For BFS - Weird Ferrari Crash Investigation
Chaz Lambrusco
The trail leads to a nonprofit operating out of a Monrovia repair shop.
More puzzling is its police force and 'anti-terrorism' unit.
By Richard Winton and David Pierson, Times Staff Writers
March 3, 2006
As sheriff's detectives investigate last week's crash that destroyed a
$1-million Ferrari, they are now looking into an obscure nonprofit
organization that provides disabled people with transit in the San
Gabriel Valley.
The car's owner, a former video game executive from Sweden, told Los
Angeles County sheriff's deputies at the scene of the Feb. 21 accident
in Malibu that he was deputy commissioner of the San Gabriel Valley
Transit Authority's police anti-terrorism unit, detectives said Thursday.
*A few minutes after the crash, two unidentified men arrived at the
scene, flashing badges and saying they were from "homeland security,"
according to Sheriff's Department officials.*
Deputies allowed the men into the accident scene, where they spoke to
Stefan Eriksson before leaving, Sgt. Phil Brooks said.
Sheriff's officials on Thursday said they now want to question them.
"We would like the public's help with any information about these men or
the crash," Brooks said.
They are also looking into the transit organization to see what
connection, if any, it has to the case. Brooks said detectives believe
the two men from "homeland security" received their badges from the
transit authority.
No one was injured when the rare Ferrari Enzo traveling 162 mph smashed
into a power pole on Pacific Coast Highway. But the case continues to
generate interest because the Ferrari is one of only 400 built, and
detectives have struggled to understand what happened.
Eriksson told investigators he was a passenger in the Ferrari and that
the driver was a man named Dietrich, who fled from the scene. But
officials have been skeptical, noting that Eriksson had a bloody lip and
the only blood found was on the driver's side airbag.
On Thursday, Brooks said detectives now doubt initial reports that the
Ferrari was racing a Mercedes SLR. Detectives had interviewed a second
man who said he was a passenger in a Mercedes SLR that he said was
racing the Ferrari at the time.
"There was no Mercedes SLR," Brooks said. "Simply, there was a Ferrari
with two people in it. One of these men was driving."
Just as murky is Eriksson's connection to the San Gabriel Valley Transit
Authority.
The organization is a privately run nonprofit that has agreements with
Monrovia and Sierra Madre to provide bus rides for disabled residents.
On its website, the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority lists its
address as 148 E. Lemon Ave. in Monrovia. The location is Homer's Auto
Service, an auto repair shop.
A transit authority bus was parked in one of its driveways, but nothing
on the storefront indicated it was a headquarters for the agency.
Inside, a young woman, who declined to give her name, said she was a
dispatcher for the transit authority. She telephoned someone she said
was an agency official, who declined to be interviewed.
According to the website, the organization also has its own police
department with a chief, detectives and marked police cruisers.
Sheriff's investigators said Eriksson told deputies that he was deputy
commissioner of the department's anti-terrorism unit.
But Monrovia Police Chief Roger Johnson said he found that the
department is less than meets the eye.
"I don't know if they have a police department to go with the website,"
he said.
In a brief interview, transit authority board member Yosuf Maiwandi said
Eriksson had helped the police department's anti-terrorism unit with
camera technology for the paratransit vehicles.
Eriksson's civil attorney, Ashley Posner, is chairman of the transit
authority board. Posner declined to comment; Eriksson's criminal
attorney did not return calls seeking comment.
Officials in cities where the agency does business said they didn't know
why a small transit authority needs a police department.
"We do not see the need for a ground transportation system for
handicapped and disabled folks to have a police agency," Monrovia City
Manager Scott Ochoa said. "We warned them that if the police agency
operated with them in the city of Monrovia, it would jeopardize their
[transit] agreement with us."
It remains unclear how Eriksson, who lives in a gated Bel-Air estate,
came to work with the transit agency.
Alan Deal, spokesman for the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training, said he has never heard of the transit authority's police
department. Most police agencies are part of the commission, which
governs training standards for officers in the state.
But Deal said some specialized departments are not members, and there
are provisions in state public utilities law that allow for transit
police agencies to be run by private transit providers.
Sheriff's Sgt. Brooks said Eriksson voluntarily gave a DNA swab, which
will be used to determine whether his blood was on the driver's side airbag.
Eriksson had a blood-alcohol level of 0.09% — just over the 0.08% limit
— and could face drunk driving charges if he was the driver, Brooks said.
Another mystery is the Glock ammunition magazine found near the crash.
Brooks said detectives believe it's connected to the crash but don't
know how.
Chaz Lambrusco
Mr. X to the dumpsters!!
Take a look at this press release from the San Gabriel Valley Transit
Authority THE DAY AFTER THE FERARRI CRASH! Why the heck does a little
non-profit dial-a-ride need a police force? And why are they so
keen on anti-terrorism? Oh yeah, like Al-Qaeda is going to attack
a bus with a single wheelchair in it in Monrovia?
http://www.sgvta.gov/press.htm
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW
CHIEF OF POLICE FOR ITS TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT
Arcadia, California – Having guided the San Gabriel Valley Transit
Police Department through its formative years, Chief John Leung has
announced his retirement effective March 1, 2006. Chief Leung retires
after a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, having helmed
the SGVTPD from its inception.
Following an exhaustive search, the Regional Transit Board in
conjunction with the Board of Police Commissioners, has named Philip J.
Sugar to succeed John Leung. Chief Sugar, a graduate of Hastings College
of the Law, is a veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and the
Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office where he currently heads the city’s
Valley Division. During his 32 years as a Supervising Assistant City
Attorney as well as his tenure with the LAPD, Chief Sugar was
instrumental in developing much of LAPD’s present day policies and
procedures.
“Chief Sugar takes over at a time when mass transit is faced with
perhaps its greatest challenges ever - - the post 911 era,” said Ashley
D. Posner, Chairman of the San Gabriel Valley Transit Police Commission,
“we’re quite proud to have him as our new Chief.”
Chief Sugar officially takes office on March 1, 2006.
# # # #
For further information Contact:
Press Relations
San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority
(626) 303-3505 ext. 801; toll free (877) 866-44-SGVTA
soso...@hotmail.com
the posts?
I might be mistaken but I seem to remember it.
soso...@hotmail.com
Chaz Lambrusco
> Yep, I did.
>
> http://www.talkaboutpeople.com/group/alt.fan.gene-scott/search.html?q=monrovia&Submit=Search%21
>
Monrovia is also headquarters to Joe Cortes' Faith Cometh By Hearing.
Maybe Joe can apply to be Chaplain for the San Gabriel Valley Transit
Authority Police Department!
studio
Is Melissa's Monrovia Mistress Motel address
the same as Joe's Jumpin' Jesus address?
believerforsure
is there really is no need for more evidense. If one isn't careful
conspiracy searchihng can lead one away from the true Goal. The people in
this country , especially Christians had better turn back to God cause
they have everyone against them. Bush is against them. China, Iran, and
Russia are against them and God is against them. Unless they fall to their
knees and cry out for mercy understanding that they have been hypocritical
and self serving. Today is a day of grace. Seek the Mewrcy of the Lord
while it may be found.Od course this advice begins with me. BFS