Law Enforcement News
Motorcyclist Killed In Lincoln Heights Crash
A motorcyclist has died after a crash in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles Saturday, according to officials. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to calls of a crash just before 7:30 a.m. Saturday, in the 2800 block of Griffin Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a motorcyclist had hit another vehicle. Los Angeles Fire Department rescue officials pronounced the victim, a 24-year-old man, dead at the scene. Accord to LAPD, the motorcycle was driving southbound on Griffin Avenue, when the vehicle in front of him made a U-turn. The motorcyclist wasn't able to slow down before hitting the vehicle in front of him, pinning the bike underneath the vehicle. No other details about the crash were immediately available.
FOX 11
Two Charged With Shooting Armored Car Guard, Taking $140,000, May Be Linked To Similar Robberies
Two men were arrested Friday morning on suspicion of shooting an armored truck guard and making off with $140,000 in a brazen daytime robbery in Harbor City, officials said. Gregory James, 47, of San Pedro and Lamond Akins, 30, of Compton are facing federal charges in Monday’s robbery. Law enforcement officials believe the men may be linked to two other robberies in which armored car guards were ambushed and wounded by assailants who escaped with large amounts of cash. About 11:20 a.m. Monday, two armed men ambushed a Loomis guard who had worked on an ATM at a Bank of America branch at 23800 S. Vermont Ave., according to court records. According to an affidavit, both men were carrying semiautomatic handguns and shot the guard several times in the right leg before fleeing in a black Chevrolet Malibu.
LA Times
2 Suspects Sought Following Burglary At Chanel Store In Beverly Grove
A search is underway for at least two suspects after a burglary early Tuesday morning at the Chanel store in Beverly Grove. The incident happened just before 3 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities say the thieves used a van to slam into the store's glass stores. They then ran inside and smashed glass display cases. Police have not said what or how much was stolen. Following the burglary, authorities said two men were seen running from the scene in opposite directions on Robertson Boulevard. The van was left behind. Additional details were not available.
ABC 7
Inmate Who Walked Away From LA Reentry Facility Found In Vegas
A man on the run after walking away from a Los Angeles reentry facility nearly three weeks ago was taken into custody Monday in Las Vegas, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Officials said 26-year-old Jawan Richard Harris was taken into custody just before 3 p.m. and transported to Clark County Jail for extradition back to California. His case will then be referred to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for escape charges. Harris left without authorization and was last seen in Los Angeles on Oct.4. He arrived at the facility in Dec. 2021 and was scheduled to be released from custody in Oct. 2023.
FOX 11
Death Of 35-Year-Old Man Discovered In Santa Monica Mountains Ruled Homicide
The death of a 35-year-old man, who went missing in late July and whose remains were discovered in the Santa Monica Mountains earlier this month has been ruled homicide. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, Jose Velasquez died of multiple gunshot wounds. A native of Honduras, Velasquez moved to Simi Valley in 2016 and worked as a plumber, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. After obtaining his general contractor’s license in 2021, the 35-year-old moved to an apartment in Camarillo. Family members told the Times that on the night of July 27, Velasquez had a beer near Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks with friends. Velasquez’s work van was found about four miles from the shopping mall on Aug. 1. It did not appear that anything had been stolen from the vehicle.
KTLA 5
Man Found Shot To Death In Compton, LASD Investigating
A Hispanic man in his late 20s was found shot to death in Compton Friday night, and Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies are investigating. Deputies from LASD's Compton station were called to the 100 block of Elm Street just after 7 p.m. Friday. When deputies got there, they found a man lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was brought to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. Deputies said they don't have any suspects, but said they believe the man was murdered. They have no suspect information nor a murder weapon. As deputies continue to investigate this shooting, anyone with information is asked to call LASD's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those wishing to stay anonymous can submit a tip to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
FOX 11
Beverly Hills Police Investigating Anti-Semitic Flyers In The Area
Authorities in Beverly Hills are investigating anti-Semitic flyers that they say were dispersed in the area overnight. Beverly Hills police say the flyers were seen in the north-end of the city and have been collected. No current threat to the community is believed to exist, police said. Lili Bosse, the mayor of Beverly Hills, denounced the messages on the flyers Sunday.
