8 People With Suspected Ties To ISIS Arrested In LA, Other Cities: Sources

Eight individuals with suspected ties to ISIS were arrested after an investigation was carried out in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City, according to ABC News sources. The suspects were reportedly from Tajikistan and crossed into the United States from the southern border in 2023. ABC News has learned the suspects were initially allowed to enter the U.S. after being vetted and no national security issues were uncovered. But sources say in recent weeks, authorities uncovered information indicating ties or affiliation with ISIS-K. Tajikistan has been described as a hotbed for recruiting for the terrorist organization. And experts say the threat of terrorism has been rising. "The threat level is the highest it's ever been, I think," said retired FBI agent Bobby Chacon. "We've heard that from both the attorney general and the FBI director in recent congressional testimony. It's keeping them up at night." Agents with ICE carried out the arrests over the last few days. Further details on the investigation were not immediately available.

ABC 7

Despite high-profile crimes, catalytic converter thefts on decline, LAPD data shows

Despite recent headlines surrounding violent and threatening encounters with catalytic converter thieves, data from the Los Angeles Police Department shows that the crimes have dropped significantly over the past two years. The data, which was analyzed and summarized by independent news organization Crosstown LA, shows that catalytic converter thefts peaked in late 2022 but have been on the decline since.

KTLA 5

Friends and family of actor Johnny Wactor march to LA City Hall in call for justice

Family members and friends of actor Johnny Wactor will march to Los Angeles City Hall Wednesday to call for justice three weeks after he was shot and killed by thieves as they stole his car's catalytic converter in downtown LA. The group gathered near the scene of the tragic encounter at about 10 a.m. for a news conference ahead of the march to City Hall. They plan to ask city leaders to post a reward for information leading to the 37-year-old former "General Hospital" actor's killers.

NBC 4

Father Found Guilty In 2021 DUI Crash That Killed His 4-Year-Old Daughter In Harbor City

Almost three years after a 4-year-old girl was killed in a crash, her loved ones gathered for a vigil last Friday at the crash site in Harbor City. Family members said the little girl's father, Robert Sanchez, was found guilty last week of several offenses, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. During the collision, Sanchez's children were in his truck when it overturned and struck a light pole. Jayda was apparently in the front seat of the truck at the time of the crash. "We're all here because we love and miss Jayda, and we're glad that she finally got justice," said the little girl's mother, Adriana Rodriguez, during the vigil. At the time, Sanchez told police another driver had caused the crash and as a result, a $50,000 reward was offered for anyone who had information. However, the family told ABC7 no other car was involved. Sanchez is set to be sentenced next month. 

ABC 7

Three Suspects Sought After Ralphs Employee Assaulted In Encino

Authorities Tuesday were seeking three suspects who allegedly assaulted a Ralphs employee inside a store in Encino. The crime occurred at about 4:50 p.m. Monday in the 17800 block of Ventura Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. According to police, the suspects — two men and a woman — fled in a Dodge Durango SUV, which sped away on Ventura Boulevard. According to KTLA5, which aired security video of the crime, the suspects walked into the store and confronted an unidentified male employee who was standing near a female employee. Within seconds, one of the suspects threw a punch at the male and there was a scuffle during which the victim was attacked by multiple suspects. The employee who provided the video said that at one point, one of the suspects shoved a shopping cart into the victim. According to the employee who provided the video, the incident began earlier Monday when that same employee stopped the young woman from stealing bags full of merchandise. The employee told the television station that a few hours later, the woman returned with the men seen in the video.

MyNewsLA

Thieves Steal Miles Of Copper Wire, Leaving LA's Sixth Street Bridge In The Dark

Copper thieves continue to run rampant in Los Angeles, striking the Sixth Street Bridge again and leaving certain areas of the bridge in the dark. The famed East Los Angeles bridge was found by residents with exposed electrical boxes and missing wires. Neighbors who frequent the bridge were worried about the dangers of stealing electrical wire from the fuse boxes. "I think it’s a pretty bad idea. It's also really dangerous for them too, they are not electricians – there is a reason why this stuff is covered up," said Hector Pereira, a neighbor who walks on the bridge. Another neighbor, Billy Avellan, said he's been documenting the vandalism and that the issue has been going on for months. "I first reported it to 311 six months ago," said Avellan. "It's sad. I walk this bridge every day, I can’t take a regular walk that you tax me for every time – because it's too dark. It's not safe.“ Earlier this year Los Angeles city leaders called for action against the ongoing copper theft in the city, stating that it was costing taxpayers millions of dollars to replace. At a press conference back in January, city leaders called for a $400,000 plan to create a "copper wire theft task force" to help curb the crime. "I’m tasking our bureau to figure out a better way to reinforce you know it's not a question of if they come back it's a question when they come back - it's almost virtually impossible for them to steal it," said Councilmember Kevin de León.

NBC 4

Police In San Fernando Are Using Technology To Find Cars Connected To Crimes

Police in San Fernando are using technology that allows them to find cars connected to crimes. “There are cameras strategically placed in different areas of the city … so what these cameras do is they capture vehicles as they are passing through intersections,” Chief Fabian Valdez of San Fernando Police. The technology allows police officers to find cars connected to crimes earlier this month the system helped police find a man who tried to kidnap and rape a 14-year-old girl at a bus stop on June 3. “We have had multiple leads since this inception of this program back in April that have led to a number of arrests including arrests for attempted murder kidnapping,” Valdez said. The system is a combination of digital photography and artificial intelligence. “It takes the captured license plate and it runs it through different law enforcement databases to see if the vehicle is associated with a missing person to see if the vehicle has been used in a crime,” Valdez said. Using a vehicle as an example, Valdez was able to get valuable information. “If we do this you can see all the different areas where the camera has picked him up,” Valdez. The system also sends real time data directly to every officer's cell phones. These high-tech cameras are in use all across the Southland. 

