Nearly 700 LAPD Undercover Officers Sue City For Releasing Their Photos

Nearly 700 undercover Los Angeles Police Department officers sued the city on Tuesday, alleging their safety was affected by the release of department photographs and personal information earlier this year through the California Public Records Act. Lawyers representing the 691 officers sued in Los Angeles County Superior Court, saying the city and the department negligently released personal information that was subsequently posted on various websites. Undercover LAPD officers’ names, photos and other personal information were released to the public and put the lives of those officers and their investigations at risk, according to the complaint. The lawsuit demands accountability and safeguards, according to a joint statement from the various plaintiffs’ attorneys. “To this day, criminal elements continue to use this information to track, follow and harass these police officers,” attorney Matthew McNicholas said in a statement. “Their lives, careers and ongoing investigations to protect the public are at risk, and we demand the city of L.A. take action.” A representative for the city attorney’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. 

Los Angeles Times

Man Wanted In Tarzana Bus Station Shooting Death Arrested In Mexico

A man who was wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Tarzana last month was arrested in Mexico, police said this week. Angel Garcia, 19, of Tarzana, was identified as the suspect in the Aug. 4 killing of 28-year-old Brandyn Rodrigo Mendez, and police believed he likely fled the country. He was arrested in Mexico on Sept. 5 and was brought back to Los Angeles. Garcia was eventually booked and charged with murder and attempted murder and is being held on $2 million bail, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Mendez and another victim were shot in the parking lot of an Orange Line bus station at Reseda Boulevard and Oxnard Street. An investigation revealed the two victims were confronted by the suspect and at one point, Garcia allegedly took out a gun and fired multiple times before running from the scene. Both victims were struck by gunfire and taken to a hospital, but Mendez died from his injuries.

KTLA 5

Family Suspects Foul Play After Woman Found Dead In Downtown LA Apartment

A family is left heartbroken and demanding answers after their loved one was found dead Tuesday in her downtown Los Angeles apartment. Family members are left reeling over the death of 31-year-old Malessa Mooney. Police made two separate welfare checks to Mooney's apartment - the first came late last week and the second was on Tuesday when her body was found. Her family believes she was murdered. LAPD's homicide bureau is now investigating to determine a cause of death. "We're supposed to grow old together," said Mooney's sister Jourdin Pauline. "That's not supposed to happen to her." Her family began to get worried late last week when they couldn't reach her. Suddenly, their iPhone text messages changed from blue to green. "Whoever did it stole her belongings, because they're trying to sell her iPhone and her MacBook," Pauline said. "Her iCloud had an alert like she was on." Residents at Skye at Bunker Hill Apartments, where Mooney was found, have been left shaken. "It is scary... I'm just right down the hall," Kristin Verduin said.

ABC 7

Man Wounded In Sylmar Shooting

A 20-year-old man is in the hospital Thursday after he was shot by an unknown assailant in Sylmar. Los Angeles Police Department officers from the department’s Mission Division were called at 2 a.m. to Hubbard Avenue and Borden Avenue regarding a shooting in a 7-Eleven parking lot, an LAPD spokesman told City News Service. Upon their arrival, the officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim told police the suspect approached him, started shooting and then ran away from the scene. The victim was taken to a hospital in stable condition. There was no suspect description.

MyNewsLA

13-Year-Old Girl Viciously Attacked By An Adult Woman At A Los Angeles McDonald's

A 13-year-old girl was viciously attacked at a McDonald's in Los Angeles' Harbor City neighborhood. Kassidy Jones and her classmates stopped by at the restaurant on her way home from school on September 6. An unidentified woman cornered Kassidy at the McDonald's and started attacking the teen. Kassidy told FOX 11's Laura Diaz that the alleged attacker hurled threatening words at the teen before beating her. "What the F are y'all looking at? I fight kids. I fight you," Kassidy recalled what the woman was saying to her. The teen girl says she does not know the suspected attacker. The attacker in the video was seen dragging Kassidy to the floor, punching her and then pulling the teen by her hair. The crowd yelled and some recorded the incident on their phones but no one – with the exception of a man who was apparently with the suspect – jumped in to pull the woman attacker from Kassidy. Kassidy's mom called police and rushed her daughter to the hospital. The attack left Kassidy's face bruised and swollen. "I just couldn't believe another human being would do this," said Angelina Gray, Kassidy's mother. As of Wednesday night, no arrests have been announced in the vicious attack of the 13-year-old girl.

