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Bureau of Community Relations
Courageous Citizen Award Honorees
2008 Honorees
Honored in April 2008
- David H. P. Lee [ Top ]
In November 2005, David H. P. Lee witnessed an armed robbery in progress at a Bank of America branch in Monterey Park. When the victim called for help, Mr. Lee came to his aid. He first used his car in an attempt to block the suspect from escaping and then tried to wrestle the suspect off of his motorcycle. During the struggle, the suspect threatened Mr. Lee with a knife and subsequently stabbed and fatally wounded the robbery victim before fleeing.
By describing the suspect’s face and attire to police, positively identifying the suspect and ultimately testifying in the murder trial, Mr. Lee’s awareness and concern helped send the defendant to prison for life plus an additional 57 years to life.
- Christopher N. Chavez [ Top ]
Christopher N. Chavez and three of his co-workers were riding their motorcycles on Interstate 10 in the San Gabriel Valley in July 2007 when an aggressive driver started tailgating them in a sport utility vehicle. Mr. Chavez and a friend motioned for the SUV to stay back. But the vehicle’s driver continued to drive in a threatening manner and eventually veered into the riders, leaving one of the motorcyclists injured.
The driver then fled the scene. Mr. Chavez followed the vehicle and tracked it to a residence. Mr. Chavez summoned police and the driver was arrested. Thanks to Mr. Chavez's selfless acts in this case, the defendant is awaiting trial on the charge of attempted murder.
Several weeks later, Mr. Chavez died in a separate traffic incident.
- Mireya Arias [ Top ]
Mireya Arias made the courageous decision in July 2007 to come forward as a witness in defense of a childhood friend who was sexually molested by her step-father when she was a girl. The friend had confided in Ms. Arias about the abuse when they were both about 11 years old. At the age of 20, Ms. Arias’ friend gained the strength to press charges. However, more than 10 years had elapsed and the only other person who knew the extent of the abuse was the defendant, who denied everything.
Honored in May 2008
- Rickey Overton [ Top ]
On the morning of May 3, 2006, Rickey Overton saw a man savagely beating a woman in downtown Los Angeles. While a crowd gathered around and watched, Mr. Overton threw himself in harm’s way by attempting to stop the assault. While narrowly escaping a few wild punches from the assailant, Mr. Overton was able to wrestle the defendant to the ground and hold him until police officers arrived to make the arrest. Although the victim later died from the attack, Mr. Overton was instrumental in assisting with the prosecution of the defendant. He testified not only at one trial that ended in a hung jury but also at a second trial where the defendant was found guilty of second-degree murder.
- Jirayr Setaghian [ Top ]
Federal Express driver Jirayr Setaghian was making his deliveries in July 2007 when he heard the sound of a woman yelling for help. Mr. Setaghian quickly recognized that the woman was calling attention to two men speeding away on bicycles. With no time to waste, Mr. Setaghian set out in his FedEx truck chasing the suspects. After a pursuit through San Fernando Valley streets, Mr. Setaghian blocked the path of one of the suspects. He left his vehicle and successfully detained the suspect until police arrived. The woman positively identified the suspect as one of the men who burglarized her boyfriend’s vehicle. One count of second-degree burglary and two counts of receiving stolen property were filed against the suspect. He was sentenced to 16 months in state prison.
- Marilyn Ewing [ Top ]
As Marilyn Ewing drove home alone on Adams Boulevard in the early morning hours of May 3, 2007, she noticed a school police officer on the side of the road reaching underneath a young woman’s skirt. Sensing impropriety, she drove by again for a closer look. Ms. Ewing’s concern intensified when the officer made eye contact with her and briefly stopped the assault. Ms. Ewing recorded the Los Angeles School Police Department officer’s license plate number and called 911. Her close attention and quick thinking led to the arrest of the officer when he came off of his shift that same morning. Despite her apprehension, she testified in court against the officer. The defendant was convicted of sexual battery by restraint, inappropriate force by a public official and other charges.
- Deputy District Attorney Peter Bliss [ Top ]
Deputy District Attorney Peter Bliss and two Pomona police detectives were surveying a known gang neighborhood in September 2006 when they spotted a convicted felon reaching toward his waistband. The suspect fled and the detectives, with Mr. Bliss in the backseat, pursued him in their police vehicle. The detectives’ suspicions were correct. The suspect was illegally carrying a firearm. When Mr. Bliss and Detective Greg Freeman pulled up on the suspect in their vehicle, he charged at them with his gun pointed at Detective Freeman. Mr. Bliss was essentially trapped in the back of the police vehicle but grabbed his own handgun, fired at the suspect and helped save Detective Freeman’s life.
