Watch: Ill. police officer, firefighter rescue family trapped in apartment fire

A police officer and firefighter are being credited with a swift and effective rescue after an apartment fire trapped a family on the third floor. The blaze broke out on June 9 around 12:30 p.m. at 115 Essington Road. Joliet Fire Department Battalion Chief Dan Berta was returning from a vehicle crash on Interstate 80 when the initial alarm was dispatched and he was the first one on the scene, the Herald News reported. Berta notified responding companies that three people — a mother, father and a 3-year-old child — were trapped on the third-floor balcony, with fire showing from the second floor. Body-worn camera video from Joliet Police Officer Salazar shows a maintenance worker retrieving an extension ladder from a nearby shed and joining Berta in reaching a third-floor balcony, according to fire officials. As they positioned the ladder, a resident hanging from the balcony attempted to lower himself to the second floor by gripping the railing, but lost his hold and fell to the ground.

PoliceOne

Shooting in L.A. neighborhood leaves male, female dead

Police are searching for a suspect who shot and killed two people in the Central-Alameda neighborhood of Los Angeles overnight. Officers responded to the 1100 block of East 50th Street around 11 p.m. Monday, where they found the two gunshot victims, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA. An unidentified female victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim, described only as a male, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, the spokesperson said. It was unclear where the shooting took place, but video showed a white canopy set up between a row of parked cars on the neighborhood street as investigators were at the scene. No further details regarding the shooting or any possible motive were provided. Police were also unable to describe the suspect or any possible suspect vehicle.

KTLA 5

Postal worker shot in South LA neighborhood

A U.S. Postal Service worker was shot while delivering mail in the Green Meadows neighborhood of South Los Angeles Monday. Police were notified at around 11:06 a.m. about a shooting on East 100th Street and South Central Avenue. The shooting victim, who is about 35 years old, was a mail delivery officer, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed. "The United Sates Postal Inspection Service and the Los Angeles Police Department responded after receiving reports of a letter carrier who was shot in the South Los Angeles area,'' Postal Inspector Patricia Mendoza said in a statement. "The Postal Inspection Service can confirm the postal employee was shot. This is an active investigation, and no additional information can be provided at this time.'' The suspect, who is believed to be armed with a handgun, was described as a male about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds and was last seen with a black shirt and black pants. There’s no word yet on whether police know the identity of the suspect or the motive for the shooting.

NBC 4

Driver flees after crashing into Hollywood 7-Eleven

Police are searching for the driver of a car that slammed into a 7-Eleven store in Hollywood before driving away on Monday night. Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded quickly to the scene, as their station is located just behind the convenience store, but by the time they arrived the driver had already fled. It's unclear what caused the collision and Los Angeles police have begun their investigation and search for the driver. They say that there were no injuries to anyone inside of the store. There was no information immediately available on the suspect or vehicle involved. SkyCal flew over the scene, where the front of the store could be seen with severe damage. Some of the parking lot was blocked off by crime scene tape as investigators began their probe into the incident. 

CBS 2

Man sentenced to nearly 26 years in state prison for 2 sexual assaults in Angeles National Forest

A 41-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years and eight months in state prison for sexually assaulting two women in the Angeles National Forest. Eduardo Sarabia pleaded no contest to one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and kidnapping involving the May 2024 attacks, along with two counts of lewd act on a child under 14 involving two young children -- one between February 2010 and February 2012 and the other between April 2021 and April 2022, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Sarabia was arrested May 13 and has remained behind bars since then, jail records show. The two women were attacked in separate incidents - on May 12 and 13 between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. - in the remote canyon hills above Azusa, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

ABC 7

LA County executives sentenced for faulty dehumidifiers linked to more than 450 fires, DOJ says

Two men from LA County have been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for defective dehumidifiers linked to hundreds of fires. Simon Chu, 70, and Charley Loh, 67, were corporate executives for Gree USA, according to the Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors said the two men received multiple reports that the dehumidifiers manufactured by their counterparts in China were defective and could catch on fire in September 2012, but did not notify the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. They continued to sell the humidifiers for at least six months before sending the report to the CPSC, according to the DOJ. Federal prosecutors said that recall notes stated that the dehumidifiers were linked to more than 450 fires and millions of dollars of property damage. "Corporate executives who choose to ignore the law will be held accountable – especially when death and serious injuries result," United States Attorney Bill Essayli said. "By putting profits over the safety of others, these defendants created serious risks to consumers, and we will continue to prosecute those who endanger the public."  

