After arrests during wildfires, Los Angeles County DA Hochman looks to make looting a felony

After dozens of people were arrested in Los Angeles County wildfire zones, District Attorney Nathan Hochman has called for making looting during a local emergency a felony crime punishable by prison rather than county jail. In a statement Tuesday, Hochman said he and Orange County DA Todd Spitzer are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to amend his prior proclamation for a special legislative session so they can work to enact looting-related legislation. On Monday, Newsom announced the special session was being amended to address the state's response to LA wildfires. Some of the changes Hochman and Spitzer are calling for include sending those convicted of looting to state prison, requiring people suspected of looting to appear before a judge rather than being cited and released and making the crime of looting not eligible for diversion — an option usually available for nonviolent offenses which allows the crime to be later erased from a record.

CBS 2

Police Seek Help Locating Hit-and-Run Suspect

Police sought the public’s assistance Monday in locating a hit-and-run driver who severely injured a 29-year-old pedestrian in Koreatown. The pedestrian was struck Dec. 22 around 2:35 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police said a newer model white sedan traveling northbound on Catalina Street toward Wilshire Boulevard struck the pedestrian, who was crossing the street. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene and took the victim to a hospital for treatment. “Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a traffic collision, they 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,” police said in a statement. The city is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspect.

MyNewsLA

Man with rifle shows up at LADWP building, LA police say

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) building was briefly at the center of a police investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call of a man with a rifle on Tuesday, January 14 at around 7 p.m. The LAPD was told there was a man carrying a white bag in one hand and the gun in the other. LAPD was told the supervisors in the building made contact with the alleged gunman and the LAPD was eventually able to place the man in custody. Officials did not say if the man was working with DWP. No one was hurt in the gun scare. As of Tuesday night, officials did not say if they were able to figure out the suspect's motive.

FOX 11

California deputies arrest suspected thieves in $1,200 ‘meat heist’

Deputies dubbed it a “meat heist.” Two people made off with $1,200 in roasts, steaks and ribs from a Safeway supermarket in Cupertino, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 5 news release. The haul included ribeyes and other prime cuts, deputies said. But grocery workers caught the license plate of their black Toyota Prius, officials said. Deputies caught up to the accused thieves at home and rounded up the stolen food, officials said. The two were arrested and booked into jail. “Huge shoutout to the alert Safeway worker!” deputies said in the release. “The only thing well-done here is the teamwork!” Cupertino is about a 45-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.

The Bradenton Herald

Video: Connecticut police capture suspect after multi-state pursuit involving stolen Rhode Island cruiser

Police camera footage shows one of the steps law enforcement took this month to bring a high-speed chase involving a stolen police vehicle to an end, resulting in the arrest of a Rhode Island man. Jared Remson, 27, of Pawtucket, R.I., was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, failure to drive in the proper lane, first-degree larceny and interference with an arresting officer Jan. 4, after authorities say he stole a police vehicle in Rhode Island and led police on a pursuit that eventually ended in Preston. Connecticut State Police said they were alerted around 2:30 a.m. that Remson was on Interstate 95 south crossing into the state from Rhode Island in a stolen police cruiser, and a pursuit ensued after troopers spotted him near Exit 89. After taking the Exit 88 ramp to Route 117 in Groton, a state police report said Remson accelerated after spotting another state police vehicle and turned north onto Route 117. State police said they activated their lights and sirens to stop Remson, but the stolen vehicle continued driving and exceeded 100 mph at times. After being notified about the incident, state police said the Ledyard Police Department deployed stop sticks near the intersection of Route 117 and Route 2A.

Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.

The return of ‘tough-on-crime': States across the U.S. add harsher penalties, roll back loosened crime laws

Within minutes of his inauguration Monday, new Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe unleashed a volley of orders targeting crime. The tone-setting move reflects a national trend. After a period of relaxed sentencing laws, a tough-on-crime approach is back in political favor in the U.S. Republicans and Democrats alike are promoting anti-crime initiatives as a new year of lawmaking gets underway in state capitols. That comes after voters in several states approved ballot measures in the fall imposing stricter penalties for crimes ranging from shoplifting to deadly drug dealing. Kehoe, a Republican who cruised to election, took the oath of office at noon. Soon afterward, Kehoe said he issued orders aimed at capturing dangerous fugitives, boosting pay for veteran state law enforcement officers and training them to assist federal immigration authorities. He also said he ordered immigration-status data to be collected on people facing criminal charges. “Too many Missourians don’t feel safe, and too many Missourians aren’t safe,” Kehoe said. “When people are afraid for their lives and their family, they cannot be productive, and they will not prosper.”

