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Law Enforcement News

LAPD Officer Reunites With 1-Year-Old After Saving His Life
A Los Angeles police officer jumped into action when a toddler stopped breathing right in front of him, and his body-worn camera captured the dramatic moments. LAPD Officer Nick Ferara said the experience of seeing the child again after saving the 1-year-old's life was "super weird." "But I love it. Weird in a good way, weird in a good way. I’m so happy for the family. I was glad I was there to help you, a wonderful feeling," he said. Dramatic body camera video showed Ferara jumping into action when 1-year-old Louis Benitez had a seizure while in the lobby of LAPD's Harbor Station in San Pedro. As the boy’s father tries to revive him with cold water, Ferara performs CPR. "I put the child to my ear. I hear the heart racing really fast but I couldn’t hear or feel the lungs moving at all so I was terrified," Ferara said. His emotions were not evident as he calmly continued life saving measures in the video. "It felt like hours wondering what to do next. Nothing in my mind said the baby was going to die so that kept me motivated but it was the scariest thing in my life by far. Within moments the baby started breathing again," he said.
NBC 4

California Saw Increase In Killings, Violent Crime In 2021, According To Released Report
California saw an uptick in violent crime in 2021, including an increase in homicides, according to data released Friday by state officials. The figures are part of the California Criminal Justice Statistical Report released by state Attorney General Rob Bonta. "While crime rates remain significantly below their historical highs, property and violent crimes continue to have devastating consequences for communities across the state," he said in a statement. "Gun violence in particular remains a consistent and growing threat." According to the data, California saw a 7.2% increase in homicides 2,202 in 2020 to 2,361 in 2021. The latest figure is far from the state's historical high of 4,095 murders in 1993. Around three-quarters of the killings involved a firearm, Bonta's office said. Homicide arrests dipped by nearly 3% but remained above the 10-year average of 1,478.2 homicide arrests per year, the report said. Among California counties with populations of 100,00 or more people, Kern County, just north of Los Angeles County, had the highest murder rate of 9.5 killings. Placer County experienced the lowest rate and Napa and Shasta counties reported no killings at all.
FOX News

1 Killed, Another Injured After Gunfire Rings Out Near Filming Location In Downtown LA
One person was killed and another was injured in a shooting that broke out near a filming location in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department said an off-duty officer who was working security at the film shoot near 7th Street and Mateo Street heard gunshots and called police. The shooting was not related to the film shoot itself. "It was not part of the movie. I was just chilling in the car watching them film a movie and real shooting was happening," said a man who heard the shots. Officers responded around 11:40 p.m. Thursday and found one person suffering from multiple gunshot wounds by a nearby warehouse on Bay Street. The victim, only described as a man in his 30s or 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second person was shot in the leg and managed to take himself to the hospital, police said. Detectives are trying to determine if the man who took himself to the hospital is connected to the deadly shooting. Police are expected to be at the scene for hours as they investigate and collect security video from all the cameras in the area. A description of a possible suspect was not available.
ABC 7

Caught On Video: Armed Robbers Shot At By Police Near Melrose And Fairfax
Rick Montanez reports from the Fairfax District after LAPD, on Thursday, released security video of a nearby store being robbed by two armed men, and body-worn camera footage showing police firing at the suspects.
Yahoo! News Video

Man Who Possibly Struck Moped Rider In DTLA Turns Himself In
A man turned himself in on Thursday in the hit-and-run collision that seriously hurt a moped rider in downtown Los Angeles earlier this month. On Aug. 14, officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were called to a crash at the intersection of West Third and Flower streets. Video shared by the LAPD shows several vehicles stopped at a red light when a blue Mini Cooper failed to stop, and struck the moped rider from behind. The man on the moped was identified as Miguel Velazquez. Following the crash, he was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, the LAPD said. In a social media post, Velazquez broke both of his wrists and injured his tailbone. He added that the suspect was driving an estimated 50 mph and launched him about 15 feet into the air. LAPD investigators said the public should keep an eye out for a Mini Cooper with damage to the vehicle’s panoramic sunroof, and likely with front-end damage. The LAPD offered a $25,000 reward for anyone that could help investigators find the suspect in the hit-and-run crash.
FOX 11

