Law Enforcement News

Man Arrested In Connection With Fatal Stabbing Near MacArthur Park
Police are seeking the public's help in identifying the man who attempted to sexually assault a woman on Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. The man approached the woman around 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 on the beach near the 15500 block of Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon Road, "made a statement of intent,'' and placed his hand over her mouth while brandishing a boxcutter, according to a Los Angeles Police Department officer. The woman was able to safely escape, the officer said. The man was described as Latino, 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 150 to 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a navy blue zip-up jacket with dark pants and a tan hat, according to the officer. Detectives asked that anyone with information about the attempted assault call special assault detectives at 213-473-0447. Anonymous tips can be relayed to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at www.lacrimestoppers.org
ABC 7

Noise Complaint Leads To Fatal Shooting Involving Neighbors In Sherman Oaks; 1 In Custody
A suspect is in custody after a dispute involving a noise complaint led to a fatal shooting in Sherman Oaks early Monday, police said. The incident was reported around 3:15 a.m. in the 14600 block of Moorpark Street. Responding officers found the victim, identified as 78-year-old Raymond Howard, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary information indicates two men were in an argument over a noise complaint that escalated to gunfire, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said. Authorities told KTLA the victim was someone known to be loud and disruptive to other neighbors. “My understanding is both the victim and the suspect were residents at this location,” Capt. Brian O’Connor said. The alleged shooter, 42-year-old Hadis Haile who has lived at the apartment complex for 20 years, alerted authorities himself and he was taken into custody, LAPD said. The 42-year-old is being held on $2 million bond.
KTLA 5

Fairfax Dispensary Burglary Foiled By LAPD Response
Five suspects were arrested breaking into a marijuana dispensary at 7569 Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District early Tuesday morning. Police responded to a report of a burglary at the location at about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday. Five men wearing ski masks were reportedly trying to break in through the roof. One suspect was immediately arrested. Three more fled in a white Dodge Charger and F-150 pickup truck, but they were also taken into custody in the area. Security cameras in the building showed at least one final burglary suspect was hiding inside, possibly in a crawlspace. LAPD officers used bolt-cutters to get inside and arrest that suspect. LAPD officers remained on scene to investigate.
CBS 2

Man Arrested After Allegedly Pushing Firefighter Battling Blaze In Downtown L.A.
A man was taken into custody after allegedly pushing a firefighter who was battling a small blaze in downtown Los Angeles early Monday. The incident was reported around 12:15 a.m. near the intersection of Flower Street and Olympic Boulevard, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The suspect allegedly pushed a firefighter while he or she was extinguishing the flames. The Los Angeles Fire Department alerted police and multiple officers responded to the incident. The suspect ran away, but officers were able to take him into custody after a chase. He is expected to be booked on felony vandalism charges, police said without elaborating. No further details have been released.
KTLA 5

Prius Stolen From West L.A. Driveway As Driver Unloaded Groceries
A thief stole a Prius from a West Los Angeles driveway as the driver was unloading groceries at a Super Bowl party Sunday. Chris Armas was taking groceries into his friend's Super Bowl party near Butler Ave. and Olympic Blvd. when a suspect jumped into his gray 2011 Toyota Prius and took off on Sunday. The thief nearly ran Armas and a friend over and they tried to stop the driver. The incident occurred about a half-mile away from a Los Angeles Police Dept. station on Butler near Santa Monica Blvd. "I just feel kind of violated and scared," said Armas. "The car registration's in the car, he has the house keys, and I could barely sleep last night."
CBS 2

26-Year-Old Man Reported Missing After Last Being Seen In Ladera Heights
A 26-year-old man authorities said was diagnosed with autism and diminished mental capacity was reported missing after last being seen early Monday in Ladera Heights. Ashley Michael Ozar was last seen around 1:30 a.m. in the 5200 block of Bedford Avenue, near La Cienega Boulevard and Stocker Street, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Ozar is Black, 5 feet, 7 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and gray shorts, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau reported. Anyone with any information about Ozar’s whereabouts was urged to call the Sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.
MyNewsLA

FBI Warns: Don't Fall For Romance Scams Ahead Of Valentine's Day
As one of the most romantic days of the year approaches Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is raising awareness of online romance scams, also known as confidence fraud, where scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners on dating websites, apps, and social media platforms. In a romance scam, the criminal is able to trick the victim into giving away access to financial or personal identifying information. Romance scams are prevalent around Valentine's Day, the FBI said. During a romance scam, the suspect might use a fake online identity to gain the victim's trust and admiration. The scammer will most likely use a dating app or social media site to do this. They look to establish a relationship as quickly as possible with the victim and may even propose marriage or make plans to meet in person, all with the intention of eventually asking for money, the FBI said. FBI agents elaborated that in order to avoid meeting in person, romance scammers often claim to live or work in other parts of the country or world. Eventually, when they feel they have gained the trust of their victims, these criminals will request money from them, oftentimes for a made-up medical emergency, an unexpected legal fee, or some other false purpose.
CBS 2

Funeral Held For Milwaukee Officer Who Was Fatally Shot During Struggle With Suspect
The family of a Milwaukee police officer fatally shot in a gun battle with a robbery suspect praised him as they recalled him at his funeral Monday. “I miss you,” Peter Jerving's brother, Drew, said during the funeral at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield. “And for all of those who now stand watch on Earth in your place, I salute you.” The 37-year-old officer was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire early Feb. 7. The suspect also died from a gunshot wound, police said. The officer's mother asked God to bless Milwaukee police officers and their families and asked them to forgive the man who killed her son. “I ask for you to wipe away any bitterness they may have in their hearts toward the young man that cut down Peter,” Patty Jerving said. “I also ask for you to please bless the family of that young man and especially his mother. She also lost a son on Feb. 7. Please, please help them to see that Peter was not their enemy, nor am I.” Jerving’s father, Doug, told officers to grieve his son, “but then when your grieving is over, get up, wash your face and put on your uniform of your chosen profession.” Miles of police vehicles joined the funeral procession for Jerving to his burial site in Wisconsin Memorial Park.
Associated Press

