Louisiana Officer Killed In Funeral Procession Crash

Authorities say a Louisiana police officer was killed after being hit while riding a motorcycle as part of a funeral procession. In a news release, the Baton Rouge Police Department said 31-year-old Cpl. Shane Totty died from his injuries shortly after the Friday afternoon crash. Police say a pickup truck crashed into Totty, who was escorting a funeral procession. The department says Totty was a four-year veteran of the force. The crash is under investigation. Authorities have not identified the driver of the truck or said whether charges will be filed. 
Associated Press

$10M Bond Set For Man Accused Of Shooting Ohio Deputies

A man accused of luring authorities with threats of killing himself and then fatally shooting a sheriff's deputy and wounding another deputy who tried to help him during a 12-hour standoff in Ohio had his bond set at $10 million Monday. A shackled Wade Edward Winn, who appeared to have injuries on his face, was in Clermont County Municipal Court for his initial hearing on charges of aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder in the weekend shooting in Pierce Township, roughly 20 miles east of Cincinnati. Authorities say Detective Bill Brewer died from his wounds. The other deputy, Nick DeRose, was shot in the ankle. He was in court for Monday's hearing along with several other members of the Clermont County Sheriff's Office. Prosecutors said in court Monday that Winn had faked killing himself and the two deputies were shot through a wall when they tried to enter the apartment to assist him. Prosecutors said that they will seek the death penalty.
Associated Press

Mental Health Crisis Is a Social Problem, Not a Police Problem

In a POLICE-exclusive interview, Robert Harris, a member of the Los Angeles Police Protective League board of directors, discusses with POLICE Contributing Web Editor Doug Wyllie the problems with making police act as the front-line problem solvers for the mental health crisis. When law enforcement officers arrive at a scene with an individual in crisis, they treat the matter as a police matter because they are not psychologists or mental health professionals. Harris says that there are better ways to address the issue.
Video

Prop 57: Cops say court ruling opens door to early release of violent felons

IGregory Gadlin is a convicted rapist and child molester serving 35 years to life in prison underthe state's Three Strikes and You're Out law after an assault with a deadly weapon. An appellate court decision this week said he should be eligible for consideration for early release. Now, police officers and other victims' advocates warn that the ruling could open the door to early releases of more violent felons under Proposition 57, the 2016 initiative aimed at easing prison overcrowding.
Video

$50,000 In Rewards Announced For Help In Two Unrelated Killings In Sylmar

Two $50,000 rewards were announced on Friday for information that helps police find the suspects responsible for two unrelated killings in Sylmar. The first crime occurred about 9 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2018, in the 13600 block of Simshaw Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Gregory Baltazar, 31, was gunned down at his home, police said. "Gregory answered a knock on the door and was almost immediately shot," an LAPD statement said. "The suspects fled, and Baltazar died at the scene." The second crime occurred about 10 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2018, in the 14500 block of Tyler Street, according to the LAPD. Pedro Hernandez, 19, was attending a house party at the location, police said. "A fight broke out, and Hernandez attempted to intervene," police said in a statement. "Hernandez was shot and died a short time later at a hospital."
NBC 4

Video Captures Driver Hitting Pedestrian In Crosswalk Before Driving Off

The Los Angeles Police Department released surveillance video on Sunday of a felony hit-and-run that left a pedestrian injured. Police are still searching for the driver. According to LAPD, around 7:20 a.m. on January 30, a pedestrian was crossing the street, from the northeast corner of 8th Street and Lorena Street, to the northwest corner. The pedestrian was in the crosswalk when a possible 2000 to 2010 Honda 4-door Civic or a vehicle with a similar body style, was making a left turn from 8th Street onto northbound Lorena Street. The vehicle struck the pedestrian, who rolled onto the hood of the vehicle, then rolled off onto the street. The driver continued driving and never stopped to render aid or identify themselves. The pedestrian sustained minor injuries and took himself to a local hospital.
FOX 11

Video Shows Suspect Push Teen Onto Red Line Tracks In Downtown LA

Recently-released video shows the shocking events leading to the death of an assault suspect accused of pushing a teen onto train tracks in downtown Los Angeles back in December. In the video, a man identified as Husie Outing pushes a 14-year-old boy onto the Red Line tracks at the Pershing Square Station and then takes off. Fire officials said the victim suffered some contusions and cuts but did not want to be transported. Police say when the suspect emerges from the station, he then assaults a construction worker. Several workers then held him down until officers arrived. New body camera video shows officers arriving and placing the 47-year-old man under arrest. Officers can be heard saying that his head and hand are injured, and that they believe he's under the influence of some sort of narcotic.
ABC 7

