Three Gang Members Plead Guilty To Racketeering In Killing Of Off-Duty LAPD Officer

Three gang members pleaded guilty Thursday to federal racketeering for their roles in the robbery and fatal shooting of off-duty Los Angeles Police Department Officer Fernando Arroyos while he was looking for a new home to buy last year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Arroyos, 27, was with his girlfriend looking at homes to buy in the Florence-Firestone neighborhood in South Los Angeles when three members of the Florencia 13 gang, looking for people to hold up, saw Arroyos’ gold chain and decided to rob him on Jan. 10, 2022. Arroyos had just parked their car, and they were crossing the street toward a home when the deadly confrontation unfolded. As part of the plea, Jesse Contreras admitted he handed a loaded gun to Luis Alfredo de la Rosa Rios, who along with Ernesto Cisneros, got out of their truck and approached the off-duty officer, patted him down and took his chains and wallet, which contained Arroyos’ LAPD identification card. Rios then approached the officer’s girlfriend, patted her down and stole her property. Having already robbed the pair, Rios and Cisneros opened fire. Arroyos was struck by a single bullet, which killed him, according to the pleas agreed to by the three men.

Los Angeles Times

5 LAPD Officers Hospitalized After Meth Exposure

Five Los Angeles police officers were rushed to the hospital Friday afternoon after being exposed to methamphetamine while responding to a call in the Hyde Park area, authorities said. The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance incident near Southwest Drive and 4th Avenue when an officer came across the drug. Four officers were taken to Cedars-Sinai and the other was taken to another hospital. They were all reportedly in "moderate distress" and are expected to be ok. It's unclear if anyone was taken into custody or arrested. Eyewitness News is working to get more information.

ABC 7

85-Year-Old Grandfather Killed In Crenshaw Hit-and-Run While Walking Home From Work With Grandson

An 85-year-old grandfather was killed in a hit-and-run crash in the Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw neighborhood Thursday night while walking with his grandson. According to family members, Marco Tulio Santizo and his 41-year-old grandson, Marco Tulio Herrera Santizo, were just coming home from work. They were crossing West Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. when the driver of a dark-colored vehicle heading east on West Santa Rosalia Drive struck them and took off. "We're hard workers. Everything we do is work and taking care of the family, basically," said family member Walter Arias. "They were coming back home and suddenly this happened." Another driver who happened to be passing by saw the two men lying in the street and called for help, police said. Paramedics sent both men to the hospital where the grandfather later died. Police said the grandson is in stable condition.

ABC 7

Woman Killed In Head-On Crash In Van Nuys

A 20-year-old woman was killed Sunday when a wrong-way vehicle driven by a possibly impaired motorist slammed head-on into another vehicle on a Van Nuys street, authorities said. Three other people -- including a child -- were injured in the crash, according to Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Paramedics rushed them to a hospital, but their conditions were not immediately available. The crash was reported at 3:18 a.m. Sunday at Saticoy Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A westbound vehicle crossed into eastbound lanes on Saticoy and crashed into the vehicle in which the woman was a front-seat passenger, causing it to hit a power pole, an LAPD dispatcher said. The woman died at the scene. The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was detained on suspicion of DUI, the LAPD said.

NBC 4

2 Victims Robbed, Assaulted With Bat In Westlake; Police Looking For 3 Suspects 

Authorities are searching for three suspects after two individuals were robbed and assaulted with a bat in Westlake. According to the LAPD, officers responded to the area of 8th and Alvarado Streets on reports of a stabbing around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Upon arriving on scene, units found two victims who had been assaulted with a bat but confirmed that no stabbing had occurred. One victim had their cell phone stolen from them, and both were transported to a local hospital in unknown conditions. The suspects were only identified as two Hispanic men and one Hispanic female. According to police, they may have been driving a 4-door white Chevrolet SUV. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LAPD.

