Daily News & Updates Good morning! On April 15, 2023, Officer B. Jerry Sandoval was killed in a traffic collision. Please consider donating to the Blue-Ribbon account established for Jerry to support his wife, Christine and twin sons, Logan and Jacob. Click here for more details. Law Enforcement News Man Shot During Attempted Robbery In Downtown Los Angeles A 29 -year-old man was hospitalized Saturday after being shot during an attempted robbery in downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers were called at 11 p.m. Friday to 788 S. Grand Ave. and Eighth Street where they learned the victim was standing outside when a man approached him and demanded money and his possessions, an LAPD spokeswoman told City News Service. The victim refused and the suspect shot at him twice, striking him once, police said. The victim ran away and called an acquaintance to take him to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. There was no suspect description. MyNewsLA Suspect Breaks Into Reseda Home, Sexually Assaults Woman The Los Angeles Police Department arrested a man for breaking into a woman's home in Reseda before sexually assaulting her. According to investigators, 30-year-old Blessing Wainiwheh broke into the home through the woman's window at about 9:55 p.m. on June 28. He then sexually assaulted the victim and ran from her home. After arriving at the scene, officers launched a search for the suspect and canvassed the area. They located Wainiwheh inside a nearby home, which he also broke into. Detectives released his booking photo because they believe he sexually assaulted more people, assaults that went unreported. LAPD has asked victims to contact them. If you have information surrounding Wainiwheh alleged crimes, officers urge you to call Detective Joseph Hampton at (818) 374-7717 or (818) 374-7611. Anonymous tips can be submitted to L.A. Crime Stoppers either on their website or by phone (800) 222-8477. CBS 2 Police Chase Ends In Crash In Little Tokyo; Sends Shoppers Running For Cover A police chase ended in a frightening crash Saturday afternoon in Little Tokyo, causing panic for nearby shoppers. According to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, deputies took over after Gardena police officers initiated the chase. LASD units were chasing the suspect when he or she slammed into two vehicles, including one that was parked near the intersection of S Central Avenue and 1st Street. Surveillance footage obtained by ABC7 from the Sushi Gala restaurant shows the moment people started running at the Japanese Village Plaza. "I was out here selling my art on the sidewalk in Little Tokyo, I like this community a lot," said a witness. "I looked over and I heard the crash and then the car is like skidding towards me, so I jumped out of the way. I didn't get hit but my car got hit, but I didn't get hit so that's good." One woman said she didn't know what was going on but saw people looking up at the helicopter overhead. ABC 7 Hip-Hop Pioneer Melle Mel Arrested On Suspicion Of Domestic Violence Hip-hop pioneer Melle Mel was arrested Monday on suspicion of domestic violence in downtown Los Angeles where he had attended the 2023 BET Awards. Los Angeles Police Department officers took Melle Mel, whose real name is Melvin Glover, into custody at 7:45 a.m. in the 900 block of Wilshire Boulevard where the InterContinental hotel is located, according to L.A. County Jail records. Glover, 62, was booked on a felony domestic violence charge, an LAPD spokesperson told The Times, and released later that afternoon after posting $50,000 bail. Glover’s arraignment is scheduled for July 17. The charges stem from a reported argument at the InterContinental between Glover and an actress and dancer he had reportedly previously dated. In a Rolling Stone report published Wednesday, Glover acknowledged he had argued with the woman, but denied hitting her. The rapper and a representative did not immediately respond Thursday to requests for comment from The Times. Los Angeles Times Thief Breaks Into Venice Wine Store Through Roof, Steals More Than 600 Top-of-the-Line Bottles Some of the most expensive wines in the world were stolen during a late-night burglary at a wine store in Venice. It happened around midnight on Friday, June 30, at Lincoln Fine Wines on Lincoln Boulevard. According to owner Nazmul Haque, the burglar cut a hole through the ceiling, directly above the store's wine cellar where some of his most prized wines were stored. The thief reportedly used rope to climb down into the cellar. Haque shared surveillance video with Eyewitness News, which shows the burglar - who hid behind a dark hoodie and mask - carrying a case through the store. The owner said the burglar didn't leave until 4 a.m., taking more than 600 bottles from his prestigious wine collection. "It's like I'm shocked, you know, because you don't expect these things," said Haque. "So when you see something happen you don't expect ... I don't know how long it will take to recover. It's not only financial, it's emotional." Haque said the thief took wines that are worth several thousand dollars, many of which can't be replaced. ABC 7 Help Sought Finding Man Last Seen Walking In Woodland Hills The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a 38-year-old man whose mental condition is described as “poor.” Ehssan Darabian was last seen around 10 a.m. Wednesday walking in the 20600 