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APR 2 7 1999
F \CMANAGER\STFRPRTS\REWARDS WPD
Council Meeting Apnl 27, 1999
Santa Monica, CA
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Authorize a Reward as an Incentive to Provide
Information or EVidence to the Police Department Which May Lead to the
Arrest and ConViction of Persons Responsible for a Senes of VIolent Cnmes
Committed In the Fall of 1998
Introduction
ThIS report recommends that the City Council authonze a reward to provide an incentive
to provide information or eVidence to the Police Department leadmg to the arrest and
conViction of any person(s) responsible for the violent assaults and homicides whIch
occurred In the City In October 1998
Background
The chain of events commenced on October 12th at 6 30 p m Omar SeVilla was shot and
killed while walking to a counseling group meetmg Mr SeVilla was a recent parolee with
ties to the Culver CIty Boyz (SIC), a gang based In the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles and
In the City of Culver City It IS suspected that hiS assailant IS possibly a rival gang member
His klller(s) have not been Identified or apprehended On October 17th, at 6 40 pm, Juan
Campos was chased, shot and killed after gOing to a convenience store to purchase
supplies for hiS young son Mr Campos was an employee ofthe Public Works Department
In Santa Monica It IS believed that hiS slaYing was In retribution for the death of Omar
SeVilla On October 18th, at 740 pm, Jaime Cruz was moving hiS uncle's car when he
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APR27S9
was shot In the chest, back and upper leg Two suspects were pursued by a police officer
and were taken Into custody Immediately after the shooting A machine pistol, an assault
rifle and a handgun were recovered dunng the arrest Mr Cruz survived this VICIOUS
assault Two Culver City Boyz (SIC) gang members are standing trial for this attempted
murder On October 27th, a ski-masked gunman entered a clothing store on Lincoln
Boulevard, at midday, and used an assault nfle to murder two brothers, Anthony Juarez
and Michael Juarez The Juarez brothers were VISiting from San LUIs ObiSpo and were In
a clothing store run by their uncle
DISCUSSion
The Police Department has dedicated substantial effort and resources to Investigate all
available leads, however, the suspect(s) have eluded Identification and arrest up to thiS
pOint The nature of the homIcides have contributed to the lack of Information These
types of crimes are difficult to solve largely In part due to the fear of repnsal Recently, the
Police Department contacted the Governor's Office, State ofCahfornla, and requested that
the Governor authorize a reward for Information leading to the arrest and convictions of any
persons responsible for the violent assaults and homicides occurring In October 1998
Additionally, staff proposes the City Council authorize $25,000 per incident (a total of
$75,000 for the three InCidents), as an Incentive to proVide Information or eVidence to the
Police Department leading to the arrest and conViction of any person(s) responsible forthe
assaults and homicides
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The reward offered would be specific to the senes of assaults and homicides which
occurred in the City In October 1998, and would not apply to any other criminal
investigations Payment would be contingent on the arrest and conviction of person(s)
responsible for the crimes
It IS believed the solution of these crimes IS particularly slgnrflcant for the City of Santa
Monica The perceptron IS sometimes vOiced that because homicides are gang related
(either suspect or Victim Involved are Involved In gang activity), that law enforcement and
government are not as concerned aboutswrftly apprehending and convicting the offenders
That IS not, and will never, be the case In Santa MOnica However, the offering of a reward
may help to bring Justice for these Victims, theIr families, and our community
Budget/Fiscal Impact
If all rewards are claimed, funds In the amount not to exceed $75,000 are available In non-
departmental account number 01-700-274-00000-5506-00000
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City CounCil authOrize the use of budgeted funds as a reward
for the arrest and conviction of persons responsIble for the three Incidents previously
descnbed
Prepared by James T Butts, Jr, Chief of Police
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