Darrell Wayne Rolen, 54

Sept. 1, 2012

Darrell Wayne Rolen, a 54-year-old black man, was stabbed to death Saturday, Sept. 1, in the 10100 block of Alondra Boulevard in Bellflower, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Deputies responding to a 2:50 a.m. disturbance call found Rolen's body at a home, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Kim Manatt said.

The victim's preliminary coroner's report shows he sustained a stab wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rolen's girlfriend was found inside the home, arrested and booked on suspicion of homicide, Manatt said. Bail was set at $1 million, she said.

Anyone with more information about the stabbing is asked to contact Dets. Brown or Martinez at the Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Kurt Streeter

Share a memory or thought about Darrell Wayne Rolen

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

Two reader comments

Darrell Rolen: SOTECH and VIPER Lose an Inspirational Leader
Our team and family mourn the tragic and sudden loss of one of our leaders and greatest inspirations, Darrell Rolen. After experiencing severe PTSD from surviving two shipboard fires, Darrell lived homeless on the streets of Los Angeles, including 5 years living under a bridge next to the Good Year blimp park and near the SOTech plant. While at the VA hospital, Darrell joined the VIPER program and finally showing his strength and vision Darrel achieved his own apartment and car. Not only did Darrell power through his own issues, but he led his fellow vets in the program and inspired them with his huge heart. Drawing from his leadership experience as a Navy Boatswain’s Mate, Darrel organized his team to contact California legislators to urge support for the single use plastic bag ban. Darrel was supremely honored to be one of three VIPER vets featured in a recent Los Angeles Times article (see: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/27/local/la-me-green-vets-20120827). In tragic irony, Darrel was quoted in the article saying that his greatest fear while living under the bridge was dying unknown on the street. In his last week, Darrel’s face carried a glow of pride. VIPER’s director, Jim Cragg coordinated with Good Year who generously offered to fly Darrell and his team in the blimp above the area where he had lived on the street. On Friday of that week, Darrell proudly presented a report on the legislative phone calls his team had completed when Jim told him of Good Year’s promise. Darrel couldn’t have been prouder, commenting on the wonder of having lived on that street and the chance to fly over it in the blimp. Not having a watch, Darrell said he had marked the beginning and end of his days by watching the blimp take off and later be secured. According to his team mates, Darrell with his new found self esteem intended to confront his abusive girlfriend. At some point between his conversation with Mr. Cragg and 2:45AM, Darrell Rolen was stabbed in the heart and his girlfriend was arrested on the scene by the LA County Sheriff’s Department. In a final testament to the great things that this once homeless man had done, Darrell spent his last month working at SOTECH assembling thousands of IED sensor harnesses that will measure the blast wave affects that cause Traumatic Brain Injury. These harnesses will not only help the thousands of soldiers going downrange wearing them, but the metrics analyzed from these devices will hopefully help treat the thousands of veterans out there who suffered from TBI from the last decade of war. Darrell will be buried in uniform this Saturday. The City of Santa Monica plans to mount a plaque on Santa Monica pier to honor Darrell’s work for the environment. The Los Angeles City Council plans to adjourn a session in his honor for his civic dedication. And Heal the Bay staff attended his wake in honor of his commitment to cleaning the sea.

— Major C Sept. 14, 2012 at 6:21 p.m.