Suspects Arrested in String of Robberies and Linked to Multiple Homicides NR11225mjg

Los Angeles: Wednesday, May 11, 2011, three suspects were arrested in connection with a string of robberies that occurred in Wilshire, Olympic and Southwest Areas during the past twelve days.  Detectives have also connected two murders that were committed during this time period to two of the suspects arrested.

On Tuesday, May 10, 2011, just after 10:00 p.m., Operations West Bureau Officers were placed on Tactical alert due to a significant number of robberies that had occurred in Olympic Area that evening.  Officers were given the suspect’s description and told to “be on the lookout” for the suspects in question.  After an exhaustive search, the Tactical Alert was modified, as it appeared the suspects had stopped their notorious activities for the evening.  The same suspects were believed to have committed a number of robberies over an eleven-day period.  There were also possible links to two homicides that occurred as a result of attempted robberies in the same areas.

On Wednesday, Wilshire Area Senior Lead Officer Spiro Roditis, observed a vehicle matching witness descriptions.  The suspects were stopped and detained for questioning.  Further investigation revealed the identity of the third suspect who was subsequently located and arrested.  Detectives were able to develop information linking two of the suspects to the murder of Marcello Aragon and Gabriel Ben Mier.  

Arrested were: Richard Edward Anderson, a 33 year-old Male, Black of Reseda who was booked for 211 PC-Robbery, Destiny Young, a 29 year-old female White, from Los Angeles who was booked for 2 counts of 187 PC, Murder, and Jabaar Vincent Thomas, a 26 year-old, male Black of Los Angeles who was booked for multiple counts of robbery.

The investigation is ongoing and Detectives will be meeting with the District Attorney’s Office to submit their investigations for filing.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Wilshire Area Detectives at (213) 922-8205 or Olympic Area Detectives at (213) 382-9381.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "web tips" and follow the prompts.