Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates   Law Enforcement News Two Ordered to Stand Trial in Killing of Former `General Hospital’ Actor Two 18-year-old men were ordered Tuesday to stand trial in last year’s killing of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor as he came upon a group of people trying to steal the catalytic converter from his parked car in downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo said there was “sufficient evidence” after a nearly two-day hearing to allow the case against Robert Isaiah Barceleau and Sergio Estrada to proceed to trial on one count each of murder, attempted second-degree robbery and grand theft. The judge denied a motion by defense attorneys to dismiss the entire case, saying that it will be up to a jury to decide certain factual issues. The murder and attempted second-degree robbery charges stem from the May 25, 2024, attack on the 37-year-old actor, while the grand theft count involves the alleged removal of a catalytic converter from another vehicle within two miles and less than a half-hour before Wactor’s killing. Barceleau is also facing a special-circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a robbery, along with allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury and death to Wactor. MyNewsLA LA woman takes matters into own hands by scaring off would-be intruders "There were three masked men trying to break into my home," recalls Hilary Delaney. The terrifying incident occurred on December 30 in Hollywood at 3 p.m. Delaney was in her bedroom when she heard noises and then noticed three masked intruders in her backyard. She remembers an overwhelming sense of fear. "Oh my God, oh no, oh no," she kept repeating. When Delaney spotted one of the men attempting to break a window with a metal object, she swiftly transformed from a frightened potential victim to a woman in charge. She demonstrated what she did next: "I'm going to shoot you!" "Get out of my house… get out now! "I will f*****g kill you. I will f*****g shoot you!" Delaney continued to threaten the intruders, yelling, "Go! I will shoot you… I will kill you, go!" Her assertiveness worked. Within seconds, the intruders were seen on security video fleeing in panic. "I felt so angry and scared, but in the end, I do feel very proud of myself for defending my home and my family," says Delaney. The Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the incident and took a report. FOX 11 Robbery suspect in Southern California flees in driverless Waymo vehicle A robbery suspect who hit a grocery store in the Fairfax District and attempted to flee in a self-driving vehicle Monday night is in custody, police confirmed to KTLA. Details are limited, but the Los Angeles Police Department said the incident unfolded just before 8:30 p.m. at the Ralphs grocery store located at the intersection of West 3rd Street and La Brea Avenue. Details are limited and it’s unclear exactly what happened inside the store, with police saying the suspect, who stole an unknown amount of merchandise, got into an altercation with the store’s security guard before fleeing in an autonomous Waymo vehicle. There are unconfirmed reports that the suspect used pepper spray to evade the security guard, though police have yet to confirm that specific detail. Responding officers were informed that the suspect fled in a Waymo and were eventually able to locate the autonomous vehicle. KTLA 5 Video shows Mercedes Benz weaving past large group riding bicycles in Mid-Wilshire Video shows speeding driver narrowly miss a large group of people on bicycles in a harrowing scene on a street in Los Angeles' Mid-Wilshire area. Los Angeles police responded to a call from the cyclists at about 2 p.m. Saturday. In the video, a white Mercedes Benz sedan can be seen weaving past cyclists traveling the same direction with traffic in lanes on Olympic Boulevard. At one point, the Mercedes Benz was traveling the wrong way on the street. NBC Los Angeles A part-time actor claimed he created a COVID-19 cure. Now he’ll spend more than 8 years in prison A part-time actor was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison Monday for soliciting investors in companies that prosecutors said marketed a bogus cure and treatment for COVID-19. Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, 57, was convicted in May of 11 counts of wire fraud. Ahead of sentencing Monday morning, Middlebrook told The Times that he was “innocent completely” and that “this is going to be appealed.” Middlebrook made similar comments to the judge during the hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, stating that he had consulted with seven attorneys and eight doctors “from the very beginning, for a product of this magnitude.” “It is clear that Mr. Middlebrook still denies that he has committed any crime, which causes significant concern that he will continue to commit similar crimes in the future,” U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer said before handing down her sentence. A major point of contention during the sentencing hearing centered around Middlebrook’s alleged relationship with former Lakers point guard Magic Johnson. Los Angeles Times NLEOMF report shows 25% increase in officer deaths in 2024 The number of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty nationwide rose by 25% in 2024, according to preliminary data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The organization’s 2024 End-of-Year Report revealed 147 officers lost their lives while serving, compared to 118 in 2023. Gunfire remained the leading cause of death, accounting for 52 fatalities, a 13% increase from 2023, according to the report. Nine officers were shot and killed during traffic enforcement, eight during arrest attempts and another eight while serving warrants or eviction papers. Additional deaths occurred during ambushes (5), tactical encounters (4) and responses to domestic disturbances (4). There were also three accidental shootings and two off-duty deaths involving robbery intervention. Traffic-related fatalities saw the largest year-over-year increase, rising 48% from 31 deaths in 2023 to 46 in 2024, according to the report. Twenty-five officers were killed in automobile crashes, four in motorcycle crashes and 17 “struck-by” incidents, where officers were hit outside their vehicles — a 113% increase from eight such cases in 2023. Other causes of death claimed the lives of 49 