Gascón And Hochman Spar In Their First Face-Off Of The L.A. County D.A. Race

Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón squared off via Zoom on Wednesday with Nathan Hochman, his challenger in the November election, with the two candidates exchanging pointed but polite blows in their first head-to-head encounter of the race. The virtual forum was marked by technical glitches, rapid-fire switches between topics, and attacks by both candidates. Gascón defended his prosecutorial record while laying out a progressive vision for another four years in office. Hochman, in turn, attempted to pitch himself as the tougher-on-crime alternative. A lightning rod of controversy since taking office four years ago on a platform of criminal justice reform, Gascón has since rolled back some of his boldest policies in the face of withering criticism. But he said he still prioritizes reducing the incarceration rate while also holding lawbreakers accountable and keeping crime low. 

Los Angeles Times

Man Wounded In Downtown Shooting

A man was in the hospital Friday after he was shot in the arm during a confrontation with an assailant in downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded at 9:50 p.m. Thursday to Fifth Street and Central Avenue near Skid Row where a witness told them they were walking on Fifth with the victim when the suspect approached them and began arguing with the victim, an LAPD spokesman told City News Service. At some point, the suspect drew a handgun and shot the victim before running from the scene, police said. The victim was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm.

MyNewsLA

Police Seek Help Locating 14-Year-Old Girl Last Seen In Wilmington

Police sought the public’s assistance Thursday in locating a 14-year-old girl last seen in Wilmington. Adriana Sarah Gonzalez-Rugama was reported missing after last being seen Saturday in the 1300 block of Figueroa Place, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Gonzalez-Rugama is described as a 5-foot-1-inch tall Hispanic girl weighing 136 pounds with dyed red hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink top, blue jeans and white shoes. According to police, Gonzalez-Rugama is presumed to be unfamiliar with the Wilmington area and is either in Los Angeles County or Dallas, Texas with a 41-year-old man. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts was urged to contact LAPD Harbor juvenile detectives at 310-726-7941. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be directed to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

MyNewsLA

Amber Alert Issued For 3-Month-Old Baby Boy Last Seen In LA

The California Highway Patrol's Emergency Notification and Tactical Alert Center issued an Amber Alert for 3-month-old Zacariyah Breaux. Investigators believe the baby boy was allegedly taken by his mother, 28-year-old Eunyque Breaux, who does not have custody of him. Zacariyah, who resides in South Los Angeles. was last seen on Aug. 11 at 11:30 a.m. in the area of South Western Avenue and Imperial Highway in LA, authorities said. According to the CHP, Zacariyah is 22 inches tall, weighs 10 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. Eunyque Breaux was described as Black woman who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. She is believed to be on foot. Anyone who sees them is asked to call 911.

FOX 11

Million-Dollar Watch Stolen In Beverly Hills Holdup Found After Arrest In Miami

Police said an emerald-encrusted Patek Philippe watch worth at least $1 million, stolen at gunpoint from a tourist in Beverly Hills, was found after the arrests of three men in Miami, Florida accused of being involved in organized thefts of luxury goods across the U.S. The discovery of the Beverly Hills watch followed an investigation into another watch theft that happened in Miami in April, when a man was robbed at gunpoint and his watch, a different Patek Philippe model worth $50,000, was stolen. Detectives from the Miami Police Department said they identified 25-year-old Yeison Jose Bolivar as the man who committed the April robbery, and on Sept. 5 he and two other men were arrested. Police said they found the Beverly Hills watch and a stolen rifle and a stolen handgun. Bolivar made an initial appearance in court last week and was ordered held without bail. He's expected to return to court later this month to enter pleas to the local charge of robbery with a firearm. The revelation that the watch stolen in Beverly Hills surfaced in Miami was no surprise to Miami area private investigator David Bolton, who has unique expertise investigating similar thefts.

NBC 4

Santa Monica Woman Awakes To Find Homeless Prowler Exposing Himself, Suspect Arrested

A 34-year-old homeless man has been arrested following an incident of indecent exposure and burglary in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Police Department responded to a call around 4:10 a.m. on September 7, 2024, regarding a residential prowler in the 900 block of 7th Street. According to authorities, the female victim reported that she had been asleep in her apartment when she awoke to find a man touching her leg while exposing himself. The victim was able to escape and immediately called the police. Officers located the suspect, later identified as Anthony Townson, a short distance from the apartment and took him into custody. Investigators determined that Townson had entered the residence through an unlocked patio sliding door. Townson was arraigned on September 10, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed felony charges of residential burglary and indecent exposure during unlawful entry. He remains in custody with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Westside Current

Family Searches For Missing Southern California Woman

Loved ones are searching for a missing woman who disappeared in Los Angeles County. The at-risk missing woman was identified as Harlie Renei Jack, 21, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Jack was last seen on Sept. 9. on the 27300 block of Sierra Highway in Canyon Country at around 12:21 p.m. She stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds. She has burgundy-red hair, green eyes and a tattoo on her left forearm that says, “R 10/13/65-7/6/22.” She was last seen wearing white ripped jeans and a black tank top. Her family has not heard from her since her disappearance and is greatly concerned for her well-being. Anyone who has seen the missing woman or knows her whereabouts is asked to call the LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.

