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Father seeking review says Rampart‑related misconduct contributed to son's conviction; requests help from council
Summary
During public comment, Manuel Valle said his son is in prison and alleged the involvement of former LAPD officer Rafael Perez in handling a witness. Valle said he filed an appeal that was denied under a cited code section and asked council members to assist; the transcript records his statements but does not corroborate them.
A member of the public used the council’s public‑comment period to urge the council and District Attorney’s office to review a criminal case he says was affected by misconduct tied to the Rampart scandal.
Manuel Valle identified himself on the public record as living in Santa Barbara and said his son is incarcerated “because of Rafael Perez.” Valle said Perez was not the arresting officer in his son’s case but that Perez “took the witness from the handcuffs and put her in her car” and held her for about three hours. Valle said the witness’s name is Sonia Flores and that he received a letter from the district attorney’s office informing him he could file an appeal.
Nut graf: Valle described steps he took to seek an appeal, told the council he lacked funds initially and later retained counsel, and said a judge denied the appeal on grounds referred to in the transcript as “section 115” (as stated by Valle). He asked the council to take notice and placed a copy of his materials with council staff.
Valle’s remarks were personal testimony and allegation on the public record; the council did not make any formal ruling or request on the floor in response to the comment within the excerpted transcript.
Ending: The council clerk recorded that no other members of the public wished to speak; no council motion related to the comment is recorded in the transcript excerpt.