Colorado Sheriff's K-9 Shot, Killed By Suspect Fleeing Police
Colorado School of Mines campus was put on lockdown for several hours Monday while several police agencies searched for a man who allegedly shot and killed a Jefferson County K-9 while running away from officers. The man was apprehended just before 5 a.m., and the Colorado School of Mines lockdown was lifted and the campus is scheduled to reopen at noon. Just after midnight Monday, Golden police officers and Colorado School of Mines police officers attempted to contact a man slumped over the steering wheel in a vehicle near 19th Street and Elm Street, Colorado School of Mines Police Chief Dustin Olson said in a news conference Monday morning. As officers attempted to talk to him, the man woke up and drove away from officers “at a slow rate of speed,” swerving into traffic. The car then came to a stop and officers saw the man slumped over the wheel again, and when he woke up, he began ramming officers’ vehicles trying to escape, Olson said. Officers were able to break the glass window and put the vehicle in park, Golden Police spokesperson Ben Salentine said, and while they were trying to remove the man from the car, a struggle ensued and the man freed himself.
The Denver Post

Public Safety News

Los Angeles County Logs 2,333 New COVID Infections
Los Angeles County health officials reported another 2,333 COVID-19 infections from a three-day period ending Monday, along with 45 new virus-related deaths. The county Department of Public Health reported 1,173 infections for Saturday, 786 on Sunday and 388 on Monday. Sunday and Monday figures are traditionally undercounts due to delays in reporting from the weekend. The daily case numbers released by the county are also undercounts of actual virus activity, due to people who use at-home tests and don’t report the results, and others who don’t test at all. The county reported 20 virus-related deaths for Saturday, 15 for Sunday and 10 for Monday. The new fatalities lifted the county’s overall death toll to 35,470.
MyNewsLA

California Lawmaker Proposes Bills To Help Decrease LAFD Ambulance Response Times
One local lawmaker believes he may have the solution to the problem of increased ambulance response times plaguing the Los Angeles Fire Department. Over the last three months, FOX 11 has been in contact with several LAFD paramedics, who say ambulance response times are going up, in some cases costing people their lives. "You guys don't ever hear about it. We don't go public with it, but it's on a constant basis," one paramedic told FOX 11. "Our average response time should be anywhere for three to four minutes; 10 minutes, you're lucky. Fifteen is common, and 20 is going to be the norm." Two of the issues responsible for the long response times are an increase in unnecessary 911 calls and ambulances being forced to wait at hospitals. California Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D - Pomona) said he's introduced two bills he thinks will alleviate both of those issues. "I've seen a couple of those ambulances at one of those hospitals, that takes an ambulance out of the service," Rodriguez said.
FOX 11

Cold Weather Alert Issued For Los Angeles County Ahead Of A Chilly And Windy Valentine's Day
A cold front moves into Southern California this week when temperatures plummet, winds pick up and a storm sweeps across the region. Most of the area can expect at least partly sunny skies Monday before the winter weather system moves in. Rain and snow in mountain communities will wrap up early ahead of a cool day. "We have another storm moving in on Tuesday, and that one is going to bring some damaging winds," said NBC4 forecaster Belen De Leon. "Also, a possibility of light rain and some mountain snow." Highs will top out Monday in the low 60s for most areas. That's a stark contrast from one week ago, when Southern California saw highs in the upper 70 and 80s. On Tuesday, light morning rain is possible, but only about 0.10 inches. Snow levels will drop to 2,000 feet. Gusts up to 80 mph are possible in the mountains with max winds of up to 60 mph in valleys and along the coast. Low temperatures will dip into the 30s and 40s in valleys and on the coast.
NBC 4

Local Government News

LA City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez Announces Public Safety Initiative For Trauma-Informed Training
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez held a press conference Monday with the City of Los Angeles's Gang Reduction and Youth Development Office to announce a public safety initiative. The Project TURN initiative will bolster the capacity of community intervention workers, or employees who are trauma-informed, giving them more training. The initiative is to enhance unarmed models built on trust and cultural competency. There are currently over 100 community intervention workers in LA. Workers like Eddie Williams live in Watts and are often called out to the scene of a shooting, or a stabbing even before the police. His unarmed response is an alternative to policing and is all built on community trust. "When police respond, my main duty is to calm the crowd, get information and take back to crowd," said Williams. "I'm like a buffer."
CBS 2

LA Council Votes To Remove Gender References From City Code
The City Council today called for the drafting of an ordinance that would remove all references to gender from the city's municipal code. Council President Paul Krekorian's motion cites at least 200 instances in the city code that presumes the gender of city officials and members of the public to be male. The ordinance would remove gender references from the city code and replace them with the name of the office or title of the position. The current mayor, Karen Bass, and city attorney, Hydee Feldstein Soto, each became the first woman to be elected to their respective positions in November. However, sentences in Sections 8.27 and 11.39 of the city code presume that those positions are held by men. Krekorian's motion also cites references to the “chairman” of respective council committees. “Such language is inaccurate,” the motion states. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, in remarks after the vote, called it a “giant first step” but “still woefully insufficient from the work that we need to lead in this city.”
NBC 4