Good Morning. The LAPPL wishes everyone a safe and merry Christmas. Please be sure if you to take advantage of driving alternatives such as taxicabs, rideshares or designated drivers if needed so everyone has an enjoyable, safe holiday.

A Pierce County sheriff’s deputy was killed when his patrol car crashed early Saturday while rushing to help other deputies who were fighting with a domestic-violence suspect at a home south of Tacoma, the sheriff’s department reported. “In great sadness we report that Deputy Cooper Dyson was killed in a collision while on duty, as he rushed to aid fellow deputies who were being assaulted by a domestic violence suspect,” the department announced in a tweet. Around 3 a.m., deputies responded to a 911 call that a 6-year-old disabled child had been assaulted by a 22-year-old man inside a home on 113th Street South in Parkland, according to Sgt. Ed Troyer, the department’s spokesman. The 911 caller also reported multiple weapons in the home, Troyer said. “Deputy Dyson was the first deputy to respond to assist,” the Facebook post said. Dyson, 25, was headed west on 112th Street East “at a high rate of speed” when his car left the road, Troyer said. The car rolled multiple times and burst into flames, Troyer said.

A San Jacinto County Sheriff’s deputy died in the line of duty Saturday evening in a car crash en route to a burglary scene in Coldspring, officials said. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded around 6:45 p.m to reports of a crash at the intersection of State Highway 150 and Hill Lane. Deputy Brian Pfluger was driving eastbound toward reports of a burglary in progress on Hill Lane when the accident occurred. Pfluger and a second deputy were driving separate vehicles en route to the scene when the second deputy slowed down to turn right onto Hill Road, according to the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety. Pfluger swerved to avoid hitting the car but clipped his colleague’s vehicle. His car rolled over several times and ejected him from the vehicle, officials said. Pfluger was taken to CHI St. Luke’s Health Memorial Hospital in Livingston, where he was pronounced dead.

A 43-year-old Lakewood man was fatally shot in the Vermont Vista area of South Los Angeles Saturday, authorities said. The victim was publicly identified as Earl Chiles by the coroners office. Police responded to 800 block of West 115th Street near Vermont Avenue about 1:43 a.m. Chiles was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. A detailed description of the shooter was not released.

Police asked for public help Monday to identify the assailant who shot and killed a man in the Westlake area of Los Angeles over the weekend. The shooting was reported at 11:40 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of Witmer Avenue, according to Los Angeles police, who responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call. When officers arrived, paramedics were trying to save the victim, who was hit in the chest by gunfire, the LAPD reported. The man, who was in his 40s, died at a hospital. His name was withheld pending notification of family members. A motive for the attack was unknown, according to police, who asked anyone with information to call LAPD detectives Pere or Obrecht at 213-484-3642. Tipsters can also call the LAPD's 24-hour tipline at 877-527-3247, or by contacting Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

A man was shot and wounded Monday afternoon in Winnetka and police were searching for two suspects, a lieutenant said. The shooting occurred in the 6900 block of Variel Avenue near Hart Street about 3:15 p.m., Los Angeles police Lt. Eric Eppolito said. The unidentified victim was taken to a hospital and was listed in stable condition, Eppolito said. Two men were being sought, he said, but suspect descriptions were not immediately released. A motive for the attack was unknown. Anyone with information was asked to call the LAPD’s Topanga Division at 818-756-4811. Tipsters can also call the LAPD’s 24-hour tipline at 877-527-3247, or by contacting Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

Police are searching for two burglars who shot a man inside his Canoga Park home Monday, investigators said. The victim returned to his house on the 6900 block of Variel Avenue around 3:30 p.m. to find the family's dogs were loose and the front door was ajar, said Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison. The homeowner retrieved a gun before going inside, where he found two burglars, Madison said. The resident struggled with the intruders over the firearm before one of the criminals gained control of the weapon and shot him, according to Madison. The victim was being treated at a local hospital. Police said his wounds were not life-threatening. The burglars managed to escape the scene and were being sought Monday night. It was unclear what, if anything, they were able to steal.

It was an early Christmas surprise for an East Los Angeles boy who has been grieving the loss of his baby brother. The deputies and staff from the East Los Angeles Sheriff's station generously donated toys and gifts to 5-year-old Joseph Robles for the holiday. Joseph recently lost his four-month-old brother, Jacob, and the East L.A. station personnel hoped to help uplift the family's spirits during this difficult time. "I'm just grateful for the help and the surprise for my son," said Joseph's mom, Guadalupe Castillo. "We're passing through a hard time. I'm just grateful." Gift after gift was presented by deputies to little Joseph, who immediately put the wrapped treasures under the Christmas tree. He then offered a big hug to everyone who helped brighten this family's day. "I grew up in East LA, this is close to me, I'm a mom," said Sgt. Nancy Escobedo of the East L.A. Sheriff's station. "Just seeing Joseph's little face, you can tell he's happy."

