Law Enforcement News 4 Suspects Arrested In Killing, Robbery Outside Bossa Nova In Hollywood Four suspects have been taken into custody on murder charges in connection with the shooting death of a man which occurred during a follow-home robbery outside a popular Hollywood restaurant last month. The suspects were arrested Dec. 21 in a series of raids conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies, Los Angeles police reported Friday. The suspects were identified as Jayon Sanders, 21, Abraham Castillo, 20, Tyree Singleton, 20, and Joshua Saulsberry, 21. Saunders, Castillo and Singleton were charged by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office with murder, police disclosed. Saulsberry faces robbery charges. On Nov. 23, a man was shot and killed outside the Bossa Nova restaurant in Hollywood. The victim, 23-year-old Jose Ruiz Gutierrez, was killed coming to the aid of a woman who was being attacked by robbery suspects. During the Dec. 21 raids, authorities recovered evidence including a handgun, a replica handgun, over $30,000 in cash, a Rolex watch and handbags, police said. They also seized two vehicles that were used during the robbery. CBS 2 Buscaino Wants 1,300 More Cops — And Plans To Pay For Them Using Existing City Funds Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino said Thursday he would seek a major expansion of the Police Department if elected mayor, taking the LAPD up to 11,000 officers by 2027. Buscaino, one of several candidates running to replace Mayor Eric Garcetti in next year’s election, said additional officers are needed at a time when homicides and other crimes are increasing. The LAPD is budgeted for about 9,700 officers this year, but has been nearly 200 below that figure in recent weeks. Michael Trujillo, a Buscaino campaign strategist, said the hiring plan would be accomplished not by seeking higher taxes or fees, but by setting priorities within the existing city budget. He would not say what programs, if any, would need to be cut to accomplish such a significant staffing increase. “We believe we can chip away at it each year until we reach [11,000] in the fifth year,” Trujillo said. Buscaino, a former police officer, is running in a year when the L.A. is likely to have more homicides than at any point since 2006. The number of shooting victims is up more than 50% compared to two years ago, the last full year without COVID-19, according to figures posted on the LAPD’s website. Los Angeles Times High-Profile L.A. Crimes Spark Rush For Bullet-Proof Cars, Rolex Replicas And Safe Rooms Private security contractors report that a recent string of high-profile retail robberies and home burglaries in upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods has caused a dramatic uptick in requests for their services and prompted many of their wealthy clients to change their routines out of a mix of caution and fear. Recent high-profile crimes involving the entertainment community include the Oct. 27 robbery of the Encino home of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley, resulting in the theft of $1 million in luxury handbags, jewelry, watches and other goods. Actor and former BET host Terrence Jenkins escaped a robbery attempt by a masked crew near his Sherman Oaks home on Nov. 10. Then Hollywood was shaken by the fatal shooting of 81-year-old philanthropist Jacqueline Avant (wife of legendary music exec Clarence Avant and mother-in-law to Netflix’s Ted Sarandos) during an attempted burglary at her Trousdale Estates home on Dec. 1; the perpetrator, recently paroled from state prison, was charged with her murder on Dec. 6. High-profile heists have also occurred in the Fairfax district, where suspects in police-like uniforms followed victims from a restaurant, and in Hancock Park, where two men robbed a mother with her baby. Armed robbers crashed a holiday party in Pacific Palisades on Dec. 3 to strip revelers of jewelry, iPhones and an Apple watch. On Dec. 7, thieves heisted about $100,000 worth of jewelry and goods from guests held at gunpoint outside the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. And on the evening of Dec. 20, a man was arrested for attempting to burglarize a Bel Air mansion. The Hollywood Reporter 14-Year-Old Boy And 16-Year-Old Sister Killed In Chatsworth Crash Caused By Alleged Drunk Driver Friends and family gathered for a vigil Sunday afternoon in Chatsworth to support the parents of two teen siblings who were killed by a suspected drunk driver in a crash one week before Christmas. Arjit and Akshata Reddy Chettupalli died after a driver rear-ended the family's vehicle on Lassen Street near Oakdale, according to police. Investigators say the driver, a 20-year-old woman, was reportedly driving under the influence. She has since been arrested on murder charges. Arjit, who was 14 years old, died hours after the crash, and his 16-year-old sister Akshata - who was lovingly nicknamed Lucky - was taken off life support on Christmas Day after being pronounced brain dead. Both teens were described as bright