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	Mission: Bringing Mahony Mugger to Justice By Steve Lopez Los Angeles Times December 23, 2007 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez23dec23,1,3636632.column?coll=la-util-news-local&ctrack=1&cset=true In the spirit of the season — and, quite frankly, to save my own soul — I've embarked on a mission to bring Cardinal Roger M. Mahony's assailant to justice. For those who missed the news, the man at the helm of the Los Angeles Archdiocese spoke with detectives earlier this month about being attacked in July while mailing a letter near the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Police had contacted the cardinal after learning that he had spoken of the mugging at an October gathering of priests. Mahony did not report the incident at the time, and please, let's not all sing the easy line about how it's not the first time the cardinal failed to report a crime. It's almost Christmas, a time to celebrate life and spread joy, especially to those we've quarreled with in the past. Or, as I said in an e-mail to Mahony spokesman Tod Tamberg: "I've begun a personal manhunt to locate Cardinal Mahony's assailant. Consider it both an olive branch and my Christmas present to him. Please let me know if the cardinal can meet with me and a sketch artist and provide a good description to aid in my investigation." On the one hand, it's quite laudable that Mahony turned the other cheek rather than seek criminal prosecution. But his kindness has left a dangerous man on the loose, and I'd like to spare Mahony the barrage of criticism that would come his way should the mugger strike another innocent person. To initiate my investigation, I debriefed LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon, who interviewed Mahony by phone. (Not that I'd ever tell anyone how to do his job, but sometimes an investigator can learn more face-to-face. Body language and nervous tics can be quite revealing.) Some cynics have questioned whether a man who flies first class would venture out and mail his own letters. But Vernon said he was convinced, based on the level of detail provided by Mahony, that he had indeed been assaulted. "He said the man came up to him as he was going to mail these letters, and he said, 'Hey, I recognize you. You're the cardinal, aren't you?' And then the man became very angry at him." He said Mahony couldn't describe the perp, other than to say he was "Hispanic." That's a start. My list of suspects in greater L.A. is now down to about 10 million people. Vernon said he was under the impression the man was upset with Mahony over his handling of the molestation scandal, in which allegations of abuse were not reported to police and priests went on to molest again. "The guy pushed him and punched him at the same time," Vernon said. "It happened so fast, and when he was on the ground the guy kicked him a couple of times." Sounds pretty nasty, and indeed it was, according to a priest who heard Mahony's tale in October. Father Joseph Shea of Holy Family Church in Glendale told the Associated Press that Mahony was so badly hurt he required hospitalization. Very interesting. Vernon said Mahony told him that he had not gone to the hospital or to a doctor. I've asked the archdiocese which hospital the cardinal was treated at, and left a message for Father Shea as well. When I get to the bottom of this discrepancy, you'll be the first to know. Vernon wasn't surprised Mahony chose not to press charges, noting that not all crimes are reported. He asked if I'd report getting into an argument in a bar and being pushed by someone. Frankly, I'm not used to hearing L.A. cops make a case for not reporting criminal activity. Is this the secret behind LAPD Chief William J. Bratton's claim that the crime rate is down? Father Shea was quoted as saying Mahony let his attacker off the hook to "offer it up in reparation for the sins of others." I'd nominate the cardinal for sainthood, but without a clarification on how badly Mahony was hurt, how can we know how many sins have been absolved? Vernon said he was under the impression the attack took place near Temple Street and Broadway, but I found no mailbox at that location. I did, however, find one a block away at Temple and Spring. Two homeless men told me they did not witness the attack and have heard no one talking about it. Maybe so, but everyone's a suspect in my book, including them. In fact, I was studying every mug that came through the intersection when L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley pulled up at a red light. Cooley, as you probably know, fought Mahony tooth and nail over the cardinal's refusal to turn over files on suspected molesters. And suddenly, here he was, popping up at the scene of the crime. Coincidence? If you ask me, Steve Martin looks more Hispanic than Steve Cooley. But, as one cop suggested, put a sombrero on Cooley as a disguise and who knows? "I was there," Cooley said slyly, speeding off before I could complete my interrogation. It's possible, of course, that I was at the wrong mailbox. I found another one closer to the cathedral on Hill Street. A vagrant warming himself next to a big generator near the county administration building told me he knew nothing of the Mahony attack. "But I can tell you they're very rude at the cathedral," he said. "They don't want the poor coming in." Well, I do know the archdiocese is on edge, given the outrage over the molestation scandal. The church sought a restraining order earlier this month against a man — someone other than the July attacker, according to police — who allegedly threatened Mahony and others. But I can't imagine shooing someone away just because he's poor. "They said it was my clothing," said the man, who reports being asked to leave both the cafe and the cathedral on separate occasions. "Just say someone that loves God was kicked out," he said, asking that I not use his name. He was angry enough to make my list of suspects, except that he isn't Hispanic. I stumbled upon a more promising lead, though, when I saw a security guard at the county building lowering flags for the night. "Any security cameras around here?" I asked. Yes, he said, pointing high on the building. Check with county police, he said, and maybe I'll find a clue on the surveillance tape. That's not a lot to go on, but I'm prepared to track every lead and hunt every suspect. And by the way, I'm offering a $500 reward for information that cracks the case. I'll make it $1,000 if we nab the scoundrel before Christmas. I know I've been tough on the cardinal. But with a new year about to begin, I'd like to think of my investigation as reparation for my sins. Contact: steve.lopez@latimes.com
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