Los Angeles DA George Gascon sits on 15,000 unfiled cases as robberies skyrocket

As homicides and robberies continue to rise, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has created a backlog of 15,000 unfiled criminal cases, leading to concerns that unprosecuted criminals in the zero-bail county are able to stay on the streets and keep committing new crimes without any consequences. While LAPD did not respond to a public records request on updated crime data by the time of publication as the department adopts a new crime reporting system, a LAPD public information officer told The Center Square there were 438 gunshot victims and homicides are up 11%, robberies up 17.6%, motor vehicle theft up 5.2%, and burglaries up 2.4% year-over-year for January 1 through June 1 of 2024 compared to 2023. 

Washington Examiner

LAPD Detectives Need Help Solving Murder Investigation From 2020

The Los Angeles Police Department needs help solving a murder from 2020. The alleged murder happened on October 29, 2020, at about 7:30 p.m. on 84th Street near Hoover Street. Detectives said the woman was walking when she was shot and killed by someone. Police believe the shooter may have been in an older model Mercedes Benz C or E Class with a sunroof and tinted windows. LAPD believes the vehicle is either silver, gray or gold. The LA City Council granted a $50,000 reward for any information leading to the identity, arrest and prosecution of the people responsible. Detectives urged anyone with information to call South Bureau Homicide Division Detective Franco at (323) 786-5154. Outside of business hours, please call 1 (877) 527-3247. Anonymous tips can be submitted to LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1(800) 222-8477 or through their website. 

CBS 2

LA City Council wants LAPD to end ‘pretextual stops.' Will police commission agree?

The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved plans to try and prevent police officers from using traffic stops to catch people suspected of crimes while they are driving on city streets. The council's 13-0 vote marks the beginning of a research project to collect information about how far the city can go to stop police officers from enforcing state traffic laws. In particular, the council wants to halt “pretextual” traffic stops during which someone suspected of a crime is pulled over for breaking a less serious traffic law. Many of these pretextual stops have been used to recover illegal guns around the city.

NBC 4

Police Seeking Victims Of Armed Robbery Suspect In Southern California

Police in Los Angeles are seeking additional victims of an armed robbery suspect accused of using social media marketplaces to identify and target his victims, authorities announced Wednesday. Moses Valentino Solis, an L.A. County resident, was taken into custody on April 11 “in connection with multiple armed robberies,” an LAPD news release stated. Detectives with the department’s Newton Division say Solis used the online marketplaces to post a vehicle for sale and then rob interested parties. “The victims responded to the ad, made arrangements with Solis to purchase the vehicle, and met at a given location on the street,” police said. “Solis then robbed the victims at gunpoint of money and personal property.” Authorities have released Solis’ photograph in the hope that any additional unreported victims or witnesses will come forward to report the crimes. “The LAPD reminds community members to use caution when completing online transactions at a residence, curbside, or on the street,” the release noted. “We recommend using your local police station to ensure a safe transaction.”  

KTLA 5

Nude Man Throws Rocks At People In Venice, No Arrests Made

A nude man in his 30s was throwing rocks at people today in Venice, the Los Angeles Police Department said. At 9:40 a.m. Wednesday, police were sent near the intersection of Rose Avenue and 4th Avenue after multiple 911 callers reported a nude man throwing rocks at victims, according to the LAPD. Officers arrived and could not locate a suspect, the department said. Police said the victims also chose not to stick around.

Westside Current

California Highway Patrol Search For Pursuit Suspect Near Reseda

The California Highway Patrol searched for a pursuit suspect near Reseda Wednesday night. Officers said the pursuit began with the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force, better known as LA Impact. It's unclear why the task force started chasing the suspect. LA Impact consists of several federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. It primarily focuses on dismantling mid to major-level drug trafficking organizations. Officers detained two people who stayed with the pursuit suspect's car.

CBS 2

Woman Without Clothing Stands In Front Of Westchester Business

A woman with no clothing was standing in front of a Westchester business today, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a 911 caller reported that a woman with no clothing was standing in front of a business in the 6500 block of Arizona Avenue, according to the department. Officers arrived, but did find the suspect, police said.

Westside Current

Video Shows Man Punching Firetruck During Response To Car Crash

Firefighters in South Los Angeles said they had to physically fight a man off after he attacked a firetruck in a caught-on-camera confrontation. A Station 16 firefighter was on its way to respond to a crash when the man suddenly climbed aboard the fire engine. “We were literally responding to a traffic collision and this guy just came out of nowhere, jumped in front of the engine and just started punching it,” said Andrew Chaing, a firefighter/paramedic who was in the truck at the time of the incident. According to Chaing, the bizarre encounter happened on June 7 near the intersection of Central Avenue and Nadeau Street, roughly half a mile from the fire station. Video showed the man punching the windows of the truck before he turned on the firefighters. “Once he started reaching in and assaulting my driver, I immediately jumped out, checked him, and got him off and we were able to push him back a bit,” Chaing said. Eventually, Chaing called for backup and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded. Several minutes late, the man was detained. Chaing said this wasn’t his team’s first encounter with the assailant. According to him, firefighters saw the man a month or two ago and said he was under the influence of narcotics. The department sent him to a psych hospital as a result, Chaing told NBC4.

