Police Investigating Shooting In South Los Angeles; Suspect Arrested

One person was wounded in a shooting in South Los Angeles on Thursday evening. Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene of the shooting, near 27th Street and Hill Street, at around 8:10 p.m. after learning of shots fired in the area. Information on the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain sparse, but officers say that one person was shot. They did not provide a status on the victim. Police did take one person into custody and recovered the weapon used in the incident. 

CBS 2

Woman, 5-Year-Old Boy Killed In Wrong-Way Crash In Van Nuys

A woman and a 5-year-old boy were killed in a wrong-way crash in Van Nuys Thursday night, authorities said. The crash happened in the 6400 block of Woodley Avenue, near Victory Boulevard, around 9:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officers say the driver of a white Honda Accord crossed over into the southbound lanes and hit a gray Honda Civic. Aftermath from the crash showed each of the cars with severe damage. A 60-year-old woman in the Civic was pronounced dead at the scene, and the 5-year-old boy in that car died at the hospital. Four other victims, between the ages of 21 and 30, were hospitalized in "at least" serious condition, LAFD said. It's not clear if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash. 

ABC 7

Police: Missing 65-Year-Old From Del Rey Has Been Found

A missing 67-year-old man who authorities said suffers from mental health issues and who went missing in the Del Rey area has been found, police said Thursday. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Johnnie Cortez had been last seen around 9 a.m. June 20 walking in the 12700 block of Walsh Avenue, near Culver Blvd. Police said Thursday he had been found, but no other details were released.

MyNewsLA

Woodland Hills Brothers Found Guilty Of Federal Tax Fraud, Money Laundering

Two San Fernando Valley brothers have been found guilty by a jury of obtaining federal tax income refunds amounting to several hundred thousand dollars, which was then laundered through United Kingdom bank accounts, the Justice Department announced on Thursday, June 29. Woodland Hills residents Victor Ohiri, 55, and Stephen Danielson-Ohiri, 54, have both been found guilty of one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of theft of government property. Each brother will face a maximum sentence of just over 115 years in prison and 60 years, respectively. During the brothers’ jury trial, investigators unveiled evidence that from March 2014 to March 2015, the brothers worked with other U.S. residents to use American bank accounts to obtain federal income tax refunds. The group then filed nearly 20 fraudulent federal income tax returns using stolen identities, using fake documents such as made-up W-2 forms to file the returns, which amounted up to $10,000.

Los Angeles Daily News

Burbank Police Seeking Additional Victims Of Alleged Sex Offender 

Detectives with the Burbank Police Department are asking for the public’s help in locating additional victims of a 54-year-old man arrested in Dec. 2022 for inappropriate sexual contact with minors, authorities announced Thursday. Artur R. Suslow’s arrest came after allegations that his continued sexual crimes dated back more than a decade, according to a BPD news release. The 54-year-old has been charged with two counts of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 years old by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He is currently in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department where his bail was set at $1.55 million. Suslow is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing in August. The investigation is ongoing, and detectives believe there may be more victims.

KTLA 5

Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Counterfeit Postage Case

A Los Angeles County woman pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges alleging the use of counterfeit postage to ship millions of parcels in a scheme that prosecutors say caused the U.S. Postal Service to lose over $150 million. Lijuan “Angela” Chen, 50, of Walnut, is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, possession and use of counterfeit postage, and forging and counterfeiting postage stamps, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A trial was scheduled for Aug. 15 in downtown Los Angeles. “The evidence obtained in the investigation shows that Chen is operating a business which provides shipping and postage services to businesses, including e-commerce vendors operating out of China, that seek discounted USPS rates for mailing their products within the United States,” according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court. “Multiple examinations conducted by USPS and USPIS staff have revealed that the vast majority of the postage used by Chen and her business to ship goods within the United States is counterfeit.”

