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Ferguson, Mo.’s, alleged revenue scams echo in southeast L.A. County

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Police take people into custody in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 25.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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A police vehicle burns after protesters set it on fire in front of Ferguson City Hall on Nov. 25 in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police arrest a protester outside the Ferguson, Mo., police station on Nov. 25.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters turn over a police vehicle in front of Ferguson City Hall on Nov. 25.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters raise their hands outside the Ferguson police station on Nov. 25.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers take a protester into custody in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 25.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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A protester sits in the back of a car outside the Ferguson, Mo., police station on Nov. 25.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters gather in front of the police station in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 25.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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Protesters chant outside the Ferguson Police Department on Nov. 25.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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National Guard troops are deployed at the police station in Ferguson, Mo., as night falls on Tuesday.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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President Obama speaks in Chicago about the protests in Ferguson, Mo., after meeting with community leaders about the executive actions he is taking to fix the immigration system.  (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)
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National Guard troops secure the police station in Ferguson, Mo.   (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)
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In an aerial photo, people look at a row of charred cars at a used car dealership in Dellwood, Mo., after they were burned in overnight protests.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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In this aerial photo, a worker surveys the scene at a charred building in Ferguson, Mo.  (Charlie Riedel / AP)
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Fires smolder along a closed stretch of street in Ferguson, Mo., in an aerial photo.   (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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National Guard troops secure the police station in Ferguson, Mo., a day after violent protests and looting following the grand jury decision.  (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)
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Volunteers clean up debris from a fire at a strip mall a day after rioting on Chambers Road and West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police investigators meet in front of a burned strip mall at Chambers Road and West Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A man looks through a window Tuesday of a laundry that was damaged during a demonstration in Dellwood, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A pedestrian stops to look at damage in front of Beauty World after protestors broke windows and set fires Monday night in Ferguson, Missouri.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Michael Brown Sr. tries to restore order after an altercation broke out during a news conference at Greater St. Mark Church.  (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
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A police officer guards a closed street along the West Florissant Avenue, where protesters and looters rampaged businesses after the grand jury decision in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Mo.  (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)
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A volunteer cleans up Snappy’s Bar and Grill on Florissant in Ferguson Tuesday morning.  (Matt Pearce / Los Angeles Times)
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Cars, set on fire when rioting erupted after the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case, sit on a lot in Dellword, Mo.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
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A St. Louis county police officer applies police tape Tuesday to a building that burned during a demonstration in Dellwood, Mo.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A sign sits amid the rubble of a building damaged during a demonstration in Dellwood, Mo.   (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A worker sweeps up broken glass at a building that was damaged during a demonstration in Dellwood, Mo.   (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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A building that was damaged during a demonstration on Tuesday in Dellwood, Mo.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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Protesters celebrate as the Auto Zone building burns on West Florissant Avenue after a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers wrestle a looting suspect to the ground at a Mobil gas station along West Florissant Avenue after a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A firefighter walks by a burned strip mall at Chambers Road and West Florissant Avenue after a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Businesses burn along West Florissant Avenue after a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Looters grab merchandise from a Mobil gas station along West Florissant Avenue after a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers block West Florissant Avenue as a building burns in the background after a grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police are engulfed in tear gas during clashes with protesters after the grand jury decision not to indict the police officer who killed 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.  (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)
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A man runs away from a burning storage facility in Ferguson, Mo., after the announcement of the grand jury decision.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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Police officers face protesters in Ferguson, Mo., after the grand jury decision.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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A man steps out of a vandalized McDonald’s restaurant in Ferguson, Mo., after the grand jury decision was announced.  (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)
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A protester walks by a St. Louis County police car that was set on fire along South Florissant Road in Ferguson, Mo., after the grand jury decision.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers line up on South Florissant Road during Ferguson, Mo., protests in response to the grand jury decision.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protestor is arrested as police escort him by a burning police car .  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A St. Louis County police car burns during demonstrations in Ferguson, Mo., after the grand jury’s decision was announced.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A journalist who was injured when rocks were thrown by protesters after the grand jury decision in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Michael Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, center, reacts to the grand jury decision outside the police station in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester in Ferguson, Mo., is arrested after the grand jury decision was announced.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers stand guard in Ferguson, Mo., as protesters react to the announcement that a grand jury decided not to indict Police Officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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Protesters shove a police car in Ferguson, Mo., after the grand jury announcement.  (David Goldman / Associated Press)
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President Obama speaks to the media in the briefing room of the White House after the grand jury decided not to indict Ferguson, Mo., Police Officer Darren Wilson. Obama called for calm.  (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)
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Demonstrators listen to a radio as a grand jury’s decision is delivered in front of the Ferguson Police Department.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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Demonstrators listen to a car radio as a grand jury’s decision is delivered in front of the Ferguson Police Department.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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Protesters gather in front of the Ferguson Police Department before the announcement of the grand jury decision about whether to indict a Ferguson police officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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A protester wipes a tear outside the Ferguson Police Department shortly before a grand jury announcement on the Michael Brown shooting.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters stand outside the Ferguson Police Department shortly before a grand jury decision in the Michael Brown shooting case.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters in Ferguson, Mo., before a grand jury announcement on whether police Officer Darren Wilson will face trial in the Aug. 9 shooting of Michael Brown.  (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon speaks during a news conference as St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay looks on at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Nixon asked for calm in the community amid the news that a grand jury has reached a decision on whether to charge Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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National Guardsmen take up positions in a shopping center in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 24 before the announcement that a grand jury had declined to charge police Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of Michael Brown.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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As the city awaits the announcement of the grand jury decision, a resident walks next to a memorial where Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, Mo.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dellena Jones looks out from her boarded-up beauty salon in the neighborhood where there was much unrest after the August shooting of Michael Brown, 18, by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo.   (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Locks are seen on mailboxes across from the Buzz Westfall Justice Center where the grand jury convened in Clayton, Mo.  (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
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Ribbons fly from a fence on a cold windy morning in Ferguson, Mo., on Sunday. The message on the ribbons asks for peace and prayers for shooting victim Michael Brown.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers stand their ground as a protester waves the American flag along West Florissant Avenue during a demonstration in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 22.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters join hands in solidarity during a demonstration in St. Louis, Mo., on Nov. 23.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters march down Kingshighway Boulevard during a demonstration in St. Louis, Mo., on Nov. 23.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester holds her hands up in front of a police car during a demonstration in St. Louis, Mo., on Nov. 23.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Demonstrators shout slogans during a march Nov. 23 in St. Louis, Mo., to protest the police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.   (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)
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Demonstrators take to the streets Nov. 23 to protest in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis, Mo.  (Michael B. Thomas / AFP / Getty Images)
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Visitors view a memorial in Ferguson, Mo., at the site where Michael Brown, 18, was shot and killed Aug. 9 by a police officer.  (Scott Olson / Getty Images)
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A protester is arrested by St. Louis County police officers after blocking traffic along South Florissant Road in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 22.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester flashes a peace sign as police officers approach along South Florissant Road in Ferguson, Mo., on Nov. 22.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester walks along West Florissant Avenue during a demonstration in Ferguson on Nov. 22.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The “I love Ferguson” store is boarded with plywood against the unrest that has plagued the city since August. But volunteer workers have covered the store to look like a Christmas present instead.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters block two women in a vehicle from passing outside the Ferguson police station during a demonstration in Missouri on Nov. 21.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers stand guard outside the Ferguson police station during a demonstration in Missouri Nov. 20. About 30 demonstrators blocked streets while protesting the death of Michael Brown.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester prevents a female driver from driving along South Florissant Road outside the Ferguson police station during a demonstration in Missouri on Nov. 20.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A police officer shouts at demonstrators outside the Ferguson police station on Nov. 20.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters shout at police officers outside the Ferguson police station on Nov. 20.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester is arrested and taken away by officers outside the Ferguson police station on Nov. 20.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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A protester yells at officers outside the Ferguson police station on Nov. 20.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Police officers block the entrance to the Ferguson police station in Missouri on Nov. 19. About 40 demonstrators blocked streets while protesting the death of Michael Brown.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters block South Florissant Road during a demonstration outside the Ferguson police station in Missouri on Nov. 19.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters run as police officers approach during a demonstration outside the Ferguson police station in Missouri on Nov. 19.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Protesters square off with police officers during a demonstration outside the Ferguson police station in Missouri Nov. 19.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
By Shelby Grad
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The U.S. Justice Department report on the Ferguson Police Department -- which among other things alleged police targeted blacks and used arrests as a revenue-generating scheme -- echoes some incidents that occurred over the last decade in southeast Los Angeles County.

