DUI Checkpoint

PRESS RELEASE

Arrests at City of Hawthorne’s DUI Checkpoint

Hawthorne, California. – 7 drivers were arrested for DUI/DUID while conducting a DUI/CDL checkpoint on August 22, 2022. The checkpoint was held in the 12500 block of Inglewood Avenue from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

19 drivers were cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license, 368 vehicles were contacted.

Checkpoint locations are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

The Hawthorne Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe when they are traveling.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Hawthorne Police Department: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation Planned for August 28 2022

Hawthorne, California – the Hawthorne Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operation Sunday, August 28th 2022, focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Hawthorne Chief of Police Michael Ishii said. “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

The Hawthorne Police department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.

• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.

• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.

• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

• Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.

• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.

• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.

• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.

The Hawthorne Police Department will hold additional traffic safety operations on August 22nd 2022 and August 23rd 2022.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Arrests at City of Hawthorne's DUI Checkpoint - August 23, 2022

Hawthorne, California. – 7 drivers were arrested for DUI/DUID while conducting a DUI/CDL checkpoint on August 22, 2022. The checkpoint was held in the 12500 block of Inglewood Avenue from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

19 drivers were cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license, 368 vehicles were contacted.

Checkpoint locations are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

The Hawthorne Police Department is committed to keeping the public safe when they are traveling.

Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Hawthorne Police Department: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Operation Planned for August 23, 2022

Hawthorne, California – the Hawthorne Police Department will conduct a traffic safety operation August 23, 2022 focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.

These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield or provide right of way to bicyclists or pedestrians, or failing to stop for signs and signals.

“We all have places to be and not everyone gets there by car,” Hawthorne Chief of Police Michael Ishii said. “Bicyclists and pedestrians have the same rights to the road but face even more risk without the protections vehicles have. We should all be looking out for one another.”

The Hawthorne Police department offers steps drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash:

Pedestrians

• Be predictable. Use crosswalks, when available.

• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.

• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you – wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.

• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busier streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.

Drivers

• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

• Never drive impaired.

Bicyclists

• Obey traffic laws, use hand signals, use lights at night (front white light and rear red reflector), and wear a helmet.

• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

• Avoid the door zone: do not ride too closely to parked cars.

• If there’s a bike lane, use it, unless making a left turn, passing, or approaching a place where a right turn is allowed.

• Yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within marked crosswalks or within unmarked crosswalks at intersections.

The Hawthorne Police Department will hold additional traffic safety operations on May 12th and May 13th.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Hawthorne Police Department Holding DUI Checkpoint on August 22, 2022

Hawthorne, California – On August 22nd, 2022, the Hawthorne Police Department will conduct a driving under the influence (DUI) Checkpoint from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at an undisclosed location.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Hawthorne Chief of Police Michael Ishii said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”

The Hawthorne Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

HPD Officers receive Awards Recognition

HPD Officers recognized at the South Bay Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony

Daily Breeze article HERE

Photo: Erick Chavez, HCTV

Officer Gomez Live Saving Award

On August 5, 2021, at 1306 hours, members of the Hawthorne Police Department were dispatched to the area of Crenshaw Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in regards to a stabbing victim. Officers arrived on scene within minutes and began to canvass the area, looking for the involved parties. After an exhaustive search of the area, officers were unable to locate any victims. Prior to leaving the scene, police dispatch advised that Gardena police officers were responding to the 14700 block of Crenshaw Boulevard for a battery victim.

Believing that the calls might be related, Hawthorne police officers began responding to the area to determine if the calls were related. Officer Gomez was the first to arrive on scene. Upon arriving on scene, Officer Gomez located the victim of a stabbing. After determining that the scene was safe, he began rendering aid. Officer Gomez assessed the victim for injuries. He found that the victim had two significant stab wounds to the upper right portion of his back. Since the victim was suffering from difficulty breathing and due to the location of the injuries, Officer Gomez determined that the injuries would benefit from medical intervention. Officer Gomez cleaned the area around the wounds and placed chest seals over the injuries to help prevent any additional air from going into the pleural place and further compromising breathing.

Based on the injuries and symptoms, it was clear the male was suffering from a life-threatening medical emergency and required emergent medical intervention. Had Officer Gomez had not responded in such a timely manner and had he not provided such rapid medical treatment, it is possible that air would have continued to enter the pleural space through both the penetrating injuries. Left untreated these injuries would likely have fatal consequences.

The actions of Officer Gomez are noteworthy and it reflects great credit upon himself as well as the Hawthorne Police Department. Officer Gomez should be commended for his quick and decisive action and exemplary during a tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving incident.

