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Cop Watcher Jailed Twice
Video destroyed by Lee Baca's deputies
Cop watching — the act of turning a camera on police — is not illegal.
PHOTO BY SIMONE PAZ
Raven Williams on Shatto Place, where she was arrested April 2
But in areas policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, it can still land you in jail.
And even when it's a bogus arrest and the fanciful charges against you are abruptly dropped the next day, it can be scary, expensive, time-consuming and, of course, intimidating.
That's what happened — twice — to Raven Williams, 28, whose dad was a New Orleans cop, and who today is an occasional participant in Cop Watch L.A., a little-known group of more than a dozen citizens determined to police the police.
Armed with her trusty camcorder and a well-thumbed paperback copy of the U.S. Constitution, Williams, who supports herself as an eBay seller, moved to L.A. four years ago. She started cop watching after reading about incidents of police abuse involving female sex workers. She was especially disturbed by an Oregon incident in which a cop demanded sex from women who otherwise faced arrest.
Armed with a detailed familiarity of police procedure, thanks to her upbringing, for two years she has cop-watched LAPD on Figueroa Avenue between 30th Street and 100th Street — more than 40 times without serious incident.
"For the most part, LAPD was cool about it," she tells L.A. Weekly. "Most of them acted professionally and just went about their business when I started filming."
Then on Feb. 1 she saw a traffic stop on Long Beach Boulevard near the Compton-Lynwood border. She walked within 50 feet of sheriff's deputies and began taping.
She kept detailed notes of what happened next: Deputy M. Weinstein, badge number 494469, asked who she was and what she was doing. "I told him, 'I'm a member of Cop Watch L.A. and I'm filming you,' " Williams recalls.
Prominent Redondo Beach defense attorney Tony Capozzola tells the Weekly that under California law, Williams need not identify herself — unless she is driving a car or the officer has probable cause to believe she is committing a crime. And, he notes, "Filming the police is not illegal."
That wasn't good enough for Deputy Weinstein, who, she says, demanded her name — something LAPD never did — and ordered her to move 100 feet away.
Williams pulled out her U.S. Constitution and calmly explained she didn't have to. That upset Weinstein, she says, who, she claims, pushed her. When she stood fast, he grabbed her camera and put his hands in her back pockets.
"I think he was looking for drugs," she says. "And he kept demanding my name" — which Williams, who had no ID, refused.
Unnerved by his pushing and grabbing, she yelled, "Illegal arrest!" and was in fact arrested, handcuffed and put in a police cruiser. "Every time I asked him what was going on, he told me to shut up," she says.
After a female deputy showed up, it appeared as if the two deputies could not imagine that this young, black woman was a gutsy citizen out observing cops. "She asked me if I had any rock. Then she put her hand down the front of my jeans and touched my vaginal area," Williams alleges. "She also put her hands under my shirt. It was way beyond inappropriate."
Williams was hauled to the bleak L.A. County Sheriff's Lynwood Detention Center and told she was under arrest for obstructing a police officer; she finally provided her name. The decision to jail her "was a power trip, to show me they could make me give my name."
But things got much worse. She spent a hellish night in a cell with no bed, forced to sleep on a cold floor. "They kept the air-conditioning running full blast like they wanted to punish me," she says.
The next morning, she was abruptly released. She tells the Weekly that when the jailers returned her belongings, her camcorder footage had been erased — an act that First Amendment attorneys say is illegal. It also violates department policy.
She was told the obstruction charge had been dropped and was handed a written citation for being "under the influence of a controlled substance."
"I was in a state of shock from the way I was treated," she says, denying she was under the influence and noting deputies failed to administer a blood or urine test.
The office of Sheriff Lee Baca has instituted what appears to be a blackout on comments about Raven Williams. Weinstein did not respond to several messages. Baca and his spokesman, Steve Whitmore, also did not respond to several messages.
The next day, Williams paid $70 for a drug test from a certified laboratory. Documents provided to the Weekly show she tested negative for everything from pot and speed to cocaine and PCP.