students. "My kids ... there are not enough words to describe," said the teens' father. "My daughter was amazing and my son was, in a simple word, was kind of a human computer. They were very disciplined. They never did a single thing to the society. My daughter used to always tell me, 'Daddy, I don't know what I will do, but I will do something great for the society.'" ABC 7 LAPD Seeking Hit-and-Run Driver In Fatal Collision With Bicyclist A bicyclist was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver in Venice on Wednesday, and the Los Angeles Police Department is seeking the public’s help in finding the person responsible. The victim, a man whose name has not been released pending notification of his family, was hit by a dark-colored Chevrolet Bolt near the intersection of Grand and Venice boulevards at about 9:50 p.m., police said. The driver of the Chevrolet struck the bicycle while performing a U-turn, ejecting the cyclist from his bike and sending him onto the roadway, police said. The Los Angeles Fire Department took the man to a local hospital, where he later died, according to the LAPD. “Drivers are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” police said in a release. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Twycross, West Traffic Division, at 213-473-0235. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). KTLA 5 Armed Man Killed In LAPD Shooting In Eagle Rock A man who was allegedly in possession of a knife was shot by Los Angeles police in Eagle Rock on Sunday and died at a hospital, authorities said. The shooting happened around 6 p.m. in the 2900 block of West Broadway, according to a tweet by the Los Angeles Police Department. That’s near the border of Glendale. Officers were called to the scene by firefighters requesting backup regarding a man armed with a knife, police said. Police tweeted: “The man did not follow ofcrs commands & while holding the knife continued to approach an ofcr; resulting in an Officer- Involved Shooting. The man was struck by gunfire & taken to a hospital where he died.” The knife was recovered by detectives, police said. No other injuries were reported in the incident at a gas station. Los Angeles Daily News Man Arrested For Kidnapping, Sex With Minor; Glendale PD Say Gascón's Office Recommended $0 Bail Glendale Police on Monday arrested a 21-year-old man for charges including kidnapping and having sex with a minor. Simon Lopez, a transient, was charged with unlawful sex with a minor, oral copulation of a minor, domestic violence, contact with a minor for sexual offense, and possession of child porn. Glendale PD's Chief of Police Carl Povilaitis said that the office of LA County District Attorney George Gascón recommended bail be set at $0, but a $100,000 bail hold was set. The recommended bail was due to LA County’s emergency "Zero-Dollar" bail order. The "Zero-Dollar" policy was implemented to reduce crowding in county jails during the COVID-19 pandemic and applies to misdemeanors and lower-level felonies. The criminal investigation began on Dec. 3 around 5:30 p.m. when officers assigned to Glendale PD’s patrol bureau responded to the 1800 block of Camino San Rafael regarding a confrontation between a minor and an adult male. Officers learned that the man was seen physically assaulting a minor before fleeing the area in a vehicle. Detectives took over the investigation and learned that Lopez had been engaging in a romantic relationship with a minor under the age of 15. He also had a non-local warrant out for his arrest. Lopez was located and arrested on Dec. 20 in a residential neighborhood on the 21000 block of Roscoe Blvd. in Canoga Park. FOX 11 Amber Alert Deactivated After 1-Year-Old Girl Found Safe; Dad In Custody: LAPD An Amber Alert issued in Los Angeles County has been deactivated Friday after authorities recovered a 1-year-old girl who was allegedly forcibly taken by her father amid a custody dispute, police said. The man, 26-year-old Leonardo Rosales, is in custody, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. There was no information on how the 23-month-old girl was located, but she is in good health, LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman told KTLA. The toddler was taken around 10:45 p.m. Thursday, according to a California Highway Patrol flyer. Officers responded to a report of a kidnapping in progress in the the 100 block of South Reno street around that time and were met by the child’s mother who said that her ex-boyfriend, the child’s father, showed up at her home and took the girl, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. The mother said that she and the father are in the middle of a child custody dispute, and that there is a restraining order on file against Rosales, LAPD said. Rosales arrived at her home with two other men, forced his way in, threatened the family while armed with a knife and forcibly took the girl, according to police. He then fled in a gray Honda Accord with an unknown license plate number. KTLA 5 Public’s Help Sought In Search For Woman Who