Law Enforcement News

Potential Mass Shooting Thwarted In Hollywood: Man Arrested, ‘High-Powered’ Weapons Seized
Los Angeles police officers seized several high-powered weapons from a man accused of making criminal threats Tuesday, averting what authorities believe could have been a mass shooting in the planning stages. Police say Braxton Johnson, 24, was arrested in Hollywood after officers responded to a report of a possible man with mental illness acting erratically. Braxton was arrested on a complaint of making criminal threats, the Los Angeles Police Department said. A search warrant was then served at the Lumina Hollywood, 1522 Gordon St., where officers recovered several high-powered rifles, shotguns, handguns and a “large cache of various munitions.” “The suspect was located on the 18th floor of an apartment building with large windows with a view, with a non-obstructed view of a public park, downstairs, and some of the rifles were pointed outside of the windows,” LAPD Lt. Leon Tsap said. Photos shared by the Police Department showed several weapons, including a rifle with a scope and a set of camouflage body armor. Johnson recently moved into the apartment from out of town, according to police.
KTLA 5

California Anti-Human Trafficking Operation Nets 368 Arrests
An anti-human trafficking operation in California resulted in the arrests of 368 people, law enforcement officials announced Wednesday. 82 law enforcement agencies, along with victim advocacy groups, conducted a statewide operation focusing on the rescue of ‘commercially sexually exploited victims and the apprehension of their exploiters.’ The operation, which was conducted from January 22 through January 28 in nine counties, led to the arrests of 368 people for various criminal charges, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. 116 people were arrested by LAPD. 195 exploiters were arrested, six minors were rescued, and 125 adults were identified as trafficking victims, officials said. "The victims' ages in this operation were found to be between 13 and 52 years of age, with six of them being juveniles," Chief Michel Moore said at a news conference at the LAPD Elysian Park Academy. "The average age of most victims was in their mid-20s, and our investigators worked diligently alongside our victim advocacy groups in providing these victims with services and resources to help them escape from this life-threatening environment."
FOX 11

Westlake Hit-and-Run Update: Suspect Video Released, Reward Offered
The driver of a blue pickup truck struck a 32-year-old man and dragged his body 20 feet, then fled the Westlake scene in January. Los Angeles police released video of the suspect Thursday, and a reward for information was announced. A blue Dodge Ram truck struck the victim on the night of January 23 and the driver fled the scene. The victim, 32-year-old L.A. resident Kyle Ray, may have been in medical distress when he passed out in a westbound lane of 6th Street just west of Bonne Brae Street at about 7:25 p.m., police said. The truck traveling westbound on 6th Street ran over Ray and dragged him 20 feet down the roadway. The male driver fled the scene in the truck without stopping to render aid. Ray was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck is described as a blue 2007-2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck with custom lights and rims, and the bed of the truck was equipped with a rack, police said. A reward of $50,000 is offered for information leading to the suspect's identification, arrest and conviction. Anyone with information regarding the vehicle, is asked to contact LAPD detectives at (213) 486-0767 or e-mail [email protected] or Central Traffic Division Watch Commander at (213) 833-3746.
CBS 2

Gunman Sought In South Los Angeles Shooting That Left Five Wounded
Los Angeles police are searching for the gunman responsible for a drive-by shooting in a South Los Angeles neighborhood Wednesday night that left five people wounded. The five male victims — between the ages of 15 and 31 — were standing outside when they were struck by gunfire from a passing vehicle near 108th Street and Stanford Avenue about 9:15 p.m., police said. The victims were taken to a local hospital in a private vehicle, according to LAPD Officer Warren Moore. They were all listed as stable. The shooting does not appear to be gang-related and an investigation is underway, Moore said. It’s unknown whether more than one shooter was involved, police said. There was also no information available on the make and model of the vehicle involved.
LA Times

Suspects Flee After Security Guard Interrupts Smash-and-Grab Robbery At Dior Pop-Up On Melrose
A smash-and-grab robbery at a pop-up Dior store on Melrose Avenue was interrupted by a security guard Thursday morning, authorities said. Multiple suspects used a large rock to smash the store's window and made entry around 3:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Additional details about the interaction with the security guard were not available, but police say the suspects managed to take off with a few handbags. All of the suspects fled on foot and remain outstanding. Suspect descriptions were not available. Police say they haven't yet viewed surveillance footage.
ABC 7

Father Shot And Killed While Driving In Los Angeles County
Loved ones are grieving after a freeway shooting left a young father of two dead in Westchester. The fatal shooting happened along the 405 Freeway off-ramp near the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night. The victim, Carl Slenoy, Jr., 28, is a Navy veteran and a father of two young daughters. Slenoy Jr.’s family is searching for answers and seeking justice after his murder. The victim was heading home with his girlfriend after dinner with friends on Saturday night, but before he could arrive, he was murdered, authorities said. “His mom’s devastated, his sisters are devastated, all of us are,” said Jay Wilson, the victim’s cousin. “While he’s exiting the freeway, a car approached them and maybe one or two people got out of the car and opened fire on him.” About a half dozen shots were fired at Slenoy Jr.’s car, authorities said. He was found suffering from a gunshot wound while in the driver’s seat, according to California Highway Patrol.
KTLA 5

