Law Enforcement News Azusa Police Union Says One Of LA's Top Prosecutors Threatened Officer After Arrest The union that represents police officers in Azusa said Wednesday a top official at the LA County District Attorney's Office threatened to retaliate for an arrest, by saying he would put the arresting officer's name on the County's so-called "Brady List" of dishonest cops. "It absolutely is an abuse of power," Azusa Police Officers Association president CJ Wilkins told NBC4. The statement was allegedly made by Joseph F. Iniguez, chief of staff to LA County DA George Gascón, as Iniguez was being released from the Azusa Police Department jail on December 11, 2021 after an arrest on suspicion of public intoxication. "When he was released, this is when he made the Brady comment that he was going to put my officer on the Brady list, which is a list none of us want to be on," Wilkins said. "My officer did nothing to deserve that threat." Iniguez, 36, has filed a complaint against the arresting officer, and told the L.A. Times he believed the arrest was unjust and retaliatory, adding that he was detained after he began to video-record a traffic stop. The Azusa Police Department said Iniguez was arrested around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 10 after the driver of the car he was riding in was pulled-over for a traffic violation. The District Attorney's Office declined to respond to specific NBC4 questions about the alleged threat or Iniguez's current job status. NBC 4 150 People Potentially Witnessed Fatal Shooting Of Father Of 5, But No One Will Come Forward It has been nearly two years and a Pacoima family says their hope for justice is fading. But what doesn’t fade is the haunting memory of Feb. 22, 2020. A 26-year-old man named Omar Medinba was at an illegal cockfight, and he was winning. There was a huge crowd when shots rang out. “His wife had gone to pick him up and she spoke with him on the phone and he told her he needed just a few more minutes,” Cindy Medina, sister of the victim, said. Her brother, Omar, was attending an illegal cock fight in the 12700 block of Montague Street. The 911 call came from his wife. In the chilling audio, she can be heard crying, “I need an ambulance! My husband’s been shot!” LAPD Valley Bureau Homicide Detective Edwin Ayala says more than 150 people were there. But when shots rang out, everyone scattered. “The event happened all the way in the back,” Ayala said, noting the property was vast with an open air area set aside specifically for the rooster games. He was one of the first responding homicide detectives on scene. “We did find several calibers so it’s possible there was more than one shooter,” he said. Despite so many potential witnesses – and cellphone video of the fights from the victim’s own phone showing people in attendance – no one has come forward to help piece what happened together for police. “People don’t come forward because it’s fear,” Medina’s sister said. NBC 4 Man Pleads Not Guilty To Murdering His Mother, Uncle A 38-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murdering his mother and his uncle at a house in Sylmar last month. Marcel Ianyves Gradvohl is charged with killing his 67-year-old mother, Maureen Rose Gradvohl, and his 58-year-old uncle, Edward Henry Steckel, between Nov. 26 and Nov. 28. The criminal complaint alleges that Gradvohl used a rope in the commission of his mother’s killing and a handgun during his uncle’s killing. Gradvohl’s mother was strangled, while Steckel was shot in the head, according to records from the coroner’s office. Gradvohl contacted police last month to report that his mother had committed suicide, Los Angeles Police Lt. Chris Ruiz told the Los Angeles Daily News, noting that detectives suspected the death had been staged. “The information and the story as presented to the initial officers was not consistent with the injuries they observed at the crime scene,” Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told CBS2. Detectives subsequently found Steckel’s body buried in the backyard. MyNewsLA.com 1 Dead, 1 Wounded In Vermont Square Shooting: LAPD One man is dead and another is hospitalized after a double shooting in the Vermont Square area of South Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon. The two men were shot near the intersection of Normandie Avenue and West 53rd Street at about 4:40 p.m., according to Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department. Both were taken to a local hospital, where one man, who was in his 50s, later died, Lopez said. The other man, who is in his mid-20s, remains in stable condition, Lopez added. The LAPD is investigating, and no suspect description is currently available. KTLA 5 Shocking Video Captures Woman Startling Shoppers In Venice With Pickaxe A shocking video shows a bizarre scene at a store in Venice involving a woman carrying a pickaxe. FOX 11 Video Emails Show Mounting Concerns Over Encampments, RV's In Venice Bridge SECZ Another area in the Venice Bridge Home (ABH) Special Enforcement Zone, a zone that was promised to have enhanced services including regular cleanups and extra security and kept clear of encampments, continues to see an uptick in crime and blight. The area located at Main Street and Rose Avenue is a block from