U.S. Army Training In Los Angeles, Using Helicopters, Explosions

People saw black helicopters hovering over downtown Los Angeles, which turned out to be U.S. Army helicopters training soldiers. Robert Kovacik reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2019.
NBC 4 Video

Killer Of Gas Station Clerk, Weed Dispensary Owner In L.A. County Sentenced Gets 2 Life In Prison Sentences

A man convicted of killing a clerk at a gas station in Los Feliz and the owner of a Mar Vista medical marijuana dispensary was sentenced Friday to two life terms without the possibility of parole. Kayshon Lamont Moody, 27, was sentenced by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Curtis B. Rappe, according to the district attorney's office. Moody fatally shot M.D. Mizu Rahman, 34, while he robbed a Chevron gas station on Jan. 17, 2017, authorities said. The next day, police said, Moody shot and killed 50-year-old Ovik Oganesyan, 50, in a robbery at a medical marijuana dispensary in Mar Vista. Oganesyan owned the business.
KTLA 5

Suspect Who Fled To Mexico After 1994 Triple Shooting That Killed L.A. Teen, Young Man Is Caught at Border: SBSD

A man has been arrested on connection with a triple shooting that left a teenager and a young man dead in the Morongo Valley almost 25 years ago, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department announced Friday. Two of the victims — 17-year-old Jesus Munoz and 24-year-old Portirio Chavez Cardenas, both of Los Angeles — were found slain in a van that was stopped in the middle of Highway 22 west of Rawson Road on the night of April 14, 1994, according to a sheriff's news release. A third victim, 22-year-old Enrique Munoz — also of Los Angeles — had been shot multiple times but survived. During the initial investigation, detectives learned the victims had been summoned by one of the suspects to a home in the Coachella Valley, where they were assaulted and forced into the vehicle, according to the release.
KTLA 5

What Police Officers Need To Know About Hepatitis A

Whether it is a pedestrian investigation on a busy street, taking the report of a crime or placing a person in custody, police officers have physical contact with people throughout their busy work day. With that contact, comes the risk of being exposed to various infections such as hepatitis A. As a registered nurse working on a floor in a hospital, the training I've received reminds me almost automatically to wash my hands before making contact with patients in their hospital rooms. If any of my equipment such as my stethoscope or blood pressure cuff becomes dirty, I know to clean it before using it with another patient. I don't believe this type of training is commonplace in law enforcement. In my 29 years as a police officer, I can't recall receiving very much training about keeping my hands or equipment clean. It is possible to be infected with diseases with only casual contact.
PoliceOne

Public Safety News

Flowing Mud, Falling Rocks Close Roads As Storm Series Continues Pummeling SoCal

Periods of heavy rain prompted road closures across Southern California on Monday, when two storms were expected to drop between 0.5 to 1 inch of precipitation on the coasts and valleys. A flash flood warning issued for some Woolsey Fire burn areas—including Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills and Oak Park—was lifted at 12:15 p.m. Showers are likely to continue off and on until Wednesday morning, when drier weather should move into the region, according to the Weather Service. Caltrans was forced to shut down Pacific Coast Highway from Broad Beach Road in Malibu to Las Posas Road in Ventura County Monday morning due to debris in the roadway. Motorists were asked to use alternate routes and be cautious of possible mudslides.
KTLA 5

Sen. Bill Dodd Proposes California Wildfire Warning Center

After four consecutive years of catastrophic wildfires, Napa Democratic Sen. Bill Dodd wants to establish a California wildfire warning center that would allow officials to turn off power and better position firefighting crews during extreme heat and high winds. “It would give us more tools in trying to make sure this doesn't happen again,” Dodd told CALmatters as he introduced legislation today. The bill, SB 209, calls on the California Public Utilities Commission, the Office of Emergency Services and Cal Fire to work together on monitoring fire weather and to make threat assessments. The center would partner with investor-owned utilities as they install weather-monitoring equipment.
CALmatters