Police Searching For Woman Who Stole Puppy, Assaulted Owner In Bell Gardens
Authorities are searching for a woman who stole a one-month-old puppy and assaulted the dog's owner in Bell Gardens on Monday. According to the Bell Gardens Police Dept., the incident occurred at around 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 30, when the female suspect snatched a one-month-old Maltipoo puppy from Planet Pet Shop, located in the 6600 block of Eastern Avenue. The owner of the shop, Rosa Munoz, confronted the woman, who then ran from the store with the puppy in hand. "The victim attempted to take the puppy back from the suspect, however, the suspect proceeded to violently assault the victim and ultimately pepper sprayed the victim in the face," said a statement from Bell Gardens Police Department. The woman took off with the puppy, running northbound on Eastern Avenue toward Loveland Street.
CBS 2

Texas Executes Inmate For 2007 Fatal Shooting Of Dallas Officer
Texas on Wednesday executed an inmate convicted of fatally shooting a Dallas police officer nearly 16 years ago after a high-speed chase. Wesley Ruiz, 43, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, for the March 2007 killing of Dallas Police Senior Corporal Mark Nix. “I would like to apologize to Mark and the Nix family for taking him away from you," Ruiz said as he was laying strapped to a gurney in the death chamber. “I hope this brings you closure.” He never looked at Nix's relatives and friends, including the slain officer's mother and sister, who watched through a window a few feet from him. Ruiz thanked his family and friends for supporting him and urged his children to “stand tall and continue to make me proud.” “Don't worry about me. I'm ready to fly," he said. "All right warden, I'm ready to ride." As the lethal dose of the powerful sedative pentobarbital began taking effect, he took two quick breaths, then began snoring. His 11th snore was his last and there was no further movement. Twenty-two minutes later, at 6:41 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
AP

Video: Florida Deputy Breaks Car Window To Administer Narcan, CPR To Driver
A deputy was driving home after shift when he noticed a vehicle driving erratically on a highway. As he was able to catch up to the vehicle, he quickly noticed things weren’t right. Flagler County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Brad Stogdon noticed the driver was slouched down in his seat and shaking rapidly, FOX35 Orlando reported. Stogdon quickly realized the man needed medical aid: “His eyes were rolling in the back of his head, which is usually an indication of an overdose or something along those lines.” That’s when Stogdon broke a window to help the man. “When I felt for a pulse, he didn’t have a pulse … he wasn’t breathing. He started to turn blue pretty rapidly,” he recalled. The deputy administered Narcan and performed CPR on the driver. Moments later, another deputy and EMS arrived on scene to administer a second dose of Narcan. The man, who regained consciousness, was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover fully, according to the report.
PoliceOne

Public Safety News

Man Dies In Car With Leaking Propane Bottles
A man in his 70s who appeared to be homeless was found dead Wednesday night inside a vehicle in Venice with several small camping-style propane bottles. Firefighters were called 8:42 p.m. to 601 Venice Blvd., near Abbott Kinney Boulevard, regarding a person suffering from a medical condition and upon their arrival they found the man, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange. The victim had been trying to stay warm in an enclosed space using a propane-powered heat lamp, Prange said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene from accidental asphyxiation, as the propane bottles had been leaking, Prange said. Hazmat personnel were called to the scene to investigate after the propane bottles were discovered.
WestSide Current

Hospitals Seek Help Identifying Patients Found In Los Angeles County
Hospital staff are hoping the public can help identify two unknown patients in Los Angeles County. The first patient is a woman who was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle in San Fernando on Jan. 23. She is currently at the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. Officials say she was riding a bicycle when she was struck by a car. The collision has left her unable to speak. Officials are searching for the woman’s family or acquaintances. She is described as a woman in her late 20s to early 30s, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 153 pounds. She has medium-length dark brown hair, brown eyes, a medium skin tone and a tattoo on her right forearm. The tattoo features a red and green heart outlined in black with the words “One love.” Officials also believe the woman may be homeless. Anyone who might have information about the woman is asked to call the hospital at 818-365-8051 and ask for the nursing supervisor.
KTLA 5

Small 2.9-Magnitude Earthquake Reported In The San Fernando Valley Near Sylmar
A 2.9-magnitude earthquake was reported in the San Fernando Valley Wednesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake struck around 4 p.m. about a mile west of Sylmar. Eyewitness News received several calls from viewers saying they felt shaking in their area. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Nearly 52 years ago, a 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted the Sylmar area, which caused serious damage.
ABC 7

Local Government News

$10M Relief Program For Small Landlords Proposed By LA City Council
Five Los Angeles City Council members called Tuesday for the city to establish a $10 million assistance program to provide direct payment to small landlords waiting on rent due from tenants since the beginning of the pandemic. In the last couple of weeks, the council has voted for landmark legislation providing tenant protections as the city's local state of emergency due to COVID-19 expires at the end of the month. The motion, presented by Bob Blumenfield, Monica Rodriguez, Traci Park, and Tim McOsker and seconded by John Lee, states that the city must "do more" to help small landlords who have "faced years of financial uncertainty, tremendous debt, and personal hardship with keeping vulnerable tenants housed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic." The council members said that without urgent monetary relief, landlords could never recover their lost rental income and could end up having to sell their property to large corporations. The motion called for the city's housing department to establish a Small Housing Provider Assistance Program, and report on recommendations on parameters for the program.
NBC 4