LAPD Searching For Man That Brutally Executed Puppy During Argument

Detectives need help searching for a man who brutally executed a 4-month-old puppy on Tuesday. The suspect, 32-year-old David Sumlin, killed the dog during an argument with its owner at around 11:50 a.m. on Jan. 2. Amid the heated exchange, Sumlin held a pillow over the victim's dog and pointed a gun at it. The Los Angeles Police Department said Sumlin stated "it's either you or the dog." He shot the dog twice. Officers arrived at the scene and took the puppy to a local animal shelter, where it died. Police released a photo of Sumlin. He is about 6-foot-7 and weighs about 200 pounds. Police described him as a transient who's typically seen on 7th Street and Standford Avenue in downtown LA. Detectives have not found the gun used in the killing. The department urges caution if anyone encounters him and instructed witnesses to call 911. Anyone with information on Sumlin's whereabouts or regarding the case should contact Officer J. Roman at Operations-Central Bureau Family Justice Center (213) 709-9017. If it is after business hours, LAPD urged everyone to call 1-877-527-3247. Those wishing to stay anonymous should call LA Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 222-8477 or contact them through their website here.

CBS 2

LAPD Announces Major Breakthrough In Westside Burglary Cases

The Los Angeles Police Department, in collaboration with Deputy Mayor Brian Williams, delivered encouraging news to residents of Los Angeles' westside at a town hall meeting on Wednesday evening. The department announced significant progress in a series of recent burglaries in the area. At the meeting, police revealed that they had made 12 arrests related to the burglaries and recovered over $1 million in stolen goods. "Efforts are ongoing to return the recovered items to their rightful owners," said Captain Richard Gabaldon. The announcement on Wednesday followed a December town hall meeting in which police reported they were working on 368 burglary incidents in the West Los Angeles area. The recent arrests, primarily linked to a South American gang, were attributed to the collaboration among various police divisions and departments. Deputy Mayor Brian Williams acknowledged community concerns and reiterated the city's support for the LAPD's efforts. "We will work with LAPD to make sure they have the resources they need and all city resources needed to address [the situation] in the area. We are here and in this for the long haul, and the mayor considers this an important priority,” Williams stated. With these arrests, LAPD said residents can expect to see a significant decrease in burglaries in neighborhoods like Brentwood, Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, and the Mulholland area. However, the department encourages residents to stay vigilant, especially in areas like the Palisades which remain vulnerable.

Westside Current

Woman Struck, Killed By Hit-and-Run Driver Near LAX

Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a female pedestrian near Los Angeles International Airport overnight. The crash occurred around 12:15 a.m. Thursday in the area of West Century Boulevard and South Sepulveda Boulevard in the Westchester neighborhood, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed. The victim, described as a Hispanic woman in her 20s or early 30s, was standing in the road when she was struck by a dark-colored Chevrolet SUV traveling southbound on Sepulveda Boulevard, according to the spokesperson and a police news release. The unidentified victim, who investigators said was not homeless, died as a result of her injuries. The driver fled the scene in an unknown direction. No description of the driver was available.

KTLA 5

13-Year-Old Girl Reported Missing While Vacationing With Family In LA Has Been Found

A 13-year-old girl who went missing while in Los Angeles on vacation with her family has been located safe, police say. Early Wednesday, police asked the public for help locating Valentina Morales Magana. She was last seen Tuesday afternoon in the area near Los Angeles International Airport. Valentina and her parents are from Mexico and vacationing in Los Angeles. Police say Valentina got in a verbal dispute and left after her mother noticed her putting on makeup. Police say Valentina doesn't have a phone and has no relatives in the L.A. area. By 3:14 p.m. Wednesday, the LAPD posted on X that Valentina had been found: "Update: The subject has been found safe and is being reunited with her family." No further details were provided about the circumstances of her disappearance or her condition.

ABC 7

California Synagogues On High Alert After Receiving Threatening Emails

California synagogues were forced to shut down on Tuesday due to local and federal law enforcement investigations after receiving email threats. More than 100 synagogues were sent an email claiming explosives were on their property. Law enforcement does not believe the threats to be credible at this time, and no explosives have been found. “There has to be known, there is a consequence,” regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, Los Angeles, Jeffrey Abrams said. “These are not necessarily groups of terrorists — lone actors, people who think it’s fun — but again, there are consequences and law enforcement is making arrests.” Since Oct. 7, there has been a 337% increase in antisemitism compared to 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League. “As law enforcement is diverted to these hoaxes, they are not doing their job to protect the entire community,” Abrams said. “This has a consequence, so everyone needs to speak out — and again, do so in unity.” Threats such as these cause a major disruption for synagogues because they are forced to close their centers while their buildings are swept to ensure their safety. Synagogues have already increased security since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.

NBC 4

California Woman Charged With Murder After Allegedly Hitting Woman With Her Car On Purpose: Police

A California woman faces murder charges after a woman she allegedly ran over with a vehicle died weeks after the assault, according to police. FOX 2 in the San Francisco Bay Area reported that officers with the San Pablo Police Department responded to reports of a vehicle versus a pedestrian at about 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. When the officers arrived, they learned a 60-year-old woman had been struck by a vehicle being operated by 39-year-old Dene Blakely of Richmond, California. Investigators claim Blakely drove into the victim on purpose after the woman confronted Blakely, accusing her of stealing a package from her home. Following the collision, the 60-year-old victim was transported to an area hospital to be treated for major injuries. The victim remained in critical condition after surgery, but died on Dec. 23, police said.

