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Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

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Los Angeles
Police Protective League
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the union that represents the
rank and file LAPD officers

  Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League

April 16, 2019
Law Enforcement News

CHP Sergeant Killed On 15 Freeway Will Be Honored With Procession, Memorial
A California Highway Patrol sergeant who was struck and killed by a DUI suspect during a traffic stop earlier this month will be remembered today at a memorial service in Riverside. A procession for Sgt. Steve Licon, a 27-year veteran of the CHP, is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. at the funeral home. His remains will arrive at Harvest Christian Fellowship church in Riverside for a 10 a.m. service. Licon, 53, died following the collision April 6 on the side of the 15 Freeway in Lake Elsinore. He was just months away from retirement. Along with Licon's family, friends and colleagues, representatives from law enforcement agencies throughout California -- and possibly several neighboring states -- are expected to attend Tuesday's service. Flowers, candles and other items were left outside the CHP station in Riverside in the days following Licon's death. Colleagues described Licon as a exemplary law enforcement officer who loved his job. Licon is survived by his wife, daughter and step-daughter.
NBC 4

Massachusetts Officer Shot Twice, Suspect Arrested In Gun Battle Outside Nightclub
A police officer remains in the hospital after being shot twice and a 25-year-old man has been arrested in what was described as a gun battle outside a nightclub early Saturday morning. The officer, Edwin Irizarry, who has served at least 20 years on the department, was grazed in the left arm and shot in the left elbow during the incident that occurred shortly before 2 a.m. at the corner of State and Benton Street, Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said. Kenneth Hernandez, of Dickinson Street, Springfield, was charged with two counts of assault within intent to murder with a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of malicious damage. He could face other charges in the future, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman. “It was quite the gunfight the officers were involved in,” Clapprood said.
The Republican, Springfield, Mass.

Gunman In Manhattan Beach Police Shootout Charged With Attempted Murder Of 4 Officers: DA
A man accused of opening fire at police at a Manhattan Beach shopping center on April 7 has been charged with attempted murder of four officers, prosecutors announced Monday. James Louis Boyd III, 37, of Oceanside, pleaded not guilty to four counts each of attempted murder and assault on a peace officer with a semiautomatic firearm, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Those charges are in addition to one count each of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence. Around 9:30 a.m. on April 7, officers with the agency responded to a report of a man chasing a woman at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott on Aviation Boulevard. Boyd had become involved in a dispute with his girlfriend, during which he fired a rifle into the air, the District Attorney's Office said. When the officers arrived, Boyd allegedly shot at one of their patrol cars and broke a window.
KTLA 5

1 Driver Arrested In Deadly Sun Valley Crash Thought To Involve Racing, LAPD Calls On 2nd Motorist To Surrender
Los Angeles police are calling on the driver of a dark-colored Dodge Charger to turn himself in following an alleged illegal street race collision that killed two people in Sun Valley on Friday, April 12. The black or dark blue Charger was allegedly racing a white Dodge Charger east on San Fernando Road at about 7:10 p.m. when the white car struck a Toyota Corolla turning left onto Lankershim Boulevard, according to authorities. The collision killed the Corolla's driver, Olivia Enriquez, 59, of Sun Valley and her passenger, a man in his 50s, both of whom died at the scene. The unidentified male driver of the dark-colored Charger, which did not make contact with the Corolla, did not stop after the collision and is being sought by authorities. “To the person engaged in the street race, turn yourself in. Come to the Police Department, give us a statement, answer for your involvement in this accident,” LAPD Detective Daniel Menesez of the Valley Traffic Division said Monday.
Los Angeles Daily News

Husband Fatally Shoots Wife Before Killing Himself In Chatsworth Home: LAPD
A man fatally shot his wife before killing himself in their Chatsworth home while their children were also there, LAPD officials said Monday. The incident was reported Sunday about 4:30 p.m. when police received calls about shots fired in the 9100 block of Foster Lane. Responding officers found a man and woman dead in the upstairs bedroom, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release Monday. An investigation revealed that the man shot his wife as she lay in bed before he turned the gun on himself. Two young children were home at the time, but were not injured, according to police. Olivia and James Robinson, who live across the street from the deceased couple, said they found the children inside the home after police performed a welfare check there.
KTLA 5

Pursuit Ends In Crash In Inglewood
A short vehicle pursuit ended in Inglewood Monday night with at least two people taken to the hospital. Authorities say three people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident but were not immediately identified. The force of the impact sent one of the vehicles partially into a building in the area of La Brea Avenue and Fairview Boulevard. The pursuit started just before 9 p.m. with police chasing a white 4-door sedan with no plates possibly stolen with at least three occupants, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. An LAPD patrol car was also involved in the crash, but the department says no officers were injured. Police did not immediately release additional information.
FOX 11

