Stabbing Suspect Arrested For Killing Of Man In Hollywood

A man is in custody Wednesday on suspicion of fatally stabbing another man in Hollywood that police said is a homicide. Los Angeles Police Department officers from the department's Hollywood Division responded to calls of a stabbing at 6434 Yucca St. near Wilcox Avenue around 11:45 p.m Tuesday. When they arrived, officers learned the victim, a 34-year-old man, and the suspect had been arguing when the suspect drew a weapon and stabbed the victim, an LAPD spokeswoman told City News Service. The suspect ran away from the scene but was arrested shortly after at his home. The stabbing is being investigated as a homicide, police said. 

ABC 7

Sylmar Man Arrested, Accused Of Extortion Tied To Sexually Explicit Photos Of Local Girls

A 23-year-old Sylmar man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of using Instagram to advertise sexually explicit photographs of local girls that he offered to sell over the internet, and for alleged threats and attempted extortion. Alejandro Garcia Aranda is charged in federal court with one count each of advertisement of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and transmitting threatening communications with intent to extort, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. According to the indictment, in April and May of 2020, Aranda used the Instagram handle “valleyhoezzz818” with the self-proclaimed goal of targeting local girls who attended schools in the San Fernando Valley. It was not immediately known if Aranda had retained defense counsel. 

Los Angeles Daily News

$579K In Stolen Bitcoin Mining Computers Recovered And Man Arrested, LAPD Says

A 27-year-old Canyon Country man was arrested on suspicion of stealing Bitcoin mining computers worth an estimated $579,000, the Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday. Bryan Thola allegedly had the stolen computers in his cargo van and a public storage unit, according to an LAPD news release. He was booked into LAPD's Van Nuys Jail Thursday and released the following day on his own recognizance, inmate records show. Photos released by LAPD show stacks of computers piled inside a van and in the room of a storage unit. Such devices are part of a broader global network of high-powered computers that run the Bitcoin code to verify transactions and record them onto the cryptocurrency's blockchain — a process that involves solving complex algorithms to record a new series of transactions called a block, according to Forbes. Computers compete to add blocks to the chain and and miners are paid by the block. "The mining, or transaction processing, is accomplished by incredibly expensive and powerful computers whose sole function is to run algorithms to solve the mathematical problem that allows their owner to win a Bitcoin block — and the revenue that comes with it," Richard Baker, CEO of miner and blockchain services provider TAAL Distributed Information Technologies, told Forbes.

CBS 2

Five Suspects Jump Out Of Stolen Car After Pursuit With LAPD

The Los Angeles Police Department was in pursuit of a stolen vehicle near Downtown LA Tuesday afternoon. The suspect recklessly drove through busy streets, nearly hitting several pedestrians and bicyclists, prompting officers to drop back and track the driver with a helicopter. The driver continued to blow through red lights despite uniformed police officers no longer following the car on the ground. Five people jumped out of the stolen car after driving around neighborhoods near E. Washington Boulevard and Griffith Avenue. The suspects jumped through backyards and ran through alleyways before some entered an apartment complex at E. 20th Street and Griffith Avenue. Officers arrested three boys who allegedly jumped out of the car during the pursuit. 

CBS 2

Driver Of Stolen Hospital Van Leads Police On Pursuit In The San Fernando Valley

Police were chasing the driver of a stolen hospital van in the San Fernando Valley on Tuesday night. The van was stolen during a shift change at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, according to the LAPD. Several patrol vehicles were behind the van as it drove the wrong way through the 170 off-ramp on Victory Boulevard and residential neighborhoods. The pursuit was initiated at 7:21 p.m. after the stolen vehicle was reported. "Two employees were onboard at the time but were released. The shuttle is used to transport staff to staff parking lots off site," wrote a spokesperson for the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The driver made a complete stop in Panorama City, where he entered a Home Depot gardening section. The driver was shortly arrested by officers.

