Los Angeles, CA She’s being held at the L.A. County jail without bond at this hour. Her Name is Stephanie Lazarus, 49 and she’s a respected 26 year veteran officer. This morning at work shortly after 8:00 AM she was arrested at the LAPD Parker Center for the 1986 slaying of her former boyfriend’s wife.
Lazaruz has been investigating major art thefts since 2006 for the LAPD.
Recently police investigators surreptitiously collected DNA material from Lazarus and had it compared with DNA recovered from the dead woman, Sherri Rae Rasmussen,29 a nursing director who was beaten and shot to death in her Van Nuys condo in 1986.
Rasmussen’s body was discovered by the victim’s husband, John Ruetten who has not been arrested. Police say that Lazarus and Ruetten were involved in an affair at the time of the murder.
There were early theories that this crime was the product of a home invasion robbery gang working the area at the time.
The biggest question I’m waiting to see answered is where was the DNA material found and just how was it transferred? I guess we will have to wait and see what develops here.
Somehow I suspect that there is a lot more to be told about this case and the defense of the accused officer.
Update: June 7, 2009--The L.A. Times did an in depth follow up article that can be found here.
When you begin a career as a cop the risks to your life on the job are drummed into your soul for the next year or so. Your training surrounds the issue of survival on the mean streets along with all the other areas such as law, enforcement methods, first aid and dealing with the hostile public.
What they don’t tell you is that you’re a target for more than fists and bullets. People will try and frame you through bogus complaints. Just like cops are killed, careers are also killed.
I will never forget how some great Chicago cops arrested a young and prolific burglar on Chicago’s Northwest side. The burglar would claim brutality, false arrest and anything else he could to evade prosecution.
Cops were fired, disgraced and blackballed from future law enforcement positions. As for this particular burglar he was the son of the late, Democratic Chicago Alderman turned Congressman, Roman Conrad Pucinski. The young Pucinski was able to destroy the careers of no less than a half-dozen good cops before his father ceased to interfere fixing those arrests.
That kind of back door Chicanery has existed as long as government and will continue as long as we have government. No “Blue Ribbon Special Investigations” will cure this practice or even slow it down.
When cops find themselves wrongly in the courts, police boards, civil service commissions and such they are in a fight for their very lives. They need lawyers and investigators working on their side. I handle plenty of these types of cases and enjoy helping the wrongfully accused.
Today we have a surveillance camera in nearly every business, on police vehicle dashboards and there are the bystanders and agitators with cell phone cameras. For the officer who has been acting properly these videos are very helpful.
When possible after a crime seize bystander cell phone and other cameras as evidence long enough to download their images and videos. This may save your butt and bring justice to the courts and various commissions.
Police internal investigations almost always error on the side of hurting cops rather than protecting them.
It can be an ugly world out there. If it were not for the lies people freely tell even while under oath the occupation of private investigator may not even exist.
Egypt—As Barack Obama readies to take off for Germany, he really made a fool out of himself. His assertions to leaders in Saudi Arabia and Egypt contradicted his American political campaign by embracing his Muslim religion he refused to acknowledge.
His efforts fell on deaf ears since he also claims to have since become a Christian. That makes him deceptive as he downplayed his real connection to Islam during his presidential campaign.
The reality here is that Muslims will view him as an infidel who turned his back on Islam even if that’s not the case. Despite Obama’s speech he gained no ground with Muslims.
The only good thing for our Muslim enemies is that they know Obama is a Communist and an American traitor. Perhaps they will view us on friendlier terms as a result.
Joliet, IL—As he’s sitting in the Will County Jail murder suspect Drew Peterson wants to endlessly talk to anyone who will listen. Some people are up in arms over this and just want Peterson to shut up.
These are the same detractors that demanded Peterson’s hanging despite the lack of an arrest, trial or conviction. These harpies are misguided and need to get a life. Police and prosecutors usually pray for suspects to say anything at all. In America most crimes are solved by the suspect’s own big mouths. It’s always better to keep the suspects talking. The same holds true for Drew Peterson.
If Drew Peterson is really guilty, please let him talk! If Peterson is not guilty he deserves the right to talk. Right now Peterson is presumed innocent and should be able to say whatever he wants. Should any man not yet convicted lose the right to claim his innocence?
Another not so small issue surrounds the government’s discovery material (the entire police report). By law they must turn it all over to the defense so they may prepare for trial. Prosecutors also got an order from Judge Stephen White precluding the defense from releasing any discovery information to the media. Why do they want that you’d ask? It’s really quite simple when information is released to the public people come forward with information about the players named in the case.
The prosecutors and State Police know that many of the people involved are very dirty and will be exposed by the press. Before it’s over I’d expect that sunshine on the government witnesses may reveal just what happened to Stacy Peterson and it won’t fit the prosecutions model or help convict Drew Peterson.
