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EDITOR'S NOTE: The following group of articles is but a small percentage of the info available to the community policing and neighborhood activist. It is by no means meant to cover every possible issue of interest, nor is it meant to convey any particular point of view.
We present this simply as a convenience to our readership.
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MJ Goyings
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Many thanks to our very own "MJ" Goyings, a resident of Ohio,
for her daily research that provides us with the news related material that appears on the LACP & NAASCA web sites. |
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Law Enforcement News
Teen Charged With Murder In Death Of Washington Officer
After a night of drinking at a quinceañera to celebrate a girl's 15th birthday, 16-year-old Emiliano Garcia and a group of friends met up at El Habanero, a Kent bar and restaurant on West Meeker Street, and continued drinking beer despite being underage. As the bar was closing early Sunday, Garcia's friends and a group of older men got into an argument outside. Guns were drawn and dozens of shots were fired into the air. Police would later collect 39 shell casings in three different calibers from four different weapons off the pavement. As far as police can tell, no one was hit.
The Seattle Times |
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Milwaukee Police Officer Killed In Shootout Identified
A Milwaukee officer who "was loved by everyone" died during an exchange of gunfire in a house where police were searching for a man suspected of drug dealing and domestic violence, the city's police chief said Thursday. The lone suspect, who was not injured in the shooting Wednesday, was arrested after he ran out of bullets and surrendered, Chief Alfonso Morales said at a news conference. Morales said the officer was Michael Michalski, 52, a 17-year veteran of the department who leaves behind a wife and three sons.
Associated Press |
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Off-Duty Deputy Stabbed In Boyle Heights
An off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy is expected to survive after being stabbed in Boyle Heights, authorities said. The stabbing was reported sometime before 6 a.m. In the 3400 block of East 1st Street. The deputy did not require transport to a hospital, the sheriff's department said. The exact nature of the deputy's injuries were not disclosed. The circumstances leading up to the stabbing were not confirmed. There was no immediate suspect description. Los Angeles police are investigating.
CBS 2 |
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Man Charged With Stabbing Adoptive Fathers In Sherman Oaks
A 21-year-old man was charged Thursday with repeatedly stabbing his two adoptive fathers at their home in Sherman Oaks. Matthew Boulet is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in a Van Nuys courtroom on two counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated mayhem stemming from the Tuesday morning attack in the 4600 block of Burnet Avenue. The charges include allegations that Boulet used a knife in the commission of the attack and inflicted great bodily injury on the two victims.
NBC 4 |
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VIDEO: Purse-Snatching Suspects Rob, Drag Woman In Koreatown
Police are looking for information that might lead to the capture of the persons who mugged a woman in Koreatown parking lot before dragging her several feet. Judy Cho was with her mother picking up food for a family member's birthday party at Rodeo Galleria Sunday afternoon when she was attacked and her purse was taken by a man who quickly jumped into a getaway car. “All of a sudden, somebody pulled me from the back, and the next thing I know, I'm on the ground, there's a car, I'm dragged,” said Cho, who had scrapes and bruises on her arm, back and feet.
CBS 2 |
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LAPD Seizes Fake Adidas Merchandise Worth More Than $200K In Santee Alley
Los Angeles police seized fake Adidas clothing estimated to have a street value worth more than $200,000 during a raid at a Santee Alley store, officials announced Tuesday. The Los Angeles Police Department served warrants on three distributors and arrested two people as part of the bust. Among the products seized were fake soccer jerseys, which saw a boom in counterfeits possibly due to the FIFA World Cup tournament. Officials from Adidas flew to Los Angeles to monitor the crackdown.
ABC 7 |
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Police: Suspect In Queens Nurse's Death Found Holding Another Woman Captive In L.A. Hotel
Police say they finally caught up with a man wanted in connection with the death of a nurse in Queens, discovering the suspect on the other side of the country with another woman held captive in a Los Angeles hotel room. Danueal Drayton, 27, of New Haven, Conn., was taken into custody Thursday.The hunt began after 29-year-old nurse Samantha Stewart was found dead inside her bedroom at her family home in Springfield Gardens, Queens, on July 17. Police say Stewart suffered trauma to her head and neck.
CBS 2 |
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Jurors Blame L.A. Social Workers For Repeated Sexual Abuse Of El Monte Girl And Award Her $45 Million
Jurors awarded $45.4 million Thursday to a girl who suffered two years of sexual abuse in an El Monte home where county social workers left her despite evidence showing that an accused molester lived in the house. The Department of Children and Family Services, jurors found, ignored warning signs of potential abuse and failed to tell police what they knew, leaving the then-7-year-old to be molested by at least four men whom her mother invited into the home.
Los Angeles Times |
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Man Found With Weapons, Ammo Hours Before 2016 LA Pride Parade Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison
The man found in Santa Monica hours before the 2016 LA Pride Parade with weapons, ammunition and more was sentenced to seven years in prison. James Howell pleaded no contest to three charges on Wednesday - one count each of unlawful assault weapon activity, possession of a destructive device on a public road or highway and possession of a destructive device. He was then immediately sentenced to seven years and four months in state prison. The 22-year-old was arrested in his car before the 2016 parade. He told detectives he planned to attend the parade in West Hollywood, but he has never admitted he planned to harm anyone.
