Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates   Law Enforcement News Hit-and-run suspect flees from crash with LAPD patrol car in Porter Ranch An alleged hit-and-run suspect fled from the scene of a crash involving a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser in Porter Ranch on Wednesday night. It happened at around 10:40 p.m. near Chatsworth Street and Wilbur Avenue, LAPD officials told CBS Los Angeles. They say that a white or silver sedan was driving southbound on Wilbur and hit the ajar door of the officer's patrol car. LAPD officials said that the officer suffered minor injuries in the crash but that they were expected to be okay. Police were in the area after learning of a different crash in the area, which involved a car that had somehow ended up on the sidewalk. With SkyCal on the scene, officers were spotted administering a sobriety test to someone. No further details were provided. CBS 2 High-stakes Hollywood Hills poker games tied to blackmail, murder, feds say An alleged Israeli mobster believed to be living in Mexico since being deported from the U.S. in 2011 is facing federal extortion charges in connection with a network of private high-stakes poker games in Los Angeles, according to multiple media reports. In an affidavit filed in federal court last week, Assaf “Ace” Waknine is accused of referencing the murder of Emil Lahaziel at a private Hollywood Hills poker game in 2023 during an alleged attempt to blackmail the host of another weekly game where the buy-in began at $20,000, and players were known to win or lose millions in a single night, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Israeli national was reportedly demanding $5,000 a game in “protection” fees. “I guess you really want to end up like your other b**** a** poker buddy,” the affidavit claims Waknine said in a text message after the host refused to pay. “I don’t know who you are and I’m in a meeting,” the victim of the alleged extortion scheme said before hanging up on Waknine. “F*** your meeting,” Waknine reportedly texted back. Homeland Security Investigations special agent Matthew Hernandez, who filed the affidavit, wrote that Waknine was tied to a “cottage industry” of private high-dollar poker games that gained momentum during COVID-19 and included players ranging from “A-list celebrities to wealthy entrepreneurs to professional and amateur poker players.” KTLA 5 LAPD to improve radio coverage, disaster planning after review of Palisades Fire response The LAPD said in a new after-action report that officers rushed into neighborhoods as the Palisades Fire exploded on Jan. 7 to help with evacuations and traffic control, but some of the initial response was hampered by road congestion, communications difficulties, and a lack of coordination with firefighters. The 92-page report made public this week identified a number of issues that the LAPD said need to be addressed before the City is confronted with another major emergency, including improving communications equipment to insure two-way radios will function in all areas during a disaster, rehearsing mock incidents alongside Fire or other departments, and training commanders on how to manage a large-scale emergencies. "The Palisades Fire was a once in a lifetime cataclysmic event," the report authors wrote. "The combination of extreme wind, dry conditions, unique topography, and the intricate design of roadways made it extremely difficult for first responders to save lives and protect property." "Despite those challenges, this report found that the LAPD took swift and decisive action to protect Palisades' residents," it said. A single patrol officer happened to be in the Palisades when the first reports of the fire were being called-in and firefighters dispatched, the report said. That officer immediately drove towards the smoke, helped with evacuations, and called dispatchers to request more help. NBC 4 Former Laker Christian Wood shoots at would-be home break-in suspects in Sherman Oaks A former Los Angeles Laker allegedly fought back against a group of possible would-be break-in suspects in Sherman Oaks. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to a "hot prowl" incident in the 14800 block of Otsego Street a little before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6. According to LAPD, NBA big man Christian Wood was inside the home and allegedly shot in the direction of the would-be suspects. The shots fired ended up scaring off the suspects, believed to be a total of three people, and they all allegedly took off in a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee, LAPD said. During investigations, LAPD believe a handgun was used during the would-be break-in but nothing was stolen from the home, police said. Wood was believed to not be hurt in the incident. Other than the alleged getaway car, officials have not given a description of the three suspects on the run. FOX 11 Hollywood, Larchmont Rental Fraud Suspect Still At-Large The Los Angeles Police Department sought the public’s help Wednesday in locating a man suspected of applying to lease apartments in the Hollywood and Larchmont areas with fraudulent personal identification. The suspect, identified only as Igor, applied to rent an apartment in September using other individuals’ personal identification information to complete the application process and allegedly provided counterfeit currency to the property management companies. Igor was described as a Black man with dreadlocks and a beard or goatee. Detectives released an image of the suspect in hopes of encouraging additional victims who may have been targeted in the alleged scam to come forward. Anyone with information about Igor’s whereabouts or the alleged rental fraud was urged to contact the LAPD Commercial Crimes Division at 213-486-5995 or email [email protected]. Calls made after business hours or on the weekend should be directed to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8447 or visit lacrimestoppers.org. MyNewsLA Feds arrest 5 SoCal residents accused of massive fraud scheme in Germany Five California residents were arrested at the request of the Federal Republic of Germany for an alleged fraud scheme involving fake recurring card charges from phony merchants, U.S. officials announced on Wednesday. The suspects allegedly organized a scheme where they deliberately kept the monthly charges below €50 to avoid suspicion among victims, according to German authorities. The