'Woke' Retailers Who Asked Congress For Help Amid Smash-and-Grabs Supported Left-Wing Police Reforms
Retail CEOs are calling on Congress for help amid the smash-and-grab lootings that are leaving them grappling with hundreds of thousands of dollars of lost or stolen merchandise. Some of those same companies, however, supported organizations last year that have called to defund or overhaul policing in the United States. "Many corporate leaders jumped on the woke bandwagon and wrote big checks to organizations that still continue to advocate to defund the police. They did not think of anything beyond not being labeled a racist," Sean Pritchard, president of the San Jose Police Officers Association, told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "We urge President Biden to move at warp speed to create a vaccine to address our emerging Amnesia virus that has infected politicians, organizations and individuals who are now claiming they never advocated to defund the police, they just wanted to re-imagine policing," Craig Lally, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. "That is a lie, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles literally advocated to cut the LAPD budget by over 90%, reducing the number of police officers to under 1,000 from a force of 9,700. That means 90% of the rapes, homicides, assaults, follow home and smash and grab robberies would simply not be investigated. We wonder if BLMs Melina Abdullah was going to tell these victims they simply don’t matter. We don’t have amnesia and neither will voters when it’s election time, we will make sure of it," Lally said. Lally was referring to Los Angeles BLM leader Melina Abdullah's recent comments saying that "When we say, ‘Defund the police,’ it doesn’t mean we don’t want public safety. It means we want resources for communities."
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Ex-NYPD And LAPD Boss Bill Bratton: George Soros And Aligned Prosecutors ‘Destroying Criminal Justice System'
Left-wing billionaire George Soros and his Open Society foundation are "destroying the criminal justice system in America," William Bratton – the former top cop in Boston, Los Angeles and New York City -- told Fox News on Wednesday, amid an exponential spike in crime in cities nationwide. However, Bratton said, he is heartened by incoming New York Democratic Mayor-elect Eric Adams and Keechant Sewell, the current Nassau County, N.Y., chief of detectives Adams named to replace current NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea. In San Francisco, Democratic Mayor London Breed criticized the ongoing rash of smash-and-grab robberies that critics claim are due in part to a California law that largely decriminalizes most thefts below a certain monetary threshold. Bratton told "The Story" that police look "with some degree of doubt" on the change in narrative from mayors like Breed. "In the situation in San Francisco, like many other cities around the country, the mayor does not control the crime problem. The district attorneys are more significant in that situation," he said, pointing to Soros-funded district attorney Chesa Boudin, who is facing a popular recall in 2022. "San Francisco, like Chicago, like Boston, like soon to be in New York, Atlanta – every one of these cities having problems, take a look at the district attorneys," he said. "Most of them [are] funded by George Soros and his Open Society. They're destroying the criminal justice system in America," Bratton said. "They’re undoing 25 years of crime decline in America rapidly. Within the last two years, we have not seen anything like the crime increases in modern history."
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San Francisco Police Union: Mayor's Crime Crackdown Is ‘Acknowledgment' That Defund Police Was ‘Mistake'
A series of initiatives announced by San Francisco's mayor to address the spike in crime and open-air drug dealing and substance abuse was met with praise by the city's police union and cautious optimism from others after years of broken promises from elected officials. In the midst of a wave of brazen retail thefts by organized groups of thieves coupled with property and gun crimes in some of the city's most underserved neighborhoods like the Tenderloin, Mayor London Breed on Tuesday called for the deployment of more police officers to strengthen public safety. "Rampant retail theft and violent smash and grab robberies plaguing San Francisco have increased the demand from local and national retail businesses for protection from this epidemic. Unfortunately, there are simply not enough San Francisco police officers to keep all of these stores and shoppers safe," Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said in a statement. "Mayor Breed’s announcement yesterday to deploy more police officers to address the unacceptable level of crime in portions of our city, namely the Tenderloin, is an acknowledgment that the push to defund the SFPD was a mistake," he added.
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Suspects Wanted In Deaths Of 2 Women After Night Out In Los Angeles In Custody
Multiple arrests have been made in the Nov. 2021 incident that ended with two women being dumped at separate Los Angeles County hospitals, the family of one of the victims tells FOX 11. According to the family, the arrests involved the suspects wanted in connection to the incident stemming from three young women going out for a night of fun in Los Angeles, but two of the three women never made it home. Back in November, FOX 11 had aired a report on how the first woman, 24-year-old Christy Giles-Cilliers, was pronounced dead in a Culver City emergency room. Her close friend, Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, was dumped two hours later at Kaiser-Permanente in West Los Angeles. Cabrales-Arzona was ultimately pronounced dead at the hospital after she was initially being treated for critical condition. The family's revelation came shortly after sources told FOX 11 on Wednesday evening that the FBI arrested a murder suspect from a "high-profile case" after luring him from a TV production set here in Los Angeles. The source told FOX 11 the FBI's fugitive task force made three arrests in connection to the case.
