Woman gets probation for stabbing in 2021 anti-vax protest melee at LAPD headquarters

A Long Beach woman arrested in a stabbing that took place during an anti-vaccine protest turned street fight outside of Los Angeles police headquarters in 2021 will receive probation under the terms of a plea deal reached last week, according to the district attorney’s office. Nina Cohen, 32, pleaded no contest to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and will be placed on probation for two years if she completes a community service and anger management regimen over the next year, according to Venusse Navid, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office. Cohen was also ordered to stay away from the victim, who has not been publicly identified. The victim suffered a “lacerated heart and punctured lung,” according to police and could be seen bleeding profusely in the street during the melee. Cohen was one of dozens of protesters involved in a chaotic brawl that erupted in downtown L.A. in August 2021. Hundreds of people opposed to city ordinances requiring masks or proof of vaccination to enter businesses descended on City Hall. The protest became a melting pot of fringe right-wing causes — law enforcement sources and extremism researchers previously told The Times several members of the Proud Boys were in attendance, while some demonstrators could be seen holding signs touting conspiracy theories about vaccines.

Los Angeles Times

Police make first arrest in flash mob burglary at Americana at Brand in Glendale

Glendale police announced Thursday the first arrest in the Yves Saint Laurent flash mob burglary at the Americana at Brand. Police said they arrested 23-year-old Ivan Isaac Ramirez of Los Angeles. He is currently in Glendale Police custody and faces several charges including organized retail theft, burglary, grand theft and conspiracy. A second person connected to the same flash mob burglary, who is currently outstanding, was identified as 21-year-old Briana Jimenez, also of Los Angeles. The flash mob, caught on various witness cell phones, happened during the daytime on Aug. 8. Authorities said at least 30 people entered the YSL store and stole an estimated $40,000 in merchandise. This Glendale incident is just one of many flash mob burglaries that have occurred recently in Southern California, with the most recent one taking place at the Costa Mesa Gucci Store. On Thursday, LA Mayor Karen Bass announced a retail crime task force that will investigate, apprehend and prosecute all involved in these types of thefts. “To Angelenos, our message is clear, those who commit these crimes will be caught, they will be held accountable and we will work to address the issue”, said Bass.

NBC 4

Fatal Sun Valley stabbing may have been attempt to prevent woman’s assault

A man was fatally stabbed in Sun Valley Thursday night, possibly by someone trying to prevent an assault. The victim, a 24-year-old man, sustained several stab wounds in the 12000 block of Saticoy Street at about 11:09 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The man died at the scene. The alleged assailant, a 26-year-old man, was detained as part of the investigation, which is also looking into claims from some witnesses that the suspect was acting as a good Samaritan. Those witnesses told detectives that the 26-year-old man attacked the victim in an attempt to help a woman who was being assaulted by him, police said. While the events leading up to the stabbing remain under investigation, detectives confirmed the incident was not gang-related.

KTLA 5

DNA evidence ties suspect in Maryland murder to home invasion in Los Angeles

Investigators have linked a Los Angeles home invasion suspect to the murder of a 37-year-old mother on the opposite side of the country. On Aug. 5, Rachel Morin left her home in Harford County to walk the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail in the suburbs of Baltimore. She arrived at the popular Maryland trail at around 6 p.m., marking it as the last time anyone saw Morin, a mother of five, alive. After over 5 hours passed, Morin's boyfriend called authorities and reported her missing, prompting a search of the 6.25-mile trail. The following day, a volunteer found her body just off the path. Officials said she was a "victim of a violent homicide." The same man believed to be responsible for Morin's death has now been connected to the assault of a young girl during a home invasion in March. The Maryland State Police established this relationship after discovering DNA evidence at the crime scene and cross-examining it through a national database. "Unfortunately, that suspect has not been positively identified but he did leave behind his DNA," said Col. William Davis, the chief deputy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Authorities described the man as a 5-foot-9-inch man weighing about 160 pounds and between 20-30 years old. He has dark hair and a muscular build. KCAL News has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department to uncover more details of the home invasion in March. They have not released any details at this time. 

CBS 2

Los Angeles now has its own task force to combat retail thefts

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass along with local law enforcement officials on Thursday announced the formation of a new task force to crack down on retail thefts amid a recent spate of smash-and-grab robberies across the Los Angeles area. During a press conference, local leaders revealed the task force went into effect Wednesday night. The task force includes 22 assigned full-time investigators from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Glendale Police Department Burbank Police Department, Beverly Hills Police Department, Santa Monica Police Department, and California Highway Patrol, as well as federal partners. There will also be prosecutors embedded into this task force from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, LA City Attorney's Office, and the California Attorney General's Office. The task force will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will respond to all incidents and follow up on leads with a full scope of investigative resources, officials said. It is currently based in the San Fernando Valley, where authorities said the majority of crimes have taken place, in addition to the west region of Los Angeles. 

