Man convicted in shooting that had potential to cause LAPD helicopter crash
Man convicted in shooting that had potential to cause LAPD helicopter crash
A South L.A. man was convicted of firing a rifle round through the tail of a Los Angeles police helicopter last year, in an incident prosecutors said could have caused a catastrophe. Douglass Byers, 62, was convicted of two counts of assault on a peace officer and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a four-day trial, according to L.A. County Deputy Dist. Atty. Eric Siddall. He faces up to 43 years in prison at sentencing. Police responded to the 1800 block of West 38th Street in August after multiple 911 callers claimed they heard gunfire coming from the back of a home where Byers lives with his mother. When officers entered the backyard, they found an AR-15 assault rifle, two Airsoft replica rifles and roughly 18 spent shells, according to a search warrant affidavit. Byers was arrested on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, authorities said. Hours later, an inspection of a helicopter that responded to the shooting call at Byers’ home revealed a bullet had pierced the tail. The impact almost caused severe damage to the systems that allow the pilot to control the aircraft, Siddall said. “If that shot had just been a little bit further down, that aircraft would have fallen,” Siddall said during his opening argument.
LAPD seeks public's help identifying suspect in 2019 Koreatown killing
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on Friday asked for the public's help in identifying the person or persons responsible for the 2019 murder of Juan Cuevas in Koreatown. Authorities reported that Cuevas was standing in front of a driveway in the 4700 block of Beverly Boulevard on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at approximately 10:23 p.m., when a dark-colored Honda Accord pulled up nearby. A suspect, dressed in dark clothing, got out of the passenger side of the vehicle, approached Cuevas, and shot him. The suspect fled on foot and was later seen on video getting back into the vehicle, according to authorities. Cuevas was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The City of Los Angeles is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those involved. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division, West Section, are continuing the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the division at (213) 382-9470. After hours and on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).
Murder suspect runs from police, onto roof in Sun Valley after chase
A man suspected of murder ran onto the roof of a building in Sun Valley after a brief police chase early Monday morning. The standoff started around 3:40 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Initial reports indicated the suspect was wanted for driving under the influence, but he was also believed to be wanted for murder. The chase ended in a crash near Roscoe Boulevard and the northbound 170 Freeway, and the suspect ran onto a property behind Byrd Middle School. Video from the scene showed a car that had crashed into a fence. AIR7 was over the unfolding situation as the shirtless suspect teetered on the edge of the roof with crisis negotiators on the ground. An inflatable air cushion was also set up. The suspect eventually jumped down from the building and was taken into custody.
73-year-old bicyclist killed in hit-and-run crash in Koreatown
A hit-and-run driver killed a 73-year-old woman in Koreatown on Monday morning. The Los Angeles Police Department said the deadly crash happened at about 6:40 a.m. when a white Dodge Ram truck that was driving east on Olympic Boulevard turned right onto Vermont Avenue. The woman was riding a bicycle within the crosswalk on Olympic when the driver collided with her. Officers said the suspect briefly stopped, reversed and then drove eastbound on Olympic toward Menlo Avenue. The Los Angeles Fire Department took the woman to a nearby hospital, where she later died. Investigators found a Dodge Ram matching the description of the suspect's vehicle and impounded it. LAPD believes drug use may have contributed to the collision, but is unsure if alcohol played a factor. LAPD urged anyone with information on the case to contact West Traffic Division detectives at (213) 473-0234 or 1(877) 527-3247.
Teen injured in shooting at Dockweiler Beach
Police on Sunday continued their search for a gunman in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy at Dockweiler State Beach the night before. The teen was wounded when an apparent gang fight erupted into gunfire, an LAPD spokesperson said. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition after suffering a single gunshot wound, according to the spokesperson, Officer Norma Eisenman. The teenager told police he had been in the area of lifeguard tower 55 in the 11400 block of Vista Del Mar around 7:20 p.m. Saturday when a confrontation broke out near him and he heard a gunshot. Moments later, he realized he had been shot, according to Eisenman. The suspect, whose description was not available, fled in an unknown direction before officers arrived at the scene. No arrests had been made as of midday Sunday. Bystander footage livestreamed on the Citizen app showed police directing traffic away from the scene. Footage from bystanders showed police had cordoned off the scene and were directing beachgoers and drivers away from the area.
Man Allegedly Stabs Neighbor, Barricades at Canoga Park Apartment Complex
A neighbor dispute at a Canoga Park apartment complex led one man to allegedly stab another Monday and barricade himself inside his unit with his family for nearly two hours. The chain of events began around 1 a.m. Monday at the apartment complex at 8609 De Soto Ave. at Parthenia Street, according to a desk officer at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations Center. Video from the scene showed Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics placing the victim on a gurney and wheeling him into an awaiting ambulance. Following the stabbing, the suspect barricaded himself in his unit with family members inside, the officer said. Officers set up a perimeter and attempted to evacuate the immediate area, he said. The suspect came out of the apartment just before 3 a.m. and was taken into custody, the officer said.