CBS 2

Southern California man accused of raping teen, fleeing to Las Vegas

A man accused of raping a 17-year-old in Phelan was arrested after he allegedly fled to Las Vegas to avoid potential charges, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Daniel Chiaramonte, 34, was arrested Thursday with the help of Nevada authorities. Chiaramonte is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl earlier this month in his hometown of Phelan. Details about the alleged crime are limited, but Sheriff’s Department officials said Chiaramonte fled to Las Vegas upon learning about the investigation. An arrest warrant was obtained Monday, and he was arrested days later. Chiaramonte is a felon convicted of similar crimes, and was currently out on bail after being charged in another case, officials said. He’s since been transferred back to San Bernardino County where he awaits charges for rape and possession of a firearm, as well as charges for allegedly committing the crimes while out on bail.

KTLA 5

4 Chilean nationals arrested in $3 million Southern California jewelry heist 

Four members of a burglary crew were arrested in connection with a $3 million jewelry store heist in Ventura County. The suspects, all Chilean nationals, were identified by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office as: Heidy Nickolt Trujillo, 25; Camilo Antonio Aguliar Lara, 31; Sergio Andres Meji-Machuca, 27; and Manuel David Ibarra, 37. Beginning in May, the burglary crew is accused of a scheme targeting 5 Star Jewelry & Watch repair, a family-owned business on Cochran Street in Simi Valley. On May 20, three suspects arrived at the store in a white Volvo SUV, where two people conducted surveillance and peered into the store through the front window. They entered Dr. Conkey’s Candy and Coffee shop next door to assess the location of any surveillance cameras. They also allegedly inspected the walls that adjoin the jewelry store.

KTLA 5

South Carolina executes a murderer sent to death row twice

A South Carolina man sent to death row twice for separate murders was put to death Friday by lethal injection in the state’s sixth execution in nine months. Stephen Stanko, 57, was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m. He was executed for shooting a friend and then cleaning out his bank account in Horry County in 2005. Stanko also was serving a death sentence for killing his live-in girlfriend in her Georgetown County home hours earlier, strangling her as he raped her teenage daughter. Stanko slit the teen’s throat, but she survived. The execution began after a 3½-minute final statement in which Stanko apologized to his victims and asked not to be judged by the worst day of his life. Witnesses could hear prison officials asking for the first dose of pentobarbital, which was different from previous executions. Stanko appeared to be speaking, turned toward the families of the victims, and then let out several quick breaths as his lips quivered.

Los Angeles Times

Dead body found at on-ramp of 405 Freeway in Van Nuys

An investigation is underway after a dead body was discovered near an on-ramp of a freeway in L.A. County. According to officials at the California Highway Patrol, authorities received a call about the deceased individual at or near the Haskell Avenue on-ramp to the southbound 405 Freeway in Van Nuys. Details are limited and it’s unclear how the person died. Officials have also not released any information on the victim’s identity, age or gender. Footage of the investigation captured by KTLA shows a wide swath of the area cordoned off earlier Sunday by yellow and red crime scene tape. A white canopy had been set up over the deceased as investigators presumably combed the area and the victim for any evidence related to the incident.  

KTLA 5

Fire in Van Nuys Apartment Knocked Down

A fire burning in a four-story residential structure was knocked down in Van Nuys Sunday. Around 5:35 p.m. Sunday, crews responded to the 6700 block of North Sylmar Avenue, east of the San Diego (405) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Flames were initially reported showing from the first floor balcony of the three-story apartment over a parking structure, before being knocked down in 12 minutes. No injuries were reported. The cause was under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Firefighters Limit Damage from Flames in Chesterfield Square Fourplex

Flames damaged the contents of a closet on the second floor or a two-story fourplex in the Chesterfield Square area of Los Angeles Saturday. The fire was reported at 3:14 p.m. Saturday at 1860 W. 68th St. and was out in 13 minutes without damaging the attic or surrounding walls of the apartment unit, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz. All occupants of the building got out safely, Lantz said. One patient was assessed for injuries and released without transport to a hospital.

MyNewsLA

City Council to consider extending DTLA curfew despite pushback from business owners

As business owners push for the end of the curfew in a portion of downtown Los Angeles, which they say is hurting their bottom line, the City Council could be poised to extend that curfew. Mayor Karen Bass implemented the curfew June 10 in response to vandalism and looting that happened during protests over the Trump administration's immigration raids. On Monday, she eased the hours of enforcement and pushed the start of the nightly curfew back to 10 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. It affects a one-mile section of downtown L.A. City leaders say the curfew has been successful in preventing more damage in the area. The City Council is expected to discuss the possibility of extending how long the curfew will be in effect during its meeting on Tuesday. At this point, the curfew has no end date.

ABC 7

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,800 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.