3 Charged In Ambush Of New Jersey Trooper

Three Bridgeton men have been charged in the shooting of a New Jersey State Police trooper who was confronted by armed men Saturday while investigating a home invasion in a Salem County trailer park, authorities said Tuesday. They are among eight Cumberland County residents charged in the two incidents, and additional charges are likely, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said in an online news conference. ”We have zero tolerance for those who violently attack our law enforcement officers,” Grewal said. “Anyone who threatens the safety of our officers, threatens the safety of all of us.”

LAPD, LAFD Report Additional Coronavirus Cases

The Los Angeles Police Department reported Tuesday that three more employees have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 84. Officials said 36 LAPD employees have recovered and returned to duty, which is three more than Monday. One individual is hospitalized, and all others are self isolating. Additionally, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported one more case, confirming a total of 23 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. No LAFD employees are hospitalized, but seven are still self isolating. The other 16 have recovered and returned to full duty.

Despite People Staying Home, Violent Crime In LA Ticking Back Up

Some things in Los Angeles might be getting back to normal, even as most residents are staying put amid the city and state’s stay-at-home orders: The Los Angeles Police Department is now getting more calls for service, after a lull attributed to people largely staying at home, with police seeing more violent incidents in the last two weeks than they did the weeks before. Chief Michel Moore said there’s been an uptick in violence in the back half of April, pushing the city’s violent crime rate closer to where it was before the pandemic hit. “More aggravated assaults, and more shooting violence,” the chief told the Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday. All this comes after the LAPD received a lot less reports of violent crime in March.

Man Killed In Panorama City Drive-By Shooting: LAPD

A 26-year-old man was killed Monday in a Panorama City drive-by shooting that police believe was gang related. The shooting was reported about 7:10 p.m. along the 14600 block of Blythe Street. The victim, identified as Jose Gamiz De Leon, of Woodland Hills, was taken to a hospital by a friend and later died, according to the LAPD. Video surveillance caught two vehicles, a blue PT Cruiser and a tan Cadillac, approach the victim as he sat in his vehicle. “An occupant from the PT Cruiser fired multiple rounds from a handgun, striking Gamiz De Leon,” police said in a news release Tuesday. The drivers then took off from the scene on Blythe toward Van Nuys Boulevard. Anyone with information about the shooting can call Detective Chris Campagna at 818-374-9550.

Woman Charged In Long Beach Crash That Killed Man, Injured Another

A Lakewood woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and other charges stemming from an alleged alcohol-fueled hit-and-run crash in Long Beach last month that left one man dead and another severely injured. Charlette Colton, 50, is charged with one felony count each of murder, gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense, driving with a 0.08 percent blood-alcohol content causing injury within 10 years of another DUI offense and hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious injury to another person. The criminal complaint includes allegations that Colton has a prior conviction for DUI from 2012, that her blood alcohol concentration was 0.20 percent or more and that she inflicted great bodily injury.

Beverly Hills Lawyer To Plead Guilty To Bribing Federal Agents

An attorney with law offices in Beverly Hills agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to five federal offenses, including bribing two federal agents for assistance in obtaining sensitive law enforcement information. Edgar Sargsyan, 39, of Calabasas, was charged Tuesday two counts of bribing a public official, two counts of making false statements to federal investigators and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In a plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court, Sargsyan agreed to plead guilty to the five felony counts, which carry a maximum total penalty of up to 50 years in federal prison. In the agreement, Sargsyan admitted paying tens of thousands of dollars from the beginning of 2015 through early 2017 to a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations and a special agent with the FBI.

Rewards Renewed In Compton Shootings In 2018, 2017, 2016

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed or re-established three rewards Tuesday in hopes of tracking down whoever gunned down a 43-year-old man saying goodbye to his family in Compton, a 21-year-old Cal State Long Beach student in West Compton and two young fathers in a Compton gas station. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas recommended renewing a $10,000 reward in the killing of 43-year-old Demetrius Bracken, who was shot to death about 1:35 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2018, while saying goodbye to family in Compton. The reward, set to expire May 10, will now be available for at least the next 90 days. 

LAFD Rescues Teen Hiker Who Fell 200 Feet In Chatsworth

A 16-year-old hiker got stranded on a hillside Tuesday after he tumbled down a 200-foot drainage channel in Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park and injured his ankle, necessitating a rope system rescue. Los Angeles Fire Department crews were dispatched to the Chatsworth park, near Santa Susana Pass Road and West Santa Susana Pass Road about 4:25 p.m., according to Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Urban search and rescue specialists used a rope system to retrieve the teen, and he was taken to a hospital in “good condition” about 5:45 p.m., Humphrey said. 

'Tragic Milestone': LA County Reaches 1,000 Coronavirus Deaths

Los Angeles County reached a grim milestone Tuesday when it reported 1,000 deaths attributed to the coronavirus, as health officials scramble to get a better understanding of the deadly disease. The county reported an additional 59 deaths since the day prior, with 597 new confirmed cases, bringing the total number of cases to 20,976. "LA County has hit the tragic milestone of 1,000 people dying from COVID-19. Please know that if you are grieving the loss of loved ones who have died from COVID-19, our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and your friends. We wish you healing and peace,” said Dr. Barbara Ferrer, the county's Public Health director.

L.A. County Working To Ease Stay-At-Home Order By May

Los Angeles County officials passed a motion Tuesday to develop a plan to ease the safer-at-home order, strict social distancing rules that have slowed the spread of the coronavirus, that is set to expire May 15. Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said Tuesday there were no plans to extend the current order, but as the deadline approaches, officials will reevaluate what is best for the county. More than 20,000 in the county of 10 million have tested positive for the virus, and nearly 950 have died. County officials have warned the public that although social distancing practices have worked to slow the spread of the virus, the number of those who have been infected is likely far higher than the official count. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion Tuesday to establish an action plan to work with local businesses, labor partners and community leaders to lift restrictions.

Local Government News

Renters Protections Is Topic For A Town Hall On April 30 Hosted By LA City Councilmember John Lee

Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee (CD-12) hosts a meeting on “Renters Protections” at 3 p.m. April 30 on Facebook Live. A representative from the Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department will give a presentation. Lee is asking community members to submit their questions on the topic by 5 p.m. April 29 to his email: councilmember.lee@lacity.org Los Angeles City Council District 12 includes Chatsworth, Granada Hills, North Hills, Northridge, Porter Ranch, Reseda, Sherwood Forest and West Hills. To join the town hall: facebook.com/councilmemberjohnlee