Supervisors OK Rewards to Help Solve Long Beach, East LA Crimes

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA -- Authorities hope two $10,000 rewards approved today by the county Board of Supervisors will flush out the hit-and-run driver who killed a man in Long Beach and the armed robber who targeted an East Los Angeles shopping center.

Supervisor Don Knabe recommended the reward in the case of 27-year-old William Mendoza, who was fatally struck by a car about 1 a.m. April 25 near 7th Street and Loma Avenue.
Mendoza died at the scene.

After reviewing video of the crash, investigators believe the driver was behind the wheel of a 2005-09 white Dodge Charger.

A witness who called 911 told the dispatcher that Mendoza was jumping into traffic and at one point laid down in the roadway, according to a police statement issued the day of the hit-and-run.

Knabe urged anyone with more information to call Detective Steve Fox at (562) 570-7355.

Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended the reward for information about an armed robbery about 4:20 p.m. Aug. 3 at Mayra's 99 Cent Discount store in the 100 block of South Mednick Avenue.

She said the shopping center where the discount store is located has been the target of a number of recent thefts, assaults and attempted robberies, not all of which appear to be related.

The robber can be seen on surveillance video lifting his shirt to show a gun in his waistband and demanding money.

He made off with $20 and was last seen on foot heading west toward Gleason Street, according to the Sheriff's Department.

He was described as 20-25 years old with facial acne. He wore a black hoodie over a black cap, beige knee-length shorts and black shoes and socks.

Anyone with more information was urged to call the sheriff's East Los Angeles station at (323) 264-4151.
Anonymous tips may be called in to Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

--City News Service