House parties. Backyard blowouts. Huge warehouse events – all promising drugs and booze to underage kids.
Fox 11's Investigative Unit got exclusive access to hit the streets with the LA County Sheriff's Department as deputies crack down on illegal teen parties.
For more than a year we've been reporting on the teen party scene -- events promoted on Facebook that frequently spiral out of control. Drug overdoses, rapes, gang fights, even shootings have become a big part of this underground party scene.
Now the sheriff has created an entire unit -- the first of its kind -- that monitors social media to stop these parties before they get going. This high tech unit picks up leads from publicly available information on the Internet -- Facebook, Twitter and other sites – then sends the locations of the illegal parties to deputies in the field.
The sheriff agreed to allow us exclusive access to this remarkable team of deputies. For three nights we rode with the team. What emerged was a picture of a sophisticated, creative and deceptive network of party promoters.
Most of the promoters are underage kids themselves who have learned they can make a lot of money throwing parties – charging admission and selling alcohol and nitrous oxide, known as "Noz." One small tank of Noz can earn a kid hundreds of dollars.
Each night, the deputies we followed had a long list of parties -- more locations than we could possible visit. So we triaged the list, hitting the biggest, most dangerous-looking parties first. We showed up to one East LA party and the kids scattered as soon as the black-and-white units rolled up.
We could watch on our phones the tweets went out telling kids the party already had a new location. By the time we hit that address, 50 kids had shown up. More than 1,500 kids had RSVP'ed to show up at the tiny house. Deputies said it could have easily turned ugly. But they stopped it and told the homeowner and the promoter to put the word out or face the legal consequences.
And so it went night after night -- a cat-and-mouse game between party promoters and the new sheriff's team whose only real goal is to keep everyone safe.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which considers itself the definitive record of acceptable English words, has just formalized its status as a legitimate noun and verb in relation to social media site Twitter.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), which considers itself the definitive record of acceptable English words, has just formalized its status as a legitimate noun and verb in relation to social media site Twitter.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:05 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:05:13 GMT
The American Medical Association's policy-making House of Delegates has classified obesity as a disease, and while the move has no legal implications, it could affect discussions regarding medical policy.
The American Medical Association's policy-making House of Delegates has classified obesity as a disease, and while the move has no legal implications, it could affect discussions regarding medical policy.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:18 AM EDT2013-06-19 14:18:13 GMT
By all accounts, Ramon and Janet Barreto are an odd couple, both physically and mentally, and you need to know what they look like to be on the lookout for them.
By all accounts, Ramon and Janet Barreto are an odd couple, both physically and mentally. The physical part only matters here because we are talking about a couple on the run, fugitives and you need to know what they look like to be on the lookout for them.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:34 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:34:05 GMT
Plastic grocery bags would become a thing of the past in Los Angeles under an ordinance tentatively approved today by the City Council, which will cast a final vote next week.
Plastic grocery bags would become a thing of the past in Los Angeles under an ordinance tentatively approved today by the City Council, which will cast a final vote next week that would make the city the largest in the nation to enact such a ban.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 8:16 PM EDT2013-06-19 00:16:45 GMT
There are new photos of 4 suspects wanted in the severe beating of a transgender woman, and a new $25,000 reward for their arrest. The LAPD has released security video of the attack. You can see the
There are new photos of 4 suspects wanted in the severe beating of a transgender woman, and a new $25,000 reward for their arrest. The LAPD has released security video of the attack. You can see the transgender woman walking on a sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard near Ivar early in the morning, nearly three weeks ago.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:19 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:19:32 GMT
The Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center have joined aquatic facilities around the world to break the world record for The World's Largest Swimming Lesson on Tuesday.
The Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center have joined aquatic facilities around the world to break the world record for The World's Largest Swimming Lesson on Tuesday.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:34 AM EDT2013-06-18 14:34:39 GMT
Walter Lee Williams, a former California professor is wanted for the alleged sexual exploitation of children and traveling abroad to engage in illicit sex acts with children.
Walter Lee Williams, a former California professor is wanted for the alleged sexual exploitation of children and traveling abroad to engage in illicit sex acts with children.
A 15-year-old girl got a lesson in intolerance from a TSA agent after he said something about her attire at the screening gates. The TSA is investigating the situation.
A 15-year-old girl got a lesson in intolerance from a TSA agent after he said something about her attire at the screening gates. The TSA is investigating the situation.