Officer Luttenbacher Life Saving Award

On February 6, 2021, Officer Bearet Luttenbacher responded to a call of a gunshot victim behind an illegal gambling casino. On arrival, Officer Luttenbacher quickly checked the scene to ensure that he and others there were safe. Based on the initial search and the reports from witnesses that the shooter had fled, he turned his attention to the gunshot victim who appeared to be shot in the leg.

As other officers arrived on scene, Officer Luttenbacher determined that the subject might have a life threatening bleed. He did not notice a large amount of blood on the ground, but based on the location of the injury in the upper thigh and the grotesquely swollen thigh, he concluded that he might be bleeding into his thigh without obvious external bleeding.

Luttenbacher exposed the victim’s wounds and applied a tourniquet to the injured leg, slowing or stopping the bleeding. He also noted that the leg itself appeared to be unstable, suggesting a femur fracture due to the impact of the bullet.

Luttenbacher’s quick assessment and decisive application of the tourniquet very likely resulted in saving the victim’s life. Despite not seeing a large amount of blood externally, he realized that the bleeding into the thigh, which is dangerous in and of itself, presents a greater threat because it is easy to overlook. If the tourniquet was not applied, it is likely that the victim would have continued to bleed due to the femoral artery injury and possibly expired.

Life Saving Award

Hawthorne patrol officers John Yoshida, Jesse Lopez, and Richard Valadez were dispatched to the Courtyard Marriott located at 4427 W. El Segundo Blvd in regards to a juvenile who possibly drowned.

Upon arrival, officers immediately noticed a crowd of frantic people in the pool area of the hotel. As they approached the scene, they noticed that several people were providing CPR for a 5-year-old female who was pulseless and apneic, with only intermittent agonal breaths.

Officer Yoshida, who is a department EMT, along with Officers Lopez and Valadez immediately recognized that their training and experience far surpassed the civilians who were providing aid for the child and they took over the responsibilities of CPR. Officer Yoshida began administering high quality chest compressions for the victim while Officer Lopez recovered his department issued medical bag from his police vehicle. Officer Lopez retrieved the AED from the medical bag and Officer Valadez simultaneously grabbed the bag mask valve (BMV) and immediately began rescue breathing for the victim.

Due to the child still not responding, all three of the officers determined that it would be advantageous to quickly dry the victim off and place the AED pads on the victim in case the situation became worse, remembering to place them correctly for a child's small frame. After placing the AED on the child, they continued with CPR and were advised by the AED to continue with the CPR since the child was "not shockable". The officers preformed life saving measures for a total of three minutes before the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived on scene and relieved them.

Shortly after the fire department arrived, the child began to breath and regurgitated the water she had in her lungs. When the child began to cry it was an overwhelming sense of satisfaction for Officers Yoshida, Lopez, and Valadez. Prior to transporting the child, the firefighters and paramedics on scene turned to all three of the officers and told them they did a great job and thanked them for their quick response.

Officer's Yoshida, Lopez, and Valadez should be commended for their quick response, remaining calm during a highly stressful situation, and great communication/teamwork while saving the life of a 5-year-old child.

Distinguished Service Award

Doctor Joe Nakagawa began his service with the Hawthorne Police Department as a volunteer in 2007. Although a fulltime emergency room physician, Doctor Nakagawa volunteered his time with the Hawthorne Police Department’s SWAT Team. Whenever the team had training, warrants or call-outs, Doctor Nakagawa ensured that he made himself available to provide any assistance as needed.

Almost instantaneously, he felt at home within the organization and understood the innovative vision of the organization. Within just a short time, the Hawthorne Police Department Tactical Medicine Program was changing the way medical services were provided to the citizens of Hawthorne.

In addition to donating his time for the department’s operational needs, Doctor Nakagawa began instructing department members and teaching valuable medical skills. These skills have been taken to the streets and has been credited with saving the lives of countless citizens. In 2010, Doctor Nakagawa became a reserve officer, where he was able to bring his expertise to the streets of Hawthorne as a peace officer.

Although extremely active within the police organization, Doctor Nakagawa was still trying to find ways to better amalgamate law enforcement and medical services as a means to better serve the citizens of Hawthorne. Furthermore,

Doctor Nakagawa wanted to bring a focus to employee health. In 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctor Nakagawa was hired as a fulltime police officer. Although a capable sworn peace officer with the City of Hawthorne, Nakagawa also became the Hawthorne Police Department’s Medical Director.

