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Law Enforcement News

LAPD Chief Has Concerns Over Staffing Levels, Not Meeting Recruitment Goals
The Los Angeles Police Department is not meeting its staffing goals, Chief Michel Moore Tuesday told the Board of Police Commissioners. The department is currently underemployed by 176 officers, Moore said — citing 9,284 sworn officers on staff as of Aug. 13, while the department is authorized to have 9,460. Moore said the LAPD is also authorized by the City Council to hire as many as 780 new sworn personnel, factoring in expected attrition from officers retiring. “Policing is pulling from an increasingly smaller pool of interested applicants for a variety of reasons, and so we have to be better at being upfront and being a world class agency,” Moore said. Moore emphasized there is a high threshold for bringing in a new officer, noting that the department hires around just 5% of all applicants. Meanwhile, the department’s response time to emergency calls remains under the goal of seven minutes — but response times for urgent and routine calls have “lengthened significantly” as a result of the staffing shortage, according to Moore.
MyNewsLA

Bicyclist Shot And Killed In Echo Park
A suspect fatally shot a man who was riding a bicycle in a residential neighborhood of Echo Park, authorities said Saturday. The shooting occurred just before 7 p.m. Friday in the 1900 block of Echo Park Avenue, where the victim was riding a bicycle and the suspect walked up to him and fired some shots, according to Officer Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. No suspect information was available. Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call the LAPD's Northeast station at 323-561-3211, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
FOX 11

Moped Rider Run Over By Hit-and-Run Driver In Downtown LA; $25,000 Reward For Suspect's Arrest
The search is on for a hit-and-run suspect that left a moped rider seriously hurt in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of a crash back on August 14 a little after 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of West 3rd Street and Flower Street. The suspect's car was described as a royal blue Mini Cooper. The man in the moped, described as a 20-year-old, was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, LAPD said. LAPD said the public should keep an eye on the Mini Cooper driven by the suspect, which sustained damages to the car's panoramic sunroof and likely front-end damage. There is a $25,000 reward for anyone that could help investigators find the suspect in the hit-and-run crash. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call 213-833-3713.
FOX 11

Half-Naked Man Arrested Again For Trying To Break Into Another Home
Josh, who only wished to use his first name, is still ratted after watching a security video of a half-dressed man entering his Mid-Wilshire apartment. "He hopped the gate to our backyard and walked through the courtyard," he said. "Kind of removed most of his clothing except for his underwear." Josh regrets leaving his door unlocked that fateful Wednesday night in January, which gave the intruder easy access into his home. "I was pretty scared. I didn't know what to do," he said. "It really seemed like someone who was drugged out and lost." Josh called the police after spotting the burglar in his hallway while neighbors helped subdue the half-naked man until officers arrived. Police identified the suspect as 31-year-old Gage Roth. He is also accused of prying his way into a Van Nuys home in June 2021 and breaking into another apartment, again half-naked, as 12-year-old twins were sleeping.
CBS 2

LAPD Warning Tourists, Visitors About Increase In Car Break-Ins At Griffith Park
Tourists and visitors to Griffith Park are being warned to be aware of their surroundings, especially where they park, as the Los Angeles Police Department says thieves have been targeting cars. The department held a press conference Tuesday morning and said the thieves are mostly looking for rental vehicles with valuables in plain sight. "When they see a rental car appear in the park, there's a greater likelihood that there will be money, credit cards, IDs, possibly passports and or valuables, so those tend to be targeted and hit much more often," said Detective Michael Ventura. So far this year, the LAPD said there have been 121 car break-ins in the area, 63 of them since May. The thefts are happening in the parking areas near the Griffith Observatory and the Greek Theatre. Authorities believe the thieves themselves are coming down from Northern California, also using rental cars that have been traced back to San Francisco and Oakland. Los Angeles Park Service Chief Joe Loserreli said the thieves could take as little as 10 seconds to break into a car and get away with valuables.
ABC 7

Authorities Make 40 Arrests During Weekend Street Takeover Crackdown
Southern California law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department, made 40 arrests and issued dozens of citations during a two-day operation to crack down on illegal street takeovers. The LAPD announced Tuesday that, in addition to the 40 arrests, 82 citations were issued, 34 vehicles were impounded and “numerous” takeovers were either disrupted or stopped before they could get going. Among those arrests included one person who was arrested on a warrant for attempted murder and another for possession of a loaded “ghost gun.” Ghost guns are unserialized guns that can be assembled from parts or kits and are virtually untraceable to law enforcement. The operation was held on Friday and Saturday at various locations across Southern California, the LAPD said. The Police Department did not specify what other law enforcement agencies participated the in the crackdown or where the alleged street takeovers were disrupted. An attempted street takeover in West Los Angeles was shut down by LAPD officers on Friday night, although it’s unclear if that event was part of the greater operation. “The collaborative efforts by everyone involved made an impact and sent a message—we will not condone this illegal and often deadly behavior,” the Police Department said on social media.
KTLA 5

South LA Gang Member Pleads Guilty In Drug Distribution Case
A South LA gang member pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal narcotics charge for conspiring to distribute drugs such as crack cocaine and methamphetamine from a local storefront. Andrew Tate, 54, pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld Jr. scheduled sentencing for Dec. 13, when Tate faces between 10 years and life in prison. Prosecutors said they have secured 10 convictions in the case, in which Tate was the lead defendant of a probe dubbed Operation Hoover Dam, a reference to the gang targeted by investigators. According to prosecutors, Tate sold drugs from a business known as TNN Market. He and co-defendant Bobby Lorenzo Reed, 58, who owned the H&E Smoke and Snack Shop, would refer clientele to each other between June 2017 and May 2018, as well as supply each other with drugs and direct their employees to take part in narcotics sales and referrals, prosecutors said. Reed pleaded guilty in June and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 13.
NBC 4

