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Law Enforcement News
DUI Crash Kills Man, 3 Dogs In Downtown Los Angeles
A man walking three dogs in a crosswalk were struck and killed early Thursday in downtown Los Angeles. The crash happened at about 12:20 a.m. at 5th and Hill Street. According to the LAPD, a vehicle going northbound on Hill Street collided with the man, who had been walking two dogs. The man, described as being between 25 and 30 years old, was found underneath a pickup truck and pronounced dead at the scene. His three dogs were also left lying in the street from the impact of the crash. His name has not been released. At least six other cars were also hit in the crash. Police say some force was needed to take the driver has been taken into custody. The driver was determined to be under the influence, and faces potential charges of hit-and-run, DUI, and manslaughter, police said.
CBS 2
Landscaper Killed After Driver Loses Control Of Car In El Sereno
A city contracted landscaper was killed in El Sereno after a driver lost control of their vehicle on Wednesday. The collision occurred at around 1:50 p.m. on Huntington Drive, according to Los Angeles Fire Department. A Los Angeles Police Department traffic detective told CBS News that the man, working in the center divider at the time of the collision, was a contract worker for the city. Police say that at some point, and for unknown reasons, the driver lost control of the car and drove up onto the center divider, striking the landscaper before it flipped over, coming to a rest in the middle of lanes heading in the opposite direction. While the driver of the vehicle did suffer some injuries, they were able to escape under their own power. They were taken to a nearby hospital in fair condition.
CBS 2
PnB Rock: Teen Boy And Stepmom Arrested, Father On The Run In Rapper’s Killing
Southern California authorities announced Wednesday a 17-year-old boy and his stepmother were arrested in connection with the brutal killing of rapper PnB Rock that occurred during a robbery in broad daylight at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles, while a third suspect is on the run. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department said multiple suspects were wanted in the homicide investigation. They believe that it was the teen who approached the rapper and his girlfriend, demanded their jewelry and proceeded to shoot him several times in front of the rapper’s girlfriend, terrified patrons and staff. The teen suspect was arrested in Lawndale on a murder charge and his name has not been released. Authorities said he was out on parole or probation at the time of the shooting. He was wearing an ankle monitor that apparently was not being monitored at the time of the deadly shooting. In addition, the Los Angeles Police Department identified Freddie Lee Trone, the boy's father, as one of the suspects and released his photo hoping that someone will come forward with information or will inform authorities of his whereabouts. LAPD officials also announced a second arrest Wednesday. Shauntel Trone, 32, was arrested in Gardena and was booked for accessory to murder. Shauntel Trone is the boy's stepmother and Freddie Trone's wife.
FOX 11
LAPD Arrests Man Suspected In 68 Armed Robberies; Dubbed The ‘Blue Cloth Bandit’
A man believed to be responsible for 68 armed robberies in Los Angeles County dating back to October of last year has been arrested, police announced Wednesday. The robber was dubbed the “Blue Cloth Bandit” because he would use a blue cloth to cover the gun brandished in robberies at gas stations, 7-Elevens and Walmarts, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The robberies occurred in the city of L.A. as well as outside of the LAPD’s jurisdictions. Police on Wednesday released video of one of the robberies. “When the suspect struck again on Friday, September 23rd, detectives formulated a plan, initiated surveillance and ultimately served a search and arrest warrant,” police detailed in a news release. Charles Chukwuma Onwuemelie, 29, of Quartz Hill, was eventually arrested at his home where evidence, including a gun, linking him to the crimes was recovered, police said. Onwuemelie is charged with 16 counts of robbery for the incidents that occurred in the city of Los Angeles, police said. Additional charges are likely for the robberies that occurred within the county’s jurisdiction. Anyone with additional information about Onwuemelie is asked to call Detective Esther Myape at 213-486-6840.
KTLA 5
Officers, parents demand accountability from social media sites for illegal drug buying online
Subtle they're not. "Good beans," the Facebook post said, beside a cascade of blue and white pills and the words "#oxycodone, #xanax, #codeine... #percocets... #drugs..." and a string of slang I'm not hip enough to understand. The account was reported to Facebook in May. Twice, Facebook's moderators said it didn't violate community guidelines. Then there's Melissa420pills. Satisfied customers posted videos of receiving their drug shipments via the U.S. mail and opening them on camera.