This proved to be a critical asset to the Hawthorne Police Department, as we, like the rest of the world, were learning how to navigate the pandemic. Doctor Nakagawa’s expertise and leadership through the pandemic helped mitigate the effects of the virus on our organization and staff, while it raged through society. Over the course of the pandemic, Doctor Nakagawa has overseen the recovery of our staff, continually assessed for any further need of treatment and coordinated over six hundred inhouse COVID-19 tests.

Doctor Nakagawa has also aided in the City’s response to the pandemic by coordinating testing and vaccine clinics for citizens and employees alike. Doctor Nakagawa made himself available to all staff, answering phone calls and emails at all times of day and night. Doctor Nakagawa’s office door is always open and he is always available to talk with. His presence within the department has also proved priceless, with his active engagement and readiness to aid. He has recognized critical medical emergencies occurring amongst our department staff members.

On one occasion, Doctor Nakagawa reviewed a diagnostic exam performed by a Hawthorne Police Department paramedic. Upon reviewing the results of the exam, Doctor Nakagawa recognized and confirmed that a medical emergency was occurring. He was able to activate the emergency medical services at a local hospital to expedite the treatment and care of the individual in need; all while he was across the globe. This rapid recognition and expedient treatment of a life- threatening medical emergency ultimately saved the employee from lifelong impairment.

Doctor Nakagawa’s influence does not just stop at the walls of the Hawthorne Police Department and with medical engagement of employees and their family members. Doctor Nakagawa also goes out on the streets and proactively engages with some of society’s less fortunate to ensure that they are receiving medical treatments that they need. He enters into unhoused communities around the city and provides medical services otherwise not available to them and ensures that these individuals are never overlooked. They are offered free COVID-19 tests, open wounds and sores are cleansed and bandaged. Their medical complaints/aliments are acknowledged and assessed for any further need of treatment.

Through his instruction, engagement and dedication to the employees and citizens, Doctor Nakagawa’s influence has reached thousands of officers and citizens from around the City of Hawthorne and the world alike.

He is to be commended for his selfless acts and distinguished service to law enforcement and the City of Hawthorne.

From the Daily Breeze article:

When the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020,  Dr. Joe Nakagawa just started a new job: the former emergency room physician had become a police officer.

Drawing on his medical background, Nakagawa taught other officers how to provide health care, visited homeless encampments to tend to the sick, and set up coronavirus testing and vaccination sites.

His work saved countless lives, Hawthorne Police Chief Michael Ishii said Thursday at an awards banquet for South Bay first responders who’ve gone beyond the call of duty.

“(Nakagawa) changed the way we look at policing, and his expertise helped train our officers to act quickly when life-saving measures are needed,” Ishii said.

Nakagawa was one of 11 South Bay first responders honored for their bravery at the 46th annual Medal of Valor Ceremony hosted by South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation, which represents the cities of El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Redondo Beach and Torrance.

Three officers — including Nakagawa — received the Distinguished Service Award, and eight the Lifesaving Award.

The Distinguished Service Award is presented to first responders whose efforts exemplify the finest standards of the police and fire departments, while the Lifesaving Award goes to those who take extraordinary action to save lives. Only police were nominated this year.

Officer Broc received the EMS Recognition Medal

Life Saving Award

On November 3, 2021, Officer John Broc was working a uniformed patrol shift in the city of Hawthorne when he was dispatched to investigate an unknown issue in the parking lot of a laundromat. When he arrived, he was confronted with a special needs man who was crying and distraught over his brother, who appeared to have died.

Broc simultaneously comforted the special needs family member while assessing his brother, who was blue and apneic. He was able to involve the family members in the rescue and redirected them while he retrieved his medical bag. While the person appeared to be deceased, he did have a pulse and Broc correctly surmised that due to the person's young age, his apnea, and constricted pupils, that he may have suffered an overdose from an opioid.

Without hesitation, Broc deployed two doses of naloxone, which resulted in the person making a complete recovery, going from apneic, blue, and unresponsive to speaking normally. Broc was able to establish rapport with the distraught family member while simultaneously managing an opioid overdose alone until relieved by fire department paramedics who arrived later.

Due to Broc’s quick actions and communication skills, he was able to prevent anoxic brain injury and minimize the impact to the victim’s family, particularly, the special needs man who he cared for. His actions demonstrate the deep caring law enforcement has for the community and the importance of training officers to initiate care in the critical minutes before fire department medics arrive.

Of note, his clear and rational thought processes were narrated by Broc in real time to the Axon body worn camera, giving us insight into his mindset and decision-making. He was correctly able to verbalize the indications for naloxone administration prior to deploying it, demonstrating his understanding of what he was doing and why.

