LAPD Union Sues Commander, Alleging Data Breaches and Fraud

The union representing Los Angeles Police Department officers, detectives, sergeants and lieutenants sued one of the agency’s commanders Wednesday, alleging she used bogus online credentials to access confidential emails, communications and surveys distributed by the union to its members. “We believe that Cmdr. Carranza’s fraud was motivated by an effort to discredit our captain assessment survey’s results by claiming that security precautions were not in place that would have prevented non-LAPPL members from taking the survey. She was sadly mistaken and she should be held accountable for her unlawful act,” Craig Lally, president of the LAPPL, said in a statement to City News Service.

City News Service

Man Found Guilty In Murder Of PnB Rock, Who Was Gunned Down At Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles

Nearly two years after rapper PnB Rock was gunned down in a South Los Angeles restaurant during a robbery, a man was convicted of his murder. Freddie Lee Trone was found guilty Wednesday by a jury in a Compton courtroom after deliberating for less than four hours, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. In addition, Trone and another defendant, Tremont Jones, were convicted of two counts of robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. PnB Rock, 30 — whose legal name was Rakim Allen — walked into the Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles on Sept. 12, 2022, wearing “several hundred thousand dollars” worth of jewelry, prosecutors said. The bling caught the eye of Jones, who authorities say set in motion the deadly robbery. Jones notified Trone about the potential mark. And Trone then sent his 17-year-old son, armed with a gun and a ski mask, into the eatery to steal Allen’s jewelry, prosecutors said. Authorities allege that the masked teen walked up to Allen while he was seated at a table, pulled a gun and demanded his jewelry and other valuables. But Allen refused, prosecutors said, and that’s when the teenager shot him first in the chest and then twice more in the back. The teen — who was not identified because of his age — then threatened to shoot Allen’s fiancee, Stephanie Sibounheuang, and stole several pieces of jewelry from Allen’s body before fleeing the restaurant with his father, according to a criminal complaint filed against the boy weeks after the killing.

Los Angeles Times

LAPD Looking For Camaro Driver Involved In Koreatown Hit-and-Run Crash

The Los Angeles Police Department is trying to find a Camaro driver who may have started a chain-reaction crash into several parked cars in Koreatown. The incident happened last month on Normandie Avenue. According to the LAPD, a truck slammed into the parked cars after the newer model blue Camaro swerved into the same lane. The Camaro driver fled the scene without stopping. The truck driver ended up getting arrested for felony DUI while his passenger was severely hurt. 

ABC 7

Man Charged With Murder Of Woman Inside SoCal Walmart Was On Parole, Has Lengthy Criminal History

Authorities on Tuesday revealed new details surrounding the horrific stabbing death of an employee inside a Lake Elsinore Walmart. The incident happened Aug. 5 around 7 a.m. at the store in the 29000 block of Central Avenue, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The suspect, 29-year-old Lonnie Hinton from Wildomar, allegedly stabbed 65-year-old Jessica Morales multiple times in what authorities called a "random event" as the two did not know each other prior to the incident. Morales died at the scene. "She was a really good person. Great friend. Everybody loved her," said one coworker, who wished to remain anonymous. The coworker mentioned that Morales had worked at Walmart for over 25 years and was a loving mother and supportive friend. Hinton later turned himself in at the sheriff's station and was subsequently charged with one count of murder and lying in wait. If convicted as currently charged, Hinton faces a potential life sentence. According to authorities, Hinton was released from state prison earlier this year for a robbery and was on active parole at the time of the alleged crime. 

FOX 11

Police Search For Suspects In Reseda Car-to-Car Shooting, Leaving 1 Person Injured

Police are searching for suspects involved in a car-to-car shooting incident at a Reseda intersection that left one uninvolved person injured. A commuter whose vehicle's windshield was hit by a bullet at Reseda Boulevard and Strathern Street called the police around 10:30 a.m. regarding the gunshots. One person at the scene required medical treatment for a glass-related injury, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police continue searching for a black Nissan Frontier and a black Volkswagen Jetta involved in the shooting incident. 

CBS 2

LAPD Seeking Additional Sexual Assault Victims Of Hollywood Actor

LAPD detectives are seeking additional victims and witnesses linked to a series of violent sexual assaults allegedly perpetrated by Gabriel Olds, a 52-year-old actor and screenwriter. A 41-year-old woman reported to authorities that Olds raped her at her home in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2023. Two additional women came forward with similar reports of violent sexual assaults dating back to 2013. Olds, a New York native who graduated from Yale University, works as an actor and screenwriter. The 52-year-old has credits as for being in multiple movies and TV shows like NCIS: Los Angeles, The Rookie, and FBI: International. Victims reported that the Olds used his status as an actor and Ivy League Alumnus to arrange dates and meet women through dating applications. Initial encounters were of consent and turned violent shortly after, according to some of the victims. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office charged Olds with seven felony sexual assault charges and the Los Angeles Superior Court issued a warrant for his arrest for $3.5 million. The alleged perpetrator was arrested on Aug. 7, 2024 by West Bureau investigators in the area of Norway Lane and and Norman Place.