Beverly Grove Boutique Announces Mask Ban Due To Rise In Robbery, Crime
A Beverly Grove clothing store announced Sunday that it will be enforcing a mask ban to its shop. Kitson, a popular boutique with multiple locations in Los Angeles, has decided to restrict mask usage at its Beverly Grove store located on Robertson Boulevard, citing the recent rise in masked burglaries in the area. Fraser Ross, the owner of Kitson, told CBSLA that the store posted signs about the mask ban this past Wednesday. A sign posted on the window reads, "Due to safety of our staff and assets of store, we do not allow the wearing of face masks." The masks were previously required by Los Angels County residents during any indoor setting due to coronavirus, but recently have become largely optional as the area sits in the "medium" tier of COVID-19 community level. In an interview with Fox News, Ross detailed times that he's been strangled and pepper-sprayed by assailants, as well as times that his employees have had scissors held at their faces.
CBS 2

Hate Crimes In Los Angeles This Year Could Again Set Records, Report Finds
Hate crimes in the city of Los Angeles are on pace to match or surpass last year’s record-setting levels, according to a USC analysis. The analysis found that hate crimes against Black, transgender and LGBTQ Angelenos this year were all up significantly compared with the first six months of 2021, according to an analysis of Los Angeles Police Department data by Crosstown, USC’s nonprofit data-driven news outlet. Hate crimes across the country and in California have been on the rise in recent years, led last year by an increase in Anti-Asian hate. This latest analysis from the first six months of the year in L.A. signals that hate crimes could again set records. There were 596 hate crimes reported by LAPD in 2021, according to USC’s analysis, but already by the end of June, 349 have been reported this year. During the same period last year, 299 had been reported. LAPD designates a hate crime as a criminal act targeting gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability.
Los Angeles Times

Northern LA County Leads Area In Fentanyl-Related Overdoses
Crystal Anzalone's son, Nicholas, was only 19 years old when he died from a fentanyl overdose in Santa Clarita a year ago. "He was just genuine and he had a great heart," said Crystal Anzalone. "God, I miss him so much." Anzalone's son joins an alarming number of young people dying from fentanyl. "He started taking fentanyl medicine that is toxic," she said. "I revived him 9 times and I don't even know CPR." Officials gathered in Santa Clarita to warn people about the lethal effects of fentanyl disguised as prescription pills, after authorities reported northern Los Angeles county leads the area in fentanyl-related overdoses. Founder of Action Drug and Rehab center Cary Quashen showed how the fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills he's confiscated look very similar to prescription pills. "They look like strong, prescription Xanax," Quashen said. "You cannot tell these apart... People are buying these all day long on the internet. You can buy them on Snapchat. You can buy them wherever you want but they're not real."
CBS 2

Watch: Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest Of Man Wanted For 1994 Murder
A traffic stop has led to the arrest of a suspect wanted for a 1994 cold case murder. The suspect, Muhammed Bilal El-Amin, 47, has been on the run since the murder of 18-year-old Jafferd Tucker. He has been wanted by the FBI as well as the Atlanta Police Department, 11 Alive reported. Oconee County Deputy Devan Blair was doing random vehicle registration checks when she noticed El-Amin’s vehicle had an expired registration. The suspect’s apprehension was caught on the deputy’s bodycam, showing her stop El-Amin, who gave the deputy a fake name. Later, deputy Lex Ogan arrives, explaining that he was being arrested for an expired registration, not having insurance and for having a suspended driver’s license. However, the license was for a person named Rais Sekhem and El-Amin claimed that was him. He asked for citations, but the deputies didn’t let him off that easy. “I beg you, I beg of you all,” he said to them.
CBS 2

Missouri Officer Wounded In Shooting That Killed 2 LEOs Returns To Work
Students arriving for the first day of class on Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Elementary and Preschool in Joplin were welcomed by a familiar and special guest. Joplin police Officer Rick Hirshey returned as a school resource officer, an occasion that marked a closing chapter in his recovery from a March shooting that killed two of his colleagues. "We are just so happy to welcome him home to St. Mary's," said Joanne Lown, principal at St. Mary's. "He's so admired and revered in our school. What he endured in March and how he has worked so hard to come back is such a story of triumph and perseverance." Hirshey is in his 14th year serving as a school resource officer with St. Mary's. He has been with the Joplin Police Department for 21 years and currently serves as the school resource officer for East Middle School and its feeder elementary schools, Martin Luther Christian School and St. Mary's. Hirshey had briefly retired from the Joplin Police Department in June 2021, but he returned to help out during a staff shortage. In March, Hirshey was shot in the face during the pursuit of a suspect who had shot and killed Cpl. Benjamin Cooper and Officer Jake Reed. Since then, he has faced a long recovery and returned to light duty at the department in June.
The Joplin Globe

Public Safety News

Firefighters Contain Brushfire In El Sereno
A brushfire broke out in El Sereno early Monday morning. The fire, dubbed the "Eastern Fire" by Los Angeles Fire Department, was first reported at around 4:45 a.m. near N. Lombardy Boulevard and had grown to engulf up to six acres by 5:30 a.m. At the time of containment, crews reported that the fire could have burnt anywhere from 5 to 10 acres. Despite initially stating that the flames posed a threat to nearby homes, LAFD's Brian Humphrey disclosed that the fire was no longer threatening any structures as it burned in the area. The fire is said to have begun as three separate spot fires, prompting an investigation into the cause of the blaze. He described the fire as "terrain-driven," meaning wind was not a factor in the spread. Crews reported containment after 65 minutes of combined efforts from ground units and water-dropping aircraft.
CBS 2