Law Enforcement News
2 Police Officers Taken To Hospital After Crash In Crenshaw Area
Three people were transported to the hospital, including two police officers, after a crash in the Crenshaw area. Calls about the incident, which occurred in the 3900 block of Hillcrest Drive, came in at around 5 p.m., according to Margaret Stewart with the Los Angeles Fire Department. At least one person was trapped in their vehicle and had to be rescued. It is unclear if it was one of the two officers from the Los Angeles Police Department. Both officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to Officer Mike Lopez with LAPD media relations. It is unclear if the third person transported to the hospital was a suspect or not. The extent of their injuries were also unknown. Police did tell KTLA that a suspect was taken into custody for assault and possibly felony hit-and-run.
KTLA 5
Pedestrian Killed By Garbage Truck In San Pedro
A pedestrian was killed by a garbage truck in San Pedro early Monday morning. LAPD officers responded to the incident at Pacific Ave. and 13th St. at 5:09 a.m. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck drivers stayed on scene for the investigation. Pacific was closed between 13 and 14th streets during the investigation. The victim is reportedly a local man in his 70s. He was reportedly struck in the crosswalk.
CBS 2
LAPD Serves Warrants For Reddit Accounts In City Hall Leaked Audio Investigation: Report
The Los Angeles Police Department has served search warrants in its investigation into the leaked conversation that led to the City Hall racism scandal, to determine if the conversation was recorded illegally, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday. The Times, citing sources who spoke anonymously because of the ongoing investigation, reported that the warrants were for several social media accounts, including the Reddit account on which the audio was originally posted. No specific targets were identified. More warrants are expected to be served during the investigation, the sources told The Times. The warrants — seeking communications over the last few weeks — were served by the LAPD's Major Crimes Division, which opened the investigation last month. Police Chief Michel Moore said last month that the Major Crimes Division launched the investigation at the request of "individuals that were present at that meeting," which included former Council President Nury Martinez, former President of the L.A. County Federation of Labor Ron Herrera and Council members Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo. A spokesperson for de León later said the council member did not request an investigation.
FOX 11
LAPD Issues Warning Of Phone Scammers Claiming To Be Officers, Requesting Personal Information
Los Angeles Police Department is warning the public of a recent scam plaguing Angelenos, where an individual is posing as an officer. According to a news release, multiple community members have received calls from someone claiming to be a law enforcement official in recent weeks, with the person asking for personal information including identifying information and social security numbers. "The Los Angeles Police Department wishes to caution the public about such fraudulent phone calls that may involve requests for personal information, demands for payment using pre-pay debit cards, wire transfers or the depositing of a check," the release said. While they did not specify how many people have been targeted by the scam, they made sure to note that calls that do actually come from LAPD detectives, "such calls will never involve a request for payment or money."
CBS 2
LAPD Arrests 18 Suspected In Organized Retail-Store Thefts Valued At $23,000
Police arrested 18 suspects in connection with four organized retail clothing thefts valued at about $23,000, authorities said Saturday. The suspects, between the ages of 15 and 20, faced charges of organized retail theft and grand theft, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspects live throughout the city and county of Los Angeles. The thefts occurred Thursday and Friday at four shoe and clothing retail chain stores, police said. Three were in the city of L.A. and one was in the city of Paramount. In addition to the arrests, eight vehicles were impounded and the stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to the retailers, police said. The suspects were believed involved in 14 other incidents with an estimated loss of $90,000, police said.
ABC 7
Man Exposes Himself On Metro Train; Rider Tries To Report It But Was Turned Away
A man was caught on video exposing himself on Metro's Green Line, but when another rider went to report it he said he was turned away as Metro could do nothing about it. A man, who rides the Metro daily, recorded cellphone video of a man exposing himself in front of several other people Friday morning. "This person is exposing himself, scanning the crowd, he’s looking for female passengers and then he's starting to touch himself and after a while he exposed himself," the man, who wants to remain anonymous, told FOX 11. He says he made two phone calls to Metro's Hotline to report it, but nothing was done about the situation. "[I told them] I have videos of this person, you want the description, the person is probably still on the train. I’m a daily commuter, I see this person all the time on this train. And they said no the person is probably gone and there’s nothing we can do about it". Other Metro riders say they see things like regularly.