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Reward Offered In Shooting Death Of Man In Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
Authorities Wednesday were hoping a reward of up to $50,000 will help solve the killing of a man who was gunned down while hiking in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in September. Jason Cortez, 29, was shot about 3:30 p.m. Sept. 10 on a trail inside the park and died at the scene, according to City Councilman Gil Cedillo. The victim's name was listed by the Los Angeles County coroner's office as Jason Cortez Nativi, who was a Virginia resident. "A witness came forward who provided a sketch of a suspect he saw in the bushes holding a rifle," Cedillo said in a statement. "A thorough canvass of the area has resulted in no new leads, and as of this date, no new witnesses have provided information. We need help from community members in identifying the suspect of this horrible murder." The sketch will be released by authorities at a news conference Friday, when authorities will publicize the reward and seek help in solving the crime, Cedillo said. The reward was offered by the Los Angeles City Council. Anyone with information on the case was urged to call Los Angeles police Detective Alex Abundis at 213-486-8700.
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$25K Reward Offered For Help Identifying Hit-And-Run Driver Who Seriously Injured Pedestrian In Westwood
The City of Los Angeles is offering a $25,000 reward for help in identifying a driver behind a hit-and-run in Westwood. On Saturday, October 30, around 1:55 p.m., a person was crossing Beverly Glen Boulevard when a driver in a gray Hyundai Elantra collided with the victim. Security camera footage showed the moment of the collision which sent the pedestrian into the air. The victim sustained serious injuries as a result. The driver failed to stop. The vehicle is said to be missing the rear bumper. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and took the victim to a local hospital with serious injuries. Anyone who may have witnessed or have information regarding this collision is asked to contact West Traffic Division Detectives, at (213) 473-0234, or (213) 473-0222.
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Man Caught On Video Striking Woman On Electric Scooter In Downtown L.A. Arrested After Pursuit: LAPD
A man has been arrested after police recognized him following a pursuit as the hit-and-run driver who struck a woman riding an rental electric scooter in downtown Los Angeles in October, officials announced Tuesday. The 30-year-old woman riding a scooter on Oct. 27 was going westbound on 4th Street, against a one-way road, when a vehicle travelling eastbound on 4th Street from Spring Street crashed head-on into her, launching her into the air and causing her to land head-first onto the sidewalk. The driver was caught on video exiting the vehicle — which was reported stolen — and fleeing on foot without rendering aid or identifying himself to the victim, police said. On Oct. 28, Pasadena police assisted the Los Angeles Police Department in identifying 22-year-old Carlos Sanchez-Reyez of Los Angeles as the driver in the hit-and-run, according to an LAPD press release. The information was passed on through an internal “Wanted” bulletin to all patrol officers.
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Homeless Encampments Near Playa Vista School Horrify Parents
Parents in Playa Vista were once again horrified after an RV caught fire on the street near where a week before a man's body was discovered as they took their children to school. “Last week it was a tragic death. This week a fire," said parent Brenna Vincent. It’s a concern for some residents as well: encampments growing close to the campus of Westside Neighborhood School. "It’s really sad to tell your child that these people are not being taken care of," Vincent said. "And just kind of shocked and took it as a learning moment, took the time to pray and make sure there was no one in there," Paula Gerez of the neighborhood council said. "It just can’t go on.” Gerez heads up a nearby neighborhood council. She spotted the smoke Monday and came to see what was going on. It turned out the burning RV was in the same location a week before when a body was discovered on the sidewalk. "Since when did the rights of the unhoused supercede our children’s rights, the law-abiding citizens rights?” parent Jeremy Dicker said.Some parents want the new city code that forbids encampments within 500 feet of school enforced. But they say their councilman Mike Bonin won’t support them. "It just continues to fall on deaf ears," Gerez said. More than a week ago, Gerez said her neighborhood council sent a letter to Bonin asking for enforcement of the new law. So far, there's been no response. "He has not responded to any of our letters since we had him at our last neighborhood council meeting in March," Gerez said.
