Gabrielino’s Screamin’ Eagles Speech Team Advances to Nationals, See P.17 Thursday, May 21, 2015 - May 27, 2015
LOCAL NEWS
GATE Students Explore Art, Science and Engineering During Saturday Workshops P.15
local news
“Remembering Our Veterans” Events in the SGV P.13
elmonteexaminer.com
Former No. 2 of LASD Charged With Obstructing Federal Investigation Into Misconduct at County Jails
Paul Tanaka, who was the second in command of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and William Thomas Carey, who oversaw internal criminal investigations at the LASD, have been indicted on obstruction of justice charges for allegedly directing efforts to quash a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights violations by sheriff’s deputies at two downtown jail complexes. A federal grand jury May 13 returned a five-count indictment against Tanaka and Carey, who allegedly participated in a broad conspiracy to obstruct the investigation, a scheme that started when the Sheriff’s Department learned that an inmate at the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) was an FBI informant. Tanaka and Carey alleg-
edly directed, oversaw, and participated in a conspiracy that last year resulted in the conviction of seven other former LASD deputies. The obstruction of justice case was announced at a news conference by Acting United States Attorney Stephanie Yonekura and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Bowdich. Tanaka and Carey, both 56, are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, and each is named in one count of obstruction of justice. Carey is charged with two counts of making false declarations for perjuring himself last year during the trials of co-conspirators. SEE PG. 18
Paul Tanaka, left was Baca’s Undersheriff and William Thomas Carey oversaw internal criminal investigations.Both men and others have been implicated in one of the worst jail civil rights violations in LASD history. – Photos Courtesy LASD
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Embezzlement Allegations Prompt Azusa Officials to Oversee Little League Fundraiser P.12
business
Business Profile: knot too shabby P.19
Volume 19, No. 21
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Lee Baca left his post in January 2014 amidst the federal investigation and the findings of a special commission on jail violence that cited a “failure of leadership” over the jails. While Baca has not been charged with any crime, he did personally “hand pick” Paul Tanaka for the number two position--which leads critics of Baca to believe there is more to this story. – Photo by Terry Miller
3 Suspects Wanted for Triple-Fatal Arson Fire in South El Monte Detectives Tuesday, during a morning press conference, sought the public’s help in locating three suspects wanted for a triple-fatal arson fire at a South El Monte tire shop. On April 25, three people were killed in a fire that erupted in the 1200 block of Santa Anita Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department. Authorities identified the victims as Christopher Jimenez, 18, of El Monte, Destiny Aguirre, 18, of Azusa, and Rodrigo Gonzalez, 17, of La Puente. Video surveillance led detectives to identify the suspect vehicle as a gold 2002 Nissan Altima, which was being held as evidence. Four suspects were SEE PG. 14
German Monrreal
Mario Godina
El Monte Planning Director Under Fire for “ Anti-Islam Facebook post” opinion By Nick Kipley
Roberto Fuentes
Estavan Castillo
On Tuesday night’s meeting of the El Monte City Council, Haroon Manjlai, Public Affairs Coordinator of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Ali Jakvani, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Outreach to Young Muslim Americans who also served on an Advisory Council to the White House, demanded that El Monte Planning Director Art Barrios resign for penning what referred to in the title of their press release as an “Anti-Islam Facebook Post.” The post consisted of an unpunctuated fragment reading: “sounds good maybe the rest of the world should do the same,” and was attached to an article titled from a predominately conservative Op-Ed site, Louder With Crowder, entitled, “China Makes Major Move To Ban Islam.” This post was made on Mr. Barrios’ private Facebook page and not while acting in any official capacity for the city of El Monte. Mr. Barrios did not pen the article, he merely commented on it in a droll and unpuncSEE PG. 14