FOX 11

Los Angeles man wanted by FBI for Capitol attack charges

A Los Angeles man charged with damaging and stealing government property during the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks remains at large and wanted by the FBI. The suspect was identified as Paul Belosic, 45, from the Cheviot Hills neighborhood of L.A., according to the Department of Justice. In the days leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021 attacks, Belosic had traveled from California to Washington, D.C. with the alleged intent to disrupt a joint Congress session to count and certify electoral votes related to the presidential election. As rioters descended upon the Capitol, Belosic joined others in the tunnel on the Lower West Terrace to try and gain access to the building. Belosic ultimately entered through a broken window, officials said. Once inside, he allegedly damaged and stole government property. Belosic was charged alongside two other suspects including Daniel Joseph “DJ” Rodriguez and Edward Badalian. Rodriguez was previously sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role and Badalian is awaiting sentencing after being convicted of three charges following a bench trial.

KTLA 5

Drug Trafficking Suspect Arrested for Alleged California and Texas Crimes

A 24-year-old man suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering in California and Texas was arrested at his Granada Hills home, the California Highway Patrol announced Thursday. Casey Towson was arrested Tuesday while officers seized more than 1,500 pounds of cannabis products, six unregistered firearms, and $260,000, according to Public Information Officer Jacob Sanchez of the California Highway Patrol. The arrest stems from a CHP vehicle pursuit of a Dodge Charger Hellcat following a speed contest on the Riverside (91) Freeway in Anaheim, Sanchez said. Officers lost sight of the vehicle on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway in Norwalk and stopped pursuing it. CHP investigators identified Towson as the driver weeks after the chase and executed a warrant for his arrest, Sanchez said. The Round Rock (Texas) Police Department was aware of the search warrant and contacted CHP, indicting that Towson has been investigated by their department for alleged large-scale marijuana transportation, sales, and money laundering for over a year.

MyNewsLA

Suspect in shooting of Texas deputy arrested following standoff, wounding 3 more officers

A manhunt came to an end with a shootout and wounding of three law enforcement officers after a second suspect was arrested in the earlier shooting of a Harris County deputy sheriff in southeastern Texas. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said during an early Friday news conference that 34-year-old Terran Green was arrested and three law enforcement officers were wounded in the Thursday night shootout, none seriously. The officers did not return fire as Green retreated back inside. He was eventually coaxed from the home, apparently uninjured, Gonzalez said. The officers' names were not released, but Gonzalez said two Harris County deputies and one deputy U.S. marshal were wounded when they first approached a home where Green was barricaded. “He moved around and then eventually landed at this location” during the manhunt, Gonzalez said. Officers used smoke and heavy equipment that penetrated the walls of the home before Green surrendered. “Obviously he saw that we were going to be relentless, we weren't going anywhere, we had strong support out here,” Gonzalez said. “I think he probably realized that it was kind of the end of the game.”

Associated Press

'Send everybody': Video shows ambush that killed Fargo officer, wounded 2 others

Dramatic body camera footage of a shooting ambush last month in Fargo shows the surprise nature of the chaotic attack along a busy street that left one police officer dead and others wounded, as the only officer left standing called for help and engaged the heavily armed shooter. North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley and Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski on Thursday presented the July 14 video footage taken from Officer Zach Robinson’s body camera of the attack that left North Dakota's biggest city shocked at the unusual violence. The scenes show gunman Mohamad Barakat shooting rapid fire from a .223-caliber rifle, modified with a binary trigger, that took down three officers before a breathless Robinson stopped him after a nearly 2-minute confrontation. The video also illustrates what authorities have said was likely part of a planned, larger attack, with an arsenal of guns and explosives found in Barakat’s vehicle. The attack began as the four officers were responding to a routine traffic crash. Gunfire erupted as three of them were standing or walking near Barakat’s vehicle in a lot. Barakat was not part of the crash, and he came upon the scene by happenstance, using it as an opportunity to stage an attack, Wrigley has said.

PoliceOne

Where is Hurricane Hilary? See live updates as the system moves toward SoCal

Hurricane Hilary strengthened to Category 4 hurricane as it move up Mexico's Pacific coast and threatened to bring heavy rain to Southern California in the coming days. Even trace amounts of rain would be rare for Los Angeles in August, the region's driest month of the year. The system is expected to weaken to a tropical storm once it hits colder water, but that could still mean unusual summer rainfall and flooding for widespread parts of Southern California. The storm will then lose strength as it gets closer to Southern California with wind speeds decreasing from 120 mph early Saturday to 70 mph Sunday night and 40 mph by Monday evening. "We're tracking what could be the remnants of a tropical storm that could bring some rain, especially Sunday into Monday," said NBC4 forecaster Belen De Leon. "It's going to become a major hurricane, but as it approaches the southwestern part of the United States it's going to weaken into a tropical storm. The winds are not going to be as strong, but it's still going to pack a punch."

NBC 4

Council Committees Back Bass’ Proposal to Purchase Mayfair Hotel

A Los Angeles City Council committee Thursday amended and approved a proposal from Mayor Karen Bass to purchase the Mayfair Hotel for approximately $83 million and use it as interim housing. The full council is slated to vote Friday on the proposal to use the Westlake district hotel as interim housing under Bass’ Inside Safe initiative, which aims to bring unhoused Angelenos inside to motels and address encampments across the city. The Budget, Finance and Innovation Committee met Thursday afternoon in the Council Chamber to hear public testimony and mull over details of the proposal. The panel’s discussion comes a day after the Housing and Homelessness Committee and Government Operations Committee held a joint session that went into the night to review the same proposal. 

MyNewsLA

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.