Los Angeles police search for girl who was dragged away
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Police climbed up and down undeveloped hills east of downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday in a massive search for a teenage girl or woman after witnesses reported seeing a man drag her away by the hair.
Searchers on foot and horseback combed 455 acres of the El Sereno hills while others flew overhead in a helicopter and dog handlers deployed bloodhounds.
The apparent victim, described as 13 or older - and possibly a small woman - was reported kidnapped Monday night near a recreation center during an argument with a young man who may be between 18 and 20, police said. Sketches of both the girl and the man were released late Tuesday.
"That argument escalated to the point where the male struck the female at least once in the face and then began to drag her up into the brush area by the hair," police Lt. Andy Neiman said.
Witnesses followed and saw the man begin to remove some of the girl's clothing, he said.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said the only evidence officers had found in the search, which was 90 percent complete Tuesday afternoon, were some leggings and tennis shoes.
"My hope is that this was a dispute that was resolved in some way, but we have to treat everything like it's the real deal," Beck said at a news conference.
No reports of a missing girl had been filed, but the witnesses seemed credible, police said.
Searchers on foot and horseback combed 455 acres of the El Sereno hills while others flew overhead in a helicopter and dog handlers deployed bloodhounds.
The apparent victim, described as 13 or older - and possibly a small woman - was reported kidnapped Monday night near a recreation center during an argument with a young man who may be between 18 and 20, police said. Sketches of both the girl and the man were released late Tuesday.
"That argument escalated to the point where the male struck the female at least once in the face and then began to drag her up into the brush area by the hair," police Lt. Andy Neiman said.
Witnesses followed and saw the man begin to remove some of the girl's clothing, he said.
Police Chief Charlie Beck said the only evidence officers had found in the search, which was 90 percent complete Tuesday afternoon, were some leggings and tennis shoes.
"My hope is that this was a dispute that was resolved in some way, but we have to treat everything like it's the real deal," Beck said at a news conference.
No reports of a missing girl had been filed, but the witnesses seemed credible, police said.
"My hope is that this was a dispute that was resolved in some way, but we have to treat everything like it's the real deal," Beck said at a news conference." Â (from the story)
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Well, just based on what the witnesses reported, I can imagine that this "dispute was resolved in some way", but I don't think that many people will like the resolution... it doesn't usually turn out well for the victim... He probably didn't intend to, but Chief Beck comes off sounding like he doesn't think it's any big deal...
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"No reports of a missing girl had been filed, but the witnesses seemed credible, police said." (from the story)
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Many teens and young adults - male and female alike - in LA for one reason or another, but they aren't regular "residents" of the area... they're runaways, or visiting someone, or whatever... so they might not be missed for a long time (sometimes, they're never missed, if they're street kids or coming from broken homes)... very sad...
 @margay1 Yep and in CA the witness surely was unarmed since they don't really give a CHL permits.
Even if the witnesses were not armed or not physically strong, with enough people together something like this can be stopped. People need to stop being afraid to get involved. What if it was your daughter or sister? Would you still just watch but not try to help? Why can't we do this for each other?
 @mkamom Yep it's one reason I carry 24x7 for last 10 years or so after a few way to close to home incidents around me happened where an armed person could have made a difference and stopped a crime in action. I was not there in time to do anything but would have even if not armed but it did wake me up to the fact that you never know when crazy will find you.
These people who followed these 2 did not call the cops right away? I can see why they did not want try to stop what was happening,for safety reasons,but not calling the cops while they were watching this,is wrong.Its so sad,that if this was a 13 year old,that nobody has reported her missing. What the police chief said was completely wrong. The police found a shoe,and some leggings,and he had to say this?
That's terrible. I hope this girl didn't see these people watching this happen to her. I couldn't imagine needing help so bad, and people not helping. Or! Not helping. And then this...
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''Police Chief Charlie Beck said the only evidence officers had found in the search, which was 90 percent complete Tuesday afternoon, were some leggings and tennis shoes. "My hope is that this was a dispute that was resolved in some way, but we have to treat everything like it's the real deal," Beck said at a news conference.''
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He punched her. He dragged her up a hillside by her hair, like an ape. He stripped her.
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And the police hope they kissed and made up?
"Witnesses followed and saw the man begin to remove some of the girl's clothing, he said."
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Thankfully California is an antigun state and citizens can only watch stuff happen, call police and then wait. Otherwise this guy might have been shot dead to protect this girl.
 @RalphCramden Do you mean that witnesses of 12 or 13 yrs. of age should  have pulled out their semi-auto's and made a perp kill from a safe distance? Maybe these CWP holders should have a hi-tech permit that automatically flips from their collar to identify them to any concerned personnel that may question their legal right to kill anyone that poses a threat to any stranger that comes within their scope of  their witness? Please respond Ralph, I ate something last night that is not agreeing with me today and I would love to puke and Ralph it out of my system before I have to check out for the day!
 @swimbadÂ
Where does it say the witnesses were 12 or 13?
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I'm not very good at reading between the lines in things like this.
 @FreedomRocks  @swimbadÂ
Oregon concealed permit holders = 152,000
California concealed permit holders = 37,465
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Percentage of Oregon population with CWP = 3.9%
Percentage of California population with CWP = 0.099%
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I would say that it is extremely difficult to get a CWP anywhere in California.
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In Los Angeles county there are only 406 permit holders. That is 0.01% of the total population of LA County. It is almost impossible to get a CWP in California but even worse in LA County.
 @swimbad  @RalphCramden I call BULL$HIT on that one... My cousin is married to someone who works for a local sheriff office in CA and he can't even get a CHL permit. While technically it is legal in CA you can't find a local sheriff who will actually issue you one...
 @RalphCramden  @swimbad Ralph, you often write between the lines so I presume you must be able to read between them! Calif. gun laws are strict but anyone who meets the regulations CAN get a permit and carry a gun, I have many friends in L.A. city and county and all over the state of Calif. that own and carry legally. Many of those that do not qualify for a permit are under age, felons, legally blind etc... Without a description of the witnesses how can you lump them under Calif. gun laws, especially when most of the laws are written against riffles and shot guns that serve no purpose in the city unless you want to hunt patrons at McDonald's?
 @RalphCramden Gun or not, I would have done more then watched and called the police.
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Of course the witnesses may have been young girls themselves and not in a position to do more.