ABC 7 |
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New Privacy Law Takes Center Stage
California's new Consumer Privacy Act gives consumers the nation's strongest protections for their personal data, backers contend. But business interests, including the California Chamber of Commerce, and tech associations call the law a “serious threat to the economy” that will result in a barrage of class-action lawsuits without providing benefits to consumers. The new law, which was approved by Gov. Jerry Brown in June and goes into effect in 2020, gives consumers the right to access their personal information collected by big businesses. It gives them the right to delete it, the right to know what information is being sold and the right to stop businesses from selling their information.
Capitol Weekly |
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Public Safety News
Firefighter Killed As Out-Of-Control Carr Fire Rips Into Redding, Sending Residents Fleeing
An erratic and fast moving fire in Shasta County turned deadly as thousands of residents were sent fleeing for their lives late Thursday night after the blaze jumped the Sacramento River and sent a wall of flames into Redding. A contract firefighter operating a bulldozer was killed in an active part of the fire and several firefighters and residents were injured, Cal Fire officials said. “This fire is making a significant push into the northwestern part of Redding,” Cal Fire Unified Incident Commander Chief Brett Gouvea said in a news briefing late Thursday. “We ask everyone to heed evacuation orders and leave promptly. This fire is extremely dangerous and moving with no regard with what's in its path.”
San Francisco Chronicle |
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Potential Charges Against Cranston Fire Arson Suspect More Than Double
A Temecula man in custody for allegedly sparking the wildfire that has destroyed five homes and burned through thousands of acres in the Idyllwild area is likely to face several additional charges when the Riverside County District Attorney's Office files its complaint. Few details have emerged publicly about Brandon N. McGlover, 32, who was arrested Wednesday, July 25, on suspicion of five counts of arson in connection with the Cranston fire. A possible motive for the alleged arson also remained a mystery.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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What Gov. Brown's Emergency Declaration Means For Cranston Fire Victims
Gov. Jerry Brown's declaration of a state of emergency Thursday, July 26, for Riverside County as the Cranston fire burns in the San Jacinto Mountains brings state resources into play for both fighting the fire and helping during the recovery once it's brought under control. The declaration clears the way for state personnel, equipment and facilities not normally available to work in the local emergency, under the direction of the state Office of Emergency Services, and for the OES to provide local government assistance to Riverside County.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Local Government News
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl Will Be New Chair Of Metro's Board Of Directors
Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, whose district includes a large swath of the San Fernando Valley, will be chairwoman of the 13-member Metro Board of Directors, according to Metro. She will replace Board Chairman Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “I am honored and very much looking forward to leading the board over the coming year,” Kuehl said in a statement. “We have a great number of truly exciting projects and initiatives coming to fruition and I look forward to continuing our focus on our riders and employees, especially regarding the ways in which our programs impact women, who have their own unique experiences and concerns.”
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Greenbelt Taking Shape Along LA River In Long Beach
The 57-acre master plan to create a greenbelt along the Los Angeles River continues to take shape in Long Beach. The Drake Chavez Greenbelt took an abandoned area and turned it into an active park. Now, the area has landscaped open space, walking trails and picnic tables. There's also a multi-purpose grass field and a new artificial turf soccer pitch, the city's second turf field. The greenbelt links Cesar E. Chavez Park to both Drake Park and Loma Vista Park.
ABC 7 |
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Law Enforcement News
LAPD Officer Lost His Leg But Not His Desire To Protect And Serve
When LAPD Officer Nick Wiltz gears up for work, it's not that simple. He's the only field officer with a prosthetic leg. KCAL9's Jeff Nguyen spoke to Wiltz about his return to work and his new challenges. How's it feel to be back in your uniform?, Wiltz was asked. “It feels amazing,” he said. CBS2/KCAL9 first met him in July of 2016 — when he graduated at the top of his class from the academy. He graduated following the deadly shooting attacks against police officers in Dallas. “If something tragic happens, you don't get a moment to pause. You have to get back out there to serve the community,” he said at the time. Only two-months later, Wiltz lost his left leg in an off-duty crash.
CBS 2 |
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Arizona Trooper Killed, Another Wounded In Highway Shooting
Arizona's public safety director says the suspect in the killing of a state trooper and the wounding of another somehow managed to get the gun of one of the two troopers. Col. Frank Milstead says the unidentified male suspect used the gun to shoot both troopers late Wednesday night along Interstate 10 in the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear. The trooper who died was a rookie still in training who graduated from the Arizona Department of Public Safety's academy in May. Milstead did not say whether the suspect got the gun of that trooper or the trooper who was wounded.