San Pedro Hit-and-Run Victim Hopes Surveillance Video Helps Police Find Driver
A victim who survived a violent hit-and-run in San Pedro is speaking out and asking the driver to come forward. Octavio Colin-Mondragon walks with a noticeable limp and said he's still in a lot of pain after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. "I thought I was going to die and luckily I didn't," Colin-Mondragon said. A neighbor's surveillance camera captured the accident that happened on April 1. The San Pedro resident was crossing Gaffey at 2 Street around 10:30 p.m. to go to his car. "It happened too quick. The car was coming towards me, and I just remember getting hit, and after that I went unconscious," Colin-Mondragon said. "I don't remember exactly what happened." He does remember good Samaritans stopping to help him and being taken to the hospital. Photos captured some of the injuries he suffered. His cellphone was thrown from his hand by the impact. Police have little information about the hit-and-run vehicle and no arrests have been made. 
ABC 7

Training Simulation Helping Police Make Life-or-Death Decisions
The use of deadly force by law enforcement officers is one of the most contentious issues in the country. In an effort to provide more understanding of the issue, the FBI invited Eyewitness News reporter Carlos Granda to participate in a virtual training exercise. In the simulation the "officer" is faced with possibly life-and-death decisions. Are you confronting an armed suspect or an innocent bystander? "We want the public to understand why we do the things that we do," said Greg Carr, an FBI special agent. In one scenario, the officer receives a report about a person with a gun and then is confronted with a woman with a knife. You have a split second to react - and often that's too slow. Usually the suspect has the benefit of making the first move. Agents say this is why law enforcement has to get ahead of the situation. "If we are just as fast as the bad guy that doesn't mean there is a successful outcome for us so we have to train to make good choices under pressure quickly."
ABC 7

Twin Convicted Of First-Degree Murder In Stabbing Death Of 62-Year-Old Woman
One of two twin brothers was convicted Monday of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree robbery in the stabbing death of a 62-year-old woman walking home from a Los Angeles supermarket three days before Christmas 2014. The jury panel deliberated for less than two hours before finding Kenyata Blake, 22, guilty of killing and robbing Maria Elena Rivas and robbing another woman roughly a month later, according to a court clerk. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold set sentencing and a restitution hearing for May 2 and ordered Blake held without bail. At least one member of the victim's family is expected to make a statement at the sentencing hearing.
MyNewsLA.com

Brothers Plead Guilty In San Fernando Valley Based Conspiracy To Distribute Oxycodone And Other Narcotics

Two San Fernando Valley brothers pleaded guilty Monday, April 15, to federal conspiracy charges for their roles in a scheme that used sham “pop-up” medical clinics to divert millions of prescription pills —including oxycodone and other addictive narcotics — to the black market. Minas “Maserati Mike” Matosyan, 38, of Encino, and Hayk Matosyan, 32, of Granada Hills, are scheduled to be sentenced July 15 in federal court in Los Angeles. Each defendant faces up to 20 years behind bars on the count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors said the elder Matosyan ran the operation by hiring corrupt doctors who allowed conspirators to issue fraudulent prescriptions under their names in exchange for kickbacks. Hayk Matosyan acted as a courier, helping deliver fraudulent prescriptions and “bulk quantities” of narcotic pills, federal prosecutors said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Yearbook Consultant Accused Of Child Sex Crimes In Santa Barbara Co. Had Ties To L.A. Area; More Victims ID'd: Officials
A 52-year-old yearbook consultant suspected of sex crimes against three juveniles in the Santa Ynez Valley may have victimized other youth outside of Santa Barbara County, including possibly in the Los Angeles area, authorities said Monday. Gregory Scott Ray of Buellton was arrested last Tuesday after a weekslong investigation into alleged inappropriate sexual contact with three boys between the ages of 13 and 17, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. Ray is suspected of using a social media application — authorities did not specify which one — to meet the teens, a news release from the Sheriff's Office stated. He was allegedly in contact with them over a period of several years. As an independent contractor and sales consultant for yearbook publishing company Friesens LLC, Ray traveled throughout California, authorities said. He helped consult on yearbooks at many schools between Los Angeles County and San Jose, and also attended yearbook camps and conferences.
KTLA 5

Local Government News

L.A. County Proposes $32.5 Billion Budget And More Money For Mental Health
A proposed $32.5 billion budget for Los Angeles County released Monday increases spending to fight homelessness and mental illness, among other priorities. “This recommended budget reflects the county's values and vision, along with its ambitious commitment to improving life for all county residents, especially the vulnerable and underserved,” said Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai. Hamai highlighted additional spending on mental health needs, including expansion of a school safety program, help for women returning to their communities after serving time in jail, and more funding for mental evaluation teams that interact with homeless individuals.
MyNewsLA.com
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About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 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. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at:

www.LAPD.com


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