By Susan Motander
An attempted murder in Monrovia led Oliver Chi to discuss, in his City Manager’s Update on Tuesday, the lasting ramifications of recent legislation and initiatives that substantially changed the way convicted criminals are treated in the State of California. A discussion of crime in general also led the City Council to a similar discussion at the Council Meeting later that evening.
In his weekly update, Chi related the circumstances of an attempted murder in the 100 block of E. Los Angeles St, in Monrovia. According to Chi, the victim, who had no ties to gangs, was sitting in his car waiting for a family member when the suspects approached his vehicle. When the suspects “brandished a firearm,” the victim attempted to drive away. The victim was fired upon, but he was not hit and the suspects fled on foot.
Monrovia Police Officers who responded were able to arrest the suspects who were identified by the victim. According to Chi, the police continue to search for the weapon that was used. Ultimately, Monrovia officers located the handgun “inside the riser arms of a trash dumpster” on Cypress Avenue, according to Chi’s account.
Monrovia Police Detective John Donchig interviewed the suspects and one of the suspects “admitted to the shooting, using the handgun, and hiding the handgun in the dumpster, again according to Chi’s report. The D.A. has filed felony charges against the primary suspect who possessed the firearm, “including charges of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm by a felon.”
According to Police Chief Jim Hunt, the investigation is continuing and additional charges may be brought again the other suspect who was arrested at the time. A third suspect who was waiting for the first two in a vehicle at the Taco Bell on East Huntington Drive, was detained, but was not arrested at that time.
The important point that Chi brought out in his report was that “the attempted murder and shooting should never have even been allowed to happen.” The City Manager outlined the background of the suspect against whom charges were filed; Chi stated the following:
– He had been arrested in Ontario, California, in September 2015, as he was suspected of attempted murder at a party where a victim was shot and stabbed.
– He was arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with the situation in Ontario
– He plead down to and was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon.
– He served six months in county jail, and three months at North Kern State Prison in Delano.
– Based on his time served, he was released on parole last summer.
As Chi noted, this was a total of nine month served for an attempted murder that occurred only 17 months ago.
“This overall situation illustrates how the new set of laws in California have resulted in criminals – and even violent criminals – being allowed to repeat their crimes over and over, and in that process, the end result is that more individuals are becoming victims of crime.”
Chi’s report outlined how Assembly Bill 109 (AB109) and Propositions 47 and 57 had “reduced our law enforcement capabilities and allowed for expanded criminal behavior with reduced consequences.”
Specifically, AB 109 turned “non-violent” criminals back to the counties due to prison overcrowding.
As Chief Hunt noted, “When a prisoner is released from state prison on parole, he is supervised for 3 years. If he violates his parole, he is sent back to state prison for a year. When a prisoner is released from county jail, that supervision time is reduced to 1 year and a violation will result in a ‘flash incarceration’ of only 10 days.”
Hunt further explained that the county probation officers, who do not carry firearms and do no go out to do home inspections or otherwise follow up on their probationers, are their supervisors, rather than state parole officers who have far more far reaching authority.
Proposition 47 further undermined the effectiveness of law enforcement by “reclassifying” many charges from felonies to misdemeanors. As noted in Chi’s update, these included “shoplifting, theft, forgery, or fraud – where the value of the crime does not exceed $950.” Illegal drug use, including the use of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, was all reclassified as misdemeanors by Prop 47. All these crimes were then subject to punishment by time in County Jails only with the subsequent supervision of probation rather parole.
Chi further pointed out that Proposition 57, passed by voters just last November, will result in the early release of approximately 30,000 state prison inmates (this according to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office).
The same topic came under discussion by the City Council at their regular meeting earlier this week as well. Chief Hunt was asked to give an update on gang related activity in town. He noted that despite budget constraints, Monrovia has not eliminated any of its anti-gang programs. “Nothing has been removed because of resources.”
When the council members expressed concerns about the rising crime rate in Monrovia (Part 1 crimes are up almost 20% in Monrovia compared to 2015), Hunt pointed out the greatest defense a community has against crime is “neighbors watching out for neighbors.” He urged everyone to get to know their neighbors and not to “be afraid to call if you observe something.”
Council Member Larry Spicer summed it up using the catch phrase, “See something; say something”
This led a general discussion of the move to reduce prison populations and the resulting actions: AB 109 and Props 47 and 57.
Mayor Tom Adams noted that the correction officers unions and effectively blocked California’s use of prisons in other states, in order to safeguard jobs in this state. Council Member Alex Blackburn questioned if there was a movement to raise funds to build more prisons. He also questioned how the Three Strikes legislation was being impacted.
Council Member Gloria Crudgington urged people to write to their state legislators about their concerns. The mayor called upon Chi to send letters to both Assemblyman Chris Holden and State Senator Anthony Portantino asking them to explain why they had not supported an effort by women legislators to classify any rape as a violent. The bill was allowed to “die” in committee without reaching either legislative body. He pointed out that both Holden and Portantino are men.
In all more questions were raised then anyone had answers for. “These are challenging times in our state,” said Hunt.