Associated Press |
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Chief: Milwaukee Officer Was Killed By Gun, Drug Suspect
A Milwaukee police officer was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire with a man wanted for drug and gun crimes, the city's police chief said. The lone suspect was arrested and was not injured in the shooting Wednesday evening, Chief Alfonso Morales said at a news conference. Police have not released the names of the suspect and the officer killed — the second Milwaukee officer to die in the line of duty in the last two months. Officers went to a residence on the city's north side looking for a suspect wanted for gun and drug offenses around 5 p.m., Morales said.
Associated Press |
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LAPD Chief Moore Visits Silver Lake Trader Joe's Memorial
LAPD Chief Michel Moore visited the Silver Lake Trader Joe's where a woman was shot and killed in crossfire during a pursuit that turned into a hostage situation. Hetty Chang reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on July 24, 2018.
NBC 4 Video |
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Landmark Roman Catholic Church Vandalized In North Hollywood
Parishioners looking to attend mass at a landmark Roman Catholic in North Hollywood Wednesday stumbled upon a crime scene instead. The church's sanctuary was heavily damaged by an intruder early that morning, the Los Angeles police department said. "I'm just so upset over what's going on in our world, what is going on in our world?" said Willow Hale, one of those parishioners. "What has our world come to?" The vandalism at St. Charles Borromeo Church at Lankershim Boulevard and Moorpark Street occurred between 4:45 a.m. and 5:10 a.m., the LAPD reported.
NBC 4 |
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USC Football Player Charged With Injuring Girlfriend Just 12 Days After Being Released from Jail
A former USC football player was charged with attacking his girlfriend just weeks after being released from jail for another domestic violence conviction, authorities announced Wednesday. Joseph Lewis, 18, faces one felony count of injuring his girlfriend during a July 18 dispute, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Lewis allegedly punched, scratched and strangled her just 12 days after being released from jail. Earlier this year, Lewis was arrested, charged and convicted for two other incidents of domestic battery that occurred in February.
KTLA 5 |
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Opioid Dependence Becoming Growing Problem Among Seniors
The opioid epidemic has exploded across headlines, but the one group that's often overlooked is seniors. An analysis of a recent study showed more than 500,000 Medicare recipients received high doses of opioids in 2016 and the average dose exceeded the manufacturer's recommended amount. It's a problem that's been under the radar among older Americans, but is rapidly coming into focus as awareness increases. John Evard Jr. is 71 years old. The retired corporate tax attorney enjoys spending time playing golf, but it wasn't long ago that his life was vastly different.
ABC 7 |
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Kentucky Troopers Receive Fentanyl Protection Gear
Kentucky State Police troopers have received another tool to combat the opioid crisis. Troopers will now be equipped with fentanyl response kits to help them avoid contact with the drug. The kits include full-body suits, respirator masks, fentanyl protective gloves, safety glasses and a portable gear bag. The kits were purchased with $25,000 in grant funds from Passport Health Plan.
WLKY-TV |
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Public Safety News
22-Year-Old L.A. Firefighter Dies While Off-Duty In Ventura County
A Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter died while off duty in Ventura County, officials announced this week. Peter D. Varnum was 22 and had been working for the department since March, LAFD said in a statement. He was most recently assigned to a station in North Hollywood. It is unclear how or where exactly he died. “We are grateful to the Ventura County Fire Department for their efforts to assist Firefighter Varnum and we extend our deepest condolences to his family at this time,” LAFD officials said in a statement.
KTLA 5 |
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Arson Suspect Arrested As Fast-Moving Fire Destroys Structures, Threatens Hundreds More Near Idyllwild
A fast-moving fire swept toward the mountain community of Idyllwild on Wednesday, burning 4,700 acres and five residential structures while threatening hundreds of homes. The Cranston fire began about noon and spread rapidly, San Bernardino National Forest officials said. It has forced evacuations of more than 2,100 homes and is sending a massive tower of smoke rising over the San Jacinto Mountains. By 10:15 p.m. it was 5% contained. Authorities said a suspected arsonist set multiple fires — including the Cranston fire— in Riverside County on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Times |
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California Panel Begins Deliberations Over Utilities' Wildfire Liability
With eight major wildfires burning across the state Wednesday, a special legislative committee held its first public hearing in response to last year's fiery North Bay disaster, including the contentious political and economic issue of how much liability PG&E should bear for damages estimated at $10 billion. The bipartisan committee, co-chaired by state Sen Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and including Assemblyman Jim Wood, D-Santa Rosa, heard from a panel of witnesses and dozens of people in a standing-room-only crowd at the State Capitol.
The Press Democrat |
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Local Government News
LA Metro Plans To Near-Double Height Of 210 Freeway Concrete Barriers To Prevent Cars Landing On Gold Line Train Tracks
In eight spectacular crashes during the last five years, cars and trucks have spun, tumbled and soared over concrete freeway barriers — one crashed straight through — landing on the Gold Line train tracks running down the center of the 210 Freeway, disrupting passenger service and snarling traffic. So far, the flying tons of metal have not struck a train, sometimes situated just yards away — a miracle, many say. Train and roadway managers agree it's time to fix it before a more deadly accident occurs, and people stop riding the popular light-rail line that gets cars off the freeway and reduces pollutants.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Federal Bill Could Help Fund Relocation Of San Pedro Butane Storage Tanks
For years, San Pedro residents have agitated to remove the huge tanks that store butane on Gaffey Street, arguing that they pose a deadly threat to nearby homes and schools. Now a congresswoman is trying to put federal money behind that cause, arguing that “the risk is too great should an accident occur.” U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro) unveiled a bill this week that would help fund the relocation of such facilities away from homes and schools.
