In Two L.A. City Council Races, Police ‘Abolition’ Is A Wedge Issue

Long before she uttered the words “F— the police,” Los Angeles City Council candidate Ysabel Jurado made clear she was not happy with the city’s approach to public safety. In a candidate questionnaire last year, Jurado promised to move money out of the LAPD and into other programs. She said police should be removed from K-12 schools. And she described herself as an “abolitionist” — someone who favors the “abolition of police and the prison industrial complex.” “I believe that we keep ourselves safe,” she wrote in the 20-page questionnaire she provided to the Democratic Socialists of America — now one of her most crucial supporters. Tuesday’s election will determine whether Jurado and her allies can push City Hall further left on public safety by expanding the bloc of council members who want to rein in police spending and reallocate the savings. Jurado, a tenant rights attorney, is looking to unseat Councilmember Kevin de León in an Eastside district. Another DSA-backed candidate, business owner Jillian Burgos, is gunning for a seat in the San Fernando Valley. In both contests, police abolition — and law enforcement spending overall — has emerged as a political fault line, particularly for voters worried about crime and disorder. Jurado, through a spokesperson, has described abolition as an aspirational goal, one that would take many years and many steps. De León says Jurado’s words should be taken literally, and seriously, by voters in his district, which stretches from downtown to El Sereno and Eagle Rock.

Los Angeles Times

Man Charged In Connection With Fatal Shooting Of 2 People In Koreatown And Mid-Wilshire

A Los Angeles man was charged Thursday with murder in connection with the fatal shootings of a man riding an electric bicycle in the Mid-Wilshire area and a woman found dead in a vehicle in the Koreatown area. Marvin Magana, 50, was ordered to be held in lieu of $6 million bail while awaiting arraignment Dec. 4 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on two counts of murder, along with gun use allegations. "The suspect responsible for both murders walked into 77th Area station and was identified as Marvin Magana," according to a statement released by the Los Angeles Police Department. At about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, officers went to the 900 block of South Victoria Avenue, near Crenshaw and Olympic boulevards, in the Mid-Wilshire area on a report of a shooting, the LAPD reported. "Officers arrived and were directed to a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds,'' police said in the statement. "He was pronounced deceased at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. Later, it was learned the suspect intentionally struck the victim with his vehicle before shooting him." The 43-year-old man's name was withheld pending notification of his relatives.

NBC 4

L.A. Man Wearing GPS Ankle Monitor Is Accused Of A Robbery Spree. Officials Can’t Track Him

After Nhazel Warren was charged this summer with carrying a gun in public, a judge released the 19-year-old on the condition that the Los Angeles County Probation Department track his movements with a GPS device. When Warren was arrested three weeks later on suspicion of robbing an elderly couple, a different judge let him out again with another provision for GPS tracking. But even with the court doubling down on Warren’s ankle monitor, prosecutors allege he went on to rob two more people in September and October. In an attempt to track his whereabouts, Los Angeles Police Department detectives served a search warrant on the contractor that operates Warren’s GPS monitor. The company could not determine where he was at the time of the robberies. Detectives apprehended Warren last week — his fifth arrest in five months, court records show. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of evading police, resisting arrest, carrying concealed guns in public, assault with a firearm and four counts of robbery. His attorney declined to comment. Warren’s case raises questions about how effectively the Probation Department is supervising pretrial defendants at a time when judges increasingly turn to GPS tracking as an alternative to jail.

Los Angeles Times

Man Covered In Blue Paint Runs Away From Cops In Los Angeles

A bizarre scene unfolded in downtown Los Angeles as a man covered in head to toe in blue paint led police on a foot chase. The man, believed to a Dodger fan, was trying to leave marks on the sidewalk with the paint he was coated in and the Los Angeles Police Department officers caught him on the act. The video appears to show at least two people who had nothing to do with the tagging get plowed by the LAPD officers trying to catch the blue paint man. It is unknown why the painted man was covered in blue in the first place or what message he was trying to send. 

FOX 11

Police Search For Robbery Pursuit Suspect In Los Angeles Building After Violent Crash

Los Angeles police officers are searching for a pursuit suspect in the Pico-Union area of Los Angeles after the suspect crashed into another vehicle in an intersection and ran off into the neighborhood. Officers pursued the silver Lexus through South Los Angeles streets Thursday afternoon, as the driver dangerously raced around traffic and at times drove on the wrong side of the road. At the intersection of James M. Wood Boulevard and S. Alvarado Street, the suspect driver blew a red light and crashed into a white sedan. After the violent T-Bone crash, the suspect driver jumped out of the vehicle and ran into the neighborhood. Police officers have surrounded a building at W. Eighth Street and Westlake Avenue, searching for the suspect who ran inside. 

CBS 2

Senior Woman With Dementia Missing In South LA

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s help Friday in finding a 67-year-old woman who authorities say suffers from dementia and was last seen in South Los Angeles. Loretta Clark was last seen at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 1300 block of West 105th Street, east of Normandie Avenue, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Clark is Black, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue long sleeve shirt, blue jeans and blue shoes. Anyone who has seen Clark or knows of her whereabouts was asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau’s Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or send tips to visit lacrimestoppers.org.

MyNewsLA

2 Southern California Gang Members Sentenced For Violent Robbery Of Elderly Couple At Mall

Two Southern California gang members were sentenced to prison for a violent robbery targeting elderly victims at a shopping mall. Corey Thomas, 18, of Los Angeles, and Jonathan Requejo, 18, of Inglewood, were sentenced to two years in state prison for the incident, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday. On June 27, Thomas, Requejo and three other juvenile suspects drove from the L.A. County area to The Oaks shopping mall in Thousand Oaks. As they entered a Macy’s store, security footage captured the group suddenly attacking two elderly shoppers. They stole a Rolex watch from the male victim and a purse and cell phone from the female victim, authorities said. Both victims were left with significant injuries from the assault. Police responded to the scene, spotted the suspects’ vehicle and attempted to pull them over. They refused to yield and led officers on a high-speed pursuit on the southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway.

