LAPD Pursues, Detains Murder Suspect

A murder suspect who was being pursued by police Wednesday morning was taken into custody following a perimeter search in South Los Angeles. Officers were following the suspect around 9:05 a.m. Wednesday, and that turned into a chase that ended in the area of Western Avenue and 54th Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman. The suspect managed to flee on foot and the area was cordoned off for a search that ended around 10:25 a.m. with the suspect taken into custody. Metro Bus Line 208, which operates along Western Avenue, detoured east to Normandie Avenue during the investigation. Details about the murder case were not immediately available.

MyNewsLA

Boyle Heights neighbors say they notice reduced crime during National Night Out event

On Tuesday night, cities across the nation hosted National Night Out events. In Los Angeles, one of the goals is to reduce crime and restore trust between the community and police. But, is it actually working? Neighbors in Boyle Heights say they believe it is. Music, dancing, food and a petting zoo brought the crowd and the vibes to East L.A. Organizers say National Night Out is a summertime party with a purpose. "It's about safety. It's about community. And it's about building trust and relationships," said LAPD Asst. Chief Emada Tingirides. For the past 16 years, National Night Out has given Officer Donald Levier the opportunity to personally connect with kids and teens in Boyle Heights. "That really, really strikes home because it gives me a chance to kind of humanize the badge," Levier said. Similar events were held across Southern California on Tuesday, including in San Gabriel.

ABC 7

Arrest made in Hollywood hit-and-run crash that left 37-year-old woman dead

After more than a month of investigation, Los Angeles police have announced an arrest in the deadly hit-and-run crash that left a 37-year-old woman dead in Hollywood in late June. The crash happened on June 29 at around 9 p.m., when Erika "Tilly" Edwards was struck by a Mercedes-Benz G Wagon in the 7500 block of W. Sunset Boulevard, police said at the time. Since then, police have continued their search for the suspect, which finally culminated in an arrest back on July 22, nearly a month after investigators first told CBS News Los Angeles that they believed they had a person if interest connected to the crash. He was identified by LAPD detectives as Davontay Robins on Wednesday. Police said that he was arrested at his home, which is not far from the scene of the crash. They said they made the connection by using security camera footage in the area and after they received an anonymous tip. Investigators located the G Wagon at a body shop, which they believe Robins brought the car to in order to repair the damage sustained in the crash. They said that some of the parts of the car had already been removed, and that there was spray paint on a portion of the vehicle's exterior.

CBS 2

Investigators share new details in 2019 disappearance of Los Angeles County man connected to religious group

Investigators are releasing new details on a Claremont man's disappearance in 2017, who has recently been connected to another man missing from the Inland Empire since they both belonged to the same religious group. Ruben Moreno, 41, was last seen in Dec. 2017 at a home in the 3900 block of Swarthmore Court, according to the Claremont Police Department. They say that he was one amongst members of a religious organization known as "His Way Spirit Led Assemblies." Detectives noted that Moreno was living at the residence with other members of the group at the time. None of them live at or occupy the residence any longer, police noted. Though he wasn't seen after then, family members didn't report him missing until August of 2019. Since then, police have been unable to locate any leads that led to Moreno's location. He is described as standing about 5-foot-6 and weighing around 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. "We are aware of public interest in possible connections between this case and a separate missing persons investigation out of Redlands," CPD said in a press release. "At this time, the only similarity between the two cases are the individuals' ties to His Way Spirit Led Assemblies."

CBS 2

Kan. K-9 stabbed during standoff with suspect

A K9 was injured when he was stabbed assisting police in response to a standoff in Kansas City, Kansas on Tuesday, police said. Officers with the KCK police department responded around 3:45 a.m. to the 900 block of Riverview Avenue after a call about an assault between family members. A caller advised a family member had not returned to the residence after an alleged assault with a knife earlier in the evening, said Officer T.J. Tomasic, a police spokesperson, in an email. When officers arrived at the residence, a man barricaded himself inside, Tomasic said. Officers with the Shawnee Police Department later assisted on scene with the help of a K9 unit. As officers made entry into the home to arrest the man, the K9 was stabbed, Tomasic said. The 4-year-old K9, named Dagger, was taken to an area veterinarian and is expected to make a full recovery. The suspect involved in the standoff surrendered around 7:30 a.m. , and was taken into custody, Tomasic said. Dagger began his tenure as a K9 at the Shawnee Police Department in May 2023 , according to Emily Rittman, a Shawnee police spokesperson.