the Venice ABH. Located in the vicinity is a parking lot with several encampments and numerous RV's. Residents who live near the location say that while some cleanups in the area have taken place, the neighborhood's safety has significantly decreased while blight has significantly increased. This past weekend an RV burned in an early morning explosion. At the same intersection of the blast, there was an hour-long standoff with police who worked to detain a homeless woman that police said stole a vehicle. Less than a block away, an apartment building was broken into and keys to a vehicle were stolen–along with the victim's vehicle. Neighbors say they reached a tipping point a few months back–and have continuously reached out to Councilmember Mike Bonin's office with little to no improvement. An email string sent to the Westside Current involving residents who wish to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation, had numerous communications with members of Bonin's office as far back as August. The emails highlight residents' heightened concern–including the fear of another RV explosion due to risky behavior. WestSide Current Burglary Suspect Takes Shower, Smokes Cigar In Bel-Air Home: LAPD A man took a shower and smoked a cigar while in a multimillion dollar Bel-Air home during a suspected burglary Tuesday night, police said. Officers responded to reports of a “hot prowl burglary” around 9:35 p.m. in the 900 block of Bel Air Road. A 28-year-old man was taken into custody while a search continued for a second person, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police performed a room-to-room sweep of the very large house, but no other suspect was found. After questioning the suspect, police found out that he had taken a shower, smoked a cigar and had a drink while security was in the Bel-Air house. It’s unclear how the man got in or if anything was taken from the home. No further details were immediately available. KTLA 5 Ohio Man Arrested In Victorville On Suspicion Of Impersonating A Police Officer A man from Toledo, Ohio, was arrested in Victorville on suspicion of impersonating a law enforcement officer while driving an unmarked sheriff’s patrol vehicle, authorities said. A booking photo of Rudy Angel Reed, 18, was released Wednesday by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which believe there may be victims of the alleged impersonation. The Victorville Sheriff Station reported that on Dec. 15, deputies with the Gang Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Crown Victoria in the area of La Mesa and Petaluma roads. The Ford appeared to be an unmarked sheriff’s patrol vehicle, and contained several law enforcement-specific characteristics, sheriff’s officials said. The vehicle had a black push bar, dash-cam, interior mounted emergency lights, sirens, antennas, police interceptor badges, and rims, and police specific identifying numbers on the trunk, the sheriff’s report said. A search of the Ford was conducted, and ballistic armor, an imitation firearm, pepper spray, LAPD patches, and other miscellaneous police gear were located. The vehicle driver was later identified as Reed, who wore a “Toledo Police” hooded sweatshirt during the time of the initial contact, authorities said. A search warrant was served for Reed’s residence, where sheriff’s officials said they found Los Angeles Police Department uniforms, a badge, and patches; a California Highway Patrol hat, additional radio and lighting equipment, multiple imitation firearms, police duty belts equipped with radios, imitation tasers, handcuffs, and gun holsters. Yahoo! News Hourslong Standoff Ends With Arrest Of Man Suspected Of Killing Good Samaritan And Father An hourslong standoff came to an end Wednesday as police took a murder suspect into custody. The man was wanted for killing young father, who chased after him during a car break-in. A UPS driver spotted the suspect, wanted for killing the young father, who was also a UPS driver. The witness spotted him trying to break into his estranged mother's apartment. "He was just screaming, 'Aw! aw! aw!'" said Quinn Jackson, a neighbor who shot video of the take down. His home on Calora Street borders the apartment complex where for several hours a murder suspect, who police identified as 34-year-old, Trevor Howard Thompson, refused to surrender. "They kept telling him to put his hands up but he wouldn't," Jackson said. Jackson said he kept his hands around his chest, holding a backpack. Police started firing the pepper ball at him when he wouldn't put his hands up, Jackson said. Police said it was a UPS driver who called in a tip that he spotted the suspected killer because of his clothes and backpack, based on a photo released by Covina police. The man is wanted for shooting and killing 38-year-old Joey Casias. Casias' family says he was a beloved husband and father of three who was also a UPS driver. NBC 4 After 573 Arrests Last Christmas, CHP Seeks To Stop DUI Drivers With ‘Maximum Enforcement Period’ California Highway Patrol officers will be out in full force for the upcoming Christmas weekend as they work to keep DUI drivers off the road and ensure motorists make it to their holiday destinations safely. CHP’s “maximum enforcement period” will start at 6:01 p.m. Friday and