Los Angeles Times |
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Law Enforcement News
A Wild Chase, A Gun Battle, Then Tragedy As Officer's Bullet Kills Trader Joe's Employee
Two Los Angeles police officers tore through traffic on Rowena Avenue on Saturday afternoon in a high-speed pursuit of an attempted murder suspect driving a Toyota Camry. Suddenly, the back window of the Camry shattered. “Shots fired!” the police officer at the wheel shouted to his partner as he swerved into oncoming lanes. Forty-five seconds later, the Camry veered into a utility pole in front of a Trader Joe's and the driver bolted for the entrance, firing his gun wildly from his hip, according to dashboard and body-cam footage released by the Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday. The officers had less than two seconds to react before the gunman fled into a store full of shoppers. But a bad shot could hit a bystander. The video showed a man by the entrance and another behind the wreck, but not who was behind the glass front doors. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers, issued a statement expressing sorrow for Corado's death, but saying the officers faced an “impossible choice” between opening fire or allowing an armed suspect to run into a crowded market. “While it is easy to second guess the split-second decisions officers are forced to make when bullets are flying at them, our officers made the right call to try and protect as many innocent people as possible,” according to the union.
Los Angeles Times , MyNewsLA |
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3 Teens Arrested After Washington Officer Killed In Pursuit
Three teenage suspects are now in custody in connection with a police chase that led to a suburban Seattle officer being struck and killed by a pursuing officer in a patrol car. Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla said at a news conference Monday that a passenger in the suspect vehicle was arrested with the help of a police dog after the incident early Sunday that killed Officer Diego Moreno. Two other suspects, including the 16-year-old driver, have since been arrested, he said.
Associated Press |
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Man In Dallas LEO's Death Returns To Jail, Has Bond Reinstated
The man suspected of fatally striking a Dallas officer was returned to jail after a police union demanded his bond be increased, but a judge reinstated his bond. On Tuesday, 25-year-old Adrian Breedlove had his original bond of $76,000 reinstated after being re-arrested and returned to jail, CBS DFW reported. Breedlove, who's suspected of drunk driving, is accused of striking and killing Sr. Cpl. Earl Jamie Givens over the weekend. Givens was working the funeral of a fellow officer on Saturday when he was hit.
PoliceOne |
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Suspect Arrested In Shooting That Critically Wounded Florida Officer
Police said they arrested the man they believe shot and critically wounded a Florida officer. On Monday, Fort Myers police said 29-year-old Wisner Desmaret faces charges of attempted murder in connection to the shooting of Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, NorthJersey.com reported. Chief Derrick Diggs said Jobbers-Miller was fighting for his life as he recovers at a hospital, where he's listed in critical, but stable condition. Diggs said on Saturday, Jobbers-Miller responded with other officers to a gas station where a suspect, later identified as Desmaret, reportedly assaulted a group of young men and stole a cellphone from their car.
PoliceOne |
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LAPD Officials Defend Predictive Policing As Activists Call For Its End
Early each morning, computers spit out maps of Los Angeles, marked with red squares where a complex algorithm has judged that property crimes are most likely to occur. As police officers patrol the streets, they keep these areas in mind, perhaps taking a detour to pass through on the way to a call, or warning people not to leave valuables in their cars. But so-called predictive policing and other ways that the Los Angeles Police Department uses data to fight crime are sounding alarm bells for civil liberty and privacy groups, who engaged in a heated debate with department brass at a Police Commission meeting Tuesday.
Los Angeles Times |
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LAPD Seeking Answers After Man Found Dead Along PCH In Pacific Palisades; Homicide Investigation Underway
LAPD officials are asking for the public's help after a man was found dead along Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades Saturday, LAPD officials announced Tuesday. The body was found in heavy brush by a person walking in the woods near Temescal Canyon Road about 1:30 p.m., Los Angeles Police Detective John Lamberti told KTLA. The man appears to be in his mid 20s and had multiple injuries, Lamberti said without elaborating. He added that it was "very apparent" that he was the victim of a homicide. The exact cause of death remains unknown, however LAPD officials released two booking photos of the victim from previous run ins with police last year and this year, but said they are having trouble identifying him, and no next of kin have been found, Lamberti said.
