Robbery suspect armed with gun, pool noodle, police say

The suspect in a robbery of a Subway restaurant Monday night in Exposition Park was armed with more than a gun, according to Los Angeles police. He also wielded a green pool noodle. Around 7:30 p.m. officers responded to a call at the fast food restaurant, which is located in a shopping center near the Coliseum in the 1000 block of West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Witnesses described an alleged armed robbery committed by a white male, dressed in all black, including a black ski mask. The suspect was armed with the gun and pool noodle, said Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson David Cuellar. He added it was unusual for armed robbers to carry pool noodles. “The first time I’ve heard of it,” Cuellar said. Cuellar had no details about the pool noodle other than its color. The suspect stole an undetermined amount of money and was last seen fleeing on foot eastbound on MLK Boulevard, he said. 

Los Angeles Times

Man detained after Griffith Park arson fire held on unrelated charges

The LAPD said Tuesday a man arrested by officers after a small brush fire burned in Griffith Park was booked on unrelated warrants, and there was not enough probable cause to hold him on suspicion of starting the fire. Kevin A. Calderon, 26, was detained by officers about a mile from the scene of the fire and was being held on two misdemeanor warrants. "Not enough probable cause was established to arrest for arson," the LAPD said. Prosecutors had not yet considered Tuesday whether or not there was enough evidence to file a charge related to the fire. The fire was first reported around 1:30 p.m. Monday on a hillside below the Griffith Observatory on a day when a red flag warning was issued for parts of LA County. It burned about a quarter-acre of brush before it was extinguished by LA City Park Rangers and LAFD firefighters with the assistance of a water-dropping helicopter. No buildings were threatened or damaged. Authorities said eyewitnesses in the area saw a man close to the hillside where the fire started, snapped photos, and shared the photos with police.

NBC 4

Fleeing driver crashes in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley

A suspect was taken into custody after a police chase ended with a crash in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley Tuesday afternoon. The pursuit began at about 2:52 p.m. when, according to LAPD, officers with the North Hollywood Division attempted to stop the suspect, who was “wanted” for an undisclosed crime. Two minutes later, the suspect crashed along Vanowen Street just west of the 170 Freeway in Valley Glen. Sky5 footage showed the suspect’s white SUV overturned next to a utility pole. Police said the suspect jumped out of the SUV and tried to run away but was quickly apprehended. They were treated by paramedics at the scene, Sky5’s Gil Leyvas reported.

KTLA 5

A$AP Rocky rejects plea deal in Hollywood assault case as trial begins

A$AP Rocky rejected a plea deal from prosecutors in his Hollywood assault case Tuesday as the trial began in downtown Los Angeles, a little over two years after he was charged with opening fire on a former friend and collaborator. Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, has been in a long-running relationship with singer and business mogul Rihanna and the couple has two children together. His defense attorney previously told a judge that she may attend part of the trial in support. Mayers, 36, allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim and fired twice in his direction during a later confrontation in Hollywood on Nov. 6, 2021, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The victim — fellow artist and childhood friend Terell Ephron, who previously performed as A$AP Relli — testified last year that bullets grazed his knuckles and he decided to seek medical treatment at a hospital after flying back to New York. Both men were once members of the hip hop collective known as A$AP Mob. Since being arrested in April 2022, the Grammy-nominated rapper has maintained his innocence.

CBS 2

More than 200 roosters and firearms found in cockfighting bust in Southern California

Two men were arrested on suspicion of operating a cockfighting ring involving more than 200 roosters in Southern California, authorities announced Monday. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies from the Yucaipa Station were dispatched around 10:02 a.m. Sunday to an illegal cockfighting ring on Avenue E in Yucaipa, according to the sheriff’s department. When deputies arrived, about 50 vehicles were at the address and most of them tried to drive away. One of the drivers accelerated toward a patrol unit when deputies tried to stop the vehicle. The deputy dodged the car and tried to initiate a traffic stop, which led to a police pursuit, officials said. The vehicle stopped near 16th Street and Yucaipa Boulevard, where a driver and three others were taken into custody, according to authorities. Six roosters were found in the cargo of the car and the driver, Jose Adame, was arrested on assault charges. 

Los Angeles Times

Convicted ‘American Nightmare’ rapist pleads guilty to two more home invasions

Matthew Muller, the notorious kidnapper whose most infamous crime was detailed in the Netflix documentary “American Nightmare,” appeared Friday in court and pleaded guilty to two additional crimes. Wearing a brown Santa Clara County jail uniform, Muller, 47, replied with a taciturn series of “yes” answers as Superior Court Judge Cynthia A. Sevely confirmed he was admitting guilt in two home invasions in 2009. In both cases, Muller broke into homes in the early hours, bound his female victims and attempted to drug and sexually assault them. In total, Muller is now suspected or convicted in at least six violent crimes, beginning when he was 16. “This extremely dangerous person left a trail of traumatized and terrified victims,” Dist. Atty. Jeff Rosen said. “It took the collective courage of his victims and determined law enforcement officers to stop him. This nightmare is over.” The Santa Clara charges against Muller came about as a result of the work of an unlikely team of law enforcement officers and the two victims in the Vallejo case, Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn. Over the last 10 months, the pair said, they obtained clues about the crimes — and even confessions — from Muller before approaching local authorities with jurisdiction in the incidents.