Here the police make public whatever they want but should Peterson’s defense team release any information the prosecutors cry foul. Not fair you say? Who said government wants to be fair?
Washington, DC—FEMA using emergency powers will place Florida trailer trash folks into foreclosed real homes after storms.
The banks or other owners of the property have enough problems but now the government wants place homeless storm victims in these homes. The government sanctioned squatters will tie up the properties for years if not decades.
Next homelessness will be declared an emergency and that will be an excuse for the government agents to seize more homes for this Marxist plan.
Every week the traitors to America within the Obama Administration have a new plan to destroy America and free enterprise. We have no choice but to stop the traitors or lose our freedom.
Los Angeles, CA—Lu Parker is one of the hotter babes in local television news. Parker is a reporter who works for a bankrupt TV station. KTLA has a cloudy future at best. Television news is in serious trouble in America. Viewers have fled to the Internet, Ipods and Xboxes forgoing news broadcasts.
Parker has taken up with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and has herself hit the media spotlight.
Two years ago, the mayor's marriage went South after word of his relationship with a Spanish-language journalist made a splash in L.A. news reports. Now with Parker being hooked up with Villaraigosa, again, questions are surfacing about ethics in journalism.
I may detest the Mayor’s politics but I don’t take issue against his flings with hot women. As for Parker she’d be better off with me instead of a total Bolshevik like the mayor. Parker has an absolute right to share her world with whoever she chooses. Great and lasting relationships are hard to find even for pretty people with high profiles.
Parker should enjoy her life and stay off of the political newsbeat. Parker can continue to front KTLA stories like this one and there should be no conflict of interest.
Chicago, IL—While I was a guest on the Geoff Pinkus WIND Radio Show, we heard a sickening story breaking that a young 7th District tactical officer, Alejandro Valdez, 27 was shot in the head as he was investigating a shots fired call on South Hermitage Avenue. The officer was taken off life support after a 14-hour battle to save his life failed.
The young officer was only three years into his career and earned 22 Honorable Mentions and a Department Commendation. He was engaged to another officer and was about to start a family. The officer was ambushed by cowardly criminals that opened fire in a drive-by shooting.
Two Gangster Disciple hood rats are in custody. They are both violent criminals and convicted felons. It looks like they are going to stand trial for a capitol murder charge.
Chicago police officers need greater firepower than their service pistols now. Mayor Richard M. Daley has dragged his feet and does not give a rat’s ass about the men and women sworn to protect life and property in Chicago.
The problem is made much worse by severe under staffing of officers. That of course while the mayor and various politicians and political supporters have Chicago officers as personal bodyguards.
How many more officers must die before they have the right manpower and tools to protect themselves?
Here are pictures from the funeral borrowed from Renee at Intheloop.tv
Chicago, IL—The Heller case last summer made it clear that Americans have an individual right to keep and bear arms. Not settled is whether or not states can enact gun bans. The Second Amendment was never incorporated into the Bill of Rights through the Fourteenth Amendment by the Supreme Court as the other rights have.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Chicago’s gun ban saying the Second Amendment is only a protection from federal government and not the states. So it’s now off to the Supreme Court and it looks like they will be forced to deceide the issue.
The most liberal Court of Appeals in the country is the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and they just ruled that the Second Amendment is incorporated under the 14th Amendment. Because there are two opposite rulings on the same issue this will most likely be heard and argued but don’t expect any quick resolution. The answer will be at least one year or more from today.
There is a real underlying fact here. The City of Chicago accepts federal funds and used them to enforce unconstitutional gun laws. The Chicago gun ban is a federal gun ban under those conditions.
If you live in Chicago and want a gun go ahead and get one. The fact is you will need one. Survival is more important that Richard M. Daley’s world where only criminals have guns. Daley wants that young man in the picture to kill you and your families as you stand by defenseless and helpless. I only pray I can outlive Daley so I can pee on his grave.
Chicago, IL—Tune in to AM 560 tonight at midnight as we explore the cases Phil Spector, Drew Peterson and others in the criminal justice system. We will also talk about the approaching Summer of Mayhem on the mean streets of Chicago along with Chicago politics. WIND Radio can be heard live on the Internet too.
Los Angeles, CA—Judge Larry Paul Fiddler seemed like such a personable fellow when I met him in San Francisco at a function hosted by the Investigative Reporters and Editors some six years ago. First impressions are sometimes misleading.
Fidler had the duty to give murder suspects a fair trial under our sacred system of justice. When legendary record producer Phil Spector’s murder case came before Judge Fidler, fairness was replaced by judicial tyranny.
