It's starting to look like LAPD might have the wrong guy

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck is still confident that Giovanni Ramirez is the prime suspect in the case of Bryan Stow beating, but that confidence seems to be waning, reports Eric Leonard of KFI.

Beck admitted yesterday that the investigation can go either way: "We go where the case takes. . . If it leads to a conviction, if it leads to exoneration, wherever it leads, we will follow the case."

This is a different cry from a month ago when Beck affirmed that the man in custody was "absolutely" the right man.

Ramirez has been in custody since May 22, and so far no formal charges have been filed against him.

Giovanni Ramirez going back to prison

 Giovanni Ramirez was ordered back to prison to serve 10 months on a parole violation:

After an hours-long hearing, Deputy Commissioner Ali Zarrinnam ruled that Giovanni Ramirez, 31, violated the terms of his parole by being a felon with access to a weapon. Police found the gun during a search warrant served as part of the investigation into the beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow.

The LA Times has the full story. Please read what Abort McCourt posted earlier today while the parole hearing was still in process.

Giovanni Ramirez update: Parole hearing today

A parole commissioner will decide today whether Giovanni Ramirez — the LAPD's suspect in the beating of Bryan Stow — violated his parole by "being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition." The ruling will determine if he goes to state prison or is set free.

Full story here.

Ramirez' name has been out of the news recently. The suspect has been in custody since May 22, but the LAPD still lacks sufficient evidence against to file formal charges against him.

Meanwhile, Ramirez's legal team has been pretty quiet, too. We use to get a claim of week of Ramirez's innocence since his apprehension. In the first week of June, attorney Anthony Brooklier cited the existence video captured by a motel surveillance camera that would exonerate his client (read more on this at Abort McCourt). According to Brooklier, the video shows that his client didn't have a shaved head at the time of the opening day attack, and, therefore, doesn't match the description of Bryan Stow's attackers.

The Times article linked above makes a brief reference to the surveillance video:

Although Judge Patricia Schnegg said she did not have jurisdiction, authorities agreed to provide such video if it existed, and Brooklier received significant publicity concerning the issue.

I don't understand what this means. Does the video exist or is this a bluff job by the attorney? It seems that a video showing Ramirez with grown-out hair the day after Stow's attack would immediately exonerate him of that particular crime. If you're Brooklier, wouldn't you acquire that video by any means necessary, show it to the cops and say: "Bam! This investigation is over."

If there's a defense attorney out there who can shed some light on this, please send me an email.

If there's hair, Giovanni wasn't there

Giovanni Ramirez' defense team says he didn't have a shaved head at the time of the opening day attack; therefore, he doesn't match the description of Bryan Stow's attackers, according to NBC LA.

Ramirez' attorneys admit that their client periodically shaves his head, but let his hair grow back in March and didn't shave it again until shortly after the day of the attack.

The defense hopes that a security camera at an East Hollywood motel where Ramirez and his girlfriend spent the night March 31 will prove that he had some growth on his dome, also per the NBC LA report.

It should be asked, if the video shows Ramirez emerging from his seedy room with a Trump-like comb-over, will Charlie Beck still adamantly believe he got his man?

No formal charges yet against Giovanni Ramirez.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck believes they have a solid case against Giovanni Ramirez, the suspect arrested in the beating of Bryan Stow, according to the LA Times.

Nevertheless, Beck admits that he is not yet ready to bring formal charges against Ramirez: "We continue down that road in our preparation of presenting a case to the district attorney in the near future. But we will not present that case until we have an abundance of evidence, and we have looked at a number of things that are still being examined."

Twenty detectives continue to work on the investigation, as emphasized by the Chief.

On Wednesday, LAPD released a statement saying that investigators were "satisfied with the results" of the lineup at Men’s Central Jail, but shied away from going into any details on the matter. Both sides have agreed not to release any information about what happened during the lineup.

All of this has raised speculation that Ramirez was not properly identified.

This begs a question. Why were cameras not installed at the entrances of Dodger Stadium prior to the date of the attack to monitor who goes in and out of there? No lights. No cameras. No action on the part of security team, who chose to bury their heads rather than impose measures to improve safety at Dodger Stadium.

Is there any doubt that the Stow family will win their negligence lawsuit against the Dodgers?

So, investigators have no photographic or video evidence of Ramirez in or around Dodger Stadium on opening day. But family members have released pictures of him not at Dodger Stadium on the day of the attack. Go to TMZ, and you'll see what I mean.

Beating suspect crying in his cell

Per KFI's Eric Leonard, the attorney for Giovanni Ramirez says his client is crying in his cell and wants to take a polygraph to prove his innocence.

Wait a second! Crying? From a three-time convicted felon and documented gang member? Even if Ramirez escapes conviction, I'm calling bulls**t on the crying part.

Incidentally, the attorney who made this announcement is Anthony Brooklier. In an earlier TMZ story, Chip Matthews was reported as Ramirez' defense attorney. NBC LA now reports that Matthews is representing Ramirez' daughter, and not Ramirez.

One final note. A lineup has been scheduled for 6 pm this evening.

Stow family attorney says Stow was harassed during game....plus more Dodger news

Per LA Times, the family's attorney is claiming that Bryan Stow and his friends were subjected to "clear signs of intimidation" during the game, and security failed to address it.

Daily News reports that the attorney for Giovanni Ramirez' family members is saying that the suspect's 10-year-old daughter is willing to testify that her father was not at Dodger Stadium that day.

The Astros are a welcome sight to Ted Lilly's sore eyes, according to MLB.com.  

Casey Blake could return as soon as Friday, says Don Mattingly.  

The Dodgers are going to have have to make some moves next year to bolster their lineup, writes Jon Weisman in Dodger Thoughts.

Gotta move them somehow. $7 Dodger tickets available at Groupon.

Rhianna-less Matt Kemp is having fun again....plus more Dodger news

Now that the pop star is out of his love life, Kemp is enjoying baseball and life again. Perhaps not so much as Russell Martin, who likes to paint the town and his nails (courtesy of Vin Scully is My Homeboy).

Other Dodger-related news:

Per Jon Weisman, Dioner Navarro's double, which set up last night's go-ahead run, couldn't have played out any better for the Astros.

The Dodgers are on course to have the worst May in their Los Angeles history, writes Tony Jackson at Dodger Thoughts. And via Twitter, Jackson reveals that Bill Hall wanted to sign with the Dodgers last winter.

Giovanni Ramirez' lawyer tells TMZ that his client has an alibi.

MLB Trade Rumors examines Dodger contract issues for 2010: "The Dodgers could see quite a bit of turnover next year."

Photo of alleged attacker Giovanni Ramirez

Picture removed at the request of Mary Grady, LAPD Public Information Director (per Twitter).

Mother of Giovanni Ramirez says he's innocent

Per Eric Leonard of KFI via his Twitter feed: "my son is innocent" and he "doesn't like baseball."