LASD deputy suffers fatal medical emergency while running law enforcement relay race
Law Enforcement News
LASD deputy suffers fatal medical emergency while running law enforcement relay race
A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy died after suffering a medical emergency during the Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay, the department announced early Sunday. Levi Vargas, a 30-year-old San Dimas sheriff’s deputy, was among numerous law enforcement personnel representing their agencies at the annual footrace when the medical emergency occurred, the department wrote in a statement on X. Despite receiving medical care, Vargas, an 11-year veteran of the department, died from his injuries. Vargas joined the department in 2015 as a custody assistant and later graduated from Academy Class 413, officials said. He is survived by his wife, parents, siblings and extended family. Department officials said they were “shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss.” “He was known among his colleagues and friends for his professionalism, commitment, and compassion to our communities,” they said in a statement. “His loss is deeply felt across our Department, and he will be greatly missed. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”
South LA homicide investigation underway after body found in alley
An investigation was launched after a body was found in an alley in South Los Angeles late Sunday night. The Los Angeles Police Department said someone called 911 at 11:56 p.m. Sunday, March 29 to report a man was unconscious in an alley near the intersection of Broadway and West 41st Street in the Historic South-Central neighborhood of South LA. When first responders arrived, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness told FOX 11 off camera that they heard a gunshot around midnight. The name of the victim has not been released and a description of a possible suspect was not available.
Man wounded after Pico-Union shooting; LAPD searching for suspect
A man was wounded after a shooting in the Pico-Union area on Saturday and police are still searching for the suspect. It happened at around 6:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of S. Bonnie Brae Street near Venice Boulevard, according to Los Angeles Police Department officers. They told CBS LA that the victim, a man in his 30s, was standing on the sidewalk when he was approached by multiple suspects. Police believe at least one of the suspects opened fire, striking the man in the upper chest. He was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. No suspect information was immediately available as the investigation got underway, police said. It's unclear what led up to the shooting.
Dozens arrested after "No Kings" protest in downtown Los Angeles leads to LAPD dispersal order
More than 70 people were arrested after a "No Kings" rally took to downtown Los Angeles city streets on Saturday, marking the third round of such protests in recent months in which demonstrators voiced their displeasure with policies set forth by the Trump administration. Organizers said that as many as 50,000 were expected to be on hand in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. That rally and subsequent march were set for 2 p.m. at Gloria Molina Grand Park, just outside City Hall. As the rally continued downtown on Saturday, Los Angeles Police Department officers told CBS LA that the city was on "tactical alert" and that a dispersal order was issued just after 5:30 p.m., urging people on Alameda between Aliso and Temple to leave the area within 15 minutes or be subject to arrest. They said that "multiple demonstrators" failed to disperse and were being taken into custody at around 6 p.m. At the same time, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli also posted on social media to note that federal agents have "started arresting those who assaulted our personnel at the Los Angeles courthouse."
Man accused of kidnapping teen after offering ride in North Hills
A man was arrested Friday after police said he allegedly kidnapped a 16-year-old girl who had accepted a ride with her mother in the North Hills area. The incident began around 9:50 a.m. near Sepulveda and Nordhoff streets, according to LAPD Mission Division Capt. Garrett Payton. Payton said the teen and her mother were approached by a man in a vehicle who offered them a ride to a McDonald’s restaurant at Sepulveda and Parthenia. The two voluntarily accepted the ride. After arriving at the restaurant, the mother was about to get into the backseat with the teen when the driver suddenly sped away with the girl still inside the vehicle, police said. The suspect then drove the teen to the 8500 block of Columbus Avenue, where she was able to get away, Payton said. Police described the case as a “valid kidnapping.” The teen’s mother is considered a witness to the incident. The suspect was later arrested in the nearby area, police said.
Metal pipe reportedly used in North Hollywood carjacking that left woman injured
Authorities are investigating a carjacking in North Hollywood that left a woman injured. According to Los Angeles Police Department Officer Terzes, the incident was reported in the 12500 block of Sherman Way at 11 p.m. on Saturday. Officer Terzes confirmed that one person was transported to a hospital, their condition unknown, and that the suspects were “two male adults.” “The person who called police reported that a metal pipe was used,” Officer Terzes added. Video from the scene shows the carjacking occurred in a gas station, and further footage shows a woman being loaded into an ambulance. A metal pipe was also seen on the ground. One man at the gas station spoke to KTLA, remarking that the incident was surprising given that “people come [to the gas station] to just pump gas and buy stuff, not run into trouble.”