Residents in blue-collar, predominantly Latino southeast L.A. County complained for years that they were unfairly targeted by city officials for profit. Some examples:

Bell’s arbitrary fines

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Amid Bell’s corruption scandal in 2010, The Times reported that the city “extracted tens of thousands of dollars from plumbers, carpet cleaners, even people scavenging for bottles and cans, by seizing vehicles for alleged code violations and then pressuring the owners to pay arbitrary fines.

“In hundreds of cases, city officials created documents that looked like official court papers declaring individuals were making a payment to the city as part of a ‘civil compromise.’ Normally, such cases would be reviewed by a judge to ensure that they had been settled fairly. But the vast majority of these cases do not appear to have been presented to a court.”

After The Times reports, the city ended the practice.

Car towing

Both Bell and neighboring Maywood faced accusations that police targeted immigrants in the U.S. without proper papers with towing schemes. They claimed police would pull over drivers simply to impound their cars, forcing the drivers to pay large impound fees.

Both cities vowed to halt the practice.

Illegal taxes

State auditors concluded that Bell officials in 2007 illegally raised taxes on residents. Bell is one of the poorest cities in L.A. County, but it had one of the highest tax burdens. The state later ordered Bell to refund millions of dollars.

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Shelby Grad

As deputy managing editor for news, Shelby Grad supervises the Los Angeles Times’ daily report on all platforms. He manages a team that includes the Fast Break Desk, the Multiplatform Editing Desk, and editors overseeing A1 and the weekend edition.

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