Hawthorne Police Department: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

May is Bicycle Safety Month: Share the Road and Look Out for One Another

Hawthorne, California – May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and the Hawthorne Police Department reminds drivers to follow the speed limit and look out for people on bike rides.

“The days are longer, and the weather is pleasant, making for ideal conditions to go on a bike ride,” Hawthorne Chief of Police Michael Ishii said. “Drivers, please share the road so we may all get places safely.”

The Hawthorne Police Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:

Drivers

• Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.

• Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.

• Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist. Maintain at minimum three feet of space when passing or overtaking a bicyclist.

• Never drive distracted or impaired.

Hawthorne Police Department: May is Bicycle Safety Month: Share the Road and Look Out for One Another

May is Bicycle Safety Month:

Share the Road and Look Out for One Another

Hawthorne, California – May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and the Hawthorne Police Department reminds drivers to follow the speed limit and look out for people on bike rides.

“The days are longer, and the weather is pleasant, making for ideal conditions to go on a bike ride,” Hawthorne Chief of Police Michael Ishii said. “Drivers, please share the road so we may all get places safely.”

The Hawthorne Police Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:

Drivers

• Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.

• Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.

• Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist. Maintain at minimum three feet of space when passing or overtaking a bicyclist.

• Never drive distracted or impaired.

Hawthorne Police Department: May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Check Twice for Motorcycles:

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Hawthorne, California – During May’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Hawthorne Police Department reminds drivers to always look twice for motorcycles.

“Motorcycles may be difficult to spot, so being extra careful before changing lanes is always good practice,” Hawthorne Chief of Police Michael Ishii said. “Motorcycle riders are out in the elements and do not have the same protections drivers and passengers do. Please share the road with motorcycles and drive safe.”

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

• Always check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.

• Do not follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.

• If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. Be sure that the rider is turning before moving ahead.

Motorcyclists

• Always wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet with eye protection.

• Wear leather or other sturdy clothing such as a jacket, pants, boots with nonskid soles and gloves. Add reflective strips or decals to your clothing and motorcycle to make it easier for other drivers to see you.

• Ride defensively. Don’t assume a driver can see you. Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot.

• Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

Traffic Collision Fatal

On January 7, 2022 at approximately 6:50 am Hawthorne Police Officers received a radio call of a traffic collision in the N/B lanes of Aviation Blvd. in or near the 13300 block. Hawthorne Police Officers arrived on scene within about 1-2 minutes of receiving the call. EMS personnel were already on-scene when HPD officers arrived and had pronounced one of the parties involved in the traffic collision as deceased.

The investigation determined that a male adult was riding an electric scooter and had entered the N/B lanes of Aviation Blvd. near the railroad tracks that traverse Aviation Blvd. The male riding the electric scooter entered the roadway and collided with a vehicle that was traveling N/B Aviation Blvd. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene and was cooperative throughout the investigation. If anyone was a witness to the collision or has information regarding the collision they are encouraged to please contact the Hawthorne Police Traffic Investigators at 310-349-2701.

Hawthorne Police Department Awarded $225,000 Grant from the Office of Traffic Safety

Hawthorne, California – The Hawthorne Police Department will roll out a police traffic services program to deter dangerous and illegal driving behaviors that increase the risk of crashes in the community.

“Impairment, speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors jeopardize the safety of other people on the road,” Hawthorne Police Chief Michael Ishii said. “This funding allows us to provide necessary traffic enforcement measures with the goal of reducing serious injury and fatal crashes on our roads,”

The grant will pay for additional enforcement measures, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols specifically focused on suspected impaired drivers.

• Enforcement operations focused on suspected distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.

• Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operations focused on driver behaviors that put vulnerable road users at risk.

• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.

• Community education presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.

• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

Hawthorne Police Department Receives Funding for Motorcycle Safety Training Program

Hawthorne, California – the Hawthorne Police Department received grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to conduct motorcycle safety awareness with free, hands-on rider trainings. The $111,000 grant will pay for a series of free motorcycle safety classes that allows riders to practice braking, turning, steering, entering traffic and other skills that help avoid collisions and improve rider safety on the road.

This training is known as the “Ride to Live” program and emphasizes riding techniques to enhance motorcyclists’ skills in an on-going effort to prevent motorcycle related deaths and injuries. Hawthorne Police Department, in partnership with Torrance and Redondo Beach Police Departments, will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both education and hands-on training.

The Hawthorne Police Department’s Ride to Live program is being offered 9 times throughout the year with the first class being held on November 13th, 2021. To register for a free training class, visit www.ridetolive.com.