KTLA 5

U.S. Postal Service Offers $50,000 Reward To Catch Suspects Who Robbed Mail Carrier At Gunpoint

The U.S. Postal Service is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of three people involved in the armed robbery of a North Hollywood mail carrier. The robbery occurred about 10:20 a.m. Tuesday in the 5500 block of Vineland Avenue, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The mail carrier was not injured. Surveillance footage of Tuesday’s robbery in the San Fernando Valley shows one robber pointing a gun at the letter carrier. He is described as a slim, Black male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall, about 23 to 35 years old and wearing all black clothing. The video released by USPIS shows a second person following close behind. He is wearing a white face mask, gray hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans and white sneakers. The third person was described only as the driver of a black BMW, possibly a 2019 X6 SUV with black rims. Police were alerted to the robbery at 10:29 a.m., said Norma Eisenman, an LAPD spokesperson. She said the robbers fled north on Vineland Avenue after removing keys from the mailman’s truck. The USPIS could not confirm what postal property was stolen.

Los Angeles Times

Woman, 28, Goes Missing In West Hollywood

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sunday circulated a photo of a 28-year-old woman who went missing in West Hollywood. Gabriella Silivia Flowers was last seen on June 28 at about 4:50 p.m. in the 8100 block of Norton Avenue, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau reported. Flowers was described as a 5-feet-9-inch tall Black/Latino female weighing 125 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has a Chinese symbol tattoo on her right ankle. The sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit urged anyone with information regarding Flowers’ whereabouts to call them at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

MyNewsLA

Woman Shot And Killed In San Fernando, Other Woman Arrested

Sheriff's detectives were assisting San Fernando police in the investigation of a shooting death of a woman in San Fernando. The killing of the unidentified woman in the 1300 block of Kewen Street was reported at 3:18 a.m. Friday, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Daniel Vizcarra. The woman was shot inside a residence, Vizcarra said. She died at the scene. Homicide detectives later detained 34-year-old Evelyn Torres of Palmdale as a person of interest in the killing, Vizcarra said. Torres was later officially arrested as a suspect in the murder. A motive for the shooting was not released by the LASD. Nor was the nature of Torres' relationship with the victim. Anyone with information on the killing was asked to call the LASD's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

FOX 11

Monica De Leon, California Woman Abducted In Mexico, Has Been Found

The San Mateo woman who was kidnapped in Mexico in November has been found. The FBI announced Saturday morning the safe return of Monica De Leon to the United States. They said she is headed home to her family after spending eight months in captivity. De Leon was released by her captors Friday, authorities said. She was abducted on Nov. 29 in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, Mexico while walking home from work with her dog. Hours later, her cousin Gael DeLeon, was also abducted, according to a local TV channel, TV Azteca Jalisco. Monica's brother shared a photo of the two together in what appears to be an airplane. "Hello everyone, for the first time in a very long time we have good news!" wrote Gustavo De Leon. "I need to thank every single person that helped my family and I through this entire ordeal. We can all finally close this chapter in our lives and work on the long road of healing we have ahead." In March the FBI announced a reward of up to $40,000 for information about her disappearance.

FOX 11

23-Year-Old North Dakota Officer Killed After Suspect Started Shooting During Traffic Crash

A gunman opened fire on police and firefighters “for no known reason” as they responded to a traffic crash in North Dakota, killing one officer and wounding two others before another officer killed him, Fargo’s police chief said Saturday. Chief David Zibolski said officer Jake Wallin, a military veteran, was killed in the shooting Friday afternoon. Two other officers, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, were wounded. A fourth officer, Zach Robinson, shot and killed the suspect, Zibolski said. A 25-year-old woman was also injured, but authorities did not say who shot her. The gunman did not hit any firefighters, Zibolski said, but a fire truck was struck by gunfire. Zibolski identified the suspect as Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo, but provided few details about him or the shooting, citing officials’ desire to protect the investigation. He said he was confident authorities would eventually determine the motive. “The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, ‘Why?’” he said. “Why would somebody do this? What happened?’” He said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI were investigating.

