Mayor Bass Proposes Rebuilding LAPD Ranks, LAPPL Responds

In the hours leading up to the Mayor’s State of the City Speech, the LAPPL provides its input on the current LAPD staffing crisis and the Mayor’s proposal for more police officers.

KTLA Video

Mayor Bass seeks $250-million expansion of homelessness program in first State of the City speech

In her first State of the City speech, Mayor Karen Bass announced a dramatic expansion of her signature program to move homeless people indoors, while also pledging to create “a new L.A.” Bass pledged to rebuild the ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department, while also investing in a new Office of Community Safety, which will focus on unarmed responses to emergencies. “I’m disappointed by her emphasis on hiring more police and getting more police on the streets,” said Black Lives Matter L.A. co-founder Melina Abdullah.

Los Angeles Times

Man Shot In The Head In Front Of Ovation Hollywood

A man was shot in the head in front of the Ovation Hollywood shopping center Friday night. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division responded at 7:37 p.m. to the shopping center at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue regarding a shots fired call where they found the victim, LAPD Officer Warren Moore told City News Service. Witnesses told police a man and a woman, who both ran from the scene, were near the victim when the shooting occurred. The victim was taken to a hospital in an unknown condition, Moore said.

NBC 4

LAPD Seeking L.A. Victims Of Las Vegas Sexual Assault Suspect

Los Angeles police are seeking further potential victims of a sexual assault suspect arrested in February. Las Vegas resident Matthew Werner, 45, was arrested on February 28 on suspicion of a series of rapes in Los Angeles dating back to 2015, the LAPD announced Monday. Police said Werner apparently targeted women on social media and dating apps using different aliases. Police said five women were assaulted in Los Angeles by Werner, and investigators believe there are more victims of unreported sexual assaults by Werner. Police are seeking additional victims and witnesses in the areas of Mid-City, Hollywood, North Hollywood and Woodland Hills. Detectives are requesting that anyone with information that could lead to the identification of additional victims or witnesses to contact LAPD's Operations-West Bureau, Special Assault Section, at 213-473-0447. 

CBS 2

Suspect Arrested In Northridge Drive-By Shooting That Killed Man Painting Over Gang Graffiti

A suspect was arrested Sunday in a drive-by shooting that killed a man who was part of a group painting over gang graffiti in Northridge. Jamal Jackson, 24, was arrested by authorities in Ontario, where they found a white Toyota Camry sought in connection with the Saturday afternoon shooting near Vanalden Avenue and Parthenia Street. Personnel from the Operations-Valley Bureau Homicide Unit and the LAPD/FBI Fugitive and U.S. Marshals Task Force were part of the investigation that led to his arrest. The shooter drove up to a group of men, got out of the car with a handgun and opened fire, witnesses said. A victim identified by the coroner's office as a 39-year-old man later died at a hospital. A man in his 40s was hospitalized in critical condition. Two other victims, a man in his 30s and another in his 40s, also were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Security camera video showed people scrambling for cover at a strip mall. A witness told NBCLA he heard 18 gunshots. The shooter left the scene in a white Camry. Investigators said security camera video showed Jackson getting out of the car near the victims, who were painting over gang graffiti on the wall of a building near Van Alden Avenue north of Parthenia Street.

NBC 4

South LA Man Convicted Of Sex Trafficking Of Teenage Girl

A South Los Angeles man was found guilty Monday of nine felonies for recruiting and enticing teenage girls to work for him as prostitutes. Donavin Bradford, 31, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking with a minor, three counts of sex trafficking of a minor, three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for the purpose of producing a sexually explicit visual depiction, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of sex trafficking through threats of force, fraud, or coercion, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. From the summer of 2021 to February 2022, Bradford was accused of conspiring with Layla Valdivia, 23, of Ventura, to cause one of the minor victims — a then-15-year-old girl — to be used for prostitution. As the victim’s pimp, Bradford expected the girl to earn $1,000 per night and give it to him, evidence showed. 

MyNewsLA

Carson Teen Missing Since Jan. 1 Has Been Found Alive, LASD Says

A 16-year-old girl missing since Jan. 1 has been found alive, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on Monday. Alinka Angeline Castaneda, of Carson, was last seen on her neighbor's door camera early in the morning on the day she went missing. An unidentified man was seen walking toward her house in the video before she gets into an unknown vehicle. Castaneda's mom said that her daughter left the home with her cell phone and wallet, wearing an all black outfit and gold necklace. Castaneda had called her family three times since her disappearance. Each time sounding in distress. The last time Castaneda called, she told her mother she was ready to come home and would meet her at Union Station, but she never showed. It is unknown at this time where Castaneda was found and what condition she is in.

