By 
by Liz Mullen
The Manhattan Beach Police Department is investigating the death of a 67-year-old resident on the same block where a 24-year-old man was found fatally shot in the head.
On Friday, Jan. 19, at about 11 a.m., MBPD officers responded to a call about an adult male found unresponsive in a hot tub in a residence on the 1400 block of 11th Street. Attempts to revive the resident, Douglas Aziz, were unsuccessful.
On Jan. 1 at about 1 a.m., on that same block, MBPD responded to a call and found Andrei Gianan, 24, of Torrance, in the street with a gunshot wound to the head. Gianan was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he later died.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office is investigating Gianan’s death as a homicide.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department is investigating Aziz’s death. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner was called to the scene of Aziz’s death and is currently doing an autopsy.
“Because of the facts/circumstances of how Douglas Aziz was found and his apparent manner of death, the MBPD contacted the LA County Coroner’s office for follow-up,” MBPD Sgt. Andy Abreu told Easy Reader, in an email.
“Should the LA County Coroner’s Office determine the death of Douglas Aziz necessitates a criminal investigation, this case will be referred to detectives with the LASD Homicide Bureau,” Abreu said.
Anyone with relevant information about Aziz is asked to call MBPD Detective Seth Hartnell at (310) 802-5127 or Detective Sgt. Taylor Klosowski at (310) 802-5123. Anonymous tips can be submitted through LA CRIME STOPPERS by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
MBPD stops suspects with stolen plates
Manhattan Beach Police Department officers arrested three suspects on Sepulveda Avenue, near Chili’s, for driving an unreported stolen vehicle with two, different, stolen license plates on it and packed with stolen items from Target. MBPD officers arrested them on Jan. 6 after a very short, but circuitous chase, which began at the Olive Garden.
All three suspects were arrested for identity theft and two of the three had outstanding arrest warrants, as well.
In a different incident on Jan. 7, MBPD officers responded to a call about an unknown male inside a construction site. This suspect was arrested for burglary and identity theft and later taken in for a mental health evaluation.
In a third incident on Jan. 8, MBPD officers were alerted to a vehicle that had been stolen in a neighboring city. MBPD officers made a traffic stop and the neighboring agency arrived and arrested the suspect.
The MBPD continues to warn residents of car window smashes of vehicles parked on the street and in driveways and warns residents not to leave visible items in their cars.
There were eight vehicle burglaries reported for the week of Jan. 4 through Jan. 10. MBPD officers also took reports for one robbery, one case of vandalism, three residential burglaries and seven cases of theft.
1.75 million settlement in RBPD shooting
The City of Redondo Beach paid resident Luke Carlson and his parents $1.75 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged Redondo Police Officers wrongfully shot Carlson and used excessive force against his parents.
In return for the payment, Luke Carlson, his father Jeffrey Carlson and his mother Jeanne Zimmer, agreed to release the city and the three police officers involved in the shooting from all claims against them.
The family sued the city and Redondo Beach Police Department officers Ryan Crespin, Patrick Knox and Mark Valdivia after Luke Carlson was shot on Jan. 8, 2019 at the family’s home on the Esplanade.
Police believed Luke Carlson had a gun, but after he was shot, no weapon was found. His parents alleged they were injured by rough treatment by RBPD officers when police pulled them away from the shooting scene. The episode is referred to as the “Incident” in the settlement agreement, obtained by Easy Reader.
“The Plaintiffs hereby agree to accept receipt from the City of Redondo Beach, the total sum of ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,750,000.00); aggregate total (hereinafter as the “sum”) as good and valid consideration to settle any and all claims arising from or in any way related to the Incident, the Lawsuit, and any and all of Plaintiffs’ claims therein,” the settlement agreement states. It is dated July 20, 2023 and signed by Luke Carlson and both his parents.
“I’m pleased we could settle this case without further litigation,” Redondo Beach City Attorney Michael Webb wrote the Easy Reader in an email. “It was a prudent decision by the City’s excess carrier, who reimbursed the City for the amount of the settlement.”
The family’s attorney, Dale Galipo, whose Woodland Hills-based firm specializes in alleged police misconduct cases, did not return a call for comment.
Had the case not been settled, it was set for trial at the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on June 13, 2024.
Nine auto thefts, eight home burglaries in Redondo
There were nine auto thefts in Redondo Beach in the first 15 days of the new year.
In that same time period, Jan. 1 through Jan. 15, there were eight residential burglaries and four commercial burglaries reported.
There were also five robberies in the city in that time period.
Coroner finds man in ocean died of accidental drowning
A man found dead in the surf off Hermosa Beach the morning after Thanksgiving was the victim of accidental drowning, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has determined.
Ryan Martin, 42, a transient, also was suffering from “Effects of Methamphetamine,” according to the Medical Examiner’s website. Martin was found naked in the surf off 22nd Street in Hermosa Beach at about 7 a.m. Nov. 24 by a Hermosa resident.
The death received media attention in the Los Angeles area because it was initially reported Martin may have had bullet wounds. The Los Angeles County Homicide Bureau was considering all possibilities, including suicide, homicide and accidental drowning and told Easy Reader Martin was not shot, as originally reported.
The Medical Examiner listed “Drowning” as “Cause A” for Martin’s death, and “Effects of Methamphetamine” as “Cause B,” according to the website. The case is now closed.
HBPD apprehends man for threatening victims
Hermosa Beach Police Department officers dealt with two cases of theft, two identity thefts, two burglaries and one assault in the week of Dec. 31 through Jan. 6.
On Jan. 5, officers apprehended a suspect who was approaching victims, threatening and harassing them, and was in possession of a weapon on the 700 block of 11th Place.
On Dec. 31, HBPD took a report about a lost cell phone and the next day took a report about a stolen cell phone. On the positive side, HBPD officers found a lost wallet on Jan. 1.
MBPD Officers find stolen car with stolen plates: Arrest Identity Thieves
Manhattan Beach Police Department officers arrested three suspects on Sepulveda Avenue, near Chili’s, for driving an unreported stolen vehicle with two, different, stolen license plates on it and packed with stolen items from Target. MBPD officers arrested them on Jan. 6 after a very short, but circuitous chase, which began at the Olive Garden.
All three suspects were arrested for identity theft and two of the three had outstanding arrest warrants, as well.
In a different incident on Jan. 7, MBPD officers responded to a call about an unknown male inside a construction site. This suspect was arrested for burglary and identity theft and later taken in for a mental health evaluation.
In a third incident on Jan. 8, MBPD officers were alerted to a vehicle that had been stolen in a neighboring city. MBPD officers made a traffic stop and the neighboring agency arrived and arrested the suspect.
The MBPD continues to warn residents of car window smashes of vehicles parked on the street and in driveways and warns residents not to leave visible items in their cars.
There were eight vehicle burglaries reported for the week of Jan. 4 through Jan. 10. MBPD officers also took reports for one robbery, one case of vandalism, three residential burglaries and seven cases of theft. ER
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