CBS 2
Man, 37, Reported Missing In South Los Angeles
Authorities Monday sought the public’s help to locate a 37-year-old man who was reported missing in South Los Angeles. Raymond Albert Young was last seen about 3 p.m. Friday in the 2000 block of East 120th Street, near Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, according to the Los Angles County Sheriff’s Department. Young is Black, 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a tattoo of the name “Sherry” on his right forearm. The LASD also noted he may have been heading to the 4000 block of Whittier Boulevard. Anyone with information on Young’s whereabouts was asked to 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
Arcadia Police K-9 Finds $25M In Cocaine In Traffic Stop
An Arcadia Police Department K-9 unit found 80 kilograms of cocaine in a traffic stop on Sunday. The dog, Kruz, and his partner were helping another law enforcement agency when Kruz detected narcotics in the car, police said on Twitter. The 80 kilograms of cocaine has an approximate street value of $25 million, police added.
KTLA 5
California Teacher Recorded Allegedly Saying He Wanted To ‘Slam' Student's Face ‘Against The Wall'
A California high school teacher was placed on administrative leave and is under an internal investigation after he allegedly made comments stating that he wanted to "slam" a female student's "face up against the wall." Robert Bean, who is an English teacher at Cajon High School in San Bernardino, California, allegedly made the comments, which were recorded and uploaded to TikTok, according to FOX 11. "She’s a rude, defiant little brat kid that I just want to slam her face up against the wall," Bean can be heard saying in the recording. "I’m old school guys, I’m 53 years old." After the recording began to circulate on social media, the San Bernardino City Unified School District placed Bean on administrative leave and is conducting an internal investigation. "SBCUSD placed Mr. Bean on administrative leave this morning. We are looking into the allegations posted on social media. We are not able to share more about this situation because we are required to protect our employee's privacy in this matter," a spokesperson for the district said.
Yahoo! News
New Jersey Man Admits To Setting Police Cars On Fire In Philly, Inciting Riot During 2020 Protests
A man who admitted to setting a police vehicle on fire during protests in Philadelphia over the police killing of George Floyd has pleaded guilty to federal charges. Carlos Matchett, 32, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Friday to felony counts of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder and traveling to incite a riot, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. In exchange for the pleas, prosecutors agreed to drop arson charges that would have carried a seven-year mandatory minimum prison term. Matchett, who is to be sentenced in February, is the fourth defendant to acknowledge having set police cars ablaze during a mass demonstration outside Philadelphia’s City Hall in May 2020. He was also charged in an Atlantic City protest the next day that began peacefully but ended up with theft and vandalism at outlet stores. According to a criminal complaint, police in New Jersey arrested Carlos Matchett at the scene with a folding knife, a hatchet and a jar containing what appeared to be gasoline. Authorities alleged that he had a social media page containing a post stating “LETS START a RIOT” and video showing him urging people to enter a store.
Associated Press
Florida Police Discover Fentanyl, Other Drugs In Repeat Offender's Underwear During Traffic Stop
A Florida man who has had numerous brushes with the law this year was arrested yet again Thursday night. This most recent offense marks the fourth time in 2022 that Stephen Joel Horton was arrested — and ninth time since 2017, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. An FCSO Facebook post about the newest incident says that a deputy on patrol around 8 p.m. in Palm Coast pulled over the 42-year-old on State Road 100 after he was tracked driving his Nissan 55 mph through a 35 mph construction zone. The driver also changed lanes directly in front of the unmarked patrol vehicle, forcing the deputy to brake to avoid a crash, the agency says. During the traffic stop, the deputy noticed the Nissan “rocking back and forth as if someone was moving around rapidly inside the vehicle.” Upon further investigation, the officer spotted a large blade sheath tucked between the driver’s seat and center console.
Miami Herald
Public Safety News
Hiker Rushed To Trauma Center After Fall In West Hills Area
A hiker was rushed to a trauma center after getting injured in a fall in the West Hills, authorities said. First responders said the hiker was injured just before 11:30 a.m. Sunday Bell Canyon Park. Authorities say the hiker got hurt in a ground level fall near El Escorpion Trail. It was there that an LAFD helicopter responded to transport the victim to a hospital. The hiker's current condition was not known. No further details were immediately available.