2 Northern California Men Arrested In Robbery Of Group Followed From Hollywood Strip Club
Two Northern California men have been arrested for allegedly following a group from a Hollywood area strip club and robbing them at a gas station last month. However, four other suspects that were involved in this robbery are still on the loose. Michael Isiah Moore, 27, of Fairfield, and Amough Keyana Bonton, 21, of Sacramento, were arrested Monday in connection with the July 6 robbery. A search warrant served at a Hollywood apartment connected to the two men turned up two handguns and thousands of dollars in cash. According to the LAPD, three men left the Crazy Girls adult entertainment club in Hollywood at about 4:10 a.m. and stopped at a gas station in the 7800 block of Melrose Avenue. That's when half a dozen people emerged from two vehicles in the alley behind the gas station and swarmed the three men. Two of the suspects pointed handguns at the trio, before taking their jewelry, money, and phones. "Unfortunately, I'm not surprised but it is shocking to hear and I'm just used to it pretty much everywhere in LA," Grade Chapman told CBSLA Reporter Kandiss Crone on Thursday.
CBS 2

City Attorney, LAPD Aiming To Crackdown On South LA Apartment Complex The Center Of Gang Violence
CBSLA Investigative Reporter Kristine Lazar reports that Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer has filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit against the owners of the apartment building, which is located blocks away from two elementary schools.
Yahoo! News Video

LAPD Extends BolaWrap Pilot, Deploys 500 Devices To Officers
The Los Angeles Police Department’s BolaWrap Pilot program has moved to its next step, which includes the deployment of 500 BolaWrap 150 devices to LAPD's Hollywood and Central districts. Wrap Technologies, the company behind the remote restraint device, announced the news via a press release. LAPD participated in instructor training in April, and field officers took part in training in May. “We are looking forward to deploying the new BolaWrap 150 force avoidance tool in the field during this pilot program,” LAPD Assistant Chief Dominic Choi said. “This is an opportunity for the LAPD to provide officers with an alternative instrument to safely de-escalate challenging situations and bring subjects into custody without having to use force.” Other agencies that have recently opted to use the BolaWrap include Nether Providence Township Police Department in Pennsylvania, according to Delco Times, and the Eureka Police Department in California, WCBU reported.
PoliceOne

Almost 600 People Arrested For Street Takeovers In LA As Residents Protest ‘Fast & Furious’ Filming
Almost 600 people have been arrested for street takeovers in Los Angeles so far this year, while residents protest the filming of the 10th Fast & Furious film as it faces allegations that it encourages street racing. Police have recorded 667 street takeovers, issued over 2,000 citations and seized 439 vehicles in 2022, figures from the LAPD and California Highway Patrol reveal. When the first film in the franchise was released more than two decades ago, the Angelino Heights neighbourhood of LA became a tourist spot. The films have made the area known for having Bob’s Market, which is owned by the family of the character Dominic Toretto, who also lives in the area. The character is portrayed by Vin Diesel. The founder of the Streets Are for Everyone nonprofit, Damian Kevitt, told the LA Times that the area has “become a tourist destination for street racing”. “The issue is the screeching, the smell of rubber, and the danger to the cars and the pedestrians in the area when street racers regularly come and do burnouts in the community,” he said.
Yahoo! News

Arizona Constable Shot, Killed While Serving Eviction Notice
Pima County Constable Deborah Martinez-Garibay was killed, along with three others, while serving an eviction notice Thursday. KOLD News 13 reported that the shooting occurred at an apartment complex when Martinez-Garibay served the notice with an apartment manager to a resident, who killed them both along with a neighbor. After the shooting, the gunman fatally shot himself. Martinez-Garibay was a United States Army veteran, enlisting after September 11. She served for almost two decades before suffering an injury in Afghanistan. She was appointed constable in 2022. Gov. Doug Ducey ordered all flags at state buildings lowered to half-staff Friday to honor Martinez-Garibay.
PoliceOne