Two weeks later, undeterred, Williams replaced her camcorder with a less conspicuous cellphone camera and, in case her phone was confiscated or the footage erased, she bought a pair of $132 eyeglasses with a hidden camera.
Everything went fine until April 2, when Williams was cruising down Wilshire Boulevard in Koreatown and spotted sheriff's deputies questioning several young Hispanic men. She kept a distance of 40 to 50 feet, and began recording.
This time Deputy Fernandez, badge number 509083, according to the citation issued later, demanded to know her name and what she was doing.
Fernandez acknowledged her right to record him, she says, but she refused to provide her name.
"He said I was required by law to tell him," she says. "I asked him to cite the law, but he couldn't." He arrested her for obstructing a police officer, then, with his cellphone, recorded her for 45 minutes.
He took Williams to the Lynwood Detention Center, where she spent another sleepless night and was released the next morning — with a citation for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Incredibly to her, the Sheriff's Department again failed to administer a urine or blood test. So she got an immediate drug test, and tested negative.
Deputy Fernandez did not respond to messages seeking comment, but defense attorney Capozzola, who is not involved in Williams' case, says, "This sounds like an unlawful detention because there was no indication that she was committing any kind of a crime."
Sgt. B. Waldo of the Sheriff's Century Station in Lynwood tells the Weekly the charges apparently have been dropped.
Williams says, "They just made up those charges to harass me and intimidate me from cop watching again." She respects most police as public servants trying to do a job in a difficult environment. But, she says, there are some power-hungry officers who abuse their badges.
As to whether she'll ever monitor Sheriff Baca's camera-averse deputies again, she replies: "Of course. It's like dealing with a shark. If it bites you, but you love to surf, you have to go back in the water."
Reach the writer at paulteetor@verizon.net.
42 comments
What you are not divulging in this article, or what Raven failed to divulge is that she is a prostitute, and has done at least two porn movies.
So much for morals learned from a NOLA police officer.
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Wow...what a gutsy woman!! Grew up and/or lived in the areas mentioned in this article and I've had to experience LASD over the years. Outside of the deputies involved in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Athletic League (back in the day), I've never had a positive experience with them.
That's why we should not rush to judgement whenever we hear about an arrest (could be bogus).
As a former lead writer for the defunct www.TheBusBench.com—which exposed all that Metro wished to keep secret, as well as sought to expose LASD behavior that required exposure—I had a number of run-ins with LASD deputies regarding recording too many deputies' illegal, unethical and outrageously inept conduct. I was even arrested at Pershing Square for daring to film two deputies (Larry Ware and Johnny Vo) for their errant behavior. Their behavior was so off the wall as to prompt a cashier at the L.A. County Men's Jail to forgo me seeing a judge or my paperwork even making it to a clerk of the court, and I was released within a few short hours—but not before two of the deputies had solicited me for pharmaceutical drugs under the assumption that I was the progeny of a prominent family with the same surname and was also mistaken for a Cop Watcher owing to my refusal to buckle under the pressure brought to bear on me.
However, many incidents later—regarding LASD desputies' attempts to intimidate photographers and illegally confiscate cameras—I exchanged a number of e-mails with LASD Lt. Karl Schow. On Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 8:07 AM, Karl wrote:
<bold> from: Schow, Karl R. KRSchow@lasd.org to: BusTard <shametrain@gmail.com>date: Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 8:07 AMsubject: RE: Regarding deputies and photography on Metro trainsmailed-by: lasd.org
"My apologies, I was out of the office for a portion last week due to a personal matter. I am back to work and have the following information for you:
April 10, 2011 Incident (Watch Commander Service Comment # 224536) :-This matter was fully investigated. Involved personnel (as well as all uniformed staff) have been re-briefed regarding LASD /Metro’s Policies on Video and photography.
June 1, 2011 Incident:-I believe I have identified the involved deputy. I will contact him this week and speak with him and confirm this. I plan on writing a separate Watch Commander Service Comment report/complaint and will email you the number later this week.