An operator of Southland sleep-study facilities was sentenced to more than two years in prison for scheming with two other men to bilk union health plans out of millions of dollars, federal officials announced Monday. Nick Nikbakht, who ran sleep-study centers in Sherman Oaks and San Pedro, had pleaded guilty in federal court in downtown Los Angeles to two counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced Dec. 2 to 27 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay more than $2.9 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Two other men were sentenced last year in the case: Shawn Chait was ordered to serve one year in prison and repay more than $3 million; and Oganes Doganyan was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay roughly $1.4 million in restitution.

Police in Northern California arrested two men who were found with about 100 stolen packages during a traffic stop. KTXL-TV reports police say they stopped 30-year-old Movses Dermishyan and 39-year-old Jacob Booth in Roseville as part of a stolen tailgate investigation and found the stolen packages and the tailgate. Officials say a witness saw the tailgate theft and gave police a physical description of the suspects’ van. Officers on Friday tracked down the van nearby and found the stolen tailgate inside along with dozens of packages that were stolen from across Placer and Sacramento counties. Both suspects were arrested and booked into South Placer County Jail on numerous charges, including grand theft and illegal drug possession.

California Highway Patrol officers in the Inland Empire will deploy in strength Tuesday night and through Wednesday for the agency’s annual Christmastime crackdown on drunken and drug-impaired drivers. The Christmas holiday “maximum enforcement period” will get underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday and continue until late Wednesday night. All available officers will deploy during the MEP to catch DUI suspects, speeders and other traffic violators. During last year’s Christmastime enforcement campaign, the CHP arrested 1,166 people statewide for DUI, compared to 917 arrests the year before. “Our goal at the CHP is for everyone to get home safe,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “When a person chooses to drink and drive, it not only puts their safety at risk, but it endangers the life of everyone on the road with them. We encourage the public to help us save lives and remove these dangerous drivers from the roadway by reporting them to 9-1-1.” 

State wildlife officials issued a reminder Monday that come New Year’s Day, collecting and eating animals struck and killed by vehicles on the road will still be illegal in California. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife referred to the confusion stemming from the Wildlife Traffic Safety Act, which Gov. Gavin Newsom approved in October. Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) introduced State Senate Bill 395 earlier this year. Under the law, the California Fish and Game Commission will be allowed to develop a pilot program some time before 2022 that would let people who wish to collect and consume “salvageable wild game meat” apply for a permit and submit to a reporting process online. Officials can start implementing the pilot program once it receives funding from lawmakers. It can only be run at a maximum of three areas in the state that see a high concentration of roadkill, the bill says.

The NYPD is rolling out hundreds of lighter, bulletproof vests in an effort to get more detectives to wear the potentially life-saving armor, officials announced Friday. The department says 550 vests will be distributed to various detective squads around the city for a pilot program, and on Friday gave one of the first ones to Det. Ricky Waters — the partner of Det. Brian Simonsen who was killed by friendly fire in Queens in February. Simonsen’s widow, Leanne Simonsen personally hand-delivered the vest to Waters at the 102nd Precinct, one of 16 vests that were distributed to the command. Det. Brian Simonsen was not wearing his bullet-resistant vest on Feb. 12 when he was accidentally killed by fellow cops while responding to a cell phone store robbery. His death brought into sharp focus a long-standing complaint: that many detectives don’t wear their vests because they’re too bulky to wear over their business attire. The new vests are nearly half the weight of the vests currently worn by cops in uniform — which weigh between 2 1/2 and 3 pounds — and fit more easily over a suit or dress shirt.

Rescue crews freed a homeless man who was trapped underneath a tree that toppled onto a duplex in Echo Park Monday after a night of strong winds and heavy rainfall. Los Angeles Fire crews responded to the scene in the 1400 block of West Sunset Boulevard just before 8 a.m. The fallen tree downed utility lines and significantly damaged the structure, which sits atop an embankment. "We saw that there was a tree that broke into our roof, and the noise was incredible, apocalyptic," homeowner Vince Meghrouni said. The transient, who has not been identified, was rescued after about 30 minutes, Los Angeles Fire officials said. The man was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries but is expected to be OK.

Los Angeles County health officials are extending a cold weather alert due to the National Weather Service’s forecast for low temperatures. Wind chill temperatures are expected to dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The affected areas include: Antelope Valley – through Saturday, December 28, Los Angeles County Mountain areas –through Saturday, December 28 and Santa Clarita Valley – Friday, December 27. Take precautions to protect yourself from the cold: Dress in layers of warm clothing if you plan to be outdoors, protect head, hands and feet from the cold by wearing a hat, scarf, gloves, and socks, and check on and help family members, friends and neighbors with limited mobility and limited access to heat, such as seniors or those who are ill.