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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
March 23, 2022 |
Law Enforcement News
LAPD: Robberies With A Gun Up 44% This Year
Robberies involving a gun are up a whopping 44% this year, so LAPD Chief Michel Moore is urging residents to keep alert and be aware of their surroundings. There has been an overall increase in robberies throughout the City of Los Angeles this year, Moore told the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday. The year-to-date statistics Moore presented are a big jump from previous years: Robberies up 18% from 2021, and 5% from 2020; Robberies with a firearm up 44% from 2021, 57% from 2020 and 60% from 2019; Robberies with a firearm account for 36% of all robberies, and accounts for 74% of the city's year-to-date total robbery increase; and LAPD's South Bureau and 77th Street Area had the most robberies with a firearm, at 227 and 102, respectively. “There's been a marked increase of armed robberies involving victims wearing expensive jewelry, as well as just other individuals whether they're at commercial stores such as mini markets, convenience stores, gas stations, or on the street,” Moore said. An LAPD alert warned that wearing expensive jewelry in public can make a person a visible target. The LAPD also urged people to travel in groups, remain in well-lit areas, and take a different route home after going shopping. People were also urged to remain aware of their surroundings, pay attention to the other people around them, and if someone may be following, change their routes and call the police. CBS 2 |
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Man Killed Outside North Hills Strip Club, Suspect Sought By Police
Police sought the public's Tuesday in locating a 38-year-old man who allegedly shot another man to death during an altercation outside a strip club in North Hills. Officers were called to the Synn Gentlemen's Club in the 8300 block of Sepulveda Boulevard at about 2 a.m. on March 7 and found Gabriel Isiguzo, 20, suffering from a gunshot wound at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Isiguzo was taken to a hospital, where he died of his wounds. LAPD investigators identified the suspect in the shooting as 38-year-old Savin Seng, who remains at large. According to reports from the scene, Isiguzo was picking up his girlfriend at the club and was shot multiple times after getting into a dispute with the other man in the parking lot. Fox11 reported that the dispute may have erupted because the victim had parked in a handicap space while waiting for his girlfriend. Los Angeles Daily News |
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Fairfax Shooting: Suspect Sought After Woman Is Shot In The Face
Police are looking for the man suspected of shooting a woman in the face in the Fairfax District on Monday night. The shooting was reported near La Brea and Willoughby avenues around 7:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department said. According to investigators, a woman reportedly got into an argument with a man and possibly another woman on the balcony of an apartment complex, when the man pulled out a gun and shot the woman in the face. She was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Once the LAPD arrived at the scene, officers set up a perimeter in the area to look for the shooter, described as a man wearing a yellow sweatshirt and burgundy pants. A person was detained for questioning, but authorities later determined he was not the gunman. Several crimes have occurred in the Fairfax District in recent months and police have increased patrols in the area. Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD's Wilshire Division. FOX 11 |
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Wilmington Man Arrested In Murder Of Woman In Long Beach Following Wild Chase That Ended In Mar Vista Starbucks
Police say a man who led a wild chase from Long Beach into Los Angeles has been identified as the shooter who killed a woman hours earlier. Corderell McKnight, 32, of Wilmington, was arrested Sunday night after a pursuit out of Long Beach ended with him running into a Starbucks coffee shop in Mar Vista, according to Long Beach police. McKnight was being pursued by police after he was identified as the suspect who shot a woman in her 30s to death in Long Beach earlier that day. The woman, who has not been identified, was initially reported as a stabbing at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday at a strip mall in the 6600 block of Cherry Avenue in Long Beach. Officers who arrived on the scene found she was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper and lower body. She was taken to a hospital where she died, police said. Homicide detectives who took over the case determined the woman was sitting in a vehicle within the strip mall when the suspect approached on foot and fired several times at her. Another person in the car with the woman was not hit by the gunfire. At about 7:15 p.m., police say McKnight was spotted in a vehicle in the 2800 block of Long Beach Boulevard. When officers tried to stop him, McKnight took off and led a chase onto the 405 Freeway, police said. The chase was handed off to the California Highway Patrol after about 20 minutes before ending in Mar Vista, where the suspect was taken into custody by LAPD officers. CBS 2 |
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Police Seek Suspect Who Shot Witness To Animal Abuse