Whittier Daily News
Driver In Custody After Pursuit Ends In Northridge
A driver is in custody after leading police on a long and high speed pursuit that ended in Northridge. The driver pulled over in a residential area and began running before giving up. Police arrested the driver and took him into custody. No further details were immediately available.
NBC 4
Silver Alert Issued For Man Last Seen In Sylmar
A Silver Alert was issued Wednesday for a 71-year-old man who was reported missing after last being seen in Sylmar. Cecilio Gonzalez was last seen about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, though his last approximate whereabouts in Sylmar were not known, according to the California Highway Patrol, which issued the alert on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department. Gonzalez is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 170 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and tan shoes. Anyone who sees Gonzalez or knows of his whereabouts was asked to call 911. The Silver Alert program was established by the CHP to issue and coordinate alerts involving the unexplained or suspicious disappearance of elderly, developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired individuals.
MyNewsLA
Silver Alert Issued For Man Last Seen In Sylmar
A Silver Alert was issued Wednesday for a 71-year-old man who was reported missing after last being seen in Sylmar. Cecilio Gonzalez was last seen about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, though his last approximate whereabouts in Sylmar were not known, according to the California Highway Patrol, which issued the alert on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department. Gonzalez is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 170 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and tan shoes. Anyone who sees Gonzalez or knows of his whereabouts was asked to call 911. The Silver Alert program was established by the CHP to issue and coordinate alerts involving the unexplained or suspicious disappearance of elderly, developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired individuals.
MyNewsLA
Former Beverly Hills Man Convicted For His Role In Jan. 6 Capitol Riot
A former Beverly Hills man who along with an anti-vaccine doctor joined the mob that breached the U.S. Capitol in 2021 was convicted this week for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. A jury, following a federal trial in Washington, D.C., found John Strand, 39, guilty of a felony count of obstruction of an official proceedings, along with several misdemeanor counts that included entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct. Strand — a model, actor and spokesman for the anti-vaccine group America’s Frontline Doctors — was arrested in January 2021 at a Beverly Hills home alongside Simone Gold, a doctor who during the pandemic became a leading source of coronavirus misinformation. Strand has since moved to Naples, Florida, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Weeks before their arrest, Strand and Gold were among thousands of pro-Trump supporters who flooded the U.S. Capitol in an at-times-violent failed attempt to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
LA Daily News
Man Charged With Murder In Beating Death Of LA County Probation Officer
A man was charged Tuesday with murder and other counts stemming from the apparent beating death of a veteran Los Angeles County deputy probation officer during a home invasion at her Lancaster residence. The unidentified man accused in Paula Lind's killing at her home on Sunday is charged in a "John Doe" complaint with one count each of murder, assault with intent to commit rape during a residential burglary, first-degree residential burglary and sexual contact with deceased remains, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The charges include allegations of personal use of a firearm and first-degree residential burglary with a person present. "That this officer who dedicated her career to public safety fell victim to senseless and depraved violence in her home is beyond tragic," L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement. "We will do all in our power to hold the person responsible for this to account. My office's victim advocates stand ready to offer support and services to Officer Lind's family." The man -- whose identity is unknown -- was ordered to be held without bail while awaiting arraignment, which was postponed until Oct. 26. Sheriff's deputies responded to a "burglary/home invasion call" at a Lancaster residence in the 45500 block of Barrymore Avenue at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
ABC 7
Elderly Californians Targeted In Lottery Scams; How To Avoid A Similar Fate
A Georgia man has been sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay millions in restitution for targeting elderly Californians with a fake telemarketing lottery and sweepstakes scheme. The United States Department of Justice announced that Akinwunmi Agbayewa, 45, of College Park, Georgia, was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay back more than $7.7 million for committing mail fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Agbayewa and his accomplices used fake names and contacted victims by the mail and by phone to tell them that they had won a sweepstakes or lottery, the DOJ said. The victims were told they needed to pay taxes or fees before they could collect their winnings. Those victims then mailed checks or made direct deposits into accounts owned by the scammers, only to find out that no such sweepstakes or lottery ever existed. Most of the victims were elderly Californians, officials said, but other people in the country were also targeted. When the FBI and the IRS got word of the scam, an investigation began and Agbayewa was arrested and charged as part of the scheme.
