.........
Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
 

Los Angeles
Police Protective League
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
the union that represents the
rank and file LAPD officers

  Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League

April 28, 2016

Law Enforcement

Former Los Angeles Police Chief Willie Wiliams dies at 72
Funeral services were pending Thursday for Willie Williams, who became the first black chief of the Los Angeles Police Department in the aftermath of the L.A. riots.  Williams, 72, died Tuesday night at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia. A relative said he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Williams served as LAPD chief from June 30, 1992, to May 17, 1997. He became the city's top cop following the resignation of Chief Daryl Gates in the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He came to Los Angeles after serving four years as Philadelphia's police commissioner -- the first black person to hold that position. Williams was a Philadelphia police officer for more than 20 years. '
Fox 11

Crackdown on Skid Row drug dealing won't stop ‘evil people' who sell
The pre-dawn arrest Wednesday of a suspected drug kingpin and his associates accused of selling narcotics in Los Angeles' Skid Row likely won't alleviate a complicated substance abuse cycle deeply embedded in downtown's homeless, advocates said.  The coordinated sweep, led by the Los Angeles Police Department, netted 16 arrests, including that of alleged leader Derrick Turner of Cerritos, said LAPD spokeswoman Officer Rosario Herrera.  “At this time, it's an ongoing, serious investigation,” Herrera said, adding that the recent sweep was connected to an arrest made in early March. That arrest led to police to $1.8 million in cash, five firearms, 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 13 pounds of cocaine and 20 pounds of heroin.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police release surveillance footage in fatal attack of 23-year-old
Police released surveillance footage Wednesday in hopes of generating tips that lead to three suspects who attacked and fatally stabbed a 23-year-old in the Westlake district of Los Angeles. "Anybody should be able to walk anywhere in L.A., so there is no wrong place, wrong time,'' LAPD Capt. Jeff Nolte said. "What we have here is multiple suspects attacking one single victim.'' Oscar Lazo was involved in a fight with three male suspects about 10 p.m. last June 23 in the area of Rockwood Street and Union Avenue and died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. No weapon was recovered.
Fox 11

39-year-old man pleads not guilty to killing transgender woman on Skid Row
A man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge stemming from the Skid Row shooting death of a transgender woman whom he had dated.  Daniel Molayem, 39, is charged in the March 23 killing of Kourtney Yochum, 32.  Molayem is also charged with one count of assault with a firearm involving another alleged victim.  Molayem was arrested shortly after the shooting at Fifth and San Pedro streets. Witnesses said the victim was walking on a sidewalk just steps from her home at the Gateway Apartments, a supportive housing complex on Skid Row, when she was shot in the head.
MyNewsLA.com

Fatal Crash Prompts Lane Closures on 105 Freeway
Three lanes were closed on the 105 Freeway after a fatal car crash near South Los Angeles, authorities said.  The crash was reported around 2:15 a.m. near Central Avenue on the westbound 105 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.  A woman was killed after a Ford Fusion spun out and hit another vehicle, according to the CHP.  The driver that hit with the other vehicle was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the CHP.
NBC 4

Caught On Cellphone Video: Deputies Chase Naked, Handcuffed Inmate Down 5 Freeway
It was a different kind of chase on the 5 Freeway Wednesday.  The man deputies were chasing didn't have a vehicle — or pants.  A man being taken to jail somehow escaped while he was in handcuffs near San Fernando.  He made a break for freedom, somehow getting his arms under his legs in the back of a patrol vehicle. A witness captured the bizarre pursuit on his cellphone video. Authorities said the man was able to kick out a window of the vehicle and made a run for it — naked. It happened during the morning commute.  Cars had to come to a complete halt and brake suddenly as the naked man weaved in and out of traffic. “All of a sudden, everybody starts slowing down, slamming their brakes. And then I see a naked guy, “said the man who shot the cellphone video. “And I see two police officers following him. It was insane. Everyone just starts slamming their brakes.”
CBS 2

Los Angeles Acting Coach Sentenced To 6 Years In Sexual Assault Case
An acting coach, who appeared in the film "Jurassic Park," has been sentenced to six years in state prison for driving a 13-year-old student to the Santa Monica Mountains and sexually assaulting her.  Cameron Thor, 56, must also register as a sex offender, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Martin Herscovitz ruled. Thor was found guilty in August of one count of lewd acts on a child with a special allegation of substantial sexual contact.  Authorities said the victim took private classes at Thor's home in Agoura Hills. In March 2009, Thor took the girl into the mountains, where he sexually assaulted her.  Thor, who was arrested in 2014, is best known for his acting roles in "Jurassic Park," "A Few Good Men" and "Windtalkers," according to IMDb.
ABC 7