KTLA 5

New York State Trooper Shot, Suspect At Large

A manhunt was underway Thursday morning for the gunman who shot and wounded a New York state trooper on Long Island’s Southern State Parkway, police said. The violence unfolded just before midnight on Wednesday on the parkway’s westbound lanes, near exit 17 in West Hempstead, according to a press release from state police. Authorities provided few other details about the incident, saying only that “a shooting occurred” between the suspect and the unidentified trooper, who was struck in the leg during the gunfire. A fellow trooper on the scene provided aid before the wounded officer was transported to Nassau University Medical Center. He was listed in stable condition as of Thursday morning, police said. It’s still unclear what prompted the gunfire. The suspect, meanwhile, fled the scene and appeared to be traveling westbound in a black sedan, possibly a Dodge Charger, with a New Jersey temporary tag of 997636T. “The vehicle is further described as having custom matte gray dual exhaust tips,” according to authorities. Police said it’s possible the suspect was traveling to the New York City area, and they have notified the NYPD and other local agencies to be on the lookout, NBC New York reported. They’ve also asked anyone who may have information about the case to reach out to law enforcement.

New York Daily News

NYPD Recruit Graduates Academy After Being Inspired By Hero Sergeant Who Saved His Sister’s Life

An NYPD recruit graduating the Police Academy Thursday knew he wanted to be a police officer at age 9 — ever since he witnessed a cop save his sister’s life and later become a guardian angel for his entire family. On March 12, 1998, Xavier Duran was crossing 36th Ave. in Corona, Queens, with his mother, Ana, brother, Luiny, and sister, Jeannette, when a Mistic Iced Tea delivery truck plowed into them, crushing his sister’s leg. A second later, NYPD Sgt. Lino Minetto and his partner Police Officer Lisa Cordero arrived at the scene, grabbed Jeannette and put her in the back of their patrol car before an ambulance could arrive. Minetto cradled Jeannette in his arms, keeping the tot awake by asking her how old she was and her favorite color as his partner raced them to Elmhurst Hospital Center — saving the child’s life. “I wanted to do what he did for my family,” Duran said about Minetto, who Jeannette affectionally calls “uncle.” “I wanted to do that to another family — to make a change, make a difference,” the 35-year-old rookie reflected about the now-retired sergeant’s heroic save. Minetto, who left the department in 2006, will be joining Duran’s family at Madison Square Garden Thursday when Xavier graduates with 588 of his fellow recruits. Thursday’s graduating class will include 454 men and 154 women. Out of that number, 137 were born in another country, NYPD officials said.

New York Daily News

At Least 3 People Sickened In Hazmat Incident Outside Apartment Building In Downtown LA

At least three people fell ill in a hazardous materials incident Thursday morning in downtown Los Angeles, officials said. Firefighter-paramedics responded shortly after 11:30 a.m. to the 300 block of East Second Street. They medically assessed several patients who complained of illness "within and outside of an apartment building following their possible exposure to an unspecified substance on a sidewalk," the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement. "No escalating or off-site hazard has been identified." According to LAFD, the substance turned out to be cocaine laced with fentanyl. Investigators said several police officers were taking part in some kind of police activity when the white powder was spilled on a sidewalk outside an apartment in Little Tokyo. Two people - both civilians - were taken to the hospital. The patients' conditions were not immediately known. The LAFD's Hazardous Materials Task Force was summoned in accordance with protocol, the Fire Department said.

ABC 7

L.A. Hospital Needs Help Identifying Victim Struck By Hit-and-Run Driver

A hospital needs help identifying a man who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Los Angeles County. The male patient was struck by a vehicle and found unconscious on the ground on Oct. 20. He was transported to the Los Angeles General Medical Center where he remains hospitalized. Staff are hoping to locate his family members. He is described as a 77-year-old man who stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 117 pounds. He has short salt and pepper-colored hair with gray patches, brown eyes and a medium build. He does not have any personal belongings to help workers identify him or contact loved ones. Anyone who recognizes this man is asked to call clinical social workers Nicole Crayon at 323-409-3877 or Jessica Barahona at 323-409-3758. The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Clinical Social Work at 323-409-7672 or the Department of Emergency Medicine, Social Work Department at 323-409-6883.

KTLA 5

Three Los Angeles City Council Districts To Pick Their Representatives Tuesday

Voters in three Los Angeles City Council districts will decide Tuesday who will represent them in City Hall for the next four years. Although seven seats were up for re-election this year, four candidates, Nithya Raman (CD4), Imedla Padilla (CD6), Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD8) and John Lee (CD12) reached above 50% in the primary to avoid run-offs. In District 2, the race is open with incumbent Paul Krekorian unable to run due to term limits. The district encompasses portions of the San Fernando Valley including the neighborhoods of North Hollywood, Sun Valley and Van Nuys. Former State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian and small business owner Jillian Burgos are vying for the seat. In District 10, incumbent Councilmember Heather Hutt is running for the first time after being appointed following Mark Ridley Thomas’s indictment for bribery and other crimes in 2021. Hutt is facing attorney Grace Yoo. The district includes the neighborhoods including Arlington Heights, Koreatown and Mid-City. In District 14, incumbent Kevin de León is facing a challenge from tenant rights attorney Ysabel Jurado. This is de León’s first re-election since a leaked audio recording, in which he was discussing redistricting with other councilmembers while using racist language, in 2022. The district includes the neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, Downtown LA and Northeast LA. 

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.