Disappeared From West Hollywood Area Authorities asked the public for help Monday in their search for a woman who disappeared from West Hollywood Sunday night. Thirty-year-old Dalia Taqali was last seen around 5 p.m. in the 1100 block of North Genesee Avenue, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Taqali is developmentally disabled and suffers from dissociative identity disorder, the Sheriff’s Department stated. Taqali’s family is concerned for her well-being and is asking for help finding her. Investigators said she may be headed near the area of Sunset Boulevard and North Curson Avenue in Hollywood. Taqali stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs about 110 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie, green backpack, black purse and blue stud earrings on both ears. Authorities also said Taqali has a scar on her abdominal area and is missing a front tooth. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 323-890-5500. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. KTLA 5 Sheriff: Southern California Man Tortures, Kills His 24-Year-Old Girlfriend On Christmas Eve A 21-year-old man was arrested for allegedly torturing and killing his girlfriend in Thousand Oaks on Christmas Eve, authorities said. Saul Nava was arrested on suspicion of murder, mayhem and torture in the death of his 24-year-old girlfriend, whose name has not been released. In the state of California, the felony of mayhem alleges that the suspect "unlawfully and maliciously" disfigures or disables a victim’s body. Nava is being held on $2 million bail in the Ventura County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an emergency call in the 600 Block of McCloud Avenue around 1:15 a.m. on Christmas Eve. They found the woman unresponsive and suffering from serious injuries. Despite life-saving measures by paramedics, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators found evidence that the victim had been tortured prior to her death, the sheriff’s office said without providing additional details. FOX 11 Police Officer On-Duty Deaths Hit Record High In 2021 Police officers recorded the highest number of on-duty deaths in 2021, compounding the challenges departments and officers have faced this year. Estimates for the year range between 358 and 477 officers killed in the line of duty, but both numbers show a significant increase over previous years by about 30%. The cause of death remained fairly varied, but COVID-19 accounted for the bulk of fatalities with 67% of deaths in 2021, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. But FBI data indicated that 70 police officers suffered felonious deaths, up 50% over last year. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) revealed earlier this month that 58 officers had been murdered as of Nov. 30, with 314 officers shot overall - a small increase from last year but up by 20 incidents from 2019. The data also shows that ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers spiked 126% from the same time last year. FOP tweeted the information along with a message that "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH." A state-by-state breakdown showed Texas with the most officers shot in the line of duty at 42, followed by Illinois at 25 and California at 21, according to The New York Post. FOX News 2 Kansas Officers Shot By Suspect, Expected To Recover Two police officers responding to a domestic violence call in Wichita, Kansas, were shot and wounded in the early hours of Christmas Day, authorities said. Police were called around 1:30 a.m. Saturday for a report of domestic violence at an apartment. Police said that as the two officers made contact with a suspect, the man fired several shots. One officer was shot in the leg. The other was shot in the arm. Both were being treated at a hospital with injuries Police Chief Gordon Ramsay described as serious but not life-threatening. A tactical team was called and the apartment was evacuated. The suspect was later found dead of what police called a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Associated Press Bodycam Video Shows Pennsylvania Officer Save Newborn Baby's Life The life and death ordeal for Kelly Zemartis and her infant son, Zachary, began on Wednesday, Nov. 24, the day before Thanksgiving. "He was four days old, and we had a pediatrician's appointment for his first check-up," she said. Her husband had fed the baby about 7:30 a.m., and later she began to get ready for the doctor's appointment. "I was going to take a shower, but there was something, I can't say exactly what it was. I just didn't feel right about him. I went over and looked at him, and I rubbed him. He woke up but he didn't seem right. He seemed, how can I put it, like he was out of it." She picked up Zachary and held him. Then she took his bassinette into the bathroom, where she could keep a close watch on him. "Within maybe ten seconds he stopped breathing," she said. Baby Zachary was turning blue. She ran to her phone and dialed 911. The dispatcher calmly led her through the