After Streak Of Violence, LA Metro Announces ‘Immediate Surge' In Officers On Buses And Trains

Following a streak of violence aboard LA Metro buses and trains, Mayor Karen Bass announced Thursday an "immediate surge" in the number of law enforcement personnel patrolling the transit system, particularly fully uniformed officers riding buses and trains. From several attacks on drivers to the deadly stabbing of a passenger, a spate of violent crimes over the past few months have alarmed local public officials and the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority as they grapple with finding solutions. Bass, who's also chair of Metro's board, said she directed the "immediate" deployment of more law enforcement officers on Wednesday — the first in a series of steps being taken to address a crime spike she called "absolutely unacceptable." Over time, the number of public safety officers will be increased by 20%. Despite the recent violence, Metro has reported an overall decline of 41% in crimes against people over the past year. There has been an 18.7% reduction in the number of crimes against people between February and March, going down from 166 to 135, according to the transit system's public safety report. 

CBS 2

Police Investigate Shooting Death Of 23-Year-Old Man In South L.A.

A 23-year-old man was fatally shot Thursday in the Manchester Square area of South Los Angeles. Officers responded around 7:30 a.m. to the 8300 block of South Denker Avenue and found a man suffering from several gunshot wounds, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The name of the victim was being withheld by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner pending notification of relatives. There was no description of a suspect. Anyone with information regarding the shooting was urged to contact LAPD South Bureau Homicide Division detectives at 323-786-5100. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be directed to 877-527-3237. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

MyNewsLA

Motorist Leads Police On Violent High-Speed Chase, Drives Wrong Way On 405 Freeway Before Crashing

A motorist led police on a high-speed chase through Santa Monica and Brentwood early Friday before driving the wrong way on the 405 Freeway and crashing into multiple vehicles, authorities said. The incident began shortly after 4 a.m. when police received reports of a female motorist causing a disturbance in Santa Monica, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a post on X. It’s unclear what happened when police arrived, but the unidentified woman rammed her white van into a police cruiser as she drove away. Police chased after the driver, who crashed into several police vehicles, according to helicopter footage from KTLA-TV. At one point, the driver turned the van around and drove at a high speed toward a police cruiser that was driving in reverse in the middle of an intersection. The van chased after the patrol car and the officer narrowly avoided a head-on collision with the van after the cruiser spun around. The van then struck the police vehicle in the rear, according to helicopter footage. The driver of the van then drove onto the 405 Freeway in the wrong direction, striking several vehicles coming the other way before crashing into a semi-trailer cab near the Wilshire Boulevard onramp, police said. The suspect then got out and climbed on top of the big-rig cab and sat on the hood for a short time, according to video footage.

Los Angeles Times

1 Suspect Arrested In Brutal Attack Of 2 Juveniles At South LA Restaurant

A 15-year-old boy remained hospitalized in grave condition Thursday after being attacked by three other juveniles while eating outdoors at a Freedom Plaza restaurant in South Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, two juveniles were eating at the restaurant in the 9900 block of South Alameda Street around 6:50 p.m. Tuesday when they were “approached from behind and brutally beaten by three juvenile suspects.” One of the victims was hospitalized in grave condition. The other was treated and later released, police said. One juvenile suspect in the attack was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder, police said. Detectives are still working to track down the other two suspects. The name of the suspect was not released due to the juvenile’s age. The victims’ names also have not been released, but family members identified the gravely injured teen as Jason Rios, 15. “He didn’t know these individuals. They came up behind him. They threw a punch at his head. They knocked him to the ground. He mentioned that he tried to dodge a lot of the hits by covering his body,” Jason’s sister, Nayeli Rios, told ABC7.