FOX 11
More Than 450 Guns Acquired In LA Buy Back
A total of 459 firearms were collected Saturday during two Los Angeles Police Department events allowing people to exchange the weapons for gift cards. Both events were conducted between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. with one at Exposition Park, 2986 Hoover St., and the other at the Valley Traffic Division, at 7870 Nolan Place in Panorama City, LAPD Officer Matthew Cruz told City News Service. People received $100 gift cards for turning in handguns, shotguns and rifles and $200 gift cards for ghost guns and assault weapons, Cruz said. The final total was 138 rifles, 80 shotguns, 168 pistols, 13 assault weapons, 38 ghost guns, 21 machine guns and one labeled ``other,'' police said. The total represented a 69% increase over a similar event in March and the largest-ever ghost gun purchase, police said. It was the 13th annual gun buy-back event.
NBC 4
Authorities Seek Public’s Help Locating 66-Year-Old Missing Man
Authorities with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in locating a 66-year-old man who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. Elzie Lewise Butler, who also goes by the name “LC,” was last seen on Friday, Nov. 18, near his residence in the 1200 block of West 92nd Street in unincorporated Los Angeles County, officials said in a department bulletin. The 66-year-old is described as a Black male, approximately 5-foot-7 inches tall, weighing around 150 pounds, with short black hair, brown eyes, a beard and mustache. Authorities also said that Butler has a birthmark on his ribcage. Anyone with information about his whereabouts or who might have seen him is urged to contact LASD’s Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at L.A. Crime Stoppers.
KTLA 5
Officials Looking For Inmate Who ‘Walked Away' From Facility In LA County
Officials with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) are searching for an inmate who ‘walked away' from the Acton Conservation Camp in Los Angeles County. Juan Avina, 39, was last seen on December 2, at 9 p.m. He is a minimum-security inmate, according to the CDCR. He is described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 205 pounds with brown eyes and short brown hair. Avina was admitted from Stanislaus County on July 13, 2022, to serve a four-year sentence for possessing/owning a firearm by a felon or addict, a second strike, and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, also a second strike. He was scheduled to be released from CDCR custody in December 2023. Anyone who sees Avina or has knowledge of his whereabouts is urged to contact Lieutenant D. E. Foote, Camp Commander at (661) 268-0113, any law enforcement agency, or 911.
FOX 11
CHP Officer Rescued After Suspected DUI Driver Slams Into Patrol Car In
An officer with the California Highway Patrol was taken to the hospital Sunday night after a suspected DUI driver slammed into the rear of his vehicle on the westbound 22 Freeway in Garden Grove, trapping him inside. Calls about the incident came in at around 8:45 p.m., according to Captain Jose Perez with the Orange County Fire Authority. The officer had pulled over on the freeway to help a vehicle that was experiencing mechanical problems when the driver of a Chevy Tahoe rear-ended his patrol car and also struck the other vehicle, a white Porsche Cayenne, ONSCENE.TV reported. “When we arrived on scene, we had one officer stuck in his car. He had to be extricated with the jaws of life by our truck company,” Captain Perez said. “We had two other victims in a small SUV.”
KTLA 5
California PD Launches Crime-Mapping Tool To Create Transparency, Prevent Crime
In an effort to increase transparency and awareness in the community, the Oceanside (Calif.) Police Department launched a crime-mapping tool to help prevent crime and reduce fear. The department is using FirstWatch, which shows calls for service over the previous 12 to 48 hours, Fox5SanDiego.com reported. “It activates the community as a whole to be vigilant and to take care of not only themselves but their neighbors,” Oceanside PD Cpt. Sean Marchand said. The map also informs community members about what kind of incident is taking place. The technology was funded by the half-cent Measure X sales tax revenue, an initiative passed in 2018 to enhance public safety, according to the report. For officers’ safety, incidents do not populate on the map until they have left the scene and confidential information is not included.