KTLA 5
Law Enforcement News
LA County Registers 13 More COVID-19 Deaths
While overall COVID-19 numbers keep trending downward, Los Angeles County continues to register virus-related deaths, with 13 more fatalities announced in its latest data. As of Wednesday, the countywide death toll from the virus since the pandemic began was 33,587, according to the Department of Public Health. Another 1,353 COVID infections were reported Wednesday, raising the county’s cumulative total throughout the pandemic to 3,453,057. The infection numbers reported by the county are believed to be an undercount of actual cases due to the prevalence of at-home COVID tests, the results of which are generally not reported to health officials. According to state figures, there were 471 COVID-positive patients in county hospitals as of Wednesday, down from 496 the previous day. Of those patients, 60 were being treated in intensive care, up from 53 on Tuesday. County officials have said about 43% of patients with COVID were actually hospitalized due to virus-related illness, while the rest were admitted for other reasons, with some only learning they were infected when they were tested upon admission.
MyNewsLA
LA Neighborhood Speed Hump Program To Resume. Here's How To Apply
Los Angeles residents can once again apply to have speed humps installed in their neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Speed Hump Program, which was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic to direct resources to emergency response and recovery efforts, will resume taking applications Oct. 6. "Nothing is more important than the safety of Angelenos, and we need every tool at our disposal to slow drivers down and prevent tragic collisions,'' Mayor Eric Garcetti said. "Every decision we make about our streets should be with the well-being of our residents first in our minds, and resuming this critical program will help keep our children and families safe while making our roads more accessible for everyone.'' The program allows residents to apply for their street to be considered for speed humps. The city's Department of Transportation would then conduct a technical review and consider a community engagement process to determine the street's eligibility. Over 800 speed humps were installed between 2017 and 2020. The department said it distributes resources equitably across each City Council district. The department considers the speed limit, incline, width and drainage conditions on a street.
NBC 4
Local Government News
Supporters Abandon L.A. City Council Candidate Danielle Sandoval After Wage Theft Report
A longtime labor rights expert has rescinded his endorsement of Los Angeles City Council candidate Danielle Sandoval, saying he advised her nearly two months ago that she needed to resolve wage theft claims targeting her restaurant. Victor Narro, who teaches labor studies at UCLA, said he urged Sandoval on Aug. 5 to contact the Wage Justice Center, a nonprofit group that has been trying to collect money owed to former employees of Caliente Cantina, a restaurant that Sandoval opened in San Pedro in 2014 and later closed. Narro, who sits on the Wage Justice Center’s board, said he withdrew his endorsement Friday, after The Times reported that wage cases involving four of the restaurant’s workers are still outstanding — seven years after the state’s labor commissioner ruled in their favor. He called that article the “tipping point.” “I cannot endorse a candidate that engages in wage theft and then doesn’t do anything to address it,” he said in an interview. “She hasn’t stepped up to take responsibility.” Narro is not the only Sandoval supporter to pull back. On Tuesday, the political action committee known as California Women’s List confirmed that it had withdrawn its endorsement. On Wednesday, the political group Fund Her said it has also pulled its support.
LA Times
Proposal For $3 Million Rental Aid Program To Be Considered By LA City Council
With Los Angeles' pandemic-era rental protections likely to expire soon, City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell said Wednesday he wants to establish a $3 million rental aid program for tenants and landlords in the 13th District. Several council committees are discussing a potential end date for the city's rental protections, with the Los Angeles Housing Department recommending that the eviction moratorium and other measures be lifted at the end of the year. The council's Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment was set to take up the item later Wednesday and potentially issue its own recommendation for the full council. O'Farrell's proposal would provide up to $5,000 per household for renters in his district who make 80% or less of the area median income, or AMI. "There's a lot of uncertainty right now in relation to eviction protections in Los Angeles," O'Farrell said. "This is going to help people stay in their homes while we work through that uncertainty, as the eviction moratorium begins to sunset."
CBS 2
