Meet The New Boss – Same As The Old Boss?

Charlie Beck, was appointed LAPD police chief on Nov. 17, following the resignation of his patron, William Bratton.
Beck had auditioned in front of a Venice and Mar Vista audience, Nov. 10. The Deputy Police Chief was rushed to the head of the line, apparently at Bratton’s urging and Villaraigosa’s agreement.
Beck did well with the friendly [...]

Victim Blamed for Fatal Crash!

By Jim Smith
A police report on the investigation into the death of Devin Petelski on Oct. 15, when she was hit broadside by a police car, has been completed but is not being released to the public. The Beachhead has requested a copy under the state’s freedom of information act.
According the city attorney’s office, the [...]

Murder on Venice Boulevard

By Jim Smith
Devin Petelski had just finished her shift at a detox center near Costco. At 11:45 pm on Oct. 15, she pulled up to a stop sign at Glyndon and Venice Blvd and began a right turn onto Venice. She never saw the angel of death barreling toward her in the form of an [...]

In Brief

Once More Into The Breach
“Reform” City Attorney Still Wants OPDs
Rapist On The Loose

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Once More Into The Breach
Just when you thought it was safe to park your RV, the Coastal Commission is holding yet another hearing on November 5 in Long Beach.
The announcement from the Coastal Commission says, “the purpose of this hearing is to consider the findings [...]

Eyewitness to “Murder on Venice Blvd”

By Ruth Fowler
I live at the intersection of Venice Blvd and Glyndon Avenue in Venice Beach. On October 15, I went to bed early – about 11pm. I woke up briefly when I heard a horrific screech of breaks and a terrifying crash – but to be honest, when you live in Venice, you hear [...]

Fight Crime: Read the Beachhead – Stolen Bicycle Recovered After Last Month’s Article

By CJ Gronner

The hills are alive … with the sound of bike bells! Everybody! You are not going to BELIEVE this! So … pretty much everyone knows I had my bike stolen last month and that it was very sad for me. Really. I’d never had a bike stolen, not even as a kid, [...]

Help! My bike has been kidnapped

By CJ Gronner

The nature of Venice is on my mind a great deal lately … through decades and changes, the Bohemian nature and spirit of the place has always managed to survive.  There’s been tough times all along the way for a good chunk of the residents, but the groove factor, and general desire [...]

Police Break Up “3rd Friday” on Westminster Avenue

Nine police officers in five squad cars showed up April 17 to restore public order on Westminster Avenue, between Speedway and Ocean Front Walk. The culprits this time turned out to be upstanding business owners from the block. The crime: no permit for playing music or otherwise having a good time.
There was one complaint that [...]

Fire on Palms

With 3 helicopters circling overhead on the evening of December 10, there was bound to be something happening. Arriving at Palms, east of Lincoln, it turned out to be a two alarm fire. The Beachhead, first on the scene, discovered that this was the second fire at the same address in just as many months.
 (While) [...]

Murder Unsolved

By Mark Lipman
On the evening of December 8, a fatal shooting occurred in the alleyway behind 1600 Lincoln Blvd.
The victim, Philimon Ernesto Consequa, known as “Cheripenga,” was originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. No further information was available.
Though it is not clear if a gun was found, police detectives did find a single .45 caliber cartridge on [...]