Full Notification

The apology by the rapper ‘The Game’ Wednesday on CNN about the Flashcalls incident of August 12 involving Compton Sheriff’s Station is relevant and well received. His willingness to help share with the media and the community that the safety of the public is what is most important, is a great message.

Freedom of speech is part of what has made this country great. Peace officers are sworn to uphold and protect that right, and we welcome that responsibility. The challenge is that law enforcement, the news media, and celebrities are also facing the challenge of how to address each new social media issue that arises.

Based upon our investigation, as well as consultation with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the LASD considers the criminal investigation into this matter closed. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not be seeking criminal charges.

While there are various laws that could be applicable in this case, there are certain aspects that have not quite caught up with the rapid pace of new media and all that it brings, which includes a lot of good as well as some rough edges.

We are working with legal experts to address what type of legislation may be considered to specifically address the new and ongoing media issues that may cause harm to public safety, while respecting each individual’s right to freedom of speech.


Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

To receive detailed, up-to-date information directly from the LASD via e-mail and/or text, register for "Nixle" alerts at http:www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD-HQ Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and also register for your local LASD station area. Or, text you zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standart text messaging rates may apply, depending on your calling plan.


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2nd Press Release (Sun., Aug. 14, 2011, 3:15 p.m. )

Update --- Hundreds of Flashcalls overwhelm phone service to Compton Sheriff's Station, LASD

We are investigating who sent a message to the 580,000 followers of a rapper's Twitter account, falsely telling them that if they want a rapper internship to call a phone number. That number was actually the public help line of the Compton Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

We find the rapper's alleged comments in news media reports and on Twitter interesting and relevant, including who he says is actually responsible. However, since this occurred, he has made no attempt to contact us. We encourage him to do so.

This information is included in the criminal investigation about who is the person responsible for endangering public safety on Friday evening. The investigation continues.

Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment


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First News Release (Sat., August 13, 2011)

Hundreds of Flashcalls overwhelm phone service to Compton Sheriff's Station [Telephone Flashmob]
In the two hours following 5:23PM on Friday, August 12, hundreds of phone calls were received by Compton Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Many callers hung up as soon as the phone was answered "Compton Sheriff's Station." Many others asked deputies about a music internership.

There were so many phone calls that all of the many phone lines were overwhelmed. For hours, as soon as sheriff's deputies and dispatchers hung up phone lines, they rang again with new callers.

Many emergency calls were received between the hang-ups and music internship questions in the two hours following 5:23PM. Delays in providing help included a missing person, a spousal assault, two robberies and a stolen car.

"These needless phone calls interfered with the ability of sheriff's desk personnel to answer the business line phones and 9-1-1 calls, and for dispatchers to send help to people who really needed it, said Captain Mike Parker, Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau. "We don't know how many people needed help but couldn't get through the overwhelmed phone lines."

Deputies initially thought there was a phone malfunction because of all the phone call hang-ups.

They soon found the source of the phone calls and discovered that a rapper named Charles Louboutin, who is known as "the game" had offered an internship on his Twitter account and gave a few phone numbers to call to apply. At 5:23PM, he posted a phone number that is the public help line for Compton Sheriff's Station. He has nearly 580,000 Twitter followers.

This resulted in a "telephone flashmob" or "flashcalls," which is a sudden and overwhelming number of phone calls.

By 7:00PM deputies had determined what happened and Captain Parker used his Twitter account @mpLASD (http://twitter.com/#!/mplasd) to message the rapper twice, asking him to remove his Twitter posting as it was compromising public safety. (There was no response)

"By about 8:00PM, the calls tapered off to the point that desk deputies and dispatchers could handle the call volume without impeding public safety," said Captain Parker.

The facts of this case will be documented in a criminal complaint for presentation to the district attorney's office in consideration of a criminal filing of:

Annoying or harassing phone calls via electronic device or the internet whether or not conversation ensues, 653m(b), California State Penal Code

Delaying or obstructing peace officers in the performance of their duties, 148(a)(1) California State Penal Code

Person who knowingly and maliciously disrupts or impedes communications over a public safety radio frequency 148(a)(2), California State Penal Code


Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local sheriff’s station or police department. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org


Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment



Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

To receive detailed, up-to-date information directly from the LASD via e-mail and/or text, register for "Nixle" alerts at http:www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD-HQ Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and also register for your local LASD station area. Or, text you zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standart text messaging rates may apply, depending on your calling plan.