Law Enforcement News

LAPD officer, his wife both diagnosed with stage-4 cancer; Help needed for their 2 young kids
A Los Angeles Police Department officer and his wife are both battling stage-4 cancer, and both were diagnosed with the disease just weeks apart. Motor Officer Michael Tomelloso and his wife, Laura, were both diagnosed in February 2022. The couple has two young children, Mike Jr., 14, and Matthew, 10. During their battle with cancer, which consists of ongoing medical treatments, surgeries, and hospitalizations, they have had an exhausting challenge of completing simple tasks, which at times they were unable to complete.
FOX 11

Woman Dead After Up To 60 Gunshots Fired Into South Los Angeles Apartment By 2 Shooters: LAPD
A woman is dead after dozens of shots were fired into an apartment in the Green Meadows area of South Los Angeles, striking her multiple times. The shooting in the 10000 block of South Avalon Boulevard was reported just after 11:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police have so far found up to 60 bullet casings in the parking lot area near the apartment, though they are unsure if all of those casings are from this shooting. Two casings were also found inside the apartment. Police are unsure if the victim was the target of the attack, though they believe the two shooters were intending to shoot into that specific apartment, according to Lt. Bryon Roberts. “That unit definitely was the target of someone,” Roberts said. The other people inside the apartment were not injured.
KTLA 5

LAPD Makes Dream Come True For LA Native With Developmental Delays, Names Him Honorary Cop For A Day
It was a dream come true for 52-year-old George Stanley on Tuesday. Stanley, a Los Angeles native, was born with developmental delays and a moderate intellectual disability. The Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division surprised Stanely and made him an honorary police officer for a day. Stanley's family said since he was a kid he had always wanted to be a cop. "He would arrest neighborhood kids on their bikes," said Frank Stanley, George's brother. "But everyone knew it was all in good fun. George just wanted to make sure the community was fun." Frank Stanley said George's dream of becoming a police officer came from watching shows like Adam-12 and Chips with highway patrolmen Ponch and Jon. "Those were not just fictional characters," said Los Angeles police officer Antonio Vargas. "Those were his actual heroes."
ABC 7

Body Found At Encino Golf Course
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating after a body was found at a golf course in Encino Friday. Police responded to Balboa Golf Course located at 16821 Burbank Blvd. around 10:55 a.m. for a report of a body found. Details are limited, but police confirmed to KTLA that a death investigation is underway. So far, police have not released any information regarding the circumstances surrounding the death, or the gender and age of the deceased person. A white tent, which law enforcement often use to cover the scene when a body is found, could be seen set up in a grassy area, although it’s unclear if the body was found on the course or simply on golf course property. An independent photographer reported that the body found may have been a pedestrian that was involved in an earlier accident but denied medical treatment by paramedics.
KTLA 5

Video Shows Police Chasing Knife-Wielding Man At West Hills McDonald's
Shocking video shows students running in all directions, ducking for cover, as armed Los Angeles police officers closed in on a knife-wielding man near a McDonald's in West Hills. It happened near the location at the intersection of Platt Avenue and Victory Boulevard Friday afternoon. Video obtained by Eyewitness News shows officers chasing the man seen holding a large knife. He reportedly ran toward the McDonald's where several teens were eating. You can hear several of them screaming in the video. "Across the street we see this guy holding like a big knife and he's running across the street like going toward me and my friend," said Paxton Huynh. Several officers chased the suspect before they were finally able to subdue him in the parking lot. The knife was recovered. It's unclear what sparked the incident, but no injuries were reported.
ABC 7

LAPD Promising More Arrests In Beating Of Couple Outside Elton John Concert At Dodger Stadium
Los Angeles police are promising to make more arrests connected to the beating of a married couple after an Elton John concert. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, only one person has been arrested for the beating at the Dodger Stadium parking lot last Thursday night. With his ankle in a cast and using crutches, Jaime said on Monday that he is still in a lot of pain from the brutal attack. "My ankle hurts, it's broken," said Jaime, who only wanted to be identified by his first name. "The side of my head I have these contusions here." Jaime was knocked unconscious as another man punched him in the face. Jaime, who is a grandfather, said he and his wife were leaving the Elton John concert when someone in a group smacked his rearview mirror. According to the grandfather, when he got out of the car to ask, a woman punched him shortly before other men started beating him.
CBS 2

3 Arrested For Series Of Follow-Home Robberies In Los Angeles
Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department on Sunday announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with a series of follow-home robberies throughout Los Angeles. The three suspects, 46-year-old Rudolph Flowers, 43-year-old Laron Bundley and 35-year-old Taniqueka Harris, were taken into custody on Nov. 17. During their arrests and subsequent search warrants, authorities seized a handgun, ammunition, victim’s property and items connecting the three to several robberies, police said in a news release. “The trio is believed to be responsible for at least four robberies that occurred from June to September of 2022,” the release stated. “Two of these robberies involved the victims being shot by the suspects.
KTLA 5

Man Found Insane At Time Of Attack On 2 Men Near Synagogue
A Seattle man who was accused of trying to run over two men near a synagogue in a Jewish neighborhood in the Wilshire area nearly four years ago has been found to have been insane at the time of the crime. In a non-jury trial Thursday, Superior Court Judge Drew Edwards found Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, 36, guilty of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon -- a vehicle -- along with a hate crime allegation, but acquitted him of two counts of attempted murder by reason of insanity, according to Deputy District Attorney Richard Ceballos. Then Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said shortly before the attack that the victims had just left a synagogue in the 300 block of La Brea Avenue and were walking toward Oakwood Avenue as Mohamed was "yelling out hateful remarks" about Jewish heritage and people of faith.
CBS 2

