COMPTON – Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna released the name of a juvenile suspect during a press conference held in Compton, California Jan. 23.
The Sheriff, along with members of the Compton City Council, assembled outside of the Compton Sheriff’s Station to announce the arrest of four additional individuals who ransacked a Compton bakery after ramming a stolen car through the building on Jan. 2.
“Once the gate was breached, numerous individuals were observed on camera entering and burglarizing the business,” Luna said at a news conference Tuesday.
It was then that Luna released the juvenile’s name. The department has since removed the video from its social media channels.
California law states juvenile records are confidential.
This set off a firestorm of comments from the public on the sheriff’s willingness to identify a juvenile.
“This guy cannot do a legitimate, comprehensive, coherent presser unless he has a script,” wrote Beto_LA.
“Allegedly did that on purpose so now Gascons people can throw the case out. All part of the lawlessness that’s happening over there,” wrote Whowouldathunkit.
“L.A. County Sheriff [Luna] revealed the name of a juvenile… he messed up and the [Board of Supervisors] are turning a blind eye,” wrote Mendoza.Angg.
Compton residents were forgiving of the release of the juvenile’s name.
“He revealed his own identity by openly committing a crime while knowing he was being filmed,” said Tia Walker.
“You do adult crime, your name needs to be released,” said Chargers You.
The juvenile was also among four suspects arrested Jan. 13 when a sheriff’s deputy walked in on a robbery in progress at a 7-Eleven in Carson and detained four suspects, Luna said.
The suspect is 13 years old, Fox 11 reported, citing information from the sheriff’s department.
The burglary of the store near the intersection of El Segundo Boulevard and Santa Fe Avenue followed a street takeover involving about 100 people, authorities said.
Four other suspects were arrested Tuesday morning in connection with the burglary at Ruben’s Bakery & Mexican Food — Jesse Cuevas, Eloise Muniz, Jalen Hull and Carlos Ponce, authorities said. They were taken into custody on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property.
Three of the suspects are in custody while one was cited and released, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Anyone with information regarding the street takeover or burglaries was urged to call the Compton Sheriff’s Station at 310-605-6500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.