Police Tuesday sought the public's help to identify a man who shot at two people, striking one, after the pair saw the man beating a dog in the Hollywood area. The two victims were walking in the area of La Brea and Willoughby avenues, near Poinsettia Recreation Center, about 7:30 p.m. Monday when they saw the man on an apartment balcony beating the dog, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. "The witnesses yelled at the suspect to let go of the dog," according to the LAPD. "The suspect argued back, then produced an unknown type firearm and shot at the witnesses, striking one." The victim who was shot was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition. The suspect ran from the scene following the shooting. Police established a perimeter in the area to search for him, but he was not located. He was described as a Black, about 21 years old, 6-feet-2 inches tall and weighing around 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a yellow hooded sweatshirt and burgundy pants. Investigators said they believe the suspect does not live at the apartment where the crime took place, and is possibly the boyfriend of a local resident. Information about the dog was not immediately available. NBC 4 |
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Man Claims Responsibility For Echo Park Tesla Stunt Online As Investigation Continues
The man who had earlier claimed to be the driver behind a dangerous Tesla stunt in Echo Park early Sunday morning appeared to enjoy the notoriety from his online fame, but grew cautious when asked about it Monday evening. The viral video shows the Tesla driving up the hill at a high rate of speed at the intersection of Baxter and Alvarado streets, catching air and slamming hard onto its front tires. The vehicle then goes careening into multiple trash cans and then crashes into two parked cars. KTLA caught up with the TikTok user who has claimed to be responsible for the Tesla stunt at his Sherman Oaks home. The man, identified as Dominykas Zeglaitis, or Durte Dom on social media, was more than happy to talk about the viral video — at first. “Man, [expletive] is crazy out there. I don't even know what was going on,” he said from the front door of his home where a Tesla sat parked in the driveway. When asked if he was really the driver of the car or simply someone looking to take credit for the stunt in search of online clout, Zeglaitis said, “you can't believe what you see online always.” When asked again if he was the person behind the wheel of the rented Tesla Model S, he said he was advised by legal representation to keep quiet. “I'm not saying anything, my lawyers told me not to talk about it,” he said. KTLA 5 |
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Sledgehammer-Wielding Burglars Hit Beverly Hills Jeweler For $5 Million In Valuables In Brazen Daytime Heist
Sledgehammer-wielding burglars smashed a Beverly Hills jeweler's glass windows and display cases and snatched up to $5 million in precious gems, designer watches and necklaces during a brazen daytime heist Tuesday. Beverly Hills police said the five robbers who broke into Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills — known for its high-end displays of diamonds, sapphires and other gems, as well as super-upscale timepieces — fled within minutes of the broad daylight burglary, while the store was surrounded by Beverly Hills police cars. Beverly Hills Police Chief Mark Stainbrook said that the burglars hid their features with hoodies and masks and that, so far, the department does not have a description of them. According to Beverly Hills Police Lt. Giovanni Trejo, the department received multiple calls of a burglary in progress at 1:45 p.m. A bystander standing across the street caught part of the burglary as the assailants continued to smash the glass, grabbing as much as they could before fleeing north on the 200 block of South Beverly Drive. The men, dressed in hoodies and masks, could be seen dashing down the sidewalk and weaving through cars stopped on the street as shoppers watched in amazement. The thieves abandoned the vehicle they arrived in near the store and escaped in a second vehicle. An owner of the store told KNBC that the burglars made off with as much as $5 million in merchandise. Los Angeles Times |
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Two Woodland Hills Residents Charged In Purse Thefts
Two Woodland Hills residents have been charged in connection with an alleged spree of purse thefts in Los Angeles County, including the city of Burbank, authorities said Tuesday. Marcelino Mata, 33, pleaded not guilty to five counts of grand theft and one count of possession of personal identifying information, while co-defendant Sulene Garavito, 32, is set to be arraigned June 8 on the same charges, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The case stems from an investigation by the Burbank Police Department into the Feb. 25 thefts of two purses at a Costco store at 1051 W. Burbank Blvd., and the theft of a third purse at a nearby Walmart at 1301 N. Victory Place the same day, according to police. Officers learned the purses were stolen from two women who were putting groceries into their vehicles after shopping at Costco, and that a female whose purse was stolen while she was placing items into her vehicle after shopping at Walmart was able to see and document the license plate of the suspect's vehicle, according to police. MyNewsLA.com |
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Man, 27, Reported Missing In North Hollywood
Authorities Tuesday sought the public's help to locate a 27-year-old man who was reported missing in North Hollywood. Deandre Wayne Hooper, who is also known by the nickname “Dre,” was last seen Friday in the 5300 block of Lankershim Boulevard, near North Hollywood Recreation Center, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Hooper is Black, 6-feet-2 inches tall and weighs 265 pounds, with short curly black hair, hazel eyes, a stud piercing in his nose, a tattoo of the word “love” on his right hand and another of the word “Callie” above his right eye. He was last seen wearing a black Lakers hat, dark blue short-sleeve shirt, gray shorts, white socks, black shoes and a black watch. Anyone with information on Hooper's whereabouts can contact the LASD Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org . MyNewsLA.com |