Los Angeles Times

California PDs form alliance amid crime spike, low staffing

As Antioch looks to increase the presence of law enforcement to reduce criminal activity in hot spots around the city, the Oakley Police Department will now be available to step up and help its counterpart. The Oakley City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Antioch’s request to periodically use outside police agencies as force multipliers in support of the neighboring police department. Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard said Antioch requested aid due to “compromised staffing” and an uptick in incidents in the Sycamore corridor, which overwhelmed the department. “I do consider that what is happening in Antioch to be fairly localized to the borders of Antioch , to the jurisdiction of Antioch,” said Beard. “But we share a border with Antioch , and I feel that the corrosion of values that have occurred in Antioch tend to leak out beyond its borders, and by that, we can be negatively impacted.” Beard said two of his officers recently were involved in a pursuit of an alleged stolen vehicle involving two Antioch residents.

Bay Area News Group

Video: Teen points fake gun at students, tells officers it was ‘supposed to be suicide by cop’

After a teenager walked onto school grounds this week and pointed a fake long gun at children, some of whom were out on the playground, educators around Connecticut are thinking about how they would handle such a situation, a school safety expert said. The 17-year-old never fired what turned out to be an airsoft rifle or pellet gun, and looked like an assault weapon. The teen, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was arrested on numerous charges. While most schools have procedures and hardware — such as door locks — in place to stop or slow an active shooter in a school building, it’s hard to protect students out on a playground. “I guarantee you, schools across the state now are table-topping this kind of scenario,” said Amery E. Bernhardt, director of the Center for School Safety and Crisis Preparation at Western Connecticut State University. “They’re doing their own assessment of their protocol based on this scenario.” “You’re going to have people who want fences and walls,” he said. “It becomes difficult when emotion gets involved.”

New Haven Register

Firefighters prevent spread of fire next to commercial building in downtown LA

Firefighters knocked down a fire Tuesday morning in a parking lot outside a flooring supplier building in downtown Los Angeles. The fire was reported at about 7:40 a.m. in the 1400 block of Paloma Street outside KK Flooring, a wood and laminate flooring supplier. What appeared to be a boat burned in the parking lot next to the commercial building. Two cars parked on the street near a homeless encampment also were damaged. A long plume of smoke was drifting over the downtown LA area north of the 10 Freeway. Details about how the fire started were not immediately available. Flames did not extend to the building.

NBC 4

Red flag warning extended near Palisades Fire

The dangerous fire conditions in Southern California are expected to last a little longer than previously anticipated. The red flag warning was set to expire at 2 p.m., but the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in an alert that it had been extended until 10 p.m. Tuesday. The extension means the soft road closure near the Palisades Fire area has been extended as well. The following areas are limited to residents only: Topanga Cyn Blvd/Mulholland Dr (southbound) and Old Topanga Cyn Rd/Mulholland Hwy (southbound). “Please note the current Hard Closure on Topanga Cyn Blvd between Grand View Dr – PCH remains in effect until further notice,” Sheriff’s Department officials added.

KTLA 5

Norovirus cases confirmed at Pasadena Convention Center evacuation shelter

The Pasadena Public Health Department confirmed a Norovirus outbreak at its wildfire evacuation shelter. Public health officials detected three cases of acute gastrointestinal illness in a cluster of 28 people at the Pasadena Convention Center. The department said the illness commonly spreads in communal living spaces like the evacuation shelter. Norovirus is a very contagious illness that causes vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the US, with roughly 19 to 21 million cases every year. Most people will feel between within three days. Before then, the virus can make someone feel extremely ill with several instances of vomiting and diarrhea throughout the day. It could cause dehydration, especially in children, older adults and people with other illnesses, according to the PPHD. The department said it will install more handwashing stashing and implement more frequent restroom cleaning as well as disinfectants strong enough to kill Norovirus. 

CBS 2

LA Council OKs Hilton Universal City Hotel Project

The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday approved plans to expand Hilton Universal City Hotel with the construction of a 18-story building connecting to the main property and providing more amenities to guests. In a unanimous vote, council members adopted a vesting zone change, height requirements, approved conditional use permits for the sale of alcohol on-site and live entertainment, and signed off on the final environmental impact review for the project. There was no prior discussion. According to City Planning documents, the project will add to the existing 24-story building, located at 555 E. Universal Hollywood Drive. The 18-story building is set to provide 395 guestrooms, a spa, three restaurants, an indoor/outdoor bar, two pools, a single-level lobby lounge/bar connecting to the main hotel. Additionally, plans detail construction of a meeting room and a three-level parking garage.

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.