Publication Date: Friday, August 19, 2005
EPA chief cracks down following shootings
EPA chief cracks down following shootings
(August 19, 2005) $5,000 reward offered in shooting of tow truck driver
by Bill D'Agostino and Alexandria Rocha
The East Palo Alto Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a shooter who fired at two police officers and hit a nearby tow truck driver late Tuesday morning.
The reward is Police Chief Ron Davis' latest high-profile attempt to crack down on a worrisome surge of shootings by increasingly brazen criminals. The announcement came Wednesday afternoon during a press conference when the relatively new chief also launched "Operation Impact," a project with the California Highway Patrol. Later that night the city had its ninth homicide this year, two more than in all of 2004. There have also been 35 burglaries with firearms this year in the community, on par with the total number from last year.
Just 12 hours before Davis began his job in June, four people were shot and one killed. There was also a particularly violent night two weeks ago. Five people were shot on Aug. 4, including a 16-year-old boy who died.
"Never again can we allow the levels of violence that plagued our community in the '90s to return," Davis wrote in a letter to the community when he began. In 1992, there were 42 homicides in East Palo Alto.
The latest homicide occurred Wednesday evening. Police discovered 41-year-old Lausei Tuimavave lying motionless in his front yard at 2720 Fordham St. around 8:30 p.m.
Family members of the victim identified the suspect as 20-year-old Robert "Paki" Masalosalo of East Palo Alto, a family acquaintance who was arrested Wednesday evening without incident. Police believe jealousy may have been a motive in the stabbing.
Residents are increasingly concerned about the bloodshed.
Ayodele Ankoanda Kinchen, 28, said the recent "wave of violence is scarier than ever before." Shootings are occurring in broad daylight and the cases are remaining unsolved, she pointed out.
"What I know is that the problem still exists, and seems to be getting worse," said Kinchen, the director for the Leadership Training Academy at the Community Development Institute in East Palo Alto.
As police helicopters circled above the city on Wednesday, searching for the gunman who shot the tow truck driver, Maria Rodriguez and friends were watching the police from a nearby corner.
"This is a common thing. How do we try to stay safe? We're just alive, thank God," Rodriguez said, shaking her head in dismay as she pointed to skid marks on the road. "What can you do? East Palo Alto is scary."
In addition to "Operation Impact," the chief is requesting morel investigators from both the Regional Investigations Bureau and the Drug Enforcement Agency. An "East Palo Alto's Most Wanted" program has also begun, with United States Marshals searching for key wanted criminals. And the California Department of Justice is conducting a three-year analysis of violence in the city. Six CHP officers and one sergeant will also spend three months patrolling East Palo Alto's "hot spots," Davis said.
The shooting of the tow truck driver occurred about 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, in the 1100 block of O'Connor Street, near Pulgas Avenue. Sgt. Alma Zamora said East Palo Alto police received a call about a possible dumping of trash, but when they arrived they found only a pile of clothing and items next to a white SUV.
Officers called Sunrise Towing of Redwood City to pick up the SUV. When the tow truck driver started hooking up to the vehicle, shots came from the back fence. At least one hit the tow truck driver, who a dispatcher identified as Peter Delgado of Redwood City.
"He immediately went down," Zamora said.
The two nearby police officers fired back and called for backup, triggering a manhunt that continued through the afternoon. Delgado was immediately loaded into a police vehicle and driven two blocks away, where paramedics administered first aid.
On Wednesday, Delgado was in stable condition, following surgery at Stanford Hospital. One bullet reportedly went through his arm into his abdomen; at one point he was listed in critical condition.
It is not known if they were linked to the parked SUV. No gun was recovered, and police have only a vague description from an eyewitness. Two suspicious persons, one wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans and the other wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, were seen running from the area.
"We can't emphasize enough how important it is to capture the suspects,'' Zamora said. "If they were bold enough to shoot at police, they're bold enough to commit any type of crime, especially against citizens who are not armed to protect themselves.''
Officers from Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Belmont and San Mateo police departments plus the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol rushed to the scene. Two CHP helicopters circled the area for several hours, and officers set up roadblocks.
By mid-afternoon, officers were conducting door-to-door searches of several blocks surrounding the shooting site. Rumors flew through the community that an officer and a youth had been shot.
Sunrise Towing dispatcher James Doker said it was the first time he knew a driver with the company had been involved in a shooting. Doker did not confirm Delgado's identity but said he had been with Sunrise for more than five years.
"We're just hoping he'll pull through," Doker said. "Our prayers are with him and his family."
Weekly Editor Jay Thorwaldson, Online editor Tyler Hanley and Bay City News contributed to this report.
Staff Writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com.
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