steps to perform CPR on a baby. About a mile away, Tullytown Police Officer Nate Aldsworth was finishing with a traffic accident just south of the Levittown train station. "The call came in as a four or five-day-old baby not breathing," he said. "I jumped in my car and drove fast as I could to get there." Arriving, he found Kelly distraught and Zachary in distress. He wasn't breathing. Bucks County Courier Times Public Safety News Man Rescued From Los Angeles River In Winnetka During Rain Storm Firefighters rescued a man from the Los Angeles River in Winnetka on Thursday morning, Dec. 23, as a strong storm brought rain to the region. Firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team responded to help the man at around 11:15 a.m. near the 6600 block of Winnetka Avenue, agency spokesman Nicholas Prange said. The man was stranded on a pillar, or abutment of the bridge, as water flowed from below. “He wasn’t actually in the water, but he was at risk for falling into the water,” Prange said. “We did deploy some safety measures in case he did fall, so we put the aerial ladder out, lowered a rescuer in the litter basket down to his location and just picked him up.” The man was hospitalized after the rescue, but Prange said he didn’t believe he had any serious injuries. Typically those rescued from rivers are taken to the hospital for minor cuts or scrapes, in addition to potential hypothermia, he said. Los Angeles Daily News Los Angeles County's COVID-19 Hospitalizations Surpass 900 The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus in Los Angeles County surpassed 900 Sunday, amid a surge in reported cases that has the county's top health official warning that infections could reach near-record levels by the end of the year. The number of COVID patients in county hospitals increased to 904 Sunday, up from 849 the previous day, according to the latest state figures. Of those patients, 188 were in intensive care, up one from Saturday. The number of hospitalized COVID patients has been rising in recent days, after falling as low as 551 in November. Los Angeles County reported 8,891 new cases of COVID-19 and seven additional deaths associated with the virus Sunday, in numbers that likely reflect reporting delays over the holiday and the weekend. Sunday's numbers raise the cumulative totals to 27,533 fatalities and 1,595,239 cases since the pandemic began. The department did not provide an update Saturday due to the Christmas holiday. Fueled by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the average daily rate of people testing positive for the virus rose to 15% as of Friday, more than triple the county's rate from a week ago. FOX 11 New Coronavirus Cases Reach Nearly 9,000 In L.A. County As Omicron Surge Continues Los Angeles County on Sunday reported nearly 9,000 new coronavirus cases and seven related deaths — marking a continued wave of infections propelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant that recently spurred officials to expand testing options and that has upended a second year of holiday plans for many families. L.A. County announced 8,891 new cases Sunday compared with 11,930 on Saturday, but officials cautioned that the latest figures might not be complete because of reporting delays over the holiday and weekend. The newest figure represents a significant increase from the case count early last week, when officials on Monday reported 3,258 new cases. Officials have repeatedly urged caution in recent days, encouraging people to scale back holiday plans, test before gathering with family and, above all, to continue to rely on the best tools available: vaccines, boosters and masks. Even with 67% of Californians fully vaccinated, officials have warned about breakthrough cases of vaccinated people getting infected with the Omicron variant, now the dominant strain of the virus. Los Angeles Times L.A. County Is Expanding COVID Testing Amid Surge In Demand Amid a major surge in demand for coronavirus testing over the holidays, Los Angeles County announced Friday that it is expanding its testing services. Residents have been rushing to get tested before gathering with loved ones over the holidays as the county faces another COVID-19 surge under the threat of the new, highly-transmissible omicron variant. The county reported 9,988 new coronavirus cases Friday, 8,633 on Thursday and 6,509 the day before. The L.A. County Department of Health Services announced that it is moving to deliver an “urgent expansion” of the county’s free testing services. As part of the expansion, the county brought back the Holiday Home Test Collection Program, which offers residents free at-home nasal swab tests if they have COVID-19 symptoms or if they’ve been exposed to the virus. Other changes include extending hours of operation at testing sites across L.A. County, opening the sites on additional days and adding more mobile testing units in hard-hit areas. KTLA 5 ‌ ‌ ‌ Visit our website LA Police Protective League | 1308 West Eighth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!