MyNewsLA

Suspect In Violent DTLA Rolex Watch Robbery Arrested; LAPD Seeks Other Victims

A 25-year-old man suspected of beating a man unconscious then stealing his Rolex watch in downtown Los Angeles remained jailed Thursday on suspicion of robbery, and police said he may have victimized other people. Pablo Garcia of Los Angeles was arrested Tuesday in Downey by a Department of Corrections Rehabilitation Fugitive Apprehension Team. Garcia was being held in lieu of $450,000 bail, according to Los Angeles police and jail records. He is suspected of carrying out the violent crime at about 3:45 p.m. April 28 in the 800 block of West First Street. According to police, the suspect reached for the victim's Rolex watch, then "brutally assaulted the victim to the point where the victim lost consciousness." The suspect then removed the victim's Rolex and ran off. Although Garcia was arrested, the watch has not been recovered. Detectives suspect Garcia may have robbed other victims, and they asked anyone who believes they were targeted to contact investigators. Police released a photo of the suspect and video of the assault in hopes people may recognize the suspect. "Investigators are also seeking the public's assistance in recovering the victim's Rolex watch," police said. Anyone with information was urged to contact LAPD Central Area Robbery Detective Geraldo Arrieta at (213) 996-1868. 

ABC 7

Hyundai, LAPD To Host Event For Vehicle Owners To Receive Crucial Software Update

The Los Angeles Police Department and Hyundai are partnering to host a free anti-theft event this weekend so drivers can receive an important software update to help prevent vehicle thefts. The software update is needed for select trim levels of all Hyundai models from 2011 to 2021. Hyundai and Kia vehicles became the targets of thieves following a viral social media trend in which step-by-step instructions were provided to demonstrate how to steal them. The “Kia Challenge” showed viewers how to “bypass the vehicles’ security features, dismantle their steering columns and create direct access to their ignitions,” Hyundai said. The videos challenged others to recreate and share proof of the thefts. Thefts were so rampant that some Hyundai and Kia drivers were dropped from their auto insurance providers. Vehicles susceptible to the thefts are Hyundai vehicles without push-button ignitions and “immobilizing anti-theft devices.” Hyundai estimates about 4 million vehicles, primarily base trim models, were vulnerable to these thefts.

KTLA 5

Homeless Parolee Arrested In Assault Of Woman In Santa Monica

A man was in custody Thursday for allegedly assaulting a woman who was jogging on a beach path in Santa Monica, authorities said. The crime occurred about 7:15 a.m. Monday in the 2000 block of Ocean Front Walk, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. "Witnesses to the incident told dispatchers that a young woman was being dragged across the ground by her ponytail," police said in a statement. "Responding officers were on scene within minutes and found both the victim and suspect near the Bicknell restrooms. The suspect was taken into custody without incident." Malcolm Ward, Jr., 48, who is homeless, was on parole when he was arrested, and he was being held without bail, police said. According to police, Ward was charged on Wednesday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office with felony counts of kidnapping, assault with intent to commit rape, and violation of parole. "The victim, a Venice resident, was jogging southbound on the beach path when the suspect grabbed her ponytail from behind, knocking her to the ground," police said in a statement. "He then pulled her several feet toward the restrooms. The victim believed that the suspect intended to sexually assault her. Several witnesses intervened in the attack and called police. The victim suffered minor physical injuries in the attack."

Westside Current

Reward Of Up To $50k Offered For Information On Robberies Against USPS Mail Carriers

An FBI raid at a home in Baldwin Park left neighbors shaken after agents attempted to locate a man believed to be targeting USPS mail carriers in robberies. “I was woken up around 6 a.m. with sirens blaring and police on megaphones,” Fernando Valentin told NBC4. A boarded-up home on Big Dalton Avenue was the subject of a federal raid on Tuesday. Agents believed the home was where Ruben Baca Lopez, who is wanted on suspicion of robbing mail carriers at gunpoint, had taken shelter. “This suspect did rob our mail carriers while they were doing their job while they were delivering the mail,” said Marjan Barrigan Husted of the United States Postel Inspection Service. “So, we take it very seriously to protect our letter carriers.” Two USPS workers were robbed in separate incidents a month apart – on April 6 and May 6. It is unclear what exactly the robber got away with. “Mail carriers are targets sometimes because of what they are carrying,” Husted said. “It could be personal items like their cell phone or their wallet but more than likely it’s checks or something valuable in the mail that these criminals are going after.”