ABC 7

Armie Hammer Sexual-Assault Allegations Being Reviewed By L.A. Prosecutors

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing a case brought against actor Armie Hammer, who has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women and who allegedly coerced others to engage in aggressive sexual activities. The case is “under review,” D.A. communications director Tiffiny Blacknell told The Times on Monday. Blacknell confirmed to CNN that the Los Angeles Police Department had presented a case against the actor to the D.A.’s office. Hammer’s attorney, Andrew Brettler, did not comment on the case when reached by The Times. Blacknell did not disclose additional information about the case nor identify the complainant or complainants. The “Call Me by Your Name” star, 36, has been under investigation by LAPD sex-crimes detectives since 2021 after multiple women publicly accused him of sexual assault. A source close to the LAPD investigation confirmed in March 2021 that the allegations were made by the same woman who alleged in a news conference that she was “violently raped” by Hammer, the great-grandson of late oil tycoon Armand Hammer.

Los Angeles Times

17 Arrested In Connection With 11 Gang-Related Sikh Shootings In Northern California

A Northern California multi-agency investigation into gang violence between rival Sikh groups connected to 11 shootings has resulted in 17 arrests, authorities said Monday during a news conference. Law enforcement officials said they connected two gangs to an Aug. 27, 2022, mass shooting where five men were shot outside a Stockton Sikh temple and a March 26 shooting where two men were shot near a Sacramento County Sikh temple. Throughout the investigation, known as Operation Broken Sword, 41 firearms were confiscated from suspects responsible for violent crimes and shootings in Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo and Merced counties, according to authorities. Two suspects were described as “fugitives from India who are wanted on a number of murders out of India.” The violence began with fistfights and sword attacks at a 2018 Sikh parade in Yuba City and escalated to a shooting at a September 2021 wedding in Yuba City, according to Sutter County Dist. Atty. Jennifer Dupré. Since then, the gangs carried out 10 additional shootings, with 11 men being shot, all of whom were “members of the syndicate,” she said.

Los Angeles Times

CHP Cracks Down On Drivers During Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In California just under 30% of crashes are directly related to cell phone use while driving, according to the California Highway Patrol, especially with young people. The CHP hosted FOX 11 on a ride along Monday, as the department worked to enforce distracted driving on local freeways. Officer Alec Pereyda with CHP said distracted driving has increased dramatically on SoCal freeways. "When they are on their GPS, they think ‘I am just on my GPS, I am not texting, not on the phone talking,’ they don't even realize its illegal," said Pereyda. In California, the fine for a first time texting while driving violation is a minimum of $162, with subsequent fines being even higher, according to documents from the CHP's website. The main issue however is how dangerous distracted driving is. 

FOX 11

California K-9, Winner In Vegas Competition, Fatally Shot By Suspect During Search

A shooting during a search for suspects ended with the death of a police K-9 in Riverside County on Friday. Riverside County deputies had responded to a residence in Perris for a report of an unknown man and woman on the property, ABC7 reported. K-9 Rudy and his handler joined deputies on the scene, and it was confirmed the man was a wanted felon. A perimeter was established as they searched for the two suspects. During the search, K-9 Rudy alerted deputies to where a suspect was hiding. The man then fired at the deputies, fatally striking the canine. The suspects ran toward an occupied home, ignoring commands to surrender. As deputies approached, the man pointed a gun at them and the deputies opened fire, killing the man. No deputies were injured. According to the department, K-9 Rudy took first place in the handler protection category at the Las Vegas Metro Police K-9 Trials last month. 

PoliceOne

Man In Grave Condition After River Bed Rescue In Lincoln Heights

A man was rushed to a hospital in grave condition with traumatic injuries from a rescue at a river bed Sunday in Lincoln Heights, authorities said. Firefighters dispatched at 8:03 a.m. to 3454 N. Pasadena Ave. performed a litter-basket operation using an aerial ladder truck to retrieve the approximately 40-year-old man from the river bed, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. Pasadena Avenue was closed in both directions during the operation at Avenue 35.

MyNewsLA

Two Reseda Students Hospitalized With Possible Overdose-Related Illnesses

Two students from a Reseda school were sent to the hospital with possible overdose-related illnesses as firefighters tended to three more pupils on campus. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, crews responded to the Magnolia Science Academy on the 18200 block of Sherman Way at about 2 p.m. Multiple ambulances arrived at the school and began to set up a triage area, however, many of the paramedics were released from the scene shortly after. The condition of the two hospitalized students is unclear at this time. 

CBS 2

Mayor Bass Set To Unveil New Spending Plan For LA

A day after Mayor Karen Bass gave her first State of the City Address she is expected to unveil her spending plan for the city of the LA. In her address speech Bass said that the bulk of her budget will be focused on on three things. The first, will be to continue efforts in help the city's homelessness crisis, public safety and helping the overall city get to the "new LA." The mayor is expected to present her city budget during a news conference in City Hall at 11 a.m. The budget is a roadmap for the city to achieve goals outlined by the mayor and City Council. "Building on the success of Inside Safe, my budget includes a $250 million investment to scale Inside Safe citywide,'' Bass said during Monday's State of the City Address. The proposed budget will also include a $1.3 billion investment to accelerate the city's momentum on homelessness, she added. Her plan is to evaluate more 3,000 city owned properties for housing use, which would then get thousands of individuals into stable housing.

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.