KTLA 5 |
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Silver Lake Trader Joe's Standoff Suspect Charged With Murder, 30 Other Counts
The man who allegedly shot his grandmother and fired at police during a chase that ended in a deadly shootout and standoff at a Silver Lake Trader Joe's has been charged with murder. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said Tuesday that Gene Evin Atkins, 28, was charged with a total of 31 counts. Atkins appeared in court briefly Tuesday and agreed to a rescheduling of his arraignment to Aug. 14. Bail was set at $18.775 million. The charges included: One count each of murder; kidnapping; fleeing a pursuing peace officer's motor vehicle while driving recklessly; grand theft of an automobile; driving or taking a vehicle without consent; discharge of a firearm with gross negligence; shooting at an occupied motor vehicle; and assault with a firearm.
ABC 7 |
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Man Wounded In Car-to-Car Shooting On Freeway In Sylmar
A man was shot in the leg in a car-to-car shooting on the Foothill (210) Freeway in Sylmar, authorities said Wednesday. About 11 p.m. Tuesday, two people in a late 1990's to early 2000's white Ford Explorer pulled alongside a silver Toyota Corolla and the passenger in the SUV fired five to six shots into the Corolla, striking the driver in the mid-thigh area, according to a statement from the California Highway Patrol. The victim pulled off the freeway and applied a tourniquet to his wound before calling for help, ABC7 reported. The victim was taken to a hospital in unknown condition.
MyNewsLA.com |
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Man Claiming He Destroyed Donald Trump's Walk Of Fame Star Turns Himself In
Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been destroyed again, this time by a man with a pick ax, who turned himself into police about an hour later. Police say the destruction was reported at about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, and the call was believed to have been made by the man who took a pick ax to the star. All that was left of the star was a jagged hole in the ground, and pieces of concrete and the star were left strewn about the sidewalk by the time police arrived.
CBS 2 |
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San Francisco Appeals Court: 2nd Amendment Grants Right To Carry Guns Openly
Americans have a constitutional right to carry guns openly outside the home, a federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Tuesday on an issue that has divided federal courts and is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 2-1 ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a case from Hawaii may not last long — it was written by one of the court's most conservative judges, Diarmuid O'Scannlain, whose previous decision striking down a California concealed-weapons law was overturned by the court's liberal majority.
San Francisco Chronicle |
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Local Government News
The Short And Not-So-Happy Life Of Sunland-Tujunga's Traffic Safety Banner Campaign
The colorful banners that were recently hoisted onto several light poles along Sunland-Tujunga streets to warn drivers to slow down and watch their speed were supposed to be up for a year. But they lasted only a week, before city officials ordered them taken down. The seemingly innocuous signs, preaching messages like “Drive Slower … Live Longer,” were removed one light pole at a time along Sunland and Foothill boulevards at around 6 a.m. Tuesday, the banner company's workers undoing the work they did on July 17, when the signs were installed as part of a traffic safety awareness campaign sponsored by the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. An aide for Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said the signs had not been properly approved.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Despite Controversy, Encino Multi-Family Residential Building Plan Moves Forward
A multi-family residential building project in Encino, which triggered debate for months, is moving forward. The Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted in support of the development of a 114-unit complex at 16161 West Ventura Boulevard. The project has drawn the ire of the residents and property owners who expressed concerns about the scale of the proposed development. Last year, the Encino Neighborhood Council voted against the project, stating specific concerns about the proposed building's height, traffic, privacy and parking.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Law Enforcement News
Florida Officer Critically Wounded In Shooting
A Florida police officer was critically wounded after being shot at a gas station. On Saturday, Fort Myers Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, 29, was responding to a call at a gas station when he was shot by a suspect, WFTX-TV reported. The officer was rushed to a hospital, where he's listed in critical but stable condition after undergoing surgery. Police said the suspect was also hurt and was taken into custody. Police haven't released the suspect's name or why Jobbers-Miller was called into the gas station in the first place.
PoliceOne |
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Washington Officer Killed During Pursuit Identified
A Washington police department has identified the officer who was killed after being struck by a patrol vehicle during a pursuit. The Kent Police Department identified the fallen officer as Officer Diego Moreno on Sunday night. Moreno was deploying spike strips during a pursuit when he was fatally struck. On Sunday morning, officers heard gunshots and arrived at a restaurant parking lot when they saw a red truck speeding away, according to KOMO News. An officer was pursuing the red truck when his patrol vehicle fatally struck Moreno at an intersection.
PoliceOne |
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Union Upset After ‘Extremely Low' Bail Set For Man In Dallas LEO's Death
Dallas' police union demanded answers after a man charged with fatally striking an officer during a funeral escort was given “an extremely low bail.” The Dallas Police Association released a statement Monday criticizing the bail set for Adrian Breedlove, who bonded out of jail after being charged with intoxication manslaughter, CBS DFW reported. Breedlove, who was suspected of drunken driving, is accused of striking and killing 55-year-old Sr. Cpl. Earl Jamie Givens. “It is reprehensible that Adrian Breedlove … was given a $76,000 bail allowing him to spend less than one day in jail,” DPA President Mike Mata said in the statement. “This was a violent death caused by a man whose blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.”