NBC 4

She Couldn’t Call, So Human-Trafficking Victim Texted 911 — And Saved Herself, Officials Say

A 17-year-old girl was able to save herself from being trafficked by texting 911. The teenager, who authorities said was a victim of human trafficking, began texting the emergency number with “pleas for help” around 3 a.m. on May 9, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The texts were routed to the Sheriff Office’s communication center, where staff began translating the messages from Spanish. In a news release, the department said the teenager began texting landmarks and other “identifiable information” she was seeing, which helped the agency quickly dispatch deputies to the correct area. The teenager was located in Casitas Springs. Investigators said they believed the victim was trafficked to Ventura County roughly two months ago from Mexico. She has been placed with the county’s Children & Family Services until authorities can locate her family, according to the release. The department arrested Gerardo Cruz, 31, a native of Veracruz, Mexico. His bail is set at half a million dollars. Ventura County began allowing people to reach 911 dispatchers via text in 2021. The change was meant to make emergency dispatch services more accessible to people with speech impairments or people in emergency situations who can’t make phone calls, such as victims of domestic abuse, the Ventura County Star reported at the time.

Los Angeles Times

LA Council Committee Amends And OKs Bass’ Proposed 2024-25 Budget

A Los Angeles City Council committee Thursday amended Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed $12.8 billion budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year to fund a number of priority areas, ensure legal obligations are met and bolster public safety. During Thursday’s Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee meeting, council members adopted revisions to the budget, and next week it will be heard and voted by the full City Council before going to Bass for her signature or veto. Over the past few weeks, the committee has heard from department heads to help fill critical gaps and adjust funding priorities. The committee also heard from some members of the public for just one day about services the budget should support and continue funding. The City Council will dedicate some time Wednesday for members of the public to weigh in on the revised budget before a vote Thursday. “I’m proud that our committee was able to not only fund critical shared priorities of the council like addressing homelessness, continuing infrastructure services and more, but also work with general managers to meet many of their unique needs- even in the face of a dire budget,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield, chair of the budget committee, said in a statement.

MyNewsLA

LA Council To Consider Motion On Future Of Iconic Olvera Street Burro Stand

Richard Hernandez, who has operated the iconic donkey stand on Olvera Street for decades, has faced a challenging time. His mother suddenly passed away and now their family business faces an uncertain future. "I'm not fully well," said Hernandez. "I know I smile sometimes, but it's just really hard." There was a show of support to "save the burro" or "save the donkey" Thursday as Hernandez faces an order to vacate. At issue is that his name was not added to the lease agreement before his mother passed away. "Today was supposed to be my last day," said Hernandez. "La Carreta" or the carriage and donkey where many locals and tourists have had their picture taken over the years, was established in the late 1960s by Hernandez's parents. He buried his mother, Maria Trancito Hernandez one week ago, the same day the commission that oversees the property was set to discuss the matter. The president said it would be delayed to May 23 out of respect for the grieving family, but Hernandez was later notified he must vacate by May 16.

ABC 7

LA City Council Looks To Crack Down On Tee Time Black Market

The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved a motion that seeks to crack down on the illegal booking and reselling of tee times for profit. Council members voted 14-0 to instruct the Department of Recreation and Parks to detail the operation and management of its reservation system for city public golf courses, and any efforts made to stop the illegal activity. The report is expected to include potential fee adjustments to cover costs for upgrading the booking system. Council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Nithya Raman filed the motion in April, seconded by Imelda Padilla and Bob Blumenfield. The Department of Recreation and Parks operates multiple golf courses throughout the city. Residents can purchase an L.A. City Golf Player Card and book tee times up to nine days in advance at all golf courses. Without a player card, the general public can book tee times up to seven days in advance. Brokering or advertising tee times for resale or using third-party programs for booking tee times are strictly prohibited, according to city policy.

FOX 11

Report: LA City Council To Honor Dodger Shohei Ohtani Friday

Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani will reportedly be honored at Friday’s L.A. City Council meeting — though multiple officials around City Hall offered nothing but quick and guarded “no comment” replies when asked to confirm the slugger’s appearance. KNX News, quoting “Dodgers insiders,” reported Thursday that Ohtani will be honored during an in-person visit at the start of Friday’s 10 a.m. council meeting. Details about why Ohtani would be celebrated were not divulged. City News Service reached out Thursday to the offices of Council President Paul Krekorian and council members Curren Price, Kevin de León, Eunisses Hernandez and John Lee. A representative from each office declined to comment on whether Ohtani would be honored Friday. A Dodger spokesman also declined comment. An appearance by Ohtani would likely attract a large contingent of Dodger fans to City Hall, not to mention domestic and Japanese media that frequently flock around the slugger.

MyNewsLA

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 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.