MyNewsLA

CHP’s Fourth Of July `Maximum Enforcement’ Campaign Begins Friday

California Highway Patrol officers will be ramping up patrols on state highways and roads in Los Angeles County beginning Friday to catch drunk and drug-impaired drivers as part of the agency’s annual Fourth of July weekend crackdown. The statewide maximum enforcement period will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and conclude at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, during which all available officers will hit the streets for targeted patrols. “Maximum enforcement helps save lives and protects everyone on our roads by holding drivers accountable for dangerous, unlawful behaviors like speeding and impaired driving,” California Office of Traffic Safety Director Barbara Rooney said. “Whether you are traveling near or far, make a plan to go safely before heading to your destination. We want you and your loved ones to enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend.” During last year’s Independence Day MEP, officers arrested nearly 1,000 motorists on suspicion of DUI statewide, about equal to the number of arrests that occurred during the 2021 campaign, according to the CHP.

MyNewsLA

California Researcher Gunned Down In Mexico

For four years, Gabriel Trujillo trekked the breadth of the United States and south into Mexico in search of a flowering shrub called the common buttonbush. The plant is native to the varied climates of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Trujillo, a 31-year-old Ph.D. student at the University of California, Berkeley, wanted to know why it thrived in such a range of places, and whether the evolution of the species held possibilities for future habitat conservation and restoration efforts. The research was tragically cut short last week in Mexico, where Trujillo’s father said he was shot seven times. Authorities discovered his body on June 22 in the state of Sonora, in northwest Mexico, days after his fiancée reported him missing. The killing has left the family reeling and searching for answers in a case that has yet again highlighted the rampant violence that plagues Mexico locations controlled by drug cartels. Trujillo drove across the Arizona border into Nogales on June 17. He spoke to his father the next day and he and his fiancée, Roxanne Cruz-de Hoyos, chatted in the morning the day after that. He told her he was going out to collect plants and would return to his Airbnb later.

KTLA 5

Indiana Trooper Hit, Killed By Stolen Vehicle During Pursuit

A trooper with the Indiana State Police was killed in the line of duty after he was hit by a suspect's vehicle during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle, FOX 59 reports. The incident happened around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 70. ISP Master Trooper Nick Klingkammer told FOX 59 that the incident started as a pursuit when troopers spotted a stolen vehicle. Troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect drove off. A trooper tried to deploy stop sticks to stop the vehicle and terminate the pursuit. The vehicle struck the trooper and threw him into the air. The suspect's vehicle then crashed. The injured trooper was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Around 11 p.m., he was pronounced dead. ISP identified the trooper as Aaron Smith. Smith joined the department in 2018 and is survived by his wife. “He was one of those guys that stood out,” ISP Superintendent Doug Carter told FOX 59. “Not to be cliche, but he was a shining star for the Indiana State Police.” The suspect driver and a passenger, an adult and a juvenile, were taken to hospitals.

PoliceOne

Chicago Officer Jumps Into Lake, Rescues Drowning Woman

An officer with the Chicago Police Department went above and beyond when she jumped into Lake Michigan to save a drowning woman, WGN reports. Around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, 18th District CPD Officer Joanna Tys got a distress call from a woman in the water. A rescue boat was on the way, but it was several minutes away. “Four minutes is a long time. The lady, I believe, was out there for 15 to 20 minutes already, so I decided it was time for me to jump in,” Tys told WGN. “I looked at one of my co-workers. We signaled to each other.” Tys took off her vest, duty belt and shoes and jumped into the lake to save the 26-year-old woman. Tys said while she was in the water, she felt her energy start to fade, but she kept going. When Tys reached the woman, she said she reached out her hand and wrapped her arms around the victim for a second. Tys said the woman went under the water, but she was able to pick the victim up and hold on to her. About a minute later, a rescue boat showed up and brought the woman to safety. “Even in the water, she was telling me, ‘Thank you for saving my life,'” Tys told WGN. “That was probably about the best moment in my career and I’m really happy I was able to be there.” 

PoliceOne

L.A. County Health Officials Offer Tips For Staying Cool Ahead Of Hot Holiday Weekend

Brace yourself: It’s going to be a hot weekend heading into the July 4 holiday. Hot and dry conditions, along with elevated fire weather, are expected across the desert, lower mountains and interior valleys of Southern California Friday through Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to peak in the 90s and up to 109 in some areas, with the hottest temps expected Saturday and/or Sunday. An excessive heat warning will likely be in place in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, while a heat advisory is possible in San Luis Obispo County, Ventura County and Los Angeles County mountains, according to the weather service. The agency recommends that residents hydrate and reduce exposure to heat. “Take care with possible fire ignition sources such as fireworks and lawn care equipment,” the weather service added. Los Angeles County Public Health officials also warned about substantial health risks associated with extreme heat, especially for young children, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, those who are pregnant, people with disabilities and people who are socially isolated.