KTLA 5

Church Pastor In Southern California Arrested For Sexual Assault Of Minors

A 47-year-old man from Riverside County who has served as a pastor and volunteer in churches throughout the Inland Empire was arrested on allegations that he sexually assaulted multiple juvenile females at his former residence in San Bernardino County, officials announced Wednesday. According to a press release from the Ontario Police Department, investigators became aware of the accusations against Jose Alcides Vasquez, now a resident of Menifee, in Aug. 2021. At that time, a school police resource officer notified administrators at a high school in Ontario that a student said her neighbor had sexually assaulted her. While authorities said the investigation remained ongoing, an additional victim came forward in July 2024, providing detectives with new evidence that further incriminated Vasquez. The 47-year-old most recently served as the head pastor at Camino De Santidad Church in Menifee, police said. He was arrested on Sept. 5 at his residence without incident and was booked at the West Valley Detention Center on several felony charges. 

KTLA 5

Arson Suspect In Line Fire Faces 9 Charges Related To Injured Firefighter, $7 Million In Damages

A Southern California man arrested on suspicion of starting the massive Line Fire in San Bernardino County is facing nine charges — including counts related to millions of dollars in damages and an injury to a firefighter, prosecutors announced Thursday. Justin Wayne Halstenberg, a 34-year-old resident of the city of Norco in Riverside County, was arrested Tuesday following an investigation that law enforcement officials say started on Sept. 6. Upon serving a search warrant, detectives discovered evidence in his home and vehicle linking him to the alleged arson, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "While we're still in the thrust of the preliminary investigation, we believe this was intentional," San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Wednesday. Investigators believe the suspect is also responsible for starting two other smaller fires in the area. On Thursday, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said Halstenberg is currently facing nine charges. But that could change, Anderson said, depending on monetary damages and even potential injuries and fatalities that could result from the wildfire.

CBS 2

‘Thank You For Saving Me’: BWC Shows Texas Officers Rescue 2 Boys From Home Engulfed In Flames

Two Vidor Police officers are being hailed as heroes after rescuing two young boys from a house fire, 12 News Now reported. The fire was reported at a mobile home during the overnight hours on Sept. 10, according to Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll. Officers Michael Stephenson and Ashton Moss were the first to arrive at the scene where they found the home “fully engulfed” in flames. The boys’ mother informed the officers that her children, ages 7 and 9, were trapped in the front bedroom. Body camera footage shows Stephenson running toward the burning home and struggling to remove an air conditioner from the window to reach the children. “She told me it was screwed shut,” Stephenson told 12 News. “I couldn’t hear them. The fire was loud. We were just trying to get that open because that was our only way in.” After a brief struggle, Stephenson was able to push the AC unit into the house. Within seconds of opening the window, the two boys emerged from the room, and the officers pulled them to safety. “Luckily the kids were right there just inside the window, so we were able to pull them out,” Moss said. After the officers helped the children out of the room, they walked over to make sure they were alright.

PoliceOne

Fire Crews Work To Put Out Flames In Chinatown Apartment Buildings, 3 Injured, 1 Critical

Los Angeles City Fire Department crews are battling a residential Chinatown fire that began early Friday morning in an apartment building under construction and quickly spread to an adjacent occupied apartment building. LAFD Captain Adam VanGerpen said three people have been injured and one person was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Ten people have been displaced. Crews responded at 3:43 a.m. to the building under construction in the 800 block of Bunker Hill Avenue. VanGerpen said flames rapidly spread to the neighboring three-story apartment building, causing residents to evacuate. Firefighters are continuing to make sure all the residents are out of the building. Other apartment buildings are affected as well, with fire crews working at each. "So we have a total of three buildings that have been affected right now, but there's going to be some smoke damage, and we have firefighters in a fourth building as well," VanGerpen said. 

CBS 2

Firefighters Gaining Control Over Destructive Southern California Wildfires

Little by little, firefighting crews in Southern California are gaining control over three wildfires that have destroyed dozens of buildings, burned more than 100,000 acres and kept countless residents out of their homes for days. On Friday, containment of the 51,884-acre Bridge fire increased to 3% after days of marching its way north over the Angeles and San Bernardino National forests with crews unable to contain any of its perimeter. More than 5,000 structures remain threatened by the flames and dozens of buildings destroyed. Firefighters there and to the east fighting the Line fire and south at the Airport fire in Orange and Riverside counties have been counting on a break from days of extreme heat and low humidity as an opportunity to start to corral the out-of-control blazes. Between Wednesday and Thursday, containment of the Line fire inched up to 21%. Overnight into Friday morning, the fire grew by less than 200 acres, to 37,743 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection website. The Airport fire’s containment also increased Friday morning, climbing to 8% from 5% a day earlier. The blaze was listed at 23,494 acres. Teams there are assessing how many homes were destroyed in an isolated town tucked in the Santa Ana Mountains after the fire jumped Ortega Highway earlier in the week and ran through the town.

Los Angeles Times

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.