I believe the key to this issue will be constant re-briefings/training regarding this matter.
Thank you for your feedback, patience and assistance in these matters.
Lt. Schow <bold>
The result was this obviously empty promise, one which should prompt outrage from citizens whose tax dollars are misappropriated for the brown-shirted gangs under the command of lead dunderhead Leroy Baca. (See below to the links to videos to see what has happened since that e-mail, to understand how empty is Karl's promise as well as the claim of "dunderhead.") If there was any such "re-training" it has been a waste of time and money; if there was none, then it's time to press ahead litigiously.
LASD deputies beat mentally ill Metro bus rider, threatens US war veteran with arrest for filming the incident: http://colorlines.com/archives...
L.A. County Sheriff Leroy "Bonehead" Baca bested by Bus Bench reporter: http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...
It is no wonder the LASD refuse to allow cameras in the jails they oversee, as we would see the gang mentality the LASD deputies possess. Unfortunately, there is little they can do on the street—although their gang mentality is obviously pushing them to try to stomp out any evidence of their wrong-doings.
</bold></shametrain@gmail.com></bold>
Brian, before you make any more unqualified accusations about "Poor reporting" and "wrong information," I suggest you first learn to color inside the lines; if you can't handle your Crayons then writing ain't gonna be easy, son. Then again, you're probably a LASD deputy, and after years of recording deputies dreadful behavior, I wonder: "Do the deputies gave [sic] any pride in there [sic] job anymore?" Moron.
As a former lead writer for the defunct www.TheBusBench.com—which exposed all that Metro wished to keep secret, as well as sought to expose LASD behavior that required exposure—I had a number of run-ins with LASD deputies regarding recording too many deputies' illegal, unethical and outrageously inept conduct. I was even arrested at Pershing Square for daring to film two deputies (Larry Ware and Johnny Vo) for their errant behavior. Their behavior was so off the wall as to prompt a cashier at the L.A. County Men's Jail to forgo me seeing a judge or my paperwork even making it to a clerk of the court, and I was released within a few short hours—but not before two of the deputies had solicited me for pharmaceutical drugs under the assumption that I was the progeny of a prominent family with the same surname and was also mistaken for a Cop Watcher owing to my refusal to buckle under the pressure brought to bear on me.
However, many incidents later—regarding LASD desputies' attempts to intimidate photographers and illegally confiscate cameras—I exchanged a number of e-mails with LASD Lt. Karl Schow. On Monday, Jun 20, 2011 at 8:07 AM, Karl wrote:
<bold> from: Schow, Karl R. KRSchow@lasd.org to: BusTard <shametrain@gmail.com>date: Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 8:07 AMsubject: RE: Regarding deputies and photography on Metro trainsmailed-by: lasd.org
"My apologies, I was out of the office for a portion last week due to a personal matter. I am back to work and have the following information for you:
April 10, 2011 Incident (Watch Commander Service Comment # 224536) :-This matter was fully investigated. Involved personnel (as well as all uniformed staff) have been re-briefed regarding LASD /Metro’s Policies on Video and photography.
June 1, 2011 Incident:-I believe I have identified the involved deputy. I will contact him this week and speak with him and confirm this. I plan on writing a separate Watch Commander Service Comment report/complaint and will email you the number later this week.
I believe the key to this issue will be constant re-briefings/training regarding this matter.
Thank you for your feedback, patience and assistance in these matters.
Lt. Schow <bold>
The result was this obviously empty promise, one which should prompt outrage from citizens whose tax dollars are misappropriated for the brown-shirted gangs under the command of lead dunderhead Leroy Baca. (See below to the links to videos to see what has happened since that e-mail, to understand how empty is Karl's promise as well as the claim of "dunderhead.") If there was any such "re-training" it has been a waste of time and money; if there was none, then it's time to press ahead litigiously.