block of Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 285 pounds, is bald, clean shaven and has brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. Anyone who has seen Darabian or knows where he might be is asked to call the LAPD’s missing persons unit at 213-996-1800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). KTLA 5 FBI Warns Of Increase In Scams Targeting Elderly People After L.A. Man Arrested In Timeshare Fraud A Los Angeles man was among two arrested this week after allegedly targeting elderly people in a telemarketing timeshare scheme, one of the latest incidents in what the FBI warns is an increase in elder fraud. The men, Michael Farole, 44, of West Los Angeles, and Christopher Lang, 42, of Hays, Kansas, said they represented companies that provided advertising and other services to current and former timeshare owners, and allegedly convinced victims to pay advance fees in return for services that involved selling or securing the sale or rental of timeshares, officials said. They were charged in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. After the victims paid initial fees for services that were never provided, the defendants allegedly kept contacting the victims by phone, text and emails in efforts to charge more fees. An investigation revealed that at least 370 elderly people lost more than $4.5 million as a result of the fraud, officials said. “The victims used funds from their social security income, investment and retirement accounts, as well as their savings, to pay the fraudulent companies,” according to the FBI. “Despite the recurring fees that each victim paid, often reaching the hundreds of thousands over several years, none received the timeshare-related services or proceeds promised.” KTLA 5 Copper Wire Thefts On The Rise, Causing Delays For Metro’s Rail Lines A section of Los Angeles’ Metro rail system that extends from Norwalk to the South Bay was delayed this week because of the theft of copper wires used to power the rail cars. The incident marks the latest in a surge of thefts of valuable copper wiring, which has caused disruptions for the rail system, which serves more than 5 million riders a month. In 2022, Metro reported more than 60 copper wire thefts, mainly affecting the Metro A Line, formerly known as the Blue Line. So far this year, there have been 21 thefts, mainly on the C Line, formerly the Green Line, Dave Sotero, a Metro spokesperson, said in an email. These thefts are happening on the above-ground sections of the light rail lines. Copper wire thieves are also targeting lights on Los Angeles streets and freeways. In the last four years, Caltrans has spent about $24 million on repairs, according to NBC News. The thefts from the rail system can cause service delays and interruptions for passengers, forcing Metro to use buses, reduce train speeds or rely on a single track, said Errol Taylor, Metro’s deputy chief operations officer. The thefts cost the transit agency between $8,000 and $15,000 each time to repair, Taylor said. Los Angeles Times Pasadena Man Shoots Roommate, Kills Himself; Motive Under Investigation A man from Pasadena died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after shooting his roommate on Friday afternoon. According to the Pasadena Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of North Madison Avenue around 1:51 p.m. on a shots fired call. Upon arriving on the scene, officers located a man suffering from a gunshot wound outside a residential unit. The wound appeared to be self-inflicted, Pasadena Police said, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. A firearm was recovered near the man, identified as 35-year-old Creighton Chun Ming Wong of Pasadena. Officers conducted a welfare check in the adjacent residential unit and located a second man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by Pasadena Fire Department paramedics in critical condition. Preliminary investigation by detectives indicated that the men were roommates and that Wong had shot his roommate before taking his own life moments later. KTLA 5 2 Oregon Deputies Shot While Responding To Burglary Call Two sheriff’s deputies responding to a burglary call were shot about 7 a.m. Friday near Southeast Johnson Creek Boulevard and Bell Avenue in unincorporated Clackamas County, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said. The deputies have been taken to OHSU Hospital, where “they’re recovering,” said sheriff’s office spokesperson Brian McCall. One deputy appears to have been shot in the torso and the other in the arm, according to a broadcast of Clackamas County law-enforcement scanners. The sheriff’s office said two suspects are in custody. Debbie Whitney said she was lying in bed waiting for her kids to get up when she heard a 10-second-long barrage of loud bangs early Friday morning. The 36-year-old initially dismissed the sounds as fireworks set off for a premature Fourth of July celebration, until she went outside and saw police blocking off Johnson Creek Boulevard. The realization unnerved Whitney, who said she frequently uses the Springwater Corridor Trail to get to work. “The bike trail is awesome for riding because it’s super flat, but it’s like a highway for underground nightlife,” she said. PoliceOne Baltimore Block Party Shooting Leaves 2 Dead, 28 Injured Gunfire erupted at a block party in Baltimore on Sunday — killing two people, wounding 28 and