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Southern California Man To Plead Guilty In $1.3 Million Amazon Payments Scam
An Amazon.com vendor from Hacienda Heights will plead guilty to bilking the online retailer out of more than $1.3 million by manipulating the company's payment system, federal prosecutors said Monday. Ting Hong Yeung, 41, has agreed to plead guilty to a federal wire fraud charge on a date to be determined, according to his plea agreement. Federal prosecutors outlined an alleged scheme in which Yeung allegedly gamed the Amazon payment system, resulting in him receiving payment for merchandise he listed for sale but never actually shipped to buyers. According to the Department of Justice, Amazon disburses payments to third-party merchandise sellers roughly every two weeks, after the sellers provide shipping numbers to prove that merchandise was actually shipped to customers. Prosecutors claim Yeung would list expensive merchandise at low-ball prices to drive up sales. But instead of shipping purchased items to customers, Yeung would submit bogus tracking numbers to Amazon. When customers complained about not receiving purchases, Yeung would stall their refund requests long enough to ensure he received the customers' money from Amazon, according to the DOJ. Los Angeles Daily News |
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2 Pennsylvania Troopers Killed By Driver Praised For Their Bravery, Heroics
Two Pennsylvania State Troopers and a man walking on I-95 they were trying to help were killed in a car crash in Philadelphia early Monday morning. Here's what we know, and what remains to be answered: The accident occurred early Monday near Lincoln Financial Field. In a news conference Monday morning, officials said the two troopers responded to calls of a man walking southbound on I-95 in South Philly around 12:45 a.m. As police attempted to get the man out of danger, a vehicle traveling at high speed fatally stuck all three, according to state police. Captain James B. Kemm, commanding officer for the state police in the Philadelphia region, said the force of the crash threw the troopers into the northbound lane. Police backup arrived to find witnesses performing CPR on the three victims, who were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have released the names of the two Pennsylvania State Troopers who were killed. State police identified the fallen officers as Trooper Martin F. Mack, an 8-year veteran, and Trooper Branden T. Sisca, who joined the force last year. The Philadelphia Inquirer |
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Boy Gets Mom To Admit To Cop She'd Been Drinking
A school teacher was arrested in Florida Sunday after telling police she hadn't been drinking, only to be contradicted by her 9-year-old son, Florida police claim. Indian River County Sheriffs report that when Kristin Wiley, 49, was pulled over around 2 a.m. Sunday, she replied “no” when asked if she'd been imbibing. An arrest affidavit alleges Wiley's Grey Ford Mustang was moving at a “high rate of speed” when it nearly hit a parked squad car tending to an unrelated incident. When the driver stopped, police asker her to provide identification, and she initially declined. An officer then observed Wiley's young child “curled up and crying” in the vehicle's back seat. “I detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting off her person and her breath,” an arresting officer reported. Wiley's eyes were also watery and red, police said. According to cops, Wiley answered “no” when asked if she'd been boozing, but changed her tune when her son said, “Mom, you can't lie to the police, you did drink.” She then admitted to have consumed two vodka cocktails at a party, police said. Wiley is also accused of declining to take a field sobriety test. She was arrested and is alleged to have blown a 0.224 on a blood-alcohol test. New York Daily News |
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After 2 Spring Break Shootings, Miami Beach Declares Emergency, Curfew
After five people were shot over the weekend during spring break, the city of Miami Beach will declare a state of emergency and place the South Beach area under a midnight curfew beginning Thursday. City Manager Alina Hudak announced the curfew Monday at a press conference with elected officials and senior police leaders, after the shootings in two separate incidents on Ocean Drive. The curfew, which will encompass all of South Beach starting at 23rd Street, will take place just after midnight on Thursday and end Monday at 6 a.m. Because Hudak can only issue emergency orders over 72-hour periods, she said she will ask the City Commission to extend the curfew for the following weekend as well. She also said a city-organized spring break concert scheduled for Saturday would be postponed in an abundance of caution. “There are cowards out there toting guns,” Hudak said of the situation in South Beach. The potential for further violence and concerns about overcrowding led to Monday's decision, she said. The curfew comes short of the extreme measures the city took in 2021 to control spring break crowds at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the city imposed an 8 p.m. curfew and closed its major causeways to traffic coming into the city. Miami Herald |
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Public Safety News
L.A. County Seeing More Cases Of New Omicron Subvariant
While coronavirus case numbers continue to decline in Los Angeles County, officials on Monday warned that the new omicron subvariant has been increasingly popping up. The more infectious subvariant, BA.2, is gradually spreading in the county. During the last week of February, the new variant accounted for 6.4% of all sequenced specimens in L.A. County. That's an increase from the week before, when that number was 4.5%. L.A. County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer said this means that the region needs to be prepared “for the possibility of more cases in the near future.” “And while discouraging to face this possibility, the best way to blunt another surge in cases from increasing hospitalizations and deaths is to increase vaccination and booster coverage,” Ferrer added in a statement. Concerns over the new subvariant are emerging as the U.S. relaxes COVID-19 restrictions on local, state and federal levels — though California officials have signaled that they would reinstate restrictions if necessary. KTLA 5 |