NBC 4

LA City Establishes Reward For Information On Theft Of Plaques

The Los Angeles City Council established a $25,000 reward Tuesday for information leading to those responsible for the theft of 11 metal plaques ripped from the “Walk of Hearts” sidewalk in Woodland Hills. In a 14-0 vote, council members supported a request from Councilman Bob Blumenfield to pose the reward. Blumenfield, who represents the Third District, which includes Woodland Hills and other West San Fernando Valley neighborhoods, announced last week that the money was intended to encourage the public to help identify a suspect responsible for ripping out plaques that lined a portion of Victory Boulevard, similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I wanted to draw the public’s attention to this — an item putting discretionary money toward a reward fee for the Walk of Hearts in the San Fernando Valley,” Blumenfield said prior to the vote. The Walk of Hearts Foundation has placed plaques on the sidewalk as a way to honor and recognize teachers in the city since 2004. The councilman said it was a “beautiful gesture and a wonderful event that happens every year.”

MyNewsLA

LA General Medical Center Seeks Public Help Identifying Patient

Officials at Los Angeles General Medical Center sought the public's help Tuesday to identify a patient who has been hospitalized since Saturday, and to identify his family. The man, about 40, was brought to the facility from Cesar Chavez Avenue and Fickett Street, according to hospital officials. He was described as 5-feet-7 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with a heavy build, black hair and brown eyes. Anyone knowing his identity, or the identity of his family, was urged to call social worker Jocelyn Mayo at 323-409-4463.

ABC 7

Triple-Digit Heatwave Prompts Warning, Fire Dangers Across Southern California

Amid a blistering heatwave in Southern California, fire officials are worried that triple-digit temperatures and extremely dry weather will be the perfect environment for fire disaster. Summer creates the perfect conditions for brush and vegetation fires to combust at any time. The dangers are only exacerbated by the many fireworks waiting to be ignited during the July 4th celebrations this weekend. With an excessive heatwave warning in place and temperatures set to hit triple digits across the Southland this week, local and state officials have activated resources toward an Extreme Temperature Response Plan by opening free cooling centers across the state and enforcing heat protections for outdoor workers. Excessive heat warnings and watches are in effect for much of California starting Tuesday through the end of the week and weekend,” according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office. The National Weather Service is “forecasting Extreme HeatRisk for many parts of the state, with hot conditions between 105 and 115 degrees for multiple days and little overnight relief,” state officials said.

KTLA 5

LA City Council OKs Proposal To Expand Convention Center

The Los Angeles City Council is moving forward on a $54 million proposal Wednesday for the initial work to modernize and expand the downtown Convention Center in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. The council voted 13-1 to allocate the money and move forward with pre-construction work, though several members expressed concerns over the tight timeline the city would face to complete the project. The preliminary work will help the city determine if the remodeling can actually be done on time — and if the result shows it can’t, then elected leaders will have the ability to pull the plug on the project. Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson was absent during the vote. Councilman Curren Price, who represents the Ninth District, encompassing South L.A. neighborhoods and the Convention Center, said efforts to renovate the facility have been 10 years in the making.

MyNewsLA

LA City Council Vote To Fund Security At Religious Institutions Is Postponed

A planned vote by the Los Angeles City Council on a controversial plan to pay for security at religious institutions amidst ongoing tension over the Israel-Hamas War was tabled after a new proposal was introduced to make the money available to all faith-based organizations, not just Jewish institutions. The latest proposal, introduced on Tuesday, July 2, would open up the grant application to all religious groups and increase the pot of money from $1 million to $2 million. It won’t be voted on until after the City Council returns from its three-week summer recess, which starts this week. City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield initially introduced a motion to fund security at Jewish institutions and nonprofits days after a June 23 clash outside a synagogue in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood between pro-Palestinian supporters and supporters of Israel. Yaroslavsky, who represents Council District 5 which includes the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, warned that what happened just over a week ago won’t be the last of such incidents.

Los Angeles Daily News

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.