PoliceOne |
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Sherman Oaks Stabbing Leaves 2 Adoptive Fathers Critically Wounded; Adult Son Arrested
A man in his early 20s was arrested after he allegedly stabbed his two adoptive fathers early Tuesday morning at their home in Sherman Oaks, leaving both of the victims in critical condition, authorities said. According to LAPD investigators, the incident apparently stemmed from an argument involving the suspect who was home from college for the summer. Officers responded about 1 a.m. to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 4600 block of Burnet, where the son was taken into custody without incident. The wounded men were transported to a hospital and underwent surgery.
ABC 7 |
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LAPD Searches For Surveillance Video And Witnesses To Deadly Trader Joe's Shootout
The Trader Joe's market that was the scene of a deadly shootout and hostage crisis in Silver Lake over the weekend will remain closed until further notice, company officials said. The store was the final scene in a violent rampage allegedly perpetrated by 28-year-old Gene Atkins, who police said shot his grandmother in the South L.A. home they shared, kidnapped his girlfriend and led officers on a wild chase from Hollywood to the Trader Joe's market in the span of a few hours Saturday afternoon. When it was all over, Atkins was in custody and one store employee was dead — killed by gunfire from an unknown shooter.
Los Angeles Times |
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Trader Joe's Hostage Suspect Awaits Charges
A man's feud with his grandmother turned into a bizarre and deadly weekend confrontation that ended with a supermarket worker dead and dozens of people held hostage in a store miles away. Gene Evin Atkins, 28, was booked Sunday on suspicion of murder after an explosion of violence that a relative said may have been brewing for weeks. Melyda Corado, 27, was shot to death Saturday at a Trader Joe's market in the Silver Lake neighborhood after a gunfight that shattered the store's glass doors, witnesses said. “I'm sad to say she didn't make it. My baby sister. My world,” her brother, Albert Corado said on Twitter.
CBS 2 |
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Anthony Anderson Under Investigation By LAPD For Alleged Assault Of Woman
Actor Anthony Anderson is under criminal investigation by the LAPD for allegedly assaulting a woman, according to multiple reports. The star of ABC's “Black-ish” denies the allegation. According to celebrity news site The Blast, the alleged victim filed a police report with the LAPD Hollywood Division earlier this year following an event she catered for the actor. “It's unfortunate that anyone can file a police report whether it is true or false,” Anderson's rep said in a statement. “The authorities have not contacted Anthony or any of his representatives about this matter. Anthony unequivocally disputes the claim.”
CBS 2 |
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Former Palos Verdes High School Student Acquitted Of Murder Charge
A former Palos Verdes High School student was acquitted Monday of a first-degree murder charge stemming from a South Los Angeles gang shooting that left a 21-year-old man dead. After more than a week of deliberations, a downtown Los Angeles jury also acquitted Cameron Terrell, 18, of two counts of attempted murder involving two other men who were not injured in the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting that killed Justin Holmes. Prosecutors contended Terrell drove the getaway car in the shooting. Deputy District Attorney Adan Montalban told jurors during the trial that Terrell is a gang member.
FOX 11 |
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Two Men Awaiting Sentencing In 2016 Hollywood Rape Of German Tourist
One of two men convicted of raping a German tourist in Hollywood in 2016 is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday. Jurors on Friday found Otis Barway, 25, guilty of one count of forcible rape in concert. He's facing a maximum sentence of 9 1/2 years in prison. Co-defendant Kenneth Mack, 29, was convicted the same day of two counts of forcible rape in concert involving the tourist and another victim who was attacked on July 31, 2016, during a robbery. Mack, whose sentencing date is Sept. 18, faces up to 215 years to life behind bars. On Dec. 5, 2016, the two men lured the victim in the Hollywood attack to an isolated rooftop, knocked her to the ground and raped her, prosecutors said.
MyNewsLA.com |
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More California Kids Are Having Pot-Related Health Scares, Poison Control Officials Warn
State and local officials say they are alarmed by a spike in calls they have received to report children and teenagers ingesting marijuana products since California legalized cannabis for recreational use by adults in 2016. The number of calls to poison control centers involving people 19 and younger who were exposed to marijuana has steadily risen from 347 three years ago to 588 last year. In the first six months of this year, there have been 386 calls to poison control centers involving marijuana exposure by underage people. If that trend continues, there could be more than double the reports in 2018 as there were 2015.
Los Angeles Times |
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Public Safety News
3 Injured As Firefighters Stop Forward Progress On 90-Acre Brush In Stevenson Ranch Area
Three people suffered minor injuries as a brush fire burning in the Stevenson Ranch area spread quickly to 90 acres before forward progress was stopped on Monday afternoon, authorities said. The Pico Fire erupted in the 26000 block of West Pico Canyon Road shortly before 1 p.m. and quickly charred 4 to 5 acres, the Los Angeles County Fire Department tweeted. Within 45 minutes, the blaze had grown to 10 acres as it burned through medium to heavy brush in an oil field in the unincorporated Santa Susana Mountains.
KTLA 5 |
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Local Government News
LA To Enforce Bulky Item Code On Walk Of Fame Sidewalk Vendors
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has long been a place that street vendors openly sell food, T-shirts and novelty items, but the city of Los Angeles is beginning a program to push most of them off the busiest part of the boulevard by enforcing a section of the city's code that prohibits the storage of bulky items in the public right of way. The code, known as 56.11, has traditionally been used to prevent homeless encampments on sidewalks, but will be used to confiscate the items of street vendors on the Walk of Fame who set up tables or large carts to sell their goods.
NBC 4 |
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Metro To Convert LA Railroad Line Into Corridor For Pedestrians, Bicyclists
A former freight rail line could be the missing link in Metro's Rail to River Corridor. The unused rail line spans 10.6 miles and cuts through South L.A. to Inglewood. Officials say the underutilized railroad right-of-way can be converted into a pedestrian and bicycle corridor. The project area is largely composed of a mix of high-density neighborhoods, commercial centers and industrial uses.
ABC 7 |
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Law Enforcement News
Release Of LAPD Video Gives Public View Of Dangerous Job
The public release of video capturing critical police incidents before the investigations are completed could have unintended consequences that slant what must be an impartial investigation. Released video could taint juries, influence witnesses and negatively impact the direction and speed of the investigations. That's why the Los Angeles Police Protective League opposed the release of video evidence prior to the completion of the investigative process. However, if police departments are going to do it, then they ought to do it right. The Los Angeles Police Department and Police Commission are taking the right approach. Rather than releasing hours of random raw video clips, the LAPD releases police videos that provide the public the appropriate context, background and explanation of each incident. The result? A more informed viewing process for the public.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Man Suspected Of Fatally Shooting Hawaii LEO Found, Killed By Police
A man suspected of gunning down a Hawaii police officer was killed during a shootout with officers Friday after a three-day search across the Big Island, authorities said. Justin Waiki was killed and an officer was injured during the shootout, Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe told The Associated Press after receiving confirmation from the police chief. The officer was taken to Hilo Medical Center, Okabe said. Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim told the AP in a phone interview that the officer will survive. "Chief of police just called to say that the wounds were not life threatening, and he will be OK," the mayor said.
Associated Press |
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Man Charged In Shooting Of 2 Minnesota Police Officers
A 33-year-old man with mental health issues has been charged with attempted murder in a shooting that left two South St. Paul police officers injured. Prosecutors say Dustin Allen Bilderback of South St. Paul was charged Friday with multiple counts. The shooting happened Thursday after officers went to a group home to check on Bilderback. The complaint says officers arrived to find Bilderback outside with his mental health caseworker. While officers discussed a possible mental health hold, Bilderback pulled a shotgun from his car and began firing.
Associated Press |
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Suspect ID'd in wild Silver Lake Trader Joe's shootout that left store manager dead
A 28-year-old Los Angeles man has been identified as the suspect in a wild car chase and gun battle that left one woman dead and sparked panic inside a Trader Joe's store in Silver Lake, authorities said Sunday. Gene Atkins is being held in lieu of $2-million bail on suspicion of murder, according to Officer Drake Madison, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman. Investigators have said Atkins shot his grandmother and kidnapped another woman in South L.A. on Saturday before leading police on a chase that ended near the parking lot of the popular Hyperion Avenue grocery store.
Los Angeles Times |
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Children At Trader Joe's Rescued By LAPD
Officers rescued a group of children and a dog after an armed suspect opened fire and barricaded himself inside a Trader Joe's in the Hollywood area on Saturday, July 21, 2018.
NBC 4 Video |
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Man Fatally Injured, Woman Critically Injured At End Of Race In South L.A.
A man was killed when the SUV that he was in was broadsided by a BMW racing at 90 miles per hour or more on Central Avenue in South Los Angeles early Sunday. Police are seeking the driver of the other car, a white sedan that had been racing the 2009 BMW that both fatally injured a man and critically injured a woman. The sedan and BMW were racing southbound just after 1:30 a.m. on Central Avenue, approaching the 5000 block of Central Avenue, when a 2002 Ford SUV pulled out from the west driveway of a business — directly in the path of the oncoming vehicles, said Sgt. Kris Werner of the LAPD's Central Traffic Division.
MyNewsLA.com |
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Man Hit Twice In Car-To-Car Shooting In West Adams
A man was wounded in the neck and upper body Monday in a car-to-car shooting in the West Adams area of Los Angeles, authorities said. The shooting was reported at 2:03 a.m. at Exposition Boulevard and Buckingham Road, Sgt. Rick Boyle of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southwest Station said. Several shots were fired from one vehicle into the other and the suspect vehicle fled the scene, Boyle said. The only person hit was a passenger in the car that was fired upon.
MyNewsLA.com |
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Police Seek Man Seen Caught On Surveillance Video Attacking Unsuspecting Victim At In-N-Out In Palms
Officials are asking for the public's help finding a man who was caught on surveillance video attacking an unsuspecting victim outside an In-N-Out Burger in Palms, authorities announced Friday. The victims remains hospitalized three weeks after the assault occurred on June 30 outside the fast-food chain's location in the 9200 block of Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Scotty Stevens said. The assailant is seen on video punching the victim “without warning.” The victim then falls on the ground and is knocked unconscious, the video shows. The victim was taken to a hospital with “significant and severe head injuries,” for which he was still receiving treatment Friday.