NBC 4

Southern California Man, 58, Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Woman

A 58-year-old man from Riverside County has been arrested and booked for murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman earlier this week. Authorities with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the 25000 block of Highway 74 on June 8 around10 p.m. to an unincorporated area of the county known as Good Hope on reports of a victim suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a RCSD news release. Deputies located a 56-year-old female victim, later identified as Kimberly Dunlap, a resident of Good Hope, who despite lifesaving measures was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives from RCSD’s Central Homicide Unit assumed the investigation and, a day later, identified and arrested a male suspect and resident of Good Hope named William Dunlap. Investigators have not released a motive in the deadly shooting, nor have they provided any information on the nature of the victim’s and the suspect’s relationship.  

KTLA 5

South Carolina K-9 Dies After Being Shot By Suspect

A South Carolina Law Enforcement Division K9 was shot to death during an incident in Newberry County Tuesday, and an armed suspect was also shot. SLED confirmed the death of four-year-old SLED K9 Coba, a Belgian Malinois mix who joined SLED in 2021. SLED announced the dog’s death in a news release that said in part, “K9 Coba was killed in action today during the apprehension of an armed subject in Newberry County. During an encounter with SLED, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, and the subject, the subject shot SLED K9 Coba. The subject was shot and transported to the hospital for treatment.” Koba was the second SLED police dog to die in the line of duty in the past year. Last September, K9 Rico, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois mix, was shot and killed by a suspect fleeing from officers on Johns Island. The suspect, Ernest Robert Burbage III, was then shot and killed by police. Burbage had shot and wounded two people, police said. Rico had been with the agency for just over a year and served on the SLED SWAT team and K9 tracking team. In March, in Columbia’s Rosewood neighborhood, a 17-year-old allegedly stealing from cars shot and wounded a police dog, K9 Kobe, with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, authorities said. The suspect also was shot.

The State

L.A. Hospital Seeks Help Identifying Elderly Patient

A local hospital is seeking the public’s help to identify an unknown elderly patient. The male patient has been hospitalized since June 4 at the Los Angeles General Medical Center. He is around 72 years old and stands 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs around 97 pounds. He has gray hair, brown eyes and a thin build, hospital staff said. The man does not have any personal belongings to help workers identify him. The location where he was found, along with the extent of his injuries, was not released. Anyone who recognizes the patient or has additional information is asked to call clinical social workers Cristol Perez at 323-409-4317 or Brian Dillon at 323-409-3134.

KTLA 5

Crews Save Church In Chesterfield Square From Fire

Firefighters rushed to save a church in Chesterfield Square after flames engulfed a business next to the parish. The fire started inside a commercial building that shared a wall with the church around 10:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of W. Slauson Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Crews quickly put out the fire inside the commercial building before flames could spread to the church. Officials said the church sustained no damages. It took around 50 firefighters and around 30 minutes to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

CBS 2

Firefighters Extinguish Attic Fire In The Hollywood Hills

Firefighters knocked down a stubborn attic fire at a hillside home Wednesday in the Hollywood Hills. Fire crews were called to 2067 N. Mt. Olympus Drive near Electra Drive around 2:33 a.m. Upon their arrival, the crews cut holes in the roof of the attic in order to gain access to the flames with hose lines from above and below, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange. It took 32 firefighters 44 minutes to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Los Angeles City Council Votes To End COVID-19 Vaccination Policy For City Employees

Los Angeles city employees who left or were fired because of noncompliance to the city's 2021 vaccination policy can now reapply for their positions. The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to establish a pathway back to employment to assist some 86 employees who were affected. The council also voted Tuesday to lift the city's policy requiring municipal employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Council members unanimously approved an ordinance to end the vaccination policy for all current and future city workers retroactive to June 2, as recommended by the city's Executive Employee Relations Committee. Workers who left or were terminated due to the policy can reapply for their position, but it is not guaranteed they'll get it. Department management would handle the hiring process, as usual.The city of Los Angeles withdrew its declaration of emergency due to COVID-19 in February 2023, and also eliminated the COVID-19 testing requirement for unvaccinated Los Angeles city employees. In May 2023, the federal government also declared an end to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

CBS 2

UPDATE: LA City Council Votes To Enhance Regulation Of Driverless Vehicles

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to bolster its ability to monitor and potentially regulate driverless vehicles in the city. In a 13-0 vote, council members approved recommendations to monitor and address issues with what are also known as autonomous vehicles, and backed three state bills aimed at providing municipalities more power to regulate AVs and gain access to testing data. Council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Curren Price were absent during the vote. Los Angeles World Airports, the city Department of Transportation and the Los Angeles Fire Department are expected to issue quarterly reports to the council on the deployment of AVs in the city, and will provide proposals to rectify any issues that may come up. The city's chief legislative analyst brought the recommendations forward after the council adopted a motion introduced by council members Traci Park and Bob Blumenfield in November 2023. The motion called for details about local, state and federal laws that govern the use of AVs, options for the city to gain access to testing data, and opportunities to support legislation that would empower Los Angeles elected officials in regulating AVs within city limits.

Westside Current

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.