leaving an extensive crime scene that marred the U.S. holiday weekend, police said. Three of the wounded were in critical condition. Baltimore Police Department Acting Commissioner Richard Worley told reporters there were a total of 30 victims during a press conference at the scene. The shooting took place just after 12:30 a.m. at a block party in the Brooklyn Homes area in the southern part of the city, Worley said. The shooting comes amid gatherings around the country leading up to the July Fourth holiday. Elsewhere, a shooting in Kansas left seven people with gunshot wounds and two more victims hospitalized after being trampled as people rushed out of a nightclub early Sunday morning, police there said. Nine victims were transported by ambulance and 20 victims walked into area hospitals with injuries from the shooting, Worley said. Associated Press Public Safety News Massive Fire Breaks Out At Discount Store In South Central Los Angeles A large fire engulfed a commercial building in South Central Los Angeles early Saturday morning. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, more than 80 firefighters were dispatched to the Best Bargain discount store on South Broadway near West 41st Place around 2:30 a.m. to combat the blaze, which started on the roof of the store and quickly spread inside. It took an hour and a half for fire crews to contain the blaze, but due to potential signs of structural collapse, firefighters were unable to immediately target hot spots in the interior of the building. No injuries were reported. KTLA 5 LAFD Shows Off Power And Danger Of Illegal Fireworks In Explosive Display La’veyah Mosely was playing with her friends and family on the day after Independence Day last summer. That’s their family tradition, Mosely said: Shooting off fireworks and playing in the street on July 5. During the celebration, a neighbor picked up an unexploded firework from the ground. He believed it was a sparkler, and handed it to Mosely, who lit it. What neither of them knew was that the firework was actually an M-80, a small, powerful explosive packed with flash powder that’s illegal to own in California. The mistake changed Mosely’s life forever. “It blew up,” the 13-year-old told reporters gathered at a Los Angeles Fire Department training center in the shadow of Dodgers Stadium. “I lost all my fingers on my left hand.” Mosely was there on Friday, June 30, flanked by two dozen fire and law enforcement officials, to speak about the dangers of illegal fireworks as the region braces for another July 4th holiday and the potential for injuries and destruction that comes with it. Daniel Berlant, California’s acting fire marshal, listed the types of fireworks that authorities will be watching for. Los Angeles Daily News Public Health Urges Against Eating Shellfish Amid Toxic Algae Bloom Affecting Sea Life Health officials are urging residents to stay away from certain shellfish as a toxic algae bloom has contaminated the waters off the Southern California coast. "The public should take precautions to stay safe as California and Los Angeles County experience a bloom of toxic algae that is impacting marine life," said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County Public Health Director. According to health officials, the bloom contains a neurotoxin called domoic acid. At first, it only affected plankton feasting on the algae. However, it moved up the food chain as animals such as sea lions and dolphins began to eat contaminated fish like sardines. So far, more than 100 sea lions have stranded themselves on beaches in L.A. County and others have attacked people in Orange County. "Although you may want to help, the best and safest way to assist is to stay away and report the sick animal immediately," said Marcia Mayeda, director of L.A. County's animal control. The concentration of the neurotoxin is expected to grow in size this weekend. Construction crews in Laguna Beach worked throughout the day on Friday to craft more pens for the sick marine animals that may wash up on local shores. CBS 2 Local Government News Former LA City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas’ Bid For New Trial Denied A judge Friday denied former City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas' bid to have his convictions on federal bribery and conspiracy charges vacated after defense lawyers argued there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's guilty verdicts. Attorneys for Ridley-Thomas alleged during an hours-long hearing Monday that prosecutorial misconduct, misstatements of the law and other issues during the longtime Los Angeles politician's trial ultimately deprived him of his rights. The 68-year-old Ridley-Thomas is facing the prospect of years in prison after being convicted March 30 on single counts of conspiracy, bribery, honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud, stemming from his time serving on the county Board of Supervisors. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 21 in downtown Los Angeles. In her 17-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer rejected defense arguments that there was no evidence of a quid pro quo arrangement between the politician and Marilyn Flynn, a former head of the USC School of Social Work, who pleaded guilty to a bribery charge. FOX 11 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. 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