Kansas City Star

FBI: Violent crime dropped 4.5% in 2024

The FBI has released comprehensive crime data for 2024, showing an estimated 4.5% decline in violent crime across the United States compared with the previous year. The data, compiled through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, is based on over 14 million reported criminal offenses submitted by more than 16,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, according to the FBI. The agencies participating in the UCR Program represent 95.6% of the U.S. population and reported through both the National Incident-Based Reporting System and the Summary Reporting System. The FBI noted that this year’s report, for the first time, uses the revised 2013 definition of rape for all violent crime estimates dating back to 2013, streamlining its crime reporting standards. Prior to 2017, the FBI published data using both legacy and revised definitions. In 2024, 16,419 agencies participated in the Hate Crime collection, population coverage of 95.1% of the U.S. population. Agencies reported 11,679 criminal incidents involving 13,683 related offenses motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity.

PoliceOne

Rescuers pried a woman out of the chimney of an L.A.-area rec center. She was back the next day

The daily routine of exercise classes and basketball games, among other activities at the San Fernando Recreation Park and Aquatic Center, was broken up Tuesday evening by an unusual emergency: An unidentified 30-year-old woman was stuck in a chimney atop a small storage building at the center. Los Angeles city fire officials confirmed they needed an hour and 15 minutes to rescue the woman from her predicament. She was taken to a hospital by paramedics in fair condition shortly after being pulled out around 8 p.m. No additional health update was provided. Even more unusual: The same woman returned the next day and was caught trying to climb back on the same roof, an official said. Fire officials said the woman was not affiliated with or had business at the recreation center. They said questions about her housing status or the reason why she climbed onto the rock-structure building should be directed to San Fernando police.

Los Angeles Times

Search called off for woman missing in Venice Beach

The search for a woman who went missing in Venice Beach Wednesday night has been called off, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The woman was reported missing at around 11 p.m. Wednesday and was last seen near the Venice beach pier. It was unknown who the woman was with or if she was alone. It is also not clear if she was swimming in the water. At around 1:19 a.m., the search was called off, LACoFD said. The woman has not been found and it is not clear if the search for her will resume in the morning. No further details were immediately available.

NBC 4

SoCal heat wave peaks Thursday, but sweltering temperatures will last for days

The worst of Southern California’s ongoing heat wave is expected to land Thursday, but relief is not yet in sight. Temperatures will remain toasty over the weekend, and another hot spell is forecast next week. Temperatures will hit the triple digits in the San Fernando and Antelope valleys on Thursday, while interior regions of Los Angeles County will see temperatures in the 90s, according to the National Weather Service. Lancaster even has a shot at matching its previous daily temperature record of 107 degrees, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Devin Black. “Temperatures will warm up to 4 to 8 degrees above normal Thursday, especially away from the immediate coast,” the weather service said. “A slight cooling trend is [forecast for] Friday through the weekend but temperatures will remain above normal away from the immediate coast well into next week.” A slight weakening of the high pressure system and an increase in onshore flow Friday and Saturday are expected to bring temperatures down one to three degrees. However, warmer valleys are still expected to reach 100 degrees. Current models predict that the weather will warm up again on Monday, probably hitting temperatures similar to Thursday’s.

Los Angeles Times

LA City Council unanimously votes to allocate $2M for guaranteed income program

The Los Angeles City Council allocated $2 million for a new guaranteed income pilot program intended to serve survivors of domestic violence and foster youth on Wednesday. In a unanimous vote, council members requested that the city controller transfer $1 million each from two accounts associated with Council Districts 9 and 13 for the program, known as Supporting Transitional-Aged Youth and Survivors in Achieving Financial Empowerment, or STAY SAFE. Council members Curren Price and Hugo Soto-Martinez, who represent Council Districts 9 and 13, respectively, led the effort. The program is expected to provide $1,000 per month for two years to survivors of intimate partner violence and transitional-aged youth who are current or former foster youth between the ages of 16 and 24.

ABC 7

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,700 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.