Honored in June 2008
- Shera Smith and Shatishe Smith [ Top ]
The screams of a neighbor’s 7-year-old daughter jarred sisters Shera and Shatishe Smith while they were in their Los Angeles home on April 30, 2006. The girl’s father was stabbing her mother. Ms. Shera Smith saw the victim trying to escape from the attacker. Both Smith sisters tried to help the victim but they were stopped by Ms. Shera Smith’s husband and Ms. Shatishe Smith’s boyfriend, who pleaded with them not to get involved and blocked the exit of their home. Undeterred, the sisters climbed out a bedroom window, aided the victim by applying pressure to her stab wounds and comforted her until police arrived. The victim was stabbed 23 times but survived. The defendant was charged with attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison.
- Genevieve C. [ Top ]
Outwardly, Ms. Genevieve C. is a bright and successful conservationist. However, Ms. C.’s earliest memory is of being raped by a close family member. She endured terrible sexual abuse, which led to physical and psychological problems. At 33, while living alone in an apartment in Venice, Ms. C. was the victim of a serial rapist. The aftermath of the 1996 rape in combination with her childhood memories plunged her into a deep and hopeless despair. She suffered through a string of emotional, physical, financial and relationship difficulties. DNA evidence led to the suspect’s arrest and a trial 11 years after the attack. Despite the trauma, Ms. C. identified the defendant and walked the jury through the brutal attack in open court. Two other victims also came forward. The defendant was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
- Christopher Smith-Lavezzari [ Top ]
A staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force who was about to leave for a tour of duty in Iraq, Christopher Smith-Lavezzari was ready to enjoy a light shopping trip at Sam’s Club in September 2006. As he entered the store, he noticed people running around in a panic. Sgt. Smith-Lavezzari saw an employee of the store being chased by a man, who was believed to have been shoplifting, holding a Taser gun. That is when Sgt. Smith-Lavezzari jumped into action. He chased the man and tackled him from behind. After wrestling with the suspect and enduring a few Taser strikes to the chest, face and arm, Sgt. Smith-Lavezzari held him with the assistance of store employees until an arrest was made. The defendant was charged with armed robbery and was sentenced to 21 years and four months in prison.
Honored in August 2008
- Jaime Corona [ Top ]
Mr. Jaime Corona is a clerk for Department O in Compton. In March 2007, he heard the department’s bailiff calling for help from the courtroom’s lockup area. Mr. Corona and a deputy public defender went into lockup and found the defendant banging the bailiff’s head into a locker. The defendant held a shank to the bailiff’s throat but Mr. Corona boldly grabbed the defendant, helped wrestled the shank away and held him in a headlock until other bailiffs came. After the incident, Mr. Corona received threats from the defendant’s street gang and was forced to temporarily change work locations. Despite the threats, Mr. Corona testified before the grand jury and at trial. The defendant was convicted and sentenced to 103 years in prison plus a life term.
- Tony del Valle [ Top ]
Mr. Tony del Valle was part of an armored vehicle security team guarding a large shipment of cash in March 2006. The team was picking up and delivering money at a Long Beach bank. While Mr. del Valle was preparing to leave the bank, he saw three masked men pointing assault rifles at the other guard and demanding money. Fearing for his colleague’s life, Mr. del Valle fired 13 shots through a glass window of the bank and hit two of the suspects. All three suspects were captured – one at the scene and two after they fled. The men were convicted. One was sentenced to 265 years in prison plus seven life sentences, another was sentenced to 45 years to life and the third received a 21-year sentence.
- Annabella B. [ Top ]
Ms. Annabella B. was sexually assaulted by a serial rapist in 2007. While driving her daughter to school several weeks after the assault, Ms. B. saw her attacker walking with a girl near the school. Ms. B. called police and followed the suspect. When the man saw Ms B., he took off running. Ms. B. went into the school and found his intended victim. Police learned that the suspect used the girl’s cell phone and called his own phone. The girl’s phone stored his number. This helped police track him down. His DNA matched evidence left by Ms. B.’s attacker. After the trial, several jurors commented on Ms. B.’s courage. The defendant was sentenced to 127 years in prison plus five life terms.
