Reporter Asks Court to Dismiss LA City Lawsuit Over Police Photo Release

Lawyers representing a reporter being sued by the City of Los Angeles -- over the City's public release of photographs of thousands of LAPD officers -- have asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit on grounds it violates the US Constitution's protections of free speech and freedom of the press. Camacho's attorneys have asked the court to strike, or dismiss, the City's actions, saying the suit itself shouldn't be allowed because Camacho was engaged in constitutionally protected activity when he obtained and shared the photos, and related public information, about the LAPD's staff.

NBC 4

A Search For Justice After A Mentally Ill 17-Year-Old Stabs Janitor To Death

To Dora Molina, the teenager who took her husband’s life is a danger to the public and needs to spend up to 30 years behind bars, about the same amount of time she and José Tomás Mejía were together. She doesn’t want the assailant to enjoy his youth so soon after killing the Salvadoran immigrant, who spent his life fighting on behalf of others. To those who knew the teen, however, the stabbing was the last step on a troubling path that started in the small room where he watched his mother die from a terminal illness; one that evolved into manic episodes and a break from reality. Mejía’s murder and the prosecution of his teenage killer underscore the complicated search for justice when people who commit horrific crimes are young and mentally ill. The youth, who is now 18 and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, admitted to the murder in juvenile court. He was 17 at the time of the crime; under state law, he’ll probably be released when he’s 25. That infuriates Molina and Mejía’s loved ones, who say “race, class and privilege” skewed the outcome of “this tragedy.” Mejía is Latino, his killer white.

Los Angeles Times

Police Release Video Of Hit-and-Run That Severely Injured Man In Wilmington

Detectives from LAPD's South Traffic Division are asking for the public’s help in identifying the driver who struck and severely injured a man in the Wilmington area. The hit-and-run occurred October 9, 2022, at 4 p.m. at L and Figueroa streets. Police say a white four-door Chevrolet sedan (possibly a Malibu or Impala) was traveling eastbound on L Street and attempted to make a left turn onto Figueroa Street when it struck the pedestrian. The force of the collision caused the man to go airborne; he was taken to the hospital with severe injuries. Police say the man was walking in a marked crosswalk. The driver of the sedan continued northbound on Figueroa Street. According to the police department, drivers involved in any collision should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves.

FOX 11

Inglewood Man Sentenced For Woman’s Murder In Pomona

An Inglewood man who fatally stabbed a woman he had briefly dated and killed her dog before setting fire to her Pomona apartment was sentenced Tuesday to more than 66 years to life in state prison. Jurors found Chaumon Tyner, now 54, guilty last Sept. 19 of one count each of first-degree murder, animal cruelty and arson of an inhabited dwelling, according to Deputy District Attorney Phil Stirling, who prosecuted the case with colleague Michelle Weiske. Ronny Wall and her Yorkshire terrier, Bentley, were found inside the apartment on March 18, 2019, after the building’s sprinkler system extinguished the fire. The 58-year-old woman met Tyner through an internet dating site, and the two had dated for 28 days, Stirling said. She suffered 11 significant stab wounds, with jurors finding true an allegation that Tyner used a pair of scissors in the crime. Authorities believe the two had argued, with telephone records indicating that he remained in the apartment after the killing, according to Stirling.

MyNewsLA

Bellflower Taqueria Hit By Thieves Twice Within First Month, Face $10,000 Repair Bill

A new taqueria in Bellflower has been targeted by thieves twice, forcing the small business to enact expensive security measures to protect the restaurant. Tacos la Rueda opened one month ago on March 17. The first burglary happened in the early morning hours on March 27. Surveillance video showed two thieves breaking into the store and looking around, but the owner, Alan Cejudo, said that time, the thieves did not take anything. The second burglary happened on Monday, April 17. "The second time they opened the safe with a hammer so they took some money from there and then the tips from the employees and [it cost money] then to replace the door," said Cejudo. Cejudo said he's unsure if the burglaries are connected. "It kind of looked like the same people but who knows. There's so much going on right now," said Cejudo. Cejudo ordered a roll-up door after the first burglary, but it took a couple of weeks to build the doors. The doors were installed Tuesday following the second robbery.

FOX 11

Former L.A. Doctor Sentenced To 7 Years In Federal Prison For Massive Health Insurance Fraud Scheme

A former doctor from West Hollywood was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for scheming to defraud private insurance companies and the Tricare health care program for U.S. military service members of hundreds of millions of dollars. Julian Omidi, who ran the 1-800-GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business, fraudulently submitted nearly $120 million in claims related to his weight loss surgery business, according to the Department of Justice. Omidi and his Beverly Hills-based company, Surgery Center Management, LLC, were found guilty in December 2021 of 28 counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Omidi was also found guilty of two counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, one count of aggravated identity theft and two counts of money laundering, as well as a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Surgery Center Management, LLC, was also sentenced to five years of probation. 

KTLA 5

Compton Officials Discuss Plan To Crack Down On Street Takeovers At City Council Meeting

A weekend of street takeovers and smash-and-grab burglaries has Compton residents demanding more of city officials and law enforcement. The social-media-fueled flash mobs have troubled Compton and elsewhere for years now, sometimes even resulting in the death of attendees. Despite arrests and car seizures, the takeovers continue. After burglaries at the Birrieria Gonzalez restaurant, an Arco station and elsewhere this weekend, Compton Mayor Emma Sharif demanded change in a Tuesday City Council meeting. “These street takeovers have plagued our city for far too long,” Sharif said. As a preventative measure, the city plans to install Botts’ dots in an intersection used in last weekend’s takeover, Sharif said. Capt. Terrence Bell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said deputies are being shifted to weekend work to help crack down on the illegal gatherings.