NBC 4

4 Suspects With Alleged Gang Ties Arrested In Violent Southern California Home Invasion Robbery 

Four suspects with alleged gang ties were arrested in connection to a violent home invasion robbery in San Bernardino County. The suspects were identified as: Marcos Guerrero, 48, of Glendora; Elijah Gafare, 35, of West Covina; Cynthia Leal, 38, of Ontario; and Vincent Solarez, 58, Upland. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department believes all four suspects have gang ties in the Inland Empire and are responsible for a series of home invasions, assaults, and extortions of local business owners. The invasion happened on March 12 as the suspects broke into a home on the 18000 block of Valley Boulevard in Bloomington at around 3 a.m. The victims, a man and a woman, were woken up by the suspects at gunpoint. The male victim was assaulted and pistol-whipped, while the woman was held against her will, deputies said. The suspects stole around $12,500 in cash and took the hard drive to the home’s surveillance cameras along with the victims’ vehicle.

KTLA 5

3 Illinois Deputies Shot While Responding To Home, Suspect Also Wounded, Sheriff Says

Three sheriff’s deputies were shot Wednesday morning while responding to a northern Illinois home, and the suspect was also wounded, authorities told reporters. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle says the deputies were responding to a report that someone inside the home was threatening to kill themselves and others. He said the suspect also was shot. He did not provide any information about the suspect, including name, age or where the person lives. Ambulances and two medical helicopters went to the Lost Lake community near Dixon, where there also was a massive police presence, according to a post on the Winnebago Boone & Ogle County Fire/Ems Incidents Facebook page. VanVickle said a family member called police shortly after 8:30 a.m. to report someone at the home was threatening to kill themself and others. He said negotiators tried to reach the person by phone and decided to go inside shortly before noon. “Immediately upon entering the house, our deputies received fire from inside the house,” he said. Three deputies were shot and the suspect also was shot, he said. VanVickle initially tried to leave after giving a statement without more detail but then told reporters that everyone “is in good condition.” Illinois State Police will handle the investigation of the shooting, he said.

Associated Press

Fire Erupts At Same Los Angeles Church For 2nd Time This Week

Firefighters are battling a blaze for the second time this week in a building that houses a church in the Chesterfield Square neighborhood of Los Angeles. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were called to the Holy Apostolic Church in the 2100 block of West Slauson Avenue when the most recent blaze was reported just after 3:15 a.m. Thursday. Arriving crewmembers were forced into a defensive mode when they found heavy fire showing from the one-story commercial building. Video from the scene shortly after 4 a.m. showed firefighters trying to douse the flames with water hoses from outside the structure. A fire erupted in an adjacent business that shares the same wall with the church around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. About 50 firefighters forced entry into the church and what appeared to be an upholstery business to fight the blaze. 

KTLA 5

Residential Fire In Hyde Park Knocked Down

A fire at a one-story single-family house in South Los Angeles was knocked down in 15 minutes Wednesday evening with no injuries reported. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange said 20 firefighters responded to fire with smoke showing in the 7200 block of South Brynhurst Avenue, about a block-and-a-half south of Florence Avenue, around 6:10 p.m. Wednesday and “performed a fast and aggressive fire attack.” It was unclear what may have sparked the fire, and the cause was under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Crews Prepare For Potentially Deadly Wildfire Season In Southern California

As the weather heats up, firefighters are preparing for the possibility of an intense and deadly wildfire season in Southern California. Smaller fires have already ignited across the Inland Empire and plenty of dry brush and rising summer temperatures could create a deadly combination. “Over the past three days, we’ve seen fires that have occurred in the valley, the high desert and in the mountains,” said Eric Sherwin with the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The Stoddard Fire broke out on Tuesday afternoon near Stoddard Wells Road, located about 20 minutes north of Victorville. The blaze had grown to nearly 500 acres by Wednesday night. Earlier in the week on Sunday, crews battled a fire that ignited at Little Mountain in San Bernardino, a popular hiking area. Around 20 acres were scorched. 

KTLA 5

COVID Cases Rising In L.A. County And California As New Subvariants Make Mark

California’s COVID-19 numbers are on the rise thanks in part to new subvariants, suggesting an earlier-than-normal start to the summer season. The percentage of COVID tests coming back with positive results in the state rose to 5.3% for the week that ended June 3, up from 2.2% the month before. The numbers are still relatively low — last summer’s peak positive test rate was 13.1% — but the increases have the attention of doctors and health officials as the summer travel season begins. “Numbers are definitely going up,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Among Kaiser’s 4.8 million Southern California members, the increase in COVID-19 is mostly among non-hospitalized people. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported an average of 106 COVID cases for the week ending June 2. That’s up from 67 cases a day for the week that ended May 12. “We have seen this happen over the last 4½ years. We know we tend to see another wave around this time,” Hudson said. This one “started a little bit earlier, so it may crest a little earlier, and oftentimes we don’t see those hospitalized cases until a little further in.” 

Los Angeles Times

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.