Beverly Hills Police Arrest Shoplifting Suspect Who Escaped Using ‘Force’
Police in Beverly Hills nabbed a shoplifting suspect who “used force to escape” after he was confronted by employees at an undetermined business Friday morning. It happened on the 300 block of North Beverly Drive in an area with several high-end stores and shopping centers. Lieutenant Orth of the Beverly Hills Police Department said officers responded for a report of a shoplifter who managed to get away by force after he was confronted. He then fled the location on foot where he was apprehended a short distance away. Video from Sky5 showed a heavy police presence in the downtown corridor, although it was unclear exactly where the robbery took place. Police said the suspect was taken into custody by police without incident. That person’s identity has not been disclosed. The Police Department added that officers would remain on scene for a prolonged period as part of the investigation, but there was no active threat to the public.
KTLA 5

Suspect Steals Bounty Of iPads In Westlake Village Burglary
Authorities are searching for a burglary suspect who ransacked a medical clinic in Westlake Village earlier this month, nabbing a bounty of iPads. The burglary happened on Nov. 4 around 3:43 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities say the suspect shattered a window to gain entry into a treatment room inside the clinic. Security cameras show the suspect using a crowbar to pry open cabinets and grabbing 14 iPad devices before getting away. The case remains under investigation and authorities are searching for the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station at 818-878-1808.
KTLA 5

Don't Drink And Drive: The CHP Will Be Out In Full Force For Four-Day Thanksgiving Holiday Operation
California Highway Patrol officers will be out in force over the Thanksgiving weekend, on the lookout for people driving drunk or impaired, or violating other traffic laws, authorities announced Monday. "As millions of people venture out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the CHP is preparing for one of the busiest travel weekends in the nation,'' CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said in a statement. "Enjoy your Thanksgiving festivities, but please celebrate responsibly, wear your seat belt, and always designate a sober, nondrinking driver,'' Ray said. The CHP's "maximum enforcement period'' will begin at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday and continue through 11:59 p.m. Sunday. "As with every holiday, the CHP will work to keep motorists safe as they travel to gatherings with friends and family,'' Ray said. "Our officers will be on patrol to take enforcement action as necessary and to provide assistance to motorists who are stranded or in need of help on the side of the road.'' According to the CHP, 42 people were killed in crashes in CHP's jurisdiction during the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, including 16 pedestrians and a bicyclist.
NBC 4

Photo: ‘Largest Drug Bust’ In Arizona PD’s History Uncovers Over 700K Fentanyl Pills
An Arizona police department seized the most drugs in department history, uncovering over 700,000 fentanyl pills and more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine earlier this month. According to AZ Family News, details from a traffic stop led police to search an apartment in Mesa. Inside the “stash house,” officers located 714,300 fentanyl pills, 3.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, six pounds of meth, 3.6 pounds of heroin and two pounds of cocaine. Police also found $17,039 in cash and one gun with boxes of ammo during the bust. Jesus Rojas Romero, 36, Alex Ruiz, 20, and Christian Valles Castro, 22, were placed under arrest after officers discovered the drug paraphernalia. The total value of the drugs is over $4.4 million, according to the report.
PoliceOne

Video: Florida Trooper Gets Award After Driving Cruiser Head-On Into Drunk Driver To Save Runners
Prior to trooper Toni Schuck accepting her “Back the Blue” award at the 4th annual Fox Nation Patriot Awards, a video reel recounted the details of her harrowing tale of heroism. Earlier this year, Schuck used her patrol car to crash head-on into a drunk driver’s vehicle, which nearly struck several runners in a nearby road race. During the awards ceremony, Schuck recalls the incident, explaining that she received a call about a driver going over 100 mph while she was working police detail at the annual Skyway 10K marathon in Florida. “We had heard the radio transmission from the first post that a car had broken through the detour,” Schuck told FOX News. As the driver blew through more checkpoints, getting closer to runners, panic set in. “Toni was that last line of defense,” Sgt. Artez Lester said on video played at the awards ceremony. “In my mindset, I'm thinking, OK, I'm going to block this lane and she's just going to stop. In that last second or two, I realized she wasn't stopping,” Schuck said. In a split-second decision, Schuck drove her cruiser head-on into the driver’s vehicle – preventing the driver from striking nearby runners.
PoliceOne

Public Safety News

LA County Sees Small Increase In COVID Hospitalizations
The number of coronavirus patients at Los Angeles County hospitals has increased by four to 670, according to the latest state numbers. Of those patients hospitalized as of Saturday, 76 were being treated in intensive care, up from 74 the previous day. Health officials have said previously that roughly 40% of the patients were actually admitted for COVID-related issues, while the rest were admitted for other reasons but tested positive at the hospital. The latest figures come as local health officials are reporting escalating COVID-19 metrics, with more than 2,200 new cases logged Friday, along with eight more virus-related deaths. Friday’s cases gave the county a cumulative total from throughout the pandemic of 3,515,225. The eight deaths lifted the county’s virus-related death toll to 34,098.
MyNewsLA

Fire Consumes Huntington Park Commercial Building
A second alarm fire is raging at a commercial building in Huntington Park Tuesday morning. The fire in the 5800 block of Soto Street began outside, but then spread to the building, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No injuries have been reported, but a bevy of units are on scene to battle the blaze in the 100-foot-by-200-foot building. The roof has already been burned away, aerial footage from Sky5 shows.
KTLA 5