Felony Charges Possible in L.A. Homeless Dumping Cases

Two private ambulance companies and a hospital could face criminal charges for allegedly dumping five homeless people on downtown's Skid Row Sunday afternoon, police Chief William Bratton said today.

The people told police they were taken to Skid Row against their will after being discharged from Los Angeles Metropolitan Medical Center, 2231 S. Western Ave., in the West Adams district, Bratton said.

"We cannot allow the dumping of those who need care into that environment," Bratton said at a news conference at the LAPD's downtown dispatch center. "Shame on those who do."

The hospital, APT Ambulance Co. and Pro Care Mobile Response could face felony charges of false imprisonment, fraud and dependent abuse, according to Jeff Isaacs, head of the city attorney's criminal and special litigation branch.

"We intend to pursue it diligently," Isaacs said, adding that the incident remained under investigation.

Sgts. Kevin Royce and Greg McManus started investigating after they saw APT Ambulance Co. employees trying to drop off someone at the Volunteers of America shelter at 628 S. San Julian St. about noon Sunday, Capt. Andrew Smith said.

Shelter workers turned away the person due to a lack of space.

Royce and McManus had a police camera crew watch the shelter. They spotted three more APT Ambulance Co. vehicles and one ProCare ambulance trying to drop off hospital patients within a two-hour span.

Police talked to three of the people dropped off, Smith said. The other two declined to cooperate, he said. One man said he lived at a Pasadena convalescent home and asked to be dropped off at the Lamp Community Center, a homeless services agency where he was familiar with staff, Smith said.

A second man said he asked to be taken to his family's home, Smith said, adding that police gave the man a ride instead.

"His family was outraged," Smith said. "Not only did they not know that he was discharged, but the fact he was brought to Skid Row, rather than back home, further outraged that family."

City officials turned their attention toward the issue of dumping the homeless on Skid Row in November after a series of news reports about problems in the area.

"Victims of homeless patient dumping are, in effect, the perfect victims because they are very difficult to locate ... it's very difficult to keep track of them," Isaacs of City Attorney's Office said.

Those dumped on Skid Row often leave town before their cases are heard in court, he said. Other times, the people are so intoxicated or mentally impaired that they cannot remember how they ended up up on the mean streets on the east side of downtown.

"We need to get a strong and clear message out there that it's not only inhumane and disrespectful to dump individuals in this area, but it also does not help any of us as we attempt to address the issue of homelessness in our cities," said Councilman Jose Huizar, whose 14th District includes part of Skid Row.

"The Skid Row area is no longer an area that is considered out of sight, out of mind," he said. "This is a very serious crime, and I hope it is treated as such."

A rash of hard-to-treat staph infections have been found among homeless people living on Skid Row, making those recently released from hospitals especially susceptible to a secondary illness, downtown-area Councilwoman Jan Perry said.

"It's a public health nightmare, a place where no one should be dumped, especially someone who's already weak or debilitated from an illness," the 9th District councilwoman said.

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