Weekly News Roundup – March 31, 2014

New Harbor Division Captain Named

Weeks after LAPD Harbor Division Capt. Nancy Lauer announced her retirement, 20-year department veteran commanding officer Gerald Woodyard has been named her successor. Capt. Woodyard, who was born in Mobile, Alabama, and graduated with a criminal justice degree from Cal State Long Beach, joined the LAPD in 1994. Over the next two decades, he served in multiple divisions throughout the city, including Training and Community Relations, moving up in the ranks along the way. He was most recently transferred to Harbor Division six months ago, where he had previously served in 2002.

Shipping Containers With $1 Million Worth of Goods Stolen from Port of Los Angeles

On March 21, two men using counterfeit documents and stolen identification made off with two shipping containers with $1 million worth of merchandise from a logistics company in San Pedro, the LAPD announced. The crime was discovered later that day when the actual pickup was to take place. The suspects, described as hispanic males in their mid-20s, returned two days later attempting another theft before they got away from security who were on to them.

Ghost Adventurers Visit Fort McArthur

San Pedro’s Forth McArthur Military Museum was featured on the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventurers last week. The episode explored decades of alleged paranormal activity at the site, including the mysterious 1942 Battle of Los Angeles, which some believe was a UFO event.

Global Rallycross Games Coming to Port of Los Angeles

The Red Bull Global Rallycross Games will be coming to the Port of Los Angeles this September, it was announced last week. The two-day small-car racing event will take place at the same site in the outer harbor where Cirque du Soleil brought it’s show Totem last fall. NBC will broadcast the races live on Sept. 19 and 20.

Port Town Returns to L.A. Harbor International Film Festival

The L.A. Harbor International Film Festival marked its 11th season at the Warner Grand Theatre last week. The four-day festival kicked off March 27 with an educational “Read the Book, See the Movie” screening of Disney’s White Fang and continued on Saturday with 2006’s The Namesake and the 1949 classic Take Me Out to the Ball Game. A series of short documentaries was screened on Sunday before the festival closed with Jack Baric’s portrait of San Pedro, Port Town, which premiered at the festival eight years ago.