Family Members of Mitrice Richardson Say Many Questions Remain Unanswered after Recent Meeting with Sheriff Baca

• Lost Hills Station Undergoes Change of Command: Connection to the Missing Person Case Is Denied

BY ANNE SOBLE

The mother, aunt and college mentor of Mitrice Richardson, as well as a videographer who has been filming rallies and other events related to the case of the 24-year-old Watts woman who now has been missing for 20 weeks, recently met with Sheriff Lee Baca for an update.
Richardson’s mother, Latice Sutton; her aunt, Lauren Sutton; the psychologist who oversaw her college fieldwork, Ronda Hampton; and Los Angeles filmmaker Charles Croft met in Baca’s office three weeks ago for over an hour. All four said they have been grappling with their ongoing concerns before deciding to make them public.
Mitrice Richardson is the Cal State Fullerton honors graduate who medical experts now think was experiencing a mental breakdown when she began acting bizarrely and said she could not pay a Malibu dinner tab on Sept. 16.
Richardson’s family has been unequivocally critical of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s role and holds it responsible for their daughter’s well-being after she was transported to the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
Public criticism has also increased of Lost Hills’ release of the young black woman at 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 17 into the isolated industrial area. Richardson was alone, on foot, inadequately attired for cold weather, and without money or her cell phone, which had been placed in her impounded car, according to deputies, at her request.
Richardson was booked on two misdemeanor counts after being placed under citizen’s arrest the evening of Sept. 16 by personnel at Geoffrey’s restaurant for the one count of not paying her $89.51 dinner check.
Family members have said they were told by Lost Hills that the restaurant’s manager insisted that the woman be taken to Lost Hills for booking.
In addition, Captain Tom Martin of Lost Hills previously told the Malibu Surfside News that restaurant staff also requested that Richardson’s car be towed from their lot.
Richardson’s odd speech and behavior were described by people at the restaurant as “crazy,” but at Lost Hills, LASD personnel said that she was lucid and they had no reason to detain her. The News’ requests to interview those who transported or booked her have all been denied.
The second count was for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana found when deputies searched her vehicle, allegedly with Richardson’s permission, before impounding it,.
The four participants in the Jan. 6 meeting, which was also attended by Martin and other LASD officials, including Steve Whitmore, the spokesperson for the department, brought a detailed list of questions with them, which they say were either answered only in part, or not at all.
UNDISCLOSED TAPES
Of major significance at the meeting, the four learned from what they all described as a “red-faced” Captain Martin that he was not forthright about there not being “any videotapes” of the missing woman at Lost Hills, and his previous assertions that there are only live-feed cameras at Lost Hills were inaccurate.
Martin told Baca that he has tapes “in his desk” of Richardson in the “booking cage” and other video/audio, some of which may be from the restaurant.
Croft said they were told that the tapes could not be made available to them until the tapes have been edited “to protect” other people. He said Martin did not clarify whether this is because of the presence of other inmates (which it is believed there were none at the time), or because of the civilian jailer who processed Richardson. The jailer, Sharon Cummings, declined a request by The News to be interviewed or to provide a photograph.
LOST HILLS CHANGE
It was at this point in the meeting that Baca announced that Captain Tom Martin is being promoted to commander and will be replaced by an aide to Undersheriff Larry Waldie, Lt. Joseph H. Stephen Jr., who is being promoted to captain. LASD spokesperson Whitmore told The News this week that the change is “imminent.”
Stephen will be the first black officer to head the Lost Hills operation. When asked if the change was related in any way to the Mitrice Richardson case, Whitmore said, “This is a rotation of promotions [that has been] in the works for some time.”

UPDATE
Latice Sutton indicated that Sheriff Baca told the family “to face the fact your daughter is not with you,” and added, “She has gone to a better place.” The mother and aunt both said they question the appropriateness of the comments, but Whitmore said the sheriff’s words “were an expression of the sheriff’s compassion for the family.”
All four are adamant that during the meeting, Baca said, “She should never have been released with no means.” Whitmore said his recollections are different from those being expressed, but he said he could not elaborate further because family members have filed a legal claim that is expected to lead to a lawsuit. Whitmore said he can no longer comment specifically on aspects of the case that may be litigated.
The four participants also quote Baca as saying, “When you think about it, it’s the jailer’s fault [Richardson] was let go.” However, Whitmore said that isn’t what he recalls being said.
When asked if the arresting officers are going to be investigated, Baca is quoted by the four as saying “so much time has passed,” and it could be “uncomfortable and embarrassing” for them. The mother is also asking for staff time cards, shift change information and other documentation.
The three women said they perceived the session as marked by “insensitivity,” in that the mother and aunt think department officials were confused about who each of them is. Sutton said it was so obvious that she told them, “I get the impression that you don’t know my name.”
The family members said the meeting with Baca confirmed why it is “so critical to convince U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to initiate a federal investigation,” which is what the family has demanded from the beginning.
UPCOMING
Because Richardson, a beauty contest finalist, was planning to compete in the upcoming Miss Fullerton Pageant, she is going to be honored at that event on Feb. 6.
The Friends Group of Pasadena plans a conference on March 17, what will be the six-month anniversary of Richardson’s disappearance if she is not found, to discuss nighttime custody release policies. Hampton will be on the panel. A representative of the LASD may take part.
For more information, see Latice Sutton’s website at www.findmitrice.info, the father Michael Richardson’s site at www.bring mitricehome.org, or contact Dr. Ronda Hampton at 951-660-8031, or LAPD Homicide Lt. Charles Knolls or Detective Steven Eguchi at 213-486-6900. The LAPD is the lead agency on the missing person case.