end 11:59 p.m. Sunday, according to a Tuesday news release from the agency. All available officers will be patrolling California roads during that time “for enhancement enforcement,” the release stated. They will also be helping motorists or pedestrians in need of assistance. “Our goal is the same as yours, to make certain you arrive safely at your destination,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said in the release. In the 78-hour holiday enforcement period last Christmas, at least 38 people died in crashes statewide, according to CHP data. And 573 motorists were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving. CHP officials remind drivers to never operate a vehicle under the influence, and also to wear their seat belt and avoid distractions while behind the wheel. KTLA 5 California Prosecutors Warn Of Surge In Deadly DUI Crashes Prosecutors in seven California counties warned Wednesday that they are seeing a rapid rise in deadly DUI crashes just as people begin socializing for the holidays and planning New Year’s Eve outings. Traffic fatalities jumped 15% statewide, comparing the most recent statistics for October to a year ago, though not all were linked to impaired driving. The district attorneys largely blamed the coronavirus pandemic. “We’ve been facing a very difficult time for the last almost two years now,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re seeing increased DUI fatalities.” “This has been a very stressful time for everybody,” added Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. “Alcohol sales have gone up, alcohol consumption has gone up.” The increase in people killed in DUI crashes in California “echoes a similar trend occurring nationwide,” California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Fran Clader said separately. She cited a June warning from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that early estimates showed an increase in traffic fatalities nationwide in 2020. The agency listed the leading causes as impaired driving, speeding, and failing to wear a seatbelt. Associated Press Philadelphia Police Officer Shot Twice While Responding To Armed Robbery A Philadelphia police officer was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot twice in the shoulder while responding to an armed robbery Tuesday night, police said. During the chaos that ensued, the suspect allegedly shot a homeowner, then shot himself in the head. While transporting the suspect to the hospital, the police vehicle crashed into another car, leaving two more police officers injured. All the injured people, including the suspect, were reported in stable condition, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw told the media during a briefing outside Temple University Hospital. Shortly after 10 p.m., a police officer responded to a reported armed robbery in the 400 block of Harlan Street in North Philadelphia, Outlaw said. While speaking to the victim, the officer spotted a man matching the description of the suspect. As the officer approached, the suspect fired at the officer, striking him twice. The suspect then fled to the rear of a property on the 1400 block of North Lawrence Street. The homeowner flagged down other police responding to the area and was shot in the thigh by the suspect, Outlaw said. Philadelphia Inquirer Watch: Unlicensed Driver Drags Cop, Runs Over Her Leg In Attempt To Evade Arrest A reckless unlicensed driver ran over a female cop’s leg while trying to evade arrest on a Bronx street, disturbing video released by police Tuesday shows. The cop is seen screaming in pain as Usman Haruna, 24, tries to escape in his black SUV in the Dec. 12 horror. Other officers were able to prevent Haruna from escaping from the scene, and charged him with felony assault, reckless driving, resisting arrest, leaving the scene of an accident, obstructing governmental administration and driving without a license, police said. He was being held without bail. The incident unfolded about 6 p.m. on Dec. 12 when cops saw the SUV at E. 194th St. and Briggs Ave. with temporary New Jersey license plates that were expired. Haruna ignored orders to stop, police charged, and sped off, swerving in and out of traffic. At W. 190th St. and Davidson Ave, he drove onto the sidewalk, then put the SUV in reverse and sped onto the street toward officers, police said. Two officers got out of their patrol car and approached the SUV in the middle of the intersection, with a male officer on the passenger side and a female officer on the driver’s side. But as the female officer opened the suspect’s door and started to get into the SUV in an apparent attempt to get the keys, the suspect hit the gas. New York Daily News ‘This Is What We Do’: 5 Police Officers Rush Into Burning Building, Carry Out Man In Wheelchair Geddes Police Sgt. Michael Borell was the first on the scene of a fire in a long-time Solvay pizza shop Monday night. He said he heard a woman yelling that her husband was stuck in an apartment over the burning Bianchi’s Pizza Pad on Milton Avenue. “She was screaming and crying in the street that her husband was upstairs,” Borell said. He went up the stairs to the apartment and found the man in his wheelchair. The man said he couldn’t walk and didn’t want to leave his cats