Execution Date Set For Missouri Man Who Fatally Shot Police Officer In 2005
The Missouri Supreme Court has set a Nov. 29 execution date for a man who shot and killed a suburban St. Louis police sergeant in 2005. The court announced Wednesday that Kevin Johnson, 36, is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the death of 43-year-old Kirkwood Police Sgt. Bill McEntee. The execution date comes despite opposition from the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, which wants a special prosecutor to investigate whether Johnson’s conviction and death sentence resulted from racial bias. Johnson, who was 19 when he shot McEntee, was convicted of first-degree murder after his second trial in 2008. His first trial ended in a hung jury. On July 5, 2005, police were looking for Johnson on an alleged probation violation when his 12-year-old brother suffered a seizure at their home. Several officers, including McEntee, responded to the medical emergency. Johnson's brother later died at a hospital from a heart condition.
AP

Public Safety News

LA County Reports 1st Cases Of West Nile Virus In Humans For 2022
Los Angeles County health officials Thursday confirmed the county's first human cases of West Nile virus this year, saying six cases have been identified since late July. No specifics about the patients were released, but according to the county Department of Public Health, they live in the Antelope Valley, San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley. Most of the patients were hospitalized in late July and early August, and all are recovering, according to the county. "Mosquitoes thrive in hot weather and residents should follow simple steps to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus," county Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement. "Simple measures can reduce mosquitoes and mosquito bites, like protecting yourself and your family with insect repellent and removing standing water outside your home. West Nile virus can lead to hospitalization or death, and, by taking preventative steps now, residents can better protect themselves against infection and the serious neuro-invasive disease caused by this virus." According to the state, a total of 18 human cases of West Nile virus had been confirmed in California as of last Friday, including one in Pasadena, which has its own health department separate from the county.
ABC 7

New Monkeypox Cases Begin To Slow In L.A. County, Echoing Trends Elsewhere
New monkeypox cases are starting to flatten in Los Angeles County, echoing a trend seen elsewhere as more vaccination doses are distributed and some people are reducing riskier sexual activity. As of Thursday, L.A. County reported 1,349 cumulative monkeypox cases, up 30% from the prior Thursday’s tally of 1,036 cases. The percentage increase is much smaller than in past weeks: Between Aug. 5 and Aug. 11, there was a 62% increase in cumulative cases. The prior week-over-week increase went up by 71%. “Although a month ago we were seeing a doubling of monkeypox cases in as few as nine days, we are now seeing a leveling in the number of new cases per week. And our doubling time has increased to 16 days,” said Dr. Rita Singhal, chief medical officer for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. “This may be an early indication that transmission is beginning to slow. Similar trends are being noted in countries where the outbreak first began, and in other jurisdictions across the United States,” Singhal said.
LA Times

Local Government News

City Council To Vote On Covid Emergency Motion That Will Affect RV Dwelling
The Los Angele City Council is set to vote on a Covid Pandemic Emergency motion today. The vote is to keep the City in a State of Emergency because of Covid 19. The council has approved it every 30 days since the motion originally passed in March 2020. Exactly what does this motion do, besides requiring people to wear face masks in Los Angeles City libraries and Rec Centers and in the City Council chambers? This resolution provides justification for RV dwelling and camping in public areas. In an August 19, Wall Street Journal piece (“Fauci and Walensky Double Down on Failure”) author John Tierney examines the evidence of lockdowns and mask mandates. “U.S. States with more restrictive policies fared no better, on average, than states with less-restrictive policies. There’s still no convincing evidence that masks provided any significant benefits. When case rates through the pandemic are plotted on a graph, the trajectory in states with mask mandates is virtually identical to the trajectory in states without mandates. (The states without mandates actually had slight fewer Covid deaths per capita.) International comparisons yield similar results.”
WestSide Current