KTLA 5

Heavy Rain Has Led To An Increased Risk Of Contracting Mosquito-Borne Diseases

The record amount of rainfall this year has increased the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases, state health officials said. "Many of us enjoy spending time outdoors, especially during the summer months, and this year it is particularly important to take extra precautions against mosquitoes," said Dr. Tomás Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health. This winter brought an onslaught of over a dozen storms, pouring heavy rain onto, not only in the Southland but the rest of California. It has caused the mosquito population to swell throughout the Golden State. While officials have not discovered any cases of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, West Nile virus or St. Louis encephalitis virus, they have asked residents to exercise more caution while enjoying the outdoors this summer. "The best way to prevent diseases that are spread by mosquitoes is to protect yourself, your family, and pets from mosquito bites," said Aragón.

CBS 2

Narcan Hits Southern California Streets — And Soon Store Shelves — To Fend Off The Opioid Crisis

“Do you need any Narcan?” Annastasia Rose Beal’s voice rang out cheerfully as she stepped off of an electric skateboard one gloomy Wednesday afternoon and approach three men seated on a Santa Ana sidewalk at First and Lyon streets, with a blend of motels, other low-slung businesses and palm trees about. Beal was doing what she often does: handing out for free the drug that can cancel out, in miraculous fashion, opioid overdoses. In a crop top, sneakers and jean shorts, the 28-year-old Beal didn’t ask the men what drugs they may have been on. She didn’t ask if they were homeless. She did make light conversation and asked how she could help. The three men turned into five. A woman across the street gazed at Beal’s wagon she had been towing — yes, behind her electric skateboard. It was stacked high with boxes of Narcan, water bottles, condoms, hygiene wipes, and electrolyte drink mix packs. The woman crossed First and Beal waved her over and asked: “What can I get you, my dear?” The woman, about Beal’s age, took the proffered box that was the size of a palm. It held Narcan.

Los Angeles Daily News

CDC: Overdose Deaths From Xylazine-Laced Fentanyl Rapidly Increasing

Overdose deaths involving illegally-manufactured fentanyl laced with xylazine have skyrocketed in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New CDC data released Thursday found that between January 2019 and June 2022, the monthly percentage of overdose deaths from fentanyl combined with xylazine increased by 276 percent, from 2.9 percent to 10.9 percent. In the most recent 18 months of data across 31 states and the District of Columbia, the agency said xylazine was detected in 9 percent of fatal overdoses involving illicit fentanyl from January 2021 through June 2022. However, researchers noted the timing and magnitude of the increase in the detection of xylazine among fentanyl overdoses might reflect both increased frequency of testing as well as true increased presence in the drug supply. Maryland had the worst statewide rate, with 27.7 percent of fentanyl deaths involving xylazine. Connecticut was next highest at 26.4 percent of these deaths, followed by Pennsylvania at 23.3 percent. But because of inconsistent testing, detection is still likely underestimated, the CDC said.

KTLA 5

LA City Youth Council Is Looking For New Young Leaders

Since starting high school, Charlie Cea has dedicated his life to community service, working with the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF) Latino service organization. "[I was] grabbing food bags and backpacks and seeing that we have an impact on those people in the community makes me feel really good," Cea says. That passion for helping and making change in the neighborhood opened the doors to the Los Angeles City Council as a member of the city's first youth council where Cea took advantage of the opportunity to organize public hearings. "We're talking about affordable housing and also access to information for young people," says Cea. Now Charlie Cea is taking those experiences to college, as the Department of Youth Development gets ready to choose the next group of young leaders for the Youth Council. "The [Youth] Council in honor of Olivia Mitchell was established last year and is comprised of 30 young Angelenos ages 16 to 25," said Tarm Fowler of the Los Angeles Department of Youth Development. "Since there are 15 districts on the council, we elect 2 members from each district."

NBC 4

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.