Bicyclist Killed In Hit-and-Run Crash In Venice

Authorities are searching for the hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a bicyclist in Venice early Saturday morning. According to Los Angeles Police Department, the collision occurred at around 12:40 p.m., while the bicyclist was traveling northbound on Pacific Avenue. They were struck by the driver of a small, light-colored vehicle that was also traveling northbound. "The collision caused the victim to be ejected from his bicycle and collide with the roadway," said a statement from police. The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. Authorities are hopeful that anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has additional information would contact them at (323) 421-2500.

CBS 2

Two Killed During Wrong-Way Crash On 118 Freeway In Porter Ranch

Two people were killed and two others were injured in a wrong-way crash on the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway in Porter Ranch Sunday, authorities said. The crash on the westbound freeway, at the Tampa Avenue off-ramp, was reported at 4:25 a.m. Sunday, the California Highway Patrol reported. Authorities said a dark-colored sedan was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes and slammed into a semi-truck. The vehicle landed on the embankment of the off-ramp. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics dispatched to the location at 4:30 a.m. rushed two others to regional trauma centers, according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. A Sigalert was issued at 4:53 a.m. closing the Tampa Avenue off-ramp, as well as the No. 3 and 4 lanes of the westbound freeway for at least two hours. The Sigalert was extended at 7:11 a.m. until approximately 9 a.m. A representative from the coroner's office was called to the scene at 5:44 a.m.

NBC 4

Police Investigating Possible Gang-Related Shooting That Left One Wounded In South LA

Police are investigating a possible gang-related shooting that occurred in South Los Angeles late Saturday afternoon. According to a statement from Los Angeles Police Department, the scene unfolded just before 12:30 p.m. near 36th Street and Trinity Street. One man, in his 30s, is said to have been involved in some sort of argument with another man in his 40s, when both produced firearms and pointed them at each other, police said. The wounded man was taken to a hospital in stable condition. It was unknown if the other person involved sustained any injuries. Police are investigating the incident as gang-related.

CBS 2

2 In Custody After South L.A. Armed Carjacking Ends In Crash

Two suspects are in custody after an armed carjacking in South Los Angeles late Sunday. The incident was reported around 10:05 p.m. at 1038 N. Vernon Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A knife was used to steal a Honda Accord in the area, and one of two people inside suffered minor lacerations as a result, police said. The victim was hospitalized and is in stable condition. Responding officers spotted the vehicle and started to follow the car before losing it. They found it again and initiated a pursuit, but the driver crashed at 127th Street and Central Avenue in Willowbrook around 1:15 a.m. Monday and two men ran from the car, police said. A perimeter was set up to search for the suspected carjackers. The search ended around 4 a.m., with both suspects in custody. One of the men was taken into custody with minor use of force from a police dog, authorities said.

KTLA 5

L.A. Planning Changes To Combat Street Takeovers In ‘Fast & Furious’ Neighborhood

For years, the Angelino Heights area has been plagued by dangerous street racing and takeovers, leaving residents frustrated over the troubling rise in illegal activity. Engineers with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) are now proposing new designs for intersections and busy roadways to combat unlawful drivers. The Angelino Heights area has been prominently featured in the “Fast & Furious” films and remains a hotspot for drivers to perform dangerous stunts. For years, residents have been asking for help from local officials and Universal Pictures to curb the illegal activity but feel their concerns haven’t been taken seriously. Street racing fans visit the area year-round, with some hoping to live out their dangerous street stunt fantasies. LADOT is now proposing a series of road design changes targeting the intersections most plagued by illegal driving activity.

KTLA 5

Missing Autistic Man Last Seen In Downtown Los Angeles Found Safe

The family of a man with autism who disappeared Friday night in downtown Los Angeles has been found safe on Saturday night. “Tyler was located in good health and reunited with his family. Thank you to our media partners for your help,” said the Los Angeles Police Department. Tyler Caine, 27, who is autistic and non-verbal, was last seen in the 1100 block of North Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles at about 10 p.m. Friday, police said in a news release. Caine is a light-complected Black man who has short brown hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet tall and weighs about 170 pounds. When he was last seen, he was wearing an Adidas Lakers shirt with yellow and white lettering, green pants, black shoes and a black jacket.

