Information Detail
05/17/2013
On Friday, May 17, 2013 at approximately 4:30 a.m. a Swedish family of 7 were walking West Bound on Sepulveda Blvd, approaching Normandie and the 110 Freeway. A local citizen called Carson Sheriff's station and indicated that a male with the family was asking for help near the 900 block of West Sepulveda Blvd. Carson Sheriff's Deputies responded and made contact with the family and transported the family to the Carson Sheriff's Station. Caslav (Father), Alexander (Mother), and their two ten year old twins, 14 year old daughter, 17 year old daughter and 2 year old daughter were extremely upset and unable to communicate with Deputies because of a language barrier.
Reserve Forces Bureau Sgt. Britta Kjellstrand, who speaks Swedish, responded to Carson Station and interpreted for the family and was able to find out that the family had traveled from Sweden for a family graduation. Sgt. Kjellstrand spent over 3 hours talking to the Trandafilovic family and gave them "good old American" hamburgers and fries that afternoon. The Sheriff's Department assessed that the family were not victim's of crime, however had depleted their whole financial savings on return trip tickets back to Stockholm, Sweden due to a family emergency. They had travel arrangements back to Sweden on Sunday, May 19, 2013 but had found themselves without a place to stay, food or money. Sgt. Kjellstrand reached out to Sheriff's Department Reserve Forces and was able to obtain funds for hotel accommodations, food and transportation to the airport for the family. Reserve Assistant Sheriff Jerry Goddard also contributed to the family to ensure their well being. Sgt. Kjellstrand and Reserve Sheriff Sheriff Goddard transported the family to a local hotel in Carson, stayed in direct contact with them and made sure they were safe. The Trandafilovic family was exhausted after experiencing 5 days of travel, a time change, a family emergency, and no money.
On Saturday, May 18, 2013 Sgt. Kjellstrand spent the afternoon with the family and had pizza with them as the kids swam in the hotel pool. On Sunday, May 19, 2013 at approximately 12:00 p.m. the Trandafilovic family were transported to LAX airport for their return to Stockholm, Sweden.
"Helping this family couldn't have been possible without the collaborative effort of the Sheriff's Carson Sheriff's Station, International Liaison, Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau, and Reserve Forces Bureau. Being a Natural born Swedish citizen and now an American citizen, I can completely understand the Swedish culture and the difficulty that this family has endured especially not knowing the language. We were able to bring some security to a devastated family of seven through the kindness and generosity of others, said Sgt. Kjellstrand.
Prepared by:
Public Information Officer Nicole Nishida
(323) 810-1973
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
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