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Los Angeles
Police Protective League
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the union that represents the
rank and file LAPD officers
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Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League
October 31 |
Law Enforcement News
Trial Begins For Man Accused Of Killing Westerville Police Officers
Trial proceedings began Monday in the case against Quentin Smith, the man charged with killing two Westerville Police officers last year. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien is pursuing aggravated murder charges against Smith, arguing that he knew Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering were police officers when he pulled the trigger. “He knew he was a law enforcement officer,” O'Brien told the jury. “As they opened the door, he could see who was standing at the door. His comment to Candace was, 'You called the cops on me?'" The officers arrived on the scene after a 911 hang-up call made by Smith's estranged wife Candace. According to O'Brien, there had been a domestic dispute and Smith had strangled her to the point that she lost consciousness. O'Brien's office is seeking the death penalty, as murdering a law enforcement officer is a specification that could lead to that sentence. Smith pleaded not guilty.
WOSU Radio |
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Man Pleads Not Guilty To Murder In Death Of Homeless Man Whose Tent Was Set On Fire
A Los Angeles man accused of intentionally setting a tent ablaze on Los Angeles' Skid Row, killing a homeless man, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a capital murder charge. The charge against Jonathan Early, 38, includes the special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Early. The 62-year-old victim was identified by the District Attorney's Office as Dwayne Fields, but officials with the Los Angeles Community Action Network -- a group working to combat homelessness and provide services for the poor -- said the victim was Darrell Fields, a longtime Skid Row resident. Early allegedly set the tent ablaze near Sixth and San Pedro Streets on Aug. 26 and was taken into custody a short time later. Fields died the following morning as a result of his injuries. Police have not disclosed a motive for the attack.
NBC 4 |
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Detectives Ask For Help Finding Woman, 83, Missing From Downtown L.A. Sheriff's detectives
Thursday again asked for the public's help to find an 83-year-old woman who has been missing since last Thursday, a deputy said. Ernestina Molina was last seen about 10:50 a.m. last Thursday leaving the Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles with Santa Monica as a possible destination, according to Deputy Marvin Crowder of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Molina has memory problems and other health issues and requires medication, Crowder continued. She is Hispanic, stands 5-feet-2 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. She has brown eyes, and brown hair and was last seen wearing corduroy pants and black sandals, Crowder said. Anyone with information on her whereabouts was asked to call the sheriff's department at 323-890-5500 or 911. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
MyNewsLA.com |
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Former Panorama City High School Teacher Pleads No Contest In Child Porn Case, Gets Probation
A 47-year-old former teacher at a private high school in Panorama City was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and to undergo one year of sex offender treatment for possession of child pornography, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. Nain Edred Doporto, who pleaded no contest to a felony count of possession of child or youth pornography, was also ordered Tuesday to complete 30 days of community labor and to serve five years on probation. More than 600 downloaded digital images of child pornography were discovered in Doporto's possession, according to the District Attorney's Office. He was a teacher at St. Genevieve High School at the time, but the images did not involve students from the school, according to Deputy District Attorney Teresa de Castro. The LAPD said an investigation of Doporto was launched after a report was received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
NBC 4 |
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Arraignment Due For Westwood Man Charged In Death of Rapper Mac Miller
The last of three men facing federal charges of providing counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl to Mac Miller prior to the hip-hop performer's overdose death is expected to plead not guilty Thursday in downtown Los Angeles. Stephen Andrew “Stevie” Walter, 46, of Westwood faces charges of conspiring to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Prosecutors allege that Walter — plus Ryan Michael Reavis and Cameron James Pettit — distributed narcotics to 26-year-old Malcolm James McCormick — who recorded and performed under the name Mac Miller — two days before the performer suffered a fatal overdose in Studio City on Sept. 7, 2018.