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Omicron BA.2 Subvariant Now One In Three U.S. COVID Cases
New data Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show omicron's more transmissible BA.2 subvariant now accounts for more than a third of the virus circulating in the U.S. but is not yet driving a surge in cases here as it has overseas. The CDC data show that as of March 19, BA.2 — often referred to as “stealth omicron” — accounted for 34.9% of genetically sequenced samples across the U.S., up from 22.3% as of March 12 and 12.6% on March 5. In the Northeast, BA.2 accounts for as much as 55.4% of the virus, and in Western states including California, 41.3%. Dr. George Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California-San Francisco, said the increase is “about what I expected” given the subvariant's transmissibility. “It will continue to climb at 10 percentage points a week or so,” Rutherford said. With COVID cases overall on the decline in recent weeks, the bigger question is whether the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant will fuel another surge in the U.S. Helix, a company that provides genetic sequencing of the virus, estimates that BA.2 accounts for as much as 70% of new cases in many parts of the U.S., the Washington Post reported Tuesday. Mercury News |
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Local Government News
LA City Council To Consider Lifting COVID Vaccine Mandate Wednesday
Los Angeles City Council will soon consider an ordinance that would lift its mandate requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter indoor establishments and large outdoor events as early as Wednesday. The ordinance, which went into effect Nov. 8, requires those ages 12 and up to show proof of vaccination before going inside restaurants, gyms, entertainment, and recreational facilities, personal care establishments, and some city buildings. It also requires proof of a vaccine or negative COVID test to attend outdoor events like concerns and games. Los Angeles County will align with the state next month and lift the requirement that attendees of indoor mega-events such as sporting events or concerts show proof of COVID vaccination or a negative test. The county has already dropped its requirement that people show proof of vaccination to enter indoor portions of bars, nightclubs and lounges or to attend outdoor mega-events. But people attending indoor events of 1,000 or more people are still required to show proof of COVID vaccination or a recent negative test. Vaccine verification or a negative test is also still required for workers at health care facilities and congregate-care facilities. FOX 11 |
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Herb Wesson Returns To LA City Council For His First Meeting Since 2020
Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson returned to the City Council Tuesday for his first meeting since 2020 after being appointed to temporarily replace Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was suspended following his indictment in a federal corruption case. Wesson introduced a motion during the meeting seeking a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the identification and conviction of a person responsible for the killing of Marcho Sandoval on March 12. Sandoval was fatally shot while walking his dog near Genese Avenue and Saturn Street in Mid-City. The suspect drove a dark sedan and fled northbound on Genese. Wesson represented the 10th District from 2005 to December 2020. He also served as the president of the council from 2012 to 2020. His appointment was challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California. The lawsuit noted that Wesson is “termed out” and alleged he cannot lawfully assume the council seat because he already represented the district for three terms. MyNewsLA.com |
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LA City Council Seeks to Make COVID-19 Al Fresco Dining Program Permanent
The Los Angeles City Council took a major step today toward making the COVID-19 ``al fresco'' outdoor dining program permanent, with a vote instructing the Department of City Planning to prepare an ordinance that would keep the program intact. The program, which began in May 2020 to help restaurants safely serve guests during the COVID-19 pandemic, streamlines requirements and approvals across multiple city departments for outdoor dining on sidewalks, parking lots and streets. The City Council voted last year to have reports prepared on the possibility of making the program permanent while following Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Mayor Eric Garcetti signaled his support for making the program permanent during his State of the City address last April. “In a city whose unofficial motto is 72 and sunny, let's make al fresco dining permanent, including nearly $2 million (in the 2021-22 fiscal year) in grants for restaurants in low-income neighborhoods to set up permanent parklets for outdoor dining,'' the mayor said. The motion approved on a 12-0 vote Tuesday instructs the Department of City Planning, the City Attorney, the Department of Building and Safety and the Fire Department to collaborate on a citywide ordinance to make the program permanent and generally streamline outdoor dining provisions through the zoning code. WestSide Current |
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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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