Fidler consistently ruled for nearly every request by prosecutors while denying nearly everything for Spector’s defense. Fidler was more biased than any judge I’ve seen in some 40 years.
Fidler was out to prove that a celebrity could get convicted after a stunning series of acquittals of other accused Hollywood notables.
Fidler was asked repeatedly to recuse himself and when he refused the defense went as far as the Court of Appeals and lost the argument.
The real abuse of judicial discretion was surrounding the newly revised California’s evidence code 1101B that could allow the introduction of so-called prior bad acts committed by the defendant.
Fidler allowed a string of women jilted by Spector to come into court and accuse Spector of whatever they wanted. Allegations surfaced that were never reported to police and there was never a prosecution or trial to sort out fact from fiction. The tales were decades old and the women telling them were felons, freeloaders and even sold their stories to the tabloids.
As for the evidence or rather a lack of it, the jury was allowed to be tainted by a very public hate campaign often centering on the aging Spector or his appearance.
The case was far more about salacious gossip than facts. The pretty dead woman, Lana Clarkson was painted as saintly or angelic. The truth was that she was a troubled alcohol and drug addicted woman who stole from her friends and lived under a cloud of poverty and depression.
The prosecutors took steps to cover up Clarkson’s real problems by asking the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners to not conduct the normal psychological autopsy done in such cases. This obstruction of justice was criminal to say the least.
The prosecution made a, Motion to Fix and Judge Filer sustained that motion. The jury was swayed by the avalanche of what should have been inadmissible garbage rather than evidence. The result was a miscarriage of justice.
Lana Clarkson died at her own hands while heavily intoxicated.
Now Phil Spector can watch the Clarkson family loot his estate as he rots in a prison cell for a year or few until his case is reviewed by a higher court.
Chicago, IL A weekend in Chicago brought me to my old Chicago haunt of Old Town. My taste buds always scream for some of the great places I used to eat.
Chicago, IL—A 12-member jury heard the evidence and could not reach a unanimous verdict in the "trial" of murder suspect Drew Peterson.
The jury was picked from random observers at Chicago’s Kent College of Law. Available evidence was presented at a Mock Trial held before retired Cook County Circuit court Judge Richard E. Neville at the school’s Marovitz Courtroom.
The case was prosecuted by WGN radio co-host of Legally Speaking, and lawyer Karen Conti who guided jurors through Peterson’s failings as a husband along with his lecherous fondness for young women. Conti fell short of having any physical evidence that tied Drew Peterson to the death.
Conti had to deal with the original and follow up autopsy results finding Kathleen Savio’s death was the result of an accidental drowning presumably in her own bathtub. Conti suggested the Coroner’s Jury’s verdict was unduly influenced by a member that was a cop that had once worked with Peterson.
The Savio/Peterson marriage was described by Conti as a violent one where both parties called local police on 18 occasions. There was never an incident where either party suffered an apparent injury.
The Defense was presented by lawyer Joseph Lopez. He described Savio as being a feisty woman upset with Peterson’s dumping her for a younger woman.
Lopez hammered at the weakness of the state’s case and suggested that the hearsay evidence offered by Peterson’s now missing young wife Stacy Peterson was unreliable.
Noting that Stacy Peterson was involved with at least one new lover, she met her young minister, Neil Schori, not at a church but at a local restaurant. The ministered claim was that Stacy Peterson revealed that her husband confessed killing his third wife and expressed her own fears she was next in line for murder.
The best advice the minister claimed he could give was to, “Go home and pray about it.” Lopez insisted that the minister had an obligation to tell the young woman to flee from the danger and notify the authorities. The strong suggestion was that of deception by the young minister.
The jury was instructed by Judge Neville and retired for a 30 minute attempt at deliberations. The jury was split six-six and could not agree on a verdict. The jury panel consisted of nurses, sales people, a banker, office manager and retired folks.
The public event was sponsored by WGN Radio and Moderated by another WGN Legally Speaking co-host lawyer, Greg Adamski. Also on board the trial was jury consultant, Dr. Cindy Adams.
This mini-trial made it clear that prosecutors will have an uphill battle to convict the retired cop of killing his third wife even with questionable hearsay evidence. That was assuming that the new “Drew Peterson Hearsay Law” stands certain legal challenges even before a real trial will begin.
The entire event was recorded and will be broadcast by WGN on June 14 and 15.
In a related matter yesterday, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow filed a motion on Wednesday to gag Peterson’s defense attorneys from leaking any information from discovery documents, which must be turned over to Peterson's legal team for the first time next week.
Ohio, USA-Cash strapped Toledo and Columbus are laying-off cops. Because Ohio is a right to carry state, many citizens will be ready for most anything including those dreaded pink slips.