LASD deputies beat mentally ill Metro bus rider, threatens US war veteran with arrest for filming the incident: http://colorlines.com/archives...
L.A. County Sheriff Leroy "Bonehead" Baca bested by Bus Bench reporter: http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...
It is no wonder the LASD refuse to allow cameras in the jails they oversee, as we would see the gang mentality the LASD deputies possess. Unfortunately, there is little they can do on the street—although their gang mentality is obviously pushing them to try to stomp out any evidence of their wrong-doings.
</bold></shametrain@gmail.com></bold>
I applaud this woman's tenacity. There needs to be a whole lot more like her. People's rights are being violated at an alarming rate. This simple and legal tactic can bring to light the dark side of policing....don't give up...
Yes, based on my own experiences the LA County Sheriffs do believe they're above the law and can behave however they see fit. I've been detained and handcuffed for photographing LA County Sheriffs in Hollywood. During my detainment(s), sheriffs threatened me and falsely accuse me of a lot, such as being under the influence or a member of al qaeda. They also told me it was illegal not carry ID. Which, I never do and is absolutely not true. I wonder if the sheriffs are being trained to act this way, since so many of them are conducting themselves in this manner. Anyway, my encounters were captured on video (which was not deleted) and I have a federal lawsuit against the sheriffs for my unlawful detainments.
Thanks for doing this story, LAWeekly. The LA County Sheriffs need to be exposed for their unlawful acts and violations of the Constitution.
Typical of The Bastard Baca and his malignant minions. They operate above the law. And because the Board of Supervisors consists of do-nothing eunuchs, they will continue to operate above the law.
Hopefully this brave woman will sue the pants off the county and win. Perhaps then the eunuchs will wake up and listen.
Once again Poor reporting. Do the media gave any pride in there job anymore? Aleways rushing to post the story and always containing wrong information. shame shame.
doesnt state law say you have to carry I.D at all times or you can be DETAINED untill your identity is revealed? I could be wrong but either way why make a cops job harder? she could have just moved further back like she was asked. This lady ever hear the phrase " pick your battles" ? I mean comon get a life.
Odd that you're so willing to give the LASD a pass. And you definitely do not have to show ID to ANY LE in CA unless you are driving or the officer suspects a crime has been committed. You are absolutely wrong, much like the deputy's in LA.
Because gangs are equal. If you have a problem with them, their is a higher authority you are supposed to be able to go to: the cops. But the problem is, if the cops - the people with the power to throw you in jail or prison and take away your freedom wantonly at their discretion, then who else can you go to? That is why it is far more important to watch them. Gangs really dont have the power they have. Cops, to sum things up, have what is close to absolute power that you can legally get as handed down by the government and that power is often unchecked by accpuntabiliyy (internal affairs merely covers the department's butt and Serpico types, good cops, get ran off or worse). Basically, they are a gang with the ability to use the law as leverage to take advantage of you, such as when they rape hookers, etc or threaten people with arrest for not doing what they say. If they murder and/ or rape you, well, just look at what happened to Oscar grant and mitrice Richardson. To quote Lord Acton: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". To parapharse a cop from "The Wire", a realistic show written by cops, "I can arrest anyone at anytime for anything." See the problem? If there were as many rapes, ESP "sexual misconduct", murders and thefts at Macys with Macy's employees telling people to "show them their breast," murdering unarmed people, NO ONE WOULD GO THERE. Why doesn't that happen there? BECAUSE THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS! Cops are not. As I know, many people see, cops cover up for their own! That is why Copwatch is so important. Someone needs to hold the cops accountable. IA doesnt do it. So someone or a group of people outside the tightly knit culture has to.
I have seen this woman on you tube. She self admits to being a working prostitute, not selling merchandise on eBay. She is extremely racist during her you tube rants. She also seems to have little to no respect for law enforcement or government in general. She also has an inherent dislike for transsexuals. Look her up on you tube and decide is she is a "strong woman" or mentally Ill. He father must be proud. What a wreck.
finallly a comment got on about this womyn's true nature. she even advertises her services on the weekly online, which should have been disclosed.
