Pubdate: Sat, 18 Sept 1999 Source: Orange County Register (CA) Copyright: 1999 The Orange County Register Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Section: News,page 4 Author: John Rogers, The Associated Press Note: The New York Times contributed to this report. INVESTIGATION INTO LAPD SCANDAL WIDENS LOS ANGELES- The Police Department's biggest scandal in 60 years widened Friday as investigators took another look at a fatal 1996 shooting and suggested evidence in hundreds of other cases might be tainted. The scandal, reminiscent of the corruption-rife days of the 1930s, was broken open with information from Rafael Perez, a former undercover narcotics officer turned snitch who is talking in exchange for a lighter sentence after pleading guilty to stealing eight pounds of cocaine from a police evidence room. It already has resulted in the sending of more than 200 letters to defense lawyers announcing there might be a problem with evidence in cases involving their clients. "The district attorney has sent out over 200 letters to defense lawyers saying that Officer Perez's testimony might be tainted in their case," Police Chief Bernard Parks told reporters Friday. The letters went out a year ago, when Perez was initially arrested, district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said. No one responded, but she expects to hear from several attorneys now the Perez has been convicted. Parks and Police Commission President Gerald Chaleff also indicated Friday they have no idea yet of the extent of the scandal, which includes reports of illegal shootings, drug dealing, excessive use of force and false testimony. "At this point I don't think any of us know," Chaleff said. "We will follow the facts where they lead." So far: Parks has suspended 10 officers and a supervisor at the city's Rampart Station, which covers an 8-square-mile area just west of downtown that is home to many recent immigrants from Latin America and Asia. The U.S. Attorney's Office has announced it is investigating. Authorities are investigating a police raid on a building in which one man was killed and another wounded. A gang member and illegal immigrant serving a prison sentence for assaulting police officers in October 1996 has been freed amid Perez's allegations that he helped frame the man who was handcuffed and shot in the head, leaving him paralyzed. Police kept Javier Fracisco Ovando in seclusion Friday, a day after he was released from Salinas Valley State Prison. His lawyer said he had no idea where Ovando was. "We've been in contact with the Police Department but we've been given the runaround," said Dennis Chang, who represents Ovando and his girlfriend, Monique Valenzuela. The Honduran native had been serving a 23-year sentence. Another of Ovando's lawyers said they will sue the LAPD on behalf of his 2-year-old daughter. The federal court suit will allege that the department violated Ovando's 14th Amendment right to due process, depriving the girl of her father. Attorney Gregory Smith said it would be premature to estimate how much of a monetary award the child, named Destiny, could receive for losing the companionship of her father. According to court papers filed by prosecutors seeking Ovando's release, the original report filed by Perez and then-partner Nino Durden said they shot Ovando, who they said was armed with a rifle, after he burst into an apartment where the officers were staked out on a gang investigation. But Perez now says he and Durden handcuffed Ovando, shot him, planted a gun on him and framed him on the assault charge. Ovando says it was Perez who shot him in the head at point-blank range. The authorities have declined to detail a motive for the alleged police attack, but some senior city officials speculate that the officers were suspected of stealing drugs and money from dealers. Durden was relieved of duty last month on allegations in unrelated cases that included planting drugs on suspects and making a false arrest. The other shootings under investigation took place during a July 1996 raid. In that case, nine officers planned to arrest two armed gang members who were believed to be planning a retaliatory attack for a drive-by shooting. According to an internal review, four officers fired 10 rounds, with one of the suspects being hit repeatedly and killed. Another man was wounded. The wounded man and a third suspect were both charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. A source who spoke to the Los Angeles Times on condition of anonymity said Perez, who was on the raid but didn't fire his weapon, called the shooting "dirty." Chaleff said Friday investigators would need more than just Perez's allegations to go on in that case. "The law in this kind of a situation requires corroboration," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea