A former Compton Deputy fire chief was arrested Wednesday for arson and grand theft. Marcel Melanson, 37, of Torrance, California was arrested for allegedly steeling thousands of dollars worth of radios for the purpose of selling them for personal gain and then starting a fire to try and destroy the evidence of the crime. Melanson allegedly started a fire back in December of 2011 at the headquarters of the Compton Fire Department. Yes, you guessed my next question: Why did it take this long to figure out what was going on? Answer: Not sure. The Compton Fire Department asked for …

Sports Icon Al Michaels was arrested Friday night in Santa Monica, California for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). Authorities said the legendary sportscaster made an illegal u-turn near the area of a DUI checkpoint that the police had set up in Santa Monica. No doubt one of the chase vehicles caught Michaels as he was trying to avoid the checkpoint. California law requires that DUI checkpoints have an escape avenue or potential turn out for drivers to avoid being forced to drive into the checkpoint. However, as a practical matter, law enforcement always has chase vehicles set up …

Forced DUI Blood Tests and Search Warrants after Missouri vs. McNeely The United States Supreme Court just heard aDUI case from Missouri. It was called Missouri vs. McNeely and it involved a DUI suspect who did not consent to a test for blood alcohol after an arrest. Police forcibly took a blood sample from Mr. McNeely and tried to use the results of the test against the suspect in court. I would expect to hear that in a state like Missouri the cops might get away with warrantless forced blood tests after a DUI arrest – but not here in California, …

Don’t I have to let the police in the house when they ask? Or, don’t I have to come outside when the police ask me to? I have been hearing these questions for years. My answer has always been the same, “No”. We do not have to talk to the police when they come to our door. We do not have to open the door for the police. If we do, we are subjecting ourselves to what we commonly refer to as a consensual encounter. This means that we are volunteering to talk to the police. Please don’t do this. …

Many of us are familiar with the term “Miranda rights”. Some of us can even recite all or at least some of the Miranda warnings from memory after hearing them countless times in television shows or movies. You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to speak with an attorney before any questioning. If you desire to speak with an attorney and cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand your rights? …

A veteran Los Angeles County employee is facing a long stint in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempting to have sex with two minor children and possession of child pornography. Authorities in Alabama set up an elaborate sting operation whereby Mark Rainwater contacted people posing as the parents of two minor children for the purpose of setting up a sexual liason with the two kids. When Rainwater flew out to Alabama he was in for quite a shock when authorities greated him and his suitcase full of sex toys with a pair of matching hardened steel bracelets. Rainwater, who …

After two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies were charged with the crime of filing false police reports after they lied about a drug arrest how come the same sheriff’s department is conducting further investigation about the incident? The man arrested by the deputies has since been set free and the two deputies, Robert Lindsey and Charles Rodriguez have been relieved of duty without pay. FYI, the without pay part does not sound good for these two. The two deputies were arrested Thursday, I assume by other sheriff’s deputies, and booked in lieu of bail to be posted by each of …

The only thing Ventura County Law Enforcement likes less than crime is crime committed by people from out of the county. Simi Valley police arrested a 40 year old man from Los Angeles County earlier today after he was caught in possession of ecstasy and suspected of selling the illegal drug. After arresting Chen, officers with both the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and The Simi Valley Police executed a search warrant at Chen’s Rowland Heights home. Police recovered additional drugs at the home as well as in his car. Chen is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and will …

In the second Supreme Court case in a year to involve drug sniffing dogs, the Court held that the cops need a search warrant in order to bring drug dogs onto your porch. The Court went on to say that not just inside the house, but the “curtilage” of the home should be free from law enforcement searches without a warrant. Curtilage is anything connected to the home or closing associated with the home like the porch or garage areas. The ruling came after Miami-Dade police and Federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration started watching a home where they …

If you or one were not one of the 65 people on the list of those just pardoned by Governor last week, you should call me. One of the people who was pardoned Robert Phillip Brown who was convicted of murder in 1977. Brown spent a decade and a half behind bars before his release from custody. After leading an honest life and “exhibiting good moral character” he petitioned the court for a certificate of rehabilitation. The certificate of rehabiliatation, often referred to as an indirect pardon, is a court document which recommends to the Governor that the subject has …