Detective, Prosecutor Honored for Work on Northridge Swastika Case

Deputy City Attorney Ayelet Feiman and LAPD Detective Ray Webb, who investigated the smearing of a syrup swastika and feces on a Northridge home, were honored Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League.

During a ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center, they were given the Helene & Joseph Sherwood Family Prize for Combating Hate.

It was a prosecution that almost didn't happen.

Read Eric Hartley's Daily News report here.

Read more about the case:

• Mother of a Middle-School Suspect in Anti-Semitic Prank Could Face Charges
• 3 Girls Expelled from Nobel Middle School Following Anti-Semitic 'Prank'
• VIDEO: Mom Pleads Guilty to Driving Middle School Girls to Scrawl Swastikas
• Dealing With Anti-Semitism in 2012
• Hate Crimes on the Rise in the San Fernando Valley

[The following is a news release from the Anti-Defamation League]

Law Enforcement Honored by ADL for Combating Hate and Bigotry 

The Anti-Defamation League held its annual Helene & Joseph Sherwood Prize for Combating Hate luncheon and awards ceremony on March 12 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The nationally recognized prize goes to law enforcement personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty to fight hatred and protect the community from hate-motivated violence.

This year, the honorees included those who investigated and prosecuted anti-religion hate crimes – one directed at those of the Jewish faith and one directed at a Mormon Church.  Other honorees included law enforcement personnel who investigated and prosecuted a cross burning and two officers who have devoted their careers to exposing white supremacist ideology.

“This year’s honorees have taken extraordinary steps to improve our communities,” said Amanda Susskind, Director of ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region.  “All three group honorees demonstrate a high level of understanding of the importance of addressing hate crimes aggressively and swiftly.  Both individual honorees have made it their life’s work to become experts in local hate groups and extremists, providing critical evidence to get these vicious haters off the streets.”

Among the honorees were LAPD Detective Ray Webb and Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney Ayelet Feiman who investigated and prosecuted what has become known as the “Northridge Maple Syrup Swastika case,” after three teens vandalized a Jewish home with human feces as well as swastikas and the word “Jew” drawn in maple syrup.  Through diligent investigation and innovative prosecution tactics, the mother of one of the perpetrators was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, among other charges.  Along with financial penalties, part of her sentence was to give back to the community that she harmed.

ADL Regional Director Amanda Susskind shared part of a statement from the victim family who has chosen to remain anonymous: “It’s an incredible feeling knowing that the law works for those who respect and admire it.  For this we are thankful.”

Susskind also discussed ADL’s involvement with this case that outraged the Jewish community.   “Part of our job is to make sure that law enforcement understands the power of a message crime.  You could tell that LAPD ‘got it’ from their initial public statement.  And the City Attorney’s office ‘got it’ too.”

Emotional stories were also told about the other investigations and prosecutions.  Scott Jones, a lay minister from the Mormon Church in Jurupa Valley that was vandalized, spoke of his appreciation of Riverside County Sheriff’s officers who caught the vandals and had confessions within 24 hours. 

Many who spoke commented with disbelief that there could have been a recent cross-burning in Arroyo Grande, and the Arroyo Grande Police Department and San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s office were honored for solving this crime and putting the perpetrators in prison.  Pastor Randy Ouimette of St. John’s Lutheran Church from where the cross was stolen extended his gratitude to the honorees on behalf of his congregation and the mixed-race family whose home was the scene of the cross burning.  He also spoke of plans to find an inspiring purpose for the now-charred cross. 

National Director Abraham Foxman pointed out that, as we commemorate ADL’s 100 year-history, we are reminded that hatred, bigotry and prejudice still exist.  He spoke of the “impact, pain and anguish of victims of hate crimes” and the “dedication, passion and conviction” of those who fight against them to make a difference.

The celebration ended with special birthday wishes to prize founder Joseph Sherwood on the occasion of his 96^th birthday and Sherwood’s thanks to all the honorees who join the special group of Sherwood Prize recipients “who serve as role models to your departments and law enforcement.”

The Sherwood Prize was created in 1996 by Joe and Helene Sherwood, founders of family owned and operated Daniel's Jewelers, to recognize those in the law enforcement community that go above and beyond their job descriptions in combating extremism, bigotry, and hatred. 

The honorees were:

Northridge Maple Syrup Swastika Investigation and Prosecution

Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office

Deputy City Attorney Ayelet Feiman

Los Angeles Police Department

Detective Ray Webb

LA City Attorney’s Office and LAPD used innovative techniques to prosecute the parent of a juvenile who vandalized a Northridge home of a Jewish family with human feces, swastikas and the word “Jew” drawn in maple syrup.  

Church of Latter Day Saints Vandalism Investigation

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department – Jurupa Valley Station

Sergeant Samuel Flores;  Investigator Angel Gasparini; Lieutenant Zachary Hall; Deputy Steven Lycopolus; Corporal Christopher Mattson

They investigated aggressively following hate-based vandalism of the Church of Latter Day Saints in Jurupa Valley. 

Cross Burning Investigation and Prosecution

Arroyo Grande Police Department

Detective Erik Jensen

Commander Beau Pryor

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office

Deputy District Attorney Dave Pomeroy

Assistant Chief Investigator Mark Vallely       

They led a comprehensive investigation and prosecution after a stolen, 11-foot tall wooden cross was burned on a property adjacent to the residence of a mixed race family.  

Deputy Ashraf “Ash” Abdelmuti

Orange County Sheriff’s Department – Gang Enforcement Team

He gained an unparalleled subject matter expertise on the issue of white racist gangs to become the driving force in dozens of criminal cases against some of Southern California’s most notorious white racist gangs.

Detective Dan Swanson

Simi Valley Police Department

He went above and beyond the workload of a typical investigator to become an expert witness in criminal cases involving white supremacists and impart his knowledge to other law enforcement professionals.

The honorees were selected from many nominations received from throughout Southern California by the distinguished Sherwood Prize Selection Committee:  Chair, Chief David L. Maggard, Jr., Irvine Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Steven Bogdalek, ATF, Los Angeles; Chief Dan Bower, California Highway Patrol; Sheriff Geoff Dean, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department; Sheriff William D. Gore, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; Chief Robert Handy, San Bernardino Police Department; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Orange County Sheriff’s Department; Assistant Director in Charge Bill Lewis, FBI, Los Angeles; Chief Jim McDonnell, Long Beach Police Department; Assistant Chief Michel Moore, Los Angeles Police Department; Chief Camerino Sanchez, Santa Barbara Police Department; Sheriff Stanley Sniff, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; Chief Greg Williamson, Bakersfield Police Department.