Friday, June 10, 2011
** Los Angeles police assign paramedic beating case to elite investigation division
** Maryland issues public appeal warning against shining lasers at air ambulances, police aircraft
UNITED STATES NEWS
** The Los Angeles Police Department has assigned the case involving the March beating of a Santa Clara paramedic to its elite Robbery Homicide Division. That is the word from the Southwest Riverside News Network (June 8) which said specialized investigators are taking over the matter because of the incident’s high profile. According to the newspaper, the decision comes after a Monday court order was issued preventing authorities from destroying video from a hotel surveillance camera;the film allegedly shows chief suspect Giovanni Ramirez, 31, with a full head of hair. Ramirez contends the video proves he didn’t attack medic Bryan Stow, 42, since witnesses said the man they saw had a shaved head. Stow, who was set upon at Dodger Stadium because he was wearing a Giants jersey, continues to recover in hospital from traumatic brain injury. Ramirez, meanwhile, remains in jail on parole violations but has not been charged in connection with the Stow beating.
** Maryland police have issued a public appeal warning of the dangers of directing laser pointers at in-flight EMS and police aircraft. The Carroll County Times (June 8) said officials have taken the step after a recent incident in which an air ambulance pilot was targeted. According to the newspaper, the November flight played out with a Sykesville man shining a laser at a police chopper on a medical transport from Baltimore to Frederick. In April, a 13-year-old boy was also charged after he directed a beam at a similar aircraft during a training flight. Maryland State Police Aviation Unit flight operations director Bill Bernard said lasers at night can not only damage a pilot’s eyes, but can also temporarily impede night vision. Since 2005, laser incidents have grown from 300 to 2,836 in 2010. A ruling by the Federal Aviation Administration has deemed laser shining as interference with a flight crew’s duties during aircraft operation. Violators could face up to $11,000 fines.
