THE FRIENDS GROUP
Formerly Friends of the Pasadena Commission on the Status of Women Pasadena, CA
http://www.thefriendsgroup.org | info@thefriendsgroup.org
October 3, 2009
Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
4700 Ramona Blvd.
Monterey Park, CA 91754
RE: Mitrice Richardson, Missing since September 17th
After Being Released from Malibu/Lost Hills Substation, Sheriff’s Department
Dear Sheriff Baca,
We are writing to express our concern about Mitrice Richardson and the conditions under which she was released about 1:30 a.m. September 17th from the Malibu/Lost Hills Substation. We are requesting a copy of the Department’s nighttime release protocols. Furthermore, we are requesting that the protocols used for nighttime releases be made public and be re-examined.
Was Mitrice released without a car, wallet, or cell phone or identification? Earlier that evening, according to media reports, she had exhibited behavior that was strange. Her vehicle had been impounded because of a small amount of marijuana. Of course there may be details of which the public is not aware, but the impression left in the public’s mind is that there was a lack of common sense exhibited that night on the part of the Sheriff’s Department, as this vulnerable young woman was released into the night far from home and without any safeguards.
Why was Mitrice released before her mother could arrive to get her daughter, who while being an adult at age 24, was apparently impaired, given her unclear communications and odd behavior earlier during the evening at the restaurant where she did not pay her bill?
We appreciate the challenges that face the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the many outstanding contributions to public safety. This situation, however, was not one of the Department’s finest moments; such a nighttime release should never happen again.
Respectfully,
Dr. Gerda Govine-Ituarte
Dr. Gerda Govine-Ituarte, Chair
Shirley Spencer
Shirley Spencer
Charlotte Collins
Charlotte Collins
- Copied to:
- Don Knabe, Supervisor, Fourth District
- Gloria Molina, Supervisor, First District
- Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Second District
- Zev Yaroslavsky, Supervisor, Third District
- Michael D. Antonovich, Supervisor, Fifth District
- LA. County Commission on the Status of Women
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles