Law Enforcement News

Alabama LEO Wounded In Shooting That Killed Colleague Released From Hospital
A Birmingham police officer wounded at the same time Sgt. Wytasha Carter was killed has now been released from the hospital. The officer, whose name police have not publicly released, spent nine days at UAB Hospital before his release. “We received word from his family that he has made a tremendous recovery and was able to be released,'' said Birmingham police Sgt. Johnny Williams. “As a department, we appreciate the many prayers and outpouring of support from the community and surrounding law enforcement agencies.” “We also appreciate and applaud the wonderful staff at UAB Hospital,'' Williams said. “Under the circumstances, we can get a bit of relief knowing he has come through such a rough struggle and is able to make it home with his family.”
Alabama Media Group, Birmingham

LAPD Rolls Out Latest Volunteer Community Patrol Team In The Valley – ‘The Eyes And Ears Of Their Own Neighborhood'
A recently launched volunteer patrol team is supporting the efforts of the Los Angeles Police Department's crime-fighting efforts in the northeast San Fernando Valley. The Volunteer Community Patrol team will be on hand to help where needed in the geographic area covered by the LAPD's Mission Division, which includes the neighborhoods of Arleta, Panorama City, Sylmar, North Hills and Mission Hills. The patrol team's primary focus will be on property crimes, including residential and motor vehicle burglaries. They also may be called to set up perimeters at the burglary sites, keep an eye out for mail and package thieves, conduct traffic control around accidents, and help search for missing children. Doug Behr, a Sylmar resident who has lived in the area for nearly two decades, is one of the volunteer team's 15 members. He said he wanted to “give back to my community” by using his military and law enforcement background to help be the “eyes and ears” for the police department. “As a former policeman, I can make a positive contribution to the brave men and women in blue,” he said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Pedestrian Killed By Alleged Distracted Driver
A driver who police say was checking messages on her cellphone allegedly hit a man with her car and killed him. The driver involved in the deadly pedestrian crash tells police she was on her cell phone when it happened. Rosario Valdezinda was arrested Wednesday on a vehicular manslaughter charge at the scene Wednesday night. Detectives say she was on her cellphone and texting using 'WhatsApp' when she hit and killed 65-year-old Young Do Kim. The detective on this case, says this might be the first death associated with distracted driving and texting, in the city of Los Angeles. Kim was in the marked crosswalk at 6th Street and Grand Avenue and running to catch a bus when he was struck and killed.
FOX 11

Man Wounded In Pico-Union Laundromat Shooting
A man was wounded Wednesday afternoon in a shooting during an argument in the Pico-Union area and a suspect was taken into custody. The shooting was reported about 5 p.m. in the 2300 block of Pico Boulevard, between Hoover Street and Vermont Avenue, according to Los Angeles police Officer Mike Lopez. The victim was taken to a hospital, Lopez said. His condition was not immediately available. The shooter, who is about 35 years old, did not flee and was taken into custody, Lopez said. The shooting was not believed to have been gang-related, Lopez said.
NBC 4

Chase From Pacoima To North Hollywood Ends In Crash, Arrest
The driver of a possible stolen car led police on a chase Friday morning from Pacoima to North Hollywood that ended in a crash with another vehicle. About 12:15 a.m., officers spotted the silver Acura Integra with paper plates near San Fernando Road and Montague Street and the driver refused to stop, leading police on chase south on San Fernando Road before turning south onto Vineland Avenue where he collided with another vehicle at Vineland and Magnolia Boulevard about 12:20 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The driver ran from the vehicle, but was quickly taken into custody on suspicion of felony evading, police said. A woman who was a passenger in the vehicle was not arrested. 
MyNewsLA.com

Man Charged With Killing 89-Year-Old Who He Knocked Over During Downtown L.A. Robbery 
A North Hollywood man has been charged with killing an 89-year-old man who he knocked over during a robbery in downtown Los Angeles last month, officials announced Thursday. Ricardo Macias, 24, faces a murder charge in connection with the Dec. 20 incident. The robbery occurred at a pharmacy in the 200 block of West 7th Street, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. Macias allegedly stole property, assaulted a security guard who confronted him and crashed into customer Jack Hernandez as he ran away. Hernandez fell and hit his head, officials said. He was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Macias faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted as charged. His is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday and his bail was set at $2 million.
KTLA 5

Los Angeles Man Found Guilty Of Wounding, Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend And Killing Man She Was Dating
A Los Angeles man was convicted Thursday of stabbing and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend from her Santa Ana home and killing the man she was dating. A Santa Ana jury found Teodoro Bernal Nunez, 39, guilty of second-degree murder, kidnapping, domestic battery, and violating a domestic order, along with several sentencing enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury. Nunez, at around 1:30 a.m. on June 18, 2016 drove over to the Santa Ana residence, stabbed 27-year-old Omar Castillo with a 12-inch knife and stabbed his former girlfriend in the abdomen. Castillo died from his injuries. Nunez forced his former girlfriend into his SUV and drove off, but was stopped about 20 minutes later when a police officer in Brea noticed a broken taillight on the vehicle.
Los Angeles Daily News

CHP Warns Of Roadside Scammers Targeting Good Samaritans
The California Highway Patrol is issuing a warning to the public to be aware of scammers who are pulling off on the sides of roads in supposed distress and targeting unsuspecting good Samaritans. In a Facebook post Wednesday, the CHP Central Division stated that the law enforcement agency has received a number of calls over the last few months regarding people who are flagging down motorists and asking for gas money in exchange for jewelry that is labeled as 18-karat and shown off as being worth more than the amount of money desired but is actually fake. The people behind the scam are also sharing "elaborate" stories, such as having their wallet stolen or having a loved one in the hospital in need of surgery, when they tell people why they need the money, according to the CHP.
NBC 4

How The Shutdown Is Hitting Federal Courts And Law Enforcement In California
Private criminal defense lawyers appointed to defend the poor in federal courts in California have not been paid since Christmas Eve. If the federal government shutdown continues into next month, federal jurors in California may not receive their pay or be reimbursed for expenses until the government reopens. An association that represents FBI agents says the shutdown has impeded investigations, making it impossible to pay some confidential sources or forensic experts. Still, the doors to federal courthouses in California will remain open, even when funding scraped from fees and other sources dries up next month. “We are fortunate that the judiciary has been able to maintain operations and that people have been paid,” David Madden, a spokesman for the San Francisco-based U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, said Thursday.
Los Angeles Times

Gov. Gavin Newsom Makes Aggressive, Early Moves On His Gun Control Agenda For California
Gavin Newsom won the governorship in part by touting his leadership on gun control as the architect of Proposition 63, a 2016 initiative that put him at loggerheads with the National Rifle Assn. Now, in his first weeks in office, Newsom has already moved to significantly reduce the number of Californians with firearms. Gun rights advocates are sounding almost nostalgic for his predecessor, fellow Democrat Jerry Brown, a gun owner who signed several far-reaching gun control measures, including a ban on the sale of long guns to those under age 21, but vetoed others. “Gavin Newsom has demonstrated he has little to no understanding of firearms and firearms policy,” said Craig J. DeLuz, a spokesman for the Firearms Policy Coalition, which has opposed many gun bills. “For him this is a PR issue, meaning he will probably sign whatever is put in front of him. He wants to run for president.”
Los Angeles Times

LA County Fire Captain Killed In Santa Clarita Crash Remembered As ‘Dedicated' Husband, Father
The Los Angeles County fire captain who was killed in a crash on the 14 freeway between his Jeep and a Caltrans sweeper vehicle was mourned by his family and other firefighters Thursday. Captain Michael Shepard had been an L.A. County firefighter since 2006, the department said in a written statement. The 63-year-old is survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren. In the statement, Shepard's wife, Cathy, described him as “a dedicated husband, father and fire captain.” “He was the source of love, comfort, protection and joy to the entire family,” she said. “It is with grieving hearts that we have lost him, but we are forever grateful for each minute we spent with him.” Shepard last worked at Fire Station 132 in Santa Clarita, about eight miles from the crash site. LACFD officials said he lived in Agua Dulce.
Los Angeles Daily News

Former L.A. City Councilwoman Jan Perry Enters Race To Replace County Supervisor Ridley-Thomas
Another experienced local politician, former Los Angeles City Council member Jan Perry, is making an early leap into the race to succeed term-limited county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas next year. Perry announced Tuesday that she's joining a field that already includes her one-time City Hall rival, Herb Wesson, and first-time candidate Sharis Rhodes to represent the 2nd Supervisorial District in South Los Angeles, which encompasses roughly 2 million residents. A former appointee of Mayor Eric Garcetti, Perry said that, if elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, she would focus on homelessness and on building new infrastructure to create jobs and spur community development.
KTLA 5

Metro Board Considers Congestion Pricing To Fund '28 by 28' Transit Plan
Metro's Board of Directors will consider a funding and financing plan today for the '28 by 28' Olympics transit initiative, which includes a congestion pricing proposal under which auto drivers would be taxed or pay a fee to use certain roads or enter specific neighborhoods. The '28 by 28' initiative aims to complete 28 key road, transit and bicycle/pedestrian projects in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Many of the projects already are scheduled to be finished by 2028, but eight would need accelerated funding to make the goal, and the board will consider a proposal from Metro that offers a number of possible solutions to the funding gap.
FOX 11