FOX 11

LAPD Arrests Mother Of Toddler Found Alone In Larchmont Village

The mother of a young girl who was found alone in her stroller in Larchmont Village has been found and was arrested on a charge of child endangerment, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced Wednesday. Targie Alexandre, 24, was arrested at her workplace after her toddler was found alone, police said. Police received a report shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday of a woman who found the toddler near the Bank of America on Larchmont Street. Alexandre's ID was found inside the stroller, according to LAPD. Officers took the child to an area hospital to be evaluated. Alexandre faces a charge of child endangerment. Her bail is set at $105,000.

NBC 4

Two Tourists Robbed At Gunpoint Of Watches In West Hollywood

Two tourists were robbed at gunpoint overnight in West Hollywood. Deputies say it happened just after 2 a.m. on Santa Monica Boulevard. Three men wearing ski masks approached the two victims and demanded their watches. One was a Rolex. The suspects then took off in a dark-colored sedan driven by a fourth suspect. A friend of the victims says more needs to be done to stop these crimes from happening. "I don't know what it is every time but it is from shopping malls to individuals to dark parking lots. And I am tired of it," said Morgan Rowan. "And it is obviously people getting away with it because they know they can. And that reflects on us as a city and a country. It reflects on us because the laws are not good enough."

ABC 7

Convicted Stalker Out Of Venice Released From Prison, Distressing Victim

A victim of stalking is scared for her life now that her attacker has been released from state prison without her prior knowledge. Talia Landman posted on social media that she was "relieving the Hell" she was in when David Kroll started stalking her in 2020 behind her Venice apartment. Landman said the then-unhoused man threatened to sexually assault and kill her and threw rocks at her windows. He was arrested in August 2020, and convicted of stalking in April 2022. He was sentenced to six years in prison. When Kroll was convicted, Landman said he threatened her life. "He banged his hands on the table looked back at me and said, 'Talia Handman, I will kill you when I get out of here,'" she told KCAL News Wednesday. Several days ago, Landman was horrified when neighbors sent her pictures of Kroll walking around the neighborhood wearing an ankle bracelet. "I am shocked!" Landman said. "Because this is the biggest failure they could do to a victim not letting them know their attacker, their abuser, has been released and put back onto the streets." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed Kroll has already been back in custody multiple times, arrested in July and in August for misdemeanor charges. 

CBS 2

West Virginia Man Charged With Terroristic Threats After Threatening State Troopers, Their Families

A Preston County man is in jail after state police say he threatened to kill troopers following a trespassing complaint in which he was described as the aggressor. According to a criminal complaint, Robby Dale Reckart, 37, of Kingwood, called the Preston County 911 Center on Sept. 7, asking to speak with an officer regarding a trespassing complaint against him earlier that day. He had left the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement. Trooper B.E. Hovatter said they called Reckart to speak with him. Reckart allegedly told Hovatter, "You're a good cop, " but "I will kill every state trooper that comes here." He then went on to mention a specific member of the West Virginia State Police and stated, "I will kill him." Reckart went on to say he found out the specific member has children and that he "will kill the goddamn [racial slur ] kids." Hovatter said Reckart went on to say, "I'll use my car and drive down to their house and kill them." He also told the officer he had an AR-15 and an AK-47 and he would kill Hovatter, too—or any cop who came to his house.

Dominion Post

LA Council Moves To Raise Amount Limit For Written Contracts

The Los Angeles City Council gave tentative approval Wednesday to an ordinance that would require written contracts for amounts over $25,000 instead of the current $5,000. The council approved a first consideration of the ordinance in a 12-0 vote. Council members Imelda Padilla, Curren Price and Monica Rodriguez were absent during the vote. The amendment was initiated under a motion that was introduced by Councilmen Paul Krekorian and Marqueece Harris-Dawson in January. The current law requiring a written contract for amounts over $5,000 was last updated in 1999. The motion seeks to streamline the city’s entire contracting process, increasing efficiency and reducing staff time for the city and the agencies receiving city funds. “It is appropriate to consider raising this contracting limit to $25,000 for all city departments and agencies, including if applicable, the proprietary departments,” the motion reads.

MyNewsLA

LA City Council Kicks Off Latino Heritage Month

The Los Angeles City Council kicked off Latino Heritage Month 2023 by honoring four "amazing individuals" during ceremonies at City Hall. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez -- who will be this year's Latino Heritage Month "madrina," or godmother, for L.A. festivities -- led Wednesday's recognitions, as the council honored Maria Lou Calanche, executive director of Expand L.A.; Ruben Rodriguez, executive director of Pueblo y Salud; Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers; and Guillermo Rodriguez of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” “It gives me tremendous pride as the daughter of Mexican immigrants to celebrate this wonderful annual tradition that really uplifts and showcases some of the best of what our Latino community has to offer,” the councilwoman said. Latino Heritage Month actually straddles two months, running from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, during which there will be numerous events around the city.

NBC 4

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 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.