters your home to steal your stuff while you are there. Guess what… it happens EVERY DAY here. These make crimes of opportunity happen. Always, always, ALWAYS lock up!

Typically these events have gone down with a bit more fanfare, but we got a tip that the Medical Kush “Beach House” which was in essence a place to smoke weed - is now closed. There are signs up in the window, and we found this note on their front door today.

I asked one of the girls next door what happened, and she said ( as the memo states ) “The Ogden Memo”. Then she asked if she could film my reaction to it being closed. After I said it was a glorious event and I thought it was a positive step for the community she put her camera down and sighed. Anotherone bites the dust…

When cleaning graffiti in the alley behind that facility, there was always quite the presence of security guards up on the second floor… and lots of characters in the alley. The contents of the Ogden Memo are below. Happy reading.

October 19,2009

MEMORANDUM FOR SELECTED UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS

FROM: David W. Ogden, Deputy Attorney General

SUBJECT: Investigations and Prosecutions in States Authorizing the Medical Use of Marijuana

This memorandum provides clarification and guidance to federal prosecutors in States that have enacted laws authorizing the medical use of marijuana. These laws vary in their substantive provisions and in the extent of state regulatory oversight, both among the enacting States and among local jurisdictions within those States. Rather than developing different guidelines for every possible variant of state and local law, this memorandum provides uniform guidance to focus federal investigations and prosecutions in these States on core federal enforcement priorities.

The Department of Justice is committed to the enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act in all States. Congress has determined that marijuana is a dangerous drug, and the illegal distribution and sale of marijuana is a serious crime and provides a significant source of revenue to large-scale criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels. One timely example underscores the importance of our efforts to prosecute significant marijuana traffickers: marijuana distribution in the United States remains the single largest source of revenue for the Mexican cartels.

The Department is also committed to making efficient and rational use of its limited investigative and prosecutorial resources. In general, United States Attorneys are vested with “plenary authority with regard to federal criminal matters” within their districts. USAM 9-2.001. In exercising this authority, United States Attorneys are “invested by statute and delegation from the Attorney General with the broadest discretion in the exercise of such authority.” Id. This authority should, of course, be exercised consistent with Department priorities and guidance.

The prosecution of significant traffickers of illegal drugs, including marijuana, and the disruption of illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking networks continues to be a core priority in the Department’s efforts against narcotics and dangerous drugs, and the Department’s investigative and prosecutorial resources should be directed towards these objectives. As a general matter, pursuit of these priorities should not focus federal resources in your States on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana. For example, prosecution of individuals with cancer or other serious illnesses who use marijuana as part of a recommended treatment regimen consistent with applicable state law, or those caregivers in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law who provide such individuals with marijuana, is unlikely to be an efficient use of limited federal resources. On the other hand, prosecution of commercial enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit continues to be an enforcement priority of the Department. To be sure, claims of compliance with state or local law may mask operations inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of those laws, and federal law enforcement should not be deterred by such assertions when otherwise pursuing the Department’s core enforcement priorities.

Typically, when any of the following characteristics is present, the conduct will not be in clear and unambiguous compliance with applicable state law and may indicate illegal drug trafficking activity of potential federal interest:

• unlawful possession or unlawful use of firearms;
• violence;
• sales to minors;
• financial and marketing activities inconsistent with the terms, conditions, or purposes of state law, including evidence of money laundering activity and/or financial gains or excessive amounts of cash inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
• amounts of marijuana inconsistent with purported compliance with state or local law;
• illegal possession or sale of other controlled substances; or
• ties to other criminal enterprises.

Of course, no State can authorize violations of federal law, and the list of factors above is not intended to describe exhaustively when a federal prosecution may be warranted. Accordingly, in prosecutions under the Controlled Substances Act, federal prosecutors are not expected to charge, prove, or otherwise establish any state law violations. Indeed, this memorandum does not alter in any way the Department’s authority to enforce federal law, including laws prohibiting the manufacture, production, distribution, possession, or use of marijuana on federal property. This guidance regarding resource allocation does not “legalize” marijuana or provide a legal defense to a violation of federal law, nor is it intended to create any privileges, benefits, or rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any individual, party or witness in any administrative, civil, or criminal matter. Nor does clear and unambiguous compliance with state law or the absence of one or all of the above factors create a legal defense to a violation of the Controlled Substances Act. Rather, this memorandum is intended solely as a guide to the exercise of investigative and prosecutorial discretion.

Finally, nothing herein precludes investigation or prosecution where there is a reasonable basis to believe that compliance with state law is being invoked as a pretext for the production or distribution of marijuana for purposes not authorized by state law. Nor does this guidance preclude investigation or prosecution, even when there is clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state law, in particular circumstances where investigation or prosecution otherwise serves important federal interests.

Your offices should continue to review marijuana cases for prosecution on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the guidance on resource allocation and federal priorities set forth herein, the consideration of requests for federal assistance from state and local law enforcement authorities, and the Principles of Federal Prosecution.

cc: All United States Attorneys

Lanny A. Breuer
Assistant Attorney General Criminal Division

B. Todd Jones
United States Attorney
District of Minnesota
Chair, Attorney General’s Advisory Committee

Michele M. Leonhart
Acting Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration

H. Marshall Jarrett
Director
Executive Office for United States Attorneys

Kevin L. Perkins
Assistant Director
Criminal Investigative Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation