Assault Suspect Surrenders to LAPD After 6 Hour Standoff

A suspect who allegedly attacked family members then holed up in a South Angeles home was taken into custody Monday after a six-hour standoff. Officers were called around 6 a.m. to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon suspect in the 1000 block of East 53rd Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. According to a broadcast report, family members got out of the home safely, but the suspect, who is in his early 20s, remained barricaded and threatened self harm. A SWAT team was sent to the scene to help coax the man’s surrender. He gave up shortly before noon and was taken to a hospital. An officer said it was unclear if he would be booked.

MyNewsLA

Arrest made after woman allegedly sexually assaulted during San Fernando Valley medical treatment

Los Angeles police are seeking additional victims of a man who was arrested after a woman was allegedly raped during a medical treatment appointment in January. In a news release shared Monday, police said that a 23-year-old woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted "while receiving medical treatment in the San Fernando Valley" on Jan. 15. Investigators identified the suspect in the incident as 33-year-old Julius Czar Francisco. They did not provide any further information on how Francisco was connected to the allegations or if he was an employee at the facility where the incident allegedly happened. The next day, police located and arrested Francisco near the 12300 block of Osborne Street in Pacoima, according to the release. He was booked for rape by force but has since been released after posting bond. "Due to the nature of the assault, detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department's Topanga Division Sexual Assault unit believe there are unreported victims of Francisco," the release said. Detectives asked anyone who believes they are also a victim or who may know more to contact them at (818) 756-3264. 

CBS 2

South LA Homeless Charity Executive Director Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud

A Westwood man who was the executive director of a South Los Angeles charity that received funds for housing for the homeless pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he defrauded the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority of more than $5 million, including $2 million that allegedly went toward his properties or was accounted for through allegedly fraudulent invoices. Alexander Soofer, 42, is charged with 11 felony counts of conflict of interest, five felony counts of forgery and two felony counts of offering false evidence in connection with millions of dollars in contracts between LAHSA and Abundant Blessings, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The conflict of interest charges stem from contracts between Abundant Blessings and LAHSA in which the contracts expressly stated that Soofer could not own the properties used to house homeless residents or subcontract with himself or family members with a financial interest in the properties or companies providing a service, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

MyNewsLA

L.A. parents who decapitated two of their kids, forced siblings to view the bodies, are sentenced

An L.A. County couple decapitated their two eldest children in what prosecutors called a “monstrous” act of violence that left their community stunned. On Monday, the pair were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Lancaster residents Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 39, and his wife, Natalie Sumiko Brothwell, 49, were found guilty of two felony counts of first-degree murder in November. Taylor and Brothwell were each sentenced to six years in prison plus two consecutive terms of life without parole, according to Venusse D. Dunn, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office. The couple’s two surviving children were placed under a 10-year protective order by the court. Taylor was a personal trainer in Santa Monica, and his clients described him as “mellow” and “reliable” shortly after his arrest in December 2020. When he didn’t dial in to Zoom meetings with his clients, they became concerned and called authorities. Deputies arrived and found the children’s bodies in separate bedrooms in the home, Lt. Brandon Dean said. The two children were identified by sheriff’s officials as a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. At trial, a jury found the parents guilty of stabbing and decapitating the children.

Los Angeles Times

AG Bonta warns Californians of Super Bowl LX counterfeit tickets, scammers

With less than a week to go until Super Bowl LX, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert Monday warning Californians of counterfeit tickets and scammers. Bonta advised fans to be wary when buying tickets online. “We all enjoy going to live shows and games to see our favorite artists or sports teams, but unfortunately, scammers prey on our excitement,” Bonta said. Anyone who believes they are a victim of a scam can file a report with the attorney general’s office, the Better Business Bureau or the FBI’s Internet Complaint Center.

NBC 4

California woman arrested for ex-boyfriend’s murder; Alabama man also charged 

A woman from Southern California has been arrested, as has her alleged accomplice from Alabama, in connection with a murder that occurred earlier this year in Murrieta. According to the Murrieta Police Department, officers were dispatched to The Arbors at California Oaks Apartments, located in the 24000 block of Jackson Avenue, at approximately 9:13 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13. “Upon arrival, officers located an adult male deceased inside an apartment,” MPD said on social media Monday. “Based on preliminary information, the circumstances surrounding the death were investigated as a homicide.” The victim was later identified as 30-year-old Aaron Parr, who lived at the apartment complex. Further investigation into the incident led to the arrests of two people, including Parr’s ex-girlfriend, 40-year-old Ignacia Cadaos Perkins. She was arrested on Jan. 29 in Murrieta, police confirmed. On the same day, police took custody of an acquaintance of Perkins in Alabama. James Lawrence Petri, 43, was located and arrested in Birmingham, where police say he lives, and is now facing extradition to California. 

KTLA 5

Tennessee deputy fatally shot while responding to shots fired call

A Weakley County deputy was fatally shot while assisting on a possible shots fired call, WPSD reported. Deputy Derrick Bonham, a husband and father of three, was struck by gunfire while aiding the Martin Police Department at a Pocket’s gas station on Jan. 30, Sheriff Terry McDade said at a news conference. The suspect allegedly fired the first shot from a vehicle, causing Bonham to fall, then exited and fired again. Bonham was taken to Volunteer Community Hospital, where he died from his injuries, according to the report. McDade said emergency personnel “worked on him harder than anybody I’ve ever seen worked on.” McDade described Bonham as “quiet and humble.” “We are devastated, to say the least, but nothing compared to what his young family is feeling,” the sheriff said. The suspect’s name has not been released. McDade said he personally hopes for the death penalty in the case, although he noted that is his own view. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading the ongoing investigation. McDade said details that can be released are limited during active proceedings.

PoliceOne

Pedestrian Struck on San Bernardino Freeway in Boyle Heights

A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Monday evening on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in Boyle Heights. Firefighters were sent to the westbound San Bernardino Freeway, west of Soto Street, at about 6:55 p.m. following reports of a crash involving a pedestrian, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton. The unidentified victim was taken to a hospital after the collision and was alert. Middleton said paramedics were also assessing the driver for injuries and that the investigation by California Highway Patrol officers was expected to affect traffic for an unknown amount of time.

MyNewsLA

LA County sees increase in flu-related ER visits and hospitalizations

Los Angeles County is seeing an increase in flu-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and according to the health department, flu activity is expected to remain high in the coming weeks. The county health department said for the week ending January 24, labs reported 17.1% of specimens were positive for flu. That's up 11% from the week before. Emergency department visits for flu-like illness also went up to 7.7% compared to 6.4% the week prior, and flu-related hospitalizations rose from 222 to 261. "Flu activity is expected to continue to increase across Los Angeles County, and while many people are already vaccinated, some may still not be protected," said L.A. County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis in a press release posted on Friday. "Flu vaccination is the most effective way to reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from infection, for yourself, your loved ones, and your community. However, even simple steps like washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying away from others when sick can make a big difference in protecting those most at risk for severe illness. We encourage everyone six months and older, or their caregivers, to get vaccinated or talk with a healthcare provider to decide the best way to reduce risks and stay healthy this flu season."

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.