LAPD Holds Fundraiser For Officer Killed In Off-Duty Crash

Remembering a Los Angeles police officer who died this weekend in an off-day accident – a barbecue fundraiser for the family was held at LAPD's Central Division in honor of Officer Baldemar "Jerry" Sandoval. Early Saturday morning, Sandoval was killed when his car rear-ended a stalled big rig on the eastbound 210 Freeway. Sandoval leaves behind a wife and twin 4-year-old boys. The officer known for his big smile was on his way to becoming a sergeant. He currently worked Vice and had been at Central Division for six years. A GoFundMe page has been launched to help the grieving family. Those looking to help can click here for more information. 

FOX 11

LA Launches Urgent Police Hiring Plan

Fox News analyzes the current LAPD staffing levels and the Mayor's proposal to rapidly hire hundreds of police officers. The LA Police Protective League discusses the challenges ahead, including an adversarial District Attorney, previous "defunding," and the release of personal information of officers assigned to undercover and sensitive assignments.

Fox News Video

2 People Shot, 1 Killed In Sun Valley

Two people were taken to the hospital Wednesday night after a shooting in Sun Valley, and one of them succumbed to their injuries, authorities said. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to calls of an assault with a deadly weapon and shots fired in the 7300 block of Vineland Avenue at around 8:45 p.m. Two men, one believed to be between 17 and 19 years old and the other about 20 years old, were standing outside when the shooter drove by and opened fire on them, according to the LAPD. Crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the victims to the hospital, where the teen remains in stable condition. The other man, however, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital, the LAPD said. Both victims are known gang members, the LAPD said.

KTLA 5

Vegas Man Who Used Dating Apps Is Suspected In Series Of California Rapes, Assaults

Los Angeles police are seeking possible victims of a Las Vegas man who they say used dating apps and social media to target and sexually assault women. Matthew Werner, now 46, was arrested in February on suspicion of multiple rapes around the Los Angeles area dating back to 2015, Los Angeles police said on Tuesday, April 18. Werner is thought to have used various aliases to avoid detection, they added. Five women were identified as sexual assault victims as of Tuesday evening, but LAPD said there could be additional ones. Police listed North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Hollywood, and Midcity as locations where assaults are believed to have occurred. As of Tuesday evening, Werner was being held at Twin Towers Correctional Facility with bail set at $3 million, according to jail records. He is next due in court May 19. LAPD urged possible victims or witnesses to contact them at 213-473-0447. Those who wish to send anonymous tips can LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Mercury News

San Pedro Man Convicted Of Wife’s Killing

A San Pedro man was convicted Wednesday of murdering his estranged wife, whose body was dumped along the Long Beach (710) Freeway nearly 17 years ago. Jurors deliberated less than a day before finding Carl Mayes, now 45, guilty of second-degree murder for the July 2006 shooting death of Tyquesha Myers, along with possession of a firearm by a felon. Deputy District Attorney Karen Brako told jurors the 20-year-old woman — who was believed to have been dumped “in the hours of darkness” — was found dead July 15, 2006, just north of the Pacific Coast Highway exit along the 710 Freeway. She had been shot in the head. The prosecutor said in her closing argument that the victim’s mother last saw Myers alive after leaving her at a barbershop in Gardena where Mayes worked, and noted that a co-worker at the barbershop subsequently told police that Mayes told him that he “put the gun to her head to scare her” and that the “gun went off.” 

MyNewsLA

$25,000 Reward Offered For Info On Armored Truck Robberies In LA County

The FBI is searching for at least three people they say are responsible for a string of armored truck robberies in Southern California over the course of a year, and are offering a $25,000 reward for information on the suspects. The so-called "Chesapeake Bandits," are responsible for at least three armored truck robberies in Los Angeles County between February 2022 and February 2023, with attacks in South Los Angeles, Hawthorne and Inglewood over that time, according to the FBI. Officials believe the group targets the trucks when they service drive-thru ATMs, or when the drivers are exiting businesses. They then zip tie the driver and hold him at gun point, while others get into the truck and steal the money. In one of the robberies, officials said one shot was fired, but no one was hit. The FBI said these thieves should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about the robberies was asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or at tips.fbi.gov.