Associated Press

Palisades Fire continues to burn with strong winds prompting another extreme fire warning

After killing at least nine people, the Palisades Fire continues to burn as residents remain under evacuation orders and warnings, with the next Santa Ana wind event continuing fire danger. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the area, with a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning in effect until Wednesday afternoon. "Severe fire weather conditions will continue through Wednesday. Please be assured that all fire departments and all law enforcement agencies in the area will be prepared," Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said at a Monday news conference. "The anticipated winds combined with low humidities and low fuel moistures will keep the fire threat in all Los Angeles County critical," he said. Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said that even though firefighting efforts have been successful over the past few days, extreme fire danger remains. 

CBS 2

Firefighters quickly contain new brush fire in Los Angeles County

Fire crews worked quickly to extinguish a new wildfire that erupted near Hansen Canyon Dam in the northeast San Fernando Valley Tuesday evening. Sky5 aerial footage showed the fire burning near an apartment complex along Foothill Boulevard. It was estimated to be roughly a half-acre in size as of 5:20 p.m. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Margaret Stewart told KTLA 5 News that no evacuations were ordered. Ground crews who arrived on the scene shortly after the fire started prevented it from extending to the apartment complex’s carport, Sky5 video showed. The cause of the fire was under investigation. No injuries were reported.

KTLA 5

Los Angeles City Council calls on water utility to explain dry hydrants, empty Santa Ynez Reservoir amid wildfires

Los Angeles leaders ordered an analysis of the city's water infrastructure on Tuesday, a week after the Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of buildings in the coastal community. It comes days after Gov. Gavin Newsom called for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure and unavailability of water from the 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservoir. The LA City Council unanimously approved 21 of 24 special motions, most of which were introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades neighborhoods devastated by one of California's most destructive blazes. In addition to the analysis, the city directed the Department of Water and Power to create communications protocols with the fire department to relay reservoir statuses. They also called for an independent report into the wildfire response and programs to help with long-term recovery efforts. "Our singular goal must be to ensure that residents have the resources they need to rebuild their lives and come home," Park said. 

CBS 2

L.A. City Council passes dozens of measures to aid recovery from catastrophic fires

The Los Angeles City Council adopted an array of measures Tuesday aimed at jump-starting recovery efforts for residents whose lives have been upended by devastating wildfires. In a rapid-fire series of votes, the council adopted measures to speed the arrival of federal emergency funds, assess the potential for post-fire mudslides and establish new safeguards against price gouging and evictions, particularly for pet owners and those who evacuated. One of the measures seeks to commission an independent “after-action” report on the city’s and county’s emergency responses to the fires. The council also took steps to help the city, its residents, workers and businesses access federal disaster relief funding and other forms of assistance. “As a city, our singular goal must be to ensure that residents have the resources they need to rebuild their lives and come home,” said Councilmember Traci Park, who wrote many of the motions approved Tuesday. 

Los Angeles Times

L.A. City Council members propose moratorium on evictions, rent increases amid wildfires

Los Angeles City Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martínez have introduced a motion to protect working-class residents from threats of eviction and rent increases amid the wildfire crisis in Southern California. Hernandez and Soto-Martinez represent District 1 and District 13, respectively, which include neighborhoods like Highland Park, Echo Park, Chinatown and Elysian Valley. The legislation calls for a moratorium on evictions for tenants affected by the fires and a one-year pause on rent hikes through January 2026. Under the motion, any tenant impacted by the recent wildfires couldn’t be evicted, should it pass. “The wildfires are still burning, and the scale of the devastation is mounting each day,” Hernandez said in a statement. Los Angeles is already in the midst of a housing and homelessness crisis. We cannot allow bad actors to take advantage of this catastrophe by price-gouging working-class tenants. If we don’t take immediate action, we will see a second wave of disaster as rents and evictions skyrocket in a market that is already one of the least affordable in the nation.”

KTLA 5

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.