five men, four of them U.S. citizens, were identified by authorities as Medhat Mourid, of Woodland Hills, Andrew Garroni, of Los Angeles, Guy Mizrachi, of Agoura Hills, Ardeshir Akhavan, of Irvine, and Canadian National Tunde Benak, of Irvine. The men are accused of scamming thousands of victims out of more than €300 million, which resulted in the creation of a "shadow financial system" in Germany, authorities said. "The operators of the network then colluded with German payment service processors – including their executives and compliance officers – to process these payments, Former employees and executives of German payment processors are among those arrested yesterday," wrote the DOJ in a press release. The U.S. Marshals Service arrested the Southern California residents and said they would extradite the men to Germany at the request of the country after making their initial federal court appearances on Wednesday. NBC 4 Public Safety News Tree trimmer killed after coming in contact with power lines in Beverlywood A tree trimmer was killed in Beverlywood Wednesday after coming in contact with power lines on west Kirkside Road. The victim, who was only described as a 48-year-old man, was suspended approximately 30 feet above the ground and about six to eight feet below high-voltage wires, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. He was declared dead by paramedics on scene. Video from AIR7 showed crew members and first responders attempting to recover the victim's body from the tree. The power was shut off in the area by LADWP for the recovery operation. No further details were immediately available. ABC 7 Fiery crash between car and food truck on 10 Freeway in South Los Angeles leaves 1 dead An early morning 10 Freeway crash on Thursday left one person dead in South Los Angeles, according to authorities. The collision was reported at about 2:17 a.m. on the eastbound lanes of the 10 in Jefferson Park near Arlington Avenue, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The collision involved a food truck and a car. The car's driver, identified only as a 40-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 32-year-old man was transported to a local hospital in fair condition. A fire erupted after the collision, leaving both vehicles charred on the side of the freeway. The three rightmost lanes and the Arlington off-ramp were closed as of 5:40 a.m. as crews worked to clean the wreckage, according to a Sigalert. It wasn't clear when the lanes would reopen. No additional details were immediately made available. CBS 2 Los Angeles hospital seeks help identifying 2 injured patients A local hospital needs help to identify two patients who were found injured in Los Angeles County. The patients are described as a man around 35 years old and a man in his early 60s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center. The patients have been hospitalized for over a week and hospital staff are hoping to locate their family members. The first patient is a man around 35 years old. He was found injured on Daly Street in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of L.A. on Oct. 27. He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs around 117 pounds. He has dark hair, brown eyes and distinct tattoos on his face and both forearms. The second patient is a man in his early 60s who was found injured near 800 N. Lorena St. in Boyle Heights by the 60 Freeway on Oct. 28. He is described as a possibly Hispanic man with short gray/salt and pepper hair, white facial hair and a small, thin build. He stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 119 pounds. Neither patient has any personal belongings to help staff identify them or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of their injuries. Anyone who recognizes them is asked to call clinical social workers Jonathan Evanculla at 323-409-3859 or Cesar Robles at 323-409-6334. KTLA 5 Incidents of rabid bats in LA County continue upward trend Just days after a pest control company branded Los Angeles the nation's "rattiest" major city, health officials delivered another blow Wednesday morning, announcing 61 rabid bats had been found so far in 2025, the second-highest total ever recorded in the county. The total is the most since 2021, when 68 rabid bats were confirmed, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Health, which said the numbers are in keeping with a "decade-long upward trend.'' About 14% of bats who come into contact with people or pets in the county test positive for rabies and the numbers spike in late summer, officials said. "Bats are vital to our environment, but they can also carry rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear," Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said. "Anyone who may have had contact with a bat should immediately speak with their medical provider or contact public health. Never touch a bat or any wild animals. Immediately report any bat found indoors, or outdoors if it appears sick, active during the day, unable to fly or dead." Awareness and prevention are the best defenses against rabies, officials said. NBC 4 Local Government News City Council Confirms Olympics Closing Ceremonies to be Held at Coliseum The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday confirmed the relocation of the closing ceremonies for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to solely the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. In a unanimous vote, the council approved a motion introduced by members Curren Price and Marqueece Harris-Dawson to enact the change. The City Council’s action finalizes a decision LA28, the host committee, had previously announced earlier this year. There was no prior discussion before the vote. As the host city, and pursuant to the Games Agreement, Los Angeles must provide written approval for any changes to the venue plan for the official Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2028 Games. In May, LA28 announced that ceremonies would be held at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Inglewood Mayor James Butt joined LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover for the announcement. The Coliseum will be the first venue to host three Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies. It previously hosted Opening Ceremonies in 1932 and 1984. MyNewsLA 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. 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