FOX 11

Authorities Asking For The Public’s Help In Locating Missing Elderly Man

Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help locating a missing person. Seiichi Taguchi, a 94-year-old man, was last seen leaving his assisted living facility on the 8400 block of Mission Drive in Rosemead on Tuesday evening around 11:30 p.m., a news release said. Taguchi has dementia and diabetes and authorities are concerned about his well-being. Anyone with information regarding Taguchi’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Detail division. Information can also be provided anonymously by calling “Crime Stoppers” at (800)-222-8477 or by downloading the “P3Tips” mobile app from Google Play or the App Store. Anonymous tips can also be provided through the LA Crime Stoppers website.

KTLA 5

Video: Faint Screams Lead Florida Deputies To Father And Daughter Treading Water

A father and his 13-year-old daughter were left stranded in a dark Florida lake when their jet ski sank, and video shows rescuers found them by following faint screams. Christopher Snow, 31, and his daughter, Alexis Snow, tread water for about an hour before being located with spotlights, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It happened on Saturday, April 15, in Lake Thonotosassa, a 946-acre lake about 14 miles northeast of Tampa. Video shared by the sheriff’s office shows the father and daughter were virtually invisible on the lake when someone on the rescue boat heard someone screaming “help.” “Oh my God. I hear them. I hear them,” one searcher says in the video. “We’re coming. Oh my heart. I’m going to cry.” The two were exhausted but uninjured when pulled from the water. However, Christopher Snow appeared to be too weak to lift himself into the boat. The video concludes with Christopher Snow holding his shaken daughter, attempting to comfort her as they returned to shore.

Charlotte Observer

Water Quality At Some L.A. County Beaches Prompts Warnings

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued warnings Wednesday about high bacterial levels in the ocean water at certain beaches and cautioned the public against swimming in those areas. The beaches remain open but getting into the water is currently discouraged. Bacterial levels exceeded health standards when they were recently tested. As of Wednesday, the following beach areas warnings are in effect: Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State beach, Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach, and Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey. For the latest water quality updates, visit the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health Beach Water Quality Advisories page.

CBS 2

CDC Greenlights Spring COVID Booster For Some. Do You Need It?

Another COVID-19 booster shot is on the way as federal health officials look to further augment protection for those at greater risk of developing severe disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday recommended the allowance of an additional updated booster for seniors 65 and older as well as those who are immunocompromised. The updated booster was first introduced last September. This new phase of the years-old vaccination campaign has been hotly anticipated in some circles — particularly given that shot-induced protection wanes over time and many higher-risk individuals are months removed from their last dose. However, the next chapter also arrives as the pandemic has stabilized. As the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health noted recently, “Although transmission is still occurring, there is low concern for rapid spread of the virus.” But COVID-19 remains a danger, even though the darker days of overwhelmed hospitals and overflowing morgues appear to be over. More than 72,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19 since early October — nearly four times the estimated death toll from flu over the same time period.

Los Angeles Times

City Council Provides Rental Assistance For Merchant-Tenants At El Pueblo

The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-0 Wednesday to provide rental assistance for merchant-tenants of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in an attempt to alleviate financial burdens caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The motion, presented by members Kevin de León and Monica Rodriguez, directs Arturo Chavez, general manager of the historic monument, to structure plans for the graduated payment of past-due rent within 36 months or by the end of the agreement. It also directs Chavez to waive interest and late charges on back rent owed between March 2020 and Wednesday’s approval. “We have tremendous pride for this historic spot, and with that comes a commitment to ensure that we preserve its history and businesses that keep it alive,” de León said. The monument is located beside Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles, in what’s considered the oldest section of Los Angeles.

MyNewsLA

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 9,200 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.