Like cops the armed citizens need to learn not to bite off more than they can chew and call for back-up. If the police can’t come, arrange it with a well trained neighbor or two to act as your back-up.
Should you come home and find the door broken or otherwise suspect someone is in your home don’t ever try making a house clearing without competent help. Wait for the burglars outside and confront them there. If they threaten you fire shots until the threat passes.
Through it all remember the four words to tell inquiring police, "I want a lawyer" and NOTHING else. Let a neighbor make any 911 calls. Stay off the 911 operator’s recording of your words. Don’t ever answer any questions other than name and address and if you need police or an ambulance.
The 911 operators are trained to redundantly try to get you to incriminate yourself so don’t play their game.
Saying that really lame, “I was in fear of my life” crap is an AMISSION THAT YOU SHOT SOMEONE. Don’t confess, say nothing at all. That’s your right!
Washington, DC: As Barack Obama seizes control of car makers, firing their CEOs and installing his party faithful patronage hacks to run these companies I refuse to buy any the products at any price.
We can all refuse and still let these companies fail sending a message straight to the Whitehouse. My GM days are over for good. It’s too bad but I’d rather drive a Kia.
I have no problem with what Gays do behind closed doors. I’m not anti-Gay but I believe marriage is about a mom, dad and the strong probability of children.
Gays don’t need this strictly symbolic legal status. It makes a mockery out of marriage when gays call themselves husbands and wives. In the case of a transgender person I’d concede that could be a legitimate marriage.
Civil Unions are the way to go for Gays. They can have their honeymoons and give each other presents and such. They can carryon anyway they choose as long as the peace is not breached.
As for Gay adoption, I support it for those in committed relationships that will protect the children. There are so many children put through horrible abuse by their natural parents. There are plenty of kids that need a safe refuge. There is the not so simple issue of a boy growing up sharing with his schoolmates that he has two daddies. I don’t have a clue how that will not cause ridicule and a beating.
Guys have to be more reasonable that to demand a right to marriage when they don’t fit the mold. No matter what the law says the fact that marriage requires both a man and a woman does not change.
Washington, DC—Another judicial activist with a black robe who will circumvent lawmakers with her own Bolshevik ideas has been nominated for the US Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor plainly stated that she is a policy maker right here.
How much longer must we tolerate that Marxist despot in the Whitehouse? Please call your US Senator and demand this woman not be appointed.
Sacramento, CA—They want yet another law to control prisoners. They are demanding that possession of a cell phone in a prison be made a felony.
Yes, cell phones can be used for nefarious activity but this as a problem is way overblown. I’m in favor of giving inmates cell phones and monitored Internet access.
You can’t get far into the Internet if you can’t read or write. It only makes sense to encourage Internet activity. Computer literate inmates will be more employable upon release that those deprived of this activity.
I have no difficulty with the idea of punishing inmates that commit crimes while in prison. This cell phone crap is more about total control than anything else. This is a different matter in some supermax facility where the inmate will never again see freedom. Most inmates will get out of custody for sure.
Want to save millions of barrels of oil? Want to save lots of natural gas and electricity? Want to reduce automobile accidents? Want three day weekends?
That sounds too go to be true doesn’t it? It’s really quite simple we all go to a four-day, ten-hour work week. We take off Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Schools can do the same as to not create problems with families. The savings in non-renewable energy resources would be spectacular. The saving to businesses and workers would stimulate the economy better than anything our worthless President has proposed.
There are those businesses that need to stay open like grocery stores, restaurants and movie theaters. These businesses will just continue as they always have.
This is a simple fix that will help America get back on its feet sooner.
Chicago, IL—After a 1960’s major bail bond scandal here involving a prominent Cook County judge, laws were changed. The entire business was jettisoned from the courts in Illinois and the court clerks took over and things were simplified.
The court clerks under the new law would temporarily keep ten percent of the total bail amount required and posted. After an accused defendant made all of his required appearances 90% of the money would be refunded to him or his lawyer by agreement. Conventional bail bond companies keep all of the ten percent as their fee. This money is better used when diverted to defense lawyers.
Absconders would be hunted down by police not clowns like “Dog” The Bounty Hunter. The real benefit is that often lawyers would accept the bond slips as partial payment for services and that cut down the amount of public defenders needed. Should the defendant abscond the court clerk keeps the money. This became a win-win situation for all but the bail bondmen.
Bail bondsmen are a throwback to the olden days of Wyatt Earp and bounty hunters collecting rewards. Those days are gone in Illinois and the entire country would be better off if they followed suit.
In the case of anyone arrested for a simple misdemeanor offense and the accused has no a felony conviction or history of failure to appear release on a simple promise to appear statement makes sense. Jail space is needed for dangerous or repetitive criminals.