Partial remains of California banker missing since 1999 found twice, 23 years apart
Partial remains of a 59-year-old banker who vanished in 1999 have now been found twice on the Northern California coastline, approximately five miles and 23 years apart. Not long after Walter Karl Kinney, a San Diego native who moved to Santa Rosa, disappeared in Aug. 1999, a leg washed up on Bodega Head in Sonoma County with a foot still inside a size 12 Rockport ProWalker shoe containing a custom orthopedic insert. With little else to go on, investigators with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office were forced to shelf the case until a break came in 2003, SFGATE reported. A woman living in Cleveland, Ohio called the sheriff’s department to report that her father, Walter Kinney, had lost contact with his family in 1990s, though she stated that it wasn’t unusual for him to fall out of touch, with his history of alcoholism and stints of jail time for alcohol-related crimes. This time, however, she said it had been several years since the family had last heard or seen him.
Man sentenced to prison for trafficking minors across California
A man who trafficked two minors across the state of California was sentenced to eight years in prison. Kai Jones was sentenced on Friday for sexual exploitation and human trafficking charges, the California Department of Justice announced. Jones operated out of Los Angeles, Alameda, Monterey, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties. Between June 1 and Oct. 10, 2022, he trafficked two minor victims and financially benefited from their sexual exploitation, prosecutors said. He would lure the underage victims with promises of protection and a bright future in exchange for the money they received from performing sex acts. Following an investigation, Jones was charged with seven felonies, including the human trafficking of a minor, pimping of a minor and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. He was also charged with one count of pandering after trying to persuade an undercover officer he was communicating with on social media to become a prostitute.
Public Safety News
1 dead, 2 seriously injured in Wilmington crash
One person is dead and two more were hospitalized in critical condition following a two-car crash in Wilmington Saturday night. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the crash on the 2500 block of Anaheim Street at 10:10 p.m. Firefighters extricated two people from the wreckage, including a 35-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The other trapped patient was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman, roughly 40 years old, was ejected from her vehicle during the crash. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities did not identify the person killed in the crash right away. Just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed that one of the vehicles involved was traveling east on Anaheim Street at a high rate of speed when they collided with the other vehicle involved, which was also going east on Anaheim.
1 dead after five-car crash on 10 Freeway in L.A.
A 30-year-old man died and three others were injured after a crash involving five vehicles on the 10 Freeway in Los Angeles early Sunday morning, authorities said. The collision happened around 4:58 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near Crenshaw Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Three other men, ages 32, 26 and 24, were transported to a hospital in fair condition. Few other details were available. Four eastbound lanes of the freeway were shut down for the investigation, the CHP said. All lanes reopened around 9:30 a.m. The cause of the crash was not immediately determined.
8 injured, including children, after multi-car crash at Northridge intersection
Eight people were injured, including children, following a multi-car crash at a Northridge intersection on Saturday afternoon. The crash was reported at around 5:45 p.m. just outside of the Trader Joe's and Chili's parking lot in the 9200 block of N. Reseda Boulevard near Dearborn Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crews arrived and found three cars involved in the collision and eight people suffering from injuries of varying severity. Two adults and three children were said to be in serious condition, while three other adults were believed to be in fair condition after they were all taken to nearby hospitals, firefighters said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No further details were provided.
Fire Extinguished at Valley Village House
Firefighters put out a blaze at a single-story house in Valley Village Sunday in under 15 minutes. The fire was reported about 4:05 p.m. Sunday at 14919 W. Addison St., just west of the Tujunga Wash and north of Magnolia Boulevard, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz. Firefighters arrived to find light smoke initially showing from the attic. All occupants safely evacuated the home, with no injuries reported, Lantz said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
5-car crash leaves at least 4 people injured in Winnetka
Four people were injured Saturday in a five-car crash in the Winnetka area of Los Angeles. The crash was reported at 9:54 p.m. Saturday at 20232 W. Vanowen St., near Oso Avenue, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton. A man believed to be about 40 years old was critically injured and trapped inside one vehicle, Middleton said. Firefighters worked to free him from the wreckage. Another person was listed in serious condition and two more patients were in fair condition, she said. Their ages and genders were not available. All the patients were taken to hospitals for treatment, Middleton said. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.
What to know about new ‘Cicada’ COVID variant detected in 25 states
A new, highly-mutated COVID-19 variant is raising concern among public health professionals, with fears it could more easily evade vaccine protections. The newest COVID variant is officially named variant BA.3.2, but it has been given the nickname of “Cicada.” It earned the nickname because BA.3.2 is an offshoot of the BA 3 variant, which hasn’t circulated widely for nearly four years, lying dormant as cicadas do. The new variant has significant mutations when compared to variants JN.1 and LP.8.1, according to reports. That’s critical because those were the two variants used to develop the 2025-2026 COVID vaccine. “We don’t know yet if [BA.3.2] can evade the vaccine, but we’re worried that it can,” warned Dr. Marc J. Kahn, with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, while speaking with Nexstar’s KLAS. He added that the strain, part of the omicron family, may be more contagious than those before it.