CBS 2
Fire Burns Abandoned Home In Venice. Squatters Could Be To Blame
More than 40 firefighters were called to put out a house fire at the 700 block of Flower Avenue in Venice Friday morning. The fire started around 11:00 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crews were able to put out the fire in a short period and stayed on the scene until about 2:00 p.m. to make no other fires broke out. Firefighters said when they got to the home, it was bordered up, but there was visible evidence that occupants had been staying there. The home is in the same area where a growing encampment has taken over at the corner of Flower and Lincoln Blvd. This week, residents in the area called in to the Venice Neighborhood Council to express their growing frustration with an encampment. Traci Park, a candidate in the race to represent Council District 11 was on the scene of the fire. "Here we go again...," she said in an Instagram Post. "The City has been on notice of these dangerous conditions for months. Thank you #LAFD station 63 and 62 for keeping us safe. Hang in there, help is on the way."
westSide Current
Fire Burns Abandoned Home In Venice. Squatters Could Be To Blame
More than 40 firefighters were called to put out a house fire at the 700 block of Flower Avenue in Venice Friday morning. The fire started around 11:00 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crews were able to put out the fire in a short period and stayed on the scene until about 2:00 p.m. to make no other fires broke out. Firefighters said when they got to the home, it was bordered up, but there was visible evidence that occupants had been staying there. The home is in the same area where a growing encampment has taken over at the corner of Flower and Lincoln Blvd. This week, residents in the area called in to the Venice Neighborhood Council to express their growing frustration with an encampment. Traci Park, a candidate in the race to represent Council District 11 was on the scene of the fire. "Here we go again...," she said in an Instagram Post. "The City has been on notice of these dangerous conditions for months. Thank you #LAFD station 63 and 62 for keeping us safe. Hang in there, help is on the way."
westSide Current
Newer Coronavirus Subvariants Ticking Up In California Amid Concerns Of Winter Wave
Amid concerns about a potential winter COVID-19 wave, cases linked to newer coronavirus subvariants are starting to creep up in California as officials in both Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area warn that a lengthy decline in new infections appears to be stalling. Whether this trend in coronavirus cases can be blamed on the rise of the newer strains is unclear — especially since the Omicron subvariant BA.5 remains the dominant version nationwide, as has been the case for months. But officials have long warned that any new subvariant could imperil the progress against COVID-19, either by being inherently more infectious or better able to evade protection from vaccinations or previous infections. The latest generation of alphanumerically designated Omicron subvariants may have such an advantage, even over the hyper-infectious BA.5.
La Times
Local Government News
LA City Council Moves Forward On Plan To Address Street Takeovers
The Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday, Oct. 21, to move forward on a plan to address street takeovers, seeking reports and analysis for a multiyear work plan and funding strategy. In the first eight months of the year, at least six people had died during or near street takeovers in Los Angeles, according to a motion filed by several councilmembers in August. Prominently, there have been incidents on the Sixth Street Bridge, which opened July 10 to much fanfare but was soon overshadowed by those who came to perform street takeovers, spinouts and other activities that blocked traffic — resulting in several closures. The councilmembers’ motion also pointed to issues with street takeovers in Council Districts 7 and 14. It suggested that the city could put in place traffic calming measures, such as rumble strips and raised pavement markers, as “effective and cost-efficient means of deterring intersection takeovers,” along with “Slow Streets” designs.
LA daily News
LA Council Votes To Approve Law Targeting Misleading Pregnancy Service Centers
The Los Angeles City Council voted to approve an ordinance on Friday that would prohibit pregnancy service centers from misleading people about reproductive health services, including abortion, with tactics such as false advertising. The ordinance, proposed by City Attorney Mike Feuer, will come before the council for a second reading next week and would take effect immediately after approval. It would be enforced by Feuer's office, with fines of $10,000 per violation. It would also allow victims to sue for compensation if they believe they have been misled. “If someone goes to a center thinking that those services are offered, and they're not, they've lost valuable time in this critical moment,'' Feuer said at a committee meeting last month. “If someone goes to one of these centers and is pressured into changing their mind, altering their decision-making about this through inaccurate information, precious time is lost. When it comes to reproductive health, time matters. And truth matters. Women's rights and health cannot be on the line because of misleading information.''
NBC 4