FOX 11

Nevada Judge Attacked By Convicted Felon In The Courtroom (Video)

A man attacked a Las Vegas judge in her courtroom Wednesday, forcing her to take cover and injuring a marshal in the process, a video obtained by Nexstar’s KLAS reveals. KTLA’s sister station KLAS reports. Deobra Redden, 30, a three-time felon, was in Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus’ courtroom for sentencing on a charge of attempted battery with substantial bodily harm, records said. Holthus was sitting behind the bench when Redden ran up to her, jumped over the bench and attacked her, the video shows. Several other people then fought with Redden before throwing him to the ground. An alarm also sounded for several minutes alerting others to the incident. Before the attack, Redden’s attorney asked Holthus to sentence his client to probation. Holthus then said, “I think it’s time he get a taste of something else.” On April 23, Redden “[threatened] to bust the kneecaps” of another man, “resulting in substantial bodily harm,” documents said. In May, a different judge ordered Redden to undergo a competency determination, records said. Redden was then committed to a state behavioral facility. A judge then found Redden competent in October.

KTLA 5

Man Who Shot 2 Hawaii Officers Was A Convicted Felon Out On Bail For Suspected Firearms Offenses

The subject of an islandwide manhunt New Year’s Day in Hawaii was a felon barred from owning the high-powered rifle he used to open fire on Honolulu police in a shootout that left two officers wounded and the suspect dead, court records show. Sidney Tafokitau was accused of shooting a woman and carjacking another woman at gunpoint before leading officers on a chase around the island of Oahu. He also had posted bail just two weeks prior on gun-related charges. “I think in the past 48 hours there’s been a lot of talk about how the system failed,” Doug Chin, chair of the Honolulu Police Commission and Hawaii’s former attorney general, told The Associated Press Wednesday. “I hear reports that, you know, his bail was too low, he had an unregistered firearm, the public release of information was inadequate or even that he should not have been chased at all.” But it’s too soon to point to anything until there’s more information, he said, noting that it will likely be discussed at this month’s commission meeting. “I think the entire system is tested when you have a very, very serious situation like this,” he said. Court records show a long criminal history for Tafokitau, including a 20-year prison sentence for robbery and convictions for gun crimes. In November, he pleaded not guilty to a slew of firearms charges, including possessing a firearm as a felon. He was out on $75,000 bail, which had been reduced from $150,000. State Public Defender Jon Ikegana, whose office represented him, declined to comment Wednesday.

Associated Press

Video: Suspect Reaches For Revolver, Points It At Connecticut Trooper After Being Hit By Car

Connecticut’s inspector general is investigating a Dec. 30 incident in which a state police trooper reportedly shot a man in the chest. The incident occurred Saturday near 601 Hartford Pike in Killingly, according to a statement from the Office of the Inspector General, at about 1:20 p.m. The office released the officer’s body cam video. Rhode Island police were looking for a Mercury Marquis registered in Connecticut that had reportedly been used in a robbery. Trooper Joseph Godbout saw the Marquis at a gas station in Dayville, according to the statement. A man identified as Ruben Muller was standing outside the vehicle. When the trooper asked Muller for his license, the man fled toward a Taco Bell. Godbout pursued and hit Muller with his TASER, according to the inspector general. Muller fell to the ground but got back up and continued running. In the driveway of the Taco Bell, he ran into an approaching pickup truck and fell again. “Trooper Godbout attempted to TASER Muller again. Muller then reached into his ankle area and pulled out a revolver. At this point, Trooper Godbout fired one shot striking Muller in the chest area. Medical assistance was provided to Muller at the scene,” the inspector general’s office statement said. Body camera video released by the inspector general shows the man lying on the ground reaching toward his ankle as the trooper holds his arm with a gun pointed at him. Gun fire is heard and a revolver can be seen next to the suspect. The trooper can be heard shouting “shots fired.”

Harford Courant

Vacant Building Fire In University Park Extinguished

Firefighters contained and extinguished a fire at a vacant, two-story commercial building after a nearly two-hour battle Thursday in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Fire crews were called at 2:24 a.m to 806 West Adams Blvd. where they found flames engulfing the front of the 150-by-200-foot building, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. It took 92 firefighters one hour and 53 minutes to knock down the flames. No injuries were reported.

MyNewsLA

10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Los Angeles, According To PropertyClub

When it comes to relocating, safety is often top of mind. While Los Angeles is known for its great weather, sports, beaches, entertainment and food scene, its reputation has also been plagued by crime, with several incidents occurring in broad daylight. However, data from the Los Angeles Police Department reported crime was down last summer compared to the year prior. PropertyClub ranked the top 10 most dangerous Los Angeles neighborhoods in 2023. See the results below. Downtown LA: Among the high rises, Crypto.com Arena and more, PropertyClub reported downtown LA's crime rate is 530% higher than the national average. Residents here are heavily impacted by the homeless crisis, pickpocketing and robberies. West Adams: In West Adams, a historic neighborhood in South LA, residents have a 1 in 15 chance of becoming the victim of a crime. Some of the most common crimes include gun violence, robbery, assault and theft. Wholesale District/Skid Row: The area includes one of the nation’s largest homeless encampments. Crimegrade.org gives the area an "F" safety rating. Also, statistics show that a crime in this area occurs every 2 hours and 5 minutes on average, and there's a 300% higher likelihood of a home robbery without a home security system. Drug and gang activity are also common occurrences. 

FOX 11

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.