Security guard stabbed at Westfield Topanga Mall
A security guard was stabbed at the Westfield Topanga Mall on Friday night. The Los Angeles Fire Department said paramedics took one person to the hospital in an unknown condition. The Los Angeles Police Department said the security guard was stabbed while trying to stop a theft. Officers believe he will survive. The two male suspects he was trying to stop ran away before officers arrived. LAPD believes the suspects were trying to steal clothing.
DUI Patrols to Increase on St. Patrick’s Day Across SoCal
Anyone planning on celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday with festive brews and cocktails should plan ahead and arrange transportation in advance as law enforcement throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties will increase patrols to nab people driving under the influence. The Los Angeles Police Department plans to have saturation patrols beginning Tuesday afternoon in a number of areas, officials said. The California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will also have beefed-up patrols with officers on the lookout for impaired drivers. Burbank police plan to have extra officers on patrol between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 2 a.m. Wednesday looking for motorists suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Torrance planned additional officers to patrol from 5 p.m. to midnight. Officials reminded the public that people who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including marijuana and prescription drugs, put everyone’s lives in danger.
DEA seizes $300K during search warrant at West LA business
Federal agents executing a search warrant at a West Los Angeles business this week seized approximately $300,000 in cash and halted the sale of marijuana and vape products at the location, authorities said. Personnel from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration served the search warrant on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation conducted in partnership with the Torrance Police Department, according to a statement issued Saturday by DEA Public Affairs Specialist Rosa Valle-Lopez. Los Angeles police officers were dispatched around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday to a business in the 11100 block of Tennessee Avenue, near the intersection of Sepulveda and Olympic boulevards, to assist federal agents, an officer said. “As a result of the operation, investigators seized approximately $300,000 in U.S. currency,” Valle-Lopez said. Members of California Cannabis also placed an embargo on all marijuana and vape pens at the location. The embargo immediately prohibits the sale, transfer, distribution, or destruction of the products, effectively halting revenue from them while the investigation continues.
BWC: Man fires gun at California officers during traffic stop before fatal OIS
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage of a traffic stop that escalated to an officer-involved shooting after a suspect fired a gun in the direction of officers. The Feb. 18 incident began when a deputy stopped a vehicle for a code violation, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputy can be heard in the video telling the driver, a 21-year-old woman, that her brake lights were out and that her license plate number was tied to the wrong vehicle. A man could be seen in the passenger seat. The driver cooperated with the deputy’s requests and provided identification. The officer then requested identification from the passenger. The deputy could not hear the passenger’s answers from the driver’s side and also wanted to look at the vehicle’s steering column after noticing possible damage that could indicate the car was stolen, according to the sheriff’s office. He walked to the passenger’s side before continuing with the stop. Video shows the passenger at first appearing to cooperate with the deputy, providing a name. As the deputy continued to ask questions, the suspect suddenly rolled up the window and moved around inside the vehicle.
Public Safety News
25-year-old motorcyclist killed in crash with van in Mission Hills
A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a van in the Mission Hills area on Sunday afternoon, according to police. The crash happened a little after 4 p.m. in the 15000 block of S. Brand Boulevard, Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters told CBS LA. Circumstances leading up to the crash remain unclear, but police and firefighters both said that the victim was a 25-year-old man. He has not yet been publicly identified. SkyCal flew over the spot of the crash shortly after it happened, where police were seen surveying the area. A white van appeared to have considerable damage to its passenger side. It was stopped in a parking lot just feet from where a white canopy covered the motorcyclist's body.
Local Government News
LA City Council approves resolution on LA28 chair Casey Wasserman
A largely symbolic resolution related to LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman, whose name appears in documents related to the federal government's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, was approved Friday by the Los Angeles City Council. The resolution, which returned to the council after a decision was delayed last week, formalizes the city's position on the issue after the latest release of documents included decades-old emails Wasserman exchanged with Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted associate of the late financier. In 12-0 vote, the council approved the resolution, introduced by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez on Feb. 11 and seconded by Imelda Padilla. City Council members Bob Blumenfield, Adrin Nazarian and Curren Price were absent during the vote. It was expected to be sent to the LA28 Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee and other agencies involved in the Olympics. "Be it further resolved, that the City Council expresses concern regarding the potential conflict between the Olympic movement's values and Casey Wasserman's association with the Epstein files, and calls for a thorough and transparent review of his involvement in the ongoing investigations into these matters," the resolution reads.
