- Javier Ovando
Javier Ovando became a central figure in the LAPD
Rampart Scandal when he was shot and framed by corrupt Rampart officers Rafael Pérez and Nino Durden. Ovando was anillegal immigrant and a member of the powerful18th Street Gang at the time. He is the recipient of the largest police misconduct settlement inLos Angeles history. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/lapd/scandal/cron.html PBS Timeline] ]Officers Durden and Pérez entered 19-year old Ovando's apartment on
12 October 1996 , and shot him, leaving him paralyzed. [citeweb|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/1999/sep1999/lapd-s23.shtml|title=Ovando Shooting] [ [http://www.streetgangs.com/topics/1999/091599javolv.html StreetGangs.com] ] According to their testimony later, they planted a gun on him and reported that the unarmed teenager had fired on them first. Ovando, paralyzed from the waist down, was sentenced to 23 years inprison based on the officers' testimony.Release from prison
On
16 September 1999 , Ovando was released from prison after Perez recanted his earlier testimony. The District Attorney's office filed a writ ofhabeas corpus overturning Ovando's conviction. Ovando had served two-and-a-half years behind bars.Record settlement
On
21 November 2000 , Ovando received a $15 million settlement, the largest police misconduct settlement inLos Angeles history.Four months after his settlement, Ovando was arrested and charged inNevada for possession and trafficking of drugs. A plea of not guilty was entered.Further arrests
In 2001, Ovando pleaded guilty to transporting cocaine to Las Vegas after 50 grams of cocaine and 37 grams of marijuana were found in his Cadillac Escalade and a handgun was found beneath the hood.
On June 29, 2008, Ovando was arrested after allegedly leading police on an hour long chase that reached speeds of up to 90 mph on local streets and freeways. It is claimed that at one point Ovando tried to spit on an officer and grabbed one of the officer's fingers. He was arrested on suspicion of felony evading arrest, reckless driving and assault on a peace officer. He was taken into custody but later was released after posting bail. [ [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chase1-2008jul01,0,1419823.story Ovando Arrest] ]
References
External links
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