PoliceOne
New York Police Sergeant Killed In Head-On Crash
A 24-year veteran of the Yonkers (N.Y.) Police Department died in a multi-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon. Sgt. Frank Gualdino, 53, was on duty driving an unmarked police vehicle when a BMW driver lost control and crossed into the opposite lane, striking the sergeant’s vehicle and a bus. Gualdino was transported to a hospital and later died from his injuries, the department said on Twitter. “It’s a time for mourning here for us in Yonkers,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano told ABC7.com. “We lost a member of our family. We lost a member of our law enforcement community. The men and women in this department are hurting.” An unlicensed 16-year-old was behind the wheel of the BMW and remains hospitalized in critical condition, according to police. The bus driver and its 30 passengers are expected to be OK. The crash remains under investigation.
PoliceOne
Public Safety News
Coyote Attacks Young Child On Woodland Hills Front Lawn, Video Shows
Doorbell video shows a coyote attack a young girl on the front lawn of a Woodland Hills home and try to drag her away until her father chases the animal off. Footage captures the coyote bolt toward the unsuspecting child and drag her by the leg for a couple of feet before her father rescues her. The girl instantly cries for help when she's attacked. Just moments before, the girl was on the front lawn as her father was still rummaging through the family's SUV. Her father quickly reacted to her screams and picked her up into his arms after the coyote took off. The terrifying attack happened Friday in the 22400 block of Martha Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. It appeared the girl avoided serious injury from the attack. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is handling the case. It's unknown if the animal was captured.
ABC 7
2 People Airlifted Off Cliffside In Angeles National Forest, Transported To Hospital
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau conducted an air rescue Sunday after two people fell off a cliff in the area of Mount Baldy and Shinn roads in the Angeles National Forest. Calls about the incident came in just before 9 a.m., according to Supervisor Pickett with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Tactical medics were lowered from Air Rescue 5 to rescue the two patients who were then airlifted to a trauma center, LASD tweeted. It is unclear what led up to the two people falling off the cliff. Their conditions are also unknown.
KTLA 5
LA County Continues To See Rising COVID-19 Hospitalizations
The number of coronavirus patients at Los Angeles County hospitals has increased by 34 to 1,205, according to the latest state numbers released Saturday. Of those patients, 123 were being treated in intensive care, down from 131 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 one day after local health officials reported another 4,744 COVID-19 infections, continuing a surge in daily cases that could soon lead to a renewed requirement for people to wear masks at all indoor public spaces. The new cases Friday gave the county a cumulative total from throughout the pandemic of 3,552,019, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Another 14 deaths were also reported Friday, raising the cumulative death toll to 34,213.
FOX 11
Local Government News
LA City Council Approves Phase-Out Of Oil Drilling, Ban On New Wells
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously today to phase out oil drilling in the city, approving an ordinance that bans new oil and gas extraction. The council voted 12-0 for the ordinance, which amends the municipal code to make existing extraction activities a nonconforming use in all zones. “This may be the most important step towards environmental justice that this council has taken in recent memory,'' Council President Paul Krekorian said. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a similar ordinance in October. The City Council in January unanimously approved a series of recommendations aimed at banning new oil and gas wells. The city ordinance phases out all such oil and gas extraction activities by banning new oil and gas extraction and ceasing existing operations within 20 years. Operators would not be able to expand their existing sites or extend the life of a well during the 20-year phase-out period. Many community groups have lobbied Los Angeles to stop oil drilling, citing the harm it has on communities that is disproportionately felt inworking-class communities and communities of color. More than 500,000 Los Angeles County residents live within a half-mile of an active oil well.
WestSide Current
