Javier Ovando
Javier Francisco Ovando (born c.1977) is a Honduran man who became a central figure in the LAPD Rampart scandal when he was shot and framed by corrupt Rampart officers Rafael Pérez and Nino Durden. Ovando is an immigrant to the United States and a former member of the powerful 18th Street gang. He is the recipient of the largest police misconduct settlement in Los Angeles history.[1]
Officers Durden and Pérez entered then 19-year-old Ovando's apartment on October 12, 1996, and shot him, leaving him paralyzed.[2][3] According to the officers' testimony later, they planted a gun on him and reported that the unarmed Ovando had fired on them first. Ovando, paralyzed from the waist down, was sentenced to 23 years in prison based on the officers' testimony.[1]
Release and settlement
[edit]On September 16, 1999, Ovando was released from prison after Perez recanted his earlier testimony. The District Attorney's office filed a writ of habeas corpus overturning Ovando's conviction. Ovando had spent two-and-a-half years incarcerated.[1]
On November 21, 2000, Ovando received a $15 million settlement, the largest police misconduct settlement in Los Angeles history.[4]
In 2008, Ovando fled from an attempted traffic stop and led police officers on an hour long high speed pursuit. He was subsequently charged with felony evading and assault on a police officer.[5][6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The Scandal - Rampart Scandal Timeline | PBS - L.a.p.d. Blues | FRONTLINE | PBS". www.pbs.org.
- ^ "Ovando Shooting". September 23, 1999.
- ^ "StreetGangs.com". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Informant in LAPD scandal freed from prison - July 24, 2001". CNN.com. July 24, 2001. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ "Rampart figure shot, paralyzed by cops charged with evading police, battery". Los Angeles Daily News. August 15, 2008.
- ^ "Man framed by cops in '96 leads freeway chase | ABC7 Los Angeles | abc7.com". ABC7 Los Angeles.