behind. Borell, who has 15 years as a police officer, would need help to get the man out safely. Solvay Officer Joseph Hardy parked his patrol car to block off the street and ran towards the building. He had heard on dispatch calls at about 8 p.m. that there was a man in a wheelchair inside and possibly children. The smoke was flooding into the street, Hardy said. The 21-year-old has only been on the job five months and had never been to a building fire. Three other officers arrived at the scene from the Geddes Police Department: Adam Lustrinelli, Taylor Potter and Ryan Legacy, said John Fall, Geddes police chief. All officers went up the stairs and into the smoke-filled apartment. PoliceOne Public Safety News Firefighters Extinguish Blaze In Downtown Los Angeles Battling a fire at a two-story vacant building, firefighters overcame heavy smoke and stubborn flames to extinguish the blaze with a defensive firefighting operation in downtown Los Angeles. The fire was knocked down in less than two hours at 2:46 a.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. Fire crews arrived at 12:51 a.m. to a vacant medical clinic at 1888 S. Main St. that Humphrey said was structurally unstable due to its construction of unreinforced masonry and where the fire was burning on the second floor. One firefighter was taken to a hospital with an ankle injury, Humphrey said. One firefighter was taken to a hospital with an ankle injury, Humphrey said. MyNewsLA.com LA County Seeing Alarming Spike In COVID Cases Amid Omicron Surge Los Angeles County reported more than 6,500 new COVID-19 infections Wednesday, more than double the number from Tuesday and marking what the public health director called a "staggeringly fast" spike that could potentially lead to daily numbers topping 20,000 by year's end -- the highest yet of the pandemic. Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the eye-catching number of 6,509 new COVID infections on Wednesday marked "one of the steepest rises we've ever seen over the course of the pandemic." Ferrer also reported a sharp increase in the daily average rate of people testing positive for the virus, with the number reaching 4.5% as of Wednesday, more than double the 1.9% rate from a week ago. She also announced another 162 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant identified through special sequencing needed to identify different strains of the virus, bringing the total to 264. Ferrer said that increase shows the highly transmissible variant is quickly becoming the dominant strain of the virus fueling the current surge in cases. FOX 11 California To Require COVID Booster Shots For All Health Care Workers; Expanding Testing Citing the growing outbreak of the highly contagious omicron variant throughout the country and in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom took to social media to announce that health care workers in the state will now be required to get COVID booster shots. In a Twitter video post, Newsom said he was taking the action to make sure there were enough healthy medical workers to handle a possible post-holiday surge in new cases. “We are all seeing the news and heard what President Biden said today about what’s happening across the country, what’s happening around the rest of the world with the omicron variant,” the governor said. “It’s not dissimilar to what’s happening here in the state of California. As a consequence, we’re stepping up our efforts to get people vaccinated but also get people boosted. That’s why today we’re moving forward to require all health care workers to be boosted — get that third shot or at least the second shot if they got the J&J.” CBS San Francisco With Omicron, Many Vaccinated Americans Will At Some Point Test Positive. Here’s What To Do. With the omicron variant spreading rapidly, the United States is all but certain to see a sharp rise in breakthrough coronavirus infections among vaccinated people. These cases were relatively rare in the pre-omicron days, but the new variant has shown an ability to slip past the body’s first line of immune defenses. That means many Americans who have gotten the shots will at some point test positive. Coronavirus vaccines act like a shield against disease, not an impenetrable barrier, and they offer protection against the omicron variant. Health authorities say booster shots of the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are the best defense against serious illness, providing robust protection against severe disease. Your likelihood of developing a breakthrough infection is lowest if you’ve gotten the additional shot. The initial two-shot vaccine regimen still offers protection, but it’s not as effective against the omicron variant without boosters. If you do get a breakthrough infection, here’s some advice on how to navigate it. While some breakthrough cases are asymptomatic, experts say most tend to bring mild to moderate symptoms. A cough, a sore throat, muscle aches and a low fever are common, but keep in mind that breakthrough symptoms don’t always resemble the version of covid-19 unvaccinated people get. Some patients report headaches, nasal congestion and sneezing — signs of illness more typically associated with colds or allergies. 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