LAUSD Police Officer Charged With Attempted Child Sex Trafficking
A Los Angeles Unified School District police officer was taken into federal custody Wednesday on charges of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.  Mauricio Edgardo Estrada, who has been placed on administrative leave by the school district, surrendered to authorities after he was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.  Prosecutors say Estrada, 28, responded to a Craigslist advertisement promising sex with a minor on April 20. He allegedly exchanged emails and text messages with an undercover agent whom he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, and agreed to pay $150 for sex.
CBS 2

LA Sheriff's Chief of Staff Under Fire for Offensive Emails
A top Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department official forwarded emails with jokes containing derogatory stereotypes of Muslims, blacks, Latinos, women and others from his work account during his previous job with the Burbank Police Department, it was reported Wednesday.  Tom Angel, Sheriff Jim McDonnell's chief of staff, sent the emails in 2012 and 2013 when he was the No. 2 police official in Burbank, hired to reform a department reeling from allegations of police brutality, racism and sexual  harassment, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing city records. McDonnell told The Times he was disappointed by the emails but he had no immediate plans to discipline Angel even though "it's a shame the whole
thing happened at all."
NBC 4

Internet poker inches closer to legalization in California
After years of gridlock, a bill that would help legalize Internet poker in California advanced out of a legislative committee on Wednesday after its author said there has been “serious progress toward consensus” between many competing interests in the gambling industry.  The measure by Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) would allow Internet poker websites to be operated by Native American tribes that operate casinos in partnerships with card clubs. Federal approval would also be required.   It would give at least $60 million annually to the horse-racing industry to compensate it for being excluded from Internet poker and for losing revenue to tribal gambling casinos. The provision on subsidizing the horse-race industry removes one stumbling block that has prevented an agreement in the past.
Los Angeles Times

California gun sales spiking in 2016
California has seen a surge in gun sales in recent months, with background checks hitting new highs, continuing trends that began after last year's terrorist attack in San Bernardino.  KPCC obtained data on firearms sales from the California Department of Justice, which tracks them through a system known as the Dealer's Record of Sale.  As of April 15, the data show more than 44,000 firearms sold in Los Angeles so far this year, and another 21,000 sold in both Orange and Riverside. Nearly 20,000 firearms have been sold in San Bernardino County.
KPCC 89.3

City Government News

L.A.'s water wasters will soon face heavier fines and audits
As regulators mull softening the state's drought restrictions amid outcry from some Northern California water districts, water wasters in Los Angeles will soon face stiffer fines and water audits under a plan approved this week by Mayor Eric Garcetti. Under the city's amended water conservation plan, which will take effect Tuesday, the Department of Water and Power will be able to fine residents between $1,000 and $40,000 a month for what it deems “unreasonable use” of water when the city is in an elevated phase of its emergency drought plan.
Los Angeles Times

Garcetti's proposal to spend $138M on homelessness goes to council
The Los Angeles City Council's Budget and Finance Committee took a closer look Wednesday at Mayor Eric Garcetti‘s proposal to spend $138 million to address homelessness as it began hearings on a proposed $8.76 billion budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year.  The homelessness funding was proposed in response to a commitment by Garcetti and other city leaders last year that the city spend $100 million to end homelessness.  Garcetti's proposed homelessness funding includes $64.7 million from the general fund, which is typically used for the day-to-day operation of city services, public safety and employee salaries.
City News Services

County Government News

County officials look to parcel tax to help L.A.'s park-poor communities
In Malibu, sandwiched between a sprawling national recreation area and a 13-mile beachfront, an abundance of parkland is one of the community's many charms. The city has on average 13 acres of parks for each 1,000 residents.  But miles away in the San Gabriel Valley communities of El Monte and South El Monte, the picture is far bleaker: El Monte has less than half an acre of parkland per 1,000 residents and South El Monte has just slightly more.  In a report issued Wednesday, Los Angeles County officials sought to highlight such disparities to help build support for a parcel tax that officials are considering for the November ballot.
Los Angeles Times

NFL  News

Rams Fans To Celebrate During NFL Draft Party In Downtown LA
The Los Angeles Rams official draft party will take place Thursday at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The event, which will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., marks the first public appearance for the 2016 Rams cheerleaders. The private party will feature family-friendly activities, localentertainment, appearances from current players along with alumni, and a beer garden. Kara Henderson-Snead, a former NFL Network analyst and wife of Rams General Manager Les Snead, will emcee the event to help the team kick off the draft. The Rams and Eagles have traded up to secure the top two spots, where they have said they will take quarterbacks. Analysts say it's likely that San Diego will determine the flow tonight. What will the Chargers do with the third selection?
CBS 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at:

www.LAPD.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~