Associated Press

Watch: Florida Deputies Find Felon Hiding Under Boat In River

A manhunt deep in marshland along Florida’s Alafia River took an unexpected turn when deputies found their suspect hiding under a boat in the alligator-infested waters. The capture happened around 2:15 p.m. Friday, July 7, in a remote area three miles from the Williamson Park Boat Ramp, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports. The park is about 10 miles southeast of Tampa. Investigators say the 31-year-old suspect was wanted on criminal mischief and battery charges when he began trying to outrun deputies. And he was armed with a knife, officials said. “He took to the waters of the Alafia River to try to hide,” the sheriff’s office said. “Almost three miles into a shallow, narrow canal, he took cover ... hoping not to be found.” Aerial video recorded by the sheriff’s office Aviation Unit shows the small boat was discovered tucked under dense foliage along the bank. It was mysteriously empty when a Marine Unit arrived, but deputies eventually realized “the suspect was hiding under the boat.” Details of how long he tried to stay submerged were not released, but body cam video shows the suspect emerged and surrendered while standing in shoulder-deep water.

Charlotte Observer

Car Falls Off Cliff Into Glassell Park Backyard

A driver escaped serious injury Sunday when a vehicle fell about 200 feet down a hillside and landed in the backyard of a home in the Glassell Park area of Los Angeles. The vehicle came to rest at 2562 W. El Rosa Drive at about 2 p.m., according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. The patient was not trapped and was alert and conscious, Stewart said. There was no damage to the structure near where the car landed. The individual in the car was being evaluated by paramedics, Stewart added. No other injuries were reported, she said. It was unclear why the car went over the cliff.

FOX 11

Hospital Seeks Help Identifying Patient In Los Angeles County

Hospital staff is looking to identify an unknown patient who was found in Los Angeles County. The male patient has been hospitalized since July 13 at the Los Angeles General Medical Center. He is described as a man in his 50s, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 128 pounds. He has short black wavy hair with brown eyes and a thin build, officials said. He also has a tattoo on his upper left arm featuring several symbols. No identification or personal belongings identifying the man was found at the time, staff said. No further details on his discovery were released. Anyone who may recognize the man is asked to call clinical social workers Yen Sau or Cesar Robles at 323-409-4860 or 323-409-6884.

KTLA 5

LA City Offers Ways To Beat The Heat With Cooling Centers

Dedicated cooling centers are open throughout the city of Los Angeles as temperatures remain at or near triple-digit levels in many areas. The city of Los Angeles' Emergency Management Department says the centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in various locations including: Fred Roberts Recreation Center, located at 4700 S. Honduras St.; Highland Park Recreation Center, located at 6150 Piedmont Ave.; Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center, located at 7326 Jordan Ave., and; Mid-Valley Senior Citizen Center, located at 8825 Kester Ave. On Twitter, department officials said LA Public Library Branches will be activated Sunday to serve as cooling centers throughout the city during peak heat hours from 1 to 5 p.m. Most cooling centers are served by one or more LA Department of Transportation Dash and Metro bus lines. 

NBC 4

California’s COVID-19 Hospitalizations Are Near Historic Lows. Will The Lull Last?

COVID-19 hospitalizations are close to record lows in California, an optimistic sign as the state attempts to navigate its first surge-free summer of the coronavirus era. It’s difficult to say what the rest of the season will bring, however. The coming weeks will help determine whether some kind of uptick in coronavirus transmission is on tap, or if conditions will remain relatively calm until the autumn and winter. The rate of new weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations in California — though near an all-time low — has been flat over the most recent two weeks for which data are available. Nationally, weekly declines are starting to level off, too, with hospitalizations on the rise in some parts of the country. Throughout the pandemic, hospitalization numbers have proved a useful, if lagging, indicator of coronavirus spread. A significant or sustained jump in patient counts would probably mean the coronavirus is circulating more widely in a community. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious-disease expert, said he suspects that signs of an increase in coronavirus transmission are probably real in some locations, although “it’s not at a high level yet. And we don’t really know how high it will go.”

Los Angeles Times

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.