officers, including 35 fatal medical events and rarer incidents such as drownings (4), beatings (4) and aircraft crashes (2), according to the report. Two officers were stabbed, one was electrocuted and one died while assisting in a fire incident. PoliceOne Suspect in shooting of Indiana officer fatally shot by police in Kentucky A man suspected of shooting an Indiana sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot during a confrontation with police in Louisville, NBC Chicago reported. Indiana State Police and Louisville Metro Police officers located the suspect, Austin Schepers, 33, at a home in Louisville on Jan. 4, according to the report. Schepers had been wanted in connection with the shooting of Orange County Deputy Zach Andry in West Baden Springs, Indiana, about 56 miles from Louisville. Authorities reported that Schepers was shot and killed during a confrontation at the residence, though details about the incident were not immediately available, according to the report. The initial shooting occurred when Andry approached Schepers’ vehicle, which was stopped in the middle of the road. As the deputy engaged with Schepers, the suspect opened fire multiple times before fleeing, according to the report. Andry, who was struck multiple times, including in the head, remained in critical but stable condition as of Jan. 4. A statewide Blue Alert had been issued to locate Schepers prior to the fatal encounter in Louisville. PoliceOne Public Safety News 30,000 evacuated in Palisades Fire as high winds batter Southern California Tens of thousands fled their homes as a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades quickly spread to nearly 3,000 acres Tuesday, a blaze that authorities said could grow further as even stronger winds are expected through the night. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the Palisades Fire started at 10:30 a.m. near 1190 North Piedra Morada Dr. With winds reaching at least 40 mph, the flames quickly spread to about 200 acres and grew exponentially. It continued to spread rapidly through the hillsides. As of 6:30 p.m., the fire had burned 2,921 acres. Authorities evacuated about 30,000 people as flames threatened more than 10,000 homes. "We're not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination," Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters Tuesday afternoon, saying that the state dispatched 110 fire engines to Southern California in anticipation of the high winds. LAFD said they received reports of multiple burn victims. One firefighter sustained serious head injury while trying to douse the flames. She recevied treatment at the scene and taken to a local hospital for evaluation, according to LAFD. CBS 2 Firefighters protect buildings from Hollywood Hills brush fire Firefighters stopped forward progress of a brush fire Tuesday morning that threatened buildings in the Hollywood Hills on a day of red flag warnings due to powerful Santa Ana winds in Southern California. The fire was reported at about 10 a.m. in the 8400 block of West Sunset Boulevard. Forward progress was stopped before 11 a.m. Smoke could be seen in the Hollywood area. The fire was estimated at about 3 acres. Details about how the fire started were not immediately available. Red flag warnings indicating high fire danger went into effect Tuesday morning for widespread parts of the region. The warnings are expected to remain in place through Thursday. Powerful offshore winds developed Tuesday morning when red flag warnings began for the Malibu coast, Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, and the San Gabriel, San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. The warning is expected to expire at 6 p.m. Thursday. NBC 4 Local Government News Amid fears about Hollywood’s future, L.A. approves $1-billion Television City project For the past two and a half years, the battle for the future of L.A.’s Fairfax Avenue corridor has been raging between economic powerhouses. Hackman Capital Partners, which owns and operates nearly two dozen studio properties, has been seeking to expand and modernize the historic 25-acre site known as Television City, where “American Idol,” “All in the Family” and scores of other shows were filmed. Two neighborhood giants have pushed back against the project: A.F. Gilmore Co., which owns the Original Farmers Market, and the Grove LLC, which owns the popular Grove shopping center developed by billionaire Rick Caruso. Those businesses joined with neighborhood groups who say the project is too big and, without changes, will make local traffic much worse. The debate over the $1-billion project has played out amid a serious downturn in the region’s entertainment industry, with studios shifting film and television production to Georgia, New Mexico and other out-of-state locations. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council sided with Hackman, voting 13-0 to approve the TVC project, including its environmental impact report, its tract map and new zoning for the site. Los Angeles Times LA Approves $31 Fee to Cover Enforcement of Tenant Protections The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday approved a $31.05 fee for apartments built in or after 1979, which housing officials say would help the enforcement of tenant protections for more renters. In a 13-0 vote, council members established the fee to generate funding for the Los Angeles Housing Department. More staff are needed to enforce tenant protections, covering buildings not subject to the rent-stabilization ordinance, according to a report from housing officials. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez was absent during the vote, and Councilman Curren Price recused himself because he is a landlord. LAHD is expected to gain more resources to regulate evictions of non-RSO multi-family apartments, rentals in single-family homes and condominiums, as well as assist with relocations due to “no-fault” evictions and help renters with pets stay in their homes, among other things. Housing officials estimate 381,173 units will be impacted by the fee and fund 63 new positions in fiscal year 2024-25. MyNewsLA About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 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. Listen To Our Podcast Los Angeles Police Protective League | 1308 W 8th St | Los Angeles, CA 90017 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Our Privacy Policy | Constant Contact Data Notice