KTLA 5 |
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Accused ‘Preppy Store Masher' Suspect Surrenders To LAPD
A young man accused of accosting several women while they were shopping at stores in Canoga Park and Woodland Hills, earning him the moniker of Preppy Store Masher, turned himself in Friday at the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Station. Alon Lerner, 22, who lives with his parents in Winnetka, was subsequently booked at the Van Nuys jail on suspicion of felony sexual battery, with bail set at $65,000, according to the LAPD. Lerner surrendered a day after the LAPD released security images of the suspect and asked for the public's help in identifying him.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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3 Syringes Found At Park Playground In Sherman Oaks
Parents are unnerved Friday after three syringes were found at a Sherman Oaks park playground. One syringe was initially found Thursday afternoon at the universal playground of the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department to issue a warning. The playground was cleared and shut down, and crews from L.A. Parks and Recreation went through the sand with a sifter and found two more syringes. Police say they are doing a full investigation to find out where the syringes came from, and are stepping up patrols at the park.
CBS 2 |
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Judge Doubts Mental Competence Of Mother Who Left Son At Union Station
The mother accused of abandoning her son at Union Station appeared in court Friday for a preliminary hearing. Dava Webster is facing one count of child endangerment. The judge determined there is a doubt to her mental competence and referred the case for evaluation. Investigators say Webster left her 6-year-old, who does not communicate, alone at the train station earlier this month. Webster was arrested when she returned to the station the next day. She faces up to six years in prison. The boy is now with relatives.
ABC 7 |
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Man Gets 21 Years To Life In Prison In Stabbing Death Of Toddler Daughter
Prosecutors say a man has been sentenced to 21 years to life in prison after fatally stabbing his toddler in his Los Angeles apartment and then setting the room on fire. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office says 50-year-old Noe Torres was sentenced Friday. Authorities say Torres stabbed his 13-month-old daughter during an argument with the girl's mother. The little girl died at the scene. Prosecutors say after stabbing his daughter, Torres then set his apartment on fire.
NBC 4 |
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2 Teens Rescued And 36 Arrested In Compton During Prostitution Sting
Two girls were rescued and 36 adults arrested during a human-trafficking operation this week in Compton, sheriff's officials announced on Friday. The Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Taskforce, along with sheriff's deputies from the Compton Station, conducted the undercover operation on Wednesday, arresting 21 men and 15 women, sheriff's Lt. Barry Hall said. The girls, ages 16 and 17, were identified as sexually exploited children, Hall said. One was released to the Department of Children and Family Services, and the other to the Probation Department after she was found to have an arrest warrant from San Bernardino County.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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Public Safety News
8-Year-Old Boy, 67-Year-Old Woman Killed In Leimert Park House Fire: LAFD
A woman and a boy died in a house fire in Leimert Park on Sunday morning, fire officials said. Some 50 firefighters responded to a burning one-story home at 3971 S. 2nd Ave. at around 11:08 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Three children and three adults were inside the home, the agency said. LAFD responders in an ambulance saw smoke from the residence while returning from an earlier incident.
KTLA 5 |
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2 More Firefighters Injured As Ferguson Fire Continues To Grow
Two more firefighters were injured as crews struggled to gain containment Saturday of a relentless inferno fueled by dry terrain and hot weather near Yosemite National Park, officials said. The Ferguson Fire swelled to 29,045 acres by Saturday — growing by more than 6,000 acres since Friday — and was still only 6 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Two firefighters suffered back injuries and were taken to hospitals Friday, said Jim Mackensen, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. “They've been released and are going home to recover,” Mackensen said.
San Francisco Chronicle |
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Local Government News
As L.A. Struggles To Reduce Traffic Deaths, Speed Limits Keep Going Up
Sheila Brown was shocked to learn, in the spring of 2009, that the Los Angeles City Council was planning to raise the speed limit on Zelzah Avenue, a few blocks from her home in Granada Hills. A few weeks before, a 60-year-old woman had been struck and killed in a crosswalk on Zelzah, Brown told the City Council in an impassioned letter. She said the frequent sounds of screeching tires as drivers narrowly avoided collisions were proof that allowing higher speeds would put residents and students in danger.
Los Angeles Times |
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Mayor Eric Garcetti Set To Visit Asia On 10-Day Mission To Bring Jobs, Investment To L.A.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will leave Monday for a 10-day trade mission to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Hong Kong, a trip focused on bringing jobs and investment to L.A. and boosting tourism in the city, his office said. “Tourism and trade with Asia are integral to our local economy,” Garcetti said in a statement Friday, adding that Los Angeles has a “special bond with our neighbors on the Pacific Rim.” The mayor will visit Tokyo, Seoul, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong.
KTLA 5 |
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