KTLA 5

Nearly 800 Pounds Of Fentanyl Worth $21.1 Million Found In Shipment Of Green Beans

A recent shipment of green beans in California was packing a lot more than essential vitamins. On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection found a shipment of the vegetable carrying more than 3.5 million fentanyl pills that have an estimated worth of $21.1 million. Officials said in a press release on Tuesday that they found the hidden shipment at the Otay Mesa port in San Diego, California, when they inspected a 48-year-old driver's tractor trailer. Officials conducted a "non-intrusive inspection," officials said, during which time they found "irregularities," prompting them to bring in a narcotic detectors who then found the small blue pills. Hidden with the beans were 308 packages of fentanyl pills, weighing just over 776 pounds. "We're spilling the beans," CBP said in a statement. The driver who was transporting the shipment has since been detained for allegations of attempted narcotic smuggling and is now in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CBP said. 

CBS 2

Man Who Killed Washington Police Officer Gets Life Sentence

The man who fatally shot a police officer in Everett, Washington, last year was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Richard Rotter, 51, apologized during his sentencing for killing officer Dan Rocha, 41, in a Starbucks parking lot in Everett, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Seattle, as Rocha tried to arrest him, the Daily Herald reported. “My sincere apologies to the Rocha family and my family and everyone this has affected,” Rotter said. "I pray for everyone’s continued healing and restored peace. I ask you and everybody (to) please forgive me.” During sentencing, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Bruce I. Weiss called the fatal shooting a “brutal execution.” The courtroom was crowded with Everett police, the city's mayor and others. Earlier this month, a jury found Rotter guilty of aggravated first-degree murder, unlawful gun possession, possession with the intent to manufacture or distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, and attempting to elude police.

Associated Press

Video: NYPD Officer Struck In The Head In Brazen Daytime Attack

An NYPD cop was bashed in the head with a bottle and then pummeled in an unprovoked attack from a stranger on a Bronx street, wild surveillance video shows. The victim and her NYPD partner were standing in front of All Car Service on 231st St. in Kingsbridge when the attacker, wearing blue jeans and a hoodie, approached just before 2 p.m. Monday, the video obtained by the Daily News shows. Police sources say the pair of cops were conducting inspections of illegal smoke shops. Suddenly the attacker pulled a bottle out of his pocket and unprovoked whacked the female officer in the back of her head, the video shows. The assailant continued his attack, grabbing the victim’s long black hair and then delivering a few roundhouse punches to her face and body. Her partner absorbed some of the blows as he started to wrestle with the assailant. Two other men, who sources say are New York City Sheriff’s officers working with the NYPD, joined in and tried to ward off the attacker, the recording shows.

New York Daily News

Santa Monica Area Hospital Hoping To Identify Critically Ill Patient

Officials at a Los Angeles area hospital are asking for the public’s help to identify a patient who is considered to be critically ill. The patient has been receiving treatment at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica since Sunday after he was found in a car and taken to the hospital by ambulance. The unidentified patient is a man, possibly in his 50s, who is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 340 pounds. He has gray hair and brown eyes and no notable markings, including tattoos or scars. Hospital staff say he is currently “unable to participate in his care.” Due to disclosure laws, the hospital has not said anything regarding his condition or his diagnosis, other than he is considered to be “critically ill.” The hospital has been unsuccessful in locating anyone who could identify the man. Now it’s asking for the public’s help to find a family member or acquaintance who might be able to shed some light on his identity.

KTLA 5

LA City Council To Ban RVs Being Parked On Venice Streets From 2-6 A.M.

The Los Angeles City Council approved a resolution Friday prohibiting RVs from being parked along various streets in Venice between the hours of 2 to 6 a.m., citing public safety issues. The parking ban includes but is not limited to vehicles that are six feet or more in height. According to the resolution, presented by Councilwoman Traci Park who represents the Eleventh District, the area is experiencing public safety issues associated with oversized vehicles that are often parked overnight and constrict travel lanes, creating dangerous road conditions. Under the resolution, the City Council directed the city's Department of Transportation to post signs giving notice of "tow away, no parking" restrictions for oversized vehicles. In addition, the department will be able to make technical corrections or clarifications to the resolution as they deem necessary to effectuate the intent of the resolution.

FOX 11

LA City Council Seeks To Increase Local Water Supply

The Los Angeles City Council approved Friday a motion calling for a reduction of imported water and increasing its local water supply, as well as obtaining a report on any infrastructure and conservation projects in the early planning or development stages. The motion, introduced by council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Paul Krekorian, also directs the Department of Water and Power, the city's Bureau of Sanitation and the Metropolitan Water District to review current sources of potable water, the feasibility of achieving the city's goals under current executive directives and Green New Deal policies, and contingency plans to support water import systems. Currently, 90% of the city's water comes from out-of-basin sources, including the L.A. aqueduct, State Water Project and Colorado River deliveries through Metropolitan Water District. 

Westside Current

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.