Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates   Law Enforcement News Gunfire in Los Angeles neighborhood leaves man, dog dead Police are searching for a suspect who fatally shot a man and his dog in Los Angeles’ Vermont Knolls neighborhood Sunday night. Gunfire was reported near West 81st Street and Vermont Avenue shortly after 10 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers arriving at the scene found a Hispanic man inside a tent at the rear of an alley suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s dog was also found dead, police said. Investigators believe the man was homeless but have not released any information about the gunman or a possible motive. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submit a tip on the lacrimestoppers.org website. KTLA 5 Mafia hit or family dispute? Questions remain after killing by slain gangster’s niece When Michael “Mosca” Torres was killed at California State Prison, Sacramento in July 2023, law enforcement officials suspected it was a power struggle within his organization, the Mexican Mafia. Eight days later, police officers raced at 3 a.m. to a small house in San Fernando where they found, slumped in a recliner, a woman Torres had called his wife. Stephanie Rodriguez had been shot seven times at point-blank range. Later that day, detectives arrested Torres’ niece on suspicion of murder. On Thursday, a judge handed Evelyn Torres, 36, a sentence of 30 years to life in prison after she pleaded no contest to a murder charge. Torres did not speak during the hearing, and authorities have never established a clear motive in the case. Rodriguez was 38 when she was killed. Her relatives on Thursday described her as a “protector” whose kindness lifted up their whole family. “We live with grief, with anger, with questions that will never be answered,” Rodriguez’s sister said in a statement read aloud by a prosecutor. The timing led some in law enforcement to suspect Rodriguez had been roped into whatever issues led to her partner’s death. Known as the Mexican Mafia’s dominant member from the San Fernando Valley, Michael Torres also controlled drug sales and extortion rackets in the L.A. County jails. Los Angeles Times Suspected arsonist on the run in downtown LA A suspected arsonist was captured on security footage setting a white van ablaze in downtown Los Angeles on Monday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Security cameras in the 1000 block of San Julian Street captured a masked man approaching the rear of a white van around 9:40 p.m. After the man disappeared from the camera's view for a brief moment, the vehicle suddenly burst into flames. Firefighters arriving at the scene found the van fully engulfed. Investigators believe an accelerant was used to intentionally start the fire, though no injuries occurred during the incident. The LAPD told FOX 11 they did not respond to the scene because they did not receive reports of arson at that location. The identity of the masked man remains unknown as of Tuesday morning. While firefighters have characterized the incident as a suspected case of arson involving an accelerant, authorities have not yet identified a specific motive or announced any arrests related to the fire. FOX 11 LAPD investigates possible link between 7-Eleven robberies in San Fernando Valley The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating to see if two 7-Eleven robberies in the San Fernando Valley are connected. One incident happened just before 2 a.m. Monday at 625 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. The other occurred at 11 p.m. Sunday in the 15500 block of San Fernando Mission Boulevard in Mission Hills, according to LAPD. LAPD says they are searching for two male suspects in the Mission Hills robbery. One of the suspects jumped over the counter and demanded cash from the clerk, police said. No weapons were seen. The suspects fled on foot. No further details were immediately available. ABC 7 Cocaine dealer who was arrested, bailed out the next day gets caught again with more drugs, guns A man described by authorities as a known cocaine dealer operating in southwest Riverside County was arrested and charged with three felonies as part of an ongoing investigation, but he bailed out the next day and was eventually found with more drugs, guns and stolen property. The Murrieta Police Department said Saturday that their Special Enforcement Team (SET) served a warrant at several locations belonging to the suspect. The date and time of the operation were not disclosed; however, police said that they recovered: 1.2 pounds of powder cocaine; 3 pounds of processed marijuana; 2 firearms: One a ghost pistol and the other unregistered; and $22,638.26 in U.S. currency. The suspect, who was not named, was arrested, charged with three felonies and booked into jail. According to police, he bailed out of custody the next day, but SET officials did not stop their investigation into the case and eventually identified another location containing “illegal items.” KTLA 5 Man sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing St. Louis officer in DUI crash A city judge sentenced a Honduran man on Thursday to 15 years in prison for speeding down a rainy highway with meth, ketamine, cocaine and alcohol in his system and killing a St. Louis police officer. Ramon Chavez-Rodriguez, 25, cried in court as he apologized for losing control of his car on Interstate 70, striking Officer David Lee. “It wasn’t my intention to take this hero’s life from this beautiful nation,” he said in Spanish. “From the bottom of my heart, I ask for forgiveness.” At Thursday’s sentencing, prosecutors argued that Chavez-Rodriguez had been reckless that day in 2024 and deserved years in prison. Lee’s family said his death devastated them. At the same time, defense attorneys provided the fullest accounting yet of how Chavez-Rodriguez got to the U.S., built a family and ended up on I-70 that day. In the back of the courtroom, a line of police officers stood, watching the hearing. Chief Robert Tracy said the sentencing provided some closure but couldn’t alleviate the pain and grief of losing an 18-year veteran of the department. “We’re not going to forget,” Tracy said. St. Louis Post Dispatch Public Safety News 1 person hospitalized after large fire breaks out at commercial building in Winnetka One person was hospitalized after a large fire broke out at a two-story commercial building in the Winnetka area of Los Angeles early Tuesday morning. The blaze was reported shortly after 5 a.m. in the 21200 block of W. Sherman Way. The street was closed off in both directions. AIR7 was over the scene as crews worked to prevent the fire from spreading to the rest of the building. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the building suffered a partial roof collapse. A nearby two-story apartment building was not being threatened by the blaze and firefighters applied water to the exterior of the apartment building for additional protection, according to the agency. One person was taken to the hospital in unknown condition, LAFD said. No further details were immediately known, but it appeared firefighters were making good progress against the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. ABC 7 Elevated bacterial levels prompt ocean water warnings at L.A. County beaches The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning residents and visitors to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters at multiple county beaches due to elevated bacterial levels. Beach area warnings have also been issued at the following locations: Redondo Beach Pier at Redondo County Beach, extending 100 yards north and south of the pier, Santa Monica Canyon storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach, extending 100 yards north and south of the creek, Santa Monica Pier at Santa Monica State Beach, extending 100 yards north and south of the pier, and Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach, covering the entire swim area. Public health officials said the warnings were issued after recent water quality tests found bacterial levels exceeding state health standards. Additionally, an ocean water closure remains in effect at Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. Health officials advise avoiding contact with ocean water and wet sand in the area until further notice. Warnings have been lifted for Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach and Topanga Canyon Lagoon at Topanga County Beach after samples showed water quality within state standards. KTLA 5 Local Government News Council Proposes Non-Resident Fee for LA Rec and Parks’ Programs The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a proposal to explore the implementation of fees for non-city residents participating in programs, activities or classes organized by the Department of Recreation and Parks. In a 14-0 vote, council asked city staff to report on the feasibility of establishing non-resident fees. The report would offer insight into fee structures used by other major California cities, projected revenues, and a legal analysis of such a program. Councilman Bob Blumenfield was absent during the vote. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez introduced the motion in October 2025, which was seconded by Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky. The Department of Recreation and Parks operates one of the “most extensive municipal recreation and parks systems across the country” with more than 450 parks, 180 recreation centers, 60 swimming pools and 13 golf courses, according to the motion. 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