NBC 4

LAPD Investigating Multiple Pharmacy Break-Ins

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating a string of pharmacy break-ins overnight. In Chatsworth at the corner of Lassen and Topanga Canyon, surveillance video shows a dark SUV pulling up to St. Mary Pharmacy just before 3 a.m. Four suspects got out while the getaway driver stayed in the car as a look-out. The back of the SUV appeared to be filled with burglary tools like a sawzall and crowbars. Alarm sirens were taken down and broken, door locks cut, and the metal gate sawed through. The suspects reportedly got away with a safe filled with prescription medication. The owner told FOX 11 he's frustrated, and that he's done everything he can to make his business safe, but even that wasn't enough. In Canoga Park on Sherman Way just west of Topanga, another pharmacy was burglarized. The glass door of the True Care Pharmacy was shattered, and it's unclear what the burglars got away with there. In North Hollywood, another break-in was reported around 2:20 a.m. at the Bellaire Pharmacy. There, four suspects dressed in all black and wearing masks broke in, stole medication, and were last seen racing off in a dark-colored Dodge. 

FOX 11

Westchester Business Burglarized By 4 Suspects, No Arrests Made

Four suspects broke into a Westchester business today, the Los Angeles Police Department said. At 3:30 a.m. Thursday, four suspects burglarized Kentwood Liquor, which is located at 7923 Emerson Avenue, the LAPD confirmed. The group of suspects reportedly used a drill to gain entry into the building. Police said the burglars left with property belonging to the business. According to reports, the suspects were last seen leaving the area in a dark SUV. No arrests have been made, the department said.

Westside Current

Florida Deputy Leaves Hospital After Ambush Kills Colleague

One of the two Lake County Sheriff’s deputies injured in a deadly ambush Friday was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon, according to a statement from the agency. Harold Howell was shot in the late night encounter that killed fellow deputy Bradley Michael Link in Eustis. A third deputy, Stefano Gargano, remains in the hospital after four surgeries, but has been upgraded from critical to stable condition. In the new statement, Lake Lt . John Herrell said Howell was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon and is now resting and recovering at home. Howell released his own statement thanking the community for their support and asking that they support Link and Gargano’s families as well. “To everyone in Lake County , as well as state and even nationwide — I have seen and heard your prayers, love and support,” he said. “I want to thank each and every one of you. Please continue to support the family and friends of deputies Link and Gargano through this most difficult time.” The ambush is being blamed on the Sulpizio family, who allegedly lured the deputies into their home. Mother Julie Ann was arrested outside the home prior to the armed confrontation. According to Sheriff Peyton Grinnell, father Michael and daughters Cheyenne and Savannah shot at the deputies when they entered the home, then the three killed themselves at the end of a long standoff.

Orlando Sentinel

L.A. Area Hospital Searching For Family Of ‘Critically Ill Patient’

Local hospitals have regularly used the media as a tool to identify patients and get them in contact with their loved ones, but often the names of the patients remain a mystery until someone comes forward. It’s a different story for 71-year-old Daisy Verdugo who has been hospitalized for six weeks after suffering a stroke. Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, a hospital in Torrance, has been searching for the woman’s family without success, adding that the patient is unable to “participate in her care.” Officials say she was brought to the Torrance hospital after initially being treated at Los Angeles General Medical Center in Boyle Heights. Attempts to contact her loved ones have failed, which led Providence hospital officials to reach out to the media for help. A spokesperson for the hospital said “nearly always” the publicity has resulted in families being reunited. They believe the woman is named Daisy Verdugo with a possible birth date of March 13, 1953. She is Hispanic, about 5 feet tall and weighs about 148 pounds. She has graying brown hair and brown eyes, officials said.

KTLA 5

LA Council Committee Approves $400 Million For LAX Automated People Mover

A Los Angeles City Council committee Tuesday approved increasing the total cost of LAX's significantly delayed Automated People Mover from $2.9 billion to $3.34 billion in a bid to settle legal claims and finalize the project's completion date. The Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee voted 4-0 in favor of an additional $400 million for the project. The L.A. World Airports Commissioners previously approved the funding on July 18, which they said is needed to address claims filed by the contractor, LAX Integrated Express Solutions, also known as LINXS, over issues related to compensation and production. City Councilman Curren Price, who sits on the committee, recused himself, citing a conflict of interest. "These delays have been extremely frustrating," said Councilwoman Traci Park, who chairs the trade committee.

ABC 7

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.