Activities that the grant will fund include:

• Proper manipulation of clutch and throttle in order to work the “friction zone”

• Emergency braking

• Proper use of head and eyes when turning a motorcycle

• Precision maneuvering

• Counter-steering

• Obstacle / collision avoidance

• Curve negotiation

“This program is intended to share motorcycle training and skills that motorcycle police officers are taught so that the general riding public can experience a safer riding environment and avert their own tragedies,” said Hawthorne Police Chief Michael Ishii.

The Hawthorne Police Department Focuses on Distracted Driving Enforcement

PRESS RELEASE

Hawthorne, California – On August 9, 2021, the Hawthorne Police Department will have additional officers on patrol looking for drivers that are violating the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

Under the law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while driving. This includes talking, texting or using an app.

“Distracted driving is a serious issue, but one that can be easily solved simply by putting the phone down,” Hawthorne Police Department Chief Michael Ishii said. “That text, phone call, email or social media post can wait.”

A driver cell phone violation is subject to a $157 fine for the first offense.

Other distractions include eating, grooming, talking to passengers, using GPS, adjusting the radio, taking off a jacket, reaching for an object on the floor or navigating a vehicle’s in-dash touchscreen.

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

The Hawthorne Police Department will hold additional distracted driving enforcement operations on August 14th, 2021.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

PRESS RELEASE

Attempt Kidnap/ Arrest

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On Thursday, July 15, 2021, at approximately 12:50 PM, Hawthorne police officers responded on a report of a possible kidnapping which had just occurred near the 12700 block of Oxford Avenue, in the City of Hawthorne. The two female victims, 13 and 14 years old, were walking when a male adult, not known either victim, offered to go explore the area and tried to lure them into a car he said was parked nearby. Both victims ran from the male to a nearby convenience store.

After a few minutes, both victims began walking home, and noticed the same male now involved in a verbal altercation with another passerby. The male then turned his attention back on the two victims, and began chasing after them on foot. One of the victims reported that the male was able to grab her around the waist from behind, but that she was able to break free. Both victims ran into the courtyard of a nearby apartment complex, still followed by the male. Alerted by the commotion, a resident of the apartment complex came out and confronted the male, who then left the property. The incident was then reported to police.

Responding officers were able to locate and detain the male nearby, based on a physical description of him provided to dispatch. He was arrested for suspicion of attempted kidnapping, and remains in custody at the Hawthorne Police Department Jail. Neither victim was hurt during this incident. The male arrestee has been identified as:

Steven Noriega, a 26 year old resident of the City of Los Angeles.

If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the Hawthorne Police Department.

Homicide - Chadron Ave

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On July 8th, 2021 at approximately 4:10 in the afternoon, Hawthorne Police responded to a shooting call at 14124 S. Chadron Avenue.

Upon their arrival at that location, officers located a 21-year-old male slumped in the front seat of a vehicle parked in the carport to the rear of the building. He appeared to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Los Angeles County Fire Rescue responded to the location where the male was pronounced deceased.

Hawthorne Homicide detectives responded to the scene and are conducting their investigation.

Should anyone have information regarding the shooting, please contact our investigators at the below listed numbers

***

Victim as been identified as Zerail Dijon Rivera.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRI6M7MDNkT/?utm_medium=share_sheet

Illegal Fireworks Seizure

On June 29th, 2021 the Hawthorne Police Department assisted a taskforce consisting of agents from LA County Fire, US Coastguard, Customs, and ATF in serving a search warrant for a storage unit in the 14600 block of Aviation Blvd. This unit was suspected of containing a large cache of illegal fireworks. We assisted with the service of the search warrant which yielded 440 pounds of illegal fireworks.

Following that seizure, HPD officers and task force agents moved to a residence in the city of Hawthorne related to ownership of the storage locker. The residents there agreed to allow task force agents to recover an additional 218 pounds of illegal fireworks from this location, bringing the grand total for the day to 658 pounds of illegal and dangerous fireworks seized.

Aside from the probable sale of illegal fireworks, the residents at the home admitted they were planning on putting on a huge fireworks show for the 4th of July. This would have no doubt generated radio calls and complaints from our area residents.

Several agents on the taskforce were contacted by residents in the area who relayed their thanks and appreciation for stopping what had become a yearly nuisance and danger to everyone in the area.

The Hawthorne Police Department will continue to work with the community to minimize the danger of illegal fireworks.

If you believe there is an illegal fireworks operation in your area, please contact the Hawthorne Police Department Fireworks Hotline at (310) 349-2745.

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