There was a movie released within the last couple of years which I've forgotten the title of starring Angelina Jolie which is based on a true story concerning the police corruption in the Los Angeles area in the 1940's. They stated that the corruption has since been corrected and no longer exists. What a joke....we all know who is responsible for the corruption in the LA county Sheriffs department and for all the beatings taking place in the LA county men's jail. Why aren't they doing something about this?
ha, an "ebayer" - she is a prostitute, look at this ad. this is hilarious
http://laweekly.backpage.com/B...
and from there you can google her all around. she should be arrested!!
raven is not only a cop watcher and ebay seller, she is, wait for it, a whore!! she does wonderful work at:
http://houseofvenus.net/this is her main hooker website
and then she support la weekly by advertising here:
http://laweekly.backpage.com/B...
note that in the above ad she is 26, but in the article on cop watching she is 28. I wonder if LAPD could tell us which one is correct. Note that she does not want her tricks to be time wasters, so do not compliment her on her turtles or her lovely politics, just get her done.
She has ads also at:
http://classifieds.myredbook.c...
note her great reviews, but there are conflicting reviews because she is rotten mean over the phone lately.
also, her blog is at
http://www.decriminalizela.blo...
at which she publishes johns' numbers and interferes with LAPD vice stings.
and she is going into social media here:
http://www.facebook.com/ravenn...
The women is the only one i know who cannot make it at porn (look her up on ghetto gaggers) and then whoring, so now she is in politics.
what a strong lady she is . and people wonder why so many black mens are incarcerated.
Time to bring the Feds back into LAPD.their just too slimy and corrupt to help themselves and with their shoot to kill orders they are a menace to society. write your senator and mayor asking for the to beg the feds to help. otherwise it is only going to get worse.
wow! lliekdairy2000 must be the same incompitent writer who posted this story. NOT LAPD honey, reread the story.
Did you just find out? Cops arrest people without probable cause all the time. It’s called attitude booking.
How about filming chicks.......wait the guy in North Hollywood Sears got in trouble for that!!!
@Lilscooby Yeah, let's go sexually harass and sexually assault women! Yeah! I wonder how YOUR MOM, THE WOMAN WHO GAVE YOU LIFE, would feel if you said and did something like that in her presence. I have actually caught, hit ie BEAT UP and REPORTED NASTY MOFOS who have done that to ladies. Women are not inanimate OBJECTS and that doesn't give you the right to treat us however you want ie like inanimate objects. If it weren't for us giving you life, you wouldn't be here! Damn misogynist! That is why I copwatch for WOMYN AND SEX WORKERS ONLY NOW and tell the cops, "Good job", when they catch pervs like you, ie sexual predators. Who knows what damage you have done hence why I no longer focus on men. YOU HANDLE IT YOURSELVES and I hope a cop goes Rodney King on you one day for doing that or much worse....
If you eff with the cops, remember the cops can eff with you back.That's how it works. Raven's case is a good example. Get a life girl, the days of the seven figure city payouts are just about over. For real.
She, unlike you, cares about this country and is doing her job of trying to prevent a slide into a police state. Simply put, there would be no, as you put it, "payout" if the cops played by the rules. I don't know what job you have, but she is far braver than you, doing a much riskier job.
maybe she should have whipped out a wad of cash for Baca as a "campaign donation" and all of this wouldn't have happened.
An eBay seller? Humm…maybe I should take up that line of work. She does seem to have a lot of spare time to vide cops.I shouldn’t be too judgmental. It’s possible her "career path" will pay-off some day with help from another highly productive societal element – a lawyer.
Attorneys, start your engines! Twice falsely arrested and jailed, I smell big money and a future expose, book signings and maybe a movie deal.
How about getting some footage in the skid row area, Compton fruit town area, or even Duarte/Monrovia county area with your expensive camera and cell phone. Stay out of those nice hoods and get some real street cred.
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