KTLA 5

Man Suffering From Bipolar Disorder And Schizophrenia Missing From Lynwood

A 72-year-old man who suffers from Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia was reported missing Saturday and sheriff’s detectives asked the public for help finding him. David Rodriguez Salazar was last seen at 11 a.m. in the 2900 block of Oakwood Avenue, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Salazar is described as Hispanic, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 160 pounds, with short gray hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blue polo shirt, blue jacket, blue jeans and gray shoes. Anyone with information about Salazar was asked to call the sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

MyNewsLA

Judge To Announce Verdict In Anthony Avalos Torture-Murder Trial

A judge is set to announce his verdict Tuesday in the non-jury trial of a Lancaster woman and her boyfriend who are charged with torturing and murdering her 10-year-old son, who died in 2018. Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta heard the trial of Heather Maxine Barron and Kareem Ernesto Leiva after both sides waived their right to having the case heard by a jury, with closing arguments wrapping up Feb. 22. Barron, 33, and Leiva, 37, are charged with one count each of murder and torture involving the June 21, 2018 death of Anthony Avalos, along with two counts of child abuse involving the boy's half-siblings, identified in court as "Destiny O." and "Rafael O." The murder count includes the special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture. Over Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami's objection, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office dropped its bid for the death penalty against the two after the election of District Attorney George Gascón, who issued a directive that “a sentence of death is never an appropriate resolution in any case.”

NBC 4

Man Who Ambushed New Jersey Troopers Arrested In South Carolina

A man accused of “ambushing” two New Jersey state troopers, shooting one in the leg, was arrested Friday in South Carolina, authorities said. Jocquise R. Timmons, 28, allegedly opened fire on the pair of troopers, who were investigating a reported break-in early Thursday morning in Paterson, New Jersey’s third-largest city, authorities said. He is being charged with two counts of attempted murder, four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of unlawful weapons possession. Timmons was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in South Carolina, Attorney General Matthew Platkin announced at a late Friday afternoon press conference at the State Police regional headquarters in Newark. Platkin said Timmons, a suspect in the break-in, “ambushed and fired on two troopers driving unmarked vehicles” in the area of East 26th Street and 9th Avenue in Paterson around 1 a.m. Thursday. The gunfire hit both vehicles and struck one of the troopers in the leg.

PoliceOne

Rocks, Bricks, Molotov Cocktails, Fireworks Thrown At Cops At Atlanta Training Center Site

Protesters dressed in all black threw large rocks, bricks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at police officers Sunday at the construction site for the new Atlanta Police Department training facility, according to police. Several pieces of construction equipment were set on fire, Atlanta’s police Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a press conference around midnight. Some 35 people had been detained as other police agencies stepped in to assist the city’s officers. “Actions such as this will not be tolerated,” Schierbaum said. “When you attack law enforcement officers, when you damage equipment, you are breaking the law.” Investigators believe those involved had initially attended a nearby music festival before beginning what was described by police as a “coordinated attack” at the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center site, near Bouldercrest Road and Key Road in DeKalb County. No officers were injured during the incident, Schierbaum said. Officers used non-lethal enforcement methods to help disperse the crowd and detain those involved, he said.

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Orlando Police Chief Highlights Violent Crime Reduction, Wants Harsher Penalties For Youth In Gang Crimes

Orlando Police Department Chief Eric Smith on Thursday announced sizable drops in crime rates since he took office but also a rise in gang activity and minors committing crimes throughout the city. When comparing statistics from September through February with numbers from the same months a year prior, there was an 8% decrease in violent crime, including homicide, robbery, battery, carjacking and home invasion. The number of shootings within city limits reduced by 12% in the same time frame, Smith said. Meantime, the number of guns used in crimes that have been taken off the streets jumped 47%. “How does this happen?,” Smith, who took office in September, said. “Reorganization of patrol has put more officers on the streets and the active police work of our specialty units, such as our gang, drug and TAC (violent crime) units, have led to our success.” Smith said he grew the number of officers on patrol squads from 10 to 12 each. Some patrol behind the wheel, while others are on foot or in bike squads.

Orlando Sentinel

Woman, Dog Airlifted To Safety In Remote West Hills Area

A woman and her dog were airlifted to safety Saturday evening from a remote area on or near cliffs in the Cave of Munits area in West Hills. The case was reported at 6:35 p.m. near 24399 W. Vanowen St., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Nicholas Prange. A helicopter hoisted the woman and the dog to firefighters on the ground. They evaluated her and found no injuries or illness before helping her get back to her vehicle, Prange said. 

MyNewsLA

California To Alter COVID Rules In Healthcare Settings: Masks And Vaccinations Not Required

With the COVID-19 state of emergency a thing of the past, California health officials on Friday unveiled plans to relax guidance on masking in high-risk settings and to end vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. Among the changes announced by the California Department of Public Health is the end of statewide mask requirements in healthcare and other indoor high-risk settings — including correctional facilities and emergency and homeless shelters — beginning April 3. Effective the same day, California will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers, including those in adult and direct care settings, correctional facilities and detention centers. The monthlong delay is meant to allow local health departments and healthcare facilities time “to develop and implement plans customized to their needs and local conditions to continue to protect Californians through the end of the winter virus season,” according to the Department of Public Health.

Los Angeles Times

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 9,200 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.