MyNewsLA.com |
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Gunman Fired Into Long Beach House Party From Alley Before Escaping, Leaving 3 Dead, 9 Injured
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said Wednesday morning police are going all out to find the “person or persons responsible” for a shooting at a party the night before that left three dead and nine injured. Speaking at a news conference at Seventh Street and Gladys Avenue, near the house where the incident broke out at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, Police Chief Robert Luna joined the mayor and said a suspect or suspects shot into the residence from a rear alley and then fled – getting into a “dark-colored vehicle.” “I don't believe it was random,” Luna said, adding that investigators don't yet have a motive. “He didn't just walk up to that house.” The chief described one suspect as a man wearing dark clothing with his face covered. There could be at least one more suspect, he said. There had been an estimated 25 to 30 people at the house for the party. While initial reports said it was a Halloween party, Luna said investigators have also heard it could have been a birthday or office party. Most of those at the party worked together at a company outside of Long Beach, Luna said, and most of the victims did not live in the city.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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American-Made .50-Caliber Rifles Help Fuel Mexican Cartel Violence
Mexican authorities were outgunned by criminal cartels in two notable incidents this month. In both cases, the criminals were armed with high-powered .50-caliber firearms. First, on October 13, in the state of Michoacan, a police convoy was ambushed with .50-caliber sniper rifles, leaving 13 officers dead and nine wounded. Four days later, in the state of Sinaloa, the government was forced to abandon an operation to arrest the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, after his henchmen assaulted the authorities with both sniper rifles and truck-mounted machine guns. “We are seeing a full-out criminal insurgency in Mexico right now,” said Robert Bunker, an international security expert who teaches at the Army War College Strategic Studies Institute and has written about the use of .50-caliber rifles by Mexican cartels. Often, the weapons come from the United States, where civilian sales of high-caliber sniper rifles are unregulated in all but three states.
The Trace |
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Public Safety News
Woman Found Dead In Fire-Damaged Home In Sun Valley
A woman was found dead Wednesday in a fire-damaged home in the Sun Valley area, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze in the 1,569-square-foot home at 7821 Bakman Ave. was reported at 3:16 p.m., said Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Flames started in the rear of the home and moved inside the structure, according to Humphrey, who said 20 firefighters extinguished the blaze in 21 minutes. When they searched the home, they discovered the woman's body, he said. The cause of the fire was “under active investigation,” Humphrey said. The woman's name was withheld pending notification of her family.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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LA County Firefighters Battling Blaze Fueled By Wood Pallets
At Building In Florence-Graham A fire has broken out at a commercial building in the 9400 block of S. Alameda Street in the community of Florence-Graham. Los Angeles County firefighters have mounted an aggressive attack to try and control this fire as quickly as possible. A large wood pallet yard is providing fuel for this fire. The building is completely engulfed in flames with plenty more fuel to burn, according to fire officials. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
FOX 11 |
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SoCal Not Out Of Fire Danger As Santa Ana Winds Set To Linger Thursday
Santa Ana winds were expected to linger for a final day Thursday after driving more than a dozen wildfires through California, sending thousands fleeing and burning nearly up to the walls of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Firefighters managed to tamp down or at least partially corral fires that for the past few days surged through tinder-dry brush in both the north and south, destroying dozens of homes. But much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties remained under a National Weather Service red flag warning of extreme fire danger through Thursday evening because of bone-dry humidity and the chance of winds gusting to 70 mph in the mountains. NWS officials said Santa Clarita, Inglewood, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley will face extreme fire danger Thursday. Meanwhile, Los Angeles, Riverside, Santa Ana, Anaheim and Chula Vista were all listed at critical risk.
KTLA 5 |
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Local Government News
Help To Be Sent To Encampments After Stats Show Homeless Deaths Nearly Doubled Over 5 Years
Pointing to sobering statistics showing that the number of homeless people dying in Los Angeles County nearly doubled from 2013 to 2018, the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to deploy health care workers to encampments and shelters to assess health needs among the homeless. Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Hilda Solis co-authored the motion calling for short-term strategies to help reverse the trend. "This report is tragic, and reflects a true state of emergency on the streets of our community," Ridley-Thomas said. "It is unconscionable and inhumane for society to continue to turn a blind eye to this plight." Solis said the data -- released Tuesday by the Department of Public Health -- should spur others, including private sector players, to get involved. "This isn't just the county's responsibility. It's a human responsibility," Solis said.
NBC 4 |
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LA Approves $3 Million To Help Renters Hit With Sudden Increases
The Los Angeles City Council approved just under $3 million Wednesday for a program to help low-income earners whose rent has been increased significantly in advance of a state law that will cap rent increases at the beginning of the new year. City Councilwoman Nury Martinez created the proposal for the program, which she said is especially important during the holiday months to keep people in their homes. “This is an emergency (for) good people who are doing the best they can to make ends meet and stay in their apartments,” Martinez said. “This program will go into effect immediately and make sure these people stay in their homes.” Funds to cover the difference of rent increases will be available to tenants and families at or below 80% of area median income and where an eviction lawsuit for non-payment of rent has not yet been adjudicated.
Los Angeles Daily News |
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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 |
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