Deputies made arrests at two West Hollywood businesses in the span of two days last week. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges in both cases.
The arrests come one day after WEHOonline published a story on the escalating pattern of violence in the Rainbow District, where previous brawls in April and March resulted in no arrests. Residents and community members have pushed the City for months to address the lack of enforcement accountability on Santa Monica Boulevard. The DA’s decision to file felony charges in both cases marks a departure from prior incidents, where suspects dispersed before cops arrived and no charges could be filed.
May 14: Fight, Bystander Hospitalized
On May 14, deputies responded to a business in the 8800 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Two suspects had gotten into a physical altercation. A victim who stepped in to help got hurt and was taken to a local hospital. Deputies arrested both suspects and booked them at West Hollywood Station.
May 13: Threats, Glass Thrown, Second Arrest
The day before wasn’t much calmer. Deputies were called to a disturbance at a business in the same block on May 13. A suspect allegedly slapped a victim and made criminal threats inside the location. Security removed him. He then allegedly threw glass and other items at patrons and got into a fight with a pedestrian outside. Deputies tracked him down and arrested him on charges of criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon.
The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station announced both arrests Wednesday. The DA’s office has filed felony charges in both cases.
The breakdown of the social contract in Boys’ Town began with the unlicensed street vendors and the City’s lack of a credible response due to Council member John Erickson, who claims his work at a Latino advocacy non-profit, makes him their protector and patron. Nice to put the “rights” of outside scofflaws before the needs of residents and businesses but it is more important that Erickson have a job than WeHo have safe streets.