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One Wounded In Car-To-Car Shooting On 110 Freeway In Hawthorne
One person was injured in a car-to-car shooting on the 110 Freeway in Hawthorne Wednesday night. The shooting occurred on the westbound 110 Freeway east of Crenshaw Boulevard just after 7 p.m., according to California Highway Patrol. Sky2 footage showed a white sedan with front-end damage sitting in the middle of the freeway. One was person was rushed to a hospital with gunshot wounds. Their condition was unknown, CHP said. The shooting shut down all westbound lanes of the freeway for several hours. They were not fully reopened until early Thursday morning. The exact circumstances of the shooting were unknown. There was no word on whether CHP investigators had identified any suspects.
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Man Shot, Killed In Compton
A man was shot and killed in Compton Tuesday. The shooting was reported just before 5:45 p.m. in the 2000 block of North Salinas Avenue, near Enterprise Park, according to Deputy Eva Jimenez of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was withheld pending notification of his next of kin. No suspect description was provided. Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.
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3 Minors Arrested In Series Of Armed Robberies: Sheriff’s Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrested three juveniles for a series of armed robberies that occurred between Dec. 12 and 14 in six cities in L.A. County, the department announced on Wednesday. The suspects were identified on Tuesday after their license place and vehicle was identified, and they were arrested by a Lakewood Sheriff’s Station patrol deputy, the Sheriff’s Department said. After they were detained, they were tied to the robberies of convenience stores and gas stations in Bellflower, Industry, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Whittier and Downey using evidence from their car, including $1,000 cash. The handgun the minors used is “still outstanding,” the department added, but “several victims and witnesses positively identified the juvenile suspects as the ones who committed these armed robberies at the various locations.” The minors are in in custody, and a criminal case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
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Father And Son Charged With Starting Caldor Fire Are Released On Lower Bail
A father and son charged with sparking a devastating Northern California wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes and other buildings near Lake Tahoe this year are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their bail, largely rejecting prosecutors’ arguments that the duo posed a flight risk. Travis Shane Smith, 32, had his $1-million bail reduced to $50,000, and his father, David Scott Smith, 66, had his $1-million bail reduced to $25,000 on Monday after their attorneys argued the men had no criminal history and no reason to leave behind their families, the Sacramento Bee reported. The Smiths were arrested Wednesday and charged in El Dorado County with recklessly starting a fire and illegal possession of a silencer. Travis Smith is also charged with illegal conversion or manufacture of a machine gun. Travis Smith’s attorney, Mark Reichel, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors have not laid out their theory as to how the men started the Aug. 14 Caldor fire, which destroyed about 1,000 homes and other buildings, injured five people and forced tens of thousands of others to flee their homes.
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Shoplifting Ring With 15,000 Stolen Goods Worth $200K Busted, California Cops Say
Investigators broke up a San Francisco Bay Area retail theft ring connected to at least $200,000 in stolen merchandise, California Highway Patrol officers said. Investigators recovered 15,000 items stolen from CVS, Victoria's Secret, Target, GAP, TJX, LensCrafters, Nordstrom, Walgreens, Safeway and other stores, a CHP news release said. They also arrested two people, including one who arrived at a San Francisco storage unit while investigators were searching it for stolen goods, the release said. An earlier arrest initially led investigators with a CHP task force on organized retail crime to a Vallejo storage unit and home, where they arrested the first suspect, on Thursday, Dec. 9. At the same time, other investigators searched the San Francisco storage unit, where they encountered and arrested a second person later accused of being connected to the ring. "The brazen retail thefts we've seen recently are organized by sophisticated criminal enterprises and they demand a no-less sophisticated response from law enforcement agencies working in close coordination," said Chris Costigan, chief of the CHP's Golden Gate Division.
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'It's Just Everywhere': Seattle Police Seize Thousands Of Fentanyl Pills, Guns In Ongoing Operation
A couple months ago, Seattle police and federal agents found 50,000 fentanyl pills secreted in the wheel well of a mid-size SUV. Another 15,000 pills — known as "blues" on the streets — were recently recovered inside a backpack at a local hotel and ended with the owner's arrest when he returned to retrieve the bag. "It's just everywhere on the streets," Interim Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said at a Wednesday news conference at Seattle Police headquarters. "We want to raise awareness about fentanyl overdoses and the number of pills that are out there. People are taking them and dying." Cheaper to manufacture compared with meth or heroin, fentanyl pills are being churned out by Mexican drug cartels and run up the Interstate 5 corridor or else are being made by local entrepreneurs with their own pill presses. Because fentanyl is a synthetic opiate, it's also harder to detect than organic compounds and delivers a higher high, now making it the drug of choice in King County, according to Diaz and Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
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Phoenix Cop On Life Support After Being Shot Multiple Times
A Phoenix police officer is on life support after he was shot multiple times early Tuesday, according to FOX 10. The suspect is in custody and is facing a $3 million bond. Officer Tyler Moldovan, 22, was investigating a report of vehicles driving erratically when he encountered an armed suspect, 24-year-old Essa Williams. “Officer Moldovan began giving commands to the suspects, who then pulled out a gun and began shooting," Sgt. Vincent Cole told FOX 10. "Officer Moldovan was struck by multiple bullets.” Moldovan was shot eight times, including in the head, according to ABC 15. On Wednesday, the Phoenix Police Department said Moldovan was “fighting for his life.” Moldovan graduated from the police academy in March and was recently married. “We know that the doctors and the medical staff at the hospital are doing everything they can possibly do to save him,” Chief Jeri Williams told reporters. “This kind of incident sends shock waves throughout our entire Valley. There are no words when this kind of incident happens.” Williams was convicted in 2017 of armed robbery and aggravated assault but was let out in April 2020, according to the report.
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Baltimore Officer On Life Support After Being Shot In Ambush
A Baltimore Police officer was ambushed and shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle early Thursday in Curtis Bay, the police commissioner said. At a briefing outside Maryland Shock Trauma, Dr. Thomas Scalea said the officer was shot multiple times and was in critical condition and on life support. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the officer was on-duty but not responding to a call around 1:30 a.m. in the 4400 block of Pennington Ave. when the shooter approached from behind and opened fire. It was not clear how that information had been gleaned. “We have a coward on the loose in Baltimore that we must and will find,” Mayor Brandon Scott said. The officer, who was not identified by name or even gender, was found by other officers after their vehicle accelerated and crashed. A video posted to social media of the apparent aftermath showed a patrol car on a playground at Curtis Bay Park. Harrison said police had little information and were pleading with the public for help.
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LA County Nears 20 Confirmed Omicron Variant Cases
On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced three new cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total of confirmed cases to 18. “These latest cases of the Omicron variant in L.A. County underscores our need to be cautious and prudent as we enter the holiday season,” L.A. County director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said. According to DPH, two of the three cases are from individuals who have not recently traveled. The third case is from an individual who has recently traveled domestically. All individuals have been fully vaccinated and experienced either no symptoms or a mild illness. “All indications are that Omicron can spread rapidly among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals,” said Ferrer. “Early data suggests that many of those fully vaccinated do not experience serious illness, reminding us that one of the most critical steps to take right now is to urgently get vaccinated if not yet protected or boosted as soon as you are due for the additional dose.”
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COVID Hospitalizations Continue To Rise In LA County As Concern Grows Over Winter Surge
Coronavirus hospitalizations in Los Angeles County continue to climb as concern grows over a winter surge in cases, perhaps buoyed by the Omicron variant. The latest numbers from the California Department of Public Health Wednesday showed there were 770 coronavirus patients hospitalized in L.A. County, up about 100 from a week ago, and up roughly 200 from late November. Of those, 179 were being treated in intensive care, down from 184 on Tuesday. Another 19 COVID deaths were reported by L.A. County on Wednesday, giving the county an overall virus-related death toll of 27,369. L.A. County also confirmed another 1,850 new COVID infections. The rolling average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus remained relatively low, at 1.2%. Health officials have been pointing to a post-Thanksgiving uptick in infections and case rates. On Wednesday, California reimposed a statewide indoor mask-wearing mandate. L.A. County already had such a mandate in place, but the rule will force people in neighboring counties such as Orange and Riverside to mask up, although it was unclear if those counties would enforce the rule.
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Tax Proposed On L.A. Property Sales Over $5 Million To Fund Homeless Housing
In an ambitious effort to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, a coalition of housing advocates, labor unions and progressive activist groups plans to file paperwork Thursday for a ballot measure that would increase taxes on real estate transactions in the city to fund permanent housing for homeless people and those at risk of ending up on the street. The organizers hope to collect nearly 65,000 signatures by spring to place the tax proposal on the November 2022 ballot. The measure would levy a 4% tax on property sales above $5 million that would rise to 5.5% on transactions above $10 million. The buyer or seller would owe $200,000 on a $5-million sale, for example. “This is really about millionaires and billionaires paying their fair share to have a transformative approach to solving our housing crisis,” said Laura Raymond, director of the Alliance for Community Transit-Los Angeles, or ACT-LA, and a leader of the ballot measure coalition. “This affects folks who are very privileged who have made money off increases in property values, and inequity is one of the reasons why we’re in the situation we